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Nearly 6 months post op and major anxiety swimming for the first time. Normal?

Posted , 8 users are following.

thomas14224
thomas14224

Went swimming for the first time 6 months post op total hip replacement after swimming for about about an hour. Just wandering if the anxiety is normal?

0 likes, 8 replies

8 Replies

  • staceymaz
    staceymaz thomas14224

    Posted

    Keep swimming,it is the best exercise for your hip.  I was swimming 60 laps a day before my surgery and have been swimming since about 4 months after surgery.  I am about 13 months out and am really enjoying my pool exercise.  I am back to 60 laps a day, some days I play Tennis  for a couple of hours before I swim.
    • laura52566
      laura52566 staceymaz

      Posted

      I am 9 weeks post op and want to go swimming. I read somewhere that I can never do breaststroke again after a THR, because of dislocation.  I had an anterior approach. Is this correct as I only do breaststroke? 
    • judith12644
      judith12644 laura52566

      Posted

      I only swim breaststroke, and initially I tried breaststroke arms and up and down feet, but it wasn’t v successful! Then at about 5 months I bumped into my surgeon who said breaststroke swimming was absolutely fine. I had a minimally invasive posterior RTHR. I usually swim a kilometre, and I find that if I swim a mile, my hip is slightly achy, so I just take it steadily. Started swimming properly at about 6 months post op, but I imagine earlier would be fine. Happy swimming!
  • AlexandriaGizmo
    AlexandriaGizmo thomas14224

    Posted

    Hi Thomas, I would say yes definitely, your feelings are perfectly normal your the out a new way of doing things and deep down your probably thinking there's going to be a problem even though there's not.

    Just try not to let it become anything more than a touch of anxiety and it will pass once you build your confidence again, swimming is really good and is low impact, whatever feels comfortable is fine, take care

  • Rocketman_SG6UK
    Rocketman_SG6UK thomas14224

    Posted

    Doing anything for the first time is enough to make most of us anxious.

    At 6 months, you should be OK swimming unless you are crossing the English Channel.  Looking at the 'standard' dislocation risk graph, at 6 months you are about back to normal risk levels of someone without a hip replacement - there is always some risk even without a THR.

  • vanessa24815
    vanessa24815 thomas14224

    Posted

    I am 10 weeks after a dynamic hip screw, so different to a thr. Went swimming first time in Tuesday and was gutted I couldn’t do breaststroke as it hurt my hip where the screw is. The water was amazing to allow me to do physio exercises (could stand on one leg -left, operated one - and balance without holding onto something which I can’t yet do otherwise) but I ended up doing front crawl which I’m rubbish at so I’m obviously not ready for proper swimming yet.  I was anxious as I still use a crutch or I limp and so I had my daughter help me walk to the pool edge and take the crutch off me. Scary as I am still worried about slipping which is what happened to break my hip. So go swimming and enjoy the water, vanessa 
    • ptolemy
      ptolemy vanessa24815

      Posted

      I find breast stroke is a no no too. I actually do back stroke which I find great. My problem is getting in and out of the Pool! 
    • vanessa24815
      vanessa24815 ptolemy

      Posted

      Once I got over my fear of slipping I was ok, the steps were not so bad.  I’ll try back stroke next time.  Even just doing exercises in the water is good, kids still in school so quiet if you go during the day! 
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