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What are my limitations?

Posted , 14 users are following.

anne26948
anne26948

Hi all. It's been a while since I posted something. I had a THR 6 months ago and am still unsure as to what I can't and can do! My recovery has been fine and I feel back to normal. However I have been given mixed messages by 2 different consultants I have seen since my op. My first consultant suggested there were certain things I wouldn't be able to do, simple things like kneeling down/running/! I am lucky enough to have 4 grandsons, 3 of them are 2 years old, so they are mainly at floor level! One of the reasons I was keen to have the surgery was so as I would be able to play with them without being in pain. I have recently started kneeling and sitting on floor with them, even chasing them around on my knees etc. Am I putting myself at risk? Also I love gardening, so that involves kneeling down to plant/weed etc. And some housework involves the need to kneel down. Would welcome any comments. Thanks.

1 like, 27 replies

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  • chrisa306driver
    chrisa306driver anne26948

    Posted

    I had my hip done 6 months ago. No limits from day 1 except no running for 3 months. 

    Also, knee done 20 months ago. No limits at all. Can knee fine. 

    • tinasuds
      tinasuds chrisa306driver

      Posted

      NO limits from day one is a bit misleading for anyone looking for facts on here ..

      Of course there are limits , you would never be advised it’s ok to touch your toes 2 days after the op or going past your 90 degree angle !

      If your going to post things please make them factual or people could hurt themselves 

    • ptolemy
      ptolemy tinasuds

      Posted

      I had no restrictions and was told by the physios at the hospital that I could touch my toes if I wanted from day 1. I think surgeons etc have different ideas about what people can do, an artificial hip can never really replace your natural hip. I have also heard that some surgeons say never run again and also never cross your legs again. Perhaps they are trying to reduce wear and tear?
  • RichardKen
    RichardKen anne26948

    Posted

    Dear Anne.

    If you are not in pain and you are fulIy mobile I really do not understand what the problem is.

    Whilst I quite understand the reasons for not running unless you are very over weight this is something you might well expect to be able to do for example crossing a busy road to avoid being run down!

    I do think that there is a tendency to expect hip recovery to be very lengthy and that life will be very restricted in the future. That is a mindset issue.

    Apart from avoiding running unless it was an emergency and jarring the joint by jumping down from a ladder rather than walking down fir example these have been the only things that I can think if that I avoided since the hip replacement.

    I've carried on walking across steep hill sides, carry the same very heavy loads in the building trade, laying and borrowing concrete, working on high scaffolding, climbing ladders, roofing involving very heavy stone tiles, catching and working on and,with sheep, climbing trees with a chainsaw, oh yes and having sex with my partner! So come on just get on with life. I'm 76,if that makes any difference.

    Good luck and enjoy playing with your grand children.

    Cheers Richard

  • pam00470
    pam00470 anne26948

    Posted

    hi anne,i am at the ten week point post op.the only thing i was told not to do for fear of dislocation (forever,i mean)was squatting,or crossing my legs.,and a physio even questioned the squatting rule as you would still be keeping the 90 degree angle-so who knows?i can kneel,fine. i think as long as you can run,without any pain,and dont go mad at first,it should be fine,im not at that point yet-hah!,but i was told by 12 weeks i should be able to do anything i could do before the op-ive  got 2 weeks till then,so id better get busy!.you sound as though youve done really well,im really pleased for you.enjoy your little grandsons-lovely age!xxx
  • anniepaint
    anniepaint anne26948

    Posted

    I am 6 month post op today. Time flies! Squats and kneeling and getting up was one of the exercises we did at hip school 2 weeks post op. I had posterior approach. I was told it was ok to cross my ankles but can still cross my non operated leg if I feel like sitting that way. 

    Good luck

    Ann

  • anne26948
    anne26948

    Posted

    Thanks for that reassurance. Hip school?! Don't know where you live, but I have had just one physio visit since op, which lasted about 10 mins.

    • anniepaint
      anniepaint anne26948

      Posted

      Hi Anne, I’m in Berkshire. I had my op at Circle hospital in Reading under NHS choices. The physio hip schools were included but I paid to attend Clinical Pilates. Circle hospitals physio depts offer these to anyone even if they haven’t had their op there and I think they are very worthwhile paying for. I think you can get 6 physio appointments via the nhs through your GP so may be worth asking if you feel you need more advice. 

      Ann

  • erela
    erela anne26948

    Posted

    you need to be on the careful side as you do not want to dislocate..... trust me on that it is brutal...... I found that my TRHR would tell me when I was moving in a way it did not like...... I hope that doesn't sound crazy....... but listen to your body..... sounds like you are pretty strong and fit so you are ahead of the game.  Do you swim?  Swimming makes the leg muscles nice and strong! ...... Muscle strength is what we need to keep the hip replacement from dislocating......  if you do an internet search on Hydo Therapy Exercises you will find a lot of good info and videos.......  wishing you the best!biggrin

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