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Irregular walking

Posted , 15 users are following.

ed03050
ed03050

I had THR Oct 30 and my limping immediately after sitting is much better.  I no longer have joint pain and I take 9000+ steps per day.  What others notice is that my gait is irregular even though I don't have pain.  Is there anything I can do to learn how to walk "properly" again

1 like, 12 replies

12 Replies

  • suzie56
    suzie56 ed03050

    Posted

    Hi 

    I am coming up to my 2 year anniversary - my family noticed straight away that I was 'throwing' my operated leg out to the side.  I tried all sorts, you tube, reading guides etc - then I started with planter fasciitis, I had some innersoles made  - my operated leg was about .5cm longer so he raised my other one and I walk nearly perfect & my posture is so much better too. I still notice little improvements, and I can't really pinpoint them to tell you, so this is a long haul thing but what a great thing a hip replacement is for me the pain gone!  Hope you find a solution, could be worth seeing a podiatrist. 

  • RichardKen
    RichardKen ed03050

    Posted

    Yes please use both crutches until you are walking really strongly and with no sign of a limp.

    Cheers Richard

  • Ducksoup
    Ducksoup ed03050

    Posted

    I go with Richard’s comment.  Two crutches till stable is essential
  • linda80011
    linda80011 ed03050

    Posted

    Had LTHR March 2017, TTKR Aug 2017. Lots of PT, walking and water exercises. Gait still off. Now doing the Egoscue stretches for posture alignment which are helping a lot. 
  • judy08415
    judy08415 ed03050

    Posted

    If you only had one hip done, then it's highly probable that the "new" leg is now shorter/or longer than the other.  If there are no plans to do the other leg, the best recourse I found, is to order some heel lifters, a pack of 3 or 4 and put them in the heel on your other foot until you know you're standing even on both.  My experience, before the second hip was done, was that my pelvis and lower back were taking a beating being off balance.  Over time, it was quite painful so I ordered several sets of these off of Amazon and put in my favorite shoes, kept a few pairs in my brief case in case I changed to a less frequently used pair.  Good luck. Glad you're doing so well!

     

  • michael11283
    michael11283 ed03050

    Posted

    Ed

    I think it is very hard not to walk with a bit of a limp. You've been doing it for so long that even if there is no pain and your two legs match you may well have a limp.

    I find that if I walk in the sunshine so I can see my shadow I can see if I am limping and adjust my walk accordingly. I find that iof I concentrate I can walk without much of a limp. I'm not sure if this is helping me to walk more normally but I think it does.

    I'm off for my 6 month review (replavement done July 2017 so slight maths problem) tomorrow so I will see what Adrian Taylor has to say.

    Mike

    • breeze61
      breeze61 michael11283

      Posted

      Michael,

      I agree with you that you have to concentrate on walking without a limp which is easier said than done especially in the early days as the buttock and thigh muscles have to recover and get strong again. I have found that my operated leg muscles had lost a lot of flesh before and during the first 3 weeks after the op but now at 4 months my operated leg has the same amount of muscle as the other leg and I'm walking almost is if hadn't had arthritis.

      Can I ask have you still got a bit of tenderness in the hip after sitting for a while? I still have a little but it is getting less now I'm at 4 months

    • RichardKen
      RichardKen breeze61

      Posted

      Which is why using both arm crutches is usually the best way forward. Cheers Richard
    • ed03050
      ed03050 breeze61

      Posted

      Yes, I still have tenderness in my but.  I walk about 1 mile twice a day and am active in gardening.  After sleeping all night, I will have some tenderness for a little while but it goes away

      I still lack flexibility on my operated side especially noticeable when I put on shoes and socks

      I perform a series of exercises for my hip,but and leg muscles every morning

  • diannesk
    diannesk ed03050

    Posted

    Maybe try using walking sticks so the movement of them could help your gait. I think a lot has to do with balance. I have found that using a cane doesn't help with the gait. I do better without it.

    • RichardKen
      RichardKen diannesk

      Posted

      Dear Diannesk

      Having used both I have found that arm crutches gave me the best support and confidence.

      Cheers, Richard

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