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THR Brooksy’s Hip Recovery

Thanks for replying. I only took one Dihydrocodeine yesterday and I’ve just taken paracetamol since.
I was walking a lot too (to the loo & back) and it seemed more of a soreness than pain.
The constipation has been so awful I’m hoping that’ll resolve too if I’m not taking them.
Hi Brookeer, constipation bad for me too. I managed to have a bowel movement on day 3 by using Miralax (I'm in the USA) and Colace together. On day 5, no luck since, though I'm sticking to the same protocol. I'm hoping that by walking more, the exercise may help. Hang in there. It sure is an unpleasant side effect.
 
Ah thankyou Layla that’s lovely
It’s really nice to know you think I’m doing well too.
 
Thanks for replying. I only took one Dihydrocodeine yesterday and I’ve just taken paracetamol since.
I was walking a lot too (to the loo & back) and it seemed more of a soreness than pain.
The constipation has been so awful I’m hoping that’ll resolve too if I’m not taking them.
Hi Brookeer, constipation bad for me too. I managed to have a bowel movement on day 3 by using Miralax (I'm in the USA) and Colace together. On day 5, no luck since, though I'm sticking to the same protocol. I'm hoping that by walking more, the exercise may help. Hang in there. It sure is an unpleasant side effect.
I’m sorry you’re suffering with it. I had no idea how painful and horrible it could be. Thankfully it’s all settled down now.
 
My physio just sent me this: So true
[Bonesmart.org] Brooksy’s Hip Recovery
 
Yes! it is true, but difficult to accept when you're in the midst of it. I think these reminders are helpful at times for anyone feeling discouraged with their progress. I believe we've all been there, to varying degrees, at least once during the healing process.
Have a lovely weekend!
@Brookeer
 
Yes it helped me. I didn’t think I’d made much progress thus last week or so and seeing that I could pretty much see where I’m at.
Hope you have a lovely weekend too
 
I was 4 weeks post op yesterday.
I saw the physio today and she made me walk unaided.
I didn’t think I could do it at first but she encouraged me and had me walking up and down the room several times.
I was so happy I could have cried - very emotional
So, from now on I’m to walk unaided in the house or one crutch when I get tired or go out.
She had me going up and down a step too which was surprisingly easy.
I think I’m further on than I thought which is a pleasant surprise.
It’s definitely more painful at the moment but I guess I’m doing more. The ice definitely helps.
 
@Brookeer Please don't be pushed into walking unaided. It's great if you can. But you will find that when you get tired you start to limp. Use a walking aid if there is any limp. You don't want to get into the limping habit again.

Still early days for you!
 
Brookeer, Good for you! I'm at 2 weeks postop, and I can only imagine how thrilled you were taking those first unassisted steps! Bravo!
 
@Brookeer Please don't be pushed into walking unaided. It's great if you can. But you will find that when you get tired you start to limp. Use a walking aid if there is any limp. You don't want to get into the limping habit again.

Still early days for you!
Thank you so much. I don’t feel ready to walk unaided so maybe I’ll leave it another week and try again then
 
If you are not comfortable doing anything PT suggests just say no. I wish sometimes there was a PT doing PT that had hip replacement or any other type of surgery requiring PT. I'm sure there are some out there that could be more patient.
Even well meaning friends that tell you stories of folks they know that were sky diving two weeks after hip replacement! LOL!
You do you...
 
Thanks. You’re definitely right. I was so excited yesterday but in pain all night and today. It’s nice to know I can walk unaided but I’m not trying it again for a while. I don’t know why the physio rushed it really as I’ve been doing really well.
 
I hope your pain is easing as you just passed your one month anniversary.
I am sorry you're struggling. I wish you the best when you attempt to walk unaided again.
Stay in touch, we're here for you.
@Brookeer
 
Thank you. It was sore for a couple of days but it’s ok now. It doesn’t feel as though I’ve got the strength I had on Tuesday. I don’t know whether to rest or try and exercise to build the muscles up.
I feel as though I’m way behind other people as I’m five weeks post op next Monday and still using a crutch.
The physio said I should be walking normally and unaided by six weeks and I can’t see that happening.
I’m disappointed that my range of movement is the same as pre op but just with no pain.
 
Are you reading the posts from others here as well as the advice given my the staff here at Bonesmart?
Walking, rest, elevate and ice, if you are in pain there's no magic date that you will wake up and walk perfectly, this is a marathon recovery not a sprint. I'm no way trying to be disrespectful, only helpful.
Your PT is being unrealistic to your needs and your recovery and making you feel like you should be further along.
Your muscles need to heal. You don't heal them by ripping them up with crazy exercises.
Best recovery is walking. Walk with you cane/crutches whatever you are using and don't be pushed into doing exercises that hurt.
You will know when you are ready.
I was able to walk fine around the house with no aid but had chairs and counters to hang onto if needed. Used cane outside because my yard is not even surface. I'm 8 months post op and have cane in trunk of my car "just in case." I don't need it but it's there.
No shame in needing assistive device.
Stop beating yourself up.
 
The physio said I should be walking normally and unaided by six weeks and I can’t see that happening.
:nah:

I agree with my glasshalffull completely.
I left this on another thread but it merits a repeat.
I just had to remind myself often -
Tightness is a normal occurrence after this kind of major surgery. Your surgeon did major carpentry work and disturbed every millimeter of soft tissue in this area.
At 5 weeks post-op ...You aren't tight because your muscle is underused and needs to be stretched and rehabbed. You're tight because your tissue is healing... If a long full step right now is causing pain and limping, don't take long full steps. Take smaller steps. Take a short walk several times a day, instead of longer walks. Use your cane. Use ice. Rest a lot.

This isn't the time to do anything to excess. Baby steps now, and lots of patience, pays off big time later. Recovering from self-induced tendinitis can end up taking weeks or months.
Consider yourself as still recovering from surgery and structure your return to your life as a slow, gradual process where you introduce very small increments in activity, and then give yourself time to see how you react to it.
All temporary, and worth the patience.
We can all identify with the concern and frustration..."Did this work?"
Keep the faith, friend. Still Early Days!
 
Are you reading the posts from others here as well as the advice given my the staff here at Bonesmart?
Walking, rest, elevate and ice, if you are in pain there's no magic date that you will wake up and walk perfectly, this is a marathon recovery not a sprint. I'm no way trying to be disrespectful, only helpful.
Your PT is being unrealistic to your needs and your recovery and making you feel like you should be further along.
Your muscles need to heal. You don't heal them by ripping them up with crazy exercises.
Best recovery is walking. Walk with you cane/crutches whatever you are using and don't be pushed into doing exercises that hurt.
You will know when you are ready.
I was able to walk fine around the house with no aid but had chairs and counters to hang onto if needed. Used cane outside because my yard is not even surface. I'm 8 months post op and have cane in trunk of my car "just in case." I don't need it but it's there.
No shame in needing assistive device.
Stop beating yourself up.
Hi yes I’ve been reading other posts. Maybe it’s the ones I’m reading but they often seem to be able to walk unaided from three weeks.
I’ve only been able to walk in my flat as I’m too worried about falling if I go out and with the weather and family being ill I haven’t had anyone to go out with me. I wondered if that was holding things back.
I do get up and walk around a lot and when I’m not I elevate and ice.
The first time I saw the physio she wasn’t at all pushy but this time she had me doing all kinds of stuff and said the surgeon will want me walking unaided by six weeks and I should be able to raise my knee to at least 90 degrees and beyond that if it’s comfortable.
I guess I’m feeling a bit rushed as I’m no where near there yet.
Thanks for your reassurance.
 
The physio said I should be walking normally and unaided by six weeks and I can’t see that happening.
:nah:

I agree with my glasshalffull completely.
I left this on another thread but it merits a repeat.
I just had to remind myself often -
Tightness is a normal occurrence after this kind of major surgery. Your surgeon did major carpentry work and disturbed every millimeter of soft tissue in this area.
At 5 weeks post-op ...You aren't tight because your muscle is underused and needs to be stretched and rehabbed. You're tight because your tissue is healing... If a long full step right now is causing pain and limping, don't take long full steps. Take smaller steps. Take a short walk several times a day, instead of longer walks. Use your cane. Use ice. Rest a lot.

This isn't the time to do anything to excess. Baby steps now, and lots of patience, pays off big time later. Recovering from self-induced tendinitis can end up taking weeks or months.
Consider yourself as still recovering from surgery and structure your return to your life as a slow, gradual process where you introduce very small increments in activity, and then give yourself time to see how you react to it.
All temporary, and worth the patience.
We can all identify with the concern and frustration..."Did this work?"
Keep the faith, friend. Still Early Days!
Thank you so much for explaining about the healing.
I think I’ll go back to basics and just take it easy.
I may delay my next physio appointment if I don’t feel ready rather than end up feeling like I’ve gone backwards like I have after this last one.
I haven’t been given an appointment for my six week follow up with the surgeon yet so it may give me a couple of weeks longer to be where he wants me to be.
 
:friends: Things do really get better...if we let it.
And when I think of the chronic worsening pain and my concerns at 6 weeks, at 3 months even - as there were still glitches - and I Iced and prayed for the day I wouldn't have to think about my hips.
I run a Food Bank and zip around non-stop a huge campus 6 straight hours per day all week.
I enjoy the outdoors and fish, and go boating, and never feel pain from walking.

So so worth that first year of healing!
 
but this time she had me doing all kinds of stuff and said the surgeon will want me walking unaided by six weeks and I should be able to raise my knee to at least 90 degrees and beyond that if it’s comfortable.
There is absolutely no time line for this recovery. If you are not walking unaided by 6 weeks - well so what? You will walk unaided when you are ready.

Unfortunately most physios have a "checklist". If you are not at a particular point they can start to get pushy. Just remember - you are not in training. You are healing from major surgery. Plenty of time for strength training when you are feeling more confident.
 
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