THR 9 Weeks into Recovery - still stiff, is this normal?

[Eman85]

As my wife often reminds me they only replaced the hip joints, all of the rest is still used parts.

 

[SurreyGirl]

I had this and was recommended regular paracetemol as this seemed to relieve stiffness. Stretching also helped and not sitting too long (being at work didn’t help!).... it did all get better!

 

[Layla]

As my wife often reminds me they only replaced the hip joints, all of the rest is still used parts.

Love this! A good one for us all to remember. It’s so easy to blame it all on the hip. At least for me.

I hope you have a good phone consultation next week @catlover55
Happy Wednesday!

 

[zauberflöte]

Hi @catlover55 just peeking in! Congrats on the new hip, and I see you've been "doing things the Bonesmart way", which I did for my second hip-- and had a quicker recovery!
I would say, with others, that your aches and tension could be helped with stretching. I am extremely protective of my lower back, so I pay alot of attention to posture standing, walking, and sitting. If I were feeling what you're feeling, I might think I was over-compensating with the sore places for something in my gait that I should be paying more attention to.
I Had a little LLD between hips, it seems, because the "uneven feeling" in my pelvic muscles was gone when I woke up after the second one. So one side would be working harder, and would present as stiffer and sore, in the 4 years between hips. So you might just be walking ever so slightly wonky? Wonkily??

 

[Layla]

Hello @catlover55
Happy Three Month Anniversary!
Have a great end to the week.

 

[catlover55]

Thank you so much everyone for responding. Much appreciate your input. Zauberflote,good point you made regarding overcompensating. Given me something to think about and work on. Thank you for the three month anniversary wishes Layla. Feel the time has flown in.SurreyGirl, thanks for the tip.Ive stopped taking cocodamol as I don't feel I need it so much now and switched to paracetamol. I've been very active over the last couple of days ( plenty of walking, chores etc.) strangely, don't feel as bad, just a bit achy and tired at the end of the day. However,don't want to push things so will rest up a bit over the weekend. Wishing everyone good health and lovely weekend.

 

[Calgal]

Sounds like you're doing well! For me, 3 months was the start of a period of much slower progress, which sometimes made me feel frustrated. But I WAS progressing and getting stronger every day! . At 3-1/2 months I started Pilates once a week one to one and it really helped stretch and strengthen my poor unused muscles. I think that helped me get over being sort of overprotective and feeling vulnerable. Highly recommended to so some bodywork just to get in touch with yourself. You can find gentle stretches on YouTube. I'm coming up to my one year and I'm pretty much back to better than normal. Thankful for all the support here on bonesmart. Keep on doing what you're doing...it's a long game but you will win!

 

[catlover55]

Update. Hi everyone, well, had my expected phone call yesterday from the OT to check on my progress. She seemed pleased at what I had to report except for the fact that I stopped the pt exercises at nine weeks out and said the advice they would give is that I should continue with them. I advised that I would not be doing so as I feel my recovery is progressing well without them due to the level of day to day activities and walking I do and don't want to add to the mix and risk stressing out my new hip.She seemed to accept this and went on to ask a series of twelve questions, which based on my answers she felt I was doin really well, but advised that I am still early in recovery and to be mindful it takes a year. I also mentioned this forum and the wonderful support I get on here. The thing that unnerved me a wee bit was that she said she couldn't understand why an appointment had been arranged to see my OS six weeks post op ( which was cancelled due to the pandemic ) as normally patients are referred directly to her dept post op and not seen by their OS unless there is a concern. Got me thinking as I found out after my op that a bone had small crack during op but OS and also his assistant assured me that this was fine they had put and extra wire around it. When I mentioned this to the OT yesterday she said that could be why he had wanted to see me. I hadn't given this any thought as was reassured by OS after my op, but it's now got me thinking. Wish I hadn't got that phone call yesterday!!! Has anyone experienced this or heard anything about bone cracking during surgery.I feel good but just hoping things don't go wrong because of this. Sorry for the long post.

 

[catlover55]

Calgal, thank you so much for very encouraging reply.I will check this out on you tube.Did some Pilates and yoga some years ago and enjoyed it. Once again thank you. Brilliant people on this forum.

 

[Eman85]

I guess it's different in different areas. For me I visited my OS at 2-3 weeks and then at 6 weeks. My rt. had a bone cyst which they cleaned out and filled with bone paste and there was no real concern about it. Is OT a physical therapist?

 

[Jaycey]

@catlover55 fractures do happen during THR. If your fracture was wired it probably looks like image below. They will have put one or two wires to hold the fracture in place. At 6 weeks out they would have checked to see if there was union.

The good news is you are not in any discomfort and are progressing really well. Sounds like this was fairly minor. I would not worry about it at all.

 

[catlover55]

Eman85 Occupational therapist. That's what my initial appointment letter stated. Although the lady introduced herself as one of the specialist nurseso. I suppose I should have been on the ball and asked some questions.She advised that had they been able to see me at the clinic I would have been xrayed, but won't be seen until the anniversary of my THR next february and will have X-ray then. Also gave me a number to call if I have any concerns re new hip till then.Jaycey,thank you for the info. This is really helpful. I feel as if I am making progress so will try not to worry about this. I'm also hopeful that my cancelled appointment with the OS will take place at a later date as was stated it would be rescheduled a.s.a.p.

 

[Celle]

The thing that unnerved me a wee bit was that she said she couldn't understand why an appointment had been arranged to see my OS six weeks post op ( which was cancelled due to the pandemic ) as normally patients are referred directly to her dept post op and not seen by their OS unless there is a concern.

I can't speak for where you live, but in NZ, Australia and the US, it is pretty much routine for a person to see the OS at around 6 weeks post-op. The OS is legally responsible for overseeing your post-op care. I guess he/she can delegate that, but since there was the slight complication of a fracture, seeing your surgeon sounds sensible to me.

Don't worry about it. You're making good progress anyway.

 

[Hip4life]

Occupational Therapist: here in the States (as probably elsewhere) is part of Allied Health professionals: physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology, respiratory therapy ( my specialty) and basically all other non-physician, non-nursing health care professionals. OT does a lot of rehabilitation work to get people back to their activities of daily living as well as regaining skills for activities they enjoy. We all work as part of the team to increase a person’s quality of life. End of lesson. Lol.
I am glad you are progressing so nicely. It’s especially nice to get back to just normal things. The aches and pains will follow you for a little while then you realize, like Eman said, it’s probably just the age of the rest of the body. Lol. It’s difficult not to obsess about the new hip but unless it is really bothering you or limiting you, it’s probably fine. The OS is just a phone call away in any case. Continued healing blessings. Pat

 

[catlover55]

Celle. Yes. Noticed on reading through fellow members threads that this iis the case and it was always my understanding that this also applied to the UK, as I know many people who have had THR and have all had a follow up with their OS at approx six weeks. Hip4life. Thank you for the info much the same here. Since my op I have been focusing on my recovery with great support from bone smart. The pandemic has taken over and understandably everything else is on the back burner. I feel so fortunate to have had my THR and to be rid of all the pain I suffered. We're so lucky here to have our NHS which like everywhere else, have it all to do getting this virus under control. Thanks to the input I have received from you all, I am not goin to worry any more about the fracture that occurred as I'm sure if there was something amiss I would know about it. So onward and upward and thank you all once again.Wishing you a lovely weekend.

 

[catlover55]

Hi everyone, Would just like to update on my progress on where I am on my recovery. I am almost four months out and seem to be doing well, but would really appreciate anyones thoughts and advice on the best way forward in terms of becoming independent of my elbow crutch.I haven't needed to use it around the house for some time e now but continued to use it whilst out and about. Over the last month or so, although I have it with me I don't put any weight on to it and it's been more for reassurance. My gait seems to be improving as I follow the bonesmart way and concentrate on my posture and heel/toe walking. Over the last two weeks I have gone to the local shop which is just across my road without the crutch but have it with for longer distances and raising it to practise doing without. Yesterday and today I increased my distance carrying my crutch and didn't put it on the ground at all. ( Not sure of distance as I don't have any way of measuring it, but walked for forty minutes yesterday and one hour and twenty minutes today and was also active with day to day chores. ) Towards the end and on my return home had some discomfort in my glutes and upper thighs, although hip itself felt fine. I,m sure this is all normal as it just felt like my muscles were reacting a bit to the increased activity. I went to bed and had a nap and feel better now. Would be grateful for any advice on how I should proceed as I don't want to set myself back by going too quickly.

 

[Layla]

Over the last month or so, although I have it with me I don't put any weight on to it and it's been more for reassurance

Over the last two weeks I have gone to the local shop which is just across my road without the crutch

We advise using an assistive device as long as you’re limping. I didn’t get the impression you’re still limping though. If you’re walking for time periods of 40-80 minutes without using the crutch, I’d say you don’t need it any longer. It sounds like any discomfort you suffered was due to over activity through yesterday and today’s walks. Consider icing preventively when you feel you may have overdone it. I’d take a day or two off until you’re no longer feeling sore. Then begin slowly again.

Another consideration would be to purchase a folding cane you could carry in a handbag offering a sense of security. Doesn’t sound like it’s necessary though.

Have a great rest of the week.

 

[catlover55]

Thank you so much for your advice Layla..I don't feel as if I am limping . Feels like muscles are getting stronger as well.,but maybe just overdid things a bit over the last couple of days.Ive been feeling really good of late and keen to ditch the crutch. Folding cane sounds good I'll look into that. I'll also pull back a bit and build up gradually and take it from there. Do you think that four months out is about right to be independent of assisted device or can it vary from person to person ? Sorry if this is a silly question and I'm possibly over thinking this. This forum has been great for me and I value your input and fellow members who have responded to me since I joined. A big thank you to all . Have a great week.

 

[Elf1]

@catlover55 the use of assistive devices is like everything else with recovery, unique to each individual. I definitely like the idea of the folding cane as a sort of back up, just in case. I know a lot of us found that we are ready to part with our assistive devices when we kept forgetting them and wandering off!

 

[zauberflöte]

Shameless plug for a folding cane I bought to use in airport at 5 weeks post op on way to MIL's funeral services: it has a bungee cord inside it! I think I got it on Amazon. Only problem is, once you've folded it, there's no way to keep it bundled up. I think I used a hair elastic maybe. Anyway, its best feature is that the handle is coated with glow-in-the-dark silicone. FUN!