THR Finally! Left Hip Anterior Recovery

[Jaycey]

@tanvat Very early days for you to be returning to work even if it is remotely! Please don't push yourself. You still have Energy Drain to deal with!

 

[tanvat]

I agree Jacey - the energy drain is a significant limiting factor, part when combined with not sleeping consistently through the night. But, I have a unique work situation as I am the only person working on time sensitive matters with real impacts on real people- I just don’t really have a choice to not get back at it. It’s not ideal, but it’s what I have to do. And it alleviates the boredom. just have to be intentional about getting up and moving about.

 

[Layla]

Aww, bad and good. Great for alleviating boredom, but it must be rather stressful also when you're feeling drained and uncomfortable. I wish you comfort and lots of restorative rest this weekend!
@tanvat

 

[tanvat]

Day 17: Finally - and somewhat suddenly - I can walk again! On Friday, my PT suggested I try taking a few steps with the cane. I was unsure, b/c at that point walking without the walker seemed days or weeks away. I went for it and … it just happened. It felt good and at least semi-natural so I kept going and ended up doing four laps around the main floor. It felt liberating. I’ve continued to practice, including walking without the cane. My gait feels pretty good, though the leg length difference is noticeable and, of course, the incision area and my quad is still sore. Also, on Friday, my PT suggested the infamous clamshell exercise. I tried it and, the first 10 or 12 reps went nowhere, as if my abductors were basically asleep. But I kept gently trying and they woke up and could get several inches of comfortable ROM. I haven’t tried again, but did do squats and bridges also, all with no ill effect. It actually felt great to feel a little muscle activation. I may be in the minority on this one and everyone’s experience is different, but my view of post-op PT has changed a bit and I think it can be great IF tailored to the age, pre-op fitness, and post-op swelling/pain of a particular patient. As many on here have so astutely emphasized, you just can’t overdo it. For instance, I’ve only done the squats and bridges twice post-op, and only one set of 20 repetitions each time -‘just enough to activate muscles, not to really workout - WAY to early for that. So far, so good.

 

[sunnyphoenix]

tanvat, I appreciate your comments regarding PT as I'm scheduled to begin mine tomorrow morning. I was completely dissatisfied with the therapy I had last year following a TKR and am somewhat concerned about a repeat of history. However, I'm going to a different site and have made it clear to my man, who almost insisted that I go, that if ANYONE does ANYTHING that causes ANY pain and won't stop, I will be out of there. Hopefully my experience will be positive the way yours has been. And congratulations on walking. What a success story!

 

[tanvat]

Sunnyphoenix, best wishes to you. I think you are spot on regarding the meds - indeed your right - to set your physical limits based on what your body is telling you. if it hurts, don’t do it and don’t let anyone make you- pain is your body’s ancient mechanism to say don’t do this just yet. I would be pleasantly clear about that upfront, but with an open mind based on what your body tells you. And I’m no success story, I’ve just been fortunate so far with a long way to go and a second THR set for the third week of June. As the moderators here say, I’m in the (very) early days. I wish you the best.

 

[tanvat]

Yes!!!!! Was scheduled for second hip third week of June but got it moved to June 1! Three weeks closer to where I want to be!

Still progressing daily, but aware of moderating activity despite feeling better. It will be interesting to see how this goes.

 

[LaKarune]

Yes!!!!! Was scheduled for second hip third week of June but got it moved to June 1! Three weeks closer to where I want to be!

Still progressing daily, but aware of moderating activity despite feeling better. It will be interesting to see how this goes.

Congrats!!! Lots of healing ahead of you but then my goodness, you get your whole life back!!

 

[tanvat]

Week 3: surgery was 3 weeks ago as of tomorrow. I’m amazed and pleased with recovery so far. Went back to Y to start light, machine-based upper body workouts and to walk the basketball gym. I did several laps around the court, concentrating on posture and heel to toe walking. I ramped the pace to a moderately brisk walk, just to test it. I have not been able smoothly walk at that pace for quite a while. I’ve had the good fortune to walk in some breathtakingly beautiful and remote mountains but I’m not sure I’ve been more pleased with a walk than I was with those laps around the old YMCA basketball court. I understand I can’t (and won’t) walk like that for any distance for some time, but it’s a hopeful sign. A week ago, the prospect of not using a walker seemed weeks away - but recovery happens. I understand my trend line will likely dip at some point, but at least it’s headed in the right direction. I think almost everyone in recovery is headed in the right direction at our own pace. Hang in there.

 

[tanvat]

Last Friday, a mere week ago, I first used a cane instead a walker. Today, I did PT, went to the Y, and walked a half mile around the neighborhood up and down some gentle hills and if felt great. It seems that once the swelling subsides, the muscles reactivate fairly quickly - albeit in a weakened state - and exponential improvement occurs. I’ve been gradually ramping up activity and, so far, have not overdid it. That may change, but it seems if one can do just enough to feel a bit of fatigue - not discomfort or pain - then there is progress to be had once the swelling abates. Hang in there everyone, we’re getting better!

 

[CricketHip]

You are doing very well.. very well, indeed! Happy for you @tanvat .

 

[MissFanny]

@tanvat, I didn’t correlate the swelling and restrictions on activity. I bet you are right! It is since the swelling decreased that I have really been able to move again.

Happy to read you are doing so well! Keep up the amazing job!

 

[thepuckhead]

I’ve had the good fortune to walk in some breathtakingly beautiful and remote mountains but I’m not sure I’ve been more pleased with a walk than I was with those laps around the old YMCA basketball court.

The first steps, on a walker, in a surgery center with a view of the parking lot, will always be one of the most wondrous walks I will take in my life.

 

[tanvat]

I can’t believe it’s been 4 weeks already. A quick recap: Week 1: swelling, log leg, restless sleep, overall discomfort but not awful considering the soft tissue and orthopedic trauma attending THR.

Week 2: swelling starts to recede some and the injured muscles start to wake up bit. I was still on a walker and it seemed like I would be for quite a while. Some real signs of progress though.

Week 3: exponential improvement. Went from walker, came, to walking with a decent gait and fairly comfortably. Not for long distance by any means, but was able to do half mile loop in the neighborhood and return to upper body exercises and light lower body PT exercises - felt great, no post-activity aches and pains.

Week 4: more progress, but not the exponential improvement of Week 3. Makes sense because it seemed, for me at least, that rapid improvement followed in lockstep with the decrease and eventual cessation of swelling. What is limiting my walking now is that pesky right hip that will be replaced on June 1. So, still doing the half mile loop and the new hip is great; it’s just the grumpy old neighbor to the right that rains on the parade. Also, still notice the leg length differential bit it seems like I notice it less and less - that’ll most likely change again when I start from square one with the right hip.

Anyway, individual results may and will vary, but I hope my experience can provide some insight into what one could expect in recovery from an anterior hip replacement.

 

[Mojo333]

@tanvat
Thanks for the recovery re-cap, and it sounds very much like my own first month.
I know you aren't necessarily looking forward to confronting your grumpy neighbor now that #1 is starting to fall in line, but 2 good hips for getting back to an active healthy life without hip pain is priceless

 

[tanvat]

I’m now 5 and a half weeks out. Progress is steady with the left hip. Still some quad tightness and some limitation in raising the operative leg into my car, etc. Back at the Y doing upper body exercises with the only limitation being that I focus on machines and movements that do not incorporate my hips. Doing very light lower body exercise- body weight squats, leg extensions, etc. the chief issue at this point is my right hip set for replacement in a couple of weeks. As I’m become more active, the right hip has really flared back up, limiting my walks to the same half mile I’ve doing for the last three weeks. The left hip has given me no real issues, it’s the right. That said, given how good my right hip feels, the limitations imposed by the right hip may be a blessing in disguise, as it probably has helped me not overdo it and facilitated healing on the left side.

All in all, based on my own experience so far, the operation has been a complete success. If your hip is really limiting your life, find a good surgeon and for it.

 

[tanvat]

As I just woke up from a 2 hour nap, it’s worth mentioning that at 5.5 weeks out, I’m still not sleeping through the night. I wake up about every hour to hour and a half - I assume that will resolve over time. Creates a lot of fatigue.

 

[tanvat]

7 week update: at 7 weeks, there is no obvious daily improvement but there is noticeable weekly improvement. My replaced left hip has no problem going up and down stairs or with walking. Range of motion is OK, and improving weekly. All in all, it’s pretty amazing how much improvement happens in 7 weeks - and it feels good to know more is on the way. That is quite unlike the pre-op days, when
The pain and discomfort was pointless aside from serving as an ever-present reminder that THR was inevitable. The real limiting factor has been my increasingly grumpy right hip. It has prevented me from taking any walking note, which is not ideal for recovery of my left hip. The silver lining is that all a changes tomorrow, when, just shy of age 50, I get a THR on the right hip first thing tomorrow morning - 7 weeks to the minute from the left THR. Back to
Square One - time to heal up hit the final approach back to my regularly scheduled life

 

[Gloucestergal65]

Good luck for tomorrow. X

 

[MissFanny]

Good luck! Smart to get it done and over with!