when is it appropriate to return to work

[Lolly]

I am a full time employee and had RT Hip replacement on 25/10/06. I am more than 2 months away from surgery and undergoing intense physio and hydrotherapy. I am suffering from back pain due to postop sleeping position lying on my back.
I am already trying walking without crutches, of course with a limp, trying to get ready for when I return to work. Hip replacement info provides return to work information as being three to six months. Has anyone need to return to work early? or within three months? What inconveniences did you have to experience? Please share this information with me.

 

[ripanco]

Hi Lolly,

Since everyone recovers differently, it mostly depends on how you feel, when you are up to it. Plus it depends on the type of work you do!

There is a good chance your back pain is also from the new way you walk with good hips! My knees and back both had a hard time adjusting to my new (and imporved) gait. In time however, they all evened out.

I recovered very quickly since I went into sugery in excellent physical condition (athlete) so I was able to start working again at about 3 weeks. But, I own my own business (boarding/grooming kennel) so I could adjust my schedule to fit my abilites. Plus I had my college kid home to help as needed. So I really did not have to work at full capacity until I was almost 3 months post op. By then, I was totally up to speed.

Try to work with your employer to allow you some extra time to rest during the day. If you are on your feet, you will need time to sit or lay down. You will tire quickly for a while. If you sit at a desk, you will need lots of breaks to get up and walk around for a bit. Sitting is really hard. Wear very comfortable, cushioned shoes. Hopefully, you will not be doing the type of hard physical work that required heavy lifting, bending, ect.

Keep up with your PT, the pool was my best friend while recovering

Andrea
Believe in Barbaro

 

[Lolly]

Hi,

Thank you so much for your urgent reply. My reply had been delayed due to pain following after undertaking simple household tasks. Despite my personal concerns, you have provided me with a reaffirmation of my capability to do more than what I currently am capable of doing.

You are correct in saying (and I agree 100%) that every person recovers differently. My concern is that I might be pushing myself too much to find out later, that I am not yet really ready. My specialist will look at things the technical way (medically) whereas, I will look at what my body is telling me on a day to day basis - I cannot foresee how my days will go - a good pain-free day may be followed by a bad painful day.

I am doubly blessed to have excellent employers who are willing to provide me with what I need to return to pre-injury duties, soonest possible.

Thank you again.

Lolly

 

[shanvey]

Lolly,
My husband had minimally invasive hip replacement on 11/29/06. He returned to full duty at work as an industrial maintenance tech on 1/8/07. He has a slight limp, but it is getting better every day. Every person recovers differently based on their physical condition and their type of hip replacement. He doesn't have to sleep on his back, he sleeps in any position he wants. Stay with your exercises. Listen to your body and don't overdo it!
Sandy

 

[JGosse]

Since my job is mostly sitting I have been told I will probably be able to drive and return to work in four weeks. That is also because I am having my left hip done first. Right hip keeps you from driving for at least six weeks. I agree that each individual is different, but there does seem to be a majority of THRs that recover more quickly than they had thought they would. I'm sure a positive attitude is very important.

 

[peg]

Andrea, Thanks for your sensible advice on post-op recovery. I am scheduled for surgery April 27. What kind of exercises should I be doing now?
Pain makes it difficult for me to "push" myself, but I know I need to do something. Any suggestions?
Peg

 

[peg]

Andrea,
Thanks for your adivce on post-op procedures. My operation is scheduled for April 27th. What kind of exercises should I be doing now to strengthen my leg muscles?
Peg

 

[ripanco]

Hi Peg,

The more you can do now, the better off you will be in the long run, but you can only do as much as your body will allow. You also need to work on your whole body, not just your legs. Your core, and upper body will be taking over for your legs quite a bit so they need to be strong too.

The best preperation for surgery is weight lifting. It does not have to be anything extreme nor do you need fancy exquipment. There are many programs available online or you can use a personal trainer. Work your upper body by doing curls, flies, presses, ect, with soda cans. Crunches either on the floor or better on a ball, planks, pelvic tilts, kegels, all great for your core. All these types of exercise should not bother your hip. Walk! Walk as much and as fast as you can. Walking up hills is wonderful. Leg lifts with or without weights are very good. A restance band can work both ad and abductors. You can be very creative. If nothing else just keep moving, every little bit helps! Good luck!

Andrea

 

[JGosse]

I returned to work on crutches four weeks after my surgery. I work at a desk so I have little stress on the hip. Now, at six weeks I walk with one crutch. I can walk without it, but I then limp badly. The muscles in that leg haven't gotten back to full strength, but I can see an almost daily improvement. I do my exercises and walk as much as I can. Driving was a big worry since I have a very low car, but it turned out to be much easier than I thought and I started driving just short of four weeks. I can't sleep well on my back so that really bothered me too.

I am sleeping on both sides now, but wake often with pain, especially in my lower back and the hip that isn't fixed yet. I have very little pain in my new hip, just a little bone pain due to the fact that I didn't have the thing glued in. I have the porous material that bone grows around so it takes a bit longer to heal to 100%.

Best of luck! I think you'll find that the healing speeds up the further you get from your surgery.

 

[Lolly]

Hello,

I am glad to tell you that I have finally returned to work - this is my 4th month from the date of my surgery. I am so lucky that I get full support from my Manager and everyone at work. Everything I have asked for which will make me feel better, they have actually attended to, and made them available in my workplace. I work only 4 hours a day, and still continuing with my hydrotherapy three times a week and one session of physio.
My self confidence and feeling of self-worth is back. I have started pushing myself a bit to ease back into the job that I have left before I was injured.
My manager gave me a different project to attend to, and works along the same principle as what I have been doing before. I will resume my duties to full capacity as soon as tell them "I'm ready for the long haul".

Lolly from Australia

 

[Annemarie]

Lolly. It is good to hear that you are getting so much better. Everyone heals at a different speed. You may feel pains in various joints, groins muscles etc. due to the fact that you are most likely be walking less twisted now. Four months after my second THR, and much walking about, I develloped severe pain in my left groin which lasted close to a months. My surgeon thought it was a natural response due to years of "out of sync" hip/muscle movements. All is well now, not even a hint that I ever had two THR. I was lucky, I healed fast and after only three 1/2 hours of pool therapy and 5 X 1/2 hour of Physio I was allowed to continue doing my leg lifting and step excersises at home.

 

[JGosse]

I came back to work four weeks after my THR. Recovering from surgery the first couple of weeks was nasty. I spent four and half days in the hospital and another couple of weeks on my back at home. Sleeping on my back was a problem for me and I am now (at 6 weeks out) very happy to sleep on my side again. Things I learned: get up and move as much as you possibly can, stop taking the bad pain meds and cumadin as soon as you can, drink lots and lots of water, The Price Is Right is addictive. I came back to work (where I mostly sit) on crutches and am now using one crutch. Without it I limp badly. My surgeon just cleared me for exercise that includes side lifts of my surgical leg which should get the strength back quickly. I asked about swimming and he said no...just paddle around. Not much pain in my new hip. Just a little from the bone growth (I had the non-glued type of replacement) and a lot more in my old hip which I will have done in a few months. Keep moving!!!

 

[Annemarie]

What do you mean by porous material, do you mean ceramic? I had two unglued or uncemented ceramic on ceramic implants, a procedures which takes longer to heal. Although I received my second hip August 2006, I still have swollen ankles now and then, which may be because I drink so little, I just never feel thirsty. I also required the support of a cane for five months after the second op which prevented me from walking with a limp and on deep snow and ice, but as time progressed all went back to normal. All of my live was spent sleeping on my sides and both incision areas still feel tender to the touch and to the pressure of sleeping on them. That is something I have to work on, otherwise it is good to hear so much positive feedback from everyone.

 

[Lolly]

Thanks Annemarie, Hello Andrea, Hello Gosse

I am still continuing with my hydrotherapy (my surgeon suggested more) now I am attending 45minx3times a week) and one session of physio, the purpose of which is to monitor whether I am religiously doing my home exercises. My physiotherapist is now working to align my R leg through proper stretching exercises.
While at work I am still doing my leg stretches, I have an elastic band tied up to the leg of my desk. I am more comfortable standing, and will sit only when tired. I take time off to lie down (a bed was provided for me) at least once during the 4 hours that I work. The bum lift exercises is still a must in the mornings before I get up.
I am working on being able to climb up the stairs with one foot each step; am able to manage this, going down, however, much difficult when ascending (or maybe I am scared that I will hurt).

How are you guys doing, thank you for your support......

Lolly from Australia

 

[Annemarie]

Greetings Lolly. Good to hear that you are doing fine with your Physio, keep it going as long as you can or need to. Are you a private patient or does Australian Insurance pay for all that? Here in Canada it is between 3-7 days hospital stay after each THR and then off by ones self (well my husband drove me) to the doc, Blood tests, staple removal, Physio, etc. something I perceived as "too soon" and "too painful" after such large incisions. Your employer sounds a people friendly sort to provide you with a bed to rest on, but, that's how it should be. Stairs can be tough at first, but with time it gets so much easier. Although everything has gone much better than anticipated I am however troubled by mental images of those implants stuck in my hollowed out bones. I wish I had not viewed those computer generated X-rays of my hips in my surgeons office. Am I just sensitive or does anyone feel that way?

 

[Lolly]

Hello Annemarie,
Our company has an insurer who pays for all the expenses (as mine is compensation related). The company also employs an Occupational Health and Safety consultant (a private provider) who looks after the continuous care and return to work aspect. My stay in hospital was for one week after surgery then I was transferred to another hospital for the rehabilitation for another 2 weeks, and then moved to another hospital for another 2 weeks for the initial physiotherapy to prepare me to move independently when I am sent home. There was also an occupational therapist who did a home visit to check if everything at home is well suited and safe for my condition, before I was finally discharged. The only part of the house that had a slight modification was my bathroom, where we had the ceramic floor changed into a more porous and rough one, to avoid me slipping or tripping over. Our health system in Australia is very good. Although I have a private fund cover I did not have to spend a single penny; the hospitalisation was government funded whereas the services of those who attend the surgery and the other post surgery activities were all paid by the insurance company.

Am utilising my hydro sessions to be able to negotiate the stairs with only one leg each time. I am also trying to hop in and out of my car, I am still scared to drive as I might panic and make an emergency break; however, I do try moving my car in and out of the garage.
My journeys to and from the pool for my hydrotherapy session and to and from work are through a taxi service and are all paid by my company, through the insurance company. Really, all I have to do is to focus on looking after myself.
Yes, I have a very clear e-ray of my implants.
I have also been through a state where I am overly sensitive and find myself just feeling depressed. I was told that this is a side effect of the pain killers.
This is also one reason why I decided to return to work as soon as, so that I will not indulge in self pity, or feel down. At work everyone wants to talk to me, and it makes me feel good.

Lolly

 

[Kentdougal]

Hi All
It's interesting that people are mentioning their cars, frankly it's not the controls that are the problem the danger is the twisting to get in and out of the vehicle plus the liklihood that you will bending the hip in excess of 90 degrees which harbours the possiblity of dislocation in the early days.
Regards
Doug

 

[peg]

Doug,
Thanks for the information on getting in and out of cars. I wondered why there was the restriction...you cleared that up.

Peg

 

[Lolly]

Kentdougal,

Both the movement in and out of the car and your capability to react while driving can cause dislocation, not only during the first 6 months, but anytime after the surgery. This is why my PT and OS do not recommend driving at this time; although it is our self confidence (or fear) that will drive/prevent us from any attempts to indulge in certain activities.

It is to our own advantage to follow OS & PT advice if we want a safe recovery or whether we want to set ourselves up for challenge.

It all depends, also, on whether we have options available to us. In my case, the company pays to drive me to and from work, and I do not see any reason to rush. I will wait until I feel fully recuperated and able, without fear of having to suffer dislocation before I drive.

 

[Annemarie]

Lolly, thanks for your info. All in all, from fed back received from other THR patients I have met during the past year, caution is an ongoing process for us with implants. Good luck to us all.