I thought it might be helpful if I shared a further update now am 7 weeks and 3 days in from my bilateral:-
April 2nd/3/4/5/6/7 Day 42, 43, 44, 45, 46 and 47. No fundamental changes to my daily routines but little (and I mean little) gains. Not seen day to day but back over a week yes. Exercising pretty much the same in terms of length i.e. about a 50+ minute walk outside in the morning and 10 mins in the p.m. but can do about 5 mins of this without double crutches. Bit scary at first and I still have them with me but kind of hold them out in front so I guess they're helping me balance. Walking around the house without crutches but need them up and downstairs. Conscious of limping though which is still a default and have to work really hard not to do this. One day this week I couldn't go out for my daily walk so went on the treadmill in our house. Walked on the incline, straight and decline for about 40 mins before starting to get pain in right glute so stopped. Am now cautiously going up and downstairs 'properly' with alternate leg albeit with crutch and holding on to handrail. Left leg still much stronger than right.,
April 8th/9/10 Day 48, 49 and 50. Saw physio Monday, more pressure point work on glutes and quads so so so tight. I haven't been able to abduct very well for years and she says the muscles etc running down my inner thighs are set like concrete so despite new hips it's going to take a LONG time to re-train these muscles. She really checks my walking and gait and has advised me to remove my insoles in my trainers (I've bought new ones which have an inbuilt support for pronation) so I was actually in danger of over correcting. Once am up and about more shall take myself off to see a podiatrist to get new insoles measured as my ones are quite old anyway. My right arch more dropped than my left.
April 11th - Day 51, Week 7.2 days. Up to London today to see my OS and have xrays. Nightmare journey there and back as 2.5 hours each way. Lower lumbar pain (old problem), glutes in right hip and sore right knee. Ouch ouch ouch. Anyway, x-rays all great and he confirmed that:-
- No sign of osteoarthritis, femur/pelvis/bones rock solid (must be 15+ years of calcium tablets)
- Bones 'infilling' very well, x rays all good
- My swelling is actually oedema and perfectly normal and he's seen 'a lot worse' at this stage
- Nerve pain normal
- Lack of abduction exactly as physio says
So all is good. He's given me the all clear on 'restrictions' i.e. can now sit on normal chairs/loos etc but to listen to my body as to what it can and can't do. Any restrictions that I feel is all about muscle and ligament repair and ability so gentle exercise/pilates etc etc. Slow and steady eddie.
Great relief.
April 12th Day 52 Today taking it slow after yesterday's car journey. But whoopee tried 'normal' chair and can sit on it now I've been the greenlight. No pain or discomfort.
My swelling is perfectly normal and actually lot less