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To walk for miles every day? Is this part of the recovery.

Posted , 17 users are following.

olive45318
olive45318

I have had no instructions given by anyone regarding walking for miles every day. It surprises me to  read  it has been treated as  essential by some people in the discussion group. 

I have had a lot of physiotherapy and posture, strengthening of the various muscle groups, balance, relaxation and return to a full normal life have been the main emphasis.  

I am 8 weeks post op and am walking without sticks and coping with normal living, 

Am I missing something here?.

0 likes, 44 replies

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  • paul25172
    paul25172 olive45318

    Posted

    Am bit worried reading bout ppl walking miles, am 4wks post op and still using one crutch outside, cant walk very far unaided. My physio told me to slowly build up walking, do my exercises n also to rest.
  • edarlingb
    edarlingb olive45318

    Posted

    Olive

    I really find myself relating to this. Thank you for raising the issue.

    I was given only 'bed exercises' on leaving hospital.

    This having been my 4th THR, I've learned/decided to go with the flow. I refuse to torture my body just to prove some, nebulous, point to myself and/or others.

    I'm totally relaxed and comfortable with moving the parameters of my recovery gradually over a sensible time frame.

    Maybe age has something to do with it. I find myself v concerned, however, about those who cannot match the supposed extraordinary progress that a minority seem to manage.

    Let's hope that the majority on here realise that they're not required to try to match them.

    Elaine

    • margaret08277
      margaret08277 edarlingb

      Posted

      Here Here, Elaine. I flatly refused to torture myself with something the Physiotherapist wanted me to do, and went along at my own pace. Result was consultant very pleased with progress and discharged back to my own Doctors care. Now I am 77 so maybe age does have something to do with it........grumpy old woman?.......but I have no intention of trying to keep up with someone forty years younger than I am. It isn't a competition, we are all different, have different pain thresholds and healing rates. One size does not fit all. When I first read the posts about people walking miles I did worry for roughly two minutes, then thought don't be so daft woman! I hope others are able to see it in the same light.
  • renee01952
    renee01952 olive45318

    Posted

    dear olive ... i am not sure what you mean ... do you mind to explain it to me a little more? walking is very important if not essential, however not miles every day right away - every one is different and set their own goals - for me it might be 500 meters, increasing with 100 meters - 

    It seems that you are doing very well - What do you consider a lot of physiotherapy and what exercises were you doing - I am asking this because Physical Therapy has made me go worse - i am 12 weeks post-op and back to the walker now ... back feels locked and I can barely do stretches which came to me easy before - thig muscles feel shortened and so tight that it hurst - i am considering stopping with PT and go for walks -- I am really interested in your experience - maybe I am doing it all wrong .... thanks - warm hug 

    • edarlingb
      edarlingb renee01952

      Posted

      Renee

      I'd advise having a really good, honest talk with your Ohio and being v assertive.

      No way should these practices be making you feel worse.

      Elaine

  • mic71403
    mic71403 olive45318

    Posted

    Dear Olive and Elaine

    Good point.

    I don't think there is any competing .....Some folk can walk miles and/or are encouraged to walk miles....others will focus on other areas of recovery. Yes age and pre op fitness play a big part too.

    Forgive those of us who proclaim success in just once a week or so hitting the nhs/government's advise of taking 10,000 steps in day. It says to me at nearly 4 months I'm healing well and strengtheng well.

    All at their own pace...but as long as the graph is onwards and upwards be happy!

    Mic

    X

    • edarlingb
      edarlingb mic71403

      Posted

      Yes, I hear that, Mic. However, in some of these 'high achievement 'posts, there seems to be v little acknowledgement of those in situations who can't begin to match these achievements.

      As much as I admire this site, I won't apologise for thinking that, at best, this sort of thing smacks of a lack of insight and sensitivity: at worst, a smug sense of superiority.

      Well aware that I'm probably going to be making myself a target, but damned if I won't try to include those who struggle more than others in crucial situations.

    • Guest
      Guest edarlingb

      Posted

      I don't think anyone is trying to outdo anyone else on here, but anyone who reaches any sort of milestone be it their own setting or a physio setting, any achievement after such invasive surgery is worth shouting from the hilltops. I thought the idea of this forum was not just to help other people but also to shout your own achievements to show what can be done if you wish. Good luck am6ft8 you have done great. I too set myself own goals to chieve and when I do I am blissfully happy if not tired and knackered.
    • joanne-1970
      joanne-1970 Guest

      Posted

      I totally agree with that Gillcat. I'm actually appalled that someone would be accused of having a smug sense of superiority because they dare to share their success. I am 44 and have to have both my hips replaced and along with being realistic about the recovery I also love to read about people's achievements & success and am genuinely happy for them.
    • Guest
      Guest joanne-1970

      Posted

      well said Joanne, that is what this forum is all about giving encoouragement through your own achievemnets but also giving support for everyones woes and pains. Pre-op it helped me immensley to read about the ups and downs of everyone on here.
  • Guest
    Guest olive45318

    Posted

    Oh boy, minority reporting in...

    As I stated in my milestone post, I do not wish to make anyone think they are doing badly. Each and everyone of us has their own pace of recovery and the difference in age plays a part as well. 

    Add to that all the various excercises people are given and it's a nice bug mix of things that might become confusing. 

    As for the walking in my case, before my hips started to die on me due to AVN, I was walking a LOT with the dog. Once the decay set in, that died down to maybe taking her on two short 10 minute walks to tie her over until my wife could do a longer walk. 

    And I resented myself for that. So now, being able to walk more than I could before, I take advantage of it. And see how well I can do. But that is by no means a norm. Cycling I still don't do. I will once I've had my checkup in two weeks, but for now, I walk. 

    we all need to do what feels right, what we need. 

  • olive45318
    olive45318

    Posted

    My point actually is, are we supposed to be walking miles every day, so soon after surgery and if so, why have none of the professionals told me this?. 

    As fas as government guidelines is concerned, the "government" is someone behind a desk, making another sweeping statement, telling us all the latest thinking on a subject. One day, we are told not to eat more than 2 eggs a week, then we are told to eat as many as we want. Another case is eating factory made muck to put on your bread instead of butter, changed eventually to be told we are better off eating butter, because it has fewer chemicals,  the list goes on.... The guy who was telling everyone how great jogging was, drops dead in .Central Park, yes, jogging.....

    i am simply asking, who said , if anyone, that we should be walking for miles  on hard surfaced roads, regardless of whether we want to or not.

    • edarlingb
      edarlingb olive45318

      Posted

      Well said, Olive.

      All the more reason to going with our own instincts.

      E

    • paul25172
      paul25172 olive45318

      Posted

      Like I said my physio told me to slowly built up walking, you have to strengthen muscle, bone etc. Remember ur new hip is a foreign body n needs time to settle

    • edarlingb
      edarlingb paul25172

      Posted

      Sounds v sensible to me and so my approach to it.

      Gently, gently…

      Elaine

    • Guest
      Guest olive45318

      Posted

      Good morning Olive,

      my OS and the PT in the hospiital have both told me that low impact excercises are good. Walking, swimming, cycling. In another thread I've already said that cycling I still need to do, but am waiting with that one until 6 week checkup, swimming I need to find a pool with reasonable hours. So I walk at the moment. 

      As it was explained to me, walking has a low impact. Running has a higher impact because you 'thump' your weight on your hip, whereas walking is gradual weight placement. 

      I've come to realize hough that the camps are quite divided as to the advices given. 

      so are we supposed to walk? According to my OS and PT, yes. The distance thoguh, is up to anyone's discretion and like Elaine said, gently gently. Listen to your body and domwhat you can, not what you feel you must or should. 

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