How long before I don't have to use my hands to help lift my leg up to elevate it or get into bed?

Please be patient with yourself! I'm m at week 5 1/2 and I still use my hand to lift occasionally. At week 4 you will see a huge improvement and difference for the better. You are still healing. Don't rush it.

Wlee,

Be kind to yourself, I am still pre op ( less than 1 week) but for many days ( not every day) for months have had to lift my leg, so I guess it takes a while to build everything back up after surgery, youv'e got this! One day, one small step at a  time.  

Hi WLee,

I don't think any of us has appreciated how serious this operation would be or how tough the recovery would be.

No doubt about it - the tests us all and teaches us more about our body and about patience than we ever imagined.

The first 10-14 days are especially tough as we start to understand the degree of healing needed. So hang in there and listen to that man of yours - it sounds as if he gets it and is trying to help and encourage you. We all need that as we lose lose sight of the progress we are actually making - partly because it is so hard to be so dependent upon others. And it sounds as if you are doing well.

How long ? The answer is of course that it is different for each of us - depending on how long our hip has hampered our mobilty and activity levels, what else is going on (many of us have to get both hips done) and how committed we are to the recovery routine and surgeon's restrictions. And of course, when tired we simply don't do so well (e.g., I still revert to two-stepping going down the stairs when tired and I am 5 months post surgery but waiting for my second one next month).

Hang in there - it will get easier soon.

L

Evening! Yes you are doing great! I am 2 weeks & 2 days out. It was hard to lift my leg up and I used my other leg to help me elevate it and to bring up on the bed. Now I can do it with little assistance. It will come rest assure. It's hard to do leg lifts still but it's slowly coming! Best wishes! ??

Hi wlee my THR Surgery was July 27 / I still can't lift surgery leg up onto bed without help / I sit on the foot of the bed and slide up both feet at same time /was very painful trying to lift leg and I think I was doing damage / my physical therapist agrees / if it hurts don't do it/ same goes for getting up out of chairs/ bed height about 30 inches and firm / only be place I can sit comfortably so far / it is getting better/ be patient and do your physical therapy exercises/ good luck. Dave63380

I'm 5 plus weeks out, and even tho most days it doesn't feel like it you are getting better. I know I just want to get back to normal, but every couple of days I notice I can do something I couldn't before. It just takes time.

Hi Wlee welcome to the forum.  This is a great site for all knowledge on pre-op and post-op stuff that your doctor didn't tell you.

One of the things that you will read on this forum is that everyone recovers at a different rate, so there is no 'marker' that says at 'x' point you should be doing this or at 'y' point that.  All progress you make is individual to you and brilliant.  Your husband sounds like a complete gem and you should listen to him.

I don't think anyone (me included) realised quite what a major operation a hip replacement is.  If you really want to know what happened to you during the op there are a number of films of actual operations on Youtube.  Be warned they are not for the faint hearted, but they do show why you feel weak (and a bit pathetic - yep, me too).

So, in direct answer to your post.  Yes, you are doing ok.  Yes, you are only semi human at the moment - probably a yeti.but it will get better soon.  Yes your leg is weak, its just had its major muscles interfered with and the muscles are, quite understandably, complaining about this rough treatment. 

Honestly, it will get better and you will feel better too.  Accept all the help that is offered (difficult for an awful lot of previously independent people). Don't over do the exercises and be patient with yourself.

Good luck and come back to this forum regularly and read the discussions.  You are definitely not alone.