5 and a half weeks post RTHR

It is a bit lonely to begin with, and very frustrating. But seeing the physio is a massive help. I remember being very much happier after seeing her and other patients in various stages of recovery. Hang on in there! If you can do standing leg raises, half squats etc, you sound fine to me. Physio will be a ball.

Hi Jacqui. Welcome to the hippie forum if you are new.. I felt like you, kind of on my own after the op. Physio every 2 weeks has helped both for exercises and getting info on recovery and info. I ended up initiating Appts. with my family doctor when I had concerns. At 12 weeks I was worried about my slow recovery and so I initiated an appt. with my surgeon.  So you could hopefully use same options if needed for support and input.

Cathy😊

It sounds like your doing well. When your ready you will be walking without a cane. 

Keep up with your exercises very important. Your therapist next week will help with any questions you may have and help teach you how to get strong and build muscle strength. But the queerest are the most important to build back core strength. Those a are the muscles that help hold your body up .

Ice your knee and give it rest. Talk to your therapist. Squats are good for knees. I had the same problem. It takes time to recover from major surgery.

best of luck .

hi jacqui,

im roughly the same time, post lthr. im reluctant to push myself much further than the exercises, given, by my physios, in hospital, until i see my consultant, next week.

im not thinking of driving, yet, but im sure that with the proper amount of rest and build up of exercises, it shouldnt be a problem.

advice i have follwed is keep in mind, just how big an op, it actually is and therefore, dont under estimate the amount  of healing time and rest, you actually need.

if i put that into context, as a rugby coach, who is still hoping to train 2 x week, whilst its currently frustrating, the bigger goal is a full and proper recovery.

im not rushing, trying to be patient and hoping my body knows what to do.

good luck; im sure you will get there.

chris

Jacqui,

Everyone is different I am 5 weeks post rthr posterior. I am feeling fortunate that I was walking with a cane at 7 days no cane and driving at 2.5 weeks still have swelling around the knee and the incission. I'm surprised your surgeon does not want to see you at six weeks. I'm going in to mine tomorrow and they will x ray it and measure for length. They said this will be done again at 12 weeks. Hoping to get rid of the 90 degree rule also. Go slow and do your pt. I know I'm very nervous about going back to work after twelve weeks I'm a welder and need to be able to climb ladders staging and crawl on my hands and knees. And do 9 stories of stairs. No light duty work allowed in my trade. I'm 55 years young. I feel so much better 100% then before. Good luck to you!! Regards Red

Hi Jacqui -- You're just about one week further along than I am.  It's too bad that you've had to wait so long to see anyone.  I would have found that very frustrating/scary/isolating.  I saw a nurse at 2.5 weeks to remove staples.  A Physio at 3 weeks for exercises (here in Victoria, Canada, we see a Physio at 3, 6, and 9 weeks).  Tomorrow (4.5 weeks) I'll get new X-rays and see my surgeon.  I feel very well taken care of though I've been jealous of the people who had nurses and physios coming to their homes shortly after their surgery.

I am too wobbly to walk on my own, too.  I use a cane indoors and a 4-wheeled walker outdoors.  Like you, I had quite a limp before my surgery so I'm working hard at training my body to not limp.  I feel if I walk without the cane, I immediately start to limp -- esp with that t-gait (trendelenburg gait) which I think is due to weak glutes and abductors.  So I think those have to be strengthened more.   Someone mentioned bum (glute) clenchers and those are a great idea.  I try to do them lots while I'm sitting watching tv.

I'm impatient to drive too.  I'm thinking at the 6-week Physio appt they will assess me to see if I'm OK to drive.  I think you have to be off any opioids and then there must be some physical tests.  Oh, I see you have a right hip replacement.  I think it's longer for right hips because you are using the brake and gas pedals with that surgical leg.  I'm left hip so my nonsurgical leg will be doing the harder work.

It sounds like you're doing a great job with your walking and your exercises!

Take care,

Leslie