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THR I've made it to the other side.

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My appt went well, with my OS showing me X-rays of my new hip. He cautioned me about following hip replacement protocol and advised me to be patient and take things slow. My incision is healing nicely. Thank goodness no staples to remove. The trip was tiring and I had more pain and swelling today - I'm sure from riding and being up for so long yesterday. I had home PT this morning. I wonder if it is just the difference in each therapist, but one will encourage me to do more while another will tell me I am doing too strenuous exercise so will have me to back off. This can be confusing.


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@wannabebrave! I agree with you there about the differences in PT styles. I had the same thing. I did find that I listened to what my body was telling me versus the PT's opinion. Hang in there. It certainly will get better for you!
Best wishes to you for a speedy and pain free recovery.
 
@wannabebrave, was it weird seeing your new hip on the x-ray?? I cannot imagine! But, wow, what a great recovery you are having. Agree with @insexec about listening to your body. Slow but steady wins the race!
 
Sry I've been lax with my thread. Yes @beachgal, it was weird. It's amazing to see that where a joint and bone once were, now it's all man made materials and works wonderfully. Now I understand why my home physical therapist slowed me down on standing on my new hip leg, etc. he said he had learned to respect surgery and to progress without pain. I find I can now do more things with less pain, and I am graduating to my cane (from the walker) this week. The last couple of days I have been switching from walker to cane as tolerated. Tomorrow we will walk outside in uneven terrain. This is like learning to walk all over again. The therapist says it's retraining my brain to walk straighter with an even gait and not limping. It takes concentration but I am doing it. No limp!!! (Unless I forget to concentrate. LOL). He says it will come naturally soon. So I'm happy with my progress!


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I had my last PT session at home yesterday. I am now walking with my cane. We walked down the street and it was uphill on the way back. I did this with no pain! I also did steps without a rail. My balance is good. I still have to follow protocol of not crossing legs, etc. I am also still sleeping on my back. How long did some of you wait before you could sleep in other positions?


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There's a lot of variation about sleeping on the operated side. Some folks can do it after a month or so. Some take a lot longer. It was a full five months before I could manage more than 15 minutes or so with my first hip. It was around three months for the second. Some of it depends on the exact position of the incision. Some of it depends on how much flexibility you have in bending your leg. Some of it can be finagled by arranging a pillow just so. And of course, everyone heals at their own particular rate. So it just is what it is for you. :)

Sharon
 
You're doing great, @wannabebrave! I too use the technique to really concentrate on my gait and walk slowly to maintain control. I can always build speed, but it takes a lot longer to "undo" a wonky gait!

I will be 5 weeks tomorrow (anterior), and just this past week, I tried sleeping on my non-op side (I was previously a side sleeper but have been sleeping well on my back with legs elevated on pillows and a travel neck pillow to keep my head from lolling to the side). Side sleeping took a little while to get the pillows situated comfortably between the legs to keep my op leg horizontal, but I did get almost 2 hours of reasonably good sleep. The most difficult part is turning your body & legs as one unit so as not to twist the hip. My op side muscles were stiff the next morning, though. I would say it is more comfortable to sleep on my back at this point, but my body just needed a little change.

I'm willing to be patient, but I do look forward to the day when I can just curl up on my side without thinking about it! Hopefully before the cold weather sets in, because I don't have any heat in my bedroom, so I need to be curled up to utilize my body heat under a big pile of blankets!
 
So glad all is going well @wannebebrave. I slept on my back for a good 5 months and then was able to sleep on my non op side. I'm now 11 months post op and only just been able to go to my operated side to sleep. Maybe I'm a wuss but it still felt like I could feel a lump there and felt sore. All great now though! X


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