2 months post surgery and recovering well

[hernanu]

Congrats, jono - enjoy the new hippy life!

[lyn]

Congratulations, it sounds like you are making good progress..lyn

[kamoynsgi]

Well done on the activity levels Jono.  Interesting to hear how we make different use of our crutches. I can go about the house for a little while with one crutch but find that I ache down my unoperated side. I can stand without crutches but find that moving about withouth support even for a few steps is painful in the hip joint.  Am four weeks on from surgery tomorrow so was hoping that walking unaided would be less painfull.  Will have to be patient I guess. 

Backpack is a good move.  I sometimes feel like a pack horse, loaded up with all my stuff - just in case - when I go for a walk :)

Ka

[jono]

Here I am on almost 4 weeks and it seems like a age since my operation. Over the last week I have moved from one crutch to no crutch in my flat and fast crutch walking outside. I can sleep on my front partially and my drugs down to 1 or 2 paracetemol a day. Tomorrow I meet with my physio and the real work begins to get back into shape.

Had one bad day last week when I went out to dinner and sat on hard stool for an hour or two. My hip just blew up and I started to feel quite ill. Ice plus paracetemol and a good sleep got me back into shape but now cautious not to sit on hard chairs or stools for long.

Got an automatic 4*4 so can drive around but my leg gets tired after an hour or less.

Went to see a friend this weekend and took a short flight. Set off the security scanner both times. :-)

Feeling more positive than ever now. Cant wait to get back in the pool this week and stop feeling like an invalid. Been watching the paralympics this week and just amazed with how the participants handle their disabilities. So glad that I can go back to being able bodied.

[rubyred]

You're doing wonderful Jono! Keep up the good work x

[jono]

Thanks ruby you are a great support for the newbies on this website

[hernanu]

Sounds great jono - this is when you get more and more emancipated. The work on the muscles will take a while (I'm still doing some), but the improvements are pretty incredible. Keep it up!

[jono]

Now almost 5 weeks post op and time is flying. Started physio this week and felt better immediately. My physio has treated at least 10 HRs before. My ROM improved with every tweak.

Following my physio approval I also started swimming every day for about 500m - 1km at the health club. Getting my muscles to start working again is such a relief. Can walk about house without crutches but still use one outside. Sleep fairly normally and can get dressed by myself using slip on shoes no problem. Swelling has now gone, and take no drugs except odd paracetemol. Hip has slight twinges but no clunking.

Here are the comments on my physio and wondered what others thought.

1. Swimming is good but no breaststroke
2. Cycling OK but make sure of riding position
3. No golf for 6 months due to stress on hip
4. No drinking. Most accidents happen after drink. (This is Glasgow)
5. Dont go too fast or too slow in your recovery.
6. Stay walking with crutch until 6 weeks so you dont develop limp. Stand up and walk with straight back.

[hernanu]

Sounds like solid advice. I think you've got a good physio. Listen to your surgeon first, but I had some very good enthusiastic PT people; I was their first HR, but they had done plenty of THRs.

[cliff]

Jono, as I myself am heading to the hospital tomorrow for BHR on my left hip you are an insperation. Hope all continues to go well.

Cliff :)

[imgetinold]

Great guidelines.  Except for the drinking.  ;D

[hernanu]

Agree Andy... is that even legal? certainly immoral to impede the natural progress of the virgin hops on their natural path.

[imgetinold]

If it's not illegal, it ought to be.

Not to mention, the health benefits cannot be ignored.

http://health.yahoo.net/experts/dayinhealth/10-surprising-health-benefits-beer

[hernanu]

Damn! I KNEW that beer drinking was a very positive health step. I'll lift a tankard to that!  8)

[kamoynsgi]

Hi Jono - Glad to hear your are getting on and thank you for sharing the physio's comments. 'No drinking' though! Bit mean not to let you celebrate your progress  :) Ka

[jono]

Thanks for all the comments and last night had 2 beers to celebrate being able to walk without a crutch. :D

It is now 6 weeks and reading other people's logs I guess I am pretty standard. This is what my tough Physio says too. My scar is healing well, I take almost no painkillers and I can walk straight and fast with one crutch and slow without any. I can climb stairs with alternate legs and swim every day. For the first time I am confident that at the end of the journey there will be sunshine. Even in Glasgow. LOL.

My phsyio has me doing gentle weights in the gym. My biggest challenge is to lie on the mat and raise both hips with just my bad leg on the floor. This is impossible at the moment but I am working on it. Other exercises include standing on alternate legs and doing heel raises, squats with a ball no weight and only down to 50% plus using a pulley system with 4kg of weight on it for leg exercises. Finally lying on my back and pushing my knees as far apart as possible.

Next week I have my X-ray and hope like Ruby to be signed off and back to the world of those living without pain.

I will avoid running or heavy lifting for the next 3 months but I have my heart set on a gentle ski at the start of next year with my sons.

Thanks for all the comments. The motivations they provide is amazing.

[Dannywayoflife]

Sounds like your doing really well mate  ;)

[Spanielsal]

Lovely, Jono, thanks for sharing.  Am envious of your physio, my "urgent" appointment came through for 29th of Sept!

[hernanu]

Really nice to hear, Jono - keep it going...

[rubyred]

So good to hear Jono!!

I wish I was offered physio, I still feel like I need it but when I asked they said I didn't. That was the only thing I wasn't really sure on, so I will give things another couple of months and if I feel i'm not improving with strength/ROM etc I will see if I can get a referral via the GP.