I'm four and a half months post surgery (BHR, left hip) and I'm feeling frustrated at lack of progress in gaining range of motion in the repaired hip. I'm 52 and have had arthritis in both hips for over ten years, so range of motion had become very limited pre-surgery. I had two months of PT (twice weekly) and at my 3-month follow-up the surgeon seemed satisfied at how I was doing. I stretch every day and can walk a few miles without difficulty (before surgery I could only walk a few hundred yards, if that). But I've gained very little increase in hip rotation, both internal and external. If I lie flat on my back, I can put my left foot on my right knee, but just barely, and it's painful in both the hip and the (left) knee. In that position I try to stretch by letting my left knee sink to toward the floor, but it really doesn't go very far, and over the past several weeks I feel as I have got no significant improvement.

Has anyone else had similar problems? I don't necessarily expect to get full range of motion back, but I've been telling friends that if I can cross my legs again (which I haven't been able to do for many years) that would be a triumph. But so far I'm not even close.

This is my first post but I found this site very helpful as I was sorting through surgical options, so many thanks to all for that.

Hey David, Don't be in too much of a rush to get there, you just had major surgery only 4 months ago. My rom at 4 months wasnot very good but now at 11 months out it has improved dramatically. I know it is hard to be patient but in a few more months things will be better for you. I too could not cross my legs when sitting but now I do it and stay that way for some time just because I can. Keep working on your pt and slowly but surely you will see things improve. Good luck.

Wayne

Hi Wayne -- thanks for your helpful and reassuring message. Impatience is certainly a problem with me! It's great to hear from people such as yourself who have been through the process. I guess when I get the other hip done it will all be a piece of cake...

David

Hi David. Your post brought back memories of my recovery. I checked the 4-month follow-up I wrote in Pat's 'Hip Stories" section, and my physical and mental state was very similar to yours at 4 months. I recall a conversation with the physical therapist at that point in time, when she was exclaiming my lack of external ROM. I told her that even with the limited ROM, I was in much better condition than pre-surgery, and it would be OK if I live the rest of my life as a uni-planer guy. I really thought that was going to be my lot. The therapist didn't hesitate a second to say that I would and could get external ROM back. I'm now 1 1/2 yr post-op, and I'm pretty satisfied with ROM. From Phy Therapy, they had ranges that are considered normal, and I'm pretty sure I have better than normal. That said, I'm still working on it, and still seeing improvement.

My lay-person theory is that the actual prosthetic certainly isn't limiting the ROM, so it's just a matter of working muscles and tendons and all. But I also think that some of those muscles are cut and then restitched, so 1.) they have to heal before you can really work them, and 2.) they might be a bit shorter/tighter.

Here's copy-paste from my 4-month follow-up:

QuoteIt was also interesting to realize the difference in perspective between physical therapist and surgeon. I've been going for therapy for the past couple months or so, once or twice a week. I'm glad that the therapist's goal is complete recovery. When comparing my current status against that goal, there is still a long ways to go. Strength is still missing, and the even bigger challenge is ROM. I wasn't super big into stretching pre-surgery, but it wasn't too long ago, only 3 or so years, that I was playing hockey, so I know what my ROM was before arthritis really hit, and I know that I am still a long, long ways from where I was a few years ago. The Phys Therapist also thinks that ROM needs lots of work. But the surgeon gingerly moved the legs around, checking for specific ROM measures, and was very happy.

It really brought home to me the idea that the surgeon's definition of success is a well placed prosthetic, and it's up to the patient to decide whether recovery is defined as walking, working around the house, low-impact activities, or being able to do things like play hockey or singles tennis or skiing black diamond runs, etc. etc. So I'm glad that I'm working with a Phys Therapist who defines recovery as getting back to a pre-op, non-arthritic state.

Good luck and good recovery,
-Dirk

My ROM was slow also.  I think I kept aggravating things and was keeping everything inflammed.  I finally gave PT a break and went into the pool.  It was here with a therapist that I was able to gain ROM.   The therapy pool was 90 degrees and I think the warmth was helpful as well as taking all the weight off the hip for ROM exercises. My surgery was 5-21-09 and I am improving my ROM.  I am jealous of your walking though, as I am still unable to walk more than three blocks without significant pain.  I feel muscle pain down into my knee and up into my groin. 

Good luck, I will be watching you site to see your progress as a comparison.  I wish you the best.

lynn
rogerson right BHR 5-21-09

45 year old female- LBHR 3 months post op here.  Prior to my hip going blewy a year ago- I was a two-hour a day yoga addict- practicing for 30 years- and could tie myself into a variety of feet behind the head type pretzel poses.  I figured I was a shoe in for regaining my ROM after surgery.

WRONG

I nearly jumped out of my skull when my PT told me I was on the "really stiff end" of the post surgery ROM. 

As has already been stated here- I don't think it is the replacement parts that are keeping me back so much as how my muscles responded to the trauma.  I also have a crazy 6 month old non union of the left collarbone- I am getting it plated (second surgery) next month- that keeps me off the yoga mat... I know if I could get back to the mat I could get my ROM back..but even without it- every single day I see progress- every day.

Hang in there, keep stretching and moving, and you will get where you want to go- I know it!

I'm 14 month post-op and although I consider my hip resurfacing to be wildly successful in many ways (like I can actually walk, for instance!), But, I'm an over-achiever and so I'm still looking for a bit more progress in terms of strength and flexibility.  Lately, I've been exploring what might be holding me back from achieving strength and flexibility on par with my unoperated side.  My current theory is that maybe it's because I haven't worked very hard to break up all that scar tissue in there and perhaps that's  prohibiting the development of new muscle in specific areas and of course that inelastic scar tissue would limit my flexibility.  This is a step that I think I missed during the recovery process.  I wish that I recognized earlier how important it would be to work with a really good massage therapist to break up the scar tissue.  I still have a clump of hard tissue under and around my scar. 

Anyway, I just wanted to share this current theory of mine.  I've started to work with a massage therapist who specializes in this sort of thing and I'm coupling that with my yoga practice to explore the new possibilities in the hip as the massage therapist performs his magic.  I'll let you all know if this theory pans out at alll with actual results. 

I truly do believe that having the surgery is really only a portion of the complete solution.  Once the mechanical problem is fixed, it can be a challenge to convince all the soft tissue surrounding the joint that everything really is okay now, especially if patterns to compensate for the bad joint have set in over a long period of time.   

Jeanie

Jeanie,
I could not agree more..Mobility and flexibility are definitely a problem for me, now at 4 months post bilat. Strength is coming back, and I've seen a huge improvement between weeks 12 and now, but still can't put socks on or tie shoes...I find myself sratching my head and thinking, jeez, how do I actually bend over and pick something off the floor, it's been so many years that I've had trouble, I've learned physically and mentally to compensate..and now have to unlearn (g)...Same with walking, what is the proper gate for me? I find myself experimenting, searching for the correct walk..Sounds strange..... doesn't it, having to learn the very basics?--I don't remember having this much trouble learning to walk when I was a baby! (LOL!)

Hi Jeanie,

At 6 months, my left hip extension was 8 degrees and could improve to 12 to 15 degrees.  I don't know what it is today.  I should schedule another PT visit, but it would probably be self-pay since I'm 13 1/2 months post-op.  I'm also a downhill skier and ROM is important.  In addition to doing various exercises on nautilus/cybex equipment for legs, calves, hips and shoulders, I've be doing bench press, squats, deadlifts with free weights and running on the treadmill for 1/2 hour.  I suppose I could sign up for a yoga class next.  Friday, I bought an early bird discounted season ski pass.  The snow level is still high up the mountains and who knows when the ski area will open.  Will you ski this season?  Otherwise life is great with my new left hip :)  I have no sense of limitations (aches, pains, leg discrepancy, binding, weakness, etc.).

Hi Steve,
I absolutely will snowboard this season!  I live in Utah and have a season pass at Snowbird this year.  The Bird is supposed to open on Nov 21st.  Woohoo!  I'm also looking forward to doing quite a bit of backcountry touring on my splitboard this year. 

My hip is also really great and I truly don't feel that I have any limitations at all.  But, like I said - I'm an overachiever and curious about the possibilities of getting equal strength and flexibility on both sides.  My left side still comes up a bit short in both regards.

Our surgeries were around the same time.  So, I wonder.  What's your scar tissue situation like?  Do you still have a clump of hard tissue that you can feel under your incision. 

Jeanie

Hi Jeanie,

No, I don't have any hard tissue under the incision.  I can still feel the surface bumps along the incision and see the scar in the mirror.

Hi guys -

I am almost 4 months post op. I have just started back doing yoga. It takes awhile for ROM to return but I do believe that yoga helps - a LOT!

I have my 6 month checkup in Boulder in January. I am hoping Dr. Rector will say it's ok to snowboard after that. I live in Colorado and seeing the opening of the resorts in the last couple weeks is KILLING me!

cj

Hi CJ,
I'm glad you're having such a great recovery!

Hey, don't we have a 'date' to ride the Little Red together next June?  Is that you that I was talking about that with?

Jeanie

That was me! We are definitely planning on going to Little Red. I heard that registration opens in January. We will have to plan on meeting there for sure!

cj