Steps without a crutch/cane/walker

Dear Susan

Try not to worry about your pace of progress when compared to others as long as it is going in the right direction and the pain has gone or is going.

Keep the exercises going and use BOTH crutches until you are able to walk well without any limping and with a good gait.   it takes however long it takes.

Good luck, Richard

As RichardKen says, don't compare yourself to others, we all recover at different speeds.  You will find in the next few weeks that you can do without the sticks indoors for short distances.  Take it slowly, there are no prizes for trying to go too fast too soon.  The important thing is to walk straight and upright, and to strengthen the muscles to stop the limping.

Best Wishes

Graham

Susan, just 'listen' to your body and only do what feels right. I think that a new hip joint is weight bearing from the moment it is fitted. However, the tissue, muscles, tendons and skin that have been cut, stretched and messed about with in order for the joint to be fitted will need a fair amount of time to settle down and recover. If you put too much stress and weight on them, they won't be able to recover and get strong enough to support your new hip.

Patience is a virtue!

Susan I agree with  Nuttynan. Patience my replacement certainly taught me that. I was lucky we had a spare pair of crutches at home so around 3/4, weeks I was walking up and downstairs using the bannister and a crutch. Physio at 4 weeks told me to get off my crutches. I had only just gone onto 1! Any how by around 5 weeks I wash off crutches. No sticks wasn't offered them. Your muscles take up to 2yrs to heal. I had a rough time after op lots of pain in muscles and pain infection. I thought my progress slow but I was back at work at 8 weeks driving by week 7 short distances and building up walking. Now two years on can dance for a few hours non stop at parties, even did the limbo tonight although not low. I made sure I followed restrictions strictly for the 12 weeks x

Hi susan

im three weeks post op but had the SuperPath technique which is a minimally invasive technique. Lots of advertisements for the quick recovery using this method. However I had my first physio session and physiology made it clear after the first week there isn't really any difference between respective methods, just the minimally invasive methods mean a lot less pain straight after surgery and in the first few days and therefore easier to walk with aids. 

She said 

But at our stage she made it clear we are all now requiring the same precautions and exercise. I have a lot of groin pain at the moment when exercising so I was told absolutely no flexion for a while until it settles down. She told me exercises to do are mini squats up,against the wall and walking in the house and short distances WITHOUT aids. She said longer walks should be with two crutches . She said avoid one crutch as you may lean to your good side which will lead to a bad gait. 

She also said now is time to go upstairs normally, I.e putting weight through the operated leg. She was very particular about that as she said it will build strength in the buttocks she told me when putting weight on the operated leg to also squeeze the buttock as this will really drive those muscles. 

She said the goal is not to limp. So if you are limping without aids then use two crutches but put full weight through operated leg. You will likely find that once you are confident putting weight on it you can walk short distances without any aids without limping. Word of caution though, you will feel sore and stiff in the hip so don't walk without aids too far, build it up slowly. What I'm doing is walking around house without any aids but then having long periods of rest in between. Outside I'm walking with two crutches but standing straight and putting weight on operated leg. 

She said the only pain pain to worry about is any pain when at rest. If the only pain you have is when exercising that is normal at this stage. 

Obvioulsy if you are very unstable without aids use two crutches. As most important thing is not to fall clearly. The other thing she said was when standing up from being seated put weight on both legs, don't put it on the non operated leg.

one thing I did which may have helped was before I walked I just stood up right when I got out of bed on both legs normally. That might be a good idea. X

As every one has said take it as slowly as you need to. Remember though that one step is very different from being able to do without support. Without thinking I found myself at about three weeks doing one or two steps in the house, probably went on to one crutch inside around then but two outside for a couple of weeks more. Build it up slowly.

Just follow your body, but it is more difficult to cure a limp because you were not able to walk properly when you stopped using crutches, than it is to wait until you can walk upright and evenly without support

Hi Susan,

It seems like you are doing great and ready to go on...

My PT had me use my rollator (4 wheeled walker) for 4 weeks , in- and out  side the home for the following reasons:

The hip joint implant is rotating (getting up and down, turn,  etc) in 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 safe immediately after surgery. But until the implants have grown into the bone, a process that takes 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 assured by 4 to 6 weeks, at the minimum.

I was not even allowed to do furniture surfing (which I did occasionally anyway)

You just had major invasive surgery and your body is doing everything to heal the trauma - in addition she also is doing her best to get you stronger, in balance etc ..

allow her to do so, okay - 

when is your follow up appointment scheduled for?

big warm hug

renee

 

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

I'm 6 weeks post op and it depends on whether your hips uncemented or not?

Younger patients have an uncemented hip which means you have to use crutches for the first 6 weeks and not weight bear.

I have tried to walk without anything in the house, but I cannot put my full weight on it so limp badly and kniw its not sensible to push it, so going to wait to see what Doc says tomorrow

I think patience is a must x