👯‍♀️ Hips and Knees part 7

Susie I had a similar experience with the physio at my surgery. I only found out that I could self refer to the OTs because I volunteer at a hospice and asked the OT there for advice about a perching stool. They don’t make these things easy.

Morning all, thought I would check how things are on the hipster thread only to find us on our way down to thd bottom of the health forum so here I am hoping to give us a boost.

Result! We are no.1 on Active list

silverlining- not for long!

Fallen to third already but I’ll try to drag us back up by saying I’m due my 12 month assessment of my new hip in a couple of weeks’ time. I’m not feeling too happy about it as I’m sure I’m going to be told I’m not walking enough (which is absolutely true). I don’t feel that I’ve totally bonded with it even after a year; I get very stiff after sitting for quite short times and my back protests if I stand for too long. The upside is the actual pain has completely gone. (I’ve just read this back to myself & it appears patently obvious I should still be doing my hip exercises as well as my once a week exercise class, but any extra help would be appreciated!). PS - I am pretty ancient ….

Well. As a contribution to keeping this thread near the top I'll report on my new hip, which is now 15months old. {grin]

I'm sorry to hear from grammargran that she doesn't feel quite 'bonded' to her new hip, but I am delighted with mine. Though I suspect that, in my mid 70s, I'm a bit younger than her).

I did have an ambition in mind, which was to be able to ride a horse again and I did work hard at getting my leg muscles back into accepting the right 'position' for riding and redeveloping the strength needed in the operated leg. Walking 'was' a great help and made more easy to accomplish by being part of a local Ramblers group (which, incidentally, has a fair quantity of artificial hips and knees among its membership).
Pilates helped too.

Before my op walking, even with two sticks, was really difficult and painful and, while driving wasn't too bad, getting in and out of the car was painful. Sleeping was hard, too because of the constant pain from the hip, which not only affected the hip but travelled around my leg, too. There was a particularly nasty pain in my shin, of all places, which I had to put ice packs on to relieve.

All that has gone now, I don't think thee is anything that I can't do now that I could do before the hip deteriorated.

For those who might be fearful of falling, my hip has survived a few minor falls and a quite serious accident in the summer.

This is just my experience of course and everyone is different, but for me it has been positively life changing.

That is really good to hear Maizie. I also had a couple of potentially serious falls less than 18 months post operation but was ok too.
Both happened in Cyprus the same week. The least dramatic was a bad fall in the street , I couldn’t get up, even with dh helping, needed a passer-by to assist, it was embarrassing.

The worst was at the end of a paragliding/ sailing trip high in the s ky. At the end instead of being brought back into the boat slowly and gently, with a little dip in the sea as I had seen so many others land, we were suddenly dropped from quite a height straight onto the boat deck. I landed with legs twisted under me and I was very lucky I didn’t do any serious damage. It was daft at my age but wanted to do something brave, but I will NEVER 👎 EVER repeat .

Grammargran, it’s great your pain has gone but you do need to move more. If you start with 10 minutes , 5 out 5 back and increase that time slowly? It will help, or can you self refer for physiotherapy in your area?
You have an appointment soon, so talk to them and good luck. 🤞

I’m only 2 months post THR but I feel as though I’ve got my life back. My knees still complain if I stand too long and the swelling is a bit of a problem but compared to life before the op things are wonderful. I can walk for 20 minutes now without a problem and I should do more walking but the weather has not been on my side.

MaizieD thats very good news. I remember your aim was to ride again.
I have been asked to change consultant for my hip to one with a shorter list. I suspect it will be a temporary contract like the guy who did my knee. A month on I am still waiting for an appointment with whoever.

Good to hear teabagwoman, wrap up and keep walking, or else walk around in a shopping centre or even indoors. Try to use stairs too,

Nannytopsy, hope it doesn’t take too long to get a date.

I had a few sessions with the physio at the private hospital where I had my (NHS funded) hip replaced.

One thing that he did emphasise was to try to weight bear on the operated leg as much as possible (within reason, of course) He said that if I didn't I would have problems when I was 'old' (ha ha ). So try not to favour your sound leg when, say getting out of a chair, getting up from the floor (Pilates!) or going upstairs.

I must say, I would never even have attempted paragliding, silverlining. I think you were very brave...

Thanks everyone for various comments and, to be honest, you’re all telling me what, deep down, I know already: I’m just not moving enough. I think I’ve mentioned earlier in the thread that a couple of months ago, two of our daughters whisked us off to Marrakech, ostensibly as our ‘carers’ but, in effect, took no prisoners. I was racking up thousands of steps a day to no ill effect so I know I can do it - basically I’m lazy! MaizieD, you’re right, I’ve got ten years on you but this is no excuse, ‘use it or lose it’ must be my mantra from now on. However silverlining, paragliding is just one step too far ….

I could hardly believe what I was reading. Paragliding and in a foreign country! God knows what would have happened if you had dislocated.

Times have definitely changed. When I was still working 25 years ago, joints were replaced to make people pain-free and do everyday tasks, and paragliding and horse riding were never any of the questions asked!!!. Did your consultant say it was okay to horse ride Maizie?

grammargran I am surprised you don't feel you have bonded with your hip, especially as it is around a year. At least you are pain-free.

Charleygirl, it's just stiff if I sit around for too long, but that may be an age thing and when I look back to where I was 12 months ago, things have improved beyond measure, so perhaps I'm just expecting things to be like they were when you and I were young, Maggie (to quote the late, greatly lamented Terry Wogan .....)

I was very foolish I know. I am not usually a brave person, and getting old, wanted to do something way out of my comfort zone. Just to see if I could.
Having seen the gentle way people were landed in the boats at the end of the process over repeated visits to the hotel, I was not expecting to be dropped from 6’ up, in a heap straight onto the boat. I was 76, being bold and feisty, feeling happy I had plucked up the courage, not thinking about the risks.
My last ever time of being crazy. 🤪

Now I am 77 I know better

OK silverlining, let’s try to forget the landing, tell us about when you were way up in the air, being bold and feisty, how did that feel? Bloomin’ marvellous, I bet!

Silverlining, I’m gobsmacked! I would never be that brave but I will get my big waterproof out and go walking. No handy shopping centres sadly but I am making a point of climbing the stairs several times a day.

I have yet to mention how hard it was to get into the boat because we had to walk on the sea on one if those undulating wooden boardwalks, I have vertigo and had to be virtually carried by two men, being short I couldn’t get my leg over the first boat, was bundled in, then out to sea to get into another boat….. with 6 other people watching….nightmare.
The ride in the sky, up and alone was lovely but the life jacket rode up past my ears so my view was limited. Then the landing which you already know about, and our return to shore on two more boats and another horrible walk on top of the sea on the moving boardwalk…. Where my dh fell off between the boats head first.
Oh and the photos (20£) were awful.
Think that’s it.
But the positive thing is my hip held out. Hurrah. 🥳

It’s been good to be able to put this down, to clear my head of what was a traumatic experience.

Did your consultant say it was okay to horse ride Maizie?

Strange question.

I didn't even mention it to him in the very few minutes in which I spoke to him, Charleygirl. There didn't seem to be any physical reason why I shouldn't be able to get back on a horse. I have a horsey acquaintance who has two artificial hips (which she had long before I had mine). She's an excellent rider and it hasn't stopped her.

I've been back in the saddle for a year now...

Oh my goodness silverlining, you sound absolutely amazing and lovely, and I feel such a wimp. "The positive thing is my hip held out" - I do admire someone who can find the grain of gold amongst all the dross. And your poor DH suffered as well, what a pair! Thank you so much for sharing, you really didn't have to, but I love you for it!