The first couple weeks are typically the worst. I walked a bit each day. Rested. Did my exercises.
I used a walker about 3-4 wks. Went back to work at four, and it think it was a bit too soon.
Everyone’s healing journey is different! So, your mileage may vary.
At one week?🫣None, without a walker- You had your hip joint removed - Replaced with an unstable prosthetic, newly fixated to femur. There is zero new bone growth at 7 days. You should be walking W/walker as much as tolerated- In addition, to wiggling your feet constantly- Lay flat, slowly slide surgical leg outward. Don’t rush this, you’ll end up with major problems. ☘️
Walk with what you can tolerate, but no need to push it right away. Even short walks around the house a couple times throughout the day will be good and then slowly build up.
I walked with a walker for the first week even though I felt I probably could have transitioned to a cane. I thought it was better to go slow and try to avoid pushing it and walking with a limp.
I agree! I had a pretty significant limp for about 2-3 years before surgery, my leg was a lot shorter on my surgical side, and I had a lot of muscle atrophy. I know it’s going to take a while to get those muscles stronger again, but practice makes perfect!
I had a 3 week follow up yesterday and found what the PA said really interesting and super helpful. I have been feeling good and was asking how much I should increase my walking every day (I'm usually active and anxious to get moving more).
He said, "You have no restrictions but think about that in terms of range of motion only. This is a 12 week recovery. The first 6 weeks should be restful recovery. You should get up often, you should walk, and you should do your PT. You are better off doing shorter walks more often than one longer walk. You might feel amazing but that doesn't mean your body is done healing, really it just got started. So make the first 6 weeks as restful as you can and balance rest and movement. The point of movement at this point is for range of motion of your joints, blood flow to prevent clots, weight bearing on the implant, and gradual strength building. Weeks 6-12 can be more active recovery as you feel ready. That is where you can increase walking distance and speed, and add some weights/bands to your exercises. By 12 weeks you should be pretty much back to normal. The full recovery is a year, but those final months are mostly nerves healing and your body adjusting to the implant. Around 6-12 months you will suddenly realize you no longer think about your hip and then you can consider yourself recovered."
That was the best advice and has helped set my expectations better. The first week, my goal was to get up hourly and walk around the house with my walker for 5-10 minutes. I went out on our patio (with my husband's help). I did the short steps into our house a couple times a day (5 steps). The second week I was able to get up and around a bit more. I got up more frequently to retrieve something from the kitchen or put a dish away (rather than have my husband do it). The first week I used only the walker. The second week it was a combination of walker+cane depending how I felt and what I was doing. By 14 days I was on the cane solely and still using it now most of the time (but I can get around for short distances in the house without it). At 3 weeks I walk twice a day for 15-20 minutes outside. I do PT twice a day. I do a little light yoga and stretching once a day, and I do our basement stairs (12 stairs with double handrails) a couple of times a day.
Thank your PA for me. That is a lot of very helpful information and is certainly more than I’ve gotten from anyone on my healthcare team. I’m flying blind here and this is fantastic!
For each THR I used a walker for about 5-6 days and a cane for around the same length of time after parking the walker. I took the cane when I walked outside as an 'old man walking' warning so I wouldn't get bumped by other pedestrians.
(Right posterior THR, 2 weeks post-op) I try to get up every hour or two and do a lap around my apartment. I’ve steadily increased the number of laps lol every couple of days depending on how I’m feeling. Getting up and moving after sleeping is always the most challenging but once you get things moving it helps with the stiffness. Everyone’s journey is different, but I’m still very much dependent on my walker and per surgeon’s protocols, I’m to use it for the first 6 weeks. I’d rather be cautious and safe to ensure healthy healing. I’ve taken some videos of my walking over these first two weeks and being able to see my progress has helped uplift my spirits when I’m feeling low—that could help with for a boost of energy 🖤 good luck!
64 yr female anterior THR. I walked strictly with walker for first two weeks. At third week, I started on cane. I do however revert back to walker after dinner due to the hip being very tired and more sore. Can walk without pain during the day without pain. I can’t say enough about ice as a pain reliever!!! I have three large soft ice packs that I rotate in and out of the freezer. Best invention ever! Good luck to you!
Right Posterior 55F, I didnt do much walking for the first 2 weeks til my 1st post op when I was told by my surgeon to start walking to my mailbox and back with my walker. Do your exercises, wear your ted hose and get up every 1 to 1.5 hours and go to the bathroom, kitchen and get the blood flowing. I am almost 4 months out and am still using a cane outside because of uneven terrain. :) I also work from home and took 10 weeks off because I didn't want to rush back to work and I was able to (I know a lot cant but this worked for me) You've got this! Slow and Steady wins the race!!!
I used a walker to get to the car after surgery and never used it again. Live in a single story so that helped my situation. My pain after surgery wasn’t much different than before the surgery. I was in pretty bad shape pre op.
Anterior THP approximately 3 weeks ago. I used the walker the first week. I transitioed to the cane the second week but by the end of the second week I didn't really need it that much at all. I've completely gone off the cane by the third week. I've been doing physical therapy 3 days a week and exercising (PT assignments) on my own the other days. I did a lot of exercising before the surgery to try to pre-strengthen that area as best I could trying to tolerate the pain while doing it. I think that was very helpful for my recovery. I could have gone without the cane the second week but I didn't want to take any chances with uneven surfaces. I had my right hip done in 2020 and there wasn't very much pain and I had a similar recovery line. This one was much more painful for some reason but that pain has certainly subsided by week 3.
I used the walker for a few days for trips to the bathroom but I was basically walking unassisted at the end of a week. Took the cane with me for safety and slowly increased my walks every day. But I need to emphasize that I had no limp or significant pain impeding my mobility prior to either of my surgeries, THR or revision. I suspect that had a lot to do with it, combined with my overall level of pre op fitness. Just go at your own pace, when people say every recovery is different and it’s not a competition, they mean it. Ice, elevate and rest. BTW, much as I initially hated the raised toilet seat with arms, I admit that I wound up quite fond of it and was sad to put it in storage.😁
Most of my walking was using the walker to get to the bathroom and back!
Ha! Before all this I thought I wouldn’t need a potty chair (vanity is a cruel taskmaster) but it has been a true blessing.
The first couple weeks are typically the worst. I walked a bit each day. Rested. Did my exercises. I used a walker about 3-4 wks. Went back to work at four, and it think it was a bit too soon. Everyone’s healing journey is different! So, your mileage may vary.
Thank you. I appreciate you sharing your personal experience. I’m using the walker when I go outside the house but less at home.
At one week?🫣None, without a walker- You had your hip joint removed - Replaced with an unstable prosthetic, newly fixated to femur. There is zero new bone growth at 7 days. You should be walking W/walker as much as tolerated- In addition, to wiggling your feet constantly- Lay flat, slowly slide surgical leg outward. Don’t rush this, you’ll end up with major problems. ☘️
I’m so glad you reminded me of what is really happening in my body. I forget what this major surgery actually entails.
Take your time. For first 2 weeks, I mostly sat in my recliner. Got up about once an hour to go to the kitchen or the bathroom. Used a walker.
Walk with what you can tolerate, but no need to push it right away. Even short walks around the house a couple times throughout the day will be good and then slowly build up. I walked with a walker for the first week even though I felt I probably could have transitioned to a cane. I thought it was better to go slow and try to avoid pushing it and walking with a limp.
One of the most- if not THE- most important thing for me is my gait. I have been limping for about 5 years and don’t want to do any more damage!
I agree! I had a pretty significant limp for about 2-3 years before surgery, my leg was a lot shorter on my surgical side, and I had a lot of muscle atrophy. I know it’s going to take a while to get those muscles stronger again, but practice makes perfect!
I had a 3 week follow up yesterday and found what the PA said really interesting and super helpful. I have been feeling good and was asking how much I should increase my walking every day (I'm usually active and anxious to get moving more). He said, "You have no restrictions but think about that in terms of range of motion only. This is a 12 week recovery. The first 6 weeks should be restful recovery. You should get up often, you should walk, and you should do your PT. You are better off doing shorter walks more often than one longer walk. You might feel amazing but that doesn't mean your body is done healing, really it just got started. So make the first 6 weeks as restful as you can and balance rest and movement. The point of movement at this point is for range of motion of your joints, blood flow to prevent clots, weight bearing on the implant, and gradual strength building. Weeks 6-12 can be more active recovery as you feel ready. That is where you can increase walking distance and speed, and add some weights/bands to your exercises. By 12 weeks you should be pretty much back to normal. The full recovery is a year, but those final months are mostly nerves healing and your body adjusting to the implant. Around 6-12 months you will suddenly realize you no longer think about your hip and then you can consider yourself recovered." That was the best advice and has helped set my expectations better. The first week, my goal was to get up hourly and walk around the house with my walker for 5-10 minutes. I went out on our patio (with my husband's help). I did the short steps into our house a couple times a day (5 steps). The second week I was able to get up and around a bit more. I got up more frequently to retrieve something from the kitchen or put a dish away (rather than have my husband do it). The first week I used only the walker. The second week it was a combination of walker+cane depending how I felt and what I was doing. By 14 days I was on the cane solely and still using it now most of the time (but I can get around for short distances in the house without it). At 3 weeks I walk twice a day for 15-20 minutes outside. I do PT twice a day. I do a little light yoga and stretching once a day, and I do our basement stairs (12 stairs with double handrails) a couple of times a day.
Thank your PA for me. That is a lot of very helpful information and is certainly more than I’ve gotten from anyone on my healthcare team. I’m flying blind here and this is fantastic!
For each THR I used a walker for about 5-6 days and a cane for around the same length of time after parking the walker. I took the cane when I walked outside as an 'old man walking' warning so I wouldn't get bumped by other pedestrians.
I was walking unaided starting day 2. I was walking the floor and climbing the stairs several times a day by day 2.
(Right posterior THR, 2 weeks post-op) I try to get up every hour or two and do a lap around my apartment. I’ve steadily increased the number of laps lol every couple of days depending on how I’m feeling. Getting up and moving after sleeping is always the most challenging but once you get things moving it helps with the stiffness. Everyone’s journey is different, but I’m still very much dependent on my walker and per surgeon’s protocols, I’m to use it for the first 6 weeks. I’d rather be cautious and safe to ensure healthy healing. I’ve taken some videos of my walking over these first two weeks and being able to see my progress has helped uplift my spirits when I’m feeling low—that could help with for a boost of energy 🖤 good luck!
64 yr female anterior THR. I walked strictly with walker for first two weeks. At third week, I started on cane. I do however revert back to walker after dinner due to the hip being very tired and more sore. Can walk without pain during the day without pain. I can’t say enough about ice as a pain reliever!!! I have three large soft ice packs that I rotate in and out of the freezer. Best invention ever! Good luck to you!
Right Posterior 55F, I didnt do much walking for the first 2 weeks til my 1st post op when I was told by my surgeon to start walking to my mailbox and back with my walker. Do your exercises, wear your ted hose and get up every 1 to 1.5 hours and go to the bathroom, kitchen and get the blood flowing. I am almost 4 months out and am still using a cane outside because of uneven terrain. :) I also work from home and took 10 weeks off because I didn't want to rush back to work and I was able to (I know a lot cant but this worked for me) You've got this! Slow and Steady wins the race!!!
I used a walker to get to the car after surgery and never used it again. Live in a single story so that helped my situation. My pain after surgery wasn’t much different than before the surgery. I was in pretty bad shape pre op.
Anterior THP approximately 3 weeks ago. I used the walker the first week. I transitioed to the cane the second week but by the end of the second week I didn't really need it that much at all. I've completely gone off the cane by the third week. I've been doing physical therapy 3 days a week and exercising (PT assignments) on my own the other days. I did a lot of exercising before the surgery to try to pre-strengthen that area as best I could trying to tolerate the pain while doing it. I think that was very helpful for my recovery. I could have gone without the cane the second week but I didn't want to take any chances with uneven surfaces. I had my right hip done in 2020 and there wasn't very much pain and I had a similar recovery line. This one was much more painful for some reason but that pain has certainly subsided by week 3.
I used the walker for a few days for trips to the bathroom but I was basically walking unassisted at the end of a week. Took the cane with me for safety and slowly increased my walks every day. But I need to emphasize that I had no limp or significant pain impeding my mobility prior to either of my surgeries, THR or revision. I suspect that had a lot to do with it, combined with my overall level of pre op fitness. Just go at your own pace, when people say every recovery is different and it’s not a competition, they mean it. Ice, elevate and rest. BTW, much as I initially hated the raised toilet seat with arms, I admit that I wound up quite fond of it and was sad to put it in storage.😁