THR post op exercises

lola9755
lola9755 Member Posts: 39
edited 25. Jan 2011, 16:45 in Living with Arthritis archive
Hi does anyone have any advice or knowledge of any excercises that I could be doing to strength my muscles after My THR in November.( Im going out for a little walk now the weather has improved..... Im walking with one stick, I havent started to drive yet, but hope to maybe at the weekend. Rang my GP and they said try ringing the hospital to see if there was anything they could recommend

Comments

  • mp1952
    mp1952 Member Posts: 425
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Lola

    I had a THR last May but wasn't given any extra exercises to do afterwards - I was just told to 'walk' ..

    I think I WOULD have benefitted from some more exercises though.. hopefully 'Speedalong' will see your post and respond.. she had a hip resurfacing last May and I know she saw a physio at home and was given some exercises to do..

    I started to drive at 8 weeks by the way. I had to keep using one crutch until about 18 weeks post-op though...

    Best wishes

    Marion
  • tonesp
    tonesp Member Posts: 844
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Have you tried Google I did and got some quite good tips I am now driving again after 10 weeks Still using a stick when I go out but not round the house.Trying to go for a walk each day
    One major achievement today I cut my own toenails.Not had to take any painkillers for 3 months now :smile::smile::smile::grin::grin::grin:
  • lola9755
    lola9755 Member Posts: 39
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thanks for your advice, I will google.......
    Its almost 8 weeks and feeling much better, no painkillers,
    Im walking everyday now and have been passenger in the car couple of times.
    Everyday gets a little easier,
    Good luck to everyone who is waiting for their THR, although I'm still limited to what I can do its 100% better than what it was before
    tricia
  • speedalong
    speedalong Member Posts: 3,315
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Lola,
    sounds like you are making great progress - not the best weather or time of year to be working on your walking technique and building up the distance and your muscle stamina again.

    The following link is to exercises the same as I was given post op. When they get too easy you can try the standing ones without holding on.

    As Marion says, wallking is really important - see if you can someone to drive you to somewhere indoors that is not too busy where you can practise ... long corridors would be great. Remember to place your heel down first and then your toes; imagine you are a horse doing dressage and make sure you raise your knee rather than kick you leg out. Slow walking where you focus on your speed is more beneficial than sacrificing gait technique for speed.

    Let us know how you get on.

    Speedy
    I have had OA since mid twenties. It affects my hips and knees. I had a THR on the left aged 30 and now have a resurface-replacement on the right - done May 2010.
  • speedalong
    speedalong Member Posts: 3,315
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Tonysp,

    sounds like you have made great progress - congrats on cutting your own toenails - I remember doing mine for the first time again - they were so long and sticking out of my socks!!

    Speedy
    I have had OA since mid twenties. It affects my hips and knees. I had a THR on the left aged 30 and now have a resurface-replacement on the right - done May 2010.
  • Daveyt1961
    Daveyt1961 Member Posts: 6
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Lola,
    I have tried to get information on this subject in our area but I have drawn a blank with both the hospital and the GPs. It appears the advice given by fellow sufferers is the only excercise available. However your GP can give free vouchers to council run leisure centres whom have gyms with personal trainers but you need to find one willing to take people with our circumstances. I will keep trying to get something sorted as I am due for my next THR in April. Got some good walks you can do on your sticks.........Davey
  • cherrybim
    cherrybim Member Posts: 334
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Lola, (and anyone else interested!)

    How very strange that you weren't given post op exercises to do after your THR :???:

    Our Orthopaedic Hospital is most emphatic that patients exercise daily after THR & TKR, so much so that they produce very smart spiral bound booklets full of information for before, during and after joint replacement. Patients are also discharged with the "equipment" needed to carry out the exercises.

    I don't know whether they would be prepared to supply a copy to a "non patient" but if you'd like to send me a pm I'll let you have their details. The hospital treat both private and NHS patients but as the nurses say "there's no distinction between the two, everyone even gets the same choice of food" :grin:

    Just a thought, if the Hospital is wearing its private hat it may be prepared to supply the booklets for a fee :wink:

    Cherry x
  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,764
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I agree with Cherrybim, Lola. I've always been given exercises post-op and, more recently, pre-op plus follow up visits to physio. I think the purpose is to get maximum movement out of the knee so's it'll straighten and bend as much as possible. I'm not sure just walking will achieve that. I'd definitely look up some exercises and go with them. I could give you some but, if the rest of your body's in fairly good nick, you'll be capable of more than me.
    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright
  • hileena111
    hileena111 Member Posts: 7,099
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi, Its a year next month since I had my THR.....I got no physio afterwards but was sent home with a list of exercises to do.
    Seems weird that you wern't given any....Could you nring the physio dept in your hospital and ask for advice? They can only say no :grin:
    Love
    Hileena

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