Hi. As of 7th June I am 2 weeks post THR op, right hip. I've asked what physio support I will get and told I'm due a phone call from the team to check my progress next week and a face to face 3 weeks later. It doesn't feel like much. I'm in north east England and had the op on the NHS. I'm interested in other people's experience - what physio you've been offered and what value you got from it. Thanks!
I had my hip in 2015 and I had 6 weeks physiotherapy and 12 weeks hydrotherapy. Both of these were very beneficial, but I thoroughly enjoyed the hydrotherapy in the water ( and I can't swim) it also seemed to loosen the muscles and tendons with being weightless in the water. If you can get that it is surely a winner. The only other thing I will say is that it does vary from hospital to hospital and Consultant to Consultant. Mine was especially good here in Norfolk and wrote me up for everything. Good luck with your healing process. x
Hi.
Do you mind me asking how old you are?.
I am 55 and also from the North East. I actually have my six weeks check tomorrow.
I got a phone call from physio and because I asked to see them during that call I got one face to face appointment. I wanted this to check I was doing e revises correctly. But that is the total I got!! I wouldn't have had that had i not asked.
I feel like my progress has been very slow and more should have been done .
Much the same as my experience. I saw a physio twice in the 6 weeks and had one phone call. I'm in the East of England. Basically do the exercises in your folder - I was given my folder before the op and that's about all. I agree that it doesn't seem much but I'm now 7 weeks and doing better. Good luck
I live in the West Midlands, coming up to 12 weeks post-op after TRHR and have never been offered any physiotherapy at all. All I had was a brief session while I was in hospital showing me three very basic exercises and how to manage stairs. I am trying to arrange some physio through my GP because although I think I have made good progress, I feel that at 12 weeks I should be doing more muscle strengthening exercises and I am wary of just taking stuff off the internet without supervision. I don't know what your surgeon has told you, but mine said I would never be able to bend much more than the 90 degrees, would never be able to put on my socks, do up shoelaces or cut my toenails, and so many people (including physiotherapists and nurses) have said that's absolute rubbish, that I feel I need some physiotherapy to give me the confidence to try being more flexible. It's hard to believe that such a major operation affecting mobility doesn't automatically warrant physiotherapy, but I suppose that's the state of the NHS now. If you feel that what you are being offered is not enough you may find you can self-refer for physio, but you'll probably have a long wait so you'd better start the process now, or try your GP. Whatever happens I'm sure you'll find that you're over the worst and I wish you all the very best.
I had THR on a Wednesday cane home on Saturday and began Physical therapy the following Monday. It helps you get your muscle strength back. HTH Take care Vickie
Hi Liz
I had my op on the NHS in York November 2016. Physio offered was a couple of sessions the day after the op when I was shown the standard exercises and how to manage stairs. That was it. After a couple of months of reasonable progress I phoned my local NHS physio dept to say I'd like some advice, and was given an appointment the following week.
When I saw the physio, I asked for advice on how to progress safely to more vigorous exercise. She was quite dismissive and said that I shouldn't have self-referred because physio was not offered as standard on the NHS for hip replacements. This was embarassing and made me feel like a self-indulgent fool, however she did check me over, and suggested a couple of new exercises, and told me I was doing fine, which was reassuring at least.
A few weeks later I felt ready for some more challenging aerobic exercise so started going to aquafit classes, which I thought would be safe as it's non-weight bearing. However there's currently a trend for high intensity Interval training in aquafit, and I managed to overdo it, and ended up back using a stick for a couple of weeks. I'm only now at six months post-op getting back to where I was before.
So in conclusion, once you're past the six week mark you could try the self-referral route (if you don't mind being made to feel spoilt and demanding!) or maybe you could find a private physio for advice if you can afford it. Alternatively you could ask a qualified instructor at your local council leisure centre/pool for further advice re safe exercise. Other than that we seem to be pretty much on our own unless something goes seriously wrong!
I too am in the NE I had my opS (2 total hip replacements) in the Nuffield as an NHS PATIENT I hasten to write!
I made a reasonable first recovery with 4 or 5 sessions of physio. The second op went well from a hip point of view however I was very ill subsequently with heart and chest problems not of my own making !!! I also have a long term spinal issue.I have had fantastic physio support and it had made s huge difference. However I am very aware other areas have different perspectives in the area - it seems most people do very well with minimal support- motivation and determination seem to be what works- there is lots of useful lit on rehab on the net- Northumberland health care had a brillient leaflet - good luck! Sue
I totally agree with that!!. When I have been for my six weeks check and given the ok I am going to go back to the gym and be guided by the instructors there.
Also if you have the internet and are good on it . Use u tube for post op exercises week by week. There are some really good ones. I shall do that once I'm given the green light.
dear liza,
I have been on theforum for a while and read such different stories - apparently it depends on the country you live in, hospital, doctor and insurance you have .
I live in Holland now( after living in Los Angeles for 34 years) and had 2 THr surgeries - My surgeon thought it was important to have physical therapy after hip replacement surgery - I took out insurance with supplement to get more PT sessions paid for ...
I am not sure what to tell you about the value ... personally I had not such luck with physical therapists out here - too much too soon or a one=size-fits-all approach -
I also read that some doctors discourage physical therapy but encourage just walking and doing simple exercises -
How are you doing otherwise?
big warm hug
renee
Sorry to hear just how little they are offering you. I am in Canada (Ontario). We have OMG just lost the whole reply. OK OK will start over.LOL
We have the same surgery date May 24, medicare covers 4 visits from physio at home and then at least 6 at a clinic once I can drive, hopefully after 6 weeks.
So far the physio has been here 3 times, I think we all need that because you can look at you-tube etc but it is not the same as doing the excersises and somebody is watching to make sure you are doing them right..You need the physio it helps a lot
Hi
Im in the UK,had my hip replacement at wrightington hospital. I had the usual physio for 2 days in hospital. I asked if I needed physio following discharge, they said it wasn't necessary.
By 7 weeks seeing the consultant I had a limp,he suggested physio.due to months of waiting on a list, I went private.
I'm still seeing him now every 2 weeks, I'm roughly 4 months post op.
My limp has improved greatly, I do the excersises every day and have deep tissue massages and had some acupuncture, both have helped when I go.
I contacted gp recently and he is now referred me to a physio as been left with a couple of problems, he was reluctant to refer me.
It's such a shame someone else has remarked on here,your pretty much left to it!! Im going to start swimming soon,I think it will help.
Good luck with it and wishing you a good recovery
Nicky
Your physio sounds great, Gillcat. I especially like the idea of that structured approach. I do hope your hip is continuing to do well. Thanks for replying.
Hey, Lesley, what a surprise. I'm also 55. I'm in North Tyneside. My consultant is from Freeman Hospital but I was outsourced by the NHS to the Nuffield in Newcastle. I had very good physio during my stay in hospital, and great encouragement there. I just wish I had a personalised programme to follow but at least this post has made me realise I am not alone in not getting that! I think I'm due my phone call from the physio team next week and I understand I will get a face to face 3 weeks after that. I have my 6 week check on 7th July.
Good luck tomorrow - I hope it goes well.
Thanks Pippy - good luck I hope you continue to make good progress. Thanks for replying to my post.
Gay thank you - I can totally relate to the emotions you've described. It is a major op and it does feel like some physio ought to come as standard. I'll see what my consultant says in my 6 week check on 7th July about my progress and constraints on movement. It seems they err on the side of caution. I recnognise the need to avoid dislocation and I'm happy to acknowledge some changes to what I can and can't do but I think I'll find out on my own how limiting they should be. Prior to having the op, though, I came to terms with the idea of constraints as being the lesser of two evils - like you said, the worst is definitely over. I'm going to wait until my face to face physio follow up and 6 week check wit my consultant before pushing to hard for more but I'll bear your advice in mind about that.
I wish you the very best of luck with your strengthening exercises and your push for more flexibility and confidence in movement. I hope your 12 week check goes well. All the best.
Thanks Vickie - that sounds good. I'm doing what I know how to do on my own and am happpy with my progress so far. As a result of this post, I'm learning to recognise that my expectations about a personalised programme of support was unrealistic! 
As a minimum, I'd like someone to look at how I'm walking to ensure I'm not moving in an odd way as a result of bad habits learned prior to the op. Hopefully I'll get at least this much in my 6 week physio check.
Good luck with your continued recuperation and strengthening.
Thanks SJ. As a result of this post I'm recognising that, post 6 week check, I can and maybe should push for more. I am sorry to hear how unsympathetic your treatment was but at least you got good advice so maybe worth putting up with the attitude, eh?
I've noted your advice about aquafit, thanks. Finding a suitably qualified instructor at a pool sounds like a great idea and I'll ask my local council about that a bit further into my own journey. Private physio is so expensive and I'm not earning currently but I have savings and could go down that route - I know a good physio who I would instinctively trust and go to for advice.
Good luck in your continued progress.
I'll look into YouTube for week by week advice thanks Lesley.
Thanks Sue. What an experience you've had. I hope you continue to make good progress from here on. I'm sure you were due every bit of support you got.
Like you, I was referred by the NHS to the Nuffield. The support I had there during my stay was excellent. Thankfully, motivation and dertermination are traits most people would recognise in mt, I suspect!