HR 1 week post op with Mr. Moss

[JEFF A.]

Kate, Congrats and best of luck on your recovery.  It does seem almost like a miracle to walk again, doesn't it?  Welcome to the club.  Jeff

[kate71]

so 3 weeks tomorrow. feeling like I have hit a bit of a plateau with no real change over the last couple of days.  I know deep down that the initial fast recovery from completely unable to move in hospital to being able to walk down the road on crutches is amazing, i think i just expected to carry on recovering at the same pace week on week!

so trying to rationalise with myself today, always fun walking down the street talking to yourself!! :o and also trying to tell myself not to tense my thigh muscles before my foot touches the ground (obviously my old in built technique to brace myself for the pain that was due to come with every step) because when I do this it hurts now.

not a great day today but taking strength from all your great stories on here  :)

[hernanu]

Sounds like you're doing fine kate. I think this idea of linear progression on anything is an urban myth.  My recovery was in fits and starts, plateauing for a bit, then progressing quickly and repeating at will.

I think that the body makes progress, then needs a respite to feel comfortable, to accept the improvement and work it into the environment. Once it's set in and become second hand, then progress can happen quickly again.

Just my opinion, based on my nonlinear recovery.

[kate71]

thank you so much...you talk so much sense! I honestly dont know how I would be feeling without this outlet to talk (well type!) and get advice. :) onwards and upwards!

[podgornymd]

Hey Kate,

Been reading your emails and wanted to let you know that everything sounds pretty normal. I am 7 weeks out and had the same doubts and questions you have expressed and i am in the medical field ,so you are not being paranoid.

I had an average recovery similar to yours. My expectations were a little too high. I thought i would recover faster but dont make the mistakes i made which are exactly what everyone is advising you.

I tried to get off the crutches too early. Stay on them until you are no longer having alot of pain walking.Dont overdo it. i started feeling good at 4 weeks and rode a spin bike too long and walked too much and was laid up for 2 days. There were so many times when i took 2 steps forward and 1 step back. Dont push it  and soon enough you will be off and walking and with less pain. My big jump came around 5-7 weeks. You need to let the injury heal and it was major trauma to your hip.

God luck.

Eman

[kate71]

Thanks Eman - more wise words.  Much appreciated.

I have tried to manage my expectations and decided to look at my improvements week on week rather than day by day.

Its also really good to know its not just me that has had these feelings.  Much as I try to explain my feelings to other people it really is difficult for them to understand vs a group like this who have 'been there done that'.

:)

[podgornymd]

My first 4 weeks my progress was measured in weeks with baby steps along the way but once the 5 week time frame came around it was  measured in days. I made significant gains after that. I just walked about 3 miles on flat ground without assistance with minimal pain. jsut 3 dys ago i was doing maybe 1.5 miles . I hope i dont pay for it tomorrow. I also swam 1200 yds and rode stationary bike for 30 minutes. It will get better but try to not have too many setbacks by doing too much. i think that delayed my recovery too.

eman

[kate71]

hi all - so here I am at 4 weeks tomorrow - not sure where that week went! been doing some work from home which has taken my mind off things a little. but the major achievement has been to walk to my son's school to pick him up for the first time yesterday - his smile when he saw me made all the effort worthwhile  :)

pain is better today, it's still there with full weight bearing and still using 2 crutches outside but the movement is feeling more natural and people say I am walking faster than I was.  I also think the swelling in the joint must be going down as I dont feel so much like I have one leg longer than the other.

Have to battle with my brain now to stop making me limp - so hard to do! will update again next week.  :)

[podgornymd]

Hey Kate,

Sounds like you are making progress. Your recovery sounds very similar to mine. I was still on 2 crutches at 4-5 weeks.Keep walking and icing!! My leg felt much better when the swelling went down. I also developed a limp which took me a while to get over. For me it was like 1 day i woke up and i could walk with limited pain. Keep your spirits up and at 6 weeks you will be doing much better.

I am making alot of progress daily but every now and then somehow i irritate my hip and get this nagging anterior hip flexor pain/tightness. If i can figure out how to avoid that i would feel great.

Keep it up and hopefully i can give you advice as you progress along since i am only 4 weeks ahead of you, so maybe you can avoid the mistakes i made.

[kate71]

thanks for your support.  Glad to hear you are progressing well with your recovery too - have you had any deep tissue massage on the muscles - a few people have mentioned this is good to do at your stage in the recovery to help with the range of movement?

any advice gratefully received  :) I have my appointment with the consultant early July so it will be good to know what I am allowed to do next and what not to do as well!

Kate

[podgornymd]

I have not had massage but i have been seeing a physical therapist that kind of releases trigger points  with manual therapy. For me personally i havent felt like i was ready for massage. It is getting to the point where alot of my incision and lateral pain has almost resolved. My thinking is i want the pain to be minimal and my hip feeeling stable with internal rotation before i do massage. That is just my opinion.

You are right on schedule so keep at it.

[Pat Walter]

Hi Kate

Congratulations on the new hip resurfacing and for sharing your story.

If you do a bit too much, your body will often complain with pain, swelling and stiffness.  If you listen to your body, you will learn when to back off.  I know people like to really get going and push in the beginning, but it is best to be conservative.  If you get a lot of swelling or pain going, it will actually slow down your recovery.

You will have lots of time in the coming months to really give that new hip a work out.

Good Luck.

Pat

[kate71]

Thanks for your kind words Pat and thank YOU for this wonderful website! :)

[kate71]

hi all

5 weeks yesterday and what a difference a week makes! I might be speaking too soon but the pain has been so much less  this week, the movement in my leg is so much better too.

longer walks are actually enjoyable and can now do more movement in the PT exercises.

I can see the light at the end of the tunnel now!!

still on crutches outside (more fear of falling than pain ;)) but inside have done quite a lot of walking with none at all!! practising walking without the limp and occasionally get it right which is so satisfying as I havent walked normally for about 3 years!!

hopefully back in the car at the end of the week and no more surgical stockings as of Friday - happy days!!

keep you posted and hope everyone is doing well this week too... :)

[packman]

Way to go Kate - great patience - your indoor practice and confidence will tell you when to drop the crutches plus gradually lengthening your walks
Remember there is no conventional schedule or need to conform to others expectations - it is up to you to make the call as to what you can or cannot do

[hernanu]

That is great, Kate! It is amazing how much progress can be made so quickly.

You've got a lot more progress to go... Enjoy it as it comes, this is the payoff for doing good work on your recuperation.

[Lauren Lee]

Welcome Kate! I am 6 days post op and dealing with some issues.   I love all the support here. I've learned so much and know that what I am experiencing is not "just me". Keep healing!

[kate71]

hi all

Just had to share my walk today I did 1.5 miles! i know its a small thing but I am so proud of myself and it didnt hurt!!! :) :) :)

Cannot really believe I just did that distance when such a short time ago i couldnt walk more than a few steps without pain - I am one happy person today so sending out my good vibes to all of you at the beginning of your journey - just like the rest of you experienced hippys did for me!!

Also I found this really cool (and easy to use ) app for tracking my progress its called mapmywalk and it keeps records like a pedometer.

Have a good day everyone!

[hernanu]

That is great, Kate!  It is such an amazing thing to be used to continuous pain and then see it gone.

Keep it up, and your app sounds cool.   8)

[kate71]

Hi all 7 weeks today and my big news is that I walked outside with no crutches! Felt very odd to be out without my friends (as I like to call them!) but it was ok. This morning was easier and for about 5 minutes I actually forgot about my hip while chatting to my son on the way to his school. I actually got goosebumps when I realised I had forgotten!!  :)
This afternoon the heavy leg was back as I had got tired but now I know I can feel no pain without any assistance I feel so positive.
Check up with mr moss on Wednesday next week so will be good to see the X-ray and find out if all is ok in there but it feels ok so fingers crossed.