THR On road to recovery

[Mbone]

I am now 7 weeks post op. I see the OS tomorrow. I can't wait! Today at PT, the therapist told me the OS is not going to like me still using the cane. She said I have to walk slowly and think,.....heel toe...heel toe... and walk without it. I can actually do it without much of a limp when I walk slowly and think about it.

 

[mjmrphy55]

Mbone,

I'm laughing at your comment "heel toe...heel toe" My mantra when I walk is "bend the knee....bend the knee" since according to my PT I don't!! One things that helped me was at PT they had me walk facing the mirror and it forced me to realize how poorly I carry myself. I was able to make adjustments and am trying to improve my gait.

I'm sure your OS will advise you regarding the cane.

MJ

 

[Mbone]

mjmrphy55 I bet I don't bend my knees either! They also , need replacing! I'm going to watch in the mirror when I go to PT ! I want so badly to walk like a norms person!!

 

[Mbone]

7 weeks post op and the physical therapist told me I should not relie on the cane... That hevOS will tell me tomorrow, when I see him, that I should not use the cne. I should try to improve my gait so that I done get into the limping habit! I can walk fairly straight, when I walk slowly and think about my walking!

Anyone with suggested questions I should ask tomorrow? I have a list, but I do not want to forget about anything!

 

[pjm]

Good luck! I hope everything goes well.
Just a quick question for everyone, did your operated leg seem longer at first and if so has it gone back to normal now?

 

[BarbaraR]

Mbone, I have to think "swing your hips," because I apparently stopped doing that. And pjm, my operated leg definitely feels longer, but it seems to be working its way out. There's a link on the forum somewhere about apparent leg length discrepancy-- not all that uncommon, and it usually seems to go away.

 

[Mbone]

I do not think I have a leg discrepency!

 

[pjm]

Mine was very noticeable at first but it i getting better each day. Must be all the walking I am doing.

 

[Mbone]

Since trying to walk more without the cane, I'm noticing my shoulders are hurting. Does this happen to anyone else?

 

[pjm]

At what point did they take you off the crutches and when to come off the cane?

 

[Mbone]

I never had crutches, they were never offered as an option. I went from walker to cane.

 

[bottomshollow]

Mbone, is your cane at the right height? It is possible you have a little too low for your height--that would cause your shoulders to rotate forward and could be causing the discomfort. You should be able to use your cane and be completely upright when walking. See below.

 

[Firebrand]

We have to do a lot of thinking when we're walking these days, don't we? When the physio made me look in the mirror when I walked I saw how lopsided I'd become, so I need to try and be more centred. I'm trying to work on the follow through of walking, so that it starts to flow properly. After so many years of limping, and now feeling stiff from the op, it requires a lot of concentration!

 

[Mbone]

Firebrand Exactly!
I think my cane is at the right height. My pTherapist set it to the height. I will check, however, they are frowning on me using it. I will see what the doc says today!

 

[Nannyannie]

Mbone I was hoping to see the results of your appointment but I forgot the time zone difference - hope it goes well! I am now 15 weeks on, don't use any walking aid but stil lhave to really concentrate to stop the penguin waddle. My PT told me to think "glide" to move my feet forward in a straight line, I still tend to throw the left leg out sideways and lurch from side to side. Firebrand All this heel/toe, glide, tighten up butt muscles, stand up tall - it is a wonder I can move at all! After years of getting worse and limping more it is like learning a new skill.
And Mbone, do you do the same as me - concentrate so much on the legs and feet that your shoulders are tensed up around your ears? That makes mine ache and aggravates the arthritis in my right shoulder. I wonder if Nordic walking poles might help as I don't think you have to put weight on them, they are more for balance and upper body movement. Anybody use them?
Best wishes Anne

 

[Mbone]

Nannyannie I have my appointment early evening. I will surely let you know what my OS said. Yes, I concentrate so much on walking, that my neck and shoulders are hurting! My physical therapist said I should loose the cane. but it is so difficult! I don't want to go back to work with a limp! They will think I am the same as I was before!!!

Mary

 

[bottomshollow]

Nannyannie, Poppet, one of our forum advisers from down under, is very big on Nordic walking. You might tag her for info.

 

[Mbone]

Just got back from my OS. No more hip restrictions!!! Said I am doing good. I told him the physical therapist said to stop using the cane and he said to use it because without it, I am putting too much pressure on the hip and knees. In April, at the next checkup, he will xray my knees and determine what to do next! I had some older knee x-rays and said they were both very arthritic. I will analyze what hurts the most when walking. I am still going to try to walk without the cane short distances. I will return to work April 1.

 

[BarbaraR]

Congratulations, Mbone, that's great news!

 

[pjm]

That is great news Mbone! I am so happy for you! Who cares whether you have to use a cane, the fact that you can get back to a more normal life means everything. You will go back as a new person because you willnot have the same pain as before. Its surpurising the difference now as what it was like before. You go girl!