Post-operative mobility
Posted , 14 users are following.
I had a THR of my right hip 11 weeks ago and everything is going well although I haven't been offered any physiotherapy. However when I saw my surgeon at six weeks although he seemed very pleased with my progress he told me that I will never be able to bend much beyond 90 degrees and will never be able to reach my feet to be able to put on my socks, tie shoelaces or cut my toenails! Having asked around I find that without exception friends and friends of friends who have had hip replacements are all able to do this even though it may take some time. The physiotherapy department at the hospital said they had never heard of anybody being told this before and the nurse at my GP's surgery (who had a hip replacement six years ago) said that was rubbish! I have tried, without success, to contact my surgeon and all I could get was an appointment with him, but not until the end of June. I feel I am wasting time when I could be getting more mobile. I can't believe that my THR can be different from anybody else's - I don't want to spend the rest of my life having to depend on other people or mobility aids to do simple tasks like washing and dressing. Has anybody else been told this by their surgeon?
0 likes, 38 replies
steve86482 gay81225
Posted
gay81225 steve86482
Posted
Wow! Where do you live that you managed to get all this physio? I've assumed that cuts in the NHS has led to no physio being suggested. I'm probably a victim of the post code lottery. Just hope my GP can refer me for some physio reasonably quickly.
steve86482 gay81225
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gay81225 steve86482
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OK - might be a bit of a way to go if I need the other hip done as I live in the middle of England!!!!! I would say lucky old you, but on the other hand you've probably had to pay for your treatment.
steve86482 gay81225
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kimberley38758 steve86482
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Steve,
Do you get Free insurance? Even if you get offered insurance through work each year, I'm sure you have to pay for it. You may have had a small deductible, but are you also accounting for how much you have deducted out of your paycheck each month? Most of us forget about that cost because we don't see the bill as its automatically taken out of our paychecks. I didn't realize how much I pay in medical insurance and basic annual health cost (forget the cost of having major surgery!)
And thanks to the Wonderful 'Obamacare', our costs are much higher than they ever were.
terri49368 gay81225
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Not at all Gay. I hope you connect with a physical therapist soon. I think these surgeons are mostly wonderful, but they only handle the nuts and bolts part - your PT is going to make the difference. I wouldn't go back to the surgeon, his/her part is done.
beth2509 gay81225
Posted
Unless he is saying that (a) there is another medical reason for being inflexible, or (b) he didn't do a very good job of the hip replacement, then this is complete rubbish! In fact, I was told that I could do all these things immediately (and posterior approach) provided that I didn't feel any pain. I didn't, so I did! I am approaching six months - gosh, just realised that it's this week! - and I can do my toenails, bend, stretch, touch my palms to the floor, do yoga... The only thing I haven't yet tried is sitting cross legged. I reckoned that might be a test too far, but maybe I'll go for it this week!
kimberley38758 beth2509
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Beth / Gay, I'm now 10 months posts op. I haven't pushed myself at all as far as stretching. I can tie my shoes and sit crossed legged (Indian style). I can't touch the palms of the floor, but then again I never have been able to....lol. I'm sure that if I had the will to do it and stretched each day, I could do that too
Having a FHR doesn't prevent you from doing things like that in the long term, not stretching each day does
gay81225 beth2509
Posted
As somebody else has said, the surgeon just does the nuts and bolts - he doesn't have anything to do with post-op so I'm going to cancel the appointment I requested with him, follow everybody's advice and get some physio. I don't think the problem lies with the op as after 11 weeks I am pain free, feel great and can do everything I want to do except reach my right foot! I'm sure I'm already bending more than he said I would be able to and with so many lovely people telling me the same thing I'm confident I'll get back to where I was before too long. I'm due to see him again in a year and hopefully I'll be able to give him a big surprise!
renee01952 gay81225
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warm welcome to this wonderful forum of hippies ..
are yu sure your surgeon said that ? Not that I am doubting you ,though, but it sounds bizar ....
At 6 weeks post-op follow up appointment of 1st THR an xray was taken - surgeon pleased and told me that I need to adhere to the 90 degree rule for another 2 weeks but can be more relaxed about it --- I also was cleared for driving as long as I could do an emergency brake stop ...
putting on my socks took me longer and I used the sock-aid - I was soooo stiff and did not want to force anything ...I am still stiff after 2 THR surgeries and cutting toenails and put nail polish on toes is still challenging ... but that is just me -
How are you doing otherwise?
please let us know, okay ...
you are doing good ...
big warm hug
renee
gay81225 renee01952
Posted
Thank you for your lovely welcoming message. Yes, my surgeon definitely said that - once on the morning of my op and then again when I saw him at 6/7 weeks. No X-ray was taken at that time - he just asked me to take a few steps and stand on one leg (the operated one) then said I could drive and he didn't want to see me again for a year! Nothing was said about physiotherapy. I did, and still do feel, that I was left to get on with it without any support at all. Fortunately my practice nurse, who changed my dressing, was incredibly supportive and got me over the first couple of weeks, both physically and emotionally and I now feel pretty good about things. I'm just coming up to the 12 weeks when I should be able to safely start doing more, but I would be a lot happier with some physio to give me confidence and hopefully my GP will be able to arrange this. I can walk unaided with no limp except briefly when I've been sitting for a while, and no real pain just aching after a bit. The only pain I have is the front end of the incision which is still a bit swollen and painful to lie on so I'm still sleeping on my back. My only real fear was that I would never be able to be truly independent again, but so many people have told me that I will eventually be able to do everything I did before that I'm a lot happier about the eventual outcome. Sorry about the length of this reply - you'll be sorry you asked!!!!! This will make up for it. I very bravely asked my husband to put nail polish on my toe nails. You may wonder why that would be brave, but he once did some painting when he worked in a laboratory and a month later they reckoned they were still waiting for it to dry!!
renee01952 gay81225
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dear gay,
this is why the forum is so great ... We all love to hear from each other how we are doing ... the little things that matter so much to us and nobody else are important to share ... no one else cares, really - well they do, but don't understand -
LOL on your husband painting your toe nails !!! and yes, it is brave of you to ask him ... so many things we are being taught, aren't we - to ask for help is a big one -
surgeons are not really known for after care, especially the orthopedic ones - they have done their job, the rest is up to you ..
you are doing really good - don't rush and accept that there will be some discomfort, stiffness and consider the cane as a trusted friend ...
angel blessings
renee
linda81469 gay81225
Posted
Yes I've been told this by my surgeon. He said it was ok to go past 90 every now and then. To tie shoes he said to open my legs and bend to foot, I'm not able to do that with operated leg. Also told me no twisting. I use a long handle brush yo wash my feet, my husband dries my feet. And my daughter cues my toenails.....i don't like that at all!! Of course i dislocated my first hip replacement. Was walking on it and doing exercises like that for a week. I wonder how and when it happened but I don't know. Had to have a total hip revision 3 weeks 2 days later. 6 weeks non weight bearing and no hip exercises or hip flexion past 80 degrees. I'm still very stiff and now having severe sensitivity and discomfort in my thigh. I'm still limping and I'm 10 months out from revision. Not been a good recovery...very slow. I know it's hard having to rely on someone and using aides to assist with dressing. Best of luck to you. LD
RichardKen linda81469
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Dear Linda
Six weeks of non weight bearing must have been really grim. I'm at almost three weeks non weight bearing with eight days until I see my surgeon.
I'm really hoping that I will then be cleared for partial weight bearing. Although my exercises are going well and no pain it is terribly frustrating!
Cheers Richard
gay81225 linda81469
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Thank you for this. I'm sorry to hear you've had such a bad time. You've been really unlucky. I think some of these surgeons are being ultra careful in the advice they give so that there's no comeback if you ignore what they say!! A friend who was also told the same by her surgeon can now, two and a half years later, bend to cut her toenails, tie shoelaces etc. I had my op 12 weeks ago yesterday, so theoretically I'm now past real danger of dislocation and I'm hoping to get some physio so I can try and get more flexible. I'm wary of downloading exercises off the internet and would rather do them under supervision. I think I'm doing OK. I managed to walk two miles a couple of days ago. I took a walking stick to be on the safe side, but only had to use it a couple of times when my hip started aching. I'm determined that I will eventually be able to do all the things I was doing before and not have to rely on other people or mobility aids despite what my surgeon told me! I hope you eventually get to that stage as well in spite of having such a bad start. Good luck!
linda81469 gay81225
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Thanks Gay!! I'm with you!! Here's hoping and praying that we both get there!! Hugs 🤗..... LInda
linda81469 RichardKen
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It really was!! My hands were calloused and hurt wo bad. I was wearing weight lifting gloves. My shoulders were also killing me to the point I could barely get out of bed! Had to gane😢 injections in both shoulders to help with pain. Now to deal with nerve pain!! 😞😫😩
linda81469 RichardKen
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Meant had to get injections in both shoulders. Darn fingers! Autocorrect too! 😁