THR Recovery 8 months out

[dogtripper]

I had full hip replacement on Super Bowl day, I joked with operating staff to put them in good mood. Had posterior approach. At first all went great got off strong meds in a few weeks, started walking and actually pt at 2 months started the muscle pains, I was in a big pt office and they gave me a different young person every week. I tried to say how my muscles were hurting and no one really paid attention. In May I started at pool just walking and floating but time just went on with list of muscle issues, in thigh and butt. Hard to sit. I gave up on pt in May then a girl at pool in late June told me she also had fracture and owner of small pt office helped her. Took me until late July to start and when we just got going I had to take month off as I caught bad poison oak from hubby on clothes. So since September we have been working on my weak glutes and soreness issues and getting me back to longer walks. I feel like I shouldn’t complain since it could be so much worse, my X-rays say everything looks great, just lots of muscle soreness if I try to do more. I guess I am missing my life before this, I was very fit for 70, hiking, senior exercise class, yoga, dancing, walking dog miles daily, pickle ball, etc. So it’s been tough mentally not able to do the things that filled up my life. My new pt lady says by one year anniversary she hopes I’ll be ready for most things again. It’s just hard being patient. I tripped over my golden retriever and came down hard that’s how it all started.

 

[myglasshalffull]

Good morning @dogtripper !
Welcome to bonesmart! Too bad you didn’t find us earlier. Many of us don’t go to PT.
I had same experience with PT here after a broken ankle. Every time I went it was some young person that probably wasn’t even PT certified just telling me to do 5 of these or 10 of these then away they’d go! And I had a $35 copay each time. That adds up so I quit and just did my exercises at home.
The first year year after hip replacement can be challenging. My replacement was when I was 70 after a slip and fall on ice. And, like you I lead an extremely active lifestyle. Dog walking and volunteering at dog shelter, and still working as a server at a very busy restaurant.
So it really is a challenge once you have the surgery and now are in recovery.
Bonesmart philosophy is you cannot exercise your new hip into a quicker recovery. There’s so much soft tissue that rears its ugly head. I remember sitting for any length of time being uncomfortable. Felt like sitting on a tennis ball.
But guess what? By year one I was recovered, back to walking and even hiking.
And each year since I’ve continued to feel like my old self. Me and my partner just fall cleaned our huge family room. I did windows, curtains, ironed and up and down of step stool hanging slider curtains back up. He did the moving of furniture so we could get behind everything and the ceiling fans and final vacuum. Boy my shoulders were sore next day but my hip was totally fine.Do you ice and elevate when sore? Ice can be your best friend for pain. And sounds like you found a more suitable PT person? I’m sure you will receive a lot of information today from many members here.
You might be trying to overdo recovery which sends you into the ODIC! Over Did it club! I’m a returning member now and then!

 

[Layla]

Hello and Welcome to BoneSmart! Thanks for joining us as an Insider. We're happy you're here.

Please leave your exact surgery date and which hip was replaced so we're able to create a signature for you. Thanks in advance.

At the end of your post you mentioned your issues began after tripping over your dog and landing hard. At what point in your recovery was that? Wondering because you mentioned at the beginning of your post that PT at two months post op was the start of the muscle pains. Was the trip / fall the reason you started PT?

Also, wondering if you'll share what you're doing in a typical PT session currently? Only asking to determine whether you're doing something there that is slowing your recovery down.

a girl at pool in late June told me she also had fracture and owner of small pt office helped her.

Also, had a fracture? Does that mean you had a fracture?

my X-rays say everything looks great, just lots of muscle soreness if I try to do more

Maybe you should give it all a rest since it sounds like you've been in some type of exercise therapy since early on via PT and the pool and possibly your body needs a break from it all. Give some consideration to stepping back for a bit, only engaging in the activities of daily living along with some easy walks and stretches and see if after a few weeks you're feeling better.

It's usually not necessary to exercise your injured hip to promote healing. The controlled trauma sustained through THR will heal on its own. Often though, we're impatient and want to move the process along. In doing so we run the risk of struggling with pain and setbacks stalling the healing process. The best therapy for recovery is walking, but not to excess. Start slowly increasing time and distance incrementally in an effort not to overdo it.

I will leave our Recovery Guidelines below, even though you're eight months post op so you're able to see what we advise. I agree with, myglassfull's, post above that icing can be beneficial when your'e hurting if you're not using it right now. Try it, always placing fabric between bare skin and the ice source.

I wish you comfort from any aches and pains you're struggling with. Hope you have a nice weekend!

 

[Layla]

As you begin healing, please keep in mind that each recovery is unique. While the BoneSmart philosophy successfully works for many, there will be exceptions. Between the recommendations found here, your surgeon's recovery protocol and any physical therapy you may engage in, the key is to find what works best for you.


HIP RECOVERY GUIDELINES
(Note to Basic Members: The links below are a premium service available only to Insiders Club Members. To learn about membership, click here ).

1. Don’t worry: Your body will heal all by itself. Relax and let it; don't try to hurry it. Don’t worry about any symptoms now; they are almost certainly temporary.

2. Control discomfort:
rest
elevate
ice
take your pain meds by prescription schedule (not when pain starts!)

3. Do what you want to do, BUT
If it hurts, don't do it, and don't allow anyone - especially a physical therapist - to do it to you.
If your leg swells more or gets stiffer in the 24 hours after doing it, don't do it again.

4. Good Nutrition is essential for successful recovery:
Dietary Tips for Recovery
Nutrition Basics

5. PT or exercise can be useful, BUT take note of these
BoneSmart view on exercise
BoneSmart philosophy for sensible post op therapy

6. At week 4 and after you should follow this
Activity progression for THRs

7. If you want to use something to assist with incision healing and scar management, BoneSmart recommends hypochlorous solution. Members in the US can purchase ACTIVE Antimicrobial Hydrogel through BoneSmart at a discount. Similar products should be available in the UK and other countries.

8. If you're still in need of recovery aids, check out the -> BoneSmart Recovery Shop for popular products at reasonable prices to support your healing.

Recovery articles
Pain management and the pain chart
Healing: how long does it take?
Chart representation of THR recovery
Dislocation risk and 90 degree rule
Energy drain for THRs
Pain and swelling control: elevation is the key
Post op blues is a reality - be prepared for it
Myth busting: on getting addicted to pain meds
Sleep deprivation is pretty much inevitable - but what causes it?

BIG TIP: Most hips do not need physical therapy to recover. Our hips do a good job of healing on their own, given time. We can't rush the healing phase, and pushing a new hip too soon after surgery can cause unnecessary aches and pains.

The best exercise is walking -- and even then, not to excess. Distance should be built up slowly over time and walking aids should be used to prevent limping. Once the hip has healed, physical therapy can be helpful for regaining muscle strength and range of motion and for addressing soft tissue issues related to post-op structural change.


We try to keep the forum a positive and safe place for our members to talk about their questions or concerns and to report successes with their joint replacement surgery. While members may create as many threads as they like in a majority of BoneSmart's forums, we ask that each member have only one recovery thread. This policy makes it easier to go back and review history before providing advice.

 

[benne68]

I was in a big pt office and they gave me a different young person every week. I tried to say how my muscles were hurting and no one really paid attention

I'm so sorry this happened to you. But it is not at all uncommon.

Very few therapists ever receive training in how to work with someone who is recovering from a joint replacement. Because they don't know any better, they apply the same approach that they use for treating a sports injury -- causing inflammation and slowly recovery.

What's more, those big PT practices tend to use a one-size-fits-all approach so they can move lots of patients through. I'm glad to read that you've found someone who will listen and help address your specific issues. Try to be patient and give the new program time.

We're glad you've joined BoneSmart; know that we are here to help!

 

[dogtripper]

My full hip replacement on left side posterior was Feb 8, 2026. I tripped over my golden retriever and fractured my hip. The exercises that are causing problems now are standing on operated leg and holding other one up by knee and putting leg forward into a bend. I stopped both this past week. I am doing short 20 min walks lately. I think I was hoping to get back to hiking to be with my girlfriend who had hip replacement before me but she had a planned one and doesn’t seem to understand why mine is taking so long, I think she thinks I am not pushing myself enough. So we only get together for lunch now and she hikes alone.

 

[Layla]

I'm sorry the fall fractured your hip necessitating a total hip replacement. I think it's wise you stopped the exercises in favor of 20 minute walks to re-build strength and stamina.

Please don't let your friend's opinion make you feel inferior. A planned THR and a hip replacement following a traumatic fall, as you experienced, are not necessarily comparable. Two people can have very different recoveries after THR even when both surgeries go well, so we're cautioned not to compare our healing journey with that of other's. Recovery can last a full year and even longer for some noticing improvement into their second and third years post op. Taking it slow and easy is the best way to avoid setbacks and slowly but surely you'll get to where you want to be. Trust that...and have a great week!
@dogtripper

 

[myglasshalffull]

Reading that exercise you explained that you stopped doing made me grimace just thinking about attempting it! Good thing you stopped!
It’s not too late to turn this recovery around. But first you need to give yourself some grace and stop worrying about your friend that had THR and is climbing Mount Everest! There’s so many stories about others that had speedy recoveries. That’s great for them but you are an individual and your recovery will be as unique as you are.
I’m not a professional but I think some of the PT you mentioned actually hurt your recovery.
Stick to some short walks and take time to elevate and ice. Maybe take a couple weeks off of PT altogether, do your walking & icing and see if the soft tissue that appears to be aggravated gets better.
I fell and fractured my hip too. And I was 70 at the time. Thank goodness I found Bonesmart fairly early in my recovery. It took me a good year to get back to where I felt stronger. And I felt my recovery was taking longer than I wanted it to but I did recover and I can now do everything I was doing before. Patience…not one of my strong traits but hip recovery taught me patience.

 

[myglasshalffull]

Also read @Charlie33 recovery thread. And you will see someone who tried to push through recovery but then learned to listen to his body. it’s an excellent thread and one you might garner some insight.

 

[Eman85]

Who gave you that exercise to do?? I would stop doing that immediately.

I guess I am missing my life before this, I was very fit for 70, hiking, senior exercise class, yoga, dancing, walking dog miles daily, pickle ball, etc. So it’s been tough mentally not able to do the things that filled up my life.

Look at your life goals, you're not training for the Olympics and even if you were athletes don't train strained muscles. It took me 1 hip replacement to learn to let it heal first. It's not fun to think about, look at your scar and think what they did to your leg to be able to replace the hip through that spot. They rotate our whole leg 90* from where it belongs after dislocating the joint. There are a lot of muscles and tendons that don't like that being done to them. Then for some reason we think straining them before they heal is a good idea, usually because of what others say or a professional tells us to. My OS was very straightforward about PT, he said he'd send me if I wanted but said they'll hurt you more than help.

 

[dogtripper]

I feel very confused, the lady that told me about nice older pt lady I go to said she really helped her get over her fracture. My pt listens really well, and doesn’t push at all. I will tell her tomorrow I took week off exercises. The pain in my butt is almost gone so obviously the rest helped. I still walked both outside and in the pool. Patience is not my strong suit. I was assessed few years back for ADHD, not to take anything for it but because I needed to know if my suspicions were true. It’s hard for me to sit still, for my mind not to race. So slowing down this year has been even more challenging.

 

[myglasshalffull]

You’ve answered your own question, You took a week off from exercising and you feel better.
Learn to listen to your body.
And PT doesn’t fix fractures. Fractures have to heal.

 

[Layla]

Hello and Happy Wednesday!
You seem very independent and determined in your recovery. I understand that it's difficult to slow down when you're used to being up and doing things. Your body has been through something major, the controlled trauma of THR is major surgery and it takes time to heal. If you're able, consider engaging in some activities that you enjoy to help make rest times more tolerable. Read a book on a topic of interest, page through magazines, engage in a craft you like. Call a friend or watch a favorite show, or cable series, work on crossword puzzles, assemble a puzzle, or play Soduku...just to name a few. There are adult coloring books and you may enjoy coloring as you listen to some calming music. If you're a baker, bake a favorite treat. If none of these appeal to you, think about what you might enjoy to pass time when some rest is in order. myglasshalfull, is right, PT isn't going to fix the fracture, only time will do that. I hope today is a good day!
@dogtripper

 

[Eman85]

Patience is not my strong suit. I was assessed few years back for ADHD,

I'm right there with you, as I said it took my first THR to learn. Ice can still be your friend, don't think your recovery is over it's a long process. You had the great revelation when you realized the pain stopped when the PT stopped. It's a long road and we're not young, sorry I hate to say that and I don't like hearing it either. My 2 THR's are different, each one has a different weakness. No one would know it if they watched me do things but I know what I feel. My left has weakness in the quads where my right has weakness in the glute area. I work on it and it's better but I'm resigned to the fact that it's the way it is. It doesn't stop me from doing anything and everything I want to do, it's just the way it is now.
The slow healing thing drives me crazy, and the lack of patience doesn't help. I have had foot problems and it has taken over a year for the healing to finally get my foot better. It's frustrating because we remember how it used to be.

 

[dogtripper]

I had long talk with pt lady today and I don’t have another appt for 3 weeks and we took away all the exercises that caused problems and she encouraged me to walk more.

 

[Legseleven]

I had long talk with pt lady today and I don’t have another appt for 3 weeks and we took away all the exercises that caused problems and she encouraged me to walk more.

That sounds like a very sensible plan, often less is more and it fits with the Bonesmart philosophy, born of long experience, too.
The fracture was one big trauma and the THR the second, it’s a lot for a body to cope with and at 70 we don’t heal as fast as we used to.
I’m sure you’ll get there, once the body heals, and you’ve allowed yourself time and grace for this to happen. On that note I’ve finally learned I can do sudoku, something I’ve avoided but a new one has come up and it makes it so much easier for my brain to understand. We’re all unique and have to adapt and find things which work for us both physically and mentally.
Wishing you well and please do keep us posted.

 

[myglasshalffull]

Morning, happy you have decided to take a short break from PT and see how that goes. You know this recovery is as much mental as it is physical.
Many of us are Type A personalities and wrapping our minds around a longer recovery than expected can be very difficult.
Continue with your walks, rest and ice in between. Be kind to yourself.
We are here to support you. Cause we’ve all been exactly where you are.
It took me just about a year to fully feel like myself. That didn’t mean I was sitting around doing nothing. I was walking short distances. And I was always used to nice long walks but my doctor told me it was better to do three ten minute walks over course of the day than try to do 30 minutes and be in pain. My one year anniversary I was back to hiking up and down steep hills in the Virgin Islands. And now close to 5 years later I can walk 6 miles. I dog sit and I break up the 6 miles over the course of the day with the dog. It’s great. And I can do all my cleaning and cooking and whatever else I enjoy.
So you will get there. And I bet in a few months you will be giving advice to others struggling in recovery cause Bonesmart becomes part of your day.
I wish you a happy day.

 

[Eman85]

I had long talk with pt lady today and I don’t have another appt for 3 weeks and we took away all the exercises that caused problems and she encouraged me to walk more.

Good Plan!! For me I found walking properly was the best PT, kind of like My Fair Lady with the book on your head. I didn't use a book but walked very slowly at firsts so as not to limp at all. That alone is enough strain to start with. As I said I'm a slow learner so with my first I was more concerned with speed and distance. Found that the amount of steps wasn't as important as the quality of steps. It's just like Yoga or any other exercise where form is more important. Until you've had a THR you can't understand it fully, and I'd bet the majority of PT's haven't experienced a THR like all of us have.

 

[Layla]

kind of like My Fair Lady with the book on your head

Eman85 cracks me up some days. Eman's also shared a wonderful tip here many times that I like to call "Eman's Shopping Cart Therapy". He'd go to a big box store where's there's room to roam and practice honing his gait as he pushed a shopping cart around the store. Pretty clever isn't it.

Sounds like you have an understanding PT and a good game plan. Please continue to share your progress with us. We're here for you always. Have a great weekend, dogtripper!
@dogtripper

 

[Booger]

These folks know what they are talking about