The Art of Hobbling

Love this thread! The advice, the knowledge -most of all the humour 😅

Short steps are definitely the way to go. Often the pain is worse in the groin due to the pull on the muscle from the groin to the knee (can never remember if this is an adductor or abductor). This can be worse than the hip pain as this will respond to eg a TENS machine. Short steps reduce the pain as does consciously turning out the foot on the same leg as the affected hip. Another tip is to learn how to adjust your sacro iliac joint which can be prone to going out of alignment and causing delightful pain. To do this lie on your back with your fist under your back in line with the crack in your bottom and bounce on the fist (you can do this sitting up). You can save a lot of physio fees.

@MaureenB Interesting that you mention the groin pain (psoas muscle and tendon) - were you meaning pre- or post- op? Mine was fine pre-op, despite eye watering pain from the hip itself, but has been a nightmare from day 1 post op. My surgeon says this is unusual and they don’t know why it happens, but I’m still struggling with it 18 months later (having to lift my leg in and out of cars and bed, and going through strange contortions getting dressed etc. Steroid injections haven’t really helped much, now looking at PRP injections. May be clutching at the proverbial straw here though. I find the consequences very limiting, and am fed up with the pain every time I lift my leg. Physio is rebuilding muscle strength, but nothing much seems to deal with the irritated psoas tendon itself.

HI Liliymary, my pre op pain before my first hip replacement was definitely in the groin. My osteopath gave me a specific stretch and acupuncture and always needled my inner thigh. I had a lot of pain post op too and could not do some of the exercises eg moving the hip out to the side whilst lying on the bed, for over 4 weeks. I am now two weeks post op on my second hip replacement. I am past the initial wound but still dealing with muscle trauma. But I think this time they opened up the hip from the back of thigh (hamstring) rather than the inner thigh as I don't have anything like the amount of trauma , can do all the movements, and am not getting weird pains in my leg and foot when walking. With the first hip replacement , my physio said keep trying the movement and visualise the leg moving (sounds weird but it did work eventually). It is a horrible pain and it can be very disabling. Good luck.

I have found an answer to hobbling, stand still! If I stand still the grandchildren sooner or later will rush past me and then I can reach out and shout ‘got you’, turn them upside down and tickle them. Victory! Works every time.

like the ejecting toilet seat!

it’s a grin, honest!

I found when my hip was at its worse, before surgery, using 2 sticks was the best. Using one puts so much strain on the other side. Even now when I have a flare up of pain in my back I use 2 sticks which enables me to stand upright and walk more evenly. I also agree with tge original writer, don't use sticks inside if you can manage. Most importantly make sure your sticks are at tge right height, a physio can measure them for you. It makes a massive difference. Good luck to all of you in the winter.

HI

I have got OA in my left knee and overstretched muscles in my right leg. I'm hoping that I can get onto a list for a TKR but after being told x 2 that I'm too young ( I'm 56 ) I ve not given up. I retired from nursing last year and because I miss it so much did a rehab support workers job in the community - wrong I made my knee worse because of going to peoples houses and driving , also time restrictions I have had to give up the job typical . I had to cross a busy road to see a client . It was a double up . Now if one can only hobble across you think that cars would not have the patience but People well some see me in my uniform and hobble do stop and let me cross although a kind gentleman shouted out who needs the care more!!! Charming my legs may not be what they are but the rest of me is OK . Some people are not so patient and I have been nearly run down I suppose one way to get a knee replacement ! I did however feel insulted when a relative said that I was a cripple in front of everyone so I just left the house in tears

I've taken to having a stick outside nowadays which gives me some support, but again I have had to give up a job I love.

I am wondering about hobbling distance because if I take it easy, my stride comes back. I feel a bit undecided if I want to stay on the good side of having a stride, but have to loaf around a lot more to keep it going, or the more difficult side of hobbling around, to get more done. Maybe one day I won't have a choice.

I am trying to perfect the art of hobbling and feel a bit daft using a stick but it is necessary to stop me falling over. Yesterday I saw someone much younger that me with a really funky transparent stick and complimented her on it, she showed me that it could light up- now I want one, they are a bit pricey but just because we hobble doesn’t mean we have to be boring (the company that makes them is neowalks), not sure I can justify the £90 the way things are though.

Being a hobbler definitely doesn’t mean boring @Lambourne

my wife has pimped up my power chair with neon lights underneath like the street racers put on their cars. She likes a walk after dinner in the evening and for months now I haven’t been able to walk at her speed so now we call it a roll and stroll and as it’s dark when we go I said I needed some lights for crossing the side streets we encounter and next things it’s lit up like a Subaru on steroids. Shame it can’t do a quarter mile at the same speed.