stamina

[golfer]

Love this site!

Had THR (left) on 12/3. I feel I am doing quite well. Walking unassisted in the house. No pain meds. Almost sleeping the whole night. Full set of exercises on non "PT" days.

Yesterday (12/26) I went driving for the first time. About 1 mile to PT, then .1 miles to food store, the .2 mile to bank, then .2 mile to hardware store, one more local stop and then home. Boy was I tired.

Today, maybe only 1 short trip to post office.

I really want to do this right. I am scheduled to return to work (real estate agent) on 1/5. I am thinking that my stamina will build up ... but I wonder how quickly.

 

[Troweltalk]

I had my hip resurfacing just one week after you, but I am still walking with one crutch and not driving. I was told not to drive until 6 week check-up, although my surgery was on the skinny peddle side.

Even though you are off pain meds, did your doc give you the Ok to drive?

 

[PRGal]

Sounds like you're doing really well! Left THRs tend to drive earlier, assuming no narcotics or manual transmission so you have to use both feet. Must admit your mileage count made me smile--if you think about it, it wasn't the driving that wore you out, it was everything you did at all the stops you made, starting with PT! At 3 weeks, just getting in & out of the car can be tiring! If I've learned anything in the short time I've been on this forum it's that healing takes TIME. Stamina increases the same way--there's just no rushing it.

 

[JudyS]

I had a Right THR in June. At 4 weeks I still could not move my leg quickly between the peddles or comfortablly. At my 6 weeks check up I was pretty ready and started driving short distances after that. As far as stamina, it comes slowly. I do think going back to work full time in only one month is too soon, you will be wiped out.
Judy

 

[golfer]

Thanks for the answers. Yes the Doc said OK. I actually waited a few days. PRGal ... I agreed it was the stops and getting in and out, etc. Patience is really a virtue that I must work to acquire.

 

[Josephine]

What kind of work of work do you do? Are you full or part time?

Whatever, I think one month is far too soon to be returning to work. The operation and the anaesthetic really take it out of you and you need a minimum of 8 weeks to recover to the point where the least bit of exertion doesn't make you feel totally washed out. This is all part of the healing process.

Healing takes a LOT of energy and your body only has so much energy to expend at any one time. Therefore, if you use up most of that energy in activities, the healing and recovery suffers and takes longer. Some people have pushed through that anyway but it is a big struggle and just means you spend a longer time feeling like a dish-rag!

And what ever time you do go back to work, you should negotiate a phased return to work such as

Week 1: ½day on Tues and Thurs
Week 2: ½day on Mon, Wed and Fri
Week 3: full day on Tues and Thurs
Week 4: full day on Mon, Wed and Fri
Week 5: full return to work

 

[golfer]

Full time, independent contractor agent. So getting back into the swing of things becomes an economic decision. That being said, i do not think I will be showing any houses until Feb., but will be involved in taking a few listings.

 

[Josephine]

Well, you can still phase your return to normal duties then, can you?

 

[pampalm]

Today I am 6-week post-op. I had a THR on my right-hip and the doctor allowed me to start driving at 3 weeks. (though I cheated by a couple of days simply because I had to get out of the house by myself!) I think I drove to the store and came right back.

I didn't find this site until last week and wished I had found it sooner. I'm going to have to tell my doctor about it.

 

[Josephine]

pampalm, I moved your post into a thread of its own so's not to derail Golfer's thread and to make sure you get replies of your own.

You can find it here https://bonesmart.org/forum/showthread.php?t=2350