Post surgery physio THR

ItsjustLisa

Hi there.

I just wanted to know how you'd all dealt with the little physio exercises they discharge you with after hip replacement.

My hip was so bad it had less than 20% strength and virtually zero flexibility.

I'm currently 6 days post op. 54 years old and was very physically fit before arthritis took me down in march, I'm a professional gardener and used to walk around 10 miles a day.

I'm managing with most of the exercises they gave me but the leg out to the side on the bed, my leg just flatly refuses.

I've tried it standing today and it's so tight inside my thigh but at least it swings slightly, do you think this would be ok?

It didn't help that the physio said my hip wanted to do it but it was all in my head that it wouldn't, I wish she could've seen me before surgery 🙄.

Thank you for any advice, it's so difficult with all of the conflicting information. My surgeon didn't even give me the 90° rule, he just said "no trips or falls"🤕

Nurina

Hi @ItsjustLisa congratulations for your surgery.

6 days is very early days and I understand you are impatient to see the point of all of this. The first two weeks is all about healing the wound. I think there are like 6 layers of tissue cut during the surgery, including muscles, tendons and ligaments so it's normal that you don't have any strength. It's difficult to believe this at your stage but you'll improve as the wound is healing. If your hip was really deteriorated you could feel very stiff and weak but with the arthritic pain removed, you'll see soon the benefits. Hip is a simple joint that recovers well, it's not like the knee which need a lot of exercise and physiotherapy.

I agree that the information is very conflicting. Each consultant says different things and some of them don't even give much information like it's not their duty. Anyway, follow what your consultant says even it's not much because he knows what he's doing. The 90º is one of the few rules that all, physios and surgeons, agree and maybe they are assuming that you know it. It's funny his recommendations are not to fall or trip like it's a choice. BTW, Don't compare with other cases here because maybe we've ended in the same place but what caused it, might be very different.

Take care X

MaryL44

Hi @ItsjustLisa . I had a hip replacement a couple of years ago and can clearly remember the things you describe. I felt, at first, that it would never get better and by 6 weeks in I was still finding the exercises tough. But, believe me, it does improve and we all heal at different rates. Interestingly, my surgeon didn't mention the 90 degree rule either.

Take care and do come back to the forum to update us on your progress.

Mary

ItsjustLisa

@Nurina and @MaryL44 thank you 🙏🏼 it's all so confusing. Now I've looked at my NHS records it seems I'm quite different to most in my surgery.

I'm only asking because the physio at the hospital was so very insistent. My daughter got pretty annoyed with people telling me things were in my head and we won't talk about the night staff at all but not the best experience. Honestly, it seems the private referral patients are treated very differently but my hip prosthetic is not the same as the one I was offered there.

I've been given a hybrid joint, a C Stem Pinnacle rather than the standard ceramic joint and he used what's called the AMISS procedure where they've not cut my muscle but parted them, I was told to weight bear immediately. I'm guessing it's because of my activity levels pre op and my job.

I was in theatre for 5 hours total.

I had to stay in hospital for 2 nights because I reacted badly to the sedation and spinal, my anxiety put my body into fight or flight and my adrenaline caused the sedation not to work, I was awake and had a panic attack so had to be put under general anesthetic.

I was really poorly the first night and didn't suit morphine at all but the cannula tissued and none of what they were put in went into my vein but into my hand, I've got very deep bruising there.

All that said, I'm up and about! I'm off the meds completely except for the blood thinning injections and only taking paracetamol. I've a lot of swelling around the wound but nowhere else at the minute and can climb the stairs just using the handrails.

I'm absolutely not planning on falling anytime soon! There's no way I'm ever going through that again.

Fran54

@ItsjustLisa

just like you after my hip replacement I could do most of the exercises, but the leg out to the side felt nearly impossible. I read of a tip somewhere on here that if you put a sheet of plastic or a carrier bag under your leg that it would help with the movement. I did try that and it did help and also persevering with this each day it did get easier ( I also got pain in the groin and may have overdone the stretching a bit but it did ease off.) Also when given further physio exercises it included standing up and swinging the leg to the side which did seem easier. It is still very early days for you and if you feel any discomfort/pain then cut back on the exercises until you feel able to try again. Even now 4 months after my hip replacement I do my physio most days and when given new ones gradually build up the amount of repetitions and listen to my body for any reactions! Nobody knows but you how you are feeling so be kind to yourself. Please keep us updated on your progress as we are all here to support you. Take care.🙂

RavenGirl

I had THR in March and was really worried at first as i just couldn't do the exercise you describe. Took about two weeks until I could just about do it. 7 months later and all is good. Swimming again and doing Squats, deadlifts, linges and side plank all with weight are perfectly achievable. Keep trying. It will start to move again soon!

Only problem I have now is a tight and achy hip flexor. Physio reckons my glutes are still weak but any tips gratefully recieved.

ItsjustLisa

@Fran54 @RavenGirl thank you both.

I'm 16 days post op now and the physio is going OK. I've actually got my first appointment physio tomorrow. I'm feeling good, down to one crutch at home but 2 outside.

I'm doing some of the other exercises (lifting the knee, sideways walking and tip toes) already and getting no swelling but my leg sometimes aches. If it starts to ache I take a break the next day.

It all feels very quick so I try not to worry too much if I take a day off.

It's going to be a long road and thankfully I'm not having to rush. Every day a bit better and a bit stronger and that's good enough for me 😁