THR DonnieP's Hip Recovery

[AnnieRose2]

I see so much of this soft sell of this surgery and unrealistic recovery times presented to people along with the "better" approach deals.

SOOOO true...I love the stories of 1 month post op marathons!! I flat out say..I don't believe you

 

[Layla]

Wow, that sounds awful. So sorry!.
Thankfully you're on the mend. Wishing you comfort as you heal.
Keep us posted.
@DonnieP

 

[SurreyGirl]

@DonnieP wow! As if you don’t have enough to deal with as a recovering hippie! Glad you are getting better...

Re PT. jury out here. To some extent it did help getting me moving and having someone encouraging checking my ROM in a weekly basis has been good. That said some of the exercises put me back, particularly anything involving added resistance. So now with three sessions left we are concentrating on soft tissue massage and gait when walking....and working on those naughty glutes that still Knot up.


My OS was all for physio whereas in hindsight, other OS opinions of not messing around with the soft tissue for 6 weeks and relearning how to walk seems very sensible to me. I have now watched a video, gore and all, of an operation and realise how much goes on. It was the stitching together of multi layers that bought it home to me how deep this goes beyond the visible scar. Doh! Now I can visualise that, leaving things alone makes much more sense.

Another lovely autumn day here so no excuse for not walking later after I have caught up on some emails!

 

[Ausman]

PT helped me after both hip replacements. The hips didn't need PT to heal, it was all my other muscles that had weakened from sedentary living with OA.
Good luck!

Thank you Clipper for that. This thread was really scaring me because the overwhelming sentiment seems to be opposed to PT. It scares me because I am pinning my hopes for return to work on successful PT. Currently I am almost 6 weeks since my left THR. I'm still in too much pain to begin right now but I will as soon as I can.

The reason, as you said, is that living with Osteoarthritis in my bad hip had rippled through my entire body and lifestyle. Activity was way down, muscle tone was plummeting, my gait was a disaster. In fact, I attended PT for six months prior to my surgery and it was that alone that enabled me to at least keep working until my surgery.

One of my biggest problems right now is my painful, limping gait. I truly need to learn to walk again. If not in PT, then where else would you learn? I need to regain the ability to walk and move without simultaneously doing damage to my knees, back, and hips as I feel like I'm doing now with every limping step. And I need to get back to the strength and endurance that I had not all that long ago in order to return to work. If not in PT, then where?

 

[Mojo333]

Hope the incision from ridding yourself off that horrid hematoma
@DonnieP
Wishing you a restful healing weekend.

 

[Layla]

Happy Two Month Anniversary!
I hope all is going well.
Please leave us an update next time you drop by. We'd love to learn of your progress.
Wishing you all the best moving forward!
@DonnieP

PS wondering what was the exact surgery date for your last surgery?
Looking back to your first Recovery post, what you wrote, what your signature shows and your date on the September surgery list....nothing matches? Just curious so we can record it properly. Thanks!

 

[cheermom]

SOOOO true...I love the stories of 1 month post op marathons!! I flat out say..I don't believe you

I just passed my 3 week post op date (3 weeks 3 days) and yesterday enjoyed a beautiful fall day by going on a hike. Logged 3 miles on my fitbit. You can choose to believe me or not. I am sharing my recovery as a different approach, but not necessarily a better approach.

No pain, no soreness, no problems at all, even today. I probably should have stopped at 2 miles, my walking goal for 3 weeks out as we are still laying bone down on that implant, but dang, those steps add up quickly. I did call my surgeon to see if I did any damage and he said nope, if I feel good enough to do it once in awhile, go for it. Just keep it to 2 miles the rest of the week.

I absolutely attribute it to the Mako surgical approach with the precision cuts and precision fit of the implant, the amazing skills of my OS, AND my incredible PT. She works for my OS, so works with him closely to create an individual plan that rehabs my entire body to support the surgical hip. Since my body has taken a beating for the past 5 years trying to accommodate the bad hip, the total rehab has focused on bringing the body back in balance. My recovery has exceeded even my high expectations.

She does not believe in sharp stabbing pain, that is strictly forbidden and she is very adamant on listening to your body. However, she does set a goal for achieving that sore, achy pain you get at the gym after a good workout. My abs are taking a beating, lol.

Everyone's body is different, everyone's body heals at different speeds. Everyone has different pain tolerances. Everyone has different goals. No one should feel bad or call someone a liar if their recovery is faster or slower than someone else's recovery. Your recovery is what is right for you and what your doctors have set for you.

 

[cheermom]

@Ausman, exactly. You have to rehab your whole body because it was not working properly. Good luck with your PT! It has helped me beyond even my wildest expectations.

 

[An54]

@cheermom , glad to hear that everything is going so well.

 

[Barbaraj]

It was the stitching together of multi layers that bought it home to me how deep this goes beyond the visible scar. Doh! Now I can visualise that, leaving things alone makes much more sense.

Good grief, @SurreyGirl, you are one tough cookie! I guess "knowledge is power" but think I'll skip the scary details on this surgery. I am still shaking my head at your bravery.

 

[Ginny12]

Hi,

I just read this thread and was a little bit confused. I am 13 days post op a THR. When PT is written here does that allude to the standard exercises one is given post op or does that mean working with weights on a one to one etc?

I had my surgery at an orthopaedic centre in the UK. It is a center of excellence. I was given a booklet with exercises to do pre and post op. I have been doing them religiously but not in excess. I feel fine and have no real pain I presume that my OS is aware that i am doing the set exercises and i am actually seeing him tomorrow.

I even got a call asking me was i doing my exercises after i was discharged.

Any feedback will be gratefully received. Thanks.

 

[Apricot]

Yes I think it means the exercises given to you in hospital or by a physiotherapist. associated with your consultant or hospital.
Things seem to work differently in the USA.
Where did you have your op done? Always curious.

 

[MrDIY]

Wow @cheermom!, thank you for sharing your positive experience. Glad to see you are doing so well.

 

[Ginny12]

Hi @Apricot,

Thank you for your reply.

The Horder Center in Crowbourgh. It is in Sussex. I just presumed my OS knows all about what exercises i am given. My OS has a very good reputation, Mr Apthorp. I don't want to tempt fate but i believe that i seem to be recovering well is down to him and how skilled he is. I did do a lot of physio pre op too.

I hope your recovery is going well.

 

[Jaycey]

Folks can you please take your conversation to your own threads. This thread belongs to @DonnieP and we should not derail it. Thanks!

Donnie - how are you doing. Check in when you can please.

 

[Ginny12]

@Jaycey, Donnie.

I do apologize, i misunderstood and thought this thread was about PT. I am really sorry to all concerned.

Ginny

 

[cheermom]

@Jaycey, the thread title asks if "PT helped your THR?"

My apologies if sharing that PT has been absolutely instrumental in my THR recovery was inappropriate. I was just answering the question asked in the title. Working hard at rehab with my physical therapist has been one of the most successful parts of my THR.

@donnie, my apologies if you felt that your thread was hijacked.

 

[Apricot]

Oops! Mia culpa.

 

[Jamie]

@DonnieP .... as you can see, your thread title has taken your recovery thread a bit off topic. Can you please suggest a different title to use as you go forward in your recovery? It should be something that reflects your recovery experience and not a general question like "Has PT helped with your THR recovery?" Just post what you'd like it to be here and we'll get it changed for you.