First few steps are painful

Posted , 15 users are following.

I had my hip replacement 1 month ago today.  Am using a cane and sometimes walk a few steps without any help.  The biggest problem is that when I stand up to walk, the first few steps are weak and hard to get started, just like before the THR but worse. Once I walk 4 or 5 steps it gets much better.  

I assumed this was normal.   At my appointment today, the doctor was obviously concerned that this was happening.  He said he's seen it before, but not often. He said the x-rays show the procedure went well and there are no problems with the implant.  Is this weakness and inability to take the first few steps a normal problem after hip surgery? 

0 likes, 18 replies

18 Replies

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  • Posted

    Hi Randy, I was using a crutch until week 6, and felt v wobbly when the physio said I didn't need them any more. For several weeks after that I used to be very stiff when getting up, and used to limp as I first set off. It's quite early days for you at week 4, but I can see you must be worried if your doctor was concerned. aTake it steadily, and I wish you the very best with your recovery.

  • Posted

    Hi Randy this is so normal I was like this and still are and I'm 15weeks post ,when I stand to walk

    I'm still a little slow but once I get going it's great

    it just takes time but gets better every day .

    One day you'll stop and think o I couldn't do

    that last week now I can you don't always

    realise how well you are doing keep doing your

    exercises I wish you well and keep healing. 🙌 🎆

  • Posted

    Hi Randy,

    4 weeks...normal. It takes time to retrain your muscles...muscles that were moved aside to allow for the implant.

    And once you get them warmed up and stretching, they get going along.

    Then you stop, they cool down and retract and you have to warm then back up and restretch.

    Just think of your car adter itchas sat outside during last nights blizzard that dropped twelve inches of snow after the temperature came in at minus twenty..the motor takes forever to turn over and run...until it is warmed back up.

    kind regards

    judith

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