Hip replacement physiotherapy discomfort

DancingQueen1964

Dear Community

I have had a hip replacement 9 weeks ago. A very good recovery so far. I have had physiotherapy week. Last week the physio made me push leg weights of 50KG and used steps to step up and down no hands plus balancing on one leg on a sponge moving my leg forward and back, with each leg, good and operated. At the time I felt I could cope with these moves, and they are a gradual move up in difficulty from before. However, I had not had physio for 10 days I had mainly been just walking in those days. After the balancing on the sponge on one leg and moving my other leg forward and back, when I came off the sponge I felt a deep ache inside my hip joint. I had not ever felt that before. It is day two and my operated hip feels very sore. I am having trouble putting my full weight on it. I feel like I have gone backwards in my rehabilitation. Mainly my question here is could I have damaged the tissues or muscles? I do know that physio must push you and work these muscles to eventually grow strength and balance, but a I feel now I over did it. I am hobbling around like I have never done before. I am not in pain but really need to rely on my crutch now a lot more. Can you cause long lasting damage to a joint if you over do it? Maybe it is just the muscles being inflamed after quite a hard and unusual working out and use and I will have to be patient to wait for them to calm down. Just so concerned I have damaged myself. I have never had this discomfort in the whole 9 weeks. Even after the operation. As I say it is not pain, just a deep ache inside my hip that I have never had before. I am less mobile. I am going to give it a rest from walking too much in the next few days and lay off the physio until next week when I see her again. I just hope the deep soreness calms down. Any experience in this greatly appreciated.

noddingtonpete

Hi @DancingQueen1964 have a look at the following which might be of use

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

Recoveries can take time so keep persevering and hopefully it will get better soon. If in doubt get in touch with your GP/Consultant (not easy I know)

Best wishes

Peter

alwayssewing

You need to talk to the physio and either your consultant or GP. Nine weeks is only 3/4 of the operation healing time which is 12 weeks. The above exercises are the more usual type for this early period and need to be done very regularly. I was told 2 or 3 times a day is best along with walking daily. I had both my hips done last year.

Trish9556

HI @DancingQueen1964

I think the discomfort may have been caused by a different form of exercise? Balancing is difficult anyway after hip surgery anyway. My physio didn't use sponges but did have me standing tip toe with my arms crossed in front of me on one leg - that was hard and took a lot of practice. Definitely felt different aches afterwards.

Keep up with the general physio - its hard when you think you can do it all and don't need it but it is beneficial. Saying that you are doing fabulously.

If the discomfort is no better however I would suggest either speaking to your physio/surgeon or gp

Good luck

Trish xx

DancingQueen1964

https://community.versusarthritis.org/discussion/comment/732944#Comment_732944

Dear Peter,

Thank you very much for your reply and also for the video link. It is useful and I will make sure I stay ontop of it. Today the discomfort has eased off, 4 days later, so I do believe my session was quite hard for me. I will tell me physio next time.

Best regards, Glynis

DancingQueen1964

Thank you for this reply. That is really useful to know. I will make sure I talk to my physio about it next time. Today after 4 days I am feeling less discomfort. I think her exercises were a bit advanced for me. It was obviously muscle/tension strain.

Best regards

Glynis

DancingQueen1964

https://community.versusarthritis.org/discussion/comment/732966#Comment_732966

Thank you for our reply. That is helpful. I will speak to my physio. The discomfort has worn off today. I think she pushed me a bit hard and thought I could do it, which I did, but I will just ask her to step it down a bit next week. I have spent 4 days hobbling! But thankfully gaining strength again today.

Best regards, Glynis

DancingQueen1964

https://community.versusarthritis.org/discussion/comment/732973#Comment_732973

Dear Trish, Thank you for your reply. It was helpful. I do think the thing that pushed me was the balancing on the sponge and moving my leg forward and back. Today the deep discomfort has eased off, so definitely a muscle strain. I will speak to her about it to go a bit easier on my. I am keen to get stronger but that was a bit much for me ! Thankfully no damage done.

Kind regards

Glynis