How far do I walk?

Bones, joints and muscles
1

5 weeks in and not sure if I should be striding off into the sunset doing daily walks . Not felt up to it till now but do walk round the house and do exercises and walked round shops etc . Should I be doing little daily walks and if so does anyone know how far ? I use one crutch to walk now but that will be gone soon . Any advice appreciated . Seeing surgeon on the 29 Th .x

2

I'm six days out of THR, and I had my first walk (with both crutches) yesterday. To the end of the street (I live in the middle) and back again! I think everyone gets different advice but I was told at least one daily walk going a little further every day, but never far enough that you worry about getting home again. So little distances are ok, and judge your own capacity. Can you phone your surgical / physio / GP team for advice - we have been given phone numbers to do exactly that.

I am jealous though - I haven't been able to walk around the shops for over six months now (but ain't online shopping great?) and I am looking forward to trying out that new shopping centre that opened! Sounds like you are doing great if you can manage some shopping.

3

I am 3 weeks post op and was thinking exactly the same, time to push the boundaries a little. I am going to walk down the road and back just see how far I get without getting too tired 😀

4

Hi Hazel. Im 1 week post op & mainly in house walking. Only ventured through the door once so far but plan to make it a daily task from now on. My physio said not to worry too much about distance, that the daily exercises are more inportant in muscle & tendon building than walking. Will try to do a combo of both. Feeling really positive & pleased with myself too. Keep up the good work. Ps online Christmas shopping is a breeze i agree!

5

Yes definitely try to get out for a walk every day. Does you good to get out, and good exercise for your body too. I was told to use 2 crutches outside just for extra stability.

6

Hi Hazil, as you know I'm only 2 or 3 days ahead of you , Iv been walking outside, started about 9 days ago, I'm not going far but I'm trying to go a little further each time . I'm not 100% sure on yards so if I said there are terrest houses on the opposite side of the road to me fairly narrow Victorian property's . And I walk past 20 of them and then back . I have trees on my side of the road and they are my markers for how far I'm getting and each tree is my next aim . I have pushed myself too far and suffered, so .......😳 Take your time X X Iv made the decision I couldn't care less how long this takes now 🙄, I'm past the frustration side of it , I just want to be 100% at some point 😂. Slow and steady and get there in one piece 🙌😍

7

I blogged my distances on my webpage, I was up to about a mile on nice pavements by 5 weeks.

See my website for my blogs and other tips from hippies on this forum, the address is in my personal info here ...

   https://patient.info/forums/profiles/rocketman-sg6uk-907025

and on the moderator's "useful resources" page at

   https://patient.info/forums/discuss/thr-useful-resources-487147

Best wishes

Graham - 🚀💃

8

Yes! Walk everyday! Get outside!

I was walking since I got home. First just to the mailbox and back with a walker. But I went out at least twice a day for a walk.

Take your time. Proper gait and step is what you are practicing. Go slow and steady. Stop and take a break. It's hard work - your stamina won't be good and you'll get all sweaty but do it anyway.

It's gets better. Soon you'll go further. Then you'll be faster.

9

I am a 64 year old male, and was fairly active, and lost a lot of weight before the operation which I am convinced helped my recovery.

Take it slowly, at your pace, don't beat yourself up if you are recovering more slowly than someone else - you need to listen to your body and the speed it wants to recover at.

10

16 days out and I've just walked about three quarters of a mile with a stick. It's tired me out but I'm glad I saw the lovely autumn colours and got some fresh air! I had my husband with me and took it slowly. Maybe try 5 minutes outside and build up from there? No rush is there?

I'm losing the one-leg-longer-than-the-other feeling from walking so I'm convinced it's good for me, on top of the physio exercises of course.

11

Ah that's good news .. Yes Doing exercises . May venture out today have done one little walk .. With husband holding manic dog ! Yes mostly done all my crimbo shopping online and maxed my card but hey what is a girl to do ?? Lol ..

12

Yes .. It's ok when ur walking you get tired after ! I am going for a little walk as weather nice and mild and sunny here in Wales .. Feel I have the energy for it today . Just cleaned out Herbert our terrapin who nearly needed a fog lamp to see out but he is swimming in clean water again so job well done .. Nobody else likes doing that !

13

Good for you, Hazel,

Just go half of what you can do so that you can get back home safely.

Always hold back a little of what you have...like a reserve for the inevitable emergency

hugs

judith

14

Thanks bobbi

15

Right Jenny I really want to lose that one leg is longer than the other feeling so will step the walking up a bit !

16

I like that reserve idea... 😃😃

17

Hi ya, so chuffed I have found this forum. I'm 3 days post op and has been good to read all the posts.. I have one leg longer than the other and when I was told yesterday and realised, it did freak me out a little... good to know walking will help😊 X First night at home last night so getting used to new routine.

Looking forward to my body getting back to normal after the drugs.. 😊

18

Welcome home!

My leg length discrepancy was easily solved with a herl lift inside of my shoe

kind regards

judith

19

Hi Judith ,

Thank you for your message and that is so good to know... 😊😊

20

Like many others, my leg length difference was sorted out by waiting for the swelling in the pelvic area to subside.  Absolutely the same length now.