Pre Op Physio

Posted , 7 users are following.

Slightly over two years agao, and after being advised that my arthritis was moderate to severe, I opted to try the physio route, and was given a series of exercises that included stretches.  I have followed them, but with some lapses.

I am wondering if other hip patients have been down this route, and whether or not they kept up with the exercises, as far as was possible, right up to the time of surgery, and whether or not, they found that the exercises aided recovery post op?  Also, was the surgeon aware that physio had been prescribed and maintained, and what was the surgeon's opinion with regard to the exercises as a form of exercise in maintaining flexibility and strengthening the muscles, pre and post op?

My last xray showed "mild" arthritis in the other hip.  I immediately bought Krill oil, and have been using it for about a week, and have started working the other hip as well, in the hope that this combination will keep progress of arthritis at bay, or at least delay it for some considerable time, so that I an finally get some exercise and enjoyment from my life!

0 likes, 9 replies

9 Replies

  • Posted

    Susie - exercise is important, no only for your legs, as lack of exercise is going to put you at higher risk of developing clots in your legs.

    I did develop clots in my lower leg prior to my first Hip replacement, surgery had to cancelled because of clot.

    Dr's advice, even though you are in agony, you are going to have to go swimming, (very modified), just gently treading water with a water log under my arms for a hours a day, 5 days a week in the lead up to your surgery, and at the very least 3 days a week.

    I did notice that when i started I could only do 20 mins or so, but did build it up to 1 hour, and have kept that up right through with only breaks between when I had the cut for surgery, of about 3 weeks, or until my GP said I had healed enough to go back in the water.

    Other bonus is your respiratory fitness, both of your heart and lungs, you really do need to be as fit and healthy as you can be before any surgery, I have been told its a huge help in healing times, and I have found it to be true from my own experience, both with THR and cancers I have had.

    • Posted

      Hi Lyn:

      Swimming is fine if there is a pool available. I do recognise the viability of swimming if a pool is available, because being in water relieves a lot of the additional stress on the joints.  However, in my case, there is no pool close by, and I hate being in chlorinated water, and do not like public pools!  Fine, if you have your own pool, and some sort of control over  how it is maintained.

      As I have said in my post, I am exercising, that was the point of my query:  What percentage of patients are maintaining excercise, in terms of stretching muscles, such as the gluteal and quads, etc., and have they found that maintaining the stretches, which is what most of these exercises are geared toward, have been of benefit in terms of faster recovery from the op?

      Cardio vascular work, of course, is harder to maintain if, due to the OA, jogging is out of the question.  Power walking is equally difficult for the same reason.  In San Francisco, I was jogging 7 miles a day - North Beach to the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge, but that was a while ago, now.  I have continued to do a supermarket shop, but that is hardly cardio vascular workout material, and becoming increasingly difficult, but I continue to do it even though I arrive home in pain and exhausted from the effort of pushing a badly maintained trolley through the car park..  

      My only other option is to walk with my stick to the marina as quickly as possible and back.  I am used to being highly active and do not dawdle when I walk.  I want to get from A to B as rapidly as possible!

  • Posted

    I wish I had pre operation physio

    Having lost so much weight, I have been having problems strengthening the muscles - they have shrunk so much.

    Graham

    • Posted

      HI Graham:

      I have just read that your revision failed.  I am so sorry.  At some point in the future, maybe it would be worth getting a second and even a third reevaluation.  However, right now, I would think that this is the last thing you would be contemplating, right now.  

      It may be a little early on, but have the "powers that be" given you any sort of prognosis on your current situation?  What is interesting, is that you seemed to be doing pretty well with your recovery, until they dropped the bombshell.  The concern would be that if the placement is that bad, it may have long term complications.

      Re:  the physio.  I have noticed that the muscalature in my leg on the bad hip side had atrophied, and that is why I have tried to do as many stretches as possible.  The calf muscle, quads, and hamstring are the worst, and those are the ones that I have been really working on stretching.  The gluts are going to be another challenge, post op, but again, I have been working on them, but how much I can do is limited by the OA. 

      Another poster has said that the hospital in Writhingon is expert in hip replacement.  However, if you can live with your hip, the way it is, with no problems, it may be a case of letting sleeping dogs lie!

       

    • Posted

      Personally I think ley sleeping hips lie ... But Mrs. Rocketwoman has the bit between her teeth now, goodness only knows what she is up to right now

      I wish I had strengthened my glutes before the op, but too late now. But I think that's the answer to why I needed a stick for 10 weeks

      We will have to take a step back and consider the outcome, and question the surgeon closely

      Graham

    • Posted

      I think you are right, for the time being.  Get some rest, and Mrs. Rocketwoman do her worst!   You never know, she may come up with the "goods!"  

      I know the entire site is behind you, and we will all do our bit to see what if anything, can be done.  But, important, right now, to step back and rest.  Let things take their course for the time being.

  • Posted

    I have exercised all my life and carried on up to the day of my operation. I started again when my clips came out at day 14 although I was doing gentle physio form day 2. Stood me in good stead I think as I'm now fitter than I have been in few years. I had numerous physio referrals before my op - which didn't really help with the pain. I just carried on my own routine to the best of my ability at the time. I hate not exercising so it wasn't hard for me. We are all different though and what worked for me may not work for others.
  • Posted

    Physio wasn't offered to me as a solution, I was told only a hip replacement would fix my hip. If you can keep going and feel some benefit from physio I would definitely in a heart beat. I can't wait to get fit and start my exercise routine again - I am counting down the days to get to six weeks...best of luck!
    • Posted

      HI Rose:

      I have been doing the physio now for over two years, and have reached the point where the physio itself is of no further use to me.  I keep going on it because of the stretches that are involved, and that is where the benefit will, I hope be felt, post surgery.

      I should have had the surgery two years ago, when the moderate to severe diagnosis was made.  I was persuaded to go through physio, and my circumstances were such that surgery at the timewould have been impractical.

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