Walking normally after hip surgery

[oldbones]

The physician that I work with was watching me walk today and told me that I continue to walk very similar to the way I did pre hip replacement. There's absolutely no pain but how does one retrain your brain to walk "normally" again after walking with a limp for so long? Any advice is welcome. Thanks, Oldbones

 

[Jamie]

You have to really focus on the correct movements. If you're not in therapy, ask that doctor to order some for you....preferably with a gait specialist....someone who knows all the tricks to teach you. You have to unlearn the bad habit and replace it with the good. It takes work, but you can do it!!

 

[Judles]

I was taught "HEEL, TOE,,,repeat!!! When you concentrate , it REALLY does work!!! But it also takes A LOT of practice!!

 

[Scott]

I was taught "HEEL, TOE,,,repeat!!! When you concentrate , it REALLY does work!!! But it also takes A LOT of practice!!

I saw you post that in another thread and I've been working on it and it does work well, even as early post-op as it is for me. I go to PT for the first time tomorrow morning, so it will be interesting to see what they have me do.

 

[YoungM]

Scott -good luck with therapy tomorrow.

Oldbones -there is a limping thread on here with lots of posts in it. Take a look.

 

[Judles]

Glad to hear its working for you! I still find myself doing it when I start getting tired! Glad you're reading the threads! You wouldn't believe when Jo & Jamie start testing us! (GOTCHA!!!!).

 

[Jamie]

Yep...Pop quiz!!! Take out your pencils and paper!

 

[Josephine]

You ain't seen nothing yet! I had a stinker of a quiz I gave the trainee mods on CF - and they had to get 95% to pass! Jamie, just count your lucky stars!

 

[Jamie]

Oh my!!! Ruthless School Marm, you are! So glad you just let me stumble along in my own way, Jo!!! Whew!!! Now I need a glass of wine.....

 

[Judles]

Me,too!!! Phew!!!

 

[aussie]

Hi Oldbones,

I'm a heel toe person too. I also took a while to have confidence in myself to walk properly so my mantra would be "heel toe, heel toe, for goodness sake just walk". I found when I took "normal" size strides and with confidence, I walked better.

Good luck.

Chris

 

[Jamie]

You've hit on an excellent point, Chris....confidence! When we have chronic pain for a long period, I think it then becomes difficult to really TRUST that your new joint will hold you up and not hurt. You have to retrain your mind to accept that in addition to relearning physical movements. But it can be done and THAT'S the great news!

 

[mvo]

Hi oldbones

It just takes consentration and practice. I found it helped me to carry my crutch on the longer walks, and if I found myself begining to limp, to use the crutch again for the next few metres until "normal" walking had resumed
Monica

 

[oldbones]

Today I have been silently laughing to myself because every step I've taken I've said to myself "heel toe" " heal toe" and really does work. Keep the good suggestions coming. Oldbones

 

[Scott]

Today I have been silently laughing to myself because every step I've taken I've said to myself "heel toe" " heal toe" and really does work. Keep the good suggestions coming. Oldbones

Me, too. I did a lot of walking today and found myself doing that quite a bit.

 

[Texas]

Me to I run around like I think jules said it make me laugh heel toe, heel toe, point toe, side toe, bend leg she said its a wonder she not falling down all the time lol

 

[mdakota]

those are the words , just walk. i say that to myself now all the time. and the other day when we were planning how to stage the op's that was what i said, even when i try to take a descent stride and can with one leg the other wont. man my muscle memory will need amnesia for whats comming. another thing i always do is watch in glass doors as im going in or out of them i watch my shoulders to see how even they are.

Hi Oldbones,

I'm a heel toe person too. I also took a while to have confidence in myself to walk properly so my mantra would be "heel toe, heel toe, for goodness sake just walk". I found when I took "normal" size strides and with confidence, I walked better.

Good luck.

Chris

 

[PRGal]

Today I have been silently laughing to myself because every step I've taken I've said to myself "heel toe" " heal toe" and really does work. Keep the good suggestions coming. Oldbones

Here's another suggestion: laugh out loud, not silently! If you get a look or two, who cares--you've got a new hip to celebrate!

I'm nearly 6 months out & today while at the grocery store, I literally pumped my fist and cried "YES!!!" when I got a 25 lb. bag of dog food off the shelf, on the bottom of the cart, and stood up again--with no pain and without hanging on to anything! Enjoy every moment--you deserve it!

 

[mdakota]

i just got excited for you that was really great.

Here's another suggestion: laugh out loud, not silently! If you get a look or two, who cares--you've got a new hip to celebrate!

I'm nearly 6 months out & today while at the grocery store, I literally pumped my fist and cried "YES!!!" when I got a 25 lb. bag of dog food off the shelf, on the bottom of the cart, and stood up again--with no pain and without hanging on to anything! Enjoy every moment--you deserve it!

 

[T-Mike]

I am at the end of week 5 post op. I have been using a cane for the last couple of weeks and began doing without it for short distances this past weekend. I have what I have termed a Fred Sanford walk without the cane. Any suggestions to walk a little less wobbly would be greatly appreciated.