Bruce, is that specifically for clunking?
Thought I'd best take it easy & save "loud" beers for closer to Christmas when I'm off meds completely  ;)

Quote from: Kiwi on December 09, 2011, 03:11:53 PM
Cheers Hernan & Dan. Iced all yesterday (and everyday since op), icing as we speak. Clunking & swelling still there. Didn't seem to matter how common I knew clunking was, it still took me by surprise.
I thought I had dodged it. Will push on through this minor setback.
Still okay to go for walks & do exercise? Any exercises appropriate for reducing clunking?       

Oh definitely, Simon, the strengthening is what lowers / gets rid of it. Core exercises are one aspect of the solution, but time and exercise (within reason) will do it.

Definitely get exercises that strengthen the hip capsule.  I found that my big muscles came back pretty fast.  That allowed me to walk and cycle pretty easily.  But the smaller hip support muscles are much weaker.  These need specific exercises to strengthen.

I suspect that is why some people have problems well after they have "recovered."  I believe they don't realize these smaller muscles are not strong.  Then they do something that strains the hip.  And the pain and even clunking comes back.

My PT has given me all sorts of odd exercises to do.  In each case I can feel how weak those muscles still are four months from surgery.  I am working diligently to build the best hip capsule to protect my investment.

Best wishes.

Dan

Simon-

Looks like Hernanu and Dan have covered your question.  Did you have any luck with a search of Pelvic Elevator?

Did you say Wellington is home?  Trying to remember a local beer name for your neck of the woods!

Bruce

Thanks very much team - righto - strengthen the hip capsule, I will get a program of exercises from my Physio when I see her next week.

Surgeon said as long as exercises don't cause clunking I can do them.

Bruce - yes I found Pelvic Elevator exercises on Utube so will being adding those to my my routine too.
I'm from Wellington, NZ. We have a great beer brewed just out of Wellington called Tuatara. They have a very tasty range indeed. You're from Alaska I see!?

Cheers
Simon

3 weeks - After good progress in first two weeks i feel like I've hit a snag. Apart from clunking I had a massive muscle spasm which literally floored me. Since then I've had bad swelling & pain. I phoned my physio & she said just rest & ice for next couple of days. This was 5 days ago now and swelling & pain has not improved. So I've not been able to exercise. I ice all day & go to bed with more ice, drinks loads of water & take my meds. every morning - ground hog day. Walking around is fine, sitting & lying is not good and VERY uncomfortable.

I'm trying to get further advice from surgeon on what exercise I should do (if any) and any tips to reduce swelling, but he's pretty busy & is likely to just say rest & ice. I'm considering buying some compression shorts as I was never given TEDs to wear. Probably the old patience thing again.

I had mild pain & swelling for the first two weeks & was walking around very smoothly, now i feel I'm taking steps backwards. Probably over did it & spasm was a result, but 5 days - no improvement??

Frustrated.

S'alright guy, there really is no time limit, just do what you can. We all hit snags like this. Having said that, nothing wrong with calling at ANY time. The doctors work for you.

Sorry to hear that the spasm has had consequences.  I keep reading about periods of smooth sailing and then a minor set back.  Here's hoping you are over your minor set back soon.  Where are you experiencing the swelling? Are you taking an kind of anti-inflammatory?  That might help.

Swelling is around hip / upper leg, it's extremely tight, swollen & uncomfortable. All resulting from that spasm. Apparently spasms happen when your muscles are screaming "stop - I can't take any more!".
I'm taking diclofenac which is an anti-flam, perhaps i need to up my dosage. I know it'll be fine, but 5 days & no improvement seems a bit long to me. I'm sure it's just another one of those little set backs. It's defiantly more comfortable standing and walking than sitting or lying which unfortunately not that practical.

Our worlds early post surgery can all of a sudden become small, until we're comfortably mobile &able to get back to more 'normal' day to day activities.

3.5 Weeks - After a couple of snags (Clunking & large butt Spasm) things are going pretty well indeed. I still have pain resulting from my spasm but it's slowly subsiding & I have resumed most exercises.

My very long 23cm incision looks incredibly clean. Although still a lot of swelling, I think that it will still be okay to hit the pool in the next couple of days.
I'm back driving now, but only our 4wd automatic, our sedan has bucket seats & sits very low, so staying clear of that vehicle for now.
I've also started working again, but just from home. I'm fortunate to have a job (& an employer) which allows me to do my work remotely.
Other positives; Have taken my wife out for dinner - a much needed break for her. We had a really enjoyable evening. I only took one crutch out, I had to bring in ice packs to sit on ;D. This morning I made I huge pile of pancakes for the family & stood pretty comfortably without crutches the whole time. I can walk without crutches around the house, but still use one crutch for my longer walks.

Cheers
Simon

That is sounding good. Are you rubbing bio oil into your scar? We have started rubbing the scar a bit harder to get rid of adhesions and loosen muscles, though I am a couple of weeks in front of you.

I started driving my manual 4WD just over 3 weeks after the op. My foot drop makes it interesting and I have to wear my orthotic but it feels like second nature again now.

I have been really busy with end of year exams and work so my exercise rehab has been crap apart from the stuff with my rehab man. However there is a spin bike (that the kids are using ::)) that I will get onto. I have to balance the problem of not compressing the nerve that I want to regenerate.

That spasm sounds sore. Listen to your body and try to use it again 'normally'. Something I am learning is that I have some really bad habits in exercise because of compensating for my hip for 3 years so I am starting all over again with learning what a good squat is.

Have a sunny Xmas! We are hoping for one down here!

Rachel

I'm not rubbing anything into scar yet, but after reading Danny's post I am considering some scar massaging. Apparently it's good for scar tissue down the track.

Your rehab sounds like it's going well, albeit with the added challenge of not compressing that nerve. Amazing how quickly you've adapted to wearing & driving with your orthotic too. Good stuff!

The spasm was sore & still is, but only sitting and certain movements. I've come to the conclusion that the Tramadol, although really useful early on, was the reason I over did it in the first two weeks, resulting in the huge spasm. That and my over zealous desire to get on with it. I felt so good it was ridiculous! Lesson learnt.

Off to PT today so will see where I'm at and get some gauges to measure from now & moving forward. Like you say, there's a lot of old bad habits from several years of compensating. The amazing thing is, I can already walk further than I could pre-op and without that nagging, grinding arthritis pain!

Enjoy your sunny Xmas break!
8)   

6 Week Post op update:

Feeling really good. Ditched all walking aids on Xmas day (@ 4 weeks post op)....awesome Xmas gift. Gait has improved considerably and I am going longer periods without thinking about my operated hip at all - this is a good progress gauge for me.

My PT is impressed with where I am at for 6 weeks. I'm her first ever BHR she's worked with. She has had loads of THR & other hip op rehab experience.

My exercises include the pool, walking hilly Wellington & targeting strengthening my glutes, hip flexor & my trunk stability in amongst standard exercises. I seem to be going up & down stairs swiftly (once I've loosened up after waking up) and are now more comfortable sitting since my PT gave my operated glut a good deep massage.

I'm massaging my scar tissue using cross friction technique, this seems to helped my ROM & should help later in the year when I ramp things right up the activity scale.

Feel confident moving into next "strengthening" phase.

"Softly, softly, catchee Monkey".

All good news, Simon - nothing like seeing your life expand instead of contracting like before. You're making really good progress.

Thanks Hernan. You've hit the nail on the head there man. The big decision to have a BHR has started to started to pay dividends. There's so much to look forward to!!

Good to hear the progress. I am needing lots of strengthening of glutes but pretty pleased.

the compressed nerve in the foot makes me walk 'funny' which tightens the front of my hip capsule so a bit of a PITA at the moment. Patience patience

My husband LOVES tuatara beer and we were trying to work out (whilst on holiday and with no internet) where it was brewed so now I can say "near Wellington".

Is the foot improved?

You pay about double the price of mainstream beer but it's really good. Actually originated in the hills out the back of Waikanae, my old stomping ground.

Yeah....like Hern asked... Any improvement in your foot yet?

Patience is the key for sure. I've been doing loads of pool work, walking & hip, thigh & trunk strengthening. Feeling really good.

I've never enjoyed walking so much as I have post op. I'm holding myself back from doing anything excessive and sticking to my PTs & Surgeons guidelines. I do feel like I could do so much more, but I need to remind myself that's I'm only 9 weeks post op. I planning on this being a long term investment, so nothing silly to put that plan in jeopardy.

My husband has begun to brew his own beer so he is now as snobby about beer as he is about good coffee and I can pinpoint it to Waikanae now!

Won't threadjack on my progress- will update my own thread

Yes, patience is the way- wish it was one of my virtues though!

12 Weeks Post OP
Time is flying by & things are going well. It turns out I had bursitis but a cortisone injection seems to have sorted that out. It wasn't impacting my activity level at all.
Still walking any where from 2 to 5 miles daily and current strengthening exercises include; trunk stability, bridging with straight leg raise, side lying hip abduction, wall slides, side lying & standing leg lifts & mid back stretches. Every 2-3 weeks my PT gives me harder exercises & expect next I'll be doing some light weight work. It all seems to be building up nicely. My PT is quite conservative, but I'm in no hurry... well maybe just a bit.
Last night I hit 60 balls at the driving range which was great. Didn't hold back much on the follow through either & managed to get hold of a few. No adverse effects today & the hip feels great.