How good will it get?

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Andy A

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70
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I wanted to check with this community on a rehab question. First - the background. 55 year old male with THR on both sides (June 2008 and October 2007). Are "shallow hips" a term to explain why I had such wear and tear on my hips? They had bothered me for almost a decade before I finally saw a specialist. The second surgery went much better than the first (recovery a lot quicker and the left leg is more flexible than the right.

I'm back to everyday normal life (on my feet at retail 8 hours day), and the occasional 14 hour day with a second job. I exercise regularly at a health club and can ride a bike (a little hot to do so in Phoenix right now).

I'm taking a yoga class to help with the flexibility. It's still difficult to sit up straight on the floor because of the right hip. How much stretching should I be attempting? I'm not talking aggressive work, but looking to touch my toes and better. After a year since the last replacement, shuld I worry about going past 90 degrees?

Thank you for any help. It's been so helpful seeing the variety of reponses from people here. It's made my recovery less stressful.

Andy
 
Hello Andy, and welcome to BoneSmart!

Yes, 'shallow hips' describes it very well, not that it matters much now as you have your new hips so this is a new life for you. The 90 degree restrictions ended when you surgeon said they were at about 6 weeks so by now you should be back to normal absolutely! Just get on with your life and do what you want to do. Touching your toes is quite okay.

Only things you should avoid are jumping up and down, like trampolining, or jogging or trying to put your foot behind your neck like this!

[Bonesmart.org] How good will it get?



[Bonesmart.org] How good will it get?

 
Thanks, Josephine. That yoga pose does look just a little above my skill set :hehe: - some in my class can do that. The instructor is very patient with me, helping me adjust the poses for my body. I'm also shooting basketball around the gym. My doctor said avoid games for fear of getting caught under the basket and having someone land on me. Has it really happened where the rod was driven further into the bone?:shk:

When I get a good stretch in my balky right hip, it will get a little hot, just like after the surgery. I'll ice it down, rest, and continue on later. It does seem though, to tighten back up over the weeks if I don't continually keep it at.
 
hi andy. sounds great to me. my right was worse then my left to begin with so flexability will be different for me after. i look real forward to being where your at a year from now and it sounds fantastic.
monique
 
Hi, Andy....welcome to BoneSmart! It sounds like you are well down the recovery path and doing just fine. Hearing good stories like yours is SO important for those who have surgery in their future. Thanks for posting and please continue to write when you can and let us know how you're getting along. We'll love hearing about that milestone when you touch your toes!!!
 
I'm riding your informational coat tails on this one so, thanks for asking!! Only had the right done so far. Had a few hiccups along the way so... Thanks again!! Keep us updated. I for one want to see how it goes!
 
My doctor said avoid games for fear of getting caught under the basket and having someone land on me. Has it really happened where the rod was driven further into the bone?:shk:

Only in a bad auto accident or some such. I doubt another human being could cause it - unless he was a Rugby forward or something! :hehe:

[Bonesmart.org] How good will it get?
 
Hi, Andy....welcome to BoneSmart! It sounds like you are well down the recovery path and doing just fine. Hearing good stories like yours is SO important for those who have surgery in their future. Thanks for posting and please continue to write when you can and let us know how you're getting along. We'll love hearing about that milestone when you touch your toes!!!

To be clear, I can touch my toes while standing up, although still with a slight bend in the knees (close to what I've been able to do my adult life), but am still a few inches away while sitting on the floor. My right hip is not as flexible as the left (surgeon shrugged with "They're all different") but is a little stronger.

You know, it's strange enough comparing other people's outcomes to yours, and especially to the same procedure on both hips. My RTHR left my leg really weak for 2 weeks,almost as if they overstretched the muscles. I didn't want to go home on Day 4 because I could barely stand on it. And the rehab took more like 8 weeks. The next summer I had the LTHR. Wow! When I woke up from surgery, I could wiggle my toes and even move my leg without much pain. I felt better than Day 7 of the first replacement. And the rehab took half the time, and that was because my doctor was very cautious.

Andy
 
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