When will thing ever get better?

Hi Sarah,

Yes it will get better but not as fast as you would like

Do the exercises to the point where it hurts and stop! That is really important. If it does not hurt you have not done enough and if it hurts then you are doing too much.

Confused? Yes, We all feel like that at first.

Believe me, I have had all your symptoms and more besides. Just plod on!

My best thing is to exercise in the swimming baths. Try to do your exercises in water because it is so much gentler.

Don't give up yet!

Best wishes

Shirley 

Hello Sarah

​It will get better. Nine weeks is still early days. I foolishly though I would kind of just jump up after the operation and off you go!!  A lot depends on how bad you were before. I was unable to walk without crutches for 10 months prior and everything took a lot longer but trust me it does get better in time. The exercises are really important, according to my hospital even more than just walking and you have to ignore how fast or slow anyone you know progressed as we are all different. All those pains you describe are quite normal (although I also didn't realise it at the time) and it takes a little while for the muscle pains to go away.

​I would have thought going back to work after 7 weeks was very ambitious so relax and hang in there.

Gill

Hi Sarah

I feel you frustration.  I am 12 weeks out and having similar problems. I have psoas tendonitis which has significantly improved in the last couple of weeks.  It has prevented me from doing all the things you mentioned and in addition have had problems sittingwithout causing a flareup of pain.  

I stopped all exercises, went to a phsycial therapist who recommended moist heat compresses(I use a tube sock filled with dry rice in the micro for 1 minute)it works

really well.  Also massaging your thigh and buttocks.  Do NOT DO anything that causes pain.  It just keeps thing stirred up and you never get anywhere.  I had to compeltely stop doing anything except lie around and walking casually through the house for 6-8 weeks before I began to see some improvement.  Do you have pain in your groin?  Sometimes psas pain is in the lower back and down the thigh.  My was initally in my groin but morphed to the other two places.  I am not anywhere near normal yet but was able to make Thanksgiving dinner for my family.  I can walk about 7 minutes and sit for about twenty and it is getting better almost daily.  I hope you don't have tendonitis but if I were you I would find a good physio who can advise you about what's going on.  The best exercise after heating and massaging your thigh is walking.  Hope this is helpful.  Also taking Nsaids helped but I got an ulcer and had to stop taking them.  Something called ionotophoresis can help. Also steroid injections have been mentioned to me by my surgeon.

 I haven't done the latter two yet. Hope this is helpful.

Hi Sarah,

Yes it will get better but not as fast as you would like

Do the exercises to the point where it hurts and stop! That is really important. If it does not hurt you have not done enough and if it hurts then you are doing too much.

Confused? Yes, We all feel like that at first.

Believe me, I have had all your symptoms and more besides. Just plod on!

My best thing is to exercise in the swimming baths. Try to do your exercises in water because it is so much gentler.

Don't give up yet!

Best wishes

Shirley 

Sarah,

You will have emotional and physical ups and downs.  Everyone heals differently, do what you can but listen to your body. When it comes to hip replacements, slow and steady wins the race. My fellow hippies said to be kind to myself.  They were right.  

Reach out on this forum whenever you need to.  If you still have concerns, give your doc a call.

Warm hugs,

 

Thanks for all the lovely responses. I really needed to hear that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Shirley, I had thought about trying to do some exercises at the swimming pool so I'll give that a go at the weekend. I may even be able to talk my son in to coming too!

Sally, yes I do get groin pain.  It feels really tight if I stand up straight or lie down flat.  When I do my leg raises it feel quite uncomfortable when I get to 90 degree angle.  It's especially tight in the morning or when I've sat for a while.

i think I just need to know I will get there in the end and I'm not going to end up like this forever.

Many thanks. x

You sound like I feel sometimes still, I am 13 weeks and I have thigh pain which lately goes down into my knee. Have been told this can be normal for some people, some heal quicker, I wasn't one. My cousin did she was hiking at 14 weeks in Puru, it hurts to go up steps but I keep doing it. I have learned, if an exercise hurts you aren't ready for it, there's a nurse on Bonesmart she stated hops heal themselves if given time but people rush it and end up hurting themselves and delays process. She told me it takes a year to really get back to normal. The only exercise my doctor said to do are leg lifts while lying down and walking. It seems everyone I throw something else in I hurt, I threw in squats and think that is why my knee hurts, listen to your body, good luck. Deb

Yes it will get better, but slowly

go to your GP and ask for physio and hydrotherapy, I did and it improved my gait almost no limp now. I was 10 weeks when I asked him when I went to see about returning to work. I was off for 12 weeks and then went back on a phased return. I work in the hospital labs and was told that 10-12 weeks was the expected time off

Hi Sarah,

Yes, water is the answer. No hydrotherapy near me so I just go in the jacuzzi at my swimming baths and do single leg squats or leg lifts. Just do the exercises you were given in water and they come much easier. Then try them on land. Simples!

Yes it will get better. But the leg lengthening I think may be slower to heal than a normal hip op. And as others have said, doing too many exercises isn't a good thing. My physio is very careful not to overwork my muscles because she says it only causes more inflammation and that hurts and slows down healing.

I have a lot of tight muscles and am doing lots of stretches. In fact as much stretching as strengthening. Could be worth looking in to.

Keena

Hi sarah,

How are you today? Any sign of progress?

Hope you are feeling brighter.

Hugs,

Shhirley