Hip revision

[HippyGal]

Re: post op walking

I must admit I haven't come across anyone being rude or pushing past me! Maybe I've just been lucky where I live!
Even the teenagers have held doors open & got out of my way on the pavements - then again, maybe they think I'll clobber them with my crutches/cane if they don't! :th_heehee:

Indeed you've perhaps been very lucky.

I have a tall hinged gate I must pass through when getting to-and-from the dock. It is a locked gate so one must pass a card key over a pad before opening it. It is difficult to get dock carts and things through the gate because it is heavy. Most people are helpful to each other and hold the gate open when someone is coming or going especially with bags or a dock cart. Complete strangers are very nice to each other at this gate.

Just the other day, I was carrying a bag and my cane and maneuvering this gate open--I was on the side where you have to pull it towards you (with hinges on the right it opens on the left) so once it was partly open I was pushing it to the right with my body and then holding it open with the body until I could get the cane in the left hand and the bag on the right shoulder and squeeze my body through the smallest opening because the gate is so heavy it was closing on me.

There was a lady who came down the ramp as I was doing this and then she was just standing there on the other side of the gate slightly to my left waiting for me to get out of her way! Once I had the gate unlocked, if she'd had any sense of courtesy, she would have stood to my right pushing and holding the big wide gate open for BOTH of us but rather she waited until I squeezed myself through with the heavy gate pressing against my body as it tried to close. Then, as I was through, she put her hand on the gate to keep it open a few inches (so she wouldn't have to get out her card key) until I got "out of her way" so she could open it further and go through. The entire time she wouldn't look at me she looked away like I was some awful thing to be avoided. Seriously. :hissyfit: people are strangely rude when you've got a cane.

 

[Jamie]

Re: post op walking

Thanks Julie--I too still limp after 2 months. People really are rude with the starring. Many also ask me if I have been in an accident? I sure hope I can get this limping under control.

Welcome to BoneSmart, Jojo16.....why don't you start a thread of your own and tell us a little more about yourself. If you're limping still, I'd like to know if you are still in any type of therapy and/or using crutches or a cane.....

 

[sharonann]

Re: post op walking

Hippygal,

What a rude person she was not to help you with the gate! Some people have no manners! :hissyfit:

Let's hope she's the exception & not the rule!

 

[ronniesloan]

Re: post op walking

Hi Danni,
I have just hit the year and a half mark since my new hip was installed, at 5 weeks I got rid of the crutch and went onto the cane, I used for about a week then ditched it. I now walk perfectly normal, no one would erer know I had a hip replacement, the thing to do is try to forget you have a new new hip and before no time you will start enjoying life agian.

Ronnie

 

[MaryJane]

Re: post op walking

This discussion is interesting and enlightening to me. I had both hips done 6 weeks ago, and started walking unassisted at about 3 weeks. Of course I walked with a limp, but nobody told me that I should be using a crutch or a cane all the time. I used a crutch when I went out, to doctor appointments and such and in the past week have not used anything at all, but I feel like I have gotten worse instead of better. I have more pain and can't walk at all without limping. I am going back to using the crutch for awhile and see if my pain improves. Thanks everyone for all the input on this subject.
Mary Jane

 

[Josephine]

Re: post op walking

Since you've had both hips done, try two crutches for a few days. Even things up a bit.

 

[danni]

Re: post op walking

Hi all just an update to let you all know that today my PT cleared me of my last remaining crutch. I am now an independent woman after 12 weeks of relying on others. thanks again to all of you who supported me through this revision, all in all it was not near as bad as I feared. I intend to celebrate at the weekend. Wishing all of you a great recovery, for me life is so good now.

 

[Daybyday]

Re: post op walking

Hi Danni!

Read threads often, but post rarely. Read yours, and decided to chime in. Welcome to the other side!!

I don't remember seeing on your thread whether or not you were involved with PT.

My surgeon didn't insist on it, but after six weeks, I walked with a limp, and asked that she send me to PT. Boy did it ever help--mostly stretching and strengthening for my hip and my knee! I also spent lots of time in a local therapy pool pretending to ride a bike back and forth across the pool. This I did for no less than 1 hour 3 times a week. ( I had RTHR on January 24, 2011, and I'm an active 64-year old.)

What a difference after 4 weeks of PT!! Limp was gone!! So if you're not taking PT, and have an opportunity to do so, please treat yourself and do it.

Before taking PT however, I would take long, long walks (which is also great for your hip). My goals were simple. Use the cane for 50 or so steps, and hold it over my head for the next 50 or so. Each day I would try to increase my steps with and without the cane. It was something to work for.

As stated before, read the threads often, but seldom to never comment. Did want you to know before I close that I'm 1 week past my 6 month mark, and rarely think about the fact that I've had hip surgery. I respect the hip enough to watch where I walk--careful not to trip over a curb or step in a hole, but the right hip now feels just like the other one. (And I'm playing golf 3 or 4 days a week.)

Good luck to you on your continued recovery. Know that your limp will go away with time, and before you know it, recovery will be a thing of the past!!

Daybyday
_______________________
Anterior Approach RTHR 1/24/11

 

[Renate]

Re: post op walking

Hi Danni, congratulations on your 12 weeks! And enjoy your new hip and celebrations.

 

[Jaycey]

Re: post op walking

Well done danni! It is certainly something to celebrate!

 

[Allan]

Re: post op walking

Nice one danni, no stopping you know.

I had my 17 year review on bilaterals (got them done at 20 years of age, 1994), they are still well cemented, with some polyetylene wear, but the surgeon recons their good for another 5 years at least. He called in a heap of registrars and SHO's to some them that cemented (charnley) THR work well in young fellas

 

[Josephine]

Re: post op walking

Wow, Allan - that's brilliant! I know the chap at Wrightington (where Charnley developed his prosthesis) used to get his patients to measure the amount of wear on their new xrays while they waited for him to see them! They would put up new and last xrays on the finder, get the tool (micrometer) out of the desk drawer and the chart out of their notes and fill in any differences found between the two! He said he liked to get the patients involved!

 

[alexthecat]

Re: post op walking

Good for you, Allan! I'm happy to know that you are doing so well and hope that continues for a long, long time.

 

[beesquare]

Re: post op walking

Hi everyone, first time post for me as I only discovered this wonderful site today! Had a right THR on 22 July 2011 so in early stages of recovery. It's interesting how many people talk about Physiotherapy as the hospital where I had my op doesn't give any and no programme of exercises. You're just told to walk as far as you can comfortably manage and that's it! Having said that I'm managing on one crutch which seems to be working out ok. No leg stockings thank goodness but daily self injections of Clexane to prevent clots. Not my favourite time of day! Was worried about tight feeling in groin today as though someone had sneaked something extra in there but from reading all the helpful posts it seems pretty normal thank goodness (and yes, I am paranoid about dislocation even though I follow the rules!!) Thanks so much for great site. Onwards and upwards - but carefully!:wink1:

 

[danni]

Re: post op walking

Well beesquare, welcome to the forum. It seems the jury is out on the PT exercises, but I do not believe I would be as good today if I did not have it. I also believe that whether or not you need PT very much depends on the reason you had the surgery in the first place. I had hip dysplasia and the muscles around the hip were in poor condition down through the years so in order for me to walk well, those muscles needed to be kicked into touch so to speak. I hope that makes sense.

 

[beesquare]

Re: post op walking

Thanks Danni that was helpful. I didn't have any other issues apart from the arthritis so was lucky in that respect. I've been walking up and down the road since day 4 and doing a fair amount of pottering round the house so I think that's kept things working. Josephine has also sent a helpful link to exercises on this site so I've started doing them too. I think the danger for me is overdoing it- it's always been a failing! Luckily my body starts to shout so I 'm listening to it and resting when I feel the need. Just wondering what the average return to work time is - a colleague was off 12 weeks so I'm taking that as a guide

 

[Jaycey]

Re: post op walking

Hi Anne, here's a link to a thread in the Library about a Phased Return to Work. As the thread says 10-12 weeks is the norm - but everyone is different of course!

 

[danni]

Re: post op walking

Hi, Josephine I wonder if you could help me. I have mid thigh pain wish I am not worried about as i remember having the same the last time and it die eventually clear up after quite some time. I am taking 2 paracetamol and 1 30 mg codeine for the pain at present but I don,t like the codeine and tend to skip it a lot. I am concerned that the pain is causing me to limp slightly and I don,t want to get into a bad habit of walking after all the PT I have done. Is there any over the counter pain killers I can take with the paracetamol that will be as effective. I don,t like the codeine because it costs me a fortune in prescriptions and also makes me quite drowsy. Not every drug available in Britain is available over the counter here, as they are very strict here about drugs but if you can help at all I would be most grateful.

 

[Jaycey]

Re: post op walking

danni you can take ibuprofen with paradetamol - that is if you don't have a problem with NSAIDs.

I'll tag Jo to advise you on the dosage though. @Josephine:

 

[Josephine]

Re: post op walking

You're right, Jaycey. Danni, try taking between 200-800mg ibuprofen three times a day with the paracetamol. Start with a lesser dose and work up until you find one that suits.

Codeine is a problem drug. It is a good pain killer but not only does it have sedative effects but it also causes constipation!