HI Guys
had my right hip replaced last year and am having leff hip replaced very soon im aware that my legs have little strength and find it difficult even tackling the stairs im 50 btw I was never offered any kind of physio and was just given an exercise sheet with basic exercises ive seen posts on here about people having physio and im wondering have other people like me not received any physio is it a regional thing? I suppose im more concerned this time because im aware that my right leg hasnt gained its strength back and im thinking is it something i need to ask my gp about? Many thanks
Lynne
Hi Lynne
I had no physio beforehand and my joint school was only the day before my operation. For some reason I had been missed and that should have happened sooner. They did show exercises to do there. However I googled exercises to do before and did those prior to op. I was offered physio through the ward I was in within hospital. In fact one of the physio’s coming to see me to see how soon I could get up and with aids. Most I could manage was kermode by bed due to nausea. They kept an eye over Saturday and got me walking a bit in the afternoon. Nausea was on and off till Sunday, so only did the stairs on Monday. The same physio’s run the sessions within the ward I was on. So don’t really know if it happens elsewhere??
Ann
Hi Lynne, I am same age as you, I am in Derby, same here, no physio just a crib sheet of exercises. Like you I had right hip replaced last Oct, my left is worse since the op. but I am hoping it will settle down for a while until I can find a job (long story, but not worked since I had diagnosis and not happy that I have received bugger all support as my husband works), I think you can actually self refer for physio, but I am not sure if there are charges incurred by doing so. It is a shame as NHS pay so much for the op it’s a shame that they cannot follow up with physio. Aware some lovely commenters on here will have sound advice
Helen
I had physio in hospital after the op which checked I could walk up and down stairs and that was it. I then went to the hospital four weeks later and saw the physio dept for about ten minutes who just signed me off and said I was OK. That was it. In the US some people do seem to be sent home quite quickly but then have physio at home.
I had a THR 11 months ago…then a second operation 9 mos ago where they changed out parts (due to infection). so, basically 2 cuts into the thigh. I was told physical therapy wasnt usually prescribed for THR as just normal use and exercise as tolerated will bring you back, and I suppose it does, if you’re speaking only about being able to function. I have a significant reduction in the strength on my right side. I have just joined a gym and got a personal trainer. I am hoping this will work as PT just showed me the basic exercises and only treated my right side and yet my whole body feels out of balance now. I’m hoping to just get my strength back everywhere.
Lynne if you were not overweight and did the exercises you would normally be fine without having any physio. Walking with two crutches until you are walking strongly with a good gait should have given you the start that you needed. Cheers Richard
Sorry Lynne, forgot to add, do you still have your crutches? If so, you already know that after a day or two, getting upstairs and down with a handrail, you won’t need both, so…I held mine back just in case, so that if I had to have the other done, you can always leave one at the top of the stairs, therefore not having to hobble down/up using one and carrying the 2nd. This was a tip from my sister in law who cares for the elderly
Hi All,
I am 66 years old and was told before my op by so many with experience of either their own or close friends and relations to make sure I did my exercises after my op. I was given some instructions before the op by my physio and a sheet of simple but very effective exercises to do three times a day after the op which I made sure I did.
At two weeks my physio gave me a review and another set of exercises which were basically the same but with some 5 second holds within the exercise. At two weeks I was on one crutch outdoors and no crutch indoors and at 5 weeks no crutch at all. I know we are all very different but I do think part of my so far good recovery has been due to the way I have stuck with the exercises and walking which I try to make sure I walk at least 2km a day every day. That along with having the best possible surgeon of course.
Some days are not as good as others and sometimes I think I pushed it a little too far but I realise the only way to get the strength back in my muscles is to use them.
yep still got my crutches and thanks thats a really good tip!
Thanks Richard i have had to continue with 1 crutch and was told to do so by my consultant because my left hip is in a bad way and so ive never got rid of quite a bad limp I had the op last august and ive never been able to walk properly Im not majorly overweight in fact ive lost a stone since the op . I suppose im concerned that im 50 ive not got over it as well as i hoped and i find walking upstairs hard work!
That sounds fab for you and i do think your right about exercise i just think in my case i would of appreciated some physio even one session just to know that i was on the right track and especially as my left hip needs replacing too i desperately want to be mobile again and i whole heartedly admit that i dont think i have exercised enough but im hoping that after my left hip is replaced i will be able to strengthen both hips up
Thats how i feel that ive lost strength on my right side i feel unbalanced i trip easily and my leg still feels heavy! I hope the gym works for you and i think that i may go down that route after my left hips done
I only weigh 55k wet through so hardly overweight. I have struggled following exercise plan as some days I just feel like poo, but most days I make sure I walk. I have a light weight cane/retractable) that I carry but don’t use, a little like a safety net. It makes me feel safe from the nutters around, especially around xmas when the city was busy. Take care and good wishes Lynne x
Helen
thanks Helen and i really hope that your feeling much better soon i hope your left hip settles down for you is it a given that your left will need replacing too? Its hard finding work when your in pain isnt it i started volunteering to get me ready to go back to work but the pain got that bad i could hardly walk and i felt miserable that was before they replaced the right so im hoping after the left i can find something . Good luck and take care x
Hi
Ask for a gym referral from your doctor following you op. I enquired before my op and started after week 3 post op. Where I am, it’s a 24 week course, 2 hour sessions twice a week. You pay a concessional rate, but I decided to pay a monthly fee and have been using the gym as often as I can beyond the sessions.
I had my left hip replacement in November, being off work since September as I could hardly walk. Other than a tender area under my scar, my hip is doing great. Am having my right hip done on March 6th, and have been encouraged to continue going to the gym sessions by my work physio and on phased return to work. Managed well but my right hip ached in the evening. Had to resort to pain relief.
While you are waiting for your op and beyond, there are lots of great pre and post op exercises on YouTube.
Good luck with everything!
I am in the US and gather that this is primarily a UK community BUT…my situation: aging (55), being 50 lbs overweight, my rt hip replacement, subsequent infection, torn lcl in my left knee (due to pushing myself up off of a non handicap toilet), slap tears in both my shoulder cartilage (from aiding and assisting my mobility for 10 months (off the toilet and into and out of chairs) and meniscus tear in my left knee.
I have learned that all body systems are connected; from my mental health to my thigh and my knees. Doctors treat their specialties and they are not the GODS I grew up thinking they were. I have the luxury of some of the BEST insurance /medical care this country has to offer and it still comes down to ME moving MY body and owning MY recovery. I only share this because this was a realization for me. Spending the last year identifying with sickness and limitations was a struggle. I wish I had understood how long it takes to heal and that a pill doesnt fix everything and there is a mental mountain to climb and well. I needed more time than message boards or doctors predicted and that is only obvious when I look back and see how I judged myself and was so depressed about.my when really…I was still healing! Be patient. Be wholly well.
Hi Molly, you really seem to have had a bad time. This board actually has quite a lot of US people involved so you are not alone.
Lynne,
You are not the only one not given/offered physio. After hip op the hospital kind of washed their hands of me, when I rang and asked what I could I was told “if it hurts stop”!!!
Do you walk up the stairs good leg bad leg, it was how I walked upstairs for at least five years prior to hip op therefore, it was natural to continue walking upstairs like that after the op until I managed to go up ‘normally’.
Have you been walking as that builds muscle and if you can get your hands on an exercise bike, they pretty cheap second hand it would really help to build muscle and help with your last and next op. It may even stop you having any pain.
Walking is the new physical therapy for many surgeons. Walking with cane, walker, whatever. With walking yous use the muscles in a natural way … The pt exercises are ironically designed to help us walk and move better.
Many surgeons have come to the conclusion that the best way and the safest way to build up leg muscles … is walking … in fact, some people get injured and suffer setbacks with pt that is way too agressive.
Now, if you’re too afraid to walk, then I say PT can be extremely help. There is a psychological element to PT .. in fact, that’s really what the PT is about before we leave the hospital. We need someone official to stand next to us and say, “you can move,” … “you can climb steps” … “do it this way.” … There isn’t a whole lot of advanced guidance in the pre-lease PT … it’s a psychological thing, to allow patients to feel confident placing weight on the device.
You can call your surgeon and ask for PT. For most of us, we just naturally begin to move more … as the hip heals and gets stronger.
Now, if you delayed surgery for a long time … and have cut back your activity over that time (as is the case with most of us) … yes, your muscles will be weak and deconditioned. Again, walking is the best med here … Get out and get moving … unless you are in extreme pain. Use a cane to help with your weak leg … and walk … yes, walking with a cane will strengthen your good leg and your weak leg.
Sounds like you let both hips deteriorate (again, not blaming you … many us do this … because we’re afraid to give the green light to surgery) … But the price is that recovery can become harder … especially if you have the surgery … and your other hip is still bad.
Learn how to use a cane … heck even a walker! … Walking with the walker will strengthen your legs … even as it takes pressure off the bad leg. You have to get moving.
Great advice, if you really nail it down, hips don’t need ‘exercise’ footballers and such do groin stretching circles that flex the hips, but the only work a hip needs is walking straight, head up, stomach in, good gait, cane, walker or crutches for however long you need them, do not, under any circumstances compare yourself with others that are more mobile than you, it is not the same and everybody’s surgery and recovery are different. Here endeth the sermon!!!