How long after surgery do you begin walking?

For me and I was 72, they had me up the next morning 7AM after surgery. I was in pretty good physical condition as I exercised all my life....I guess a lot depends on age and what overall condition a person is in too.

I had an acquaintance and she was already in a wheelchair and had a heart condition, so they couldn't do the surgery until her heart was ready for the surgery....she was 80something.

Sadly, she was coming along, had a caregiver to help her and while walking outside with her walker, let go for a split second and fell on the concrete and hit her head and died.....very sad.....

Sure hope your relative can get stronger and make this work. j

Peter,I think everyone recovers at a different pace, taking into consideration their pre op medical health, current health issues and support they get after surgery, this can be a caregiver, occuptional therapist, physiotherapist,e tc....so it is hard to compare...it looks like you have taken the role of organizing her recovery...my advice is to get the most information you can from her health care workers i.e surgeon, etc. and have them help you with a plan or care so that hopefully she can make progress at her own speed......all the best Patricia

I was walking the morning after surgery but with a walker. No way could I have done it without. 

I wonder if she has nerve damage issues as well?

Hi Peter

I'm 43 and have 3 total hips replaced on my right hip as well as a dislocation a few days ago. The first 2 of  my operations I was up and out of bed the next day but the third one I was kept in bed for 6 days before they got me up, and when they did I was unable to out any weight on the operated leg. This was due to him finding further problems during surgery I was then what they calked touch toe (meaning just balance weight) for 6weeks and I'm not just beginning to put partial weight on it then it dislocated. I don't start any type of physio until October 3rd although I have been given some excersises to do at him to try to strengthen the muscles. My point would be pretty much it's usually the next day but does depend on the person on my ward the last time was left 2 days before he took any steps and that was only because he felt light headed whenever he sat on the side of the bed ready to try walking.

HI Peter

Its hard to tell.....like people on here say everyone heals at a different speed.

I'm not sure what "elderly" is I was in my 60's when I had my first one done and was walking the day of the operation......operation was in the mornig and late afternoon they got me up

By walk.....shuffle  LOL....and with a walker. I had tho op on Friday and was out Monday morning on crutches.

I'm 68.....just had my 2nd one done {jan} but that was different.....the same start apart from when they got me up I fainted...low blood pressure...so neeeded a transfusion, but was walking on crutches and out in the same length of time, then at 4 weeks post op fractured the greater tronchantor bone doing an NHS exercise. I'm still on crutches 7 and a half months later.

You say she couldnt lift her foot before the operation......did they say that she would be able to after it or were you just hoping? I know I have spinal problems and they said my 2nd THR MIGHT help my back but no guarantee......it didnt!

I think you should check out the exercises she has to do with the physiotherapist because like I say I dont know what elderly is but there is a fair chance she has osteoporosis.....I have and thats why it fractured so easily doing one of their exercises. I know she's not doing any at the moment but before she does....check them out.

I remember my daughter saying "Are you sure you are supposed to do that"? Yes...well that was the one that fractured the bone....just standing with hands on table and putting my left leg out to the side slightly to strengthen the muscle{abducting it}. My daughter was right....I had been diagnosed with osteopinia {the in between decent bones and osteoporosis} 3 years previously and almost forgot about it. I wouldnt want that to happen to her.

Sorry this sounds a ver "down" post but would be awful if it happened to someone older than me.....I'm not walking without crutches but at least I'm driving.....2 crutches in the back of the car and off I go. So I'm not stuck in bed or in the house

Love

Eileen

Depends on her physical and mental condition. I walked next day and despite low blood pressure no dizziness. A much older lady who had her op the same day but had a couple of nights in HDU was struggling to shuffle on day 4. If she couldn't lift her leg before surgery it partly depends on whether the problem was arthritis or not. If it was pain which was inhibiting the movement then the psychological block could still be there. Usually the technique is for the physiotherapist to help with or even do the movement and get the patient to join in. Usually that allows the patient to build up the confidence to make the movement.

I think you need to talk to  the staff to see if they have worked out where the problem is and then what they propose to do about it. Some elderly patients do require longer in hospital but go on to make a fair recovery.

Hope things improve.

My first non-medical but having been through the same surgery, is that if she could not lift her foot before the surgery and unless the doctor thought the surgery could correct the foot in some way, then she most likely will not improve beyond how she began with the foot.  

I so feel for her.