Walking, how long, how often

For the first four weeks the PT came to my home. I started walking right away, first in the house and then outside in the driveway. How far are you walking in 10-15 minutes? I think by four weeks I was walking half a mile both down and up a hill. But I also did simple exercises during this time. I had a great deal of stiffness in my hip, but now at three months that has been alleviated a great deal. 

I had posterior , and I am 40 , they told me to get and move a lot . So I did, I walked using walker to mail box, and out around driveway all through the house. Then day 8 I swelled huge and was put on my back in bed leg in air for a week. So I cant really answer this, but if it hurts don't do it??? Rest and Ice? I was only on treadmill 5 minutes a session at PT 3 days a week. at first just using one leg, then both holding rails, then not holding on, but I have to think to push off with my operated leg every step, or I learch. I am on week 14, but swelling set me back 4 weeks according to dr.

Good luck

Hi Dsilk. Im in the UK. I was given exercises to do at home 3 times a day. Day after I came out of hospital. I was out in my road. I was told by a nurse to aim to walk 3 houses extra each time as a target. This worked for me. If I felt good I went a little further . I was also told to go to bed for 2 hours in the afternoon. It helps with the swelling and gets rid of fluid. It takes up to two years for the muscles to heal completely. Its early days try massaging where muscles are tight.

Hi dsilk 3 weeks seem really early I was on 2 crutches still then I’m 7 nearly 8 weeks and I still get stiff you sound like your dong great it’s not worth rushing it causes more damage then good don’t forget to ice that’s help with the strffness other wise keep going as you are well done your doing fine

I am almost 4 weeks out (Thursday will be 4) and I went back to work full time last week. If I get tired or the leg is bothering me I go home early (I am lucky to have that luxury). I rarely use my cane anymore and I walk quite a bit. This week the leg is stiff which means I need to do more stretching. Different parts heal at different rates, it's how the body works, meaning each person will heal differently. Just keep walking and stretching and if it hurts, don't do it! My first surgery 10 years ago on the other side, a resurfacing, broke 7 weeks in so now I have a full on that side too. Apparently the femur was cracked for a week or so and I ignored that pain...now I'm very vigilant if something doesn't feel right! Live and learn.

Daily  Chronologue:

I am 80 years old and have had 3 stents installed-no heart attack.  My only other hospital problem has been getting a new shoulder-good health otherwise.  I am doing everything I have been told to do.

Posterior procedure.   

I am using coumadin for blood clots. They take my blood twice a week to monitor the level.  Since coumadin I have only taken 3 BP pills out of a possible twenty. MY BP apparently has been driven down by the coumadin.

Have not used pain meds yet

Day 9: Therapist showed. Walking getting better-went outside for a walk. Still no real pain just limping along.

While I still got up two times I slept much better-a good 8 hours.  Still struggling with swelling but I am winning. This morn I was able to jog my leg off the couch while sitting up.

I have decided to do this chronologue because It might help. I will be glad to answer specific questions. I will do a complete update every few days.

Doctor office called and doubled my coumadin dose.

Day 10:  Still not taking any pain meds or other OTC stuff.  Therapist showed.  Total walking inside and outside for day about ½ hour.  Still struggling with swelling and winning but I am forgetting about the swelling at the top of the hip above my butt. I have to ice that once a week. It seems.  While I feel more power in my leg I still can only lift it about 15-20 degrees above the floor while sitting. I was quite tired at the end of the day. 

Day 11.  Sleep was not great.  Started the day dong ankle pumps, knee presses and hip squeezes before getting up.  I also iced the calf and hip area before rising.  No therapist today. I did exercises and then walked our circle outside my house.  I skipped the BP pillls again because my numbers were in line. Later in the day I did the exercises again and also walked the circle two more times.  Total walking for the day about 25 mins.  

It appears that I now have a very sore op side butt. When I sit it hurts. I get up a lot and put a pillow on the side that does not hurt to ease the pressure.  I am lying down now when icing. It is easier on my buttock. 

At this point I cannot imagine I will have to use pain meds. But I have not eliminated the possibility.  

Doctor called and increased my intake of coumadin again. He wants my blood to show a certain level.

Day 12:  Slept well-only got up once. Did icing and exercises before rising. Completed standup exercises. Went for a walk on our circle. Later walked again on circle.  Then still later did icing lying down and exercises. Again completed standup exercises. Later took a walk on circle.  I wanted to go again but decided to wait another day. Did more icing lying down.  Practiced quite a bit walking around house with cane staying close to things I could grab with free hand.  Did icing and exercises before going to sleep.

Day 13: Sunday Slept well-up twice.  Still sleeping only on back-not easy.  Very similar to Day 11.  My op butt is not hurting today. I am still getting up often. Swelling there but not bad. Therapist put me through exercises. 

Day 14: Slept well on back-up once.  Similar to Day 13. No therapist.

Day 15: Slept on back-ok not great.  Icing and exercises before rising. Able to get out of bed by maneuvering my op foot.  Therapist put me though entire exercises and added another where I move my op foot to the rear while standing. Marching exercise is getting better with a higher step. Walked circle 4x. And leg did not feel very much discomfort. Butt is not hurting very much.  Practiced walking with cane and also on my own for short distances.  Kept up icing and did the final icing while laying down ready to sleep.

Day 16: Slept on back-sleep ok Visited Doctor -xrays looke good. Stopped iron and vit C pills.  Coumadin untill next Tuesday.

Similar day as before.  But seeing a vast improvement in leg mobility. I can get leg into and out of bed without much effort. Swelling still there but getting more under control. Still practicing with a cane. I am also walking, albeit with a gimp, without anything, but only short distances and again able to grab on if necessary.   Have to be very careful turning.  Getting up and down on chair without any extra effort. Legs showing strength.

Day 17: Tried to sleep with pillow on non op side-fuhgeddaboudit. Still cannot sleep on op side because it feels bulky and uncomfortable-no pain. Any ideas on sleeping would be welcome.

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My previous post follows:

Day 1 & 2: in hospital 

In the following days cited. I have not taken any pain meds yet 

Day 3: Getting home no problem-just followed instructions-now that the hip was done tryng to understand how to organize the house needed changes. Which chair? How many pillows? What to use to get up out of chair? Where to sleep? These would all change as the days went by. I found out what better or worse means. My wife, always my hero, was awesome.

I did the basic therapy for the day and I felt fine. I am walking fine.

That night we got me into our bed which we thought would work well because it is like a hospital bed. The head and foot can be adjusted. No good. (I simply could not use the leg wedge provided in the hospital. It did not work in the hospital as I wound up in the chair every night.) So we decided to use the couch which would keep me on my back. We put some barriers next to the couch.  I slept for three hours and had to get up. Yes, she was there to help.  Anyway it was somewhat of a fitful night.

Day 4:Thanksgiving-The therapist showed up and we went through some extra exercises. I again felt fine.

Sleeping was about the same. I was sleeping during the day sitting up. I used an airplane pillow. I am still feeling only discomfort-not pain. Eating normal. No problem walking.

Day 5: My leg is swelled-the hip and calf about 11/2 /  2 inches larger. We were concerned because no where were we told to expect swelling. So we called the VNA visiting nurse association.A nurse was dispatched. We began icing and raising the leg.. In the meantime I looked on line and found this site which affirmed that some people had swelling-it was a relief. The nurse affirmed it was onl swelling and not a blood clot. Sleeping improved but still somewhat fitful

Day 6: Therapist shows up and we do some exercises and he also affirms swelling is just trauma.

Sleeping still fitful.Walking good. Struggling with swelling.

Day 7: Sunday       Walking well. Icing leg a lot-keeping elevated as much as possible. Doing exercises.

Struggling with swelling.

Day 8: Therapist showed and we do our workout-helpful with ideas and knowledgeable about other folks problems. Struggling with swelling. Sleeping a little better but still getting up a few times at night. Sleeping during the day a lot.

Nurse took blood.

Good luck> 

You need to build up gradually.  In my recovery blogs on my website, I added distances I was achieving, it's good to be able to look back and see how you gradually build up your strength and stamina.

Graham