THR New hip feels real good.

[sharonslp]

With my right hip, I started driving at two weeks. Just went a mile to PT, but it was so nice to be independent and not call in favors. Any longer distance was still just too uncomfortable making the shift from accelerator to brake. I practiced in the parking lot of my apartment complex before I hit the streets. It was a full month before I felt comfortable going longer distances.

The second hip was so easy! Since I didn't have to move it around, I drove to PT at one week. But again, it was still a good three weeks to a month before I could comfortably sit and navigate a 20 minute drive anywhere. Both my surgeries were posterior approach. Small incisions, very little swelling. I give full credit to my surgeon...whatever he did to spare muscles and be less invasive really worked.

It really is a very individual thing, just like so much of recovery. Your body will heal at its own pace...it doesn't care that you want it to be faster. If you feel ready to try driving, give it a short practice run. If that goes well, keep it to very short trips at first. If it doesn't go well, then you have your answer.

Sharon

 

[detazlady]

sharonslp thanks for your response, sense it still hurts when I walk and my butt muscle feels it big time I will wait awhile, I don't feel I'm ready to tackle a 30 minute drive on the expressway yet. I'll just let hubby drive me around.

 

[detazlady]

today is day 19 and I think I've taken a step backwards. The therapist gave me a new exercise to do on Friday, and now when I walk I,m getting this stabbing pain in my groin, it feels like it's in the joint. I quit doing that exercise and am mostly resting today. sure hope this goes away. Doesn't feel like it's muscle pain, so hope I didn't do something to the new hip. Any Ideas?

 

[Songlady]

detazlady, it sounds as though you've been doing really well, and maybe overdoing just a little? (I ask because I am an expert on overdoing!) In any case, you would probably like Josephine to read your question and let you know what she thinks -

 

[detazlady]

Songlady I suppose I could be. That's why I figured I should take it easy today and see how it goes. I've been known to overdo it on the other surgeries so I guess I might have.

 

[Songlady]

detazlady, I've had a little groin pain from time to time, and I was realizing after I wrote, one of the things that seems to bring on the pain is if I sit up straight for too long - as in the position I sit here at my desk on my computer! I can only take small amounts of computer time until the discomfort kicks in and I need to go to my recliner. lol!

 

[detazlady]

Songlady that could also be one of the things I'm guilty of, so I've been going in my room and elevating and icing, that seems to help till I get up and move, it bothers me when I walk on that leg oh well, will see what tomorrow brings. thanks for your help and thoughts.

 

[fiberlady]

Hi detazlady, (another fellow michigander) I had my RTHR about 4 1/2 months ago (December 20, 2012). When I tend to stand too long or do stupid things like try to move heavy boxes I too feel the pain in the groin. I find resting does the trick and a few pain meds help also. When your PT comes back again, tell him/her that doing that particular exercise hurt when you did it and until the pain goes away you won't try that one again. I found out too late that when I went to out patient PT that one of the exercises (the one that hurt the most) I wasn't supposed to be doing in the first place, it was an exercise for knee replacement people and not hip people.

I did not attempt to drive until 5 weeks. I wanted too, but my hubby would not let me. He drove me everywhere I wanted to go and my very sweet sister was with me for the first 4 weeks so she took me wherever I wanted to go. You will know when you are ready.

Let us know how you are doing, and never hesitate to call your OS.

 

[detazlady]

fiberlady thanks for the info. the home therapist released me friday, so I will wait till I go to out patient PT on thursday and see what they say. My hubby won't let me drive either so he is even giving up some golfing just so I don't have to drive to pick up the grandsons from school. How sweet. Then next week I go see my OS for my 4 week check up and will see what he says. I see you are having a RTKR this month, Good luck with that, the worst part for me was trying to get the range of motion back with all the swelling, the left on went pertty good but my right on was worse,maybe because it was the worst of the two and more scare tissue from the previous 12 surgeries on it. Best of luck and remember, Ice,Elevate, and rest goes along way.

 

[fiberlady]

My major concern is the strength of my leg with the new hip, now a knee. I was doing okay until yesterday and then it kind of hit me and I started to get nervous. I am expected back to work 6 weeks after surgery, and have been worried that I might not be ready. I still walk with a limp and hope that the knee surgery doesn't put my hip recovery in jeopardy. I see the surgeon on the 13th so will ask him.

Hope that your hip is feeling better. I actually had a good day today, Monday's are usually pretty bad and I come home very tired, but for some reason that didn't happen today, I hope the same goes for tomorrow.

 

[DTS419]

Do you guys find that physical therapy helps much, or is it mostly the natural healing process that needs to run its course regardless of therapy?

 

[fiberlady]

DTS419 - I found that the therapy is not strenuous, mostly exercises to strengthen the muscles, and to get a good range of motion. I felt it really helped, I was never pushed or worked hard with any of my PT and felt that it really did help me. I mostly walk now and if I find a day that I have not found the time to walk more than usual, I am stiff, you need to keep moving. I suppose you could do it without the therapy, but I don't think I would have been able to put my socks on or tie my shoes unless I had the help of PT. It just might take a little longer to achieve that range of motion. Basically you could do these exercises on your own without PT, but they seemed to help if you were having a problem, or guided you if you were sore or had pain. Is there a reason you do not want to do therapy?

 

[Elosarabrab]

DTS419, In the UK many of us don't get formal PT sessions. I was told to increase the amount I walked each day. So far I am recovering well.
fiberlady can you not delay the return to work? We have to be signed off by our doctor in the UK before we go back to work. Josephine suggests a phased return with shorter hours to start with,as the energy drain can hit you after surgery.
Barbara

 

[Jamie]

How is that groin pain now that you've had a few days taking it easy....better?

 

[detazlady]

Jamie so long as I don't walk around to much it's better,when I put full weight on it is when it really hurts. Thanks for checking up on me.

 

[Jamie]

Be sure to keep taking things easy so as not to reinjure yourself. It can take some time for these things to get better.

 

[Kim22]

detazlady Hi there I was just reading through your thread and noticed you were having some groin pain. I have had the same since for the past 2 days I overdid the walking on Sunday and Monday because the weather was so lovely and it felt so good to be in the sunshine and added onto that a longish car journey I seemed to twist my hip when getting off the loo which caused the groin pain. It was quite painful for the rest of the evening but slightly better the next morning but it is still there despite resting now for 48 hours Which exercise were you doing to cause your pain ?

 

[detazlady]

Kim22 I was doing squats and marching. Since I started out patient PT, He said no squats, and added different exercises with the thera band, was pretty sore yesterday but doing better today. Thanks for asking.

 

[Maeve]

Hi DTS419, detazlady, @ Elosarabrad and Kim22
I know the theories about PT are very different in the US, UK and Oz and also the thinking about how necessary it is for hips.
I can only go by my own experience and PT has been integral to my recovery to this point just as it was the main reason my surgery was kept at bay for so long and also the pain pre THR was surprisingly mild compared to the stare of my hip! My OS confirms this.
Pre op I diligently did 6 classes a week...pilates, yoga, taichi, fitball. This routine kept my muscles strong.
I loved the routine so it was never a burden.
Since the surgery I have spent 12 days in Rehab with1 hour daily gym and 1 hour hydro. Then day patient rehab twice a week with back to back gym/ hydro. One more week to go and then I will return to my gym for exercise physiology sessions. Of course no classes yet!
So, I think it's whatever works for you. I love the endorphins that are released through exercise and the feeling of well being.
Having had my leg lengthened during the surgery due to CHD issues my muscles have all been lengthened and need a lot of work so for me PT is essential.
For other hippies with different issues PT too early may not be helpful to the healing process and is best started later,.

 

[Kim22]

Hi Maeve I agree that we are all individuals when it comes to PT You are responding well to your exercise regime I certainly benefitted from hip strengthening exercise pre op but Pilates caused me a lot of muscle aches so I stuck with pool exercise and swimming as well as cycling but after my failed arthroscopy last July the arthritis bone on bone accelerated and any exercise caused more pain We all react differently to exercise and our PT should be tailored to our individual needs.Obviously the best outcome is to become as fit as possible but some people take longer than others By the way I think you are doing brilliantly Well done.