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Walking without crutches??

Posted , 13 users are following.

jane83133
jane83133

Hi all, i’m on week 6 post THR and saw my consultant for follow up yesterday and he’s happy for me to drive and go back to work so i’m Looking forward to no longer being trapped!!

I’m confidently walking with one crutch but on my own i’m Still very penguin-like, I had a limp for so long I really want to be able to walk normally but when will this be? My recovery has gone great and i’ve Been doing enhanced recovery with physio and walking lots so I thought I would be crutchless by now! 

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  • clare83752
    clare83752 jane83133

    Posted

    I Gave up crutches at about 4weeks but it’s up to u when u feel u can do without them I to have a limp but only when I walk to fast or have done a lot of walking 
  • sarah22500
    sarah22500 jane83133

    Posted

    Hi Jane, I’m sorry I’m not going to be much help but I have the same fear as you. I’m only 10 days post op but walk like a penguin to go across lounge to get my walker. Then I walk normally. Yes I agree with you, it’s hard not to when we’ve walked like this for so long. I’m sure you will get some helpful idea on here x x
  • rachel1511
    rachel1511 jane83133

    Posted

    I’m exactly the same as you. Nearly 6 weeks on and yet still walking like a penguin without my crutch. I thought I’d be off them by 4 weeks and yet like you I’ve been doing all my exercises and the leg itself feels strong although clearly not quite strong enough yet! Selfishly I’m relieved to hear that it’s not just me!! I’m guessing we just have to keep pressing on. From what i hear it’s important not to give them up if we are still limping as that can cause more problems in the future. Anyway, let’s just hope we are both crutchless by next week! 

    Good luck and take care, 

    Rachel 

  • lyn1951
    lyn1951 jane83133

    Posted

    You are better to use both crutches, until you re-train you brain, you have to really think about it, for a start as you have been walking with a limp and or favouring your bad hip for years, it takes a few weeks to re-train that brain.

    ?HEEL DOWN - PUSH OFF TOE, HEEL DOWN - PUSH OFF TOE, STAND STRAIGHT, for me it was a case of repeating this to myself as I very slowly stepped out and getting myself to do it correctly, after a few days it did come, and my husband trailing along behind me would watch me for the waddle, and say GGRRRRRR, STAND UP, it would make me concentrate on my walking style again, I got to the the point of I wanted to kill him for correcting me, but he was right, I needed to walk correctly, and the rest was time and more walking.  BUT DON'T OVERDO IT, retaining muscles and tendons does take time and aches, but NOT EXTREME PAIN.

     

    • sarah22500
      sarah22500 lyn1951

      Posted

      Lynn thank you so much for that advice, I’ve just tried it without crutches - only 4 steps - and it works!!!! I’m nowhere near ready to give up my crutches yet but I will keep repeating those words like a mantra every time I get up so again that is great advice! 
    • RichardKen
      RichardKen sarah22500

      Posted

      Dear Sarah

      The advantage of using both crutches for walking should apart from everything else mean that it is an easy progressive transition from partial dependence to no dependence and continuing with an excellent and strong walking gait.

      All the best, Richard

    • sarah22500
      sarah22500 RichardKen

      Posted

      Indeed, I can now see that Richard so thank you for previous advice. I feel it will be a long time before I can go without my crutches, not because of pain but lack of confidence. I am one of those very clumsy people who constantly trip up and fall splat on my face, whether it’s in a supermarket or in the street. So I tend to walk always looking at the ground never ahead. Now that I have all this new hardware I can’t imagine being confident enough to look up from the pavement ever again  sad
    • RichardKen
      RichardKen sarah22500

      Posted

      Dear Sarah

      That's a good start if you can accept what I've suggested. I'm not sure what to suggest that will give you the confidence but I will try!

      Confidence often comes from succeeding whatever the hurdle so to start with how about standing with your crutches providing support and just stand tall and look ahead for a couple of minutes...no looking down!

      Now move a step or two while still looking ahead and pause for a bit. Continue this until you feel ready to take a few more steps. Stop if you feel tired and take a break. You should at this stage be concentrating on quality....just getting the standing tall and looking ahead.

      I think that you will gain confidence more quickly doing this and soon your strength will build and you will be able to walk better and with more confidence and soon not need the crutches. Keeping up the exercises is an important part in a full recovery so best of luck and please let me know how you get on.

      Cheers,Richard

    • RichardKen
      RichardKen sarah22500

      Posted

      Thanks Sarah. Hope it helps you and anyone else having confidence with walking issues.

      Cheers Richard

    • lyn1951
      lyn1951 sarah22500

      Posted

      Oh Sarah - 4 steps correctly, that's wonderful, later today try for 5 - 6 steps, and then tonight another few more, its surprising how fast you can build up your number of steps just in the house, by thinking I need to get a cup of tea, go via and bedrooms and back to the kitchen, or around the long way if possible.

      ?Its worth it, if in doubt check with a physio about your walking style, I did, and she found I was limping too much, that's why I made the appt just felt something wasn't right, I had some really strong muscles and one muscle in particular in my buttock was really weak, and it was affecting the way I was picking up my foot, very specific exercises solved the problem, and she taught me to feel for the muscle working, looked a little strange with me with my left hand around behind my back feeling for the muscle twitching when I stepped out correctly, if I lapsed back into my bad habits, I was favouring the muscle too much, and it just didn't work.

      She did exactly the same as my husband, stood behind me and watched me walk away from her, so we were on the right track with the idea of him watching me walk and correcting me when necessary.

    • lyn1951
      lyn1951 RichardKen

      Posted

      Forgot to mention, I used my crutches for months long after I didn't need them, especially around children, walking in shopping centres, the supermarket, saved me a couple of times from nasty result.

      ?I got to the point where I noticed people take more notice of somebody with crutches than somebody with a walking stick, and a couple of times maurauding children and defended myself, I also found they worked as a wonderful hook to get those things I could never before reach, and husband poker, not that I did that very often, as he would grab and pull in fun and being so much stronger than I am, not a good idea.

    • RichardKen
      RichardKen lyn1951

      Posted

      Dear Lyn

      Ah, the crutches have so many uses and in your hands a self protection tool too! I certainly found at bus stops or on the train people were so considerate, something that I was not used to.

      I hope your hip is doing well Lyn.

      All the best, Richard

  • auntiebeanie
    auntiebeanie jane83133

    Posted

    I agree with Lyn you have to learn to walk again. I was off of crutches by week 6 but it was slow progress until week 5. A physio had taught me to walk properly again  after a knee op some years ago so I used the same technique of heel/toe. I also found that if i was tired i veered to the left so had to stop and stand straight, re position my self and start again. It takes abit of getting used to but we all heal at different rates. One of my husbands friends was walking around home without crutches within 3 days of surgery. I could never have done that. Its your body listen to it. 
  • RichardKen
    RichardKen jane83133

    Posted

    Dear Jane

    We'll done but you really should consider using two crutches until you are walking strongly without any limp.

    It takes time for your body to get used to walking properly and a lot of that is dependent on regaining muscle strength.

    Cheers Richard

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