How much exercise is enough?

Posted , 8 users are following.

Hi folks,

Now that I am 11 weeks post op after RTHR how much exercise should I be doing?

I know I am not keen on physical exercise but do try to go to the baths or go walking every day.

My PT told me to do bridging exercise but I get bored so put up with low back ache.

Advice and a bit of encouragement are what I need

I go back to see physio in january

Shirley

2 likes, 31 replies

31 Replies

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  • Posted

    Thanks folks. I will try to do a bit more this week particularly the bridging for my lower back and more walking. The weather here is grim today with Hurricane Dennis or whatever they call it.
  • Posted

    How much is enough? One of life's big questions! I think the real question is what you want to do with your new hip?

    I'm also at 11 weeks and I just want to be able to do everyday things - cooking (which I love) shopping, being with friends and family. And I want to do this with as little pain as possible. I don't want to go on long walks or get lots of exercise. I really don't like exercise either. I'd much prefer a good laugh.

    So I'm doing the exercises the physio sets for me, about 20 mins twice a day. And for me that's all I want to do. For the rest of it I do what I want. I really want my new hip to bring me joy in life, and for me exercise is definitely not joy!

    I was pleased I was able to go down to the beach yesterday and walk on the sand. I haven't been able to do that for years and it brought me great joy to be there at 6.30am with my camera. I loved it! A Sydney summer's day and it was so beautiful.

    • Posted

      Oh Keena, that sounds lovely ... wow, walking in the sand is no small feat - with cane? I miss the L.A. beaches ... 

      I agree with doing things that are pleasing to you - it is really counterproductive when you hate doing something - 

      Even when I don't feel like going for a walk, before i go, I am looking for something good about it ... it is another world here in the middle of the forest .... trees are barren, pine trees, berries on bushes and the smell of fresh cut wood (tree cutting and shredding) - 

      and if I am not getting in the mood, I won't go 

      warm hug 

      renee

    • Posted

      Good answer kikeena,

      Lovely piece of writing.

      We could do with some of your sunshine. Have a nasty thing called Storm Desmond at the moment - this is the fourth one in four weeks.

      I promise I will do PT exercises today.

      Shirley

    • Posted

      Sending glorious rays of sunshine your way. And Desmond has even been mentioned here. Storms and cold and dark could sap the joy out of life. I hope you manage to enjoy your PT today. Get a nice high from having completed it.
    • Posted

      I find it amazing Renee that you have moved not only house or location but a whole continent! It is such a big move with different people weather environment and culture! You sound like a very strong determined person with tremendous courage. And of course great sensitivity, caring and people skills. Thank you for all you give to others on this forum.

      Going from a beach culture to a European village in a forest sounds both charming and challenging. I would love to live through a proper winter, to see if I could manage the cold. Kind of like a challenge. And I would live the pine forests and fog and small town living. But I would very much miss the beach. And yes, I went without a stick! I was so proud of myself though I didn't walk very far. This is what I had the replacement for!

      I have a saying 'Life's too short. And I'm too old'. It's a battle to find joy with ongoing physical disabilities and often regrets about the past. I'm trying to do more of what makes me happy, and less of what doesn't. And being philosophical obviously makes me happy!

  • Posted

    Hello

    I had my left hip replaced in July 2015.  I am walking without cane and fully functional movement. 

    Here's some things I will pass along that I learned and helped me.  Hopefully will help you

    Exercise is key to improving .  You must continue to strengthen your muscles and elongate your movement.

    Some exercise you should avoid for a while.  Deep squats is one of them.

    Short squats are good  and varying the position of your feet from close together to wider part when doing sets is best.  I did my squats by using a small ball, placing it at the lower part of my back while standing up against a wall and roling down the wall with the ball .  I would do short squats.

    Regarding the getting on floor.  This is difficult if you have authoritus or back pain.  I purchased a massage table and used that to do most exercises where it required me to lie down.  Leg lifts are good ones to do as are mule kicks.

    Bridges are needed also.  If you can work up from doing two legged bridges to one leg ones it will accelerate your strengthening.  This takes a little time and practice.

    Any walking you can do in a pool along with leg excercises in water will help to not have pain while doing exercises but really work the muscles.  You will be little sore next couple days but each time you go to the pool and work out you get better and better and less pain.

    It really took me about 5 months to where I was feeling good and not much pain.

    When I got the surgery,  I was walking with a walker in two days,  I ised crutches after two weeks and cane after 4 weeks.   I used the cane for 4-/12 months.  But toward the later used it only when my leg and hoip muscles were tiring ut at the end of a day.  I went back to work in 10 days from surgery.

    The type of surgery I had is called Superpath Hip Replacment.

    I chose this type becuase it is less invasive.  there are no tendons are muscles cut.  So recovery time is much quicker and ess pain.

    I had a severe joint condition.  Bobne on bone for too long.  this caused a situation where the cup of my joint and the joint began to fuse together.

    My advice to people that are told to get a hip replacment is to do it quicker rather than later.  I waited to long.

    I had severe pain in hip, back, knee joints and leg before surgery.  After I had only minimal paint from the actual surgery and in my leg muscles.  This all has gone away.  and no lower back pain.  No Sciatic pain.

    Hope some of this may help others.

     

    • Posted

      Thankyou for that very full explanation.

      All very useful stuf which I am going to refer back to from time to time.

      Thanks again,

      Shirley 

    • Posted

      Your post is so honest, it tells us how it was for 5 months

      for you. Can you also tell us your age.

      your positivity is inspiring. We will try to follow you

      to full, pain free mobility.

      Cathie

      ps I keep reading about bridges. What are they?

    • Posted

      What is superpath, not terminology familiar to this American lady😊 sounds like what we call anterior with incision in the front, there are no restrictions after surgery. I do know the bridge if you mean lying on your back lifting the butt up off the bed or floor. I had bone on bone I was treated for years for sciatica until they finally did an xray and found the arthritis. I am 14 weeks Monday and usually pretty good but lately pain down side of knee. I had the posterior approach not many in my state do the other you have to have a special table too expensive for hospitals I guess. I was on walker as soon as I arrived in recovery got me right up, left hospital in 2 days was in rehab for 2 weeks came home and at 3 weeks on cane off cane at 10 weeks, was driving at three weeks because mine was left side. I was told by doctor to do only leg lifts and walk walk walk. However, I do have discomfort down the thigh
    • Posted

      Sorry, hit reply meant pain down thigh now knee and wondered if what you do might help that, thanks jt. Deb

    • Posted

      Bridge is lying on your back and raising the knees with heels on ground.

      Then raise the buttocks off the floor and count to 30 seconds.

      Lower the spine GENTLY back down and repeat a few times

    • Posted

      wow, I wasn't allowed to drive for 6 weeks.  I have not heard the term superpath (from Canada)  I had the surgery where they cut through the muscles down the side of the leg.  I was treated for sciatica for a year, and now it is gone. I am 3 1/2 months and I still use my cane if I have to walk any distance, as physio measured my leg and it is 5/8" longer.  I was not allowed to do leg lifts until 6 weeks.  I have been to physio 10 times.  Mine was also left leg.
    • Posted

      Yes, posterior that is what I had. Sounds like we had ours done about same time 8-24, I wasn't using my cane but lately had a little problem with thigh pain down along side of the knee.

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