I had a total hip replacement 3 months ago and I still have a difficult time walking. I still have some pain and I can not tie my shoes or put on my socks or wash my feet. Will it every get better? Please, be honest to me.
2007-02-16 16:43:15 · 5 answers · asked by soar 3 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Injuries
Yes, I am in physical therapy.
2007-02-16 17:01:07 · update #1
Are you still using a gait device - a walker or a cane? If not, you probably need to still be using it. I know, a lot of people want to get rid of the cane, because they equate getting rid of the cane with being on the road to recovery. HOWEVER, it is much more important that you walk with an even gait pattern, and for that you need a device. Use it in the short run, and it should help to reduce your pain.
Your surgeon is a good source of information about the pain. He or she can tell you if this is typical, post-surgical pain. Also, it is possible to have referred pain from the lower back that is bothering the hip area.
3 months out is not very long in the grand scheme of things. When you first have the surgery, the first week or two I know you were saying to yourself "wow, I feel better today than I did yesterday". After 6 weeks, you say "well, I feel better now at the end of the week than I did at the beginning". So, the progress levels off but it does continue. Keep the faith with your exercises, especially standing hip abduction and extension. (If your PT has not taught you these, get another therapist.)
Good luck!
2007-02-16 17:48:26 · answer #1 · answered by Jason W 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How much you will recover completely depends on you. Each person is different, and heals differently.
Are you in physical therapy? I would definitely recommend it. As they will know what exercises to give you so that you regain the best of your abilities.
If not ask your doctor what you should and shouldn't be doing.
As far as pain goes a little pain is still normal, but if it is excruciating then there is something wrong.
And being as honest as possible on recovery you must remember that this is a replacement, and although it is close, it is not going to be as great as the original hip.
2007-02-17 00:57:19 · answer #2 · answered by Duane"s girl 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had a total knee replacement. They said I would be walking the next day and back to work in a week. Well, fool that I was, I believed them. It will soon be two years, and I can finally go for a walk, with still pain. So don't rush it, it will take time, but you will get there. I can barely wash my foot, and not at all in the shower. It takes a long time for the pain to go away, months and months. Good luck.
2007-02-17 00:56:15 · answer #3 · answered by Sunkist3599 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My grandfather had BOTH hip joints replaced...and had 2 girlfriends at the age of 82 and kept them both happy. Hang in there, time will heal. Have you talked to your physician about this?
2007-02-17 00:48:12 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes you will, takes time and healing
2007-02-17 00:50:39 · answer #5 · answered by iamwhoiam 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋