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When will I be crutch free??

Posted , 10 users are following.

ginger54698
ginger54698

So I started using one crutch last spring because of hip pain and by July I was using two.., the pain was unbelievable. I finally convinced my HMO to move my surgery up and Monday will be six weeks post op. I'm still using two crutches or a walker... My doctor said to be non weight bearing for sux weeks but I really thought I would be able to put some weight on it or move to one crutch by now.... I'm so sick of crutches! Once I start putting weight on it this week how fast is the process to no crutches? A month? Longer? Also I'm still taking Tylenol once or twice a day - is that ok? I just want my normal life back! Thank!

0 likes, 10 replies

10 Replies

  • lyn1951
    lyn1951 ginger54698

    Posted

    Dear Ginger, You will not be able to go from no weight suddenly to complete weight bearing, its a marathon not a sprint I'm afraid, even more so seeing you have been on crutches for so long. You not only have the THR to get over, you have to strengthen up your lower back muscles, and others you have not been using since July.  I have found swimming on a heated pool, with a noodle under my arms to help support me is the only way to go, nice and relaxing, but at the same time not stressing any muscles too much. I do my post hip surgery exercies in the water, again gently and not stressing myself too much, but at the same time using the weight of the water against myself to make sure I'm not just playing. But you MUST CHECK with your GP first, or get a nurse to look at your cut site, the chances of infection if you have not healed over completely, I hate to think.
    • sassybees
      sassybees lyn1951

      Posted

      My surgeon said absolutely no pools of any kind. ..its considered dirty water....infection and bacteria run wild. Even tho they are chlorinated they run a risk. I see my surgeon tomorrow and will adk again.... im 6 weeks.
  • lyn1951
    lyn1951 ginger54698

    Posted

    I was in the water in 20 days, but only after I had told my GP what I was up to, he checked very carefully my cut site, and said I was OK to go swimming. Even though he is a GP apparently his nurse tells me that he is only 1-2 units short of being a Ortheopedic Surgeon, he's brilliant with bone issues, and the hospital staff I go to also says, "Oh yes when we get a refferal from him we take it seriously". I was cheeky and asked the staff so some GP's referrals are worth more than others, and I got a nod. But of course we poor plebs are not supposed to know this sort of information, or have access to the GP's that they take a little more seriously.
  • renee01952
    renee01952 ginger54698

    Posted

    dear ginger , 

    there is a reason your surgeon to be non-weight bearing for 6 weeks - 

    have you had your follow up appointment yet? usually the weight will be put on in increments , not full 100% from 0% - but I am not sure ...

    I was 100 % weight bearing both times right after surgery - scary !

    crutches and walker are needed to keep your posture straight when you walk - it is a drag, isn't it - especially for someone as young as you are ...

    do you get physial therapy? do you still have pain? taking Tylenol is perfectly ok ... 

    remember that this is major surgery - just know that your body is healing and it will need time to do so -

    you are doing really good, so be kind to your self -

    take one day, one step at a time and know that all is well ...

    big warm hug

    renee

     

    • ginger54698
      ginger54698 renee01952

      Posted

      Yeah- Originally he told me I would be weight bearing in 2-3 weeks and back at work in 6.  After surgery he told me the damage in my hip was more extensive than he thought and the surgery ended up being more extensive as well..... hence the 6 weeks. I am trying to be chill and wait for things to heal but I am gong nuts- hopefull I will be MUCH better by this time next month.....I hear after 6 weks things move faster....
  • Tutuye
    Tutuye ginger54698

    Posted

    Dear ginger

    I am also missing normal life like walking with out stick ,stop thinking abt the do's & don't do's my dear but bliving this all things cooming soon is ,, inspired me

    After 5 months I can't bear all my load on my new hip but i can feel my progress

    So be strong and hopw u will be free from the crutches soon

    Big hug

  • dalmation
    dalmation ginger54698

    Posted

    I know what you mean.

    Im afraid I stupidly assumed I would be walking much better than I am at just 17 days post op.

    Totally lost the plot last week spent whole day in tears and decided to go back to the start, as common sense and reading other posts on this forum told me I was expecting too much too soon.

    Im now trying to concentrate on walking upright with 2 crutches rather than trying to walk without any!!!

    Patience is not my strong point I was so pleased to be free of the terrible arthritis pain that I thought I could cope with the operation pain without meds - another big stupid mistake.

    I've now made up my mind I am not going to get stressed out about my progress or lack of it  till I sit in front of my surgeon again in 4 weeks time.

    I really wish you well and hope things get better day by day for you - it's so frustrating I know, but as everyone on this forum will tell us our bodies have undergone a major trauma and needs time to heal.

    I'm 54 and still need my other hip replacing - but I can tell you now once I'm fully mobile again I'm starting on my "bucket list" 

    Take care xx

    • Kikeena
      Kikeena dalmation

      Posted

      So well said dalmation! I also have decided to go back to basics and get my walk right. I thought I'd be off crutches and pain killers by now but I'm not. I'm just over 5 weeks.

      2 crutches is a real annoyance because you can't carry anything easily and have to plan every trip. I feel for you, it would be so annoying. I think patience is one of the things most of us are learning. And I'm impatient to learn patience!

      Keena

    • cathie38426
      cathie38426 Kikeena

      Posted

      For some reason I thought you were operated on

      the same day as me. I am 3 weeks on Monday next.

      now I understand why you tried 1 crutch last week.

      I am keeping up my walking but haven't yet tried to

      achieve the surgeon's target of 2 times 30 minutes daily!

      I had an independent shower today, but had help with

      the TEDS, just one more week till they get binned!

      Cathie

  • Swindon60
    Swindon60 ginger54698

    Posted

    Hi ginger . I really think you must listen to your surgeons advice . As physio said to me on Friday it is MAJOR surgery so don't be too hard on yourself use this brilliant site for support and advice you will see we are all different and in lots cases all been given different advice ! I went in hydrotherapy pool in hospital 2 days after op ! But it is your surgeon you must follow advice from . Take things slowly and you will get there . I personally have been surprised at how tough the journey is I'm now coming up week 10 still have down days . But you have had your op and you will improve ...baby steps

    Take care Denise

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