When can I stop abiding by rules such as no crossing legs?

I cross my ankles too and seems to be OK as long as the pillow between the knees stops you crossing your legs completely...you're doing really well ..I'm only doing short distances unsupported after 8/9 weeks...just confidence I think....its lower back pain for me ..and the other hip joint protesting a bit...probably need that doing soon!!

Keep up the good work!

Chris

As time passes the restrictions are eased off. They like to check at about 6 weeks and then, if things are going well, you progressively ease off over the next 6-8 weeks. Glad things are going well. I'm still using aids at 8 weeks but I've just got confirmation that they will offer me an appointment for my knee replacement by the end of June. So the knee now needs the help more than the hip!!

Keep exercising, but in bite sized chunks.

Ros...you will be truly bionic!! Sure it'll make a huge difference.....definitely set off the airport security alarms then!!!

Chris

The physios keep muttering over the creaks in my other knee and the X-ray of my 'good' hip shows arthritis but since it doesn't hurt and has full range of motion it can stay there for a bit longer. In a few years I will be really, really bionic no doubt.

I've been told that if the ops done correctly the risk of dislocation is extremely low..that's not to say you should ignore medical advice..

After 4wks trying to sleep on my back,the lack of sleep became unbearable,and rightly or wrongly I started to sleep on my side with a cushion between my legs..first nights sleep fro 4wks.

I'm now in week 9 post op..can walk without crutches round the garden,but still get some groin pain when I put my full weight the new hip,which I am disappointed in really..

I'll give it another 4wks and if no improvement I'll have to get it investigated.

Paulus..I'm the same....groin muscles so stiff as couldn't really move legs apart because of joint....keep doing the exercises....I've got more movement than I've had for years...I think we just have to keep going...are you driving yet??

TBH I don't really do many excercises..because I had my op done at Wrightington,(outside my local area) I haven't seen a physio,but did look up the excercises on google..

Again I've been told the best excerciseis to walk and try to do all the usual things you did before the op?

Yes I drove at the start of week 8 after the op..luckily my car has 3 electronic seat adjustments so I can fine tune it to get the best position,and being my left hip it's actually easier to get into the drivers seat..I'm driving up to 15mls at a time ok,but do get some pain for a while afterwards..I'll increase the distance gradually.

I think you need to wait until your pain free when depressing the clutch pedal before driving.

Unfortunately for me my right hip needs replacing ASAP..but not sure I could go through it again,it's been a painful,frustrating 8 weeks..but tbh it's now slightly better than before the op,so not complaining.

Maybe in a year or so the bad memories will fade away..and in any case the other one might be less painful.

Despite my continuing use of crutches outside and painkillers for my knee I can honestly say that my hip has been great. No breakthrough pain in hospital or on step down pain relief. I tried reducing my 'base' painkillers but the knee really complained so I'm back up to the same as pre-surgery but with much improved mobility only limited by the knee which pre-op was my better joint. My hip does all the work going down stairs and much of the work going up without complaint. I wouldn't do steps without rail or stick though. I haven't driven more than 5 or 6 miles but this is pain free. I don't think I could sit still in the driving position for long periods though so I'm not attempting any long drives - I'll do a twelve mile one in about 10 days because I want to go to a lecture.

To those of you contemplating replacements in the future my advice would be to build up your hip abductors (the muscles which move your leg outwards and stabilise your pelvis when standing on that leg) as much as possible pre-op. If you can maintain a range of motion pre-op as well this is good because the adductors (the muscles which move your leg towards and across the mid-line) tend to tighten and stretching them is the cause of some of the discomfort post op.

Good luck everyone and keep smiling.