How long before socks and shoes are doable ?

Bones, joints and muscles
1

Great recovery so far from rear entry THR 12 weeks ago. I am back to the Gym + long walks + cycling and really looking to getting back on skis for downhill runs in Feb next year BUT .... It is really bugging me that I cannot put a sock on and tie my right shoe laces yet! My left sock/shoe no problem at all but the reach on opperated side is still restricted to ankle level .... Does anyone have experience of the time it takes to get back to normal in this respect?

2

It was about three months for me (anterior/bilateral) . Using the little devices for the sock and the shoe horn took extra time each day. I still remember the day I could do the shoes and socks without the items and how proud I was of myself! Good to have a goal with the skiing. Go for it!!!

 

3

Hello Bernard,You are doing well if you can do all these activities.Ihave had a new hip for 2 yrs  and i am going next wk for a pre op to have either muscles/nerves looked at plus might need another replacement. you are very lucky. i am aready on my skis, going downhill.[only a little joke] So give it a little more time and you will get there eventually.  best wishes Allan Coventry.

4

Took me around 4/5 months with socks and tights. The Soxon  became my best friend.  I was posterior approach too.  Doing up laces on sports shoes took me around 5 months. Put foot on step and bent knee. We are all different in our recovery. You sound like you are dong great Bernard. 

5

Hi!

I had a THR nearly nine weeks ago. I too am doing well. Walking reasonable distances - I am usually doing my 10000 steps a day. I too am back to the gym doing part of an RPM class, though not yet at my previous intensity.

Shoes and socks- now that's an issue. If I sit on the 3rd or 4th stair from the bottom of the stairs, I can just about get my sock on sometimes, especially if I carefully reach down the inside of my leg.  I can get my trainer on  with a shoe horn and I have a couple of times done the laces up. Equally, today I undid my right laces and got both trainer and sock off. Not easy but it is coming!

Frustrating isn't it? My husband is a great sock and shoe slave!

Best of luck!

Marion 

6

I had anterior approach(front) so I was able to put my socks and shoes on quite soon after like maybe a month and a half out!

7

Thanks Donnie, I went sockless through the summer so the shoe horn in every house in Sweden became my best friend. Everyone here is shoes off at the door :-)

8

Thanks Auntie :-)

9

Thanks Marion, I really look forward to sock and shoe day :-)

10

After my posterior approach, I also used a Soxon (which was really useful) and slip-on shoes.  I suspect at about 12-15 weeks I was able to tie laces (used slip-on shoes 1 or 2 sizes bigger than my shoe size for a while though).  That said, I've always had terrible flexibility so socks and shoes have always been a challenge and I find that's one thing that's noticeably better since the hip replacement.

As far as the time, we all heal differently so it's hard to estimate.  I have a my other hip done 5 months ago (anterior approach) and I find it's taking a very long time to heal.  I took my youngest son downhill skiing (bunny hills) about 5-6 months after the first operation (before second) but I suspect it would have been difficult to ski on normal runs.