Re: Cane at 3 weeks post-op????

[Guest guest]

I had the minimal invasive hip replacement as well - and I think it was about 2 weeks post op that I was on the cane. I never used crutches though, instead, I had a walker. The way I approached every one of my milestones was solely on how I felt about it. If you don't feel stable on the cane then maybe you should wait. You might surprise yourself though. Once I got past that two week marker, I think I tried something new every day (little things). I did all of my therapy here at home - those early weeks I'd stand with my walker and do the leg stretches and lifts. Then I'd stand in the kitchen, holding onto the island and do them. Then, I'd do them holding on with only one hand. And so on. BUt if something felt wrong then I didn't push it until I felt strong/stable enough to try it. (I remember going up the steps the regular way, I just couldn't get that left leg up

to the next step without a lot of hanging on and pulling on the bannister, so we decided to not push it till the muscle felt stronger.

[Guest guest]

Hello, I am not a doctor nor a PT (mine is on borrowed

time let me tell you) and I had a hip replacement back

in March and I am only 26. First of all when do you

see your surgeon next is it soon? If not I would call

and tell him that you are uncomfortable with going

directly to a cane and think that you are not ready

yet. You might have to bug him a bit but eventually he

will get the point. It is your body after all and even

though he knows a lot you know how you function much

better.

Is 3 weeks too early? I have no idea but I am still on

two canes and it has been five months and I was on a

walker for 3 months. What I am saying is that everyone

is different and heal quicker or slower than others

there really is no comparing on the subject. What the

surgeons have is a basic guide line sometimes it works

and sometimes it doesn't I heard in the hospital that

the average person after a thr is back to work at 3

months tops. Made me wonder why I was so behind and

really upset but you know what if we keep trying to

live up to one statement it isn't going to happen and

that is being realistic.

Mind you doing those exercises are important (or so I

am told)I do mine 3 times a day but I don't do them

when I have been out and about. I just can't do it I

tried once and almost blacked out this is just an

example of knowing your body. So remember to take one

day at a time and if in doubt or uncomfortable with

something go to the surgeon he won't know what is

going on unless you tell him. Good luck with healing.

~Contessica

--- kgallant82 <kmgallant@...> wrote:

> Hello everyone. I am 3 weeks post op from a THR and

> my physical

> therapist(Home visiting) is pushing me to get off my

> crutches and onto

> a cane. I really don't feel comfortable and I'm

> quite scared. Am I

> being too cautious?

>

> The home health agency is pushing for her to

> discharge me already, and

> she is trying to make me make as much progess as

> possible. I've been

> doing 3 visits a week for 2 weeks and now it's

> already being cut. I'm

> sooo scared I'm not going to heal right.. and I'll

> never achieve my

> goals.

>

> I'm not the best at doing my home exercises, but I'm

> working on it. Am

> I being paranoid, or is the timing right. I should

> also mention my

> surgery was done minimally invasively with computer

> assisted

> technology (Dr. at New England Baptist) and

> that I am 23.

>

>

>

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

you know what is worse than that??? when the actor switches cane hands, back and forth. at the end of a day of filming i can see the actor going home and saying "man my back is killing me!" and all i'm doing is walking with this stupid cane

[Guest guest]

On Aug 20, 2006, at 3:00 PM, know_jack wrote:.So why  couldn't they get the frickin' cane position proper?????...I enjoy the  show, but again, regarding the proper use of the cane, WHY??? Because Dr. House is such a miserable S.O.B. that there's *no way* he's going to use a cane in the proper way.  He'd use it incorrectly just so he could annoy the orthopedics department, drive the PT's nuts, complain about his backache, and take more Vicodin.  (I'm not referring to the actor, Hugh Laurie, of course)(although he may be trying to drive fans who use canes nuts)Me?  Both knees are in wretched condition, so I use the can on whichever side feels comfortable at any given time. Z

[Guest guest]

Thank you Mr. Coffey(I'll skip The " Green Mile " reference)

The devil is in the details,,,,and that danged ol' devil drives me

crazy somtimes....

Bob

>

> you know what is worse than that??? when the actor switches cane

hands, back and forth. at the end of a day of filming i can see the

actor going home and saying " man my back is killing me! " and all i'm

doing is walking with this stupid cane

>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/21/2006 11:46:43 P.M. Central Standard Time, ruby2zdy@... writes:

Interesting you should bring that up. I used a cane several years ago, and had it on the injured side. It seemed logical to me. Several people said I was using it on the wrong side, but I couldn't see the logic (and anyway would have required me to depend on my left hand/arm for coordination), so I stuck with using the cane with my right hand.

What's the logic behind using the cane on the opposite side to the injured leg?

Ann

My PT also told me to use the cane on the opposite side of the knee that had been done. I told him that it just didn't feel right and he said no problem. But I also had another really bad knee to have surgery on.

[Guest guest]

Interesting you should bring that up. I used a cane several years ago, and had it on the injured side. It seemed logical to me. Several people said I was using it on the wrong side, but I couldn't see the logic (and anyway would have required me to depend on my left hand/arm for coordination), so I stuck with using the cane with my right hand.

What's the logic behind using the cane on the opposite side to the injured leg?

Ann

Re: Cane at 3 weeks post-op????

Ditto!!!What said...And I wish you the very best in your recovery.BobP.S. I'm adding this as a P.S. because it's one of my pet peeves that people who have never had to use a cane would not understand, and also, because it involves a Televison show in the USA called "House", so a lot of other folks may not know what I'm referring to....But in the TV show, 'House' is the name of a doctor who has a bad leg, his right leg, & he holds his cane in his right hand....It drives me insane!!!!,,,,maybe it films better that way, I dunno, but the whole show is about dealing with hospitals & medical conditions, & there are hundreds of little known medical facts in every episode....So why couldn't they get the frickin' cane position proper?????...I enjoy the show, but again, regarding the proper use of the cane, WHY???Thanks for letting me get that outta my system.Bob>> using the cane will start to make you use more and more muscles. make sure to put the cane in the hand, on the side of your natural hip. start out around the house> and then venture outdoors to smooth sidewalks. don't just throw the crutches away all at once but after a little while on the cane you won't want to go back>

[Guest guest]

Maybe people who can't handle weight in the injured leg are the ones who use the cane on that side.

Ann

Re: Cane at 3 weeks post-op????

Ditto!!!What said...And I wish you the very best in your recovery.BobP.S. I'm adding this as a P.S. because it's one of my pet peeves that people who have never had to use a cane would not understand, and also, because it involves a Televison show in the USA called "House", so a lot of other folks may not know what I'm referring to....But in the TV show, 'House' is the name of a doctor who has a bad leg, his right leg, & he holds his cane in his right hand....It drives me insane!!!!,,,,maybe it films better that way, I dunno, but the whole show is about dealing with hospitals & medical conditions, & there are hundreds of little known medical facts in every episode....So why couldn't they get the frickin' cane position proper?????...I enjoy the show, but again, regarding the proper use of the cane, WHY???Thanks for letting me get that outta my system.Bob>> using the cane will start to make you use more and more muscles. make sure to put the cane in the hand, on the side of your natural hip. start out around the house> and then venture outdoors to smooth sidewalks. don't just throw the crutches away all at once but after a little while on the cane you won't want to go back

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[Guest guest]

Ann--

The logic is that the natural walking movement is: left arm moves with right leg; right arm moves with left leg. Take a look at anyone walking down the street, you'll see that the vast majority of people walk this way. Individuals using same-side arm/leg movements are the bane of existence for close-order drill instructors, who call this type of walk "camel-humping" (with some VERY negative additional comments regarding parentage, coordination, sexual preferences and general intelligence).

When I used a cane after each surgery (at 6 weeks post-op for a couple of weeks), I found the opposing hand-leg combination comfortable, natural and useful. From a practical point of view, since you're using the cane to help keep your balance (among other things), it makes sense to have a wider balance base... when you use the cane on the same side as the leg, your balance base is much narrower, with the cane often being right next to the foot. That never made much sense to me.

For what it's worth, it bothers me, too, every time I see Dr. House "camel-humping".

Greywolf - RTHR-2003; LTHR-2004

mdavison@...

From: Joint Replacement [mailto:Joint Replacement ] On Behalf Of Ann Sent: 22 August, 2006 6:45 AMJoint Replacement Subject: Re: Re: Cane at 3 weeks post-op????

Interesting you should bring that up. I used a cane several years ago, and had it on the injured side. It seemed logical to me. Several people said I was using it on the wrong side, but I couldn't see the logic (and anyway would have required me to depend on my left hand/arm for coordination), so I stuck with using the cane with my right hand.

What's the logic behind using the cane on the opposite side to the injured leg?

Ann

Re: Cane at 3 weeks post-op????

Ditto!!!What said...And I wish you the very best in your recovery.BobP.S. I'm adding this as a P.S. because it's one of my pet peeves that people who have never had to use a cane would not understand, and also, because it involves a Televison show in the USA called "House", so a lot of other folks may not know what I'm referring to....But in the TV show, 'House' is the name of a doctor who has a bad leg, his right leg, & he holds his cane in his right hand....It drives me insane!!!!,,,,maybe it films better that way, I dunno, but the whole show is about dealing with hospitals & medical conditions, & there are hundreds of little known medical facts in every episode....So why couldn't they get the frickin' cane position proper?????...I enjoy the show, but again, regarding the proper use of the cane, WHY???Thanks for letting me get that outta my system.Bob>> using the cane will start to make you use more and more muscles. make sure to put the cane in the hand, on the side of your natural hip. start out around the house> and then venture outdoors to smooth sidewalks. don't just throw the crutches away all at once but after a little while on the cane you won't want to go back

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[Guest guest]

Ann, if that's the case, then I'd think the person isn't ready for the cane, and should remain with crutches a bit longer.

Greywolf - RTHR-2003; LTHR-2004

mdavison@...

From: Joint Replacement [mailto:Joint Replacement ] On Behalf Of Ann Sent: 22 August, 2006 7:59 AMJoint Replacement Subject: Re: Re: Cane at 3 weeks post-op????

Maybe people who can't handle weight in the injured leg are the ones who use the cane on that side.

Ann

Re: Cane at 3 weeks post-op????

Ditto!!!What said...And I wish you the very best in your recovery.BobP.S. I'm adding this as a P.S. because it's one of my pet peeves that people who have never had to use a cane would not understand, and also, because it involves a Televison show in the USA called "House", so a lot of other folks may not know what I'm referring to....But in the TV show, 'House' is the name of a doctor who has a bad leg, his right leg, & he holds his cane in his right hand....It drives me insane!!!!,,,,maybe it films better that way, I dunno, but the whole show is about dealing with hospitals & medical conditions, & there are hundreds of little known medical facts in every episode....So why couldn't they get the frickin' cane position proper?????...I enjoy the show, but again, regarding the proper use of the cane, WHY???Thanks for letting me get that outta my system.Bob>> using the cane will start to make you use more and more muscles. make sure to put the cane in the hand, on the side of your natural hip. start out around the house> and then venture outdoors to smooth sidewalks. don't just throw the crutches away all at once but after a little while on the cane you won't want to go back

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[Guest guest]

Maybe people who can't handle weight in the injured leg are the ones who use the cane on that side. >>> My use of the cane is more of a benefit to my back then my actual hip. I'm full weight bearing and don't even use it throughout the house or for "close" distance walking~ unless it's just a really bad day. On a day to day basis after doing my general household cleaning, laundry, fixing dinner, running the kids to practice or sitting through their games.... the longer my day~ the more of a toll it takes on my body. If I'm tired or hurting I tend to want to limp which in turn thrashes my spine around~ for me it's just less painful using the cane on my long days.

if that's the case, then I'd think the person isn't ready for the cane, and should remain with crutches a bit longer. >>> I agree with greywolf on that one. Weight bearing shouldn't be a problem for those with a "stablized" hip.

[Guest guest]

Hi Ann

You use the cane on the opposite side in order to protect the good leg, it helps

prevent or

lessen the lurching arthritic gait that we all have or had before our

replacements.

I had two bad hips but use the the cane in the hand opposite the worst leg at

any given

time.

jane in Wales

> >

> > using the cane will start to make you use more and more muscles. make

> sure to put the cane in the hand, on the side of your natural hip.

> start out around the house

> > and then venture outdoors to smooth sidewalks. don't just throw the

> crutches away all at once but after a little while on the cane you

> won't want to go back

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Ah! Good thought. Myself, I have shoulder problems so will probably just go with the crutches till I can walk on my own.

Ann

Re: Cane at 3 weeks post-op????

Ditto!!!What said...And I wish you the very best in your recovery.BobP.S. I'm adding this as a P.S. because it's one of my pet peeves that people who have never had to use a cane would not understand, and also, because it involves a Televison show in the USA called "House", so a lot of other folks may not know what I'm referring to....But in the TV show, 'House' is the name of a doctor who has a bad leg, his right leg, & he holds his cane in his right hand....It drives me insane!!!!,,,,maybe it films better that way, I dunno, but the whole show is about dealing with hospitals & medical conditions, & there are hundreds of little known medical facts in every episode....So why couldn't they get the frickin' cane position proper?????...I enjoy the show, but again, regarding the proper use of the cane, WHY???Thanks for letting me get that outta my system.Bob>> using the cane will start to make you use more and more muscles. make sure to put the cane in the hand, on the side of your natural hip. start out around the house> and then venture outdoors to smooth sidewalks. don't just throw the crutches away all at once but after a little while on the cane you won't want to go back

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[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/22/2006 1:00:56 A.M. Central Standard Time, ruby2zdy@... writes:

Maybe people who can't handle weight in the injured leg are the ones who use the cane on that side.

Ann

Hey Ann!! I think you might be right. I would hate to think that there is something wrong with me. I also had a back fusion 7 months before my first replacement. Also, they never had me on crutches, just a walker. I was walking around the house without my walker and still used the cane when I went out.

[Guest guest]

Hi , I been walking with my cane on my left side even after I had my right side my Hip and Knee replace now my left knee needs to be replace so am I suppose to used the cane on my right side now? Well you have a nice day:-) Susie Coffey <wcoffey81@...> wrote: you know what is worse than that??? when the actor switches cane hands, back and forth. at the end of a day of filming i can see the actor going home and saying "man my back is killing me!" and all i'm doing is walking with this stupid cane

[Guest guest]

Yes, that's what the PTs say, and there's logic to it.

Greywolf - RTHR-2003; LTHR-2004

mdavison@...

From: Joint Replacement [mailto:Joint Replacement ] On Behalf Of Suzanne SnyderSent: 23 August, 2006 7:24 AMJoint Replacement Subject: Re: Re: Cane at 3 weeks post-op????

Hi ,

I been walking with my cane on my left side even after I had my right side my Hip and Knee replace now my left knee needs to be replace so am I suppose to used the cane on my right side now?

Well you have a nice day:-)

Susie Coffey <wcoffey81@...> wrote:

you know what is worse than that??? when the actor switches cane hands, back and forth. at the end of a day of filming i can see the actor going home and saying "man my back is killing me!" and all i'm doing is walking with this stupid cane

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