7 week hospital check up

Carol

Every patient and every surgeon is different but hopefully they will suggest you do more than you have been doing to date. It's a gradual process but in the end your hip should feel almost like the other one. I never got all the movement back but some people do.

Persevere

Mike

Best to ask but driving is the obvious one. I didn't get much feedback from my consultant's team and no phsyio or advice. Going to docs next week to see if I can get some help to build up my leg muscles. Hope you ar lucky enough to get some!

Julie

Hi Carol,

I got the go-ahead to drive with a reminder that my operated leg was also my emergency stop leg.  The 90 degree rule was relaxed but I was warned about twisting the hip and crossing my legs because dislocation was, and always would be, a danger.  I was told to wait another 6 weeks before playing go;f or bowling.

Good luck, Cels X

As others have said a huge amount will depend on your physical condition, fitness, how well your surgeon performed, how positive your outlook is and finally good old luck. I’m reluctant to include age as speaking as a 75 year old male I think that it's all in the mind!

I would expect at seven weeks you should be or be near to managing to drive a manual car and dependent on which hip certainly an automatic but taking care of getting in and out.

I would hope that you are a month at least from needing to use a stick or crutches and able to do your normal walks into shops and the supermarket unaided. Coping in and around the home should no longer be an issue.

I have only ever on rare occasions run with my hip replacement when I felt that I had to and have always taken cod liver oil daily.

Hope this helps but do remember that we are all different!

Cheers

Richard

Hi, At my 7 week check I was told it was ok to be driving and cycling again. Just told to carry on being careful, and not to try to put my feet behind my neck....As if! (I'm not very supple at the best of times.) Also didn't have to sleep on my back any longer.

Hi Carol. Others on this forum have given the advice I would have said. I'd just add to ask about on going physiotherapy as exercise is so important to maximise success in terms of range of movement. Good luck 🍀 and keep us posted !

Hi Carol, Well done you. I expect you will have an xray, but if everything has gone well you should be back to normal. But remember to take things slow but sure Well done regards Amanda 

I had my check up at 6 weeks and from then on I was able to drive my manual car, sit on a normal chair, lie on the operated side if comfortable and bend past 90 degrees obviously I was told I'd always need to be cautious. I took a very long list of questions to ask my consultant as at 36 years old with two children (3 and 5 years old) I have a very active lifestyle. If you haven't already I would write down questions you may have even if you think they might sound silly it's worth asking just to put your mind at rest.

Gradually you will get your strength back. As people have noted every surgeon is different. I could drive and my movement has gotten much better.

Hi Carol I am now 18  months post RTHR. At my 7 week check my restrictions were removed but told never to put leg across the knee. I drove round my cul de sac to check my emergency stop which was ok but found I could only drive short distances for another couple of months. I had  two physio sessions but got referred to a lower limb gym class it was great small group and really helped me build up my muscles. My surgeon was great and when I developed bursitis and physics wanted to inject it. I wrote to surgeons secretary and he saw me two weeks later X-ray to check all was ok and said he would not inject it. It would go so took his advice and refused. After seven weeks he discharged me but said any problems come back. Good old NHS and a surgeon with commitment. 

Hi carol,

I'm now 8 weeks post op and had my review at 6 weeks.

I expected to see the consultant but it was one of the top Ortho physios and she was excellent.

She had a look at my scar and told me to massage it with moisturizer every day as it was still tender due to the nerves having to repair themselves. This has really helped. Then I had to lie on the couch so that she could check the mobility of my new hip.after that I'm had to balance on my operated leg.

I was told that I was out of hip precautions and could start getting back to normal. I'm allowed to drive my manual car as long as I can do an emergency stop.

All the things that had been raised e.g settee,bed, toilet seat could all go back to normal.

I try and walk for about 40-45minutes each day and still do the exercises that i was given by physio especially the standing ones.

The overall thing that she told me was to do as much as you can each day, set yourself goals but above all listen to your hip. If it starts to hurt stop.

I hope this gives you some idea what to expect.

.