After having my hip replacement last April, I left hospital with a piece of paper, it had six basic exercises to do three times per day. Never offered any physio just left to get on with recovery alone.
My question is to those who are a few months into recovery. When lying on my side how far can I lift my leg up, is it safe to lift fairly high also, rolling down to hopefully, eventually touch the floor, is that safe.
I rang the physio department at the hospital sadly they were no help. Every question I asked I received the same answer "if it hurts stop" I wanted to know what progress I could expect in the near future.
I hope someone who maybe does yoga/pilates can help.
In the States under my insurance coverage I needed to have the surgeon write and order for PT. The bed exercises I got from the hospital were for the first 2-3 weeks before getting on with some more advanced work. Same with a release from precautions- 90 degree rule- that came from the doctor as well at about 6 week, although my procedure was a hip resurfacing not a replacement so could be different. Can't you make an appointment with the surgeon to get this addressed? Best wishes.
The hospital has a person who came around and set up the physical therapy at home for the first few weeks. After that either you should have continued at a physical therapy place or check with your doctor to see if you needed further therapy after your visit to the doctor. I had 2 1/2 weeks therapy at home. Then stopped and just did it on my own and did a lot of walking. Now it is 12 weeks and about 3 weeks ago started to go again because I am limping as of the end of July and sometimes you have to be the aggressive person. The doctors do not baby you. I find once the surgeon does his job he is through with you. They see you a few times and I don't think they like to hear if something is wrong. Call your doctor and get a prescription for therapy I a place convenient to your home. Everyone says it helps??? I am going twice a week and trying hard to be disciplined to do at home too. You need someone to show you how to do the exercises at the beginning. What state are you from?
I was told not to over do anything, until after 6months, i was told not to ever go over 90° angle, and don't cross my leg over one another, just listen to your body, give yourself time to heal 100%!
Yes the doctor has to write the prescription for PT. That is what mine did and friends had the same experience. Ask your surgeon.
Hi Jimbone,
It is not the same in the UK, because yours is dealt with by insurance you seem to get physio presumably because the insurance will pay. We cannot just ring up to make an appointment with the surgeon. Once operation is done, that is it for him.
Hi Jen, I started Pilates and yoga 4 months prior to my hip replacement to get fit for the op. I also did aqua fit and some gym based exercises. Pre op everything was very modified as I had a lot of pain in certain positions. I did whatever I could manage or adapted the moves. Post op I was able to do gym based circuit training at the physio dept of the hospital 2 weeks post op. The physios said this was unusual and most people are able to do the circuits at 4 weeks post op. The exercises were 10 different stations and it was 3 minutes per station, squats, stairs, kneeling and standing, walking sideways, walking machine, stationary bike, balance on a ball, walking in a straight line as if on a tightrope while catching a ball, adduction leg raises and a balance machine that was like a computer game. This was once a week until week 6 when I was discharged. From week 5, I started going to the gym 3 times a week and doing a routine based on what I did in physio plus I would do 20 minutes walking and various exercises like adduction and squats in the pool. At week 6 I started a six week Pilates course run at the physio dept of the hospital. This was one hour a week for 6 weeks, after which I returned to my normal pilates class. I was able to do forward bends from 6 weeks but advised to take things steady and not push myself too far. By 12 weeks I was easily able to do the forward bends. Now I do 4 Pilates and 1 yoga class per week as well as 4 aqua fit classes. My hip feels very strong and I’m able to do most moves but I listen to my body as things can differ from day to day. Somedays I can comfortably sit cross legged others I can’t so just adapt the positions. I’m stick to the lower levels of exercise rather than go for any extreme postures and avoid some postions completely if the look too risky. Some of the extreme balance positions in yoga for example. I dont want to risk falling. There is quite a bit of info online regarding hip replacement and pilates. Look for pilates bridge for example. The hospital I was at was part of the Circle group and the Pilates classes were open to patients who’d had surgery elsewhere. I had to pay privately for the classes but it was similar to the cost of classes anywhere else even though they were very small classes with really personalised attention. I think Nuffield hospitals also have gyms. You would probably find instructors there who have rehab expertise. I have been amazed at how much it’s possible to do in Pilates and yoga. There is another lady in my Pilates class who has just had her second hip replacement and is back at about 10 weeks post op and doing great.
All the best
Ann
Hi Das,
It does not work like that here, I did not see the surgron at my six week appointment, just one of his team. The next appointment is May 2019.
I exercise, I walk everyday and use my elliptical walker, I just do not know how high I can lift the leg safely and as I said they were no help at the hospital pyhsio department.
Hi Biggs,
I have never been told not to do anything, this is the problem. The doctor I saw at the 6 week appointment just said after the 12 week precaucations, take it easy for another 6 months.
90 Degree rule can be relaxed after 6 months -the hip should be stable by then - see graph.
I was able to get referred to a local fitness class run by local health club especially for rehab, and am now under close supervision there. I am just 7 weeks out, and already doing walking 5kph, rowing, leg strengthening and abductions as far as I can manage!
I believe pilates is good for core strength - I may give it a try.
Hi JenMy hip was done in the UK under the NHS. I did go to a physio a few times but had to pay. I think it is worth going a few times to make sure you are doing the right things.
I have 8 exercises in my booklet:
1 Thigh tightening
2 Hip Movement in lying (on back slide heel towards bum)
3 also on back move operated leg out to side as far as possible
4 Hip stretch (lie flat on back for 1/2 hour)
5 in standing lift knee towards chest
6 also standing move leg back as far as poss
7 move leg to side as far as poss
8 bend knee bringing foot up behind you.
There is a note on 2 and 5 not to bend hip more than 90 deg
But I think the sideways you can do as far as you like. In my case I can't really get to 45 deg
But if the op was in April you should be past the 90deg restriction by now and hopefully meeting your surgeon for a 6 month review (often 7 or 8) fairly soon.
Hope this helps
Mike
Thanks anniepaint, the exercises you were doing are amazing. I have done pilates for years along with aerobics. I am nowhere near doing that much, I cannot squat yet and I need to get more flexible. I do some floor exercises and include the bridge, plank and some others but, I am worried about lifting the leg to high.
Thank you for your answer, it gives hope to move on more.
Are you saying I can't bend to lower cupboards, bottom of fridge, freezer etc.
or bend to wash hair over the bath or have I misunderstood you?
Joint school told me I could resume these things after 6 weeks providing I'm careful
I live alone so 6 months would make things very difficult for me.
Hi. Can your doctor refer you for some physio?
Lying down and raising your leg is obv different to doing the exercise stood up when you put leg out to side.
Any class you go to if you tell them what you’ve had done they will advise limits for you until you build up
DAS where do you live? I live in U.K. There is no way I would ever get PT at home. I suppose I could pay for it separately. You say the surgeon sees you a few times! In your dreams where I live. One appointment in my case six months out lasting about five minutes. If I phoned up my doctor for therapy they would say go and sort something out yourself privately. Life with the NHS is very different from the US.
Hi Jen, I had my hip done on the NHS and was given a photocopy sheet of exercises when I went home. That was about it, or I wasn’t listening! Also discharge appointments to see physios, post operative nursing and surgeon so they could basically check everything is OK and discharge you from their care. I don’t remember being told anything about 90 degree rule, although the OT did tell me not to sit on a bench and slide along it. I learnt most of the information from this forum.
I had about the same as you ptolemy, I am learning from here, reading other people's experiences. I was not even given a discharge note,
Hi Jen, exercising in the pool REALLY helped especially with squats. One of the floor exercises that really helps is clams. I found it difficult to lift my leg too high but three sets of 10 - 15 clams daily helped strengthen my hip. I use bands now to create resistance. shoulder bridge is great too and Bird dog. PilatesBridge is a company that is worth looking up. They talk about post op hip replacement exercises.
Cheers
Ann
Graham, I am amazed you can use a rowing machine at 7 weeks, that is a surprise. Well done on how you have thrown yourself back into things so quickly maybe, it is because you are an old hand now after three ops.
Hi Michael,
There is no 6 month review, mine is 12 months! Those are pretty much the exercises I was given although you had a few more. The 90° was drummed into us in the hospital during my 2 day stay.
I still have a limp even though my legs now seem even for the first time in years. Just not sure about how far I can put leg out to the side and do a roll down. As I said physio were no help when I rang them.