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Stretching Exercises Pre Op

Posted , 14 users are following.

susie74530
susie74530

I follow the posts on the Forum very carefully, and have noticed that a lot of peple are experiencing a lot of pain in their upper thigh, front and back, knee, calf, ankle, etc.  In fact throughout the entire leg and buttocks. 

Two years ago, my physio gave me a set of exercises, the usual program.  However, they include stretches that exercise the entire hip and leg.  What I am wondering is whether or not pre ops are still following the exercises, right up to the day before the op is due?  I am no expert, as I am still very much a "beginner!"  But, something is telling me that it is very important to keep going on the exercises, right up to almost the last minute, because stretching and maintinaing those muscles that are not working correctly because of the bad hip, need to be toned up, so that recovery is not quite as trauatic post op?

I am wondering what the post ops have kept up on their pre op exercises, and if they have, have they found that the exercises helped after their ops?

I have a suspicion that it is a great temptation to give up on the exercises when discomfort becomes more intense, and it is felt that the exercises are no longer benefiecial?  What do you think?  

 

3 likes, 77 replies

77 Replies

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  • Thursday_Next
    Thursday_Next susie74530

    Posted

    I wasn't given exercises either pre op or post op other than a couple of very small ankle exercises to keep feet and legs moving.  We were told that the most important thing was walking post-op.
    • cathie38426
      cathie38426 Thursday_Next

      Posted

      Hello Thursday,

      Did you go to Wrightington for your op? If you did, as that

      is where Charnley invented the hip op, and I think that is all

      they do, they should be the experts!

      How are things going for you?

      Cathie

    • Thursday_Next
      Thursday_Next cathie38426

      Posted

      Yes, I went to Wrightington because of the expertise there.  I am doing ok I think.  It will be two weeks on Thursday and I am walking each day although this has been difficult with the Blackpool gales over the weekend.  I live on my own and have been managing on my own.
    • cathie38426
      cathie38426 Thursday_Next

      Posted

      As I am originally from Lancashire I am curious why

      they sent you to Wrightingon from Blackpool. Did you ask, 

      I have a friend who did. I admire that you are coping well

      alone, it just shows I know nothing, telling you to get support.

      I hope the weather doesn't get you down.. It is one of the reasons

      we moved here.

      best wishes

      Cathie

    • Thursday_Next
      Thursday_Next cathie38426

      Posted

      It was my GP who asked if I would be willing to go to Wrightington as he considers it by far the best hospital in the north for hip replacements.  It is considered to be the "centre of excellence" and is involved in leading the way in this kind of surgery.  His own wife went there for her operation.

      I've just been to have stitches out.

    • cathie38426
      cathie38426 Thursday_Next

      Posted

      What a good GP you have,and the fact his wife went there. A lovely

      drive on a good clear day, I hope you don't

      mind me asking, did a friend drive or did you take a taxi.I have

      a memory of your pre op 'go it alone' independence. Are

      you still managing it?

      what a joy having no stitches, or do they clamp?

      I am 8 weeks now, still progressing, but the 'throw away the crutch'

      stage is slow to arrive. I am ok in the house, but still take it walking.

      Cathie

    • Thursday_Next
      Thursday_Next cathie38426

      Posted

      A good friend took me for the operation and picked me up.  She also took me today to have stitches out but this was in Blackpool not Wrightington.  By the time I go for my check up (at 8 weeks) I hope I will be driving myself.

      yes, have been as independent as I wanted to be.  I am beginning to use 1 crutch in the house (or none in the kitchen) but still two outside.

    • cathie38426
      cathie38426 Thursday_Next

      Posted

      How sensible. I can only say well done re your independence.

      I think we are the same age79.

      I will follow your progress

      regards

      Cathie

  • Gaby21
    Gaby21 susie74530

    Posted

    You're probably right! Think all muscles in whole body need to be toned b4 the battle.xxx
  • angela61719
    angela61719 susie74530

    Posted

    Hi Susie,

    I was lucky, I think, in that pre-op my pain was manageable - at least unless I attempted walking any distance. This meant I was able to keep up a reasonable fitness regime until close to surgery. I was swimming a kilometre three times a week- though latterly with my legs immobilised and just pulling with my arms, to avoid pain in the hip-, doing a weights class (including squats and lunges) again until just before surgery (though the squats and lunges were getting harder and harder) and some flexibility work - a yoga/pilates type class. That was the thing I had to abandon first as it just got too painful moving around on the floor. I think I stopped going to that about six weeks before surgery.

    I had no physio exercises - in that respect physio has been of no help either before or after surgery. I've been very much on my own. I had no physio referral after discharge because 'you're doing so well'. Since surgery, I waited until I had the six week check to be sure that it was OK to get back in the pool. I did this for the first time last week. This week I'm aiming to get back in the gym to do some static cycling and weight work.

    In short, I'm glad i was able to keep up the fitness work pre-surgery because I do think it has made my recovery easier since I was able to retain quite a bit of muscle strength. i realise this is not possible for everyone.

    • susie74530
      susie74530 angela61719

      Posted

      Hi Angela:

      You are obviously in very good shape, so physio wold not necessarily have added a lot to what you were already doing.  I had forgotten about the lunges, and may try, but I doubt that I will be able to do them.  I am probably past that as an add on, now, but it is worth trying to see if I can stretch out that quad.

      I find that my pain occurs after I have walked or stood still over the isnk or the cooker, for example.  Can no longer walk down to the marina, without paying for it afterward, and it is not that far from me.

      Great to hear some positive feedback,

      Susie 

  • deborah26839
    deborah26839 susie74530

    Posted

    I am from US, I was not told to do any type of pre-op exercises however, I was doing stretching because of the pain and it was getting hard to do, this is why I decided on surgery. I don't know for sure but don't think it has had any affect on my surgery recovery. I went to 2 week rehab although my doctor said it wasn't needed but because I was home alone and scared I went, I wouldn't do it again. I was always in pain there, it was called a boot camp for a reason. After I got home I did out patient therapy, this too was leaving me in pain always. Time expired I never went back and at my last appointment at 6 weeks, doctor said all that was needed is a lot of walking and leg lifts while lying down, 2 sets 10 each twice per day but most importantly was walking and neither should be done if I am in pain after. My cousin also had this done, older than me but way thinner, she was hiking in Puru at 3.5 months, I am one week from that and could not be hiking anywhere......also another I know is hiking and camping at 7 weeks again she is way thinner. So I guess my thought is more than anything weight makes a big difference.
    • susie74530
      susie74530 deborah26839

      Posted

      HI Deborah:

      Nice to hear from someone in the US.  Spent most of my working life in San Francisco, and four years in New York.

      Rehab school sounds brutal.  Think I shall avoid that.  I am not sure what we have here.  I have run across a number of sites that give exercises regimes for both pre and post op.

      I could stand to lose some weight because the hip does not permit much in the way of walking, etc.  

      I do rather have the impression that we are expected to reach unbearable  pain before surgery in the UK, and that seems unreasonable, as I am doing my very best to mitigate that with exercise and stretches.  The situation does seem to vary a lot in the UK with regard to pain threshholds, exercise, etc, and a lot of patients have expressed differing experiences with the affected hip and what is done to remedy and help with pain, exercise, etc., both pre and post op.

      All the best,

      Susie

    • Thursday_Next
      Thursday_Next susie74530

      Posted

      Perhaps the length of time we have to suffer varies in this country?  I first went to see my GP at the beginning of September this year.  He sent me for an X-Ray immediately.  When he saw the results he referred me to Wrightington immediately.  I had my hip replacement in mid November, less than 2 1/2 months after I first went for help and it could have been up to a fortnight earlier if I hadn't gone on holiday to Scotland for two weeks.  I really do not see the delay as excessive.
    • susie74530
      susie74530 Thursday_Next

      Posted

      Not sure what you are referring to:  "I really do not see the delay as excessive?"  Do you mean the rapidity within which you were treated?

      I have read posts from people who have been made to wait for months/years before reaching the operating theater.  That is excessive!  Why they have that long a wait I have no idea.

    • Thursday_Next
      Thursday_Next susie74530

      Posted

      That is why I think it must vary from place to place.  I agree it is excessive to have to wait months/years but this is not everywhere.
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