When will I be able to tie my shoes!!!

[Ginny]

Okay everyone. I'm 11 weeks post op, and still can't bend over and put my socks on or tie my shoes. Besides that, I'm feeling great. Walking without the cane, riding the bicycle, elliptical trainer etc, but I still can't bend over to get my socks on!! My doc. told me he didn't want me to start out patient PT and stretching until after 3 mos. I have a few more weeks to go.

How is everyone else doing? At what point were you able to put socks and shoes on comfortably?

All the best!

~Ginny

35yr old active female, THR left hip, smith and nephew metal on metal, Dr. Moore @ UAB.

 

[phoggie]

I am 7 weeks out from THR and I still can not bend over to put on my sock...so I use a hard plastic "helper" that they gave me in the hospital and wear slip-on shoes. I was also wondering how long I can expect this...so hope you have some "sucess" stories that someone will share.

 

[Ginny]

thanks for posting. I'm glad I'm not the only one...although I'm 11 weeks post-op and still can't get the shoes and socks. (looking fwd to the day I can..) I'm also only wearing flat slip-on shoes.. went to a party last night, and I think I was the only women there with flats! oh well. I stood for a while, but then needed to sit. my leg was tired.

I'm still working out...elliptical trainer, cycle, pool etc. feeling great!

 

[sharyn]

I'm 6.5 weeks out and am now able to get my socks and shoes on, with a great deal of trouble. My thigh is still sore to the touch and my groin area is uncomfortable when I do a great deal of walking. I am working on my "limp" and have found that concentrating on putting your heal down first is helpful. I think this is the time in recovery that can be frustrating, at least for me, because the progress starts to slow down just at the time you want so badly to "get going". I look forward to bending and gardening and running around. This site has been very helpful to me. Good luck to all of you!

 

[Josephine]

Yes, that's the hardest part of this business is the waiting. That's all you seem to do at this point is wait. But as it is said "this too shall pass".

 

[Karen]

But to put my socks on or to tie lace up shooes would break the 90 degree rule & that is the one thing my OS never to break! I have to get my husband to tie mine, or wear slip ons.

Karen

 

[Turtlelady53]

All,
I haven't had my procedure yet, but look at the bright side: Warm weather is coming which means you can shed those socks! Seriously, has anyone tried wearing crocs? Are they stable enough for post-surgery? Just curious.

 

[JenniferG]

Turtle lady, we have a thread on the after knee side called crocs that specifically talks about croc and other shoes. Not sure for hips but I thought you were on the knee board? Any way - check it out!

 

[Swright]

Okay, if I'm understanding all of you correctly you are all walking without assistance at this time? I'm looking forward to that day.

I'm at my 2nd week, and using a cane. Still a little shakey on it. PT guy gave me exercises to stretch my hip flexor muscles. Which are so tight they are interfering with my gait. Still some swelling around them, so maybe that's part of the problem.

As for shoes, I'm dealing with same issue. I can bend over and barely reach the laces. My PT guy said that when my quads get stronger I will be able to lift/bend my knee so I can reach my shoes. He had me do an assisted leg lift while lying on the bed. Contracting my quads and lifting my leg just isn't there yet... I had to laugh even though it is discouraging.

 

[Jamie]

Sounds like you are doing GREAT at this point in your recovery. It does take time and it's easy to get frustrated with that some times. Hang in there!!! It DOES get better. Some people keep a log of their daily progress. It can help when you look back from week to week to see how far you have really come.