I just wanted to add, when I switched from the cane to a walker I felt much better and not so tired as with the cane. I am not sure why, but the cane seemed harder on my body then using a walker and I stood straighter also.
I hope things will get better for you soon. Do you have a pool you can walk in, that really helps you out or a ymca possibly if not. Good luck to you and don't worry about workers, like someone said...have em watch the surgery and then talk...Lol luck to you... things will only get better...
Sunshine12:
I so agree with you about the walker being more supportive than a cane. Also one can stand straighter using a walker and there is not the tendency to lean like there is when using a cane. I found I could zip along with the walker - mine of course has wheels on the front and I put lovely pink tennis balls on the back legs - easier on the wood flooring that we have in our home.
I loved my walker, and I was always one who hated the idea of using a walker, thinking it was "old people stuff".
Right, the walker gives your body the advantage of standing up streight!
Well as for me... I go in for a TKR on 6/12/09. I think I am ready LOL...
I have other incentives to the rehab too, I want or have to loose weight and our daughter is getting married on teh fall of 2010. I want to be able to walk her down teh aisle without a cane!
wish me luck, I will be on the board maybe next week before surgury but may be off for a couple weeks as I hope to gofrom teh hospital to a rehab place for as long as they will keep me!
Ken
It sounds to me like you may well be able to walk your daughter down the aisle for her wedding in the fall of 2010 without using a cane. But even if you have to use the cane -so what? I have seen Fathers of the Bride using a w.chair to accompany her down the aisle. The important thing is that you will be there.
I do hope that you can be in a rehab facility for a couple of weeks. Those Physical Therpists work you hard twice a day but they perform wonders. Faithful exercises for about two weeks - accompanied and followed by LOTS OF WALKING really improve one's gait.
Thanks Shirley,
this board is great, I have been on it since my first opperation in March 2000, I fell and broke the ball off the femur. Then they did an ORIF (open reduction something) and had a pin & bar in the hip then arthritis set in and I needed a new hip and same for the knee.
Thanks and talk soon,
Ken
Thanks Shirley,
this board is great, I have been on it since my first opperation in March 2000, I fell and broke the ball off the femur. Then they did an ORIF (open reduction something) and had a pin & bar in the hip then arthritis set in and I needed a new hip and same for the knee.
Thanks and talk soon,
Ken
Hi Ken:
I read through all the 6-month hip replacements posts before I went in the hospital to have my hip replacement. While I waded through those, I also followed the current postings. I felt very thankful to those first posters. Doctors don't tell us all the everyday things we need to know to cope with hip replacement.
That's for sure... like when I had the THR they didn't mention the possibility that I would NOT be able to pick up the operated leg for a day or two! Wow did that scare me and my wife.
Talk soon,
Ken
Dont worry. my experience, and I am now six months out of bilateral TKR is that it is very diffiuclt for the first three months...it continues to be painful. . which can naturally result in feeling 'down' and blue. Also known side effects of the pain meds themselves include "emotional lability" which translated fo rme to depresion, crying and anxiety.
The good side is that now my knees do feel and perform better than pre-surgery...its just a long haul.
Quote:
Originally Posted by bossygirl
I know I have been impatient but I truly thought by this time I would be walking on my own without pain and able to be more mobile. I am using one cane but I cannot go too far as the pain and the strain is too much and I am wiped out for rest of day and have to take some pain medication. What is the normal time to be able to walk properly without cane? Seems some people here are able to get back to normal quickly and some takes much longer. I am tired of being inside and not able to resume a normal life. I go back to work in 3 weeks so have beeen lucky to be off and am thankful for the recovery time but I am starting to fall into a bad way. Normally I am cheerful and optimistic but last few days I just cannot shake these feelings of frustration, sadness and distress. People don't seem to understand, at work I think they feel you are just off relaxing and taking it easy. I hope this passes soon, maybe it's hormones...who knows??
I do hope all went well for you Ken with your operation. You mentioned about not being able to raise your leg after operation for couple days. Me too and it was scary, felt like a thousand pounds and was hard to get to the bathroom.
I am almost 11 weeks now post THR, I have been doing too much walking and standing on legs and things and maybe not enough strengthening exercises as I am usually too tired then. The last few days I have had terrible pain in and around the new hip and buttock. Do you guys think too much walking and moving is the wrong thing? I have overdone it but I am not one to sit still. I am still using the cane and that has been hard also on my hand, shoulder and too much leaning. I had rented the walker so that went back after a month as I was advised to do. I am a bit concerned, also I cannot seem to get a good night's sleep since the operation. I usually sleep on my side and twist and turn alot and I find discomfort and can't seem to settle down. I don't want to take sleeping pills as I already usually take half a Percocet at night for pain. I go back to work on Monday, 4 hours a day for first week and is all sitting, plus about a 10 minute walk each way to subway to get there. I feel a bit anxious but sure this is normal. I have appreciated all the information and advice from people here so please let me know what you think.
I do hope all went well for you Ken with your operation. You mentioned about not being able to raise your leg after operation for couple days. Me too and it was scary, felt like a thousand pounds and was hard to get to the bathroom.
I am almost 11 weeks now post THR, I have been doing too much walking and standing on legs and things and maybe not enough strengthening exercises as I am usually too tired then. The last few days I have had terrible pain in and around the new hip and buttock. Do you guys think too much walking and moving is the wrong thing? I have overdone it but I am not one to sit still. I am still using the cane and that has been hard also on my hand, shoulder and too much leaning. I had rented the walker so that went back after a month as I was advised to do. I am a bit concerned, also I cannot seem to get a good night's sleep since the operation. I usually sleep on my side and twist and turn alot and I find discomfort and can't seem to settle down. I don't want to take sleeping pills as I already usually take half a Percocet at night for pain. I go back to work on Monday, 4 hours a day for first week and is all sitting, plus about a 10 minute walk each way to subway to get there. I feel a bit anxious but sure this is normal. I have appreciated all the information and advice from people here so please let me know what you think.
Hi bossy girl:
Gee - my reaction is that maybe you are doing TOO MUCH walking and standing. It is almost 11 weeks post surgery for you and that still is early in your recovery - in my lay person's opinion. It sounds to me like your body is telling you that you are doing too much. My PT people told me to not do the thigh strengthening execises more than once a day, but that walking was good. However, you might be doing too much of walking and standing.
I had purchased a "leg lifter" that was just wonderful to get my operated leg in and out of bed and also the car. I recommend that to all who are yet to have their THRs. I could do without that after a time but don't remember just when that was. I wasn't in any hurry to ditch it. Now I have it for the next THR which I plan to have around the end of this August, or so.
Since I am not employed, being an old gal, I of course had more time after my THR to rest and take very good care of myself after the THR. I am lucky in that.
I feel for those who have to go back to work.
It was quite a while after my THR before I could return to sleeping on my side. I can't sleep on my back, either, but had to after the surgery. My surgeon told me when I could do that and I also forget just when that was.
I think you need to slow down a little, girl! Try that and see if it helps. You aren't running a race, you know.
I too am 11 weeks post having my hip replaced. I went to see my doctor on Wednesday and he was shocked that I am still limping, still having a lot of pain in my groin, and still using a cane occasionally. His response was "Don't be my first failure!" Gee whiz, sorry if I'm throwing off his statistics! Anyway, he told me the problems were probably because of my being in such poor shape going into the surgery (due to my arthritis my activity level had gone down to almost nothing besides work). He also told me to ride a stationary bike - a lot! Oh well, I guess I'll ride a bike! He did take x-rays and said everything looks fine.
As for work, I went back to work 6 weeks ago - half days at first. I'm back full time and do a lot of walking there. By the end of the day I'm usually bushed and look forward to coming home and resting. Good luck going back and definitely don't feel bad about taking your cane with you - especially if you have to ride the subway, people will be a lot more careful around you if they see you with a cane.
Just curious - did you do those on-the-bed thigh exercises before your hip surgery? I received a huge booklet from the hospital about a month prior to my surgery and faithfully did those excercises every day - a lot of them - and then at the rehab center did the very same exercises twice a day along with the other "hip girls". It might be that my thigh muscles were in great shape before surgery because of those exercises?
Thigh muscles still in the same great shape from just walking a lot every day - but not outside walks because my other hip now needs replacement and is causing me to limp. Replaced hip is perfect - no problems, no limping from that one.
Shirley, I think you are right and I need to relax abit about it all. I went to a couple outdoor music events that involved standing on concrete to long and out of town for a couple nights getaway that involved too much walking, shopping and going.
Windieone, That was not very nice what your doc said to you. As everyone says to me, it is still relatively early in your recovery and we are all different. I have a feeling I as well was not in good shape going into the operation and for same reason, arthritis was so limiting to my life. I was not told to do any exercises before operation and did not go to rehab, just straight home. I think so many factors make a difference. I sure know now and would advise anyone going in for THR to strengthen your upper body and legs before surgery to help the after part.
I think taking my cane to work on subway will help also as that is only way to get a seat at times.
Back to work tomorrow, I am just 50 and work with alot of younger people and feel many do not understand the healing time and process you go through with this operation. I sure did not before. Feel a little anxious because my sleeping is so poor and usually don't get up early so will be hard to get back to a routine.
Take care to you guys,have a great day and thanks for everything!
The only special exercises I ever did for my replacement hip were those on-the-bed, pressing down on the mattress type exercises, both before the surgery and right after for the 2 weeks stay at the rehab center. They sent me there because I have no one at home to help me right after surgery. I had thought I wanted to go right home after surgery but during the hours after the surgery I realized that there was no way!
The exercises consist of just pressing as hard as you can down on the mattress at the knee and then the next set at the heel and hold for a count of 15, repeating each set 15 times. Also there was the "ankle pump" which is lifting the foot up and pushing it down 15 times and doing a set of this 15 times. Do this on both legs.
It is amazing what these do for the thigh muscles. If you put a hand on your thigh you can feel the muscles tighten. These truly are wondering - working exercises and take very little time and energy. Have you done them yet? I have never been athletic, but mowed a large lawn and shoveled a two garage driveway for decades. Guess they really gave me good legs.
My hospital booklet shows several more exercises but I didn't do any of them. My surgeon said after surgery "No abductions". Abductions are moving the operated leg away from the midpoint of the body. I had to argue with one PT about this even though he said he always did this with hip people. I said, well, my surgeon says "no" so I won't do them. I won that round! We have to listen to our surgeons.
It is hard to get used to rising on time to go back to work. I sure understand how you feel about this. After a week or so, you will be back in the saddle! I had paid work for years after college but now of course am "retired" - but as women our work at home never ends.
Dear Bossygirl, SilverSwan, and everyone concerned about THR recovery on this board,
I am 6 weeks out after TLHR and I feel great. I am practicing how to walk without a cane, which is a challenge. I know how you feel, bossygirl, I, too, want to walk unassisted, but it takes time and really stong muscles. Just keep working to strengthen the muscles but don't overdo. Your body will retaliate when you do. I find that I can't ride in a car more than 2 hours without being down and out the next day. I can however, cook, clean, take care of the dog, work (on the computer from home in the summer), and I just weeded one of my flower gardens on my kneeler for about 5 minutes.....small advances, but they mean alot. I always have my cane handy, but try to walk without at least a little bit every day. I am still doing physical therapy twice a week for two more weeks. That is really helping. I have no pain and do not take meds. I am 61 and was in such horrible pain for 4 years, that my struggle now seems like a joke.
I sleep great and have been able to lay on my operated side just two nights ago for about 15 minutes at a time (what a gift!!!).
So, Bossygirl, I guess what I am saying is that you should not OVERDO IT. Rest as much as you can but try to challenge the muscles. Do things slowly and think about what you are doing, always. Part of this recovery is psychological! Soon you will be better than you ever were.
In detailing the on-the-bed exercises, I forgot to include one of them - this is: squeezing each side of the buttocks, one at a time - 15 times each, holding each squeeze 3 seconds. Do sets of five. I think I misspoke about the number of sets per session in my last post. Sorry about that.
These simple easy exercises sure did the job for me. I went into hip replacement surgery having done them faithfully for several weeks previously. In the rehab facility they had us exercising our arms, too, but I really didn't need that. The thighs are the most important muscles for using the legs and hips, in my opinion. For arm exercise we had those therabands - stretchy bands to use various ways, and also a machine where we used a weighted pulley. They worked us very hard twice a day and also had us walking in the halls every session and we walked to and from meals every day, using a walker. Very good PTs and they rehabbed us ladies very well. We didn't have any men hip replacement patients while I was there.
I have talked about the on-the-bed exercises a lot, on this board, but have done so because they are so effective. Sorry for boring those already in the know!
Bossy, As a cripple of many years I have a few tidbits of advice for your sadness and impatience and for the people at work who may ( or may not actually ) feel like your'e taking it easy.
Any major surgery is life altering. You change as much emotionally as you do physically. All sorts of emotions play a part in the recovery process and the ones that make you feel down I believe come to be to make you give yourself a hug when you need it, and to seek out others who can relate to your pain and give you a hand up.
You should be very ,very proud of yourself for coming as far as you have in these 11 weeks. Everyone heals at a different pace and whatever healing you've accomplished is what's right for your body. Don't let anyone intimidate you at work or anywhere else for that matter. You carry that cane with pride that you are able to do what others just take for granted. You will walk without it one day but until then don't look at it as a crutch look at it as a helping hand, and by all means if you still need it when it's time to go back to work carry it with you. Often I have found that others are much more understanding when they see that you are in need of a device. I think it frightens them and they feel thankful that it isn't they who are the needy one.
Cheer up, sweetie . We're all in this darned boat and we're all gonna make it out just fine.
Time is a healer of all things... Hugs
I can't add much to what Shirley and the others have said (but let me put my two cents in anyway). How fast you recover does depend in part on how active you were before the surgery. But, there's no real "right way" to do rehab. In addition to walking on the streets, I'd recommend pool walking if you have access to a pool. I've posted other places here the gym routine I was given when I was first released to go to a gym. You might check it out and see if it could be useful to you.
As for using the cane, I used it for quite a while even after I didn't technically need it. It's very handy for crowds and does give people the message that you need a little room. So, I'd probably carry it in the subway or on buses for quite a while for the psychological security and for balance. I still keep my cane in my car--use it only when I take my dogs to the local dog park and I see a few notorious jumpers. (Dogs, for some reason, love to jump on me). The cane alerts owners that they need to curb their dogs enthusiasm and it gives me something to plant when the dogs jump. I feel a little less worried about being knocked over.
I'm like Shirley and have a perfect right hip post operation--no pain whatsoever--but will need to have other hip done eventually. I'm just not ready to have surgery yet. Just hitting my one year anniversary for right hip in August.
As for sleeping, it took me forever to get a good nights rest. After a few weeks, when I couldn't stand it anymore, I gingerly tried sleeping on my side. I could only lie on my side a few minutes at a time. Now, I don't have any problems at all. Still hate sleeping on my back!
It is amazing how our two hip replacements and recoveries/rehabs been so similar. I too began sleeping on my right side just a few minutes at a tiime and very gradually was able to sleep a little longer on that new hip. Now more than a year after my replacement, I can sleep for hours that way. Healing really does come slowly but surely.
He did take x-rays and said everything looks fine.
