I had a right hip replacement Iom Nov 16 and a right knee replacement at the end of June 17. I'm on one crutch, but walking without it, leaves me limping badly. How long before I can walk well? I'm 53!
I used two crutches for any walking over ten minutes even at 12 weeks...My quadriceps were very weak and took a while to activate properly. My personal feeling was I wanted to give the muscles a chance to build up first before putting more pressure on the joint and also I found my gait much better using two. It was also possible to walk faster with two crutches/sticks. Which was rather exciting at that stage!
This approach was also what my PT encouraged. Sticking with support for balance and also for relieving undue pressure on the healing joint. I think it made a huge difference in reducing my pain levels and reducing swelling. I basically focused on increasing range of motion rather than anything else. But every one is different. I am 52...nothing to do with age though!
Thanks Jenny
Hello, John
I had a double tkr this past April and I am now 62. I used a walker for the first two months and then switched to a cane when I venture out. I still walk a bit like a zombie, but I remind myself to stand up straight and go heel to toe. I live in NY and haven't seen anyone use crutches. You'll be fine, just be patient and gentle with yourself
Around three months my walking took off...never looked back since! Now almost five months, walking more quickly and further than I have done for two years. Be patient with yourself.
Impossible to give a time for recovery , everyone recovers differently . It's only a few weeks since your tkr . lots of physio and exercise helps , but dont over do it .Take your medication to help with pain relief before exercise . Read some of the other posts on this forum and you will see that some recover qickler than others . There is no timeline for recovery .
Answer: When you're healed enough to walk. There are no set timetables. Give up any expectation that you will be walking normally by a certain date. Waste of mental energy which should be completely focused on your healing.
You've got a long road ahead of you on the TKR...most people "feel like themselves again" in a year...big jump in capabilities usually in the 9-12 month range but it's different for everyone. After weeks and weeks of PT gets you your ROM back, you'll need to exercise legs, glutes and core to build up the strength to support the knee.
I'm assuming that you exercised the hell out of your right quad after the hip replacement. I did 5 hours a day, 6 days a week of therapy pool and gym. Got all my strength back in 6 weeks...that was back in 2009. My TKR was March '16. The recovery from each is completely different. You can push the hip...really push it but you CANNOT do that with the knee. When you do, it swells up like a balloon. The hip can be a sprint; this is absolutely a marathon.
I would be careful about the walking. When you are "off kilter" because of the pain, you can develop sciatica...many TKR patients do. For me, 3 weeks with a chiropractor fixed that. I had locked my SI joints and that pinched the sciatic nerve. Just a warning in case you encounter it. Read the Sciatica Section here...
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/the-tkr-experience-or-wish-i-had-another-kidney-stone--524499
The best advice anyone can give you is to give up all expectations of "when". You have to treat yourself well, do the work and heal. This takes a while...
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/the-tkr-recovery-bell-curve--563756
I hope that you are on the far left of the curve and are better in two months...not likely but we can all hope. Just don't get down on yourself; in a post-TKR world, the word "should" is stricken from the lexicon. You will be better when you are better. Do the work...stay strong...kick butt!!!
Thanks for your fantastic reply
Leaving the crutches, a bit at a time, will be very strengthening for you. Then the muscles kick in and are switched on again. Try 5, then 10, then 20, then 30 minutes without it.
I was off walker at 3weeks, bilateral pkr. Never used cane. What will help,as long as both legs are EQUAL in length, start some balance exercises. One legged standing is a good start. The isometrics build ur muscle wo the fear of falling because ur stationary. Some people limp because they are afraid the implant will not hold them. Their muscle are strong enough but that feeling of "you never know..." AND the fear of falling makes u limp. Another good exercise is walk between to parallel bars. U can grab hold with ur hands til ur more confident.
Good luck
There's lots of stuff on the Forum from me and other really great contributors. Click my picture and then "See All Discussions"...hope some of it helps...
Have you been seeing a physiotherapist who is teaching you how to walk again? Try focussing on heel, roll to toe. Take your time with it. Took me ages after my first TKR to do that, but it has helped me enormously this time around, just because I knew the technique. See if a physio will look at your gait and advise.
Meant heel, roll to big toe.
Hi john. I don't know if it makes a difference that you have had both hip and knee but I don't think so. I had a partial knee in the middle of June and am still using a walking stick. In fact I use two outside. I can walk around the house without a stick but whenever I want to move with purpose I start to limp. The physio told me not to hurry losing the sticks as it is better to learn to walk without a limp. I think it is early days yet for you. Everyone is different and it depends on your fitness level and gait before but I would be thinking about another six weeks at least to be completely stick free.
anything earlier is a bonus. I'm looking at being stick free by the end of August I'm sure I could do it quicker but I am doing what I'm told. Ask your physio too for advice. Good luck.
Your experience is very like mine. It also keeps pain and swelling down, which is good. It is tempting to lean heavily to one side with just one crutch also, so using two makes for a more balanced walking experience. My community physio was so lovely and encouraging...so grateful for her work with me. ☺
Interesting about the off kilter.....I stick with two crutches and so had very well balanced walking, and no probs with sciatica...but it makes a lot of sense...too easy to lean one way without meaning to. Wholesome advice!
Like flour, from one who has been through the mill, more than once!😀😁
We make adjustments to our "gait" to compensate for pain without even knowing we're doing it and end up in more pain from back, hip and nerve issues. Gotta keep everything aligned...
YES!!!!! You literally have to learn how to walk again!!! Kick that leg out straight in front of you, come down on your heel and roll to your toe. You've done it all your life without thinking so the "muscle memory" is still there. Took me about a month of practice to feel comfortable again.
Yes, me too after my first TKR. Takes a while to get used to it.