Hi - I’ve just found this amazing forum and wondered if anyone else can relate to my situation.
i had a total hip replacement and am 8 weeks in recovery. I was using a stick in the 8 months up to my op and was in terrible pain before i finally broke it.
Anyway, I can get around on one crutch mostly but need 2 to go out with. Groin is so tight and painful and limp is like a comedy one. I have no muscle tone but am doing my physio at home. Access to support isnt there anymore of course so i am frustrated, depressed and desperate to know if i am likely to improve? Anyone else had same experiences? I am only 46 with 2 young boys and i feel my life is pointless.
Kirsty
I am 10 months now and know on this site some will have great experiences while others struggle before and after with fitness and muscle strength. I would say a lot of your issue stems from the mobility before the op and it will take time to build up . Be patient and religiously do your exercises. All the muscles are important to make you walk properly ie the backside the thighs etc . Trust me it will get better but does take effort . keep chin up .
if you are limping that much your hip needs a break. go back to crutches for 3 or 4 days rest don't do any exercise but just walk and light stretching get early nights sleep drink water 8 weeks is nothing it takes about 3 months to recover don't be so hard on yourself...... and don't as much as you want to....don't pick up the kids xxx cuddle cuddle cuddle xxx
yes I agree with Keith .
good luck
Hi Kristy Im 8 wks post op THR and i haven't been using crutches since week 6 . I haven't been able to go to physio so found some exercises online which have been good . Im 49 . I can send link for excercise if you like. Keep your chin up things will improve with time 🙂.
Hi. Although I didnt have a hip replacement I had a fall and broke the neck of my femur. I was using a walking frame for at least 3 months before I used a walking stick. Its now been 13 months since my op, but until about 11 mths I still had a limp. If I walk around for too long, my leg gets tired but I have no swelling or any obvious pain. I did Physio for the first 3 months,but just kept up my walking, even if it was just to go window shopping. It would be challenging to have to cope with children , but as I live on my own I had other issues to deal with. Just try not to rush your recovery. Take care.
So sorry to hear you're having this problem. Have you had your follow up appt with your consultant, even if it's a phone consultation? Contact your GP too. You can contact your consultant via their secretary or directly as I did for advice.
Hope things better for you.
hi Linda, i also broke neck of femur 14 weeks ago but im struggling as im disabled already with mobility problems. Im getting groin pain and knee pain but do manage to walk around with my rollator. I was due to have xrays last week but it was cancelled and i just keep worrying if somethings wrong as pain can be bad at times and my bottom leg and foot still swells a lot during the day. Did your recovery go well or did you experience these problems. I think i worry about the hip not healing as i read to much on Google.
Hi Kirsty, 8 weeks is still early days. As the others gave said, keep on doing your exercises, and walk as much as you can with your crutches, your muscles should get stronger and stronger. I was lucky, I had a relatively easy recovery. I just had 1 physio appointment at 6 weeks, and they kept my crutches. Initially after that, I was limping a lot, but it gradually got better. I remember feeling fed up, wondering whether I would ever walk normally again. It just takes time. Walk as much as you can. Concentrate on walking heel to toe. Good luck!
Hi Mandy. I remember reading your earliar posts. The first couple of months were a struggle, not being strong enough to catch public transport with my walker. A few months later, I made sure I got out and about as much as possible more so for my mental well being than anything else. The actual wound site is as good as gold, never had problems with that. Although, my inner thigh muscle had some tightness and yes my ankle did swell up if I walked around too much. Going window shopping for me was like a four/ five hr outing counting travel time and stopping for a pot of tea!!! Anyway, yes Im feeling good now, just the occasional twinge of a thigh muscle. Had my last xray in February and specialist was very impressed with the way it was healing and knitting together, as their was a chance that if the blood supply was inadequate to the head of the femur I would of been looking at a hip replacement!!! So, the moral is keep moving as much as possible. Take care.
Thank you everyone for all your kind and very encouraging words. I really appreciate your advice and will take it all on board.
Hi Kirsty,
You really need to walk heal to toe, it does help do much with the limping. Getting a secondhand exercise bike or elliptical walker will help to build muscle, exercise is the best thing for pain.
Hi Kirsty,
I'm 42 and had a hip replacement almost 5 months ago. I still limp after a few yards of walking without a stick, but the limp has improved massively since around the 14 week mark, and so I'm hopeful that it will completely disappear over the next few months. I feel that my recovery has been very slow and having read that most people are recovered at 12 weeks (or earlier) was really stressing me out. I did all of the physio etc. until 12 weeks but got so fed up with lack of progress I stopped, and now only occasionally do the exercises to measure progress....which has continued and I can do lots of things now that I couldn't do at say 12 weeks.
Anyway, all I'm trying to say is that I felt as you describe, but I now know that I will shake off the limp soon. Try not to worry, it'll come good in the end.
Thank you so much Michelle, that has given me some much needed hope. I had a set back yesterday getting out of the shower, a very loud 'pop' followed by very deep pain. Surgeon told me to go straight to ED and they were waiting for me. Lots of xrays and they said hip looked fine but it was likely i had torn a major muscle in thigh. So i am back to square one. No choice but to rest this in a full leg brace. I feel very frustrated but at least hip ok! Hope you are well and staying safe & continuing to improve a little more every day xx
Hi Andrea - yes please to your offer of sending me the link to the exercises you have done. I havent been able to access physio and the exercises given at hosp were ok but i would like to see what else is working for you. Many thanks Andrea xx
Oh I'm so sorry Kirsty. Good that you got your hip checked and it's ok. Take it steadily, and I hope you soon feel more comfortable, best wishes, Judith
thank you Judith. Having this op has been the most stressful thing i have ever been through. I never expected the groin pain, leg numbness etc.... I just want my old life back where i was pain free & a happy Mummy to my boys. All i seem to do is cry. They are too young to see their Mummy like this. Thank you for your message, means a lot that you are out there. xxx
Hi Kristy I'll see how my computer skill go and send them through asap ♥️
Hi Kristy Here is the link it's a booklet you download let me know if it doesn't work 🙂. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://sunnybrook.ca/uploads/1/programs/holland-centre/hip-replacement/pr-99507-x-weightbearing-as-tolerated-2-.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwj7zu7up_PoAhWVxTgGHYO5CkYQFjAPegQIARAB&usg=AOvVaw1DqbZaER2g-WU28jfTGgYZ
Or type in Total hip replacement exercise booklet. Sunnybrook Hospital . 😘