Hiya hippies. I'm in pain with my prosthesis swollen today - I can feel the swelling at the site of the incision - after having a really good day yesterday. I suffered a stress fracture of my knee with surgery but that seems to have resolved, my knee and/or my foot/ankle have not swollen for the last two weeks, but now with the prosthesis swollen again, I can only figure I did too much, but I don't know what my limits are until it's too late, like today. I'm only 9 weeks post THR so I know it's early in the game, but when can I reasonably expect to walk without the cane and without ending up swollen and in pain like I am today? Thanking you in advance for all your cares and shares. Janet
Most people are fully recovered by 6 months.
Dear Janet
It depends on so many factors as I'm sure you appreciate so it would be very brave or foolish of me to give you an answer as it would not have much validity. If you have read my postings over the last nine months you will know how it was for me but so what! What I would urge you and all people recovering from hip surgery be it a primary as in your case or a revision is to not let up on doing your exercises and to walk, walk, walk but use two crutches so that your body gets used to a good balanced walking gait without any hint of a limp. As your muscles recover their strength you will be able to relax the power you put into your crutches until the day will come when Hey I really don't need them!
I would suggest that there really is no benefit in attempting to do your recovery on just one crutch whatever your surgeon and physio says. Well that's my own experience and that of a number of others here but obviously you will do what you feel is best for you. You doubtless walked with a limp in the weeks, months and years leading up to your surgery, and very likely this has effected your back and whole frame so the easier you make it on yourself to get back to a normal walking pattern the better, pain free and quicker your recovery is likely to be.
If you are in pain then use your painkillers so that your body can better recover itself and you can continue but at a reduced speed, take time out for a period of rest and then carry on. Good steady progress should be your aim.
Best of luck. Richard
Janet, it's not your prosthesis that is swollen, it will be the muscles and tissues around it.
Read what Richard wrote, it is good common sense. You will heal at your own rate and while that may seem slow, it will get better. Muscles can take up to 6 months to fully heal and if you did over extend them they will swell and complain.
Everyone knows their own body better than anyone else so listen when it complains and ease up a little. In the rush to get better, we all over do it so you are not on your own.
Thank you, Tony. You are correct - the tissue surrounding the prosthesis is swollen, not the artificial joint. Thank you for reminding me too that we all do it - I just don't know my limits I guess, because I didn't walk all that much yesterday, but it sure feels like it today. I'm in the USA - I think Richard is in the UK - he refers to crutches. We don't use them here, we use a walker, then a cane. So I didn't use the cane yesterday because I was feeling "normal." And again, you are correct, my body is complaining about it today. Thank you for commiserating and commenting. Janet
Hi Janet im 10 weeks post opp I still walk with a stick and get pain when I overdo it leg and ankle swells and more pain I also have illiotibial band syndrome and very week muscles it's very frustrating I'm only 47 and feel old before my time lol my physio told me to take it easy and be a bit kinder to my self I think this is good advice we as hippies sometimes forget we've had major surgery take care x
Thank you, Kathryn. You are correct, I have totally forgotten that I have had major surgery. I was just doing so well yesterday I thought I had progressed. One step forward, two steps back. Thank you for your kind response. Janet
Janet
I'm in the UK so used crutched in the early stages. My only experience of a walker has been using a supermarket trolley and that is very positive. Much easier to walk keeping some weight off your leg and having a normal gait, so I would stick with the walker until you are able to walk with a cane without much of a limp.
Mike