THR My journey 6 weeks in

[Hipster_2906]

I am now 5 weeks post recovery @DavetheDog and it might reassure you to know my biggest leap forward was over the past week. I walk up to 45 minutes a day now. BUT I am slowish, easily fatigued (though my sleep problems are not gone) and still have days I don’t feel great, of which today is one.

As I have learnt from reading on this forum this is not a competition and don’t measure yourself against everyone else. The amount of trauma to our legs can’t be underestimated. My main lingering issue is knee pain. It’s always so hard to know what exactly is “too much”, sometimes I think perhaps I’m overdoing things, it is really hard to know what is still normal at this stage, and what is a sign of pushing too hard. Hope your post op appointment sheds some light on what’s going o for you.

 

[Mojo333]

@Hipster_2906
I'm sorry today has been a rough day.

I know we have seen a lot of members who complain about their knee (I had all manner of aches but I did miss this one) but I hope, when you rest after activity, you are sharing the Ice Love with your knee

I wasn't walking 45 minute walks at 5 1/2 weeks as that may have been too much for me.
A helpful Bonesmartie suggested I take shorter walks... say 15-20 minutes...3 or 4 times a day instead and it was less taxing on my still healing soft tissue.

@DavetheDog Welcome!
Please consider starting your own thread with the information about your exact surgery date and which hip was replaced.
For help, click on this link.
Starting a New Thread

As I have learnt from reading on this forum this is not a competition and don’t measure yourself against everyone else

Very Sage advice.

 

[Hipster_2906]

I have reached what I thought might be the Magical Six Week Mark. A lot is now “normal” but I guess I’m a little disappointed that I’m not 100% my old self. Scrap that I’m probably 75%… the things that persistently bother me (see above for more whinging) are knee and lack of sleep. Also my pain level has stagnated or perhaps bone backwards e.g. I have been prescribed Panadol osteo x3 a day ( don’t know the US equivalent) and last week I had been able to stop the mid afternoon dose but now I find the aches and pains have forced me back on it.

I wonder how you know what Is relate to surgery and what is just the slow road through recovery. My husband points out I am doing more, it feels a bit like defeat though to cut back to a lighter load. I walk my little senior rescue dogs every day and they are very stop- start and pull on the lead..I’m starting to recognise that this may be part of the knee pain trouble - little twists or coming to an unexpected stop - but I would feel very discouraged if I needed to stop. I have already curtailed my time on the exercise bike and in fact haven’t got on it for a few days. Is that a good, realistic step, or just going to slow recovery down because the muscles aren’t being built up again?

As you can tell, today is a bit of a downer and I guess I’m just venting/thinking aloud because I’m putting on a bit of a cheery face for those around me and sometimes you just need to face the hard slog reality.

 

[Hipster_2906]

I have reached what I thought might be the Magical Six Week Mark. A lot is now “normal” but I guess I’m a little disappointed that I’m not 100% my old self. Scrap that I’m probably 75%… the things that persistently bother me (see above for more whinging) are knee and lack of sleep. Also my pain level has stagnated or perhaps bone backwards e.g. I have been prescribed Panadol osteo x3 a day ( don’t know the US equivalent) and last week I had been able to stop the mid afternoon dose but now I find the aches and pains have forced me back on it.

I wonder how you know what Is relate to surgery and what is just the slow road through recovery. My husband points out I am doing more, it feels a bit like defeat though to cut back to a lighter load. I walk my little senior rescue dogs every day and they are very stop- start and pull on the lead..I’m starting to recognise that this may be part of the knee pain trouble - little twists or coming to an unexpected stop - but I would feel very discouraged if I needed to stop. I have already curtailed my time on the exercise bike and in fact haven’t got on it for a few days. Is that a good, realistic step, or just going to slow recovery down because the muscles aren’t being built up again?

As you can tell, today is a bit of a downer and I guess I’m just venting/thinking aloud because I’m putting on a bit of a cheery face for those around me and sometimes you just need to face the hard slog reality.

PS is it possible to change my thread title…it’s now out of date!

 

[Jaycey]

@Hipster_2906 Thread title changed for you!

At only 6 weeks in you are not even half way through a process that can take one year or longer. If you are feeling 75% normal, you are doing very well. Aches and pains are all a part of this recovery I am afraid. Listen to your body and try and slow and steady approach. You are not in training - you are healing.

 

[Janiebee1]

I am 4 weeks in.get some nights where have aches and pain.wound is healed but of course all the muscles that were cut internally have to heal too.think I am at that stage now.i walk only 5/10 minutes twice a day and do exercises 3 times a day.maybe you are doing a bit much walking too early?

 

[Hipster_2906]

@Hipster_2906 Thread title changed for you!

At only 6 weeks in you are not even half way through a process that can take one year or longer. If you are feeling 75% normal, you are doing very well. Aches and pains are all a part of this recovery I am afraid. Listen to your body and try and slow and steady approach. You are not in training - you are healing.

Thanks @Jaycey even as I typed all of the above, I kinda knew the answers and that it’s just impatience and anxiety…sigh!

 

[Hipster_2906]

I am 4 weeks in.get some nights where have aches and pain.wound is healed but of course all the muscles that were cut internally have to heal too.think I am at that stage now.i walk only 5/10 minutes twice a day and do exercises 3 times a day.maybe you are doing a bit much walking too early?

That is quite possible. Its so hard to know the “right” amount of exercise though. i Seem to think because I now can, I should!

 

[myglasshalffull]

I think you are doing a lot considering you are only 6 weeks or so into recovery. My entire first month was partial weight bearing so at 6 weeks I wasn't doing a lot.
I think walking is the best exercise and some days you can go further and other days the body says you can't. So listen to your body.
I've learned to mix my super busy days with a rest day. Not in bed but light housework, quick walk, buy some groceries. Then relax.
Patience is key in this recovery.
I wish you the best.

 

[Eman85]

No 2 recoveries are the same but if you look at the recovery timeline on this site you'll see that 6 weeks is an early stop on the recovery journey. 6 weeks is usually prime time for a trip to the overdid it club as we feel good enough to do things but pay the price in pain the next day. You didn't mention resting and icing, I found that better than any pain pills and I iced for months post-op as it felt good. To be 75% at 6 weeks is to be quite far in recovery. Overall most of us take a year or more to recover and past 6 weeks the gains come slower. Sorry to say but it's the truth.

 

[Hipster_2906]

You’re right @Eman85 I have not been as vigilant with icing. And thanks for the reminder of how long things can take. And @myglasshalffull I‘m taking your advice and making this my rest day. My two little dogs will go for a walk with my husband instead while I remind myself of the need for patience and perspective.

 

[myglasshalffull]

Hipster,
Be good to yourself...Now's the time!