I'm in to my 5th week of recovery after having my left hip replaced, I'm now walking with one stick but still limping, which my phisio says is normal, but I am now experiencing pain in my right hand side down my waist it feels like I've been kicked, is anyone else having this problem, I'm not sure if it's because of the weight I'm putting down on my stick
It takes time for the muscles to strengthen and repair in the mean time other muscles have to suuport you and you end up with all sorts of aches especially if you are walking with a stick it puts thru the weight on that side. Some people recover quickly usually because there overall fitness and weight is good and maybe they are younger.
The main thing is to get your posture upright and with the help of the physio your muscles will strengthen.
Hi there. I wonder if you might be better sticking with crutches. The advice I was given was to stick with the crutches for six weeks. Especially when walking outside. Crutches allow the weight to be distributed more evenly.
Thank you I'm 58 and like to think I'm in good health I'm not overweight at 9st 6, maybe over doing it my husband says I'm trying to run b4 I can walk
Yes Jan I can see what you mean, I will go back to my crutches for a while, thank you
Absolutely...i only used one stick for a few days and physio said do without as it makes you limp!!, So I did...and never looked back!
Congratulation u made it tru the surgery and in PT. ITS QUITE A FEAT TO GET THRU.. IT TAKE ALL THE PHYSICAL & emotional strength to continue thru until the muscles are back. Sending healing prayers UR way.
KEEP UP THOSE BUTT SQUEEZES...
(( hugs ))
I agree that you might need to go back to using both crutches. My therapist told me it's much better to stay on crutches or a walker as long as it takes to walk without a limp. Limping can become a much longer term problem that's harder to correct so use whatever you need to distribute your weight evenly to avoid a limp. The muscles will get stronger soon.
Thank you Cindy
Did you not use anything to walk with .
Thank you yes I'm going to keep the exercises going
2 crutches for 6 weeks..couldn't weight bear for 6 weeks as femur cracked during op and had to be wired...at 6 week review surgeon said...use one crutch until you feel comfortable but a few fays later physio said ditch that too!! I think its 17 or 18 weeks now and about 99% back to normal!
My wife (74) had a full left hip replacement a year ago. She is delighted with the result. Being determined to make progress she did all that she was told to do by the surgeon and perhaps more importantly by the physio.
Before needing a hip operation patients tend to favour that side and consequently become 'unbalanced. After the op the difficulty is then to reverse the damage done to all the muscles by not walking correctly. So the physio had my wife repeatedly walking tall - that is trying to push her head up into the ceiling as she walked. I noticed immediately how much difference that made and she felt it too. Although it meant having to think about doing that every time she was on her feet moving about it paid dividends. Crutches disappeared after a week; the amount of physio work was reduced to a minimum; my wife recovered faster than the vast majority of patients.
So I do wonder about the advice you were given and the quality of the physio you have seen. I hope the surgeon showed you the scans before and after which as well as being interesting do confirm everything is in order. Full hip replacements are so common today and surgeons can specialise in just that operation which tends to mean complete success is normal. You should not be limping so I would suggest you go back to see the surgeon.
Hi Janice,
How long did you suffer before you got your hip replaced. I only waited about a year. I did not have a right side pain. Above your hip, a pain in the side? How bad is it? Is is constant, keep you up at night?
One thing I foucsed on from the very first steps were to walk with a straight back, to not ever hunch over.
I'm ding good at 7 1/2 weeks. Just still some slight pain, but not even taking anything for it. I think the iron pills I was prescribed really helped me bring me back to an acceptable energy level.
One thing I will mention that I don't think anybody has is about the incision. After the nurses took the staples out my physical therapist started massaging the incision when he massaged my legs. The scar still feels kind of thick, but after I let my PT go I have kept up massaging that incision site. It' s better than what it was, so hopefully as time goes on it will thin out.
Janice, I forgot to add, I went from the walker, to just a few days on the crutches and then nothing, I never went through a cane phase.
Hi Jodi yes I was the same I waited about a year, no the pain does not keep me awake at night, it's just when put any pressure on it through walking with one stick, so I am going to go back to using 2crutches for a week to try and balance my self. I have no other pain my scar is fine and I haven't taken any pain killers for a couple of weeks. I go back to my surgeon on the 1st July it will be 6weeks then since I had my op. I'm doing my excersices 3 times a day with lots of butt squeezes!! I know it can take up to a year to get back to full fitness
My goodness your wife got on really well to be able to walk unaided after 1 week, she must be the exception to the rule good for her! I have gone back to to using 2crutches for a while to rebalance myself and am walking tall like your wife, so hope fully by the time I go to see my surgeon on 1st July I will be walking a lot better,
Well, Janice, she may be but I can say it is all down to positive thinking. As soon as she knew that the operation was to take place she increased her activity to make sure all her muscles were in as good a condition as possible. She did as recommended by the medics and as soon as she was clear of the anaesthetic she began exercising in bed. They had her on her feet the next day and she determined to walk further than they said while being careful to do it as directed. Every day she was progressing further than expected and so able to come home early.
I do not want to sound critical but the medics did say that the biggest problems they have are down to people who are too cautious, too unwilling to try more and very reluctant to accept advice.
Very much the same happened when she broke her left wrist. We saw so many others in the trauma clinic who seemed to think their arms, hands, legs and whatever would drop off if they moved them. While they were going back week after week for more treatment my wife was making such good progress that she did not even need physio attention. Positive thinking does play a part in our lives.
You should not have any pain after this amt of time.. PLZ see UR dr. Immediately. Ak for testing a cat scan to see the soft tissue and a X-ray to make sure the joint is secure.
many with pain never make the drs who perform these surgeries responsible for any follow up later in the recovery. That has got to stop. Ther must be continuous follow up and checks this is not fail safe surgery. Fight back make the time to push for answers before the issue becomes a life long health struggle.
thru 3 THR I could wite a book about the lack of care & follow up recalls br manuf. and the hospitals involved.. These are my truths and my facts.. I am in a clas action law suit for recall... But going to file against the drs... Hospitals thru the state... That's what dr have insurance for malpractice and just plain bad policies vs bad surgeons...
I'm not in any pain where I had my hip replaced my treatment and surgeon were 1st class the discomfort is from my opposite side where I put pressure on my stick while walking, it's around my waist so I am walking with 2 crutches again to rebalance myself, I see my surgeon in 2weeks so will seek advice from him if no better.