Does anyone know how long the 'don't bend 90 degree angle' is crucial for? I am four months in after THR of left hip. Bent down to put socks on and my husband said I was breaking g the 90 degree rule. I wonder if this is still causing the low back pain i am getting. Feel as though I should be better than I am. Feedback needed if possible please.
The rule is imposed by the surgeon, along with how long it is necessary to keep to it. So you should check with your surgeon for the rule for you. Unless you have an unusual situation, you are probably long overdue!
I was released from restrictions at 6 weeks, and that is a common time for it.
My understanding is... It kind of depends on the surgeon. At the hospital where my hubby had his done many of the hip surgeons don't give any precautions or restrictions at all (so allow complete bending, leg crossing etc etc) some allow their patients to bend as long as they bend between their legs and don't allow leg crossing etc and some, lincluding his surgeon who is considered "old school", stick to the 90 degree rule. The most I've heard it enforced for is 3 months but again I would call your surgeon's office to check with them on your individual circumstances.
For interest look at van der Weegan, Kornuijt and Das "Do lifestyle restrictions and precautions prevent dislocation after total hip arthroplasty? A systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature" Clin Rehabil 2015. I can only get the abstract but that's enough for us lay people.
I think it also has to do with wether you had the anterior or posterior approach. With the posterior approach I believe the chance of dislocation is higher for a longer period of time.
I had the LTHR back in mid Nov 2015 with the posterior method. I can say in my case after my 6 week appointment I was off all restrictions. Now I forget I even had it done.
Hi Soxi My surgeon has restrictions for 12 weeks but most of the other surgeons at the same hospital have a 6 week rule.
Take care
Sue x
Hi Soxy, my hip restrictions are in place for 12 weeks, I have another 4 weeks to go.
The first six weeks are the most vulnerable time, not enough healing has happened to prevent a dislocation should you provoke one.
After six weeks the joint area is much more stable and although caution should be taken you can start to bend further than the rules.
After two THR's I am 8 weeks from the second and have just started swimming again to build up strength. It takes months to heal fully and the first six months throw up all sorts of aches and pains as the body adjusts to a slightly different position.
If your THR was due to OA then it is possible that other joints are moaning a bit as well. I think back ache is fairly common and I am still taking pain relief for this.
It takes a full year for complete recovery so be patient .
I would suggest non-impact exercise, tai-chi, pilates and swimming all help with core strength and muscle tone which are essential to support the new joint.
My surgeon said I should always avoid bending from the waist without a leg behind, it has been known to disclocate hips years later...but everything else was okay after 12 weeks - six weeks being the most important period. I am also four months post op, so same time as you. Horse riding, skiing etc after a year. Swimming, cycling all fine from six weeks.
I am still very careful when I pick things up, and if I am doing much too much I still have the familiar soreness...as long as I take it easy ish it is fine.
In what way do you feel you should be better than you are? Four months post op isn't very long at all in terms of a full recovery.
I have just started sleeping on both sides, I had a lateral incision, and even now I wake up to turn myself over in a controlled way. The sleep thing was the biggest surprise of all to me...that and the time it takes to feel human
Hi soxy
Not sure how long the 90 degree rule lasts. I am 12 weeks post op and too feel as if I should be better than I am. I have terrible lower back pain and very achy legs especially at night. I also have pain in my groin and still can't put a lot of weight on operated side. In fact I don't really feel any better then I did before op. Everyone said I would have a new lease of life, but sadly I don't. I've been told it's early days,;but I feel as if I definatly should have made some improvement by now. I'm back to work a week on Monday, and don't know how I will manage. I feel very disheartened x
Rose, if the surgeon says to avoid bending from the waist, how will you do up the laces or buckles of shoes? My restrictions are in place for 12 weeks, but I am hoping to eventually be able to bend to do up my shoes, put on socks and to trim my toenails.
My hubby is 6 weeks post opp tomorrow and go to see the surgeon tomorrow afternoon he has been bending forward an odd time but keeping the leg out behind him and that has worked ok but will find out tomorrow.
I was told six weeks, that's what all the leaflets say that I have seen.
After that, I was told to slowly and carefully bend more as long as it's not painful.
Graham - 🚀💃
Oh, and the 90 degree rule is absolute - no bending when getting in or out of chairs, bath, bed or doing anything at all - which is why I had to increase the height of my recliner by 6 inches. So no putting socks on without a 'sock aid', no tying shoelaces, no cutting toenails, difficulty when showering to reach feet to wash and dry them (someone said they used a hairdryer!), very hard to feed pets, and clean any spillages up off the floor.
Graham - 🚀💃
I was given 6 weeks of restrictions after each of my 3 hip surgerys - resurfacing via posterior approach , THR via lateral approach, Conversion of resurfacing to THR through old posterior scar. Does depend on your surgeon though. Ive moved to a normal height chair with a memory goam cushion after 6 weeks and the cushions gone at about 3 months . I bend to get things out if cupboards , at work and to feed animals but always do so with the operated leg elevated behind me . Ive swum and cycled after 6 weeks but was told not yo take up skiing , Ive gone rock climbing at 6 months post op - I dance always but carefully ! I always wear flat slip on shoes and cannot cross my legs and I get socks on by elevating the leg behind me , bending it at the knee and lasooing them on that way - or get partner to do it ( much easier!) 4 months sounds a long time but your body us healing , usually if something feels ok then it is - if it pulls or hurts its not ! Takes a long time to walk properly again and thats whete sticks etc are helpful - hope all this helps ! Xxx
You don't! Unless someone else does it for you. I used a sock aid to get the socks on and off. And I wore sandals with velcro that I could push down and pull up with my grabber. I don't think I cut my toenails for 10 weeks, even though my restrictions were lifted at 6 weeks. Some people get pedicures or have a podiatrist or a partner cut their nails. There is always that spectre of dislocation or tearing of repaired tendons/muscles if you break the rule, so that keeps us honest.
Thank you for your reply Kate. I am quite relieved that other people seem to be suffering from back pain, although I wouldn't wish it on anybody. I have recently seen the physio and she has had a good luck at me and said that she thinks, like you, that my body is adjusting to the op. Other joints are moaning a bit as well, and I have back thigh pain which is coming from my back. Unfortunately, I'm not allowed to swim, but will look at tai chi. I think I'm in for a long haul which I didn't expect. My hip joint appears to be OK, but it's definitely had a knock on effect on my back.
Thank you for your reply Rose. Have seen the physio and my hip joint is fine, but am having referred back pain which is also hurting my back thigh. Hopefully this is my body readjusting to the op, but I am still taking painkillers and to answer your question nobody mentioned the knock on effects of this op, although to be fair I guess not everyone gets them. I'm in for a long haul, which I didn't expect. I'm definitely nowhere near as good as I thought, but we have to carry on don't we.
Thank you for your reply Lisa. The back pain is awful isn't it, and I don't think it goes away overnight. Like you I am getting very disheartened as my hip joint is fine so the physio says, it's just the knock on effect of the op. Nobody mentions that this could happen. The only ray of light is this web site which is brilliant and to know that we are not alone. I'm hearing more and more that 12 months is the standard for getting really well again although I think some people are lucky and get better more quickly. We will have to try and keep positive although it is difficult at times.
So odd - I can't possibly be this different than all of you but I left the hospital with NO restrictions. None. I had home PT almost right away and in 3 weeks was going up and down stairs, strutting down the walk. Well... then I got depressed and stayed on the sofa for weeks and weeks. Undid all the progress I'd made. I get lower back pain as well. not severe - just after doing too much around the house in bending position. Rolling rug, wiping floor level things, bending to tuck in sheets, cause regular housework now is a giant mountain to climb. Anyway, I can't help much but just tossed in my 2 cents for the heck of it..