Hi
@Mutwa
Toes above nose, or rather keeping your surgery leg higher than your heart helps the swelling recede.
Our Lymphatic System is responsible for helping remove excess fluid accumulation and it doesn't have a pump like our blood vessels do (the heart). It needs movement, like the walking that you are doing to help it move.
Your swelling is temporary but it is annoying and painful, isn't it? It does definitely help to elevate and ice for long periods of time. Another big help is to practice some diaphragmatic breathing and I will tell you more about that, too.
My recent THR gave me much more swelling than with the first hip.. it was painful and annoying.
I didn't get immediate results with manual lymph techniques. Well, I actually did but it would return , but continuing to do the breathing exercises helped decrease the amount that returned.
Here's a few notes about the breathing exercises.. I hope it helps!
****
Take deep breaths.. deep, as in breathing in to a count of 5, or 3 or 4, whatever is best for you. hold it for another count of 5 then blow out completely, still using the count that's comfortable for you. A series of at least 6 of these could help get your excess swelling to move. To ensure you are taking proper deep breaths, place your hand on your naval and watch while taking in your breath, if doing this properly you should see your hand move up.
Do this whenever you feel up to it during the day or night. The more supine that you could get in the recliner or bed, the more effective this can be.. you have lymph nodes seated there in your groin and sitting up too much can cause a restriction of the lymph flow.
You can, after the breathing, place your hands lightly on your upper thigh, right where the crease is in your groin and lightly stroke upwards towards your naval.
I did this quite a bit post op and while it takes a while for the body to wake up and respond, it will, and it will help get things moving.
The reason this can help is because our lymphatic system doesn't use our cardiovascular system to help lymph fluids move.. no assistance from the heart pumping. Our breathing and our physical (muscular) movements keep it flowing.