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Trying to walk with a cane instead of two crutches but can only manage about a half a day...

Posted , 9 users are following.

noplaybarbie
noplaybarbie

I have been trying to walk with just a cane for about 4 days now. I have seen on here some people even less than 4 weeks post op are just using one crutch. I can only manage to use the cane about half a day and I start hurting too bad. Sad part is, it isn't the new hip or operated side that is hurting, (right) it is my left side. I was so hoping that I would be able to postpone the second hip replacement for a while, but it isn't looking like that is going to happen. It is all so frustrating, and all I want to do is be out of pain and to be able to walk and function normal again. I know many of you on here have been through so much more than I have. I want to thank you all for being here to listen, give advice and for being so understanding. Good luck to you all....Wishing everyone a speedy recovery and much less pain.....Barb

4 likes, 30 replies

30 Replies

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  • fiona_08868
    fiona_08868 noplaybarbie

    Posted

    Hi Barb,

    My surgeon had me lose my walker for a cane on the other side at 10 days, when I got my staples out. It was hard at first but I listened to others in this forum and focused on standing tall and heel toe. I'm now at 5 weeks and 3 days and that leg is doing well. Walking is looking pretty good. I'll never addition I'm much more comfortable driving than I was pre-op.

    I also will need the other leg done and as much as I'm dreading it I will ask to set the date when I go for my 6 week checkup next week as I need to get my life back.

    For me this has been much harder than I anticipated. I think I unrealisticly thought I'd be up and running in a couple of weeks. Keep on plugging and all of a sudden you'll realize how much better you are. Take care and good luck!

    Fiona

    • noplaybarbie
      noplaybarbie fiona_08868

      Posted

      Thanks Fiona, yep not much difference here. I am at 4 weeks 2 days post op. I also thought I would be fine in a couple of weeks, boy, that certainly isn't the case! I actually did pretty good on the operated side walking with the cane it is the other side (left) that hurts when I walk...It is bone on bone and like you I just want to get my life back. For me it has been an entire year of barely being able to walk or function. No one tells you ahead of time that it will be so difficult to get over... Wishing you the best and hope your recovery goes well...Barb
    • fiona_08868
      fiona_08868 noplaybarbie

      Posted

      Thanks Barb and same to you! My extreme pain started a year and a half ago and wasn't properly diagnosed until this past Feb. Like you, I've barely been able to function. It's only this past week that I've had a glimpse of what is possible after both are done. We will get successfully through this!
    • hope4cure
      hope4cure fiona_08868

      Posted

      fiona, I am so sorry that you were not diagnosed properly. I too was young in my early 40's and went to many docs with terrible hip groan pain. Finally I said to a doc my hip hurts after 8 years no one has ever xrayed my hip. Yet one doc thought it was a hernia. Nope had surgery no hurnia.  the X-ray finally showed the wear and tear of OA . finally THR was a relief after searching for the cause of the pain for so long. I was more than happy to get rid of the diseased joint. I will say it took almost a year to get back in the saddle again. Literally! LOL
  • Malloo
    Malloo noplaybarbie

    Posted

    Everyone is different. Also I guess we all had a funny, limply sort of walk before our operations - I used to look around and spot people with poorly hips just by the way they walked!!!! So there is an element of retraining our bodies. So you can manage a few hours this week, look to building it up bit by bit, this is your body's way of telling you not to rush. Take care. X
  • renee01952
    renee01952 noplaybarbie

    Posted

    Hi barb, 

    Such wonderful responses !!! As said, you can't really compare yourself to others - the healing process is an individual, a personal one - there is no set schedule, eventhiugh we are made to believe there is ... if we feel we are behind this so-called schedule, we get frustrated, angry - That is why so  many of us find this forum !!!!  there is something wrong with me because .......!!!

    Crutch, cane, rollator are all aids to help us walk properly - our body is not in balance yet and we need the support - it also prevents developing the waddle, the limp - it is so easy to fall back to pre-op walking - 

    Oh, the other leg !!!!  that was the reason I found this forum - pain in groin on left  etc. at 3 weeks post-op from right THR - I was in shock when the xray showed almost bone-on-bone of left hip joint when xray 6 months prior  showed mild detoriation of cartilage -

    It was hell,  tbh - poor new hip was overburdened because of increasing pain in other hip - 

    It is daunting and scary, barb, to know that you have to go through it again -

    but you know what, you will have two new hips !!! to me it felt as if healing could/can finally take place ... 

    eventhough there are moments that I am disappointed that I am not as far along as I expected, I would do it again and maybe NOT wait too long -

    Definitely look into rehab post-op - I wish I had done that after 2nd THR - 

    It will make a big difference -

    We all want to walk "normal" again .. but this is what it is right now, and it is perfect ...

    big warm hug

    renee

    • noplaybarbie
      noplaybarbie renee01952

      Posted

      Thanks Renee, for me was worse than a limp before surgery I could barely walk and had to use a walker or crutches those last couple of weeks prior to surgery as it was the only way I could walk. Walking was just way to painful. My right hip was so worn away that I leaned way down on the right side. Also with having a fractured pelvis (didn't even know until after surgery) I am sure that was affecting my walking a lot too.. I know so many of you have been in my shoes or worse. I certainly am not looking forward to going through the surgery again, but like you I am looking forward to being able to walk as normal as possible and to being able to function again. Thank you for your wonderful thoughts and kindness....Hugs to you Renee....Barb
  • lynn66084
    lynn66084 noplaybarbie

    Posted

    Everyone is different Barb, we usually find we all cach up in the end though. I never had crutches, just walking sticks and I used them both until, I think it was 7/8 weeks then used one until 10.5 weeks. You have to go by how you feel, maybe you should keep using two for now, you maybe need that extra support. take care.
    • noplaybarbie
      noplaybarbie lynn66084

      Posted

      Thanks lynn....that is why I have just been testing myself with the cane. I probably overdid it yesterday as I went shopping and ran errands with the cane and probably should have taken my crutches along. I did a lot more walking that normal. When I first start using the cane in the morning it doesn't bother me, but usually by noon I start to hurt some and then I go back to the crutches. I am trying to listen to my body and not do anything that will put too much stress on it. I am sure with just having the right side done and the left still being bad it may be hard to graduate to not needing the extra support. I just feel like I need to try though, we don't know what we are capable of if we don't try. Thank you for your support and kindness....Barb
    • lynn66084
      lynn66084 noplaybarbie

      Posted

      It is so easy to overdo things and not realise we have done it. Think we are all guilty of that.  I have just been for a drive of about 40mins each way with a walk in between, but boy my butt is sore on my new hip side, probably because the most I do is 3 mile in the car and I'm not used to it.

      I'm 17 weeks post op now, will be nice to be able to get up from sitting without being stiff lol

    • noplaybarbie
      noplaybarbie lynn66084

      Posted

      I know we all keep telling one another that we must be patient and that it "takes time", but I think we are all also guilty of not listening to our own advice...haha....You know the old saying "Easier said than done", well that could be the case with us hippies....Have a great day...Barb
  • Rocketman_SG6UK
    Rocketman_SG6UK noplaybarbie

    Posted

    Barbie

    Don't beat yourself up because you cannot do something that someone else can do - all recoveries are different.  My two recoveries from two operations on the same hip, just 10 weeks apart were so different. I had no 'toilet problems' the first time, but the second time I had to ask to be catheterised in the middle of the night.  I was still unable to walk without a stick at 10 weeks - others have thown them away by then.

    You are unique, and your recovery will be too.  And if you should have to have this operation again, your recovery will probably be quite different.

    Best wishes

    Graham - 🚀💃

    • noplaybarbie
      noplaybarbie Rocketman_SG6UK

      Posted

      Thanks Rocketman, that is what everyone who has had more than one hip surgery that none of them are the same, even on the same person. I hope when I get the next one done that it goes easier than the first. At least I will know more about what to expect. Also the physical therapist was here today and he was the first one who came out to my home after I was discharged from the hospital. He commented on how much terrible pain I was in that first time. He also said that he felt some of my pain was also from the cracked pelivs that had to be repaired and so yes, none of us are the same. Hoping that when I get the next one done that I have no more fractures in the pelvis. Wishing you well....Barb
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