Hello all... had Rt THR Aug 8th and I was recovering well ..expecting to be back on my horse and riding now..... Oh dear.... I went overseas end Oct and been doing my 2 x daily exercises, and gaining strength etc. BUT at airport coming home, lifted my 23 kg case from trolley to check in desk. I am used to it (before op), humping heavy items etc. Then I had an unexpected long walk - that's another story - OK I had my crutch, but I was carrying hand stuff. Sittign on flt and gettign up every now an d then I thought Ohhh that feels "stiff/tight". BTW I had a 4 hr drive before my 5 hr flt, followed by 3 hr drive from LHR to home. Oh yes and of course at LHR lifted case from Baggace Claim onto trolley.. BUT nice man lifted it into car!!
After all that feeling really stiff/tight. So that day (Monday) and flwg days no exercises as no easing.... Limped into my physio on Thurs am "What have you done!" she reckons I may also have twisted the joint....SO... I am now weeks back again BUT strange is that it is the muscle attached to pubic bone that is "spasming" and restricting my walk AND hurts if sneeze or cough. Plus lots of inflammation around top of leg! So.. BEWARE, you might think you are doing OK .... but be too cock sure and this is what happens. So my horse is still "out to grass" and is as unfit now as me! Seeing Doc this afternoon, so pulled muscle, tendonitis, hernia even?? Or just plain STUPID!
This is something that worries me too. I had my op in August and am feelling quite good. My problem is my husband is disabled and I have to help lift him from his chair and I know some days I can feel the strain and wonder if I am doing too much. I am flying in January on my own and hoping to carry a suitcase too so will have to watch that.
Thank you for that. I am a couple of weeks ahead of you (end of July). Not been an easy time and frustrated beyond measure. Still have stick and limp quite a bit without it. Still painful muscle, ligament etc. Having physio. I really did think I would be further on than I am. Physio tells me my problems stem from a weak medial gluteal muscle on my operated side and a back problem from years of nursing in the days before anyone cared about lifting etc. Am working towards being fully mobile by mid January and am off to New Zealand (yes I know it is far away). Pretty much dreading the trip and we are stopping off in various places en route. The lure of seeing my son, daughter in law and most importantly, my grandchildren is pushing me. I will now, not even bother suggesting moving a suitcase. Hope you get better soon.
You have over done it thinking you was ok to do all activities.
Common sense will tell you to check with your surgeon prior to all activities.
All you had to do was your daily exercises, ice therapy and walking.
Now since you pulled your muscle you may have a setback in recovering.
Take it easy and follow your physio and surgeons instructions. You don't want to mess with your new hip and risk dislocation. Your muscle needs to be tight and strong prior to activities. Keeping your precautions is a must.
Hi you are a least three months post-op thats good but be careful not to lift anything heavy.
If you are traveling, take advantge of the checkin luggage carriers they will assist you and your taxi driver can also carry your luggage to your home.
When lifting objects remember the precautions unless your surgeon lifted your precautions.
Check with surgeon/consultant??? Don't make me laugh!!! Here in Dorset I will not see the surgeon again.
6 week post op follow up was with physio and my next follow up is in 12 months time... with physio! There is no follow up with surgeon/consultant. I was so surprised I even phoned his secretary..Oh no you will not see him again. So there is no-one to "ask". Plus I was really well forward with recovery.... hence my, without thinking, lifting a case which in "normal" circumstances would not prove a problem.. BUT IT DID!! I am in normal circumstances fit, esp given daily mucking out of horses etc! Ahh well....And to help my recovery I pay for private physio as none is supplied by NHS. You are left to your own devices!
I am so sorry this has put you back in your recovery. This is a warning to me, I had my R hip replaced on August 19th and am off to Mexico next week. I will definately not be carrying or lifting anything. I do hope you heal quickly.
Lorraine from Vancouver,
Didn't know that is how they treat patients in Dorset. That is not right unless it has to do with your medical nsurance. Otherwise, they should have followed-up at least twice after surgery. Here in US-NYC we get followed-up with surgeon twice every thirty days and now i get the third follow-up July, 2015. I had physio at home and outpatient for the remainder of the year. 4 months post-up since July 17, 2014.
Tuesday was my first day back to work.
Hello All,
well just returned from my GP.... he thinks it is tendonitis and so now on a course of anti-inflammtories and if after 2 weeks still no better, then back to orthopaedic dept. GROAN
So WARNING TO ALL ... play the "disabled card", or even "helpless female" - which I detest - but needs must....ask for assistance and DO NOT lift heavy items. Nor if using a crutch carry items as it will unbalance you and cause more stress on op side.
In UK it depends on where you live, what is called here a Post Code Lotttery. It applies to access to many treatments and medications within NHS. I have commented beofre on this site re. disparity of folow up depending where you live. It seems in my locale, wait till it goes wrong and then treat. BUT, I feel that I was offered a THR earlier than in other areas. So I won out on receiving THR but lost out on the follow up. My only hope is that after going thru all this I can once again ride long distance or if not... at least be able to ride again!
Oh ok the lottery thats something. We dont have that here.
But i understand why the follow and therapy is not followed after surgery.
So you have to pay for physio otherwise you're on your own.
Wow. I am fortunate and we complain so much and take things for granted. Not realizing how good we have it in US.
Best wishes to you and your recovery.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Oops sorry .. "Post Code Lottery".. that is a phrase we use in UK.. it actually does not mean you have to rely on The Lottery!!! It is a term to say the treatment you receive varies all over the UK and depends on where you live.... (Post Code /Zip) In some areas, there is a 6 week, 12 week, 6 month and 12 month follow up with your consultant/ surgeon.. in other areas.. there isn't. You do feel in the latter case like being thrown out with no support. What on earth did people do before internet and forums etc. Plus I live on my own, so no other "support" around. Altho I think I would go nuts with somebody fussing over me!! Too independent. In US I guess you are OK .. IF you can afford health insurance... and if you cannot.. then what. So overall I think here in UK with the NHS we are extremely lucky ...a brilliant system of health care for all. Not perfect but then what is....
Actually beachbum, not everyone in the US gets the same care, I have a friend with no insurance who had waited years for a new hip in the US. I live in Canada so we also have a system similar to the U.K. it may not be perfect but at least everyone gets free healthcare. It must be terrible not to be able to afford to go to the Doctors, I cannot imagine it as previously I lived in the U.K. so have been lucky.
Sorry to hear of your set back...I too learned the hard way...about week 8 I thought I was doing so well I was carrying my l2 pound poodle up and down stairs twice a day and ended up tearing the muscle that wraps around the knee...back to square one with physio, wearing a knee brace and just doing exercises and little else...ok now after 6 weeks!
When I had my first post op I asked my surgeon some questions about mobility, etc. and he looked at me like I was wasting his time and said "ask your therapist"!!!
Sometimes you just can't win!!!
P.S. Lorraine this is for you as I don't know how things are in B.C. but because I had the hip surgery I got l5 visits to the physio clinic, but since I hurt my knee I required more but because I am 6l (under 65) I would have to pay privately as I don't have any other insurance...sometimes you get stuck between the cracks still!!!
Hi
Yes its a timely warning to everyone about lifting weights.
Case on wheels and ask someone {I know its hard} flutter eylashes
I find there are usually plenty of people to help.
Me....Well this is another warning to people in the UK that do physio exercises given to them by the hospital.
The one where you put your hands on the bakc of a chair or table and abduct your operated leg out {slightly} be careful if you have anything wrong with your bones......Osteoporosis or Osteopinia {precurser to Osteoporosis} or anything like that.
I was doing that exercise four weeks post op and there was a crack and I was taken into hospital. Fractured my Greater Trochanter Bone ....that is 10 months ago, still on 2 crutches, and it wont heal beacuse a bit of bone came away and moved up my body ....for a fracture to knit the 2 bits of bone need to be touching.
That was an NHS exercise so please be careful ....I'll be on crutches the rest of my life.
Love
Eileen UK
Lucky you, I guess its the same the world over, we all get different amounts of support and physio. I got 3 free visits, nothing like your 15, my friend who went to our local hospital got nothing !!!!!!!!! thank goodness for the support we recieve through this forum, at least we all have that.
Hi, when you come to NZ book assistance from the beginning. I did this each time i beought my mum, aged 90, and not only will they push you around the airport but will fastrack the gates, immigration, customs etc, thus eliminating the standing in queues etc. They will also lift case up and down. Try and get an aisle seat and get up and walk about the plane and drink plenty of water - nothing else! Enjoy your trip, if you come near Blenheim look me up and we can compare, i had my hip done here in Oct and thought i would be much further on than i am, but starting pool work next week so hope this will help. Jennifernz
Thank you. Sounds like a good plan. Am not 90 but feel like it some days!! Hope my walking will improve but I think going through airports can be very stressful at ge best of times. No point in arriving totally exhausted. Have booked aisle seat and will be drinking water and nothing else! Looking forward to the NZ SB wine when I get there. Am also doing pool work from next week. Don't know if I will be near Blenheim but if so will definitely compare notes on UK v NZ THR.