I had my THR exactly three weeks today and I've been recovering really well to the extent I'm already walking without sticks although I do use one to get up and down stairs.
I walk around my local neighbourhood for about 30 minutes each morning and afternoon without sticks. I don't have a limp and I can walk quite normally but I do have some discomfort in my replacement hip area. It's not so much a pain (like I had before the operation) but more like a soremess or ache which is no worse when I walk for the 30 minute period.
I'm assuming this is due to the soft tissue around the hip rather than anything wrong with the new hip itself--this forum is so good because we've all been through the same operation so I'm hoping some of you will have experienced the same and can assure me that what I'm experiencing is normal after three weeks.
Hi Don - I'm not sure I would call it normal! You really seem to be ahead of the curve that most people experience on this journey. Formidable! as my grandpapa used to say. 😊
General soreness is quite reasonable for this operation. It really is serious - check out the video clips on YouTube if you haven't -the sheer force needed to dislocate and reassemble the hip is quite something. And as noted by others - 20+ sets of muscles and other connective tissues need to heal after this surgery - not to mention the need for the bones to grow around the implant.
So ... I think you are doing spectacularly!
Good job.
Please keep up with this type of positive report - very encouraging as I am getting my second hip in three weeks.
Cheers.
L
Hi Don, Your progress is fantastic, I started walking with a cane about 6 weeks after surgery, I just saw my Dr. and he told me to come back when my 3 1/2 months are over. He said he did not want me walking without my cane until them. I really don't want to at this stage since i have a pronounced limp. I also have a build up of scar tissue which is painful, so I am continuing my therapy exercises on my one as well as massaging my hip daily. Very happy to hear you have had such great recovery. God bless.
I am six weeks post op and only just stopped the use of a crutch when outside. If I walk more than 30 mins I get sore so yes it's normal but you have done amazingly well to be at this stage already. Careful not to overdo it though - your body needs to rest too.
Hi there, it's 3 weeks since my Thr. I am getting about rather nicely with one stick. I am walking just over 1 mile a day with my dog. I feel I have been given another chance, the pain I suffered before my op was unreal. I only have a bit of soreness now which I can easily put up with. For two days now I habe Been getting round the house with no stick, mind you I do waddle round. Time is a great healer and we all heal at different rates. It's one of the best things I've ever done. Good luck with your recovery.
Thanks Nige, you are at the same stage as me and, like you, I'm delighted at the result of the THR--my only big problem is sleeping at night but I understand this is normal so i suppose I'm going to have to put up with it for a while longer.
Thanks Sarah, I think you're right about overdoing things but I'm so bored sitting at home my daily walks are what I look forward to!
Thanks Connie, as others have said we all progress at different rates but this forum is an excellent place to communicate with people going through the same recovery. Good luck.
Hi Linda, thanks for your reply. I'm not sure I could face looking at the operation video so I'll take your word about what happens!! I think my soreness around the hip is down to the 20 plus sets of muscle and connective tissue still healing---I suppose 3 weeks is a bit early to experience no reaction at all.
Good luck with the second hip in three weeks. Thankfully my other hip is fine.
Don
Hi Don, yep, the sleep side is the down side. I think I can speak for just about everyone on here. We all. Suffer the poor sleep at the start, but I'm assured it does get better. It's a small price to pay for the relief.
Hi don glad to hear your doing so well I'm 4 weeks post last weds and I'm also doing well walking 2 - 3 miles daily and doing 4 miles twice a day on exercise bike which is great for building those muscles back (tip if your going on bike set seat high enough so you dont break the 90 degree rule) staying on one crutch until my follow up at 6 weeks as the healing is still going on deep inside keep up the good work
Jeff
Thanks Jeff, I don't have an exercise bike but I am able to get out of the house for my walks.
You say you're still using the crutch until your 6 week check-up but is that what you were told to do by the surgeon/PT? When I phoned my PT after 2 weeks to ask what my sticks are for she said they are to provide stability and prevent falls. She said as long as I don't limp and am stable when walking I don't need the sticks. So I assume from that I'm not doing the hip or surrounding tissue any harm by walking un-aided?
Hi don I'm staying on sticks as my op was bit more complicated as I fell 2 years ago had pins and plate fitted so the had to take them out 1st also I was on crutches for last 8 months so just been extra cautious I'm walking around house unaided but after a while start to limp my pt said just do what my body feels so I can't see your doing nothing wrong keep up the good work
Hi Don,
I had to THR 4 weeks ago yesterday. I too am doing well. According to my Fitbit but I am doing between 6000 to 8000 steps a day which is about 3-4 miles.
I no longer wear the dreadful socks as I hate them and it has been too hot and I am too vain, plus I feel I am being pretty active. So I religiously take my blood thinning pill and maybe just a couple of paracetamol a day.
This last week I dispensed with my sticks although I believe I am meant to use one for about 6 weeks. It was great, no limp and walking felt fine until I started to get a few odd twinges in my groin, so I have gone back to one stick and the groin niggle seems to have disappeared.
I have minor discomfort around the incision site but the ache and weird feeling is decreasing every day.
My right knee aches a bit and is still very bruised. I think the IT band is very tight and a bit stressed.
I go up and down stairs one foot at a time just holding on to the banister. Going one foot after the other is a bit too uncomfortable at the moment.
Generally I feel great and am sleeping well. The most irritating thing is having people say 'aren't you doing well' and then in the next breath say darkly, 'are you sure you are not doing too much?' You can't win!
Next week I want to try the static bike at the gym and maybe try some exercises in the pool now that the insidious has healed.
What will be great is being able to put on my walking boots and going for a good stiff walk involving a hill or two. However, taking it one day at a time, it will be great when I can put my socks and shoes doing up the laces on my right trainer all by myself rather than my lovely husband doing it for me!
Onwards and upwards as they say.
Best wishes,
Marion
Ha! Ha! Typing this on 'Notes' and then copying and pasting is much, much easier!
Hi Don: For only being three weeks post op sounds like you are doing fantastic. You are already where it takes many of us a long long time to accomplish. Happy you are doing so well and of course some pain in the hip area is normal. It is still healing and it takes quite a while to get over. Keep up the good work. Barb
Thanks marion, so glad that you are doing well. You're lucky to be sleeping well as that is a problem for me---I just can't get used to sleeping on my back so I'm up half the night resulting in me being tired during the day.
I can't really complain though as I'm walking around like you and so pleased to have gor rid of that OA pain.
Hi Barb, thanks for your reply. As I said in my intial post I am now experiencing some pain in hip area but hopefully, as you say, it is still healing.
Re sleep ... if it continues , try using melatonin if okay with your gp. My surgeon recommended it and I had used for long distance travel previously so felt good trying it to straighten out my sleep routine. It helped falling sleep a lot but I still ended waking like everyone else for the loo trips and cramps in my legs.
Good luck.
L