New hip

sarach

Hi all, I had my new hip just over 6 weeks ago!!! Amazed at how well recovery has been for me so far! Next to no pain and no bruising at all, a little bit of swelling but I can cope with that.

I'm struggling without the aid of crutches though!! I've been down to using one crutch for about 3 weeks now, however I'm struggling to get off them completely. I can walk without it but I have the most awful limp (almost as worse as before the op!). I've not had any physio as such, just a booklet of exercises I am to do at home with I am doing religiously as much as I possibly can.

My hip was in a pretty bad way, my surgeon said I had what he called a was a 'complex hip replacement' and at the age of 34 I was the youngest person he had ever operated on!! He's 3 main points to succeed a good replacement was 1. Pain 2. Flexibility 3. Leg lengthening.

I see him next Wednesday and really wanted to walk into that appointment with no crutch and no worries!

Thanks all xx

noddingtonpete

Hello @sarach and welocme to the Community. We are a friendly and supportive group and I hope that will be your experience as well.

I see that you have had your new hip which is great news. I am sure you will recover to walking without a crutch soon. I'm putting links in below to a couple of our YouTube videos which might be useful in terms of exercises.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5K55p01AwM&list=PLXKNfcIcSzgXx4x8JP-HUb7nvhy5GmijK&index=6

and the hip section on

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/exercising-with-arthritis/lets-move-for-surgery-toolkit/

I hope these are of some help and if you need anything else just ask.

Please keep posting and let us know how you are getting on.

Best wishes

Peter

Trish9556

@sarach

I never used my crutches after my hip op due to an ongoing issue with my wrist but I have only just felt confident enough to ditch my walking stick. I ditched one at 4 weeks and pottered around the house without after 5 and used my remaining stick outside only until this week (11 weeks).

Speak with your physio before ditching the aids too quickly - I know how tempting it is but I was given strict orders by mine not to ditch without her consent.

trish xx

sarach

@Trish9556

Many thanks for your reply! Crutches have been a nightmare for my hands, my little and middle finger are pretty much always numb. Hoping it won't lead to any complications on my hands!!

Hope your wrists are ok!

I don't actually have a physio. Not seen anyone since I left the hospital 6 weeks ago! And I was only in hospital for 12 hours. Will speak with my surgeon next Wednesday when I finally have an appointment with him.

Thanks xxx

sarach

Many thanks @noddingtonpete

KC1

https://community.versusarthritis.org/discussion/comment/725551#Comment_725551

hi Sarah, sounds like you are handling things really well.

Worth contacting your GP surgery and local physio team to check you’ve been transferred formally and to discuss the limp you’re experiencing. Did the hospital say you could call the ward if you had any concerns? If so worth doing that as well. Keep to the crutches as best you can until the physio or consultant says otherwise. As Trish says best be guided on all of this.

All the very best Karen

sarach

https://community.versusarthritis.org/discussion/comment/725555#Comment_725555

Thanks will make some calls. A couple people have said to me in passing that maybe I'm becoming too reliant on my walking aids, so then I start to doubt myself 😬

Xx

Fran54

@sarach

Like you I had a hip replacement just over 6 weeks ago and was down to using one crutch before I saw my physiotherapist just over a week ago. She asked me if I had used any walking aid before my op. and I told her I had been using a walking stick for about 12/15 months. I was then advised to stop using the crutch and continue using my stick. I still use it indoors when feeling tired and use it when I go out. It does seem strange that you have not been given any further physio exercises, as for me personally they have helped immensely in aiding my recovery. They can be tough to do and I still have a long way to go, but I can feel the improvement.

As mentioned by fellow "hippies" it is worth checking with your Doctor or even the hospital to make sure that you have not been forgotten. Also in my opinion you are the best one to know if you still need to use the crutches. Be kind to yourself, listen to your body and try not too doubt yourself.

Let us know how you get on. Take care.🙂

Janlyn

@sarach Well done for doing as well as you've done so far, but as others have said, please follow up and get some physio. I found myself walking really awkwardly for a few months in total but gradually improved due to physio advice/perseverance. My exercises were changed very frequently to tackle my walking/posture and how my recovery developed.

I actually stopped using my sticks fairly early as soon as I felt confident as I was struggling with my wrist and now have carpal tunnel syndrome.

Regarding exercises I really have found the appropriate exercises don't take long and I take any opportunity to do them to fit in with my life such as when I'm waiting for the kettle to boil.

It is really important to get your posture right now so please don't worry about walking into your appointment next week without crutches if you need them. And please make sure you get some advice/physio to make the best possible recovery you can.

Take care.

KC1

https://community.versusarthritis.org/discussion/comment/725560#Comment_725560

Listen to yourself and try not to doubt yourself. It’s important to be kind to yourself as well. Make those calls, get advice about exercising from the physio and hopefully, as others have mentioned, you will start to feel stronger and more confident, ready for the next step for you.