Soooo tired

Morning Nicki!  Welcome to the forum!!  Yes the limping will go away.  the muscles that surround your hip are very weak and need to get stronger.  As for your leg being longer that should sort itself out as the joint settles in but you may need a shoe lift. I didn't have that problem as I was almost 2 inches short before surgery and dr gave me back my length.   This was a very big surgery so feeling tired is normal.  Just get the rest your body needs and eat well to keep your strength up.  It will all get better in time.  We all heal at different levels.   Best of luck to you and hope you have a speedy recovery and healing. Hugs 🤗Linda. 

Hi Nicki

I am 6 weeks post op second hip replacement I have slight limp and had with the first one  it corrected itself the stronger the muscle gets I use my stick when I go out and that seems to correct the limp I have now as for the tiredness I feel tired but won't sleep during the day others wise I won't sleep at night off all pain killers too that I have been on for years. Keep at it I'm sure you will feel a difference soon

Jean 

xx

warm welcome to the forum - 

You are early in recovering from a major  surgery where your leg was forcefully manipulated to get the hip hardware in place -

did you get the posterior or anterior approach?

I am not sure that walking without aids is smart at 5 weeks is smart, especially since you are limping - Limping will aggrevate the new joint and affect other parts of your body as well...

The hip joint implant is rotating (getting up and down, turn,  etc) in its cup as well as taking pressure, like when you walk your weight will press it down

The purpose of the  crutches or walker or sticks  is to avoid a fall or sudden twist. Weight-bearing is usually safe immediately after surgery. But until the implants have grown into the bone, a process that takes at least 4 to 6 weeks, a fall or other sudden twisting force on the leg can risk implant loosening or injury to the leg.

Because the hip replacement components are designed to heal directly to bone without use of bone cement, the  stability of the implants in your body is usually assured by  6 weeks, at the minimum.

Then, when you feel confident and balanced, you can walk without any aids, but if there is any question, stay with a cane or stick until you feel safe ---

Healing takes a lot of energy - and your body is healing big time - in addition you are moving and doing exercises to get stronger ... 

Feeling tired (exhausted even at times) is all normal part of the healing process - 

Do you have a job you need to go back to?  

For now, use walking aid at least outside, try to not overdo it and stop when you feel tired --- no need to push your self -

be kind to your self Nicki - all will be well

big warm hug

renee

Of course we all heal at our personal rate and each case is different …

All of that sounds very normal. Don't stop using aids too soon as it causes gait problems and limping. We all are anxious to do as well as others and get back to normal. When pain is low we often try too soon and get that limping. The leg length difference is also very normal to begin with as you have been compensating and walking without your hips aligned. Usually most of it will even out but it takes 4 to 5 months. My doctor recommended wearing a lift about ½ the difference for the shorter leg. They are available at Amazon. The idea is to wear it awhile and once limp has subsided remove it and try again, to get your alignment right. You might be left with a slight leg difference if your other hip is bad too, as it has lost height. I have no pain in my right hip (non-operated one), but my surgeon said it looked almost as bad as the one I had replacement on, so undoubtedly I will be left with a slight difference until I have hip surgery on that other leg, which is crazy until I start having pain. Your surgeon will measure across your hip x-ray for correct alignment.If that is good, he did his job right, the rest is your body, compensation, or thinning at the other hip. Be sure to talk to your surgeon about it, not blaming him, but asking for reassurance of this. Again you can use a temporary lift, just be sure it is a little less than you need for awhile to see if your recovery helps it stretch to that, then remove and do it again. This is not fast, probably 6 months. Don't try to do too much until you have strengthened those cut muscles in hip and backside. That is done by moving leg gently to side, first with no weights ten times, 3 sets. Once that is easy add a very small ankle weight and do same thing, very gradual increase. Bridges in bed help too. You have to be 8 weeks to try those though as you bend knees on bed. Lift backside up and down ten times, again 3 sets. You might have to start with 2 sets. Don't try to do long walks right away, that you are still going through the tired phase means you are still intensely healing. Doing too much can lead to IT band inflammation syndrome. I got it and could barely walk at all again, after doing well. Now I am 3 weeks rest, had a steroid shot on outer edge of leg because I cannot take anti-inflammatories, the usual treatment. Feel like I am starting over, no PT for 3 weeks either. I wish I had known of the possibility. I was shopping, cleaning the house, did stairs etc. By the way I am 3 months, 5 days post op. 

Good luck to you. Do your exercise and therapy but don't push yourself too soon. Use your aids if needed to keep your gait good. Don't be in a rush, this is major surgery. My problem was very little pain for over 2 months, good thing I saved those pain pills because at 2 ½ months my pain became horrendous every time I put weight on that leg. Not worth the rush, this is far worse. I am very sure I will get through this and will mend but it is going to take longer than I expected. Your tiredness is normal, your body needs rest, rest as much as possible or nap. That part usually ends just short of 3 months, but your body will take a year or longer to totally heal. Follow the steps and you should be okay. Be careful following your restrictions for 8 weeks or longer. I still do not reach to floor, since I heard of a dislocation much later by doing that. My surgeon said to never reach from side again, only from between legs, but even then wait 9 or 10 weeks for that one. Good luck.

Limping is proof that you need support whilst building up muscle strength. There really is no virtue in doing without aids too early. I know this to my cost!

Cheers Richard