Getting back to “Normal” after hip replacement

Sharon, my advice to you is to not try and rush yourself. You're doing great for being just four months out from surgery. I'm older than you and I'm happy to walk my 1.3 miles a day with my dog, up and down hills. I've had both hips done, the most recent was last April, so ten months ago. It has taken me this long to really start to feel back to normal.

I agree, I think you're doing great. I am 37 and had my right hip replaced in October. Only lately have I been getting up to 10,000 steps a couple of days a week and that makes me sore. It's incredible that you didn't need crutches or a walker. I needed some sort of walking aid for 6 weeks. So don't be hard on yourself. Everyone's recovery is different and you have come so far. Just give it some more time. My co-worker's husband said, "give it a year."

HI, like your self I'm 3.5 months post op for TRH im also 47 with two young children, now the icy mornings have become less ive upped my steps to 10,000 per day and yes if i do this in one go my hip is sore and my leg throbs also. I know i have more recovery to do and its soul destroying when you cant walk with out being sore. Sometimes I cant do certain movements in pilates when my hip is sore and this is the realsiation i have recovery to do. I wish you well.

Sorry to hear of your walking difficulties. I'm 78 and had my 20 hr old total hip revised about fifteen months ago and have been able to do walks of six miles without stopping at a fast pace for the last eight months.

I did not have any physio but I did the suggested exercises. I also used both crutches until I was walking. strongly with a good gait. I would also mention that a year ago I gad my four year old total ankle replacement completely replaced.

Hi Sharon,

It's still early days, just take it steadily. I remember being a bit disappointed about my hip aching after a lot of walking, but I found it just kept on improving, up to a year post op. Now I hardly ever think about it.

Good luck!

Hi Sharon. Healing continues up to a year. I am 14wks and similar to you in what I can do. Every week though I notice some improvement, last week able to do knees to chest one of my back exercises.

See how far you come and remind yourself its a healing journey !

Build up your exercise 'mileage', it can take time to regain your stamina.

Thank you, do you have any suggestions on how to do that

Hi, Sharon.........I had a LTHR 2 years ago and did great as far as my recovery. I used a walker for 5 days in my house, then didn't use anything after that. I climbed 40 steps to get into the building for church on Easter Sunday 2 weeks after getting out of the hospital without a cane or crutch. I was so proud to be coming along so well. I was 63 years old at the time and was in pretty good shape and very active when I broke my hip. Even though I did great in recovery, I quickly realized that if I did too much, I would pay the price with pain and feel a little setback in the recovery. I did so well that I thought I would be back to "normal" in a couple of months. I was not expecting that it takes a long time to get back to "normal". I have to say, it was probably a year before I really felt "back to normal".For months, I tried to be my normal active self and then would pay the price for thinking I could push myself that direction. You really have to pay attention to what your body is telling you. It will heal in its own time - not in your time. It sounds like you are expecting to be back to normal like I expected to be. Looking back now, I can see that my frame of mind moved faster than my healing process as far as thinking I should be back to normal. It sounds like you are pushing yourself when maybe you should try just being thankful to be walking that mile and then be even more thankful when you recover enough to do that second mile. Good luck getting there, but give your body as much time as it needs to heal.