hi there,
Had right hip replacement July 2018. whilst new hip has been successful, i have been left with a lot of discomfort on right side. i cannot put all of my weight onto this side and therefore limp slightly. my left hip is starting to go and will need to be replaced in few years. i have joined Slimming World to try to at least lose some weight. What else can i do to alleviate my pain?
Hello Allison, Sorry to hear that you are still in recovery mode at this stage. I had a hip replacement twenty four years ago and it was a brilliant success but a couple of years ago due to the poly cup having worn right through I had to have it revised and the recovery was again very quick and I am fortunate to not even be aware of my new hip.
The only reason for saying all this is that I hope you will give some credibility to what I’m going to say and you won’t like it much but you will thank me in a month or so!
your problem is weak muscles and the fact that your body has not got used to walking with a good strong and well balanced. gait and you need to address this. The way to do it is to use both crutches and really concentrate on walking well until the time comes that you no longer need them to walk in a strong and balanced way. Check your walking in shop windows and ask friends to watch you. Unfortunately many medical professions have a tendency to get people to move onto one or no crutches too soon.
There you are I told you that you wouldn’t like it and I suspect that you will carry on and not do as I’m. suggesting! Oh well hopefully there will be enough people here who will benefit.
Best wishes and please let me l ow how you get on. Cheers, Richard
tylenol. Perhaps see your surgeon for a scan or MRI. Did you gave any surgery after the surgery?
many thanks for replying. i was advised by physiotherapist to ditch crutches after about 6 months!! saw another physiotherapist as i suffered then with sciatica. he helped a bit by pressing on nerves in several sessions.Although not totally cured i just take painkillers as and when necessary; trouble with these is they space you out a bit! Thanks anyway for your advice.
Alison
hi Alison
I am just past 3 weeks after my THR and I tend to agree with Richard in that building muscle on your operated side is crucial . you tend to get the weakness and limp prior to surgery and it is hard to get away from unless a lot of work to correct . I went to see a physio earlier in the week to discuss getting back to running and she was great and did point out a bit of weakness in my operated side and if I had started running again in a few weeks with this it would throw me out of sync and cause pain . I am walking well with no limp but I was running right up until the day before surgery .
every hospital and consultant seems to work and advise differently! Didi you have a twelve month check up and did you say anything then? I didn’t get any physio after my THR in March apart from an exercise sheet, but I did pay to see a private physio as I wanted to get back to pilates. She commented on the weakness on my operated side but gave me the go ahead. I do get some discomfort and am aware of “something different” around my hip every day, but no pain. If I intend walking a lot, I always take a folding walking stick and use it as soon as I get an ache. This always eases it. I find it also to remember the “heel toe” walking movement. It makes you really focus.
Well all I can say is that when something is not working perhaps you need to try something different! Good luck. Richard
I agree concentrate on walking and strength exercises
I still have to take painkillers when sore , sometimes you just have to .
hope you recover well
Angela
sorry, dont quite understand your question. I had 12 month x-ray of hip and all seemed fine, but bottom of spine showed wear and tear ( normal apparently!). Am now arthritic in lower back + stiffness due to this!