I joined the formum just after I got home from hospital after having a right THR. I am just six weeks post op and am generally doing well. I went to Physio today and after giving me a couple more exercises to do (one of which would you believe is a one legged squat which is actually quite painful to do) my physio sessions have finished. One question I forgot to ask is about going up and down stairs. Up till now I have been doing the up with good and down with the bad, one step at a time. When can I start to go up and down stairs like I used to eg left on one step then right foot on the next step?
Hi Linnet, I think I could do that by week three. To be honest I was very much 'lead' by the operated leg. When I could lift it high enough to get on the step I used it (pulling on the banisters as required). Sometimes I'd find by the evening I had to revert to the one step at a time because I was tired and sore.
PS a one leg squat sounds hard core. Perhaps use a wall against your back for support until you get your strength up?
I agree with Jennifer, a one legged squat is hard core and I don't think that is a regular post op exercise. That could be very damaging to your new hip and if it's painful you should not do it. Things get better everyday so just take the stairs how is easiest for you.
I am 8 weeks post op and can go up the stairs one after the other starting with the good one, but going down is still scary for me. I think it's all in my head, so i still go down one at a time. Me, personally would not be doing one leg squats if they were painful. to risky in my opinion. there are so many other excercises that can be done risk free. best of luck to you. Ginny USA
Thanks to you all for the advice. I have just tried going up a couple of steps with the operated leg and it was a bit sore so think I will try doing a couple to begin with like an exercise and aim to build up to all the stairs over the next few days. I am def going to give the one leg squats a miss at least for the moment, as you say I don't want to damage my new hip.
Like you ...for 6 weeks I did....the good one goes to heaven and the bad one goes to hell....way of goingup the stairs
By 6 weeks I was trying to go normally.......sometimes if I was sore I reverted to the good /bad way....I think just listen to your body, not wht anyone says you should be doing.
I am 12 weeks post op and I am going up and down stairs normally now, although I do still think about it when I am coming down. If I have to go up large steps, I still usually do it one at a time, but ordinary stairs are fine. You will get there. I hope you are not squatting too low, as I was told I should never crouch down again as it bends the hip too far. I would really give that a miss if I were you.
Hello Linnet, I found that using a 2-3 inch exercise step helped me. Step up, step down - over and over. It is just a boring exercise but my hip doesn't hurt as much doing real stairs. Make sure to work your glutes during any movement.
What a great idea Sandy thanks for that. 😀 I've got a Wii fit step that I used to use so I'm going to try that. I haven't used it for ages since my hips been so bad.
Since it didn't hurt to use the small step i of course overdid it the first day cause I was so happy. Leg hurt a lot that night but I eased back a bit and now it is just part of my daily routine. GL!