Guest viewing is limited

carpenter

Status
Not open for further replies.

rdsurman

new member
Joined
Dec 8, 2008
Messages
1
Location
United States
i am a 59 yr old carpenter who never had a hip problem until i received an li fracture to my back two years ago. arthritis developed in my hip which gave me pain and limited mobility. i had cemented hip replacement surgery 2 weeks ago. will i be able to return to my job with no limitations. my job consists of kneeling, crawling, climbing,stretching and lifting. also how long do you think my rehab will take . so far so good.
 
Hi
I had a hip replacement on June 6th (not cemented) I had all the restrictions from a posterior incision. At the 3 month point I was pretty much able to do anything (except running). I had started swimming 5 times per week at 4 weeks out which helped tremendously with range of motion.

I don't see any problem with returning to work for you, but of course your surgeon is the best source of info on that!!
What has your doc said about your timeframe for recovery and returning to work?

I have to say this is the most awesome surgery. Good Luck in your continuing recovery
Judy
 
Hi there,

I have to agree with Judy, I am so pleased I had the surgery.

Most of the guides I read recommended three months off work for an active job. I am just over three months out from a THR and feel almost back to normal. I can kneel and get up a ladder and sort of climb over a fence, but I do these things a little awkwardly still - but then, I was always a bit of a klutz :) However, the huge thing is that I can do all these things Without pain!

All the best with your good progress,
Monica
 
3 months is a good benchmark to the point of getting over everything generally, not just concerning the hip itself. Having a major op of any kind takes it out of you and that's about how much time a body needs to get on top of things.

btw - welcome to BoneSmart!

 
i am a 59 yr old carpenter who never had a hip problem until i received an li fracture to my back two years ago. arthritis developed in my hip which gave me pain and limited mobility. i had cemented hip replacement surgery 2 weeks ago. will i be able to return to my job with no limitations. my job consists of kneeling, crawling, climbing,stretching and lifting. also how long do you think my rehab will take . so far so good.

I am a vocational instructor of construction skills and a plasterer by trade. I understand your concerns of returning to work, especially in a production atmosphere. Most people do not understand the athletic ability required of construction tradesmen. Trying nailing trusses while balancing on ceiling joist sometime...

If you are self-employed, you are able to better guage your daily activity. A contractor friend of mine had a THR and is doing fine, but on his bad days, he can pick and choose what jobs he performs (or none at all), a hired journeymen doesn't always have that kind of flexibility. the same thing can be said of my job as an instructor, I can pick and choose what I do to a certain extent.
 
As others have written about 3 months seems to be a good rule of thumb. The range on this forum is +/- 2.5 months for returning to work. The range for a strenuous job is probably the same range skewed upwards by a month.

Letting your body heal includes not putting undo pressure to get more active than you are ready to. You will start exercises right away within hours or up to 2 days of the surgery. My non-physical job(the greatest exersion was walking to the office with a 20 lb briefcase/laptop slung over my shoulder or climbing stairs) allowed returning to the on my 3rd day after release from the hospital. I went because I was bored but I had arranged to do my work at home for as long as needed. I had predicted to the office not to expect me present for 3 months so it was a surprise to all when I walked in 2months and 27 days early. Since I can work anywhere my laptop sits, I got a lot of work done starting 4 hours after getting out of surgery. I don't quite remember, but I think I post on this forum that first afternoon.

You will NOT be cleared for work that requires balancing and using power tools until you are not taking strong medication, I am willing to bet.
Good luck, do it, you will immediately wish you had done it earlier.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top Bottom