Why am I taking so long!

Olly33

Hi All

2nd time poster.. 1st time seeking .. reassurance maybe?

I’m 7 week post THR - I’m 53 and otherwise a picture of health ha! However, despite doing everything I’ve been told to - I am still for the most part using one crutch. 

I had my 6wk post op physio this week and have new exercises to strengthen and practice walking without the crutch - which I have done every day -  I got up to 49 steps yesterday up and down the hall!   Today? I’m sore in every bone and muscle from the waist down .. I’ve had to cut my morning stroll in half and I’m now home popping pills for the first time in 10 days :-(

I’ve read all the diaries which have been so useful (and entertaining) therefore know I should not compare myself to others.. but how has my brothers 70 yo boss got back working/driving/crutchless within2 weeks?  Why was my cousins wife’s uncle’s 65 yo mother back doing 5k runs at the point I’m at??!!  Why is my mother’s 85 year old friend back doing yoga at 8 weeks when I still can’t get my sock on !! 

Work have been great and there is no pressure from them .. but I do feel people will be thinking  ‘she’s milking this a bit now’

I genuinely am trying my best and just can’t seem to get past this final hurdle!!

Thanks for letting me get this off my chest :-) x

Trish9556

Hi @Olly33

You are doing brilliantly. We all recover at different timescales and you are no different.

Do you have walking sticks you could try? It can be scary leaving the devices we have leant on in every sense if the word for many months/years.i still use one sometimes when I need reassurance/feeling tired.

One thing I did do was measure my recovery in lamp posts. Walk to one, turn round and walk back. Each day try and walk another one. Simple but it works as does step ups on the bottom step, good leg up, bad leg down and try to increase those. Hold on to the stair rail for support.

Ignore the people who say well so and so recovered and did this, you're not so and so.

Remember the tortoise and the hare fable... Slow and steady wins the race.

Trish xx

Olly33

Thank you @Trish9556 for your message and tips!

I don’t have a walking stick but think my dad (who’s the same height) may have one I could try.

I’m resting today but I’ll make a start on the stairs…. And lamp post tips tomorrow.

When thinking rationally I do know everyone is different.. I think I have just got it in my head that I’m way behind where I should be!

Tomorrow is another day.. thank you again and I’ll let you know how it goes :-) xx

Trish9556

@Olly33

You''re welcome - if you only have one stick, you need to hold it in the opposite hand to your operated hip - if you're using two crutches you would be better off usinig two sticks to start with - you can get collapsible ones quitely cheaply in that well known shoe repair shop or from an online selling site.

Remember, one day at a time and recovery is often two steps forward, one step back and that there will be good and bad days . You will get there

Trish xx

Janlyn

@Olly33 It is difficult to hear of people doing better than us but I found once I stopped myself from comparing and went at my own pace I started to make faster progress. We are all different and go into our surgery at a different stage so recovery will be different. But definitely better to take our time and get there properly rather than rushing and not making as good a recovery as is possible. I found I was walking awkwardly by walking too far at one stage and that was no good at all, and painful. Shorter, more regular walks meant a better recovery with the best posture.

Good luck and I'm sure you''re doing better than you think - we do tend to be hard on ourselves and expect too much.

Olly33

@Trish9556 @Janlyn

Thank you both for your kind words and support! I am now walking unaided for the most part indoors and have managed 5 lamp post out doors! I’m discovering new muscle aches but feel like that’s everything waking back up so I’m ok with that! Also planning to start my phased return to work next week so everything is feeling brighter!
thanks again :-) xx

Trish9556

@Olly33

Well done! I knew you could do it :)

Seriously though, you are doing well and should feel proud. Remember though you will have good days and you will still get bad days. Try not to dwell on the bad days and keep positive.

Returning to work will be hard but a long a you can do it gradually and say "I've had eough for today and need to go home" you will be fine. One day your hip will say "yeah I can do this" and the next it might say "no, not dong this"..

Keep up the good work, don't sit for too long and don't forget your physio.

Trish xx

Janlyn

@Olly33 You are doing well and it's good to hear you've got the type of muscle aches that mean you're getting your exercise right, not too much, not too little, but waking everything up and reminding it all of its job. Back to work must seem like back to normal is happening but as Trish says please don't overdo it.

Please keep us updated.