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Stiffness.

Posted , 6 users are following.

nan64673
nan64673

I am almost 5 weeks THR and am trying to walk further. I get a lot of stiffness over the hip joint. It feels like it is sort of grabbing as I walk, only mildly painful really, but feels stiff. Should I walk more or less? I am 56 and was quite fit and active before the op so getting a bit frustrated. Am doing all my exercises. Can scar tissue be a problem at this stage? Thanks for help.

1 like, 9 replies

9 Replies

  • t3chiman
    t3chiman nan64673

    Posted

    "... I get a lot of stiffness over the hip joint. ..."

    Hi Nan-

       You are early yet in your recuperation  from a major assault on your hip. Recall that it was not doing so well beforehand, either. My advice: slow down, relax, walk unaided for no longer than 10 minutes without pausing for a rest and a drink of water.  When you relax, keep your feet up. Every three hours, take a nap.

    In a month, check back in, let us know how things are going.

    HTH

     

  • hope4cure
    hope4cure nan64673

    Posted

    Many go thru stiffness, healing and in time the stiffness will eventually be a distant memory try heat, Tylenol and keep walking even water walking is resistance training when your ready to build strength. Muscles need to be retrained and it takes time. Great PT and exercises help and take is easy. Rest is important. Use that reacher until your stronger to bend.

    There are some great books sponsered Patient UK that help thru every stage of THR recovery, do a search at the bottom of the page for references.

    I have had 2 and 1 revision a few months ago, still a bit stiff. With time and healing this will all be a distant memory. The gift of Mobility from THR with a pain free life is what we all hope and strive for as many have great results. 

    Hope you will be better soon! 😊

  • vickie06043
    vickie06043 nan64673

    Posted

    You're early in your recovery. Listen to your body. Be kind & gentle to yourself. It takes time to get back to where we were.

    Take care

    Vickie

  • lesley5362
    lesley5362 nan64673

    Posted

    Hi,

    I'm five half weeks at probably at the same stage as you. I'm 55. I know what you mean about that grabbing feeling. I was told it's scar tissue. Apparently massage helps with it so I have been massaging with bio oil and it tends to ease it off.

    I have just started walking around the house without sticks but still use one outside as a have a bit of a wobbly gait.

    I was really worried about this but have been practising the heel toe walk as suggested on here and it seems to be helping slowly.

    Good luck with your recovery.

    • nan64673
      nan64673 lesley5362

      Posted

      Thank you. I am crutch free but carry a stick when I walk the dogs for safety. I discovered walking correctly is so important. At 3 weeks I was in so much pain I could barely walk as I had been walking stiff legged and not bending the knee and the muscles seized. I had to walk it out and is still comes and goes not so painful now.  I have started massaging and that is helping
  • lesley5362
    lesley5362 nan64673

    Posted

    Did you walk with a wobble at first when you ditched the crutches/ sticks?. It worries me. I appear to be taking longer then others to get rid of them and I am doing my walking and exercises religiously. X
    • nan64673
      nan64673 lesley5362

      Posted

      There a lot of people on here still on sticks at 5 weeks or later. Sometimes I feel a bit weak in the muslces. I just go slower. I guess it takes time to buld the muscles back up again.
  • madla39168
    madla39168 nan64673

    Posted

    Dear Nan you are in early stage. Do excersice ,drink plenty of water,

    go for walk and mostly listen your body. Take one day at the time. Will

    get better even with stiffness. Your body need to heel and that take time. Every week get better a d better.

    Hug Madla🌹💗

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