9 months post hip op
Posted , 7 users are following.
Hi everyone
i would like some advice please .
well here I am again now. Finally had my 8 month post hip op check and all good. Fit to get back to a life at last after months of recovering.
Definately took me much longer than I had expected, I have only really been feeling myself for the last month .
Dr says it's ok to use the gym so I went along today . The only problem is it's very limiting what I can actually do as dr said I still have to not let my knee go over 90 degrees as my hip is just pinned and not cemented so could dislocate if I do breach the 90 degree rule.
I thought I would be fine on the lie back bike for sure ,but then when I sat on it and tried to peddle my legs went up so high I am sure it would break the 90 degree angle precaution so I stopped and only went on the cross trainer and treadmill.
I have since arrived home and been thinking ,is it really breaking the rule as your laid back ?? But it did feel like my leg stopped and I would of had to push it beyond that point.
There is no way I can get down to do the rowers either plus I am sure that's what made my hip get much worse before I even had the hip op a year ago.
Any fellow hippy go to the gym and can give me some advice please.
Many thanks.
0 likes, 19 replies
kimberley38758 Suziemo
Posted
Hi Suziemo,
I had my RFHR just over a year ago. My surgeon told me that there were no restrictions by 7 months. I had the Anterio-lateral Approach and the stem was not cemented. You mentioned that yours was pinned. There are various methods and the after care precautions differ a little, but I've not heard anyone else on this site mention the 90 degree rule several months after the surgery.
I'm wondering if you might have had more extensive work?
Suziemo kimberley38758
Posted
Hi Kimberley
i don't think I have had anything extensive done. I showed The surgeons assistant how I still can't get my leg up that high and he said that was fine as he didn't want me putting it above the 90 degree point .
I said when can I ,he said never . You must now live with the 90 degree restriction.
Maybe in a few months time when I am a slender 9 stoner I will try again 😂😂😂 ( I am obviously dreaming , ha ha)
many thanks for your reply .
kimberley38758 Suziemo
Posted
I'm on the heavy side.... about 2-3 stone
I had gained the weight over the past couple of years from a bad back and then bad hip. Both are fixed now, so i've been working on losing the excess weight.
Looking back at 7-8 months, I hadn't been trying to stretch those hip muscles out back then. It was about that time (when I finally became aware that it was time to stop babying my hip) when I started doing gentle stretches each day to help improve my mobility.
If you stretch slowly, you will feel the resistance in your muscles. When you feel that resistance, hold for about 30 seconds...take deep breaths......then release the pressure. Then gently stretch again. You should notice a difference in just a few days. I'm at 12 months now and can sit cross legged (indian style) on the floor. I can also bend down (while sitting in a chair) to touch my toes. Again.... this was accomplished gently and over a period of 3-4 months.
Suziemo kimberley38758
Posted
I think we are all told different information by the hip specialists as dr said no getting down on the floor as you will put too much pressure on it trying to get back up ,no crossing legs, no lying on other hip as if your leg goes over it could dislocate. Sleep on your back or the new hip.
I am trying not to baby my hip but really don't want to damage it.
Been doing loads of walking now ,usually do about 9,000 a day . But now need to burn that blubber laid down 😂
kimberley38758 Suziemo
Posted
The main thing is that you are happy and feel confident that you are taking good care of your new hip.
Take care
Suziemo kimberley38758
Posted
Yes got some good comfy shoes ,I was a bit setback as I had ingrowing toenails on both big toes and had partial nail avulsion a few months ago so had to wear sandles for several weeks but found a really good pair that made me walk well heel ,toe. As previously wore flip flops which did more harm than good with my walking gait . I actually went backwards for several weeks as I was plodding flat footed and not using my butt muscles,had given up sticks but then suddenly needed sticks again. Luckily I was reading someone else's advice and realised it was the footwear causing my bad gait again as all that good work in walking correctly had been put back . But walking better now and my core is getting stronger 😀
Many thanks again X
auntiebeanie Suziemo
Posted
Hi Suzie, rowing machine is a no go. I use upright bike with seat higher. I have to climb up by putting my foot on middle bar to get up and then slide off operated leg first. Then it's cross trainer. I can't do treadmill due to osteoarthritic knee. I use other equipment like ball to do squats, still don't go past 90degrees though try straps again assists squats and assured rows plus upper body machines. I tend to do short circuits so I dont get bored and finish up doing 10/15 mins on the bike. Talk to one of the staff who specialises in hips. Good luck
Suziemo auntiebeanie
Posted
Hi hi auntie beanie
I did think of trying the upright bike but it has one of those tiny racing seats which didn't look very comfortable plus I was wondering how I could get up to it as they are all rather high even on the low position.
Afraid not sure what
straps again assists squats or assured rows are ?
I don't think a lot of the staff really know much about exercising after a hip op ,as the one I saw today said try the rower and I know that's a no no .
Will look at the arms weight machines tomorrow when I go .
Many thanks for your reply
denise79180 Suziemo
Posted
Suziemo denise79180
Posted
Hi Denise
i guess it's a private physio ,do you live in the uk.
What machines did he get you to go on . Really want to shift this weight I have gained as I was on crutches for 5 months before the op and want to get a life back .
linda81469 Suziemo
Posted
Afternoon Suziemo! I'm a gym goer. I was told by my dr that the recumbent bike was ok to use. Like you I'm afraid of the 90 degree break.....as it is i can't pedal forward just backwards. I've tried forward but I'm thinking "oh shoot I'm gonna break the 90 degrees but pedaling backwards it looks like I'm breaking it but it's easier for me to do that pedaling forward. I was given strict hip precautions due to me having a dislocated hip after 3 weeks of my first rhr. 😓 Check with your dr. I do the elliptical and the treadmill. I workout my legs using the adductor and abductor machines as well as the quad machine. I started using the machine that works the back of thighs but keep the part where you put your legs on at a lower position so I'm not breaking the 90 degrees. And of course upper body weight machines. Wishing you all the best for a speedy recovery and healing. Hugs 🤗 Linda
Suziemo linda81469
Posted
Thanks Linda
Oh no poor you dislocating your hip ,what did you do to make it dislocate? . Bet you were super cautious afterwards , must have been soooo painful .
its all a learning curve for us isn't it. I am sure in a few months time I will think what was I so worried about. Like when I first came home and had to get into bed without help from the nurses i was sure I would do it wrong.
Its strange you said about peddling backwards ,when I climbed on the recumbent bike and panicked when I thought no I can't break the 90 degree rule I am sure I then did a whole rotation backwards by mistake . Think I will give it a bit of time to settle into doing a small light workout then try it again.
Thanks for replying Linda X
linda81469 Suziemo
Posted
Hello! 🤠 Honestly my dislocation wasn't painful. I was probably with it for at least a week!! It wasn't until my 3 week check up that it was discovered it was dislocated. Was doing my home pt exercises and walking on it!! As for how it happened I'm not sure. Only thing I can think of is I was getting a shirt out of my drawer I was facing straight but twisted toward the drawer I open the drawer got my shirt out and when I went to close it I felt a pull in my buttock, the operated side. Was having a little pain every time I walked this was on a Saturday until about Monday then it went away I did tell the PT but since it went away they weren't concerned. I then started noticing that that hip seemed a lot higher than my good hip and when I laid in bed my operated leg, my foot, was touching the ankle of the good leg. I should've gone in but I figured I was still walking OK and doing the exercises it was a little difficult and it was a little painful but nothing like they were saying of a level 10 pain. Yes I was scared of everything after that!! I had to be six weeks nonweightbearing on that leg no hip flexion past 80 and no type of hip exercises. it was hard by the end of six weeks my shoulders were killing me so were my hands, they were calloused and were so painful, having hop on one leg using a walker, other times I was in a wheelchair. It's been an experience. Now im going through nerve pain. In my thigh and groin. It's very sensitive to touch my thigh. It's been hard every day. It's a struggle and I'm almost a year out now. Here's hoping one day soon I will feel better. Take care and wishing you all the best!! 🤗🤓🤠
michael11283 Suziemo
Posted
Suziemo
I think the rule should be followed whether you are sitting or reclining. However I tried a stationary bike while I had a spacer (not for long as it was a bit sore) and I found that if you put the saddle very high you don't break the 90 rule, I imagine the same is true on a recliner if it adjusts enough.
Mike
Suziemo michael11283
Posted
Hi Michael
oh wow a spacer does that mean you had an infection or it dislocated ?
Just have to accept I think that I can't manage a recumbent bike now. At least I can do a couple of other machines to help get my fitness back.
Hope your well now.