limping

[lyn]

Im 2 weeks post op, and feeling well, except for the fact I'm still limping without my hiking pole. It feels like my mucsles dont want to support my left side. I'm walking 1/4 twice daily and doing the pt excersises Dr. Gross gave me. Should I be concerned or do I need just need to be patient and keep working on it? Thanks, lyn

[hernanu]

Patience, lyn, patience. At two weeks you are really early; remember you had major surgery two weeks ago. I limped until about five weeks along, still had a startup limp for months after, limped when I got tired also.

You (and every other hippy at that time) are asking a lot of your muscles and they're trying but are just not fully up to it right now. You're doing good things with the walking and your exercises, but keep where and when you are in mind.

Your body is telling you that the muscles are not yet strong enough and need a bit of help.

[obxpelican]

You should NOT be walking unaided if you are still limping, it's bad in so many ways.  One crutch, cane or some other supporting device then just use it less and less till you are walking properly.


Chuck

[Wyoming Kim]

Yep, with Chuck on that....you should have a device to aid you while walking because you don't want your muscles memorizing how to walk with a gimp!
I'm two weeks post op today a matter of fact and I'm also still limping/ gimping along but so ready to move past that but I keep being told "paaatience"...must be why in the dictionary it is also refered to a s "long suffering". LOL

[hernanu]

Got it right, Kim - glad you're doing well too...

[imgetinold]

Lyn, like others I didn't walk limp-free until 4+ weeks.  And, like others, I still had a startup limp (first 4-6 steps) for probably 3 months.

Relax.  This "downtime" goes by quickly, even though it seems to go slow while you're in it.

Andy

[Tin Soldier]

I was just going to say what Andy said.  I limped up to about 5 weeks.  You're way early, it'll go away just take your time and gently work on it with a walking aid.  Nose over the centerline all the way through the stride.  Eventually, you'll notice being able to make a longer stride without giving into the limp.  That probably won't happen until 4 or 5 weeks. 

[rubyred]

Lyn, I'm at 5 weeks and still limping unaided. This is perfectly normal for the surgery we've had done. Your body has been through a trauma. Give it the time it needs to recover and use whatever walking aids you have to support you.

[lyn]

Thanks so much everyone for your advice you all have helped me feel so much better. I will be patient and continue to work at it carefully. Rubyred I hope you are doing better. Thanks again! Lyn

[kamoynsgi]

Hi Lyn - I can only confirm what the earlier posts have said.  Two weeks is really early days.  Am almost 5 weeks and walking unaided is not pretty - yet.  Stay with whatever you need to carry you along, it won't be for long. Ka

[Wyoming Kim]

Kim - glad you're doing well too...

Thank You