Re: Walking after THR

[Guest guest]

Margaret,

After my TKR I asked the same question. The answer was.... " You

will know when you have overdone it " . Which means, that you go

walking/shopping until it causes discomfort. Not pain. For some it

may be a block walk, for others a mile. Your body will tell you

when you have overdone it. And it does.

Valeri

> How much walking can / should one do, and how long after THR?

> Can one do damage by too much walking too soon?

> I am feeling fine after my shopping excursion this morning (2 weeks

+ 1 day after surgery) - but, following the discussion about straight

leg raising, I'm starting to feel concerned about whether one can

overdo exercise without realising it.

>

> Thanks

> Margaret

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/5/2004 9:44:31 AM Central Standard Time, margaret@... writes:

- but, following the discussion about straight leg raising, I'm starting to feel concerned about whether one can overdo exercise without realising it.

______

As I said, the problem with SLR is the angle and the fact that the weight of your leg works like a lever arm to potentially wiggle the part of the prosthesis pounded down into your bone out of its "groove". This isn't a problem of "overexercising", its a problem of the particular sort of mechanical stress that puts on the prosthesis.

Walking is what the hip is made for, so its an apples and oranges comparison you're trying to make. However, you obviously can "overdo" the walking. In this one, you CAN let your body be your guide.

y

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/5/2004 8:53:38 PM Central Standard Time, susanoops@... writes:

Anyway, I said I have heard the anti-biotics with dental work are any where from 5 yrs. to forever. She says the majority of her patients take them forever.

____

I was told "forever". They put it on my dental record to never work on me without first assuring tht I had taken my pills. You really don't want to get ANY infection......that stuff loves to go to the artificial joint, and I've seen enough of these when they went bad to know it ain't pretty.

y

[Guest guest]

> Thanks, Stan. My understanding is that dislocations are caused by

incorrect movements - transgressing the prohibitions. I don't see

how normal walking can cause dislocation. Just wondering if too much

walking could cause any other harm to the recently-implanted

prosthesis. (It's the first time in years I've been able to walk

without pain!)

>

> Margaret

Its hard to keep a good woman down! You are reminding me of

the Dr. Suess book that keeps playing through my mind. I need to

read it again. Its for after my surgery..... " Oh the places I will go

and the things I will see " .... (nothing fancy, just shopping and

little pain free day trips.

I am so happy you are doing so well.

I worked in my very over grown yard yesterday. Actually I broke it

down and cut the grass Tues, then raked, trimmed and weeded

yesterday. I am so sore!!! My bad r. hip is not much worse than

usual, but my " good " L. hip is killing me. I can't tell if its the

joint, or if I pulled a groin muscle, while trying to protect the

other side. I was up and down off the ground dozens of times, and

on the ground for hours. I am still trying to figure out how one

weeds, and all without ever sitting back on their heels? I tried to

pretend I had already had surgery, and how I would do things then,

next thing I knew, I was back sitting on my heels again. It is no

showplace, like Arianne's, but I have my limits, and enjoy it when it

does not hurt.

Still waiting for insurance to ok surgery. Called again today and

was told she sent all my paperwork " upstairs " ...again. Whatever that

means. I have visions of someone someplace making a lovely decrative

scrappbook with all my paper work. They don't seem to be doing a

whole lot else with it. I am at 15 weeks of waiting now. Anyone

else in the US have this much time pass before you got an ok on

having the surgery from your insurance co.?

Maybe next week.

Had my teeth cleaned today, apparently the last time with out anti-

biotics. Barbara has been cleaning my teeth probably 20 years now,

and when I limped in she assumed I had injured my foot and had

surgery on it. No, honey, my hip wore out since I was last here in

Dec. you are only a month younger than me, yours could go at any

time. Anyway, I said I have heard the anti-biotics with dental work

are any where from 5 yrs. to forever. She says the majority of her

patients take them forever. Yuck. But if its really necessary I

guess I will do it.

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I enjoy gardening too. I do my weeding with a long-handled hoe - avoiding kneeling and squatting as much as possible because of the difficulty in getting up again! (haven't been able to squat for years anyway.) If I ever *had* to get down to low level (e.g. for reaching submerged plants in my pond), I would make sure first that I had 2 plastic garden chairs, one on either side of me, and a soft rubber mat to kneel/lie on. The only way I could get up was by pushing up with my arms on the chairs.

I haven't so far tried kneeling down since my surgery - feel it's still too early.

I hope you get your surgery approved soon!

Margaret

----- Original Message -----

From: susanoops Its hard to keep a good woman down! You are reminding me of the Dr. Suess book that keeps playing through my mind. I need to read it again. Its for after my surgery....."Oh the places I will go and the things I will see".... (nothing fancy, just shopping and little pain free day trips. I am so happy you are doing so well. I worked in my very over grown yard yesterday. Actually I broke it down and cut the grass Tues, then raked, trimmed and weeded yesterday. I am so sore!!! My bad r. hip is not much worse than usual, but my "good" L. hip is killing me. I can't tell if its the joint, or if I pulled a groin muscle, while trying to protect the other side. I was up and down off the ground dozens of times, and on the ground for hours. I am still trying to figure out how one weeds, and all without ever sitting back on their heels? I tried to pretend I had already had surgery, and how I would do things then, next thing I knew, I was back sitting on my heels again. It is no showplace, like Arianne's, but I have my limits, and enjoy it when it does not hurt.

[Guest guest]

Can too much walking damage the prosthesis in any way? Or is it simply over-straining the muscles?

I feel fine after yesterday's excursion - but my body is telling me to rest today, so that's what I'm doing.

Margaret

----- Original Message -----

Walking is what the hip is made for, so its an apples and oranges comparison you're trying to make. However, you obviously can "overdo" the walking. In this one, you CAN let your body be your guide.

y