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

God morning Olive --- it is confusing, isn't it?  I am still flopping around at 12 weeks post op ... did the walking at some point (40 minutes) with great pleasure and hardly any pain - but ... apparently I overdid it and was told to just walk up and down the drive way and do more exercises - which I did ... now i can barely walk as the exercises ( with weigts) probably were too streneous - grrrr .... starting all over ... well, not helpfull that other hip needs surgery (didn;t see that one coming) and hindering my progress - anyway, I will listen more to my body and start increasing my walking, as it just felt good - will lay off the weight training - Just follow what  feels best to you at that moment ... we all share our stories here and no one is out to make feel anybody bad - no smugness either - just little victories that noone else can understand when not in the same position - who really cares that you made the toilet in time or did a little walk without a stick .. goes for all the down moments too ... 

be kind to your self - it is alright .... warm hug

of course it is : Good Morning ... 

The physio and to do sheet that I was given on leaving hospital, suggested walking as a major exercise towards recovery. It suggested starting off with 2 five minute walks a day, using whatever aids necessary and building up to around 30 minutes over time. I interpreted this rightly or wrongly as a goal to achieve before my post op check at 6 weeks. Obviously when I went to one crutch, then stick, then nothing I sort of started again. When I can walk to church, 20 mins uphill, and back unaided and without limping I will feel fully recovered. Everyone,s advice is different, different surgeons etc, but it seems to be that besides the exercises a certain amount of walking is required if at all possible. Obviously age, fitness, lifestyle and the presence or absence of other conditions will affect this. Yes some can walk a long way quite quickly, others cannot and one of the resounding messages on this forum is to listen to your body, it will recover at its own rate. I do not call that a competitive stance.

Hey Olive,

i'm a health worker, and sensible advice on eating, drinking and somking truly isn't just by a pen pusher, but well researched advice. Were folk to follow it more, we'd get far fewer A and E admissions on a Friday night. as it is, smoking practice changes make for happy smoke free pubs, restaurants and trains!

where I agree with you is the total lack of consensus in advice given by individual physios and surgeons to us hippies! I was told to walk, do any swim stroke, and TED elastic stocking were silly but to take 2 junior asprin a day, a nicer option which I took! I again was told bath at 6 weeks was fine; someone else said 3 months!

so, good luck in the quagmire! and follow your instincts for your individual body -and have a lovely day!

Mic

x

I never counted steps or miles. I took 4-30 minute walks per day and found that the perfect balance for me.

Hi Olive , Everyone is different in their recovery and should go at their own pace . I had a bitateral hip replacement 3 months ago and am quite happy to walk just a mile or so each day , plenty ! You sound like you are doing just fine with what you are doing so keep it up . I just set myself small goals as I go and it I achieve  them fine if not , fine too . I see no point over doing things . My trouble is what ever way I turn out of my gate I have a hill to climb so i have just done it very gradual . Only in the last few days I have gone to the top of the hill and quite glad to get home after that . Keep up the good work , kind regards , Ruth in hilly Wales x

I had a few physio exervises given at the hospital which I still do at 7 weeks. Walking was recommended but no one told me miles. At the post op meet it was just said to carry on  and that if it hurt a bit that was to be expected as it was still early days but didn't say do miles. My longest walk is 1 mile and that is enough as I ache afterwards. If I did longer I would only suffer the next day and do little then.

For me I think little and often is better than trying to do a longer stint and making the muscles suffer. This is similar to physiotherapy exercises when you think about it as they suggest doing them 3 times a day rather than doing loads all at once.

I  try and go up and down the stairs more to use the upstairs loo rather than the one downstairs so that gives me more exercise. I have only been walking up stairs with alternate legs about a week and a half and downstairs about a week.

I am still stiff first thing in the morning and if I sit for a while it takes longer to get going so I try to get up and move about regularly.

For me even in weeks to come I'm not going to walk several miles a day. I'm just going to try and be active in the house, garden, town centre and maybe some walks around parks and down the canal!

I don't think you should worry about not doing miles. Like you say a normal active life is what you want with a bit of exercise to strengthen those muscles.

Spot on, my experience is very similar to yours. After all, the object of the excercise as far as I am concerned is to live a normal life as far as possible. Maybe if I was a postman, I might have a slightly different view!

Hi

My physiotherapist said that if I wanted to walk, to do so. But main strengthening of muscles will come from exercises, swimming etc. so no I don't think you're missing anything. I think walking is good for us, anyway. Whether we've had a hip replacement or not. It's a choice really and up to individuals. Some people like to walk for miles, and thats right for them.

Barbara

X

Hi Olive

Walking is a low impact exercise and a good exercise but I was told to start by walking to the first lampost {or similar landmark} then try the 2nd one etc and build it up slowly. 

Set yourself a goal.......You want to be able to walk to a certain place by a certain date.  Then break that up into smaller goals.  I find thats the best way to do things......even further on in your recovery.  I want to go back to Venice next year {the big 70 birthday} for anyone who hasnt been there there is no transport and to cross a road you have to cross a bridge !!!!! I'm on 2 crutches permanently so that is going to take some doing  LOL  I am going to have to start  setting myself small goals for that.

Love

Eileen

Hi Hippies ,

i met an orthopaedic surgeon today, socially and asked him about this walking business....

The object of a hip replacement, is to get rid of pain and the restricted lifestyle, due to damage of the joint. 

The object of recovery, is to have better health and mobility.

The  object of excercise, is to build up muscle strength, without causing damage to the healing ligaments and tissues.

The first 6 weeks are crucial for the body to repair itself.

After 6 weeks, the majority of the healing will have taken place.

Walking for a mile or more, is not recommended until after the 6 week period.

Walking more than a mile a day is not recommended for the first 6 months.

There  is no goal, as far as walking for miles is concerned.   This will vary, according to age and fitness and personal preferences. 

The  goal is to be well.

Risk  of dislocation will vary according to the exact type of operation and whether the approach is anterior or posterior. Different size heads of artificial joints are used and some are more prone to dislocation, than others. Dislocation is always a possibility for the first 6 weeks and gets less likely as time goes on.  It is well worth obeying the rules for this period, as it is a difficult operation and requires a lot is skill to get it right.

It is frustrating for a surgeon who has worked very hard to get it right, only for people to make up their own recovery plan...

This  is the gist of our conversation, hope is useful,

The surgeon was professional and experienced and I was very impressed with his concern  for us hippies!