First few steps are painful

Hi Randy.

I will be 6 weeks tomorrow. I can do most things myself and can walk now without any support. However like you when I first stand up I am very stiff like the tin man needing some WD40 lol. After the first couple of steps like you I'm fine. Not seeing physio again of consultant till nearly 8 weeks. Hoping it will have improved by then. What really hurts is the leg lifts in the groin.

Trying to up the exercises see if that helps ?

Least your doc has said there is nothing wrong. X

Hi Randy I was up and about within 2 hrs of coming round in the hospital in the ward walking with two crutches, yes it was painful and annoying but had to get walking again, just like you now, how did it go in the ward?

Are you older than me...55 when I had them done...I was 9 weeks between operations suffering still a little on my left but improving all the time so so slowely but getting better...

So must you .....hope all goes well and on the Up and Up!!!

Suffer the pain!! Get walking Again!!!

Will watch this discussion with interest..

Ian +++

I had my left done on 5/26/16. I'm doing great but I still feel a little tentative when I get up in the morning.  I take those first few steps very gently. That said I feel fine after about the first 10. I'm walking now. Doing a little jogging and I play ice hockey regularly. It takes time and I feel like some of my muscles sorrounding the joint are still learning to work again. 

Hi Randy

I had my left hip replaced on the 13th of August.  For me the stiffness is now much improved.  I still get it if I have over done it earlier in the day, but it quickly passes.

The physio definitly helps.  Keep doing your exercises to improve your strength and stamina, as it really helps.

I'm five weeks post op and walk around unassisted and have the same thing going on. It's almost like I have to rev up the engine and let er rip lol. I've been told it's all normal and you (at least me) have to learn to walk again, I've had a limp for the past 4-5 years and now I'm concentrating on not limping. It's all good.

Randy, I'm no doctor but I would think/hope that this is relatively normal. I'm 3 weeks post-op yesterday and had first out-patient PT on Tuesday. From the start, I try to get up and walk around every 30-45 minutes. There is always some stiffness. I did the new exercises last night that I got from PT and needless to say, I was not a happy camper this morning. As someone else mentioned, my norm is to stand up and kind of get my footing and shake it out. I know if I walk it out, it helps so I make myself walk back and forth when I first get out of bed. It's hard, but it helps so I do it. I was able to take a few steps without the cane yesterday but it hurt when I tried it today. It was more of a hobble. From what I understand we are still very early in the healing process and it's 2 steps forward and 3 steps back. I felt the 3 steps back before I left the PT appointment the other day. I'm sure it's going to get worse before it gets better but the bright side is we're on the road to getting better. Take care and don't rush it.

HI Randy

I'm on week 6 and still use cane

Had THR on left hip , I just turned 50 , 5'8 and not overweight - always worked out and active so this is very difficult not to be able to be active

I do my therapy excersizes daily and try to do as much as I can - seems to be more painful to sit for long periods of time.

Every week i think I won't need the cane , have good days but then have pain in leg

I thought for sure I would bounce back quicker

I go back to my Dr next week for a follow up so hope to confirm if I am on track

I am 11 weeks po. I asked my doc about the stiffness upon rising from bed and sitting. He said give it 4-6 months. 

Hi Randy, 

warm welcome to this wonderful forum of hippies where we share our personal stories and experiences ...

As said before, you are early in recovering from major invasive surgery where about 22 tendons, nerves, muscles etc. were severed - 

While repairing and healing, your body is also dealing with getting you back in shape, so to speak .. learning how to walk again and keep you balanced - 

A great deal of the recovery takes place in the first two months, but complete return to normal takes longer. Bone around the metal parts keeps changing and remodeling for 1 to 2 years after surgery, which is why you can feel deep aches at times ...

Did your surgeon told you anything else ... maybe gave you some advice?

be patient Randy and kind to your self - it is not a race after all but a one step at a time program (sorry ...)

big warm hug and let us know how you are getting on, okay ?

renee

 

Morning Randy. Is it that you are limping, or waddling?? I'm 12 weeks out from my hip revision. My first surgery was a bust as I dislocated hip and had to have revision. I am still limping and need the one crutch. It's because of the weakness in the hip and thigh muscles. From front to back. I was non weight bearing 6 weeks after revision so got weak from non use not to mention joint stiffness. So it's possible that is what it is muscle weakness. Are you going to physical therapy and exercising? Best of luck to you and hope all gets better. I know for me I am getting a little better day by day. I always check and see if today I can walk without the crutch and nothing yet!! But we must be patient and kind to ourselves. Hang in there it will get better!! LD

Thanks very much to all of you for taking the time to comment. It makes me much less worried to know that my problem is "normal" and will probably improve if gven enough time. Prior to the  1 month appointment, I thought my hip was recovering well, but the doctor seemed  concerned, which made me concerned  I'll just keep walking and exercising for another few weeks and will let all of you know when it's better.   Thank you!!