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THR Recovery

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@LoyalD we had a different set of restrictions from the get go. My surgeon is VERY conservative, so for the first 3 weeks I was "toe touch weight bearing" only. That was defined as pretending there is a raw egg under the toes of your bad leg, and you can't break that egg. There is no heel toe at that point, but toes only. Then this Tuesday the restriction became "weight bearing as tolerated and heel toe. That day PT had me concentrate on pushing the walker ahead of me smoothly, no more move it ahead catch up with my good leg. He said I wasn't ready for the cane yet, but in the same session changed his mind and let me try the same thing with the cane. Small steps, even weight distribution, and almost fingertip hold of the cane. It is now more for stability, not to bear my weight, tho it still does some of that. I do laps around the house with the cane, but rest between, and as the day wears on, become more tired and back off. I think if I'd been allowed more than toe touch initially, I'd be further along than I am now.

I'm quite certain the first hospital PT had no idea what my surgeon's protocol was as she told me that in day 2 I'd be full weight bearing. Needless to say, day 2 dawned with a disappointed me!! Surgeon visited that day so I asked for clarification. No, he says, toe touch only and see me in 2 weeks. Two week mark, bandages off, steri strips taken off, and he gave me one more week at toe touch only. I was then thrilled with that relaxation of rules as he'd said In the hospital it could possibly be 4-6 weeks at toe touch! At that point i was regretting my choice of surgeons. I suspect he was more interested in my personal healing process, and at two weeks when I had no bruising, incision looked good, and with a scale of 1-10, my pain level was 0, he relaxed his rules.

Home PT had me doing what @lee0605 described after my quad was better. Bent knees, lying on back, raise bad leg keeping it bent, to the 90° point. Even then I had to take that easy as I could feel it wasn't 100% yet. All my life I've been prone to tendinitis...no more tennis after playing beyond the point I could no longer turn a faucet on and off, Achilles' tendon issue after diving into walking hills when we moved here from flatland Florida, severe plantar fasciitis too, so when they start talking to me now, I sit up and take notice--they mean business! :)

This has been a good and enlightening discussion!
 
Having a brainf*rt, I did cross my legs at the ankle one or two days after getting home, knew instantly from the twinge I'd committed one of the big No No's, just as quickly uncrossed them, and haven't made that mistake since! :)
 
You are right about the PT being difficult. I just cut waaaay back from what they say. At least by half and a couple of things I have refused to do. For example the clam shells. I knew if I did them that pain would follow. Later on they will happen, but for now absolutely not. You get to know your own body and your ice pack very well. My glutes, quads, and particularly abducters are weak and it's gonna take a while longer.
 
As I said in my thread I am amazed at the myriad of different rules and restrictions of our various doctors. It seems the common thread is rest, ice, PT and slow walking. And it certainly makes a huge difference where you were preoperatively. I know I couldn't stand on my affected leg for more than 15 seconds without the burning and weakness ending it. I think I waited way to long for the surgery. But as I have said this site has been a Godsend. I have been so worked up about my use of pain meds and my progress, having nothing to compare it to, that I think I have been holding my recovery back. @lovetowalk are you really clamming?! I had my surgery on 6/5, you on 6/10. Aren't you still doing that "stork bend over" as I call it (balancing on the unaffected leg when you reach to the floor)? Like you, yesterday during PT I learned how absolutely weak my abductors, glutes and quads are as well when my PT added some more resistance exercises to my routine. I have to go easy and remember this otherwise I will do to much.
 
My OS ended all restrictions at 5 weeks. The PT wanted me to try the clam she'll exercise and it was not going to happen. Instead we modified it. I am on my back with the lightest rubber band thing on my thighs and my knees bent. Then I gently spread my thighs and hold 10 seconds. It feels good.

I specifically asked if it was ok to tough my toes and he said yes. If I pick something up off the floor I usually use the stork method, though. If something feels creepy I just don't do it. He said it is ok to go back into the gym which I might try next week. Just some gentle upper body and maybe three minutes on the bike. We'll see, though. I am not going to do anything that makes me cranky,tired, or sore.

It really is amazing how different the protocols are. We wouldn't know that if we didn't have this communication, but I am really trying to listen to my body. At least now I think I am "normal" whatever that means.
 
What is the clam shell?? I use the stork method, aka the golfers reach, too, in fact was already doing that pre-surgery without having a clue what it was called. I just knew bending to get something from the floor was out of the question. Yoga fell by the wayside well over a year ago and I look forward to eventually getting back to that, tho I can't imagine ever sitting cross legged again! It sure would be NICE to be able to bend over, grab my feet and pull my body as low as it would go to my knees. Think of how nice that back, glute, hamstring, calf stretch would feel....later. Much later! :)
 
The clam she'll is when you are on your side with knees bent. Then you gently lift and close the top leg (like a clam she'll barely opening and closing). It is a gentle and controlled opening. It uses the abducters and I still can't do it so I just said "no thank you"! It is a pretty typical hip exercise I guess, but my body isn't ready for it at this point. Right now I have PT twice a week. I do my exercises at home spread out throughout the day. Then I follow up with an hour of ice and sometimes a nap. I read a lot, dust, and putter around. I walk outside for five minutes or so twice a day with my cane.I take my Tylenol and Ibuprofen according to the schedule that Josephine posted and I am about ready to quit the Ibuprofen.

Sometimes we go out to eat or for a little ride. Went to a small wedding a few weeks ago. Haven't gone grocery shopping yet. I get to the library for more books and am general just taking it easy. Life will pick up when the cane is no longer needed, but right now it is needed. I have no idea how long that transition is going to take, though and I am looking forward to it.
 
I started that clam exercise yesterday with the PT as resistance. I am five days ahead of you @lovetowalk. I was able to do about twenty but again it was with the therapist resisting, not the bands yet. @Beachmusic mentions the yoga type exercises, and at this point I would just love to have options to stretch my back. I know I will never sit cross legged again. But I don't really care. After waiting 15 years to do what I thought would be a cortisol shot the damage was, I think to much...I won't wait for the other one. But it would be nice to stretch my back
 
My abducters suffered over time so it is going to take time. Strange my OS told me twice that I am ready to touch my toes. I can easily do it, but I don't make a habit of it. Not sure that it makes sense. To stretch my back I have always stood about a foot and a half from a table with my legs shoulder width. Then bend forward with your arms straight out on the table. Hold the stretch for a while. Remember, I never had the 90 degree rule, either. Check with your doc or PT before you try it, though. Definitely my back hated sleeping on it. While my hip was failing I had learned to sleep on my tummy with my feet off the edge of the bed. Now that it is much much easier to turn over it feels like heaven. I do wake up to turn over, but my sleeping shifts last as long as four hours. The sleep deprivation in the beginning was horrible and now things are looking up. Maybe that is why we get the blues. There have been some tears around here, but things are looking up:yes!:
 
Sleep is still hard as I am a side sleeper. I have not been cleared to sleep on my non-op because of the crossing and my operative side is still uncomfortable although less so. I can't even imagine sleeping on my stomach. But I have never slept on my back. The two body pillows I bought at Target really have helped with elevating and position. At times I feel like I'm being attacked by my bedding!

I think I can do your stretch and keep within my docs orders. I know exactly what you are describing. You're right, maybe not sleeping does really add to the blues. Plus being stuck in the house and feeling like an old woman (for me). I embarrased to tell you I sometimes can't get to the bathroom in time and have had an accident or two trying to get there in the morning (this has ended thank God!!). But terribly demoralizing.
 
@lee0605 @Beachmusic @lovetowalk
I was doing clamshells prior to surgery to do pre-hab. I love them, but have been afraid to try them
(I am at 13 weeks I think).... Haha. Seriously....... I guess I could try them if you all are doing them now.

I am enjoying swimming (breastroke), recumbent exercise bike (love it; do 45 minutes 10 miles), and
or walking.
I feel happy and comfortable with these activities, though when walking occasionally think of busting into a slow jog but DO NOT.
I don't want to do anything to shorten the life of this shiny baby.
 
MajorHeidi said:
I am enjoying swimming (breastroke),
Click to expand...
If you are doing breast stroke you can certainly do clams. Most OS restrict this stroke for the first weeks as the kick can violate restrictions.
 
Well, I will be very happy to walk without a cane and to cycle. Probably will get in the pool for aqua jogging at some point, too, but not yet. Pain makes my imagination go all kinds of strange places I don't want to go!
 
Good Morning to all my new friends and @lovetowalk. I agree pain takes your brain to places you would rather not go and I think when this happens you should really cut back a little and try not to be a super hero by not taking your pain medications as prescribed and trucking along.

I know lying in bed with tears rolling down your face feeling sorry for yourself is not your ideal Sunday but maybe today you could forgive yourself that non-perfection and say "Hey this is a bad day amongst many better ones" and let yourself do that. Take you kleenex, book, water, pillows for elevation, ice pack, cane, picker-upper, phone, computer, M&M's.......well the whole darn house!!!!! AND TAKE YOUR MEDICATION AS YOU AND YOUR OS DECIDED!! AND REST!!!!
 
Oh and @lovetowalk ..... today on your "it's ok to forgive myself and tend to my pain day"......don't forget your picker-upper for your picker-upper. Be ready for
1) The stuff that comes flying out of your pocket when you try to set everything up next to your bed
2) The extra pillow you will wrestle with until it makes you cry
3) The lip balm you are sure will make you feel better but you just can't find
4) The blanket/throw to get tangled up in
5) The TV remote you won't use but will want next to you that you left in the other room
6) Ditto for the book that seems so hard to get through because pain lessens your concentration
7) To feel guilty that the house is a mess
8) To feel guilty for feeling bad for yourself....
9) To get finally get comfortable only to realize you have left your pain meds somewhere other than where you are
10) To knock over your cane when you get up to get them
11) To drop picker-upper #1
12) To swear as you try to retrieve it
13) And to feel absolutely exhausted when this whole process is through and you finally can lay there and feel like you're 100 years old.

And about 20 other steps I've forgotten to mention.

Rest my friend.
 
@Jaycey . I know you are a moderator and have much work on this site. I also see we are asked to post only one thread to make things easier. I made a mistake and started a thread called "Love the picture". I'm wondering is someone can help me get this off. Thanks
 
Good morning everybody, rested yesterday for the most part except for a 10 minute slow walk with my cane around the neighborhood. Just came back from a seven minute walk with my cane and now I am icing. Taking my Tylenol every four hours and trying to be patient.
 
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