Bilateral THR Jad26 in recovery

[myglasshalffull]

When my knee bothers me I use a knee compression sleeve and it does make my knee feel better. You can buy one (unless you already have one), on Amazon or local pharmacy.
Ice as well seems to be the magic cure all.
All my best.

 

[Layla]

How is the knee pain as you just passed your two month anniversary?
I hope icing has helped and it's eased for you.
A belated Happy Two Month Anniversary!
@Jad26

 

[Jad26]

Thank you so much 2 months have gone very quick. My knees are still playing up which is really frustrating because my hips are doing well. I manage to put my socks on this week but my knees are making it more difficult. If i didn't have knee issues i would be flying lol. I dont know what to do i really dont want steroid but aspiration and steroid is the only thing that works. Still had no follow up appointment no phone call nothing. I wana know if i can go swimming and have baths and maybe ask some questions so i dont know how long it will be till i see my surgeon again.

 

[Mojo333]

@Jad26
I know you are raring to go but despite your young age and your inspirational resolve, double hip replacement IS a huge deal and 2 months is still early days.

If i didn't have knee issues i would be flying lol.

I hate that your knees are troubling you but your knees might be keeping you from overdoing things ....its a delicate dance between enough and too much (learned this myself the hard way) and it seems it never hurts until we stop.
Often the most helpful things for painful knees can be balance and RICE— which rest, ice, compression, and elevation.
The knee sleeves mentioned above might help and ICE, ICE, ICE.
Alternating Ice and Heat can be helpful but if your knees are warm after a "flare" you will want to stick with Ice.

I'm sorry you aren't getting communication from your medical folks, but the rule of thumb for swimming and bathing is when that incision is tightly closed ...don't want any bad bugs finding there way.

I hope the knees settle down.
I did gentle hamstring and calf stretches before getting out and about.
Calf stretches using the wall were my go-to but you want to be super gentle as not to aggravate your knees.

 

[Layla]

Still had no follow up appointment no phone call nothing. I wana know if i can go swimming and have baths and maybe ask some questions so i dont know how long it will be till i see my surgeon again.

Can you call them...at least to see if you can get something scheduled?
You know the old saying "the squeaky wheel gets the grease" Get squeaky! lol.
I hope you have a nice day and week, Jad26

 

[Jad26]

@Jad26
I know you are raring to go but despite your young age and your inspirational resolve, double hip replacement IS a huge deal and 2 months is still early days.

If i didn't have knee issues i would be flying lol.

I hate that your knees are troubling you but your knees might be keeping you from overdoing things ....its a delicate dance between enough and too much (learned this myself the hard way) and it seems it never hurts until we stop.
Often the most helpful things for painful knees can be balance and RICE— which rest, ice, compression, and elevation.
The knee sleeves mentioned above might help and ICE, ICE, ICE.
Alternating Ice and Heat can be helpful but if your knees are warm after a "flare" you will want to stick with Ice.

I'm sorry you aren't getting communication from your medical folks, but the rule of thumb for swimming and bathing is when that incision is tightly closed ...don't want any bad bugs finding there way.

I hope the knees settle down.
I did gentle hamstring and calf stretches before getting out and about.
Calf stretches using the wall were my go-to but you want to be super gentle as not to aggravate your knees.

Thank you for your help much appreciated. I feel if i dont excercise or go for a walk for one or 2 days im being lazy and my hips wont have the best recovery. The problem is that walking aggravates my knees and also weight bearing excercises i notice that after these the knees are worse but then by evening they have eased up a bit as i do all my walking and excercise in the morning. This is why i really want to go swimming my wound looks good nice and flat but im just worried withour proper clearance but i cant wait much longer. I need to start icing the knees more some days i dont even ice but i need to make sure i remember. Im really hoping they settle down as it is very annoying because like i said my hips are doing great but like you said could be helping me not overdo things. Hopefully they ease up sooner than later

 

[Jad26]

Still had no follow up appointment no phone call nothing. I wana know if i can go swimming and have baths and maybe ask some questions so i dont know how long it will be till i see my surgeon again.

Can you call them...at least to see if you can get something scheduled?
You know the old saying "the squeaky wheel gets the grease" Get squeaky! lol.
I hope you have a nice day and week, Jad26

I did call they said there working through the follow up appointments i mean its nearly 10 weeks i would have thought i would have had a phone call at least. Hopefully hear something soon as it will be good to speak to surgeon i want to ask him a few questions. Thank you have a great week

 

[Jad26]

Approaching 11 weeks this Friday time has gone very quickly. Hips are doing good still get some aches in an around the hip but nothing painful. When is it safe to start doing strength exercises like leg presses etc. I was reading on here before that some machines ankle weights step ups and other things are to be avoided but for how long? I feel bad in myself that im not really doing any strength training the only excercise im doing is walking about 5,000 steps a day and i feel im not doing enough is this ok? I want to start going gym and swimming as my knees are still playing up so i need to strengthen the quads glutes and hamstrings ive lost alot of muscle over the last years with knee abd hip problems so lower body is weak which isn't helping

 

[Mojo333]

Just my opinion.
Swimming is good and more walking is best!
Maybe you can find some walks on more challenging terrain and stairs that will help as long as you go slow.

I did some leg exercises with very low resistance bands and you will want to start with low resistance and repetitions so that you can buildup slowly.
Bursitis and tendonitis can be common complications when exercise isn't progressed incrementally...and then the "cure" will be rest it.

If the gym is where you want to be, I would start with a stationary bike or elliptical vs weighted leg machines.

What you will be able to do 3 months from now, 6 months from now and on from then will be amazing.

need to strengthen the quads glutes and hamstrings ive lost alot of muscle over the last years with knee abd hip problems so lower body is weak which isn't helping

It took a long time, as you noted, for things to get week and a slow steady approach to strengthening while listening to your body will keep you from overdoing.

You will get there... my double hippy pal..

 

[lanstan]

I am a month further along than you are. I have always been active so I understand a little about where you are coming from. Although I am just a "couple" years older. First dont feel like you are a failure if you take tylenol every once in a while. It kills me when people are bragging about not taking pain meds. Sometimes they are needed. Also i always ice after any exercise. It keeps the swelling down. I was very discouraged when at 6-8 weeks I was still feeling some pain. Even though it wasnt much. I had to think about what all I could do that was so much more than before surgery. I think mixing up exercise is the best. I walk some days, do yoga some days,wt training some days and water jogging some. Water jogging is great. You can put a float around your waist, go to the middle of the pool where you cant stand and go back and forth to the deep end using both your arms and legs. Of course I have slowly worked up to all of this and i only had one hip done. it seems like at about 6-8 weeks recovery is stalled but as others have said think week changes not day changes, maybe even month changes.

 

[Jad26]

Just my opinion.
Swimming is good and more walking is best!
Maybe you can find some walks on more challenging terrain and stairs that will help as long as you go slow.

I did some leg exercises with very low resistance bands and you will want to start with low resistance and repetitions so that you can buildup slowly.
Bursitis and tendonitis can be common complications when exercise isn't progressed incrementally...and then the "cure" will be rest it.

If the gym is where you want to be, I would start with a stationary bike or elliptical vs weighted leg machines.

What you will be able to do 3 months from now, 6 months from now and on from then will be amazing.

need to strengthen the quads glutes and hamstrings ive lost alot of muscle over the last years with knee abd hip problems so lower body is weak which isn't helping

It took a long time, as you noted, for things to get week and a slow steady approach to strengthening while listening to your body will keep you from overdoing.

You will get there... my double hippy pal..

Thank you for your advice much appreciated. What were some good excercises with resistance bands that you were doing? I just need to find the right balance as some days i dont feel like doing anything lol. Do you think it is safe to go swimming its been 11 weeks nearly wounds look good i see people have been going from 6 weeks its just ive had no follow up appointment so have been holding back from submerging in water but i am really want to start

 

[Jad26]

I am a month further along than you are. I have always been active so I understand a little about where you are coming from. Although I am just a "couple" years older. First dont feel like you are a failure if you take tylenol every once in a while. It kills me when people are bragging about not taking pain meds. Sometimes they are needed. Also i always ice after any exercise. It keeps the swelling down. I was very discouraged when at 6-8 weeks I was still feeling some pain. Even though it wasnt much. I had to think about what all I could do that was so much more than before surgery. I think mixing up exercise is the best. I walk some days, do yoga some days,wt training some days and water jogging some. Water jogging is great. You can put a float around your waist, go to the middle of the pool where you cant stand and go back and forth to the deep end using both your arms and legs. Of course I have slowly worked up to all of this and i only had one hip done. it seems like at about 6-8 weeks recovery is stalled but as others have said think week changes not day changes, maybe even month changes.

I am not consistent with icing i need to be but the weather is now cold so its a challenge lol. Yeah that sounds good water excercise take the pressure of my knees and allow to me build up some leg strength hopefully. Each month there is definitely improvements small ones but my range of motion gets a little better. Slowly but surely

 

[Layla]

Do you think it is safe to go swimming its been 11 weeks nearly wounds look good i

My surgeon seems more strict than most I read about here and I was instructed to avoid pools, lakes, baths for three months. If you don't have a follow up scheduled, are you able to contact your surgeons office to ask questions? If so, consider giving them a call.
Have a great rest of the day!

 

[Jad26]

Do you think it is safe to go swimming its been 11 weeks nearly wounds look good i

My surgeon seems more strict than most I read about here and I was instructed to avoid pools, lakes, baths for three months. If you don't have a follow up scheduled, are you able to contact your surgeons office to ask questions? If so, consider giving them a call.
Have a great rest of the day!

Thank you! I have called and they said the follow up appointments are behind so i dont know when i sill see my surgeon. Just to be on the safe side i will wait one more week then the 12 week mark has passes so should be safe. Cant wait to have a bath again especially now its cold. Also is a sauna safe with hip implants?

 

[Mojo333]

Hi my Double Hippy Pal.
Sorry I haven't seen your question, but as the director of a Food Pantry, work has been Super crazy.

What were some good excercises with resistance bands that you were doing?

I worked with a physio after the first 3 months for some gait training guidance and strengthening.
I used the lowest resistance band (it was yellow) and the ones I remember most was walking a straight line with the band positioned between the ankle and bottom of my calf.
Side steps, lateral, slow and deliberate for about 30 feet and then back. For two sets.
Then we did what my PT called "John Wayne Cowboy steps"
Also done controlled slow and deliberate.
Facing forward with feet apart (approximately aligned with Shoulders... One foot steps forward and swings out to side then other foot forward Swing to the other side...walking like that for 15-20 feet.
Harder than it sounds.

Also is a sauna safe with hip implants?

Back to the wound healing... if all closed up it should be safe and fine. Of course soaking for long periods of time with very hot water might warrant caution as the softening of the skin may reveal some areas that aren't as tight as we think.
If all scabbing has been gone and scar is smooth, you will likely get the ok.
Also, if you notice any swelling still (I had periods where I still had minor swelling, barely noticeable externally but felt it internally, the first 4-5 months....
Heat wont be good for that....you will still see benefit from icing.

I hope your Sunday is Sweet.

 

[Jad26]

Hi my Double Hippy Pal.
Sorry I haven't seen your question, but as the director of a Food Pantry, work has been Super crazy.

What were some good excercises with resistance bands that you were doing?

I worked with a physio after the first 3 months for some gait training guidance and strengthening.
I used the lowest resistance band (it was yellow) and the ones I remember most was walking a straight line with the band positioned between the ankle and bottom of my calf.
Side steps, lateral, slow and deliberate for about 30 feet and then back. For two sets.
Then we did what my PT called "John Wayne Cowboy steps"
Also done controlled slow and deliberate.
Facing forward with feet apart (approximately aligned with Shoulders... One foot steps forward and swings out to side then other foot forward Swing to the other side...walking like that for 15-20 feet.
Harder than it sounds.

Also is a sauna safe with hip implants?

Back to the wound healing... if all closed up it should be safe and fine. Of course soaking for long periods of time with very hot water might warrant caution as the softening of the skin may reveal some areas that aren't as tight as we think.
If all scabbing has been gone and scar is smooth, you will likely get the ok.
Also, if you notice any swelling still (I had periods where I still had minor swelling, barely noticeable externally but felt it internally, the first 4-5 months....
Heat wont be good for that....you will still see benefit from icing.

I hope your Sunday is Sweet.

No worries thank you for your help and advice much appreciated. I will start doing them excercises this week they sound like they can be very effective. I still have no follow up appointment and it will be 12 weeks this week scars are flat and smooth no scabs so i think i will start from swimming from next week even though i haven't been given the ok but judging by the timeline i must be ok to swim now. As for sauna i was just concerned if the high heat can have any impact on the hip implants and yes the scaring area is till tender i think there is still alot of healing left internally

 

[Mojo333]

As far as the Sauna affecting the implants...no.
Apparently, there is some discussion about infrared Saunas and metal implants, but I don't know much about Infrared Saunas.

 

[Jad26]

Random question. I am a ex smoker i quit about 7 weeks before surgery and have not smoked since so its been quite a while. I do have a cbd vape in the evening (no nicotine) but im currently a bit stressed as i am going through a break up and tempted to start smoking. Its been over 12 weeks now i just wondered if im clear from ingection and does the smoke affect the implants or is it just the nicotine? I dont want to start smoking if it will affect my new hips i wont be smoking tobacco just natural herbs like mullein and a few others. Are there any smokers or should it be avoided forever?

 

[Jaycey]

@Jad26 Well done on stopping smoking! Tough at the best of times! Research shows that smoking does slow recovery and may increase the risk of post operative complications. Since you have already tackled the challenge of quitting why not carry on?

There are many articles about the impact of smoking on joint replacement recovery. Here's one from WHO:

Smoking greatly increases risk of complications after surgery

 

[Mojo333]

Oh, I so agree with Jaycey.
I am a smoker who has struggled off and on with quitting and can tell you that when you have smoked nicotine cigarettes, the other lesser evils like herbals, are really just a poor substitute for trying to curb the addiction and smoking anything is not good for your lungs.... Carbon Dioxide and Tar!

Smoking can be a reason for post-surgical complications, like infection, poor wound healing and poor surgical outcomes for knee and hip replacements. This is due to smoking’s effects on oxygen circulation through the blood to operated tissues,

I don’t need to tell you about the dangers of smoking.... lung cancer, emphysema, COPD, and chronic bronchitis

But All Respect to you for quitting and I am not going to say that you would be at high risk for any implant problems (thank goodness I haven't) but you are successfully recovering from BTHR which is wonderful and I hope this emotional turmoil won't cause you to go back to smoking.

just natural herbs like mullein

Interesting that this herb is touted as good for respiratory issues but for the reasons I mentioned above.... Smoking it wouldn't be the best delivery system not to mention many herbs arent regulated for purity and safety.

You can be my inspiration. Stay Quit.
I'm going to try it again. Wish me luck.