Hi, new to this. I'm 49 and had right hip replaced on 12th August this year, 10 weeks come Wednesday. I was on crutches for 8 weeks as surgeon implanted ceramic whic required bone ingrowth in cup. Been walking around a mile 4/5 times a day, struggling for free movement. I am so stiff and when I get up I'm limping heavily and it's taking me about a dozen steps to walk as best as I can. I am miles away from my shoe laces, right now my pre op pain is gone, but my stiffness and movement is worse! Am I expecting to much? I have read so much about great at 6 weeks and so much about 6 months, appreciate everyone is different, but any similar experience on here? thanks
My RTHR will be 6 months on 24th. Your right we are all different, it's important to remember our bodies have spent a years compensating for our defective hips our pelvis and backs have taken the brunt of this defect and got used to being in a position or moving in a way that is jot natural and now every thing is trying to re learn what it should be doing muscles now not inly trying to recover from the trauma of the surgery but re learning to move as they were designed to. Make no mistake though hip replacements are routine they are still major surgery they have just chopped off the top of the biggest bone in the body and gionw through the biggest muscle group to get to it it needs time.
Yes I still find it difficult when I first stand and need a couple of steps before I can walk properly, my back is still incredibly painful much of the time, but I can walk pain free ( except that first step or two) last night I did the final week of learning tje cha cha ( next week start on the waltz) on Wednesday I did Pilates ( nearly kills me) but I know when it's just a bit hard cause my body has not done much over the last few years and when I shoud stop as I am trying something it's not ready for but am getting there, just give it time, don't think about whether it's a bit better than yesterday think is it better than last week last month last year what can I do now that I couldn't do a month ago .. Good luck x
Hi Jonn,
welcome to this wonderful forum of Hippies where we share our personal stories, victories, set backs, no matter how big or small -
Did you have your follow up appointment yet? If so, what were you told?
please do not compare yourself with others, not even us here on the forum -
You are right, we all are different and healing differently -
DO you have physical therapy ?
Are you walking outside without aids ? to me it feels as if the 4-5 times walks a day might be too much right now, especially when your gait might still be off and unbalanced ( Limping) .. this puts a strain on your body and the fragile state of your muscles and tendons ...
our body is learning to walk again, properly and correct -
10 weeks is still early in recovery - my surgeon told me that it might take 12-18 months (eeeeek) to be full healed -
Have you watched this surgery on YouTube? not for the weak of stomach though, but after I saw what a major surgery this actually is, I was so much more understanding what had been done - I was humbled ....
Are you still taking pain meds?
sorry for asking so many questions ...
listen to your body and be very gentle with your self -
Tender Loving Care
big warm hug
renee
Jon - you are being impatient, - I remember with my first THR I could walk to corner store by week twelve, 400 yards, I felt fantastic but for soreness in other hip, and doctor suggested I may be overdoing it. He was right, I tore out the cartlidge in the other hip, by week thirteen, that put a stop to my walking for another 12 weeks while the cartlidge healed, sort of. Then I required a left hip replacement, I have been struggling since as I have a length discrepancy, but am now making progress with advice from good physio, I am now at week 32, and just starting to make progress, I apparently fall into a small group about 5% of patients who have real problems. I have found swimming (in a heated pool) is one of the treats of my life, non weight bearing exercise, But you MUST CHECK WITH GP BEFORE ENTERING WATER, THE CHANCE OF INFECTION IS HUGE, I do my post THR exercises and then tread water for an hour, It is not a sprint, but a marathon. Slow down a little, do your post hip surgery exercises, leg swinging to the side, and backwards, (on a step is good), knee lifts, hang onto kitchen bench close, make like you are sitting down, in chair, push back up, you are using your own weight as exercise.(be careful) don't overdo this exercise. Remember you have been seriously wrenched around to dis-locate that hip, When you have strained a muscle previously do you heal quickly or slowly, take that as a guide, Dr once told me 6 weeks to heal a strained muscle, and 12 weeks to heal a torn ligament, or cartlidge. He was right, I have expericenced both. and yes you will get better, and yes you will be able to do up your laces, it does take time.
Dear Jonno,
i am a fit 64 year old woman and I had my ceramic and polythene hip replacement just over a year ago. I have felt 'near fully recovered' for about a month and next week I am going on an adventure trip involving trekking, swimming, canoeing and kayaking. I haven't been able to so much physical activity for at least the last 4 years but I am confident that I will be able to have a great time. At 10 weeks I had the pain on first starting walking and groin pain if I did too much. Cut down on the walking. I think about 3 miles a day is probably enough but try exercising in the pool. I did about an hour or two every day. Going through the exercise routine and walking in the water, forwards and backwards, and building up stamina swimming. Much better than all your exercise being weight bearing.
my recovery has gone in phases as each muscle etc has been healing. Keep going and don't get despondent. You really do come out the other side. Best wishes, Betty
Excellent comment Betty!
Hi Renee, you are so right, I think at almost 4 weeks I was doing good, but you bring up some very valed points, I think I'm going to have a long way from walking with out any help, so many years with 2 bad knees Hip's, & back, I'm still using my rollater & cane. Nice responce for John though !! & me & my future questions 
Ty.
Hi Jonno, I'm 4 weeks almost & I have arthritis all through my body, & just had 2 knee replacements almost 1 year & the left THR is my new part, so I think age does not matter I'm 54 & was always very active, but have back problems to go along with everything else.
you are doing a lot of walking, maybe ease up on that, have you tried swimming ? or when you see your PT or Dr. again let them know, also, if stiffness is that bad did you ever get tested for arthritis ? Hope you can get some relief, but the stiffness is my concern for you, I wake up every day with it, it takes forever to become mobile & I have been on all the anti-inflamitories, celebrex was given to me the night before my surgery, & I had been on it for years, it does help.
Take care & all the best to come.
Dear jonno
Am 33 and had RTHR 4 months before i can not tied my shoe and using stick for walk
Hope you will be ok
Hi
To me it sounds like you are doing amazingly well for only 10 weeks post op! I'm all for getting going but it sounds like you may be doing too much walking? As the others say it is important not to compare ourselves as all of our recovery is unique but at 10 weeks I was walking maybe 300 meters a day!
Good luck
Ella X
Hello Jonn,
I know how you feel...it's very easy to get caught up in comparing our progress with that of others on this forum, but like everyone else is telling you, no two recoveries are the same. I had my THR (broken femur/ball and acetabulum from a terrible fall) the week before your surgery. My surgeon told me it would be a full 3 month recovery and then it would still "feel different" (not quite sure what he meant by that). I'm only 59 and was very active before but still cannot walk anything near to a mile. So, you're doing great! My physicall therapist said I should use my cane (stick) to keep me from limping when I walk. I'm told it's better to walk correctly than far/fast. I cannot tie my left shoelace, either and still have stiffness and pain, so you're not alone! But please don't get discouraged! I joined this support group to connect with others who have gone through what we have and have found tremendous support. Hang in there and don't over-do! One day you will look back at this as a distant memory...
I am almost to 6 weeks and still using two crutches- but putting more weight on my operated leg each day... still have pain when I stand up or do too much. I feel like I should be doing better but then I remember what his surgery IS- what it looks like- and I cut myself some slack... the pain is more discomfort now and is not all the time- way better than before surgery... it's a process... hang in there.
Thanks Jody,
i have read a number of your comments on this forum and always think you speak common sense too. I usually try to post when I feel I have something constructive to add. I am having a great time on my trip, by the way, and today walked up a steep sand dune, it was hard but I felt quite a sense of achievement.
Best wishes, Betty
Dear ginger
I think it is early so try to not over do
Good luck my dear
Big hug
This post has given me renewed hope. I'm pleased with the results of my op from the point of view the arthritis pain gas gone, but my mobility seems much worse.
had my op on 7th October so just 2 weeks ago I can walk with crutches but no chance without. I can only describe it as staggering when I try to walk without them.
im doing the exercises daily but really thought I would be walking better by now
I learnt something new today, or had it explained so I could understand better. I have a leg length discrepancy, partially natural and partially caused by my surgery. Physio explained I must walk straight and not lean to the side I favor, and or limp. He said long term I will wear down one side of my vertabrae in my back, and I will then have major problems. He explained that bone is living tissue just like muscles and it can over time adapt to what it thinks is the new normal. He also explained speed does not matter, its all to do with walking very slowly if needs be, and standing straight, and getting husband to correct me if I am cheating, and not to get cranky with him when he does correct me.
Hi jonno
I am 11 weeks post op and I put a post on here last
week almost the same but realised after some honest
replying I was really doing quite well
Try to think what you can do and not what you can't
I can't do my sock or my lace on my op leg yet and still
have to stand and think about my first steps if I've been
sat awhile as the day goes on when I've done exercises
I notice I move alot better so these exercises must
work
Don't be afraid of pain killers I don't need them most days
but I don't hesitate if I do
dear dalmation -
walking without crutches 2 weeks post-op is really too soon ...
just think about it what your body went through and especially your leg/hip - it is so fragile right now and putting pressure on it too soon might inhabit the healing - maybe even damage it ...
listen to your body and be gentle with your self ...
one day at a time, one step at a time ...
you are doing great ....
big warm hug
renee
Thank you so much for your words of wisdom. I know you're right but sometimes I get terrified I'll never walk properly again and lose my job etc etc.
im going to try and be more patient x
Did I read that right, you thought that only two weeks post op you would be walking with NO aids (crutches, cane, walker/Zimmerman/frame)?
I walked without aids between weeks 4 and 5.