6 weeks post operative LTHR. Doing too much?

Hi Steven, I think everyone is very different and it depends so much on how much exercise you were able to do pre op as well as things like age, what type of operation you had, anterior, posterior etc I'm in my sixties and to prepare for surgery I exercised at the gym and did pilates, aqua fit and yoga (all modified as my hip was bone on bone where it had collapsed so some moves were not possible. I was also taking strong painkillers). I'm now 13 months post op but thinking back to week 6, I was back at the gym from week 5 when I was allowed to drive. I did 3 sessions of 30 mins on various equipment followed by 30 mins walking and exercising in the pool per week. Also at week 6, I added a one hour Pilates session at the physio dept of the hospital once a week. I took panadol as necessary for muscle pain. Mostly it was just normal aches from exercise rather than pain as such. I did get very stiff and sore if I drove too far. It was just a matter of pacing and stopping to have a stretch if I had to drive any distance. Traffic jams were the worst. I had raised the seat level on my sofa at home and have kept it like that as I prefer it and I avoid low seats nowadays. I currently do 3 or 4 aqua classes per week, same with Pilates and one yoga class. I walk a lot and have been able to do quite heavy work in my garden. I dug a pond 6 months post op and managed to carry all the sacks of sand and stones I needed to finish the project. I advise anyone to do as much exercise as you can manage pre op and continue post op as it really helps. Obviously be careful not to overdo things and listen to your body. Rest when you need to and if something hurts beyond what you would expect from normal exercise, don't do it. The physio told me it can take about 9 months for full stamina to recover and I found that was about right. So resting is vital too. A friend who has just had her second hip replacement followed my advice and started doing exercise in the pool pre op and says she can't believe how much better she has felt this time compared to her first op. Small amounts of exercise, especially in the pool really help.

Good luck.

Ann

Not only do we all recover at different rates, but my three recoveries have been so different too.

I think you have answered your own question, sounds like too much too soon.

Keep up the exercises the hospital will have given you to strengthen the muscles and stretch ligaments. I certainly was not sitting on 'normal' height seats at 6 weeks for my first 2 recoveries, and I was able to walk just over a mile outside.

For my last recovery I was doing over 4 miles outside without sticks at 4 weeks.

Take it slowly, there are no prizes for 'first past the post'.

HI, im 4 weeks post op and had upped my walking to 5000 steps and like yourself in pain in evenings and night. Physio told me that this is the time we think less and have less to do therefore, can feel pain. Mine is in groin and front thigh so, have been advised to cut steps down and do more physio stuff as muscles need to repair. Well done on six weeks! maybe try and scale it back and see how pain levels are. Good luck 😃

Because you reached six weeks, it does not mean you are suddenly ready to do everything. I had twelve weeks of precautions and was told at my six week appointment to be careful for another 6 months after that. I did not drive until week eight, and felt more comfortable/normal from week ten. At 5.5 months I started pilates, zumba and step aerobics. We had a walk in shower put in last year so never had a problem with showering. Pushing too soon can cause problems sometimes.

did the physio give you advice? I am due to see mine again at 6 weeks and will go off their advice yo be safe