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Restrictions after 3 months

Posted , 7 users are following.

Louisanne
Louisanne

Would welcome advice please as there is so much experience and help on here! Thank you!

I know that we all heal differently so I have tried to give some background.

 

I am coming up to 12 week post RTHR posterior with no cement or screws.  I had physio and hydrotherapy until 9 weeks and continue to exercise. I did very well for several weeks, had little pain and was signed off by the surgeon at week 7.  I have almost all of my range of movement back but still have pain down the back of my thigh and still have some difficultly with exercises weight bearing on my operated leg and lifting / moving  my other leg to to the side .  The consultant said that there were some more muscles needing to fully heal and he expected that I would be able to walk with out a crutch in another couple of weeks. This has not happened and I am still in some pain after walking a few yards unaided.  I can walk about a mile with my stick and then I tire.  However, I have lower spine problems and I know that this hinders me and I have been told that it will continue to be an issue. 

 

Another query is that  the consultant said that at 12 weeks I could stop the restrictions and do anything I feel comfortable with and can manage including breast stroke. In fact he recommended swimming to me. However, I am concerned and I may have to learn to do another stroke!!!  I am still extremely nervous about dislocation  - your advice would be greatly appreciated. 

 

In summary I have three queries:

Should I be able to walk unaided now? Should I get further advice or is it just time?

Do any of you do breast stroke regularly?

What precautions do people take after 12 weeks? 

Thank you!

 

0 likes, 12 replies

12 Replies

  • auntiebeanie
    auntiebeanie Louisanne

    Posted

    Hi Louisanne, if your THR was straightforward , you should be able to walk unaided, however we are all different and heal at different rates. You had alot more physio and hydrotherapy than most of us get in the UK. You have been through major surgery and the muscles take up to two years to heal. It sound to me that  the back of thigh pain is either muscles too tight or the pain is coming from your back and nothing to do with your hip. They could also rule out nerved pain, which is grim and i had that but it was cured wiht a short does of amitryptaline.  

    I would speak to your GP and get them to check you over.

    Breast stroke is allowed after 12 weeks, although you may feel better doing crawl legs until you feel better. 

    The only thing my surgeon told me to not do was to cross my leg completely over the knee, he said if you never do that,you shouldn't dislocate it. I had a fall 6 months post op, and when my thigh pain didn't go away i saw my surgeon at 9 months postop. He showed me the xray that had all the new bone growing around implant, it was amazing. he was checking for fracture. 

    I was off sticks crutches and no sticks by 5.5 weeks, but at 4 weeks i didn't think i would be.  I was very nervous during the first few months of dislocation and even now when i bend o pick something up off the floor i still stick my operated leg behind me.

    • Louisanne
      Louisanne auntiebeanie

      Posted

      Thanks - that is really helpful. I have paid for the hydrotherapy but it is expensive and an hour's drive. The physio said that I would get better whether I had more sessions or not and to cut back on the exercises for a while. However, I do not seem to have made much progress for several weeks and am getting a bit concerned. If the pain is from my back the consultant said that that they cannot do anything about it as it is not bad enough for surgery. Fortunately  the pain is much less than pre- op though!

       

    • sandra67350
      sandra67350 Louisanne

      Posted

      Hi Louis Anne

      Richard is so right. Even early days I was able to walk unaided at home but sometimes limped so I used crutches again to practice walking properly. When I tried again it was better for longer so I repeated etc. Now at home I don't use at all and no limp. Outside I still use both crutches but don't actually put pressure onto them and concentrate on walking correctly. If on a longer walk I feel my gait changing I put more weight onto crutches to correct it. I will soon try with one crutch and then cane as necessary. I am 4 weeks post op but as already said on here everybody is different. It's more important that we learn to walk correctly again than how soon we walk unaided.

      I would also suggest seeing someone though just to ensure there is nothing wrong that they could solve for you.

      Despite the lack of good sleep, aches and pains and other problems I know that the majority of people on here are still in a better place than they were pre op.

  • linda81469
    linda81469 Louisanne

    Posted

    Morning Louisanne!  Sounds like you are doing quite well.  As for the pain in back of thigh, does this happen as you're walking and lifting the leg like when getting in bed?  When you say weight bearing, do you mean when you weight bear you feel it won't support you?  Are you limping when you don't use the crutch?  It may very well be your hip muscles are still weak. How was your situation before surgery?  I'm a year out and I'm still limping.  My circumstances are: I was born with hip dysplasia, I was almost 2 inches short before surgery, I dislocated my first hip replacement and wound up having a total hip revision 3 weeks later. And had to be non weight bearing for 6 weeks.      By 3 months your new hip should be good with new bone growth but the muscles take a long time to heal. Did you have the anterior surgery or posterior?  If they cut the butt muscle that too will take time to heal.  I too have lower back issues.  And I know it's causing some issues for my operated leg, mainly the nerves. Not to mention the occasional back pain.  When was the last time u saw your dr?  Maybe a visit to the dr again to ensure all is well.  I would think by now you would be walking unaided since you had a successful surgery.   Hugs 🤗 and God's blessings to you.  Linda 

    • Louisanne
      Louisanne linda81469

      Posted

      Thank you Linda. I have been very fortunate in that it has been fairly straightforward except for the battle with the GP for a referral when I was in pain and unable to walk more than a few yards. That is why I am reluctant to go back!  l Whinge - I have spent 12 min on the phone this morning before being told no appointments before the end of September. They may release some more - so to keep trying.  It is not really an emergency - just want to be checked!

       I limp without the stick and think that I should not by now. My operated leg does support me and I can stand on it briefly. However, some exercises standing on the one leg are very painful. i explained this to the consultant and he said that it was early days at 7 weeks. Little progress since then with this.

      I do hope that you make progress and are more comfortable yourself. Thanks for your support.

       

    • linda81469
      linda81469 Louisanne

      Posted

      Thank you.  I think if you're having pain then it's best to get seen if not for anything but piece of mind.  Come back and let us know how you are doing!  Hugs 🤗 Linda 

    • RichardKen
      RichardKen Louisanne

      Posted

      Dear Louisanne

      If you are limping without a stick that tells me that your muscles still need quite a bit more strengthening.   I would strongly suggest that you use two sticks or crutches until such time that you can walk without a limp because to struggle around limping will set you back and very likely do damage to your back.

      Cheers

      Richard

    • Pippyj
      Pippyj Louisanne

      Posted

      I'm now 4 months post thr and still walk with a stick whilst out as otherwise I start to limp when I get tired.  We all heal at different speeds so don't worry.  As for swimming breaststroke my surgery has advised me to wait until 12 months post op.  It's a pity as it's my normal swim stroke!  Good luck

    • sandeep58068
      sandeep58068 linda81469

      Posted

      hi lovely i need to ask you how you feel now because i have same problem as you i had my hip done 3 month ago am limping bit because i had 3 inch leg short but now my pelvis twisted as well are you walking without limp now

  • Granny44
    Granny44 Louisanne

    Posted

    Hi, i too have had a thr 7 weeks ago, and although i can walk for a short while without any aids, i am suffering with groin pain when i walk and try to lift my leg. Have been to the hospital today for my checkup and was told that this was normal healing of the muscles and not to worry. Swimming has not been suggested, but i just can't wait to get back on my horse, but i know it'sgoing to be a long haul.We all have to hang on in there and be patient but i'm not very good at that. Hope you start to improve soon. I was also told I couldease up on the precautions which is a help. Good luck.

    • RichardKen
      RichardKen Granny44

      Posted

      Dear Granny

      Pleas consider using both crutches until you have regained your lost muscle strength. there really is no virtue in struggling and limping. It is not going to do you any favours and will set back your recovery and may well give you other issues due to the poor gait you will be having.

      Cheers Richard

  • judith12644
    judith12644 Louisanne

    Posted

    Hi Louisanne, I swim regularly, unstylish breaststroke... it's all I do. It's perfectly comfortable, but I didn't do it until I was about 6 months out. (I waited until then because it was winter, and I like swimming outside. It would probably be fine to do it sooner.) I first swam at about 8 weeks, breaststroke arms, up and down legs, but it wasn't very successful! Good luck, Judith

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