how do you know when???

[chris finn]

Ive read several threads on here in various sections. And I have come across a lot of people who say "no crutches by week this" or "driving by week that" etc....how do you know when its ok to do stuff????

Im just over 4 weeks after surgery..

Im on one crutch at the moment ( I can walk without, but I walk like a drunk sailor on a ship in very stormy weather  ;D )

...not driving (in the UK this op is classed as a notifiable op....meaning we have to tell the DVLA that we have had the op ) ...

not doing any weight training or martial arts ( I really miss this )

not riding my motorbike ( I really miss this too )


Ive not had physio yet...isnt the NHS wonderful  ::) so did you all get advice before doing stuff..or just go for it???


as you can probably tell by my posts, Im getting very frustrated by...well... just about everything at the moment.

[PDJ]

Hi, Chris. I am 6 weeks tomorrow post surgery. I have simply done things when I felt able. The physios who came out said I should try and be on one crutch when I see my consultant (Tuesday) and I think I will make that but stairs are still a big issue. Coming down I am ok but going up is still very tricky. I have listened to my body as much as possible and when I have done too much it has let me know! It is frustrating how slow it is but stick with it, you sound like you are doing ok.

Paul.

[jgenese]

Hey Chris, Congrats on your new hip for the new year. I'm at 11 weeks and returned to work last week working on submarines without any restrictions. As you can imagine there is quite a bit of ladders and tight places to get to, not to mention just walking around the shipyard. I really trusted the advice of my physical therapist during my recovery as far as what was "safe" to do. Without that I would not be where I am today. I am still going to PT just to make sure I don't hurt myself at work. I hope you are going to PT if that's what you call it in the UK. A good therapist will answer any questions you have so you don't hurt yourself. Best of luck to you! By the way, at 4 weeks I was walking with a cane and by week 5 unassisted, if you want to use that as a guide.

JohnnyG

[andybc]

Well, I'm just over 6 weeks. Walking easily with a walking stick. Can do several miles with no discomfort.
Different story when I try to do without it, though. Sometimes I get pain free walking, but usually not.
Start up pain is still quite severe.
Like you, I don't really know what I should/shouldn't be doing. Had to miss my 4 week post op follow up because of weather, but think my surgeon likes you to be fully weight bearing from 4 weeks onwards. Just wasn't going to happen in my case, though.
Certainly it's frustrating but I'm ok biding my time I guess. Am back at work at least and driving is fine.
Reading all the posts, it seems a pretty variable thing to me, so I don't think you should be concerned.
If I'm not fully weight bearing by 8 weeks I'm going to phone the surgeon to ask.
Andy

[chris finn]

Yay!! had my first PT today. He said Im progressing well, and if I continue to do my exercises he will give me some power bands to work with next week.  ;D ;D

[jjmclain]

Hi Chris,

I was allowed to go off of crutches at 4 weeks (by then it was one crutch). I too felt wobbly at first, but by the next day it got better and within 2 days I was walking normal with no limp, first time in a few years! The wobbly feeling goes away the more you walk. I am a fitness instructor and personal trainer so I did not go back to work until after week 7. I have been back teaching now almost 2 weeks (will be at 9 weeks tomorrow) and feel that each day I get stronger. Your PT will give you great exercises to help with the muscles that were affected by surgery and in some cases, pre-surgery, if you were unable to do some activities.

Good Luck with your recovery!!!

[PDJ]

6 week check up yesterday. My doctor told me to give up on the crutches completely and start cycling and doing weights at the gym then swim in 2 weeks time, after the scar has totally healed. I am pretty happy I can finally start doing some exercise and I hope it won't be long before I am as good as new. We'll see...

[BrianROC]

I am four weeks today on my left hip and four weeks and two days on my right.  I was on two crutches for about two weeks, one crutch for another week and have been mostly crutch free for the past week or so.  I have been walking without crutches for a week, but it has been more of a waddle than a walk.  Today I really feel like I am walking more normal than the past week.  I still waddle more when I get tired or first stand up.  Dr. Gross said I was 100% weight bearing after my surgery, so my though is that as long as I feel that my hips/legs can support what I am doing I am alright.  I do not try to overdo it, but still try to push myself a little bit in an attempt to see an improvement each day.  Best of luck with your recovery. 

[gary2010]

Hello Chris, I'm at 17 weeks and almost back to normal but still avoiding impact training for a while longer. You can read a detailed account of my rehab here: http://surfacehippy.info/hiptalk/index.php?topic=2020.0
There's a lot of it!
Good luck G

[chris finn]

Blimey...your not kidding theres a lot of it, Ive only read the first page and had to stop for a rest.  ;) :D

Its nice to see another Brit or two on here. My op was NHS at Addenbrookes in Cambridge under Mr Alan Norrish. I cant praise him or his team highly enough.....brilliant bunch of people, in total contrast to the "person" (and I use that word in place of lots of four letter expletives  >:( ) that I saw at my local hospital.

The only down side was the food..it was uneatable. I managed to eat the first day after the op....I reckon the meds had numbed my taste buds. But after that I just stopped eating...the guy that brought it round said "you must eat something" so I said "well bring me some food instead of this muck and I will" he left me alone after that. Luckily my brother came to see me and kidnapped me (honest  ;) ) and forced me to go downstairs to burger king....it tasted sooooo good.  8)

[chris finn]

Ok..so Ive been reading a bit more.

Cant believe you were driving so early...at 5 weeks (today) theres no way I feel able to drive. Also someone told me that this op is notifiable to the DVLA...have you heard that??

Cant believe you were talking about running up hill. I find walking up hill by far the hardest thing at the moment. I live across the road from parkland/woods ....I used to run round it before the hip went, but I really dont know if I will ever run again....doesnt fracture/dislocation worry you?? (also read that the bone isnt fully regrown for a year to a year and a half...Im gonna be even more careful until then )

[andybc]

7 weeks today!
It's only for the last 48 hours that I've been able to manage comfortably without a walking stick and still need it occasionally and certainly when walking outside for any distance.
Still, I feel massively encouraged by this as, to be honest, even just a week ago I didn't really feel in much less pain than before the op.
I'm a doctor working in a hospital; am a bit reluctant to give up the walking stick since most of the junior docs watch "House" on TV (indeed that's where they seem to glean the few gaps in their ingnorance, which, frankly, is encyclopaedic. Not their fault, though - all thanks to Tony Blair's dumbing down of academia and the absurdly short working week) - anyway, I seem to have taken on a certain distinguished look apparently, so may keep the stick for effect!
I was driving fine by 4 weeks, incidentally.
I've done pretty hopelessly with the exercises and physio as I'm back to working pretty long hours (some consultants still do - and without extra pay...for those who read the UK news today). I have had three hydro sessions, though and while at the time I thought they were pretty mild, I do think they've really helped my progress.
I am listening to my body, however  -  which, when I start to exercise, tells me to stop and have a glass of wine, which I tend to go along with.
There are lots of inspirational tales of quick recovery on this site, but having asked around a lot of people, I would say my rate of progress is fairly typical. So, Chris, I reckon you're doing fine. Keep it up.
Andy BC

[gary2010]

Chris - it was my left hip and an automatic car I drove at three weeks, the limiting factor was getting in and out without breaking my restrictions. I wasn't asked to notify anybody, that's up to the surgeon anyway. I did find the driving position uncomfortable for more than half an hour. I would say 6 weeks for a manual car, maybe longer if your clutch is heavy. I had 3 months to prepare for the op focussing on core stability and leg strength, which paid off. Will post some more soon - have faith!
G.

[chris finn]

Now 9 weeks out...amd Im driving, walking without a stick, doing cardio, using the heavy bag...including kicks with my right (non op leg), and getting back into weight training...all in all Im a very happy bunny  ;D ;D

Doing all this,and my surgeon, who gave me the go ahead for all this, still doesnt want me to go back to work  ??? :o I think he is worried about my sartorius muscle still not doing much..the physio seems to think its the nerve that is causing the problem....but anyway Im giving it until my current sick note runs out...another 2 or 3 weeks, then Im going back anyway....Im skint  >:( >:(