Pain/Activity Level Survey

[hurtingbuthopeful]

Hi all,

I am curious to know how you all rate/describe your pain and activity levels after the about the 6th or 7th week mark. There are a lot of posts regarding the early phases of healing but not so much detail about pain/activity later on in the recovery. I did try to search around the forum but there are so many threads, I just took the easy way as I am back to work and don't have lots of time anymore... It's difficult to know what is normal and expected at any given time. Even though everyone's experience is different and people heal at various rates depending on their story/surgery, I just wanted to get a general idea what everyone else was experiencing. Thanks guys!

Carol

 

[oldbones]

I had my surgery on 1/12/09 and I am just NOW beginning to feel somewhat normal. Thanks to the wise folks on this forum my mantra now is heel toe heel toe as I walk and I'm retraining my brain to walk without a limp. But I will say that now I truly don't have pain. I hope this gives you some sort of timeline.

 

[YoungM]

Carol -great question! I'm interested to hear people's experience in week 6 and 7 and so forth too.

 

[Troweltalk]

I left the cane behind somewhere within the 6 - 7 week mark, just didn't need it anymore, although I did limp slightly.

Still had trouble putting on my own sock and tying my shoe, that got a lot better somewhere around week 10 - 12.

Still had some minor aches, plenty of tightness, but somewhere along that 6 - 7 week time frame I left the perscription pain meds behind and only used an occassional Tylenol; that dropped around week 10 or so.

Now what happened to and for me may be very different for you. I remember reading one account on another website of a guy jogging at week 4 and another actually jumping rope at week 2. Suddenly I felt like I wasn't doing as well as I could; which was a whole bunch of nonesense. This experience is tough on your mind as well as your body. But as I said somewhere earlier today, at 4 1/2 months I walk briskly, with no sign of a limp, no pain, and the little bit of tightness I have left is getting less and less every day.

 

[Judles]

I left my cane at around 8 weeks! I never really had pain, but I did have stiffness whenever I got up from sitting position, for any length of time,and it was very apparent to me getting OUT of the car,,,,,,whether I was driving, or a passenger in the car!
Since I've always been physically active, I know that has helped me recuperate that much quicker!
We have a 3 story townhouse in Florida. After my OS gave me permission to drive down at 7 weeks out, I amazed myself how I was able to move around!
Walking without limping took the long
est.....I would say it was about 4 months out for me,,,with heel toe my faithful mantra!

 

[nickji]

Hi there,
I had my THR on 25th February. Now am almost completely pain free, other than a slight ache front thigh (rectus femoris). Havn't needed any pain meds for over a week. If I walk more than about five kilometers then my leg aches, so I still carry a crutch and use it as needed.
Nick

 

[Josephine]

I am just now 6 weeks as of yesterday, fully active though feeling a bit hampered when walking - still got that "mole wrench clamped on the front of my knee" feeling though it's not pain just tight. No aids and no limp to speak of, going all day with no pain meds but not all night

!

Thing to remember and imprint on your mind

THERE IS NO 'NORMAL' IN THIS.
NONE WHATSOEVER.
So please don't beat yourself over the head if you're not doing as well as some of the other people in this forum.
​

 

[YoungM]

Thanks for that important reminder Jo!

 

[Laurie]

Hi all, From someone who is 8 months out, here are my general memories on healing: at around 10 wks I felt so much better than b/f surgery that I took a hike in our local hilly park system and slipped on fall leaves (had to try out those new Merrill hiking boots!). Was terrified I did something to my new hip, but thankfully just got nice and bruised. But was walking w/o pain and experienced that thigh ache when I overdid.

At Thanksgiving, 3 months, I was with family and did quite a bit of walking (in RI and MA). All commented on how well I was doing but my sister did comment that after I got up that I was limping. I was a bit bummed about that but realized old habits die hard and it was after long day of walking. I noticed that flexibility was not there when I was sitting on floor.

For me I have been surprised at continued improvement since 3 months. The gait is definitely better and my strength continues to improve. Still need to work on flexibility and am not giving up that it will improve as well. The achiness that I would get in my thigh at times is very infrequent now. I do find that when I overdo that when I lift my leg straight up it still hurts a little.

REmarkable remarkable. All I can say. As Josephine says, personal as to how quickly one recovers, but don't be surprised that improvements continue long after you think. (a good thing!!)

Laurie (RTHR, 8.26.08, 56 yrs, and feeling 10 yrs younger!)

 

[Judles]

I bet if we posted pix of us before and after, we probably ALL look younger!!!!

 

[Josephine]

Yes, but which way round?

 

[T-Mike]

I am beginning my 6th week today and my hip just gets uncomfortable not really painful. The problem I seem to be having is with my knee - it is somewhat swollen but goes down a bit every day (I had surgery on it 23 years ago due to a skiing accident). It is very weak and almost went out from under me this morning.

 

[Judles]

Josephine!!! Now THAT was brilliant!!!! Youth, yes......less pain,yes!!!!! I think I just wanted to see which Avatar you were going to use!!

 

[Troweltalk]

I bet if we posted pix of us before and after, we probably ALL look younger!!!!

Almost everyone I know well who did not see me much during my first two months of recovery has said I look MUCH younger. PT also shed about 12 unwanted pounds; now only 20 more to go... LOL

 

[Judles]

Mud! You know those last 20lbs, are the WORST to get off! Keep up your spirits!!!

 

[Peta]

Almost everyone I know well who did not see me much during my first two months of recovery has said I look MUCH younger. PT also shed about 12 unwanted pounds; now only 20 more to go... LOL

Tell me about it Mud..........! I am trying SO hard to lose about 10 kgs gained over the past few years! It's a SLOW process........!

I have had people tell me on at least half a dozen occasions that I am looking younger! And my family tell me I'm a lot easier to live with......!!!???

 

[Scott]

I have had people tell me on at least half a dozen occasions that I am looking younger! And my family tell me I'm a lot easier to live with......!!!???

Ha ha. That seems to insinuate you have been difficult to live with.

 

[Judles]

Scott!!! NOT out Peta!!!!

 

[Peta]

Ha ha. That seems to insinuate you have been difficult to live with.

I'm refusing to answer that Scott.......on the grounds it may incriminate me! LOL

 

[leosmom]

I reached the 8 week mark yesterday. I put away the precription pain meds last week. I do get thigh soreness and take ibuprofen or Tylenol for that. When I overdo on stairs I need ice(I live on 3rd floor walk-up apartment) which I do foot over foot now, but sometimes climbing up the pain level at the top of my thigh gets quite sharp. I try to take a walk everyday when weather permits and I'm carrying the cane for 'just in case'. I do the heel-toe mantra but still feel so klutzy walking. Has anyone tried music while walking to keep the pace?