hi, i am nearly 6 weeks post op & walking with one stick, although I am walking a long way I am still finding it difficult to walk without a stick & have quite a pronounced limp, could be that I am nervous to put all my weight on my hip? just wondering what is the average time to start walking unaided?
thanks Chrissy
Hello
Im not quite 6mths yet, im 45. I was down to one stick at 6 weeks…and started to try walking without crutches around then but i was still limping and wobbly…from about 7 weeks i used norhing around home but for walks of a couple of km in the country i used one crutch up until around 12 or so weeks…
Just be gentle with yourself you will get there! Now im delighting in walking without a limp and back into high heels after 7 years!
Hi
Your doing just fine, at 6 weeks you should only really now be using one crutch but should be putting full weight on. Your muscles will be very weak so don’t worry yourself just keep going with the one crutch and focus more on walking properly rather than how far you can go. The limp can be normal because the hip muscle is not fully working yet so will dip when you put weight on it. Rest is still really important so don’t over do it. Small and accurate amounts of exercise is better than rushing around and hurting yourself. Did you have physio? X
Hi Pinkpink, I would suggest that 6 weeks is possibly a bit too early to become concerned about walking without a stick. It would depend how old you are, how fit you were before the op, and how diligent you have been with your post op physio. Your leg muscles took a lot of trauma during the op and it will take a lot to get them back into proper working order again. Do you walk around the house without a stick - that’s a good start - then try longer journeys. There is always the problem, as I have found, that your body/brain gets too used to walking with a stick , and when you are without it you feel uncomfortable and unstable, and recuperation just takes longer. As to damaging your new hip joint - I am a patient not a surgeon - if you lead an ordinary life, after six weeks you are not going to do any harm by simply walking. There are stories of patients who walked home just two days after the operation but I wouldn’t recommend it.
Generally it is far better to use two crutches. until you are walking strongly and with a good gait. There really is no virtue in using just one stick or crutch. You will take longer to walk well and put your back at risk.
Good luck. Richard
Thanks John, im 58 & was fairly fit before, think
im just eager to be moving better & was expecting to be more or less back to normal at the ‘golden’ 6 weeks!
Thanks Richard, physio advised starting on two crutches, than using one before being independant of aids? think im just to impatient to be back to normality!
Thanks Penny, had physio in hospital & carried on at home, think
im just impatient!
Thankyou, thats good to know! Im 58 but not ready to give heels up yet either!! I think im expecting too much, im not wuite at 6 weeks yet
I am walking without sticks after 3 weeks but I think I am ahead of what is normal. Not sure about the limp I would ask about that.
There is no average time to walk unaided, everyone is different. You can only go on your own instinct. I used one crutch until about week ten as when I put weight on the operated leg, I could feel an uncomfortable feeling in the bone. I went back to my walking stick then for a couple of weeks, the uncomfortable feeling went around week twelve. Make sure you walk heel to toe it will improve the limp.
Hi pink
Ha ha yes I think you are but I understand what your saying and to be fair no one really knows because it’s based on the individual but I will say this, this is my second hip op within a year and first time round I was really on my arse it took me around 4 months to walk properly, i had to have 6 months off work but this time round I’m up and about in my house doing the little things and I’m 6 weeks this week. So go easy on yourself and try to stick to 2 crutches this way you won’t tilt to one side and make your limp worse. I had a rough first op and had a 1.5inch difference so had to have it done again but this time is slightly easier. Good luck and if you want to pm please feel free I’m happy to friend you on messenger.
Hi. I’m sure everyone is different. I am 11 days post op and managing to walk with one stick around the house only. I wasn’t especially fit before my op however it could be more to do with my age (52). I am doing the physio exercises but resting a lot too. Getting a good night’s sleep definitely helps. I think you just have to listen to your own body. Good Luck!
I found I was useless with crutches so when I got home I did not bother with any aids and furniture surfed inside and used a stick outside. My crutches still lie by the front door abandoned!
I used crutches at home for a couple of days but as felt my leg was getting stronger changed quickly to a stick and found it easier to move around a small house with
I am finding it easier to get around on one crutch so that I have one hand free. However, if I’m feeling particularly tired or sore, then I go back to using two. Little and often I think to help build up strength in my hip.
Crutches can be a bit of a pain to use as it’s difficult to carry anything, and when I prop them up against something they often fall over! Then I have to get someone to pick them up for me (that’s if I don’t have my grabber to hand!). Oh well, it’s not for long and sometimes they really are necessary.
when did you have yours done Angela?
I would really question the sense of that though I know this is often what they request! You need to train you body to walk in a strong and balanced way after months or even years of bad practice. using both crutches will help you to accomplish this and you will find suddenly that you can toss them and you will have been doing your back a favour ! Cheers Richard
Hi. I had my THR 12 days ago.