Encouragement from physio today
Posted , 8 users are following.
I've been following discussions on the forum since my THR in mid April. Today, after a long shopping trip yesterday with daughter, husband and grandchildren, I was feeling pretty despondent as I was in pain. I try not to take painkillers unless absolutely essential. Out of the blue the physio I haven't seen since week 4 rang to see how I was. I told her I was fed up with the slow progress as I'd been reading about how many on the forum are walking miles by this stage - and how I can't. I still need a stick for shopping trips and am often in pain late in the day. She said I'm perfectly NORMAL and everything is as she would expect. She also told me to take paracetamol when necessary. For those like me I thought I'd share her words of encouragement!! We will get there eventually.
4 likes, 23 replies
lizbet20 Pippyj
Posted
Hi Pippyj.... I had a LTHR 6 weeks ago tomorrow. I'm still walking with two crutches outside, and one inside. I was progressing well until week 4 where I suddenly felt I went a bit backwards in that I had more pain and felt I wasn't walking as well or as far., so I eased off on my walking and rested and took painkillers and since then I've improved again. I was told my consultant wanted me on crutches till I see him on Aug 8. So I'm pretty much sticking to that, when they operated on me they discovered my femur was fractured so, being aware of that I'm being careful. However, I have tried to walk a few steps in the house without crutches, but I can literally only take a few steps, if that, so I'm obviously not ready to go without them. I'm not sure if I should be walking about house with one crutch but it's so much easier than with two, and am managing fine with that in house,
I understand what your saying though, as I was at my local hospital two weeks ago and a lady much older than me had her surgery about six weeks before and was walking well without her crutches, and now I'm at the same stage but no .way can I do that. We are all different I guess, and I've read that if you try and force yourself to do too much you may do more harm than good. I had a bad limp before my operation and Im trying to walk now with my crutches saying heel toe heel toe to myself as before my foot on my bad hip used to turn inward when I walked, so I'm concentrating on that just now . I think we just have to do what's right for ourselves, though it's very hard not to compare with others, as I've done this myself .... take care Lizbet 😁
RichardKen lizbet20
Posted
Good luck Richard
lizbet20 RichardKen
Posted
Hi Richard, Thank you and I think your right about my muscle strength, I've just got an exercise bike,....after having about three in previous years where I've either thrown them away or given them away due to the bike becoming a place to hang clothes rather than exercise 😂😂.....anyway I've read that they are good to exercise on for hip replacements so I've bought another one, only this time I intend to persevere with it. I have it at no resistance just now and have only been on it for a few minutes each time so I'm taking it very slowly but I hope it helps to improve my muscle strength, I'm also trying to do my phisio exercises more, I've only had one phisio session, as that's all we get offered up here on the NHS but I've contacted a lady who is a private phisio and I intend going to see her in next few weeks.... Lizbet 😁
RichardKen lizbet20
Posted
Lie on your back on your bed and lift your bad leg up to about ten inches up without bending your leg and hold for at least five seconds and then relax for the same amount of time. To start with you may have to assist your leg which is fine. Repeat ten times.
Still on your back draw both legs up to your bum an pushing down on your feet arch your back as much as possible and hold for ten seconds, then relax for ten. Repeat ten times.
Holding onto top of back of chair move your bad leg out to one side as far as possible and hold for five seconds then lower leg to your side, relax for ten and repeat tn times.
Move your bad leg to behind you as far as possible ad put you toes on the floor and tense your leg and calf muscles for ten seconds relax and repeat ten times.
Try to do these exercises three times a day minimum
Good luck.
Richard
lizbet20 RichardKen
Posted
I did get a sheet with a few exercises on it but not most of the ones you mentioned thanks Richard, I will copy this out....Lizbet 😀
RichardKen lizbet20
Posted
Cheers Richard
judith12644 lizbet20
Posted
Also, did you get the arthritis UK booklet when you had your op? Think that's got some exercises in. I did the ones that Richard suggested, had them on a sheet from the hospital. Good luck.
madla39168 Pippyj
Posted
We all expected to much .We think we will be fine after surgery, walk perfectly. Evey one heeling difrently. The heeling take time and you are doing well. Just do excer9,go for walk, rest if you need it. You will be fine.
Look after your self and take day at the time.
Hug Madla💗