Had my operation 6 weeks ago I can walk without crutches but walk with a limp is this normal?
Hello,
Next Monday I'm 4 months post op and I am still limping. So don't worry take your time, it's a long way to go!
K
I am also almost 4 months post op. I also limp . Not all the time but when I first get up I limp and have pain. Can anyone tell us if this goes away ever?
Yes this is normal. I am 8 weeks out and still limp. Had one hip done in April and walked without limp at 3 months. The other hip end of July. Wish i would have done it sooner. No more pain...just zips and zings ☺
I had my op 4 months ago and still walking with a stick when walking any distance, if I don't use it I limp, I go back to phisio tomorrow, I do all the exersices I've been given but it doesn't seem to make any difference, I know people heal at different rates but it's very frustrating,
Six weeks is still pretty early to worry as your muscles will still be weak, your legs may be swollen and you have to adjust to your new gait. If you've had your six week check and no one has mentioned any leg length discrepancy I don't think you should worry too much. Even if your leg is slightly longer or shorter it'll quite likely right itself in a few months. My surgeon told me to wait four to six months for most healing to take place. Big surgery takes time to overcome!
Hi
Like everyone else says......it is early days......give yourself time and dont worry about it
Love
Eileen
I agree with the others.....it's early, be patient. I'm 9 weeks, walk without a cane
but still have some discomfort when I first get up from sitting and take the first step.
I have a massage every week and that really helps with the scar tissue. I do my
excercises every morning and walk, walk, walk. The more you move the faster
your recovery will be. You'll be okey--listen to your body and keep moving.
Not unusual. Why give up the crutches. I found it was better to use the crutches or walking sticks (Canes) with a good gait because it trained my brain and muscles to walk well. I needed them because I was waiting for a TKR. I'm now 7 weeks on TKR, use crutches out and about for longer distances because my balance is still a bit iffy on rough surfaces and downhill is still very difficult. Inside I'm fine if I don't have to dodge other people so I use the aids as a signal to keep their kids and dogs under control round me if there are crowds.
As you'll see from other answers, 6 weeks post op is still very early. I also have a limp when trying to walk without a stick, even after 11 weeks. A week ago I saw a physio who emphasied that a THR is major surgery, & recovery takes 'a while'. You must also remember that perhaps, like me, you were limping on an arthritic hip for several months or even years before your surgery ~ in which case your muscles have been degrading for a long time, & will take rather a long time to recover. My physio assures me that I will return to normal, but it may take a number of months (depending not only on how well one sticks to one's exercises, but also on natural biological variation). So ~ keep doing the exercises to strengthen the muscles around your hip; & accept that it might take a few months to return to normal with no limp. Hang in there (as they say)!
If you ditched the crutches and walk unaided with a limp....no, you aren't normal-you are bionic! I AM JEALOUS
Not sure what exercises you were given. Like many on here I was given a sheet of exercises but did have physio help with these exercises in hospital. My physio told me that the exercise where you swing your operated leg out to the side and back was the one exercise that helped with limping. I'm 4 weeks post op and don't limp. I only use a stick around the house on painful days but still use 2 sticks on walks to help to take the strain. This also ensures I don't limp.
Hi ...not all patients are allowed to do the excercise where you swing leg out and in for many weeks. I have not been allowed to on either leg until the 8 week all clear from doc. This is based on which way they did the operation..side..rear or front approach. Also some limps are because they may not get the leg length to match the other leg. Glad you are doing well. It's amazing to be done with the pre-op pain.
It is prudent to follow Dr's and PT's instruction regarding when and which excercises
to do. My thr was done posterior w/robotic assistance. I had 10 days of PT in my
home starting 1 week after hospital discharge. I was given a sheet w/excercises
that included leg raises ft,rear & side, heal drags in bed, leg raises in bed and bridge
lifts in bed. From the beginning I was able to complete all of these excercises but
with some difficulty with some of them. I was told that as my muscles became stronger the excercises would become easier----it's true. The thing is: once you have
been given the ok to do whatever excercises and walking--DO THEM. Everyone is
different in their recovery but everyone can improve on a daily basis if they work at
it. Don't judge yourself by other's -- do what you can, with good form and everyday.
Be patient.
It is amazing how the body heals...one day you cant do the leg lift and the next day you can. Also finding that one day u am worried about a pain i might have and think oh no is it dislocating..and the nrxt day pain is gone ...😊
My op was on the side, Denise, and I was encouraged to swing leg out from day one!! Yes I feel confident that the pain I have, from time to time, is due to muscle and nerve repair. Visited Malmesbury Abbey, today, and had to negotiate 63 steps up and down to the car park. Now have discomfort at back of thigh but I know this will go. Prior to op I had a job to drag my leg along and had to pause, when rising from a chair, to get the physical strength to move at all.
63 steps! Awesome..☺
Hi Everyone
This is a reply about the exercises you're allowed to do or not to do. I wasnt told to skip any of them.
I'm in the UK...was sent home with a list of exercises. One of them was ......hands on a chair in front of you.....abduct your leg.....put it out to the side...to strengthen the muscle. This was my 2nd THR and I had done this exercise loads of times.
4 weeks post op...there was a crack while I was doing this exercise. Long and short of it....I fractured my "greater trochanter bone"{up at the femur} The consultant that saw me said there was nothing they could do....it would heal itself....but would take a long time. Almost 8 months later I'm still in pain and on 2 crutches
So be careful please
Love
Eileen
Wow..sorry to hear this and the pain you are in.
Thanks Denise
Love
Eileen