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A physio lesson I would like to share with you...

Posted , 8 users are following.

rose0000
rose0000

My mother and I were talking about her failed THP (I have had a THP as well, so we have plenty to talk about) and we have since found out my mother's failed hip replacement was due to her being forced to do strenuous exercises too soon, and the angles she was put in by the physio caused severe problems. The consultant confirmed this by showing us the perfect xray of her hip before she left the hospital, and the one after she had been to see the physio and then ended up back at the hospital.

This is no way intended to scare you into not using a physio, I loved mine and she got me walking without a limp and exercising properly in no time. I am forever indebted to my physio for giving me courage and confidence. However... not every physio can do hip replacements or indeed are trained to do so.

The lesson is please do not have complete faith in every instruction of any physio, if you feel uncomfortable DONT do it. There are good ones out there as well as bad ones. Research yours carefully. My mum was too scared to say anything at the time, and just did what she was told, and she paid the ultimate price. 

I wanted to share this with you to ensure other hipsters protect their hips, and even though you feel vulnerbable after surgery and perhaps less assertive than usual, if you are not sure, don't do it! 

9 likes, 12 replies

12 Replies

  • crystaltips01
    crystaltips01 rose0000

    Posted

    Hello Rose,

    Thank you for sharing and I'm really sorry to hear about your mum.

    I hope you don't mind me asking but I'm interested to know what you mean my her hip replacement failed??

    By doing the incorrect physio what actually happened to her hip!! Did the implants move??

    Did your mum have posteria or anteria approach.

    I have my 6 weeks check tomorrow and Im anxious to see what my consultant has to say.

    I wish all the best for your mum?? What's the next step for her??

    Helen xx

  • sandra_84282
    sandra_84282 rose0000

    Posted

    I agree with you Rose. I followed the simple ones on leaving hospital. I was great with these for first 6 weeks.

    Following review was given some more exercised. These were a lot more difficult and just exacerbated my pain. I stopped all of these and just allowed healing to take place. When the pain in my groin got worse I found the physio useless. It was a guy on this site who told me what it was and to stop all the exercising until it healed.

    • Chloeparrot
      Chloeparrot sandra_84282

      Posted

      Isn't this site fantastic!

      If it wasn't for this forum, I wouldn't have had my first THR last year - it was thanks to all the encouragement and understanding that I received from everyone in response to my first post (Help, I'm terrified) that I went ahead with the op.

      Have just recommended it to an acquaintaince who's going to have to have a THR soon.

       

    • rose0000
      rose0000 sandra_84282

      Posted

      I think this forum is an amazing place to find out everything you need to know to manage the recovery. You can always find someone with the answer! Glad you are getting along well now xx
    • rose0000
      rose0000 Chloeparrot

      Posted

      I have recommended it too - it is my first port of call every day for months on end smile

  • beth2509
    beth2509 rose0000

    Posted

    I agree, and from the "other side"!

    I had the usual hospital physio, but I am fortunate that I have my own physio who I have been working with for a couple of years. So as many of the regulars here know, she had me working on specific exercises months before the op to prepare for it, and I had practised a whole range of recovery exercises too. 

    After the op I didn't really have a lot of contact with the physio - I could do everything I needed to pass the tests to get out! But my first follow up appointment, I was utterly appalled at what I saw. It was a class session, two weeks after the op for everyone. People were doing exercises incorrectly and not being corrected, and others simply couldn't manage. Despite my own great recovery, even I got some pain from 40 minutes of what could only be described as circuit training - far too early and to rigorous. My physio was appalled when she heard about it. 

    The thing was, I could do it. I would have stopped if I couldn't. And not even surgery knocks me being assertive! But it still left an impact. Goodness k knows how others less fit and less prepared felt - to say nothing of probably already having some pain anyway.

    I got the impression that physio is where they can cut corners. So they perhaps don't always have the best, most qualified and experienced staff with the most up right date knowledge. My physio commented they were at least 20 years out of date. And most of them aren't old enough to be that far out of date! 

    So I agree that you should not use this as an excuse to avoid exercising, but use some judgement in your own personal circumstances. And if in doubt, pay for a session or two from a private practitioner to get a second opinion.

    • rose0000
      rose0000 beth2509

      Posted

      We don't have physio sessions with the NHS, which is counter productive if you think of the cost of putting hips and things right  (clearly they must be very good and very very careful) and you need to pay for a physio here, and research them very carefully. I had one bad one, one good, but the one my mother had should think about re training.

      Your class session sounds dangerous - circuit training - esp given some of the ages of the patients. Ridiculous. 

      It always pays to listen to our ownselves in my view - whatever we are doing!!! smile smile

  • ann43383
    ann43383 rose0000

    Posted

    Rose, I so agree with you re not following all physio instructions ! Do as you feel comfortable. My consultant said as long as I walk and keep active I will be fine. Not once did he recommend I should see a physio. He is a very well respected surgeon who has never had a patient have a dislocation. He also trains other surgeons in the anterior approach.  Hope all works out well for your mum!
  • Msky
    Msky rose0000

    Posted

    Hi Rose, totally agree with you . My friend that also had her replaced came by yesterday .We discussed her experience with PT.She had a man that continuously told her that she was not doing enough.She said that what she did with him constantly caused her pain.She said she cried after every appt. She tried to communicate with him but every discussion ended with why she was not doing well enough.That place for PT had been recommended to me.She did not give me this info but had said to look for an alternative.Another place would of had me working with 2-3 different people .Because Im kind of complicated I wanted to work with 1 person.They kept pushing as I had gone there for my LTKR and LTHR but the PT I had a repore with was gone.For them it was about money for me it is about this journey of healing. Be your own best advocat ,find a good match and communicate. I really like the person I'm seeing, she understands the challenges we face and is helping me.That is what I wanted and needed .Be well 😊

    • rose0000
      rose0000 Msky

      Posted

      It is amazing how many not so talented PTs there are, given how important it is with this kind of surgery - you would think there would be some mentoring and checking, reviews, some kind of system that allows you to find out in advance how good (or not) before going to them.
    • Msky
      Msky rose0000

      Posted

      My friend complained to the OS that the PT practice is associated with but he stated he had nothing to do with PT. My friend had asked for a different PT and they said once you started with a PT you needed to finish with them.Thats just not true.I told my friend she should call and report it to the management .Negative word of mouth will really hurt you.Lost my business . They should have continuing education.
  • renee01952
    renee01952 rose0000

    Posted

    hello dear rose, 

    tough ... I had physical therapy before 1st THR ..thought that it would be a good thing to get in shape or fit ... well, that went wrong fast ...my own fault by not saying anhything, too proud to tell this young man that I couldn't do them ..I used to go to gym 5x a week !!!  so hey ... he put me on the rowing machine and that did it ... something went wrong and I did not go back ---

    forward to post 1st THR ... same gym but different PT - specialized in hips and knees ... well,  too much, too heavy, too soon ... she did not listen to me - other hip started to act up and I was done with PT ..

    Had a different PT after 2nd THR - different office .. seemed better - but then when I went to the gym he did not spend more than 15 minutes with me and miscoded the visits and I ended up paying over 300 euros ...I took out additional insure to have PT covered ...

    Living in this small village I sort of had no more choices ....

    Since a couple of months I am back with 2nd PT -- she passed her exams and is specialized in geriatric (eek) patients, including hips and knees --- 

    she is really great now - knows what to do and instead of rushing through exercises, she makes sure I do them thorough and correct ...

    phew ... sorry for the long story ... Just saying : I was so upset and disgruntled with PT but happy right now ...

    for the record: I live in Holland and here basic physical therapy is included in basic health insurance - 

    big warm hug

    renee

     

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