Yes, most people seem a bit surprised about the non-weight bearing, inc the PT, but then I'm free from the 90 degree rule & no sleeping restrictions, so I guess it is swings & roundabouts.
Thought I'd post about my first big trip out yesterday: tomorrow I will be 3 weeks post-op. Because I'm mostly alone all day except for a couple of hours with my mother-in-law (husband leaves at crack of dawn, returns to eat and go to bed!!), I think I've probably been over cautious and self-protective, although the blasted compulsory crutches don't encourage independence. So yesterday evening we went to a local supermarket - not a vast one, such as I imagine you have in the USA, but for anyone in the UK - a calm, sedate Waitrose! This is just food-only (i.e. not aisles of homewares etc), and it was a little crowded but as I said, a key word to describe the type of customers at this store would be sedate and considerate! (unlike some others, where it's like a rugby scrum). So I pottered around on my crutches, with husband fetching the purchases - I felt like some mad old "grande dame", officiously pointing at my every desire with the end of a crutch!! My ability for speech just disappears when I'm concentrating on staying upright!
I was on my feet for about an hour, conscious of the fact that the PT would have had a fit - I was tired and not picking my feet up properly, not using the C-O-G (crutch - operated leg - good leg) routine, and shuffling, and quite possibly twisting occasionally. Given that I haven't walked further than round the house, I nevertheless thought I was doing ok. After about 30 mins my operated-side buttock (sorry!) began to ache, and then sort of along the scar line, but just a gentle ache. I sat down for most of the evening (which I'd do anyway!), but this morning I am quite stiff and achey. My "good" hip had had a steroid injection and manipulation during the THR, which had almost totally removed any of the severe pinching-type of pain I'd been getting, and I was sad to find this had returned when I was getting in and out of bed (the OS warned me it was just a temporary fix, 3 months at best). But in spite of the achyness, now I come to think of it, just prior to the op that trip would have had me in agony and resting in pain for 2 days afterwards, so I must remember it is progress. Today I have done a few chores but am suddenly exhausted, so back to the recliner with my laptop. My shoulders and palms of my hands certainly know all about it too!! Meds-wise, I'm just taking a 200mg ibuprofen occasionally, (plus blood-thinner), so I'm not really taking any significant pain-relief now. Psychologically, the trip was a treat - lovely Christmassy goodies, and everyone in a good mood. The staff at this company are famed throughout the UK for their customer service, and they were all so charming to me, chatty and asking if i was ok, and the checkout girl refused to let me have my bags to pack and insisted I just stand and watch (whilst husband fluffed about a bit!). And then she made my day by saying I looked far too young for a THR!!! And after stocking up I now can have something other than toast for my lonely lunches!!