I Had a full rhr 16 weeks ago. After 12 week chevk up was then advised I need physio as I couldnt put full weight on operated leg and if I walk without crutch I have a limp. Physio gave me 1 appointment and not to go back for a month. Getting so annoyed now after doing the excercises for 4 weeks still got limp. Any advicr?
I had 6?week check up yesterday doc said I need physio for my limp so referred me . Let me know how you get on
Will do Mary. Hope physio helpd you. Its annoying as mo pain now just this
Don't know your circumstances but have you thought going to a private physio ?
Hi Marie:
Try swimming. Also walk in the water as deep as it can be for you to walk without a limp. Gradually walk into shallower water, as shallow as you can go without causing a limp. Do it gradually without overdoing it and within a few weeks you should see an improvement. What I mean is, if your pool is graduated from shallow to deep, then walk across the pool, back and forth at the depth that works for you. If the limp returns, move a little deeper. This allows you to try a little harder each day so your improvement will be continual. As a natural part of healing, you should be pleased with your progress. I am cheering for you.
Mikey
Cheers Mikey I will try that
Hello Marie, I'm 4 months post op - I have a limp but that is because I have a 'functional' leg length difference. But I can certainly relate. Personally I appreciate a physio who will give me exercises and say come back in a month. Do the exercises. Hopefully they are glute intensive. I am focusing on clamshells, hip bridges and side leg lifts - anything that works the glutes. It just takes times for some of us to reset back to normal. Folks here say it could take a year. I'm frustrated by that but it is what it is. Sadly we are not in the 95% who fly through this op with no issues.
Sandy
Hi Marie: There may be another reason for the limp. My leg feels shorter than the other by about 1 1/4 inches. When I stand straight it doesn't touch the floor. When I lay on my bed and put my legs together the feet don't touch in the same place. The injured one definitely appears shorter. I thought that I was wearing the bone out. When I saw my X-ray, I understood, because my pelvis is not perpendicular to the spine. One side is higher than the other. This is why I limp, not because the leg is shorter. Before my operation I am going to a chiropracter to straighten the pelvis. And after the operation when I am healed enough to tolerate the adjustment, I intend to have it done again, so I can start out straight.
You can check this on yourself by lying on the bed and feeling wher your heels touch. It might be an option for you besides the exercises. I have seen the operations on video. Some types require the dislocation of the hip. They also use a heavy mallet to pound the acetabular cup into the pelvis. Both of those could affect the alignment of the pelvis and hence the limp on the injured leg. A lot of people complain about the limp afterward. Maybe this is why. And a visit to the chiropracter is an easy fix.
​Mikey
Mikey - Please followup after you thr and chiropractor appt. I have the same leg length as you (standing on R leg and L leg is 1" off the floor) but my op leg is longer. My chiropractor says I am adjusted correctly but I still have pelvic obliquity (term coined by my surgeon). I have seen 2 chiros and 2 PT's and have had a 2nd opinion by another surgeon. I think I just have to wait it out and hope things 'fall into place', although no one can really say what could be wrong.
What I have is a 'functional' difference, which is not so common. Many people have what they call perceived LLD which is just the 'feeling' that 1 leg is longer. Perceived many times goes away after several weeks. And this is different then 'actual', which is where the leg lengths really are different. That is how it was explained to me by my surgeon.
Anyway - sorry if that is too much info. All the best Marie - please let us know how you fare.
I shall try and do as you suggest.
The only thing the doctor is changing is the cup and ball. They can measure off the X-ray when you first visit. Then they can use real time x-ray to make sure everything is proper before they close up the wound. A slight difference is okay. You can adjust that with an insole of proper thickness. But a 1" difference is not in the ball park. That is ridiculous. That is not a surgeon.
I told my doctor that I would like both legs to be the same length when he was done. But he told me that hip stability is more important than leg length, and I had to agree with him. But it would be a small amount, not 1" or 25 mm.
So, I do hope it works in for you. Don't fall too hard.
Mikey