Hi my name is Barbara. I had total hip replacement done on my right hip four weeks ago. I never had pain except for soreness. I never had to take pain medication. The only thing I take is Tyenol once a day. My surgeon has given me the ok to do whatever I feel I can accomplish. No restrictions except to not swing my leg out to the side. In the house I can get around mostly without any aid devices this week but when it comes to going outside I find myself not really limping but swaying a little from side to side. Did anyone else have this and how long did it last.
Hi Barbara, it sounds like your recovery has been very fast. The swaying is know by some as the " hippie roll" it should get better once your muscles are healed and you have built them up again.
I used to verve to the right when tired, had to stop and straighten myself up. But my dentist said in the early days, I could tell by the way you rolled in here!
Did you have anterior approach? was it cemented or non cemented
I was posterior and was told not to turn leg inwards, one of my exercises was moving my leg out and back. mine was not cemented.
You may need a stick for a little while. I was off crutches by 5 weeks and never used a stick as I wasnt offered one!, plus I was in the younger age group.
Just don't overdo things x
I did! My hip felt like it got the original back the minute I woke up, and it's been a dream ever since. I didn't have any pain at all, and I could use it pretty well immediately. Like you, my physio said to do whatever I liked provided I tested things out slowly, and stopped as soon as there was any pain - but to be honest there never was. It's seven months for me now, and I never believed it would be this easy!
It is so interesting how different our recoveries turn out to be. Mine twenty years ago at age 55 was like yours but my revision on the same side of six weeks ago was totally different.
I expected it to be similar as my fitness was about the same, my lifestyle was much the same and less work was needed as the stem was not removed. I was however on blood thinning tablets which may be why the bruising was quite bad and my muscles were very much more tender and unable to support me. The result was that rather than needing hardly any support from walking aids I was very uncertain on crutches.
Cheers Richard
I was told that unless I could walk straight. No limp. No sway. Do not walk without an aid. It's important to walk straight to retrain muscles etc.
glad yr recovery is going well.
Hi barbara920,
Wow you're lucky! At just over 60 3 days ago I had my second hip replaced. I came home yesterday. This time around it's a lot more difficult. The operation in itself went well, no complications, etc. but the recovery has been a lot harder and there is more pain now the first time. I was given blood thinners like someone else posted and based on what she said I am guessing that's why I haven't bounced back so quickly. Well, it's only been 3 days . . . I just remember the last time being a lot less painful. If you're good to go don't worry be happy. Good luck