hip replacement

Bones, joints and muscles
1

3 weeks ago my 79 year old mum had a hip replacement previously she was using exercise pedals which she found helped with her swollen legs .since the op her legs have swollen really bad hiw long before she can use exercise pedals agsin

2

My goodness, 3 weeks is very on in a hip replacement recovery. My legs often still swell up at 9 weeks post op . It's such huge surgery, many cut muscles, tendons not forgetting the largest bone in the body . She needs to be careful to keep to her restrictions. And most importantly see a good physiotherapist who will help , advice, and guide her all the way through this process. It's a very long recovery x blessings x

3

Thanks for your prompt reply ,

4

Hi Sharon

It's just the pedals - not an exercise bike? My physio/ surgeon has allowed stationary pedals from two weeks. But she's going to have to accept that there will be swelling as it's common and a result of the body responding to what it sees as a major injury. It's simply protecting itself. Ice packs will also help. Never against the skin - make sure there is a generous layer of clothing between the skin and the pack. Lacking an ice pack - frozen peas are great as they are small enough to mould to the shape of the leg. And elevating the leg too- if she is lying down, elevating it above head height will be a big help.

If she feels up to using the pedals, mum is doing well, but don't let her overdo it. There is major healing going on and she doesn't want to set herself back.

 

5

Beth I'm sorry but I'm going to disagree. Just because your physiotherapist said it was ok for you doesn't mean it's ok for this lady . You may both of had a different amount of work done for a start , also we are all at completely different healing rates . Also has she has a posterior ? Or anterior approach?? . All these things will make a huge difference to what one person or another should be doing . I'm only saying be careful not to advise , the only person to give an answer is a physiotherapist. X sorry not meaning to offend xxxx

6

My mum also suffers from lymphadema which also adds to the swelling shes waiting for surgical stockings to arrive thanks for reply and advice x

7

I can see why the pedals would be so beneficial to her . Make sure she's doing the exercises that were shown to her at hospital, they are very important. And getting a good physiotherapist early on will make a huge difference to her recovery. X

8

And I am going to point out that I never said it was ok. I said that was what I was told, and that if she even felt up to using them she was doing well, but shouldn't overdo things. So I did not advise anything, other than that she needed to take it slowly, and that elevating  her legs and using an ice pack will help reduce the swelling.i don't mean to offend you , but please don't put words in my mouth. I made it very clear that it was MY physio and MY surgeon that allowed it - nobody else's. We are sharing our own experiences here, and everyone understands that.

9

So sorry 😐 to hear of your mums leg swelling. It so hard to watch our loved ones go thru THR.

Is your mum wearing compression socks and doing walking even little bit and small exercises. It important to keep the blood and oxygen moving for heeling

she may be on meds too! Call her doc and ask for help to give you some ideas to find a reasonable solution for her. 

She he is very lucky 🍀 to have you! 

10

maybe 4-6 months.

can you lay her flat, then elevate her legs...when swelling is at the least, put Teds on her.

Reducing sodium, salt, will also help.