I have just returned from seeing my consultant 7 weeks post op and am feeling very disappointed. I was very optimistic before the consultation because I can walk independently and feel fine. However, he seemed to suggest that I would never be able to do the things I used to, like sitting or kneeling on the floor to play with my grandchidren etc. I thought that after 12 weeks I would be able to sit on couch/toilet as normal etc but he said to wait until next appointment in January. Feeling dejected.
Hello Anne,
Sometimes I wonder how people can become successful doctors/consultants when they have terrible bedside manner. I can only wonder what he was basing that on? Was he basing it on his own personal opinion or was it because of what he saw during your visit? Either way, I think he is dead wrong. From what you say, if you are walking independently and are feeling fine, then you're doing very well at 7 weeks. Are you still doing your PT? If so, how are your sessions? Are you working on strength as well as flexibility? Keep strengthening your body and there is not much that you won't be able to do when you are fully recovered. Myself, I'm at almost 14 weeks and I feel close to where I was before all the pain. I'm doing yoga daily, getting stronger and more and more flexible. Don't let him get to you. You are in the best position to know what you can and cannot do. Keep a positive attitude, keep exercising and you will have very few restrictions when all is said and done. Best of luck to you. Cormac
Dear Anne
Sorry that you have a doctor who does not have not a clue on the subject of hip recovery because he is talking absolute Bol*ocks in this instance!
I am a few months post op and have been able to kneel or sit on the floor for ages. A couple of days ago I got down on my knees and spent some time washing the house floors......what is he talking about. and the next day I spent an hour on my knees bird watching. I would be very wary of other things he tells you as the result of this!
Cheers
Richard
Umm well I can also kneel and sit on the floor too, had my op 4 months ago, my brilliant consultant ( who teaches other surgeons hip replacement surgery at university in the south west uk) told me the only thing I shouldn't do is turn my leg inwards but everything else is fine, you can also sit on the couch and toilet from 12 weeks as normal.
Don't know what your consultant is talking about!
I've been able to kneel on the floor since 2 weeks post op. The physio showed me how to safely lie down on the floor and get back up so I can do the shoulder bridge exercise on the floor rather than the bed. I had a bit of soreness in my patella of the operated leg after nodding off doing the slide exercise with my knee raised. The physio advised the kneeling exercise would help with the soreness in my kneecap and it did. I have started doing some Pilates moves on my hands and knees too without problem. Perhaps speak to a physio and ask how you can safely do the things you want to. Good luck
Ann
That sounds like bad information to me, I was told at my 6 week consultation that I could "live my life" despite my new hip being out of place. I have since been on my shed roof to repair it, and knelt on the floor numerous times doing so much gardening and landscaping.
Graham
Having said that, there IS still a dislocation risk for the first 6 months or so - see this graphic from my website.
Dear Graham
Thanks for reminding us as it is very easy as we get back to normality to forget!
Cheers Richard
Yes, it's so easy to forget 
Dr’s have a funny way of being negative. I went to Mayo Clinic and I couldn’t have a worse experience ever. I was looking for some positive answers to my questions like how I can get my pain under control without depending on pills. But you know I brushed it off and I didn’t let this get my hopes down. I don’t know your age but I’m on my late 60s and I know that I can’t be as active as a 40 or 50 year old but I do gardening, I cut my lawn in riding mower. I walk I use the stationary bike and treadmill. I don’t let drs tell me what I cannot do even if it’s at a slower pace. So please don’t try to over do it. Take your time to heal and slowly you’ll see that you will start gaining your confidence.
Anne he is talking rubbish. You will be able to kneel on floor. My surgeon relaxed all restrictions a 6.5 weeks. All he said was never to cross my leg right across my knee. I get on the floor with my grandson but I made sure I didn’t do it till 12 weeks just to be safe. I run around the garden with him. I have the added complication of a badly osteoarthritis knee on the other leg so I always hold on to chair or sofa when I get up or down. My grandson used to put a cushion on the floor for me to sit on . We have had teddy bear picnics too.
dear anne,
warm welcome to the hippies forum where personal stories and experiences are shared - we come in all ages and stages of our hippies journey -
I join the choir here regarding your consultant - You do really great at 7 weeks post-op -
At 6 weeks post-op, follow up appointment, surgeon looked at latest x-ray, checked leg length and range of motion - at that time he still wanted me to adhere to the 90 degrees rule for an additional 2 weeks and kneeling -
Kneeling is still a problem for me - not sure why ...
Just be mindful Anne - listen to your body and for now, be gentle with yourself ...
big warm hug
renee
Dear Anne, i can kneel and siting on floor with no problem. He talking rubish.
Just be careful, you only in early stage. I was ok to kneeland sit on floor after 8 weeks. Just listen your body if you do something wrong body will tell you.
Good luck
Hug Madla💗
Anne
I agree your surgeon is talking rubbish. If you kneel down the force on your hip is the same as when you are standing on it. I knelt down (admittedly with some difficulty) while I didn't have a hip at all. Getting up from you floor you might need to be careful not to twist your leg but other than that I can't see any reason why you can get down and play with the grandchildren.
Enjoy their company
Mike
Thank you. That makes me feel better. I was only in with the consultant for a few minutes and all he did was check my wound which has healed well and asked me to stand and raise both knees. So perhaps that is standard for 7 week consultation, and he was just being cautious. I have only seen a physio once. Perhaps it depends on where you live as to resources available. Physio told me to walk as much as possible, preferably outside, for at least an hour a day. He said if I walked a lot then the exercises were not necessary. Thanks again for your reply.
Oh thank you. That makes me feel a lot better! Perhaps he was just being over cautious because it is early days, and he sensed I was impatient to be back to normal too quickly.
Thank you for your reply. Makes me feel a lot more optimistic!
Thanks. That makes me feel a lot more optimistic. I will ring my physio today.
Thank you thats great. I suppose my consultant may have sensed I was wanting to do too much too soon, and was worried about dislocation. Thanks again.
Thank you. My consultant may have been erring on the side of caution and may have sensed my eagerness to get back to normal and was scared of dislocation. I am 66, but like to think of myself as fit for my age and so I am wanting to do things. Suppose I will have to be patient for a bit longer. Thanks again