Use of walker after surgery

[Guest guest]

I had both hips replaced in 2001 (6 months apart) and used a walker for at least 4 weeks after each surgery.

The second surgery was much easier but I know I was quite dependent on a walker for some time. I had a LTKR on 7/11/07 and again very dependent on a walker.

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[Guest guest]

Hi, I'm having LHR this Friday. My dr. said that I'd be on the walker

for about 6 weeks. Not sure if I misunderstood or if that is true. I

know that everyone recoups at their own speed but what is the norm for

those here that have had THR?

Just to bring all up to speed for my situation. I tried the injections

into my hip, didn't work. So now I've reached my limit of pain and

lower quality of life. I'm having the surgery this Friday and am really

looking forward to being able to (in time) get back to being active

again. I'm 56 and am too young to just sit and let the world go by!

[Guest guest]

, I think you misunderstood. Most THR patients use a walker for less than a week, then switch to either crutches (usually forearm crutches) or a pair of hand-held canes.

For both hip replacements, I was out of the walker by the fourth day and switched to forearm crutches, which I used until the 6-week followup visit to my surgeon. FYI, I was 53 for my RTHR and 54 for my LTHR. By 8 weeks, I was walking unassisted.

, RTHR-2003; LTHR-2004

On 8/1/07, mmqc <chiriquimary@...> wrote:

Hi, I'm having LHR this Friday. My dr. said that I'd be on the walker for about 6 weeks. Not sure if I misunderstood or if that is true. I know that everyone recoups at their own speed but what is the norm for those here that have had THR? Just to bring all up to speed for my situation. I tried the injections into my hip, didn't work. So now I've reached my limit of pain and lower quality of life. I'm having the surgery this Friday and am really looking forward to being able to (in time) get back to being active again. I'm 56 and am too young to just sit and let the world go by!

[Guest guest]

I think protocol really varies with doctors -- I was on a walker for about 3 weeks -- the last 1 1/2 weeks really because no one gave me an official go ahead to stop using -- really I was using it more for psychological comfort in the last week -- especially if I woke up in the middle of the night as I was afraid of losing my balance and falling --  Also when I first started walking, I became fatigued easily so it was good to have something to literally lean on -- but I would have found a crutch more exhausting to use than a walker -- or a cane I think.I went from my walker to nothing -- no cane and no crutches.I was 100% weight bearing from the first day --  I don't know if that has any bearing on it. On Aug 1, 2007, at 3:36 PM, on wrote:, I think you misunderstood.  Most THR patients use a walker for less than a week, then switch to either crutches (usually forearm crutches) or a pair of hand-held canes. For both hip replacements, I was out of the walker by the fourth day and switched to forearm crutches, which I used until the 6-week followup visit to my surgeon.  FYI, I was 53 for my RTHR and 54 for my LTHR.  By 8 weeks, I was walking unassisted. , RTHR-2003; LTHR-2004 On 8/1/07, mmqc <chiriquimary > wrote:Hi, I'm having LHR this Friday. My dr. said that I'd be on the walker for about 6 weeks. Not sure if I misunderstood or if that is true. I know that everyone recoups at their own speed but what is the norm for those here that have had THR? Just to bring all up to speed for my situation. I tried the injections into my hip, didn't work. So now I've reached my limit of pain and lower quality of life. I'm having the surgery this Friday and am really looking forward to being able to (in time) get back to being active again. I'm 56 and am too young to just sit and let the world go by!

[Guest guest]

Maybe they do things different in the States but here in the UK when I

had my LTKR in January the guy in the next room to me was walking up

and down the corridor as thought he had nothing wrong with him. I asked

him if he had already had his surgery, as I thought at he was probably

still waiting to have it done by the way he could walk so easily. He

told me he had had his hip replaced on the Monday and this was Thursday

and he was walking with just one cane. I was amazed at how well he was

able to walk in that short time. Wish I had recovered from my knee

replacement so quickly!!!

Marilyn (UK)

>

> Hi, I'm having LHR this Friday. My dr. said that I'd be on the walker

> for about 6 weeks. Not sure if I misunderstood or if that is true. I

> know that everyone recoups at their own speed but what is the norm

for

> those here that have had THR?

>

> Just to bring all up to speed for my situation. I tried the

injections

> into my hip, didn't work. So now I've reached my limit of pain and

> lower quality of life. I'm having the surgery this Friday and am

really

> looking forward to being able to (in time) get back to being active

> again. I'm 56 and am too young to just sit and let the world go by!

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the feedback. I will use it for as long as I need it, but I

am one to push on to a quick recovery. Just to clarify things a bit, I

live in the Republic of Panama, retired here almost 6 years ago. I have

some really great doctors here and many of them have trained in the

states among other places. The medical system here is top notch.

[Guest guest]

There may be a reason for the use of the walker for so long after

surgery. Perhaps your surgeon uses uncemented or you have

osteoporosis? He may just want to give you the best chance of bone

ingrowth or he may just be very conservative in his recovery protocol.

It varies so much from surgeon to surgeon that you just have to go

with whatever it may be. Good luck Friday.

Deb

>

> Hi, I'm having LHR this Friday. My dr. said that I'd be on the

walker

> for about 6 weeks. Not sure if I misunderstood or if that is true. I

> know that everyone recoups at their own speed but what is the norm

for

> those here that have had THR?

>

> Just to bring all up to speed for my situation. I tried the

injections

> into my hip, didn't work. So now I've reached my limit of pain and

> lower quality of life. I'm having the surgery this Friday and am

really

> looking forward to being able to (in time) get back to being active

> again. I'm 56 and am too young to just sit and let the world go by!

>

[Guest guest]

Hi , I just wanted to wish you the best of luck for your Hip replacement and a speedy recovery I was with a walker for six weeks after my right Hip replacement :-) Well you take care and have a nice day :-) Susie mmqc <chiriquimary@...> wrote: Hi, I'm having LHR this Friday. My dr. said that I'd be on the walker for about 6 weeks. Not sure if I misunderstood or if that is true. I know that everyone recoups at their own speed but what is the norm for those here that have had THR? Just to bring all up to speed for my situation. I tried the injections into my hip, didn't work. So now I've reached my limit of pain and lower quality of life. I'm having the surgery this Friday and am really looking forward to being able to (in time) get back to being active again. I'm 56 and am too young to just sit and let the world go by!

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[Guest guest]

I've never seen forearm crutches in drug stores. Is this something the surgeon gives you?

Ann

Re: Use of walker after surgery

, I think you misunderstood. Most THR patients use a walker for less than a week, then switch to either crutches (usually forearm crutches) or a pair of hand-held canes.

For both hip replacements, I was out of the walker by the fourth day and switched to forearm crutches, which I used until the 6-week followup visit to my surgeon. FYI, I was 53 for my RTHR and 54 for my LTHR. By 8 weeks, I was walking unassisted.

, RTHR-2003; LTHR-2004

On 8/1/07, mmqc <chiriquimary > wrote:

Hi, I'm having LHR this Friday. My dr. said that I'd be on the walker for about 6 weeks. Not sure if I misunderstood or if that is true. I know that everyone recoups at their own speed but what is the norm for those here that have had THR? Just to bring all up to speed for my situation. I tried the injections into my hip, didn't work. So now I've reached my limit of pain and lower quality of life. I'm having the surgery this Friday and am really looking forward to being able to (in time) get back to being active again. I'm 56 and am too young to just sit and let the world go by!

[Guest guest]

In Australia we call them " Canadian Crutches " . Don't know why.

Aussie Margaret

RTHR 1990 revised 2004

Re: Use of walker after surgery

I've never seen forearm crutches in drug stores. Is this something the

surgeon gives you?

Ann

[Guest guest]

Ann, they're also called " Canadian Crutches " in some places because they were originally developed in Canada. You can find them in most stores that sell medical orthopedic devices.

On 8/7/07, Ann <ruby2zdy@...> wrote:

I've never seen forearm crutches in drug stores. Is this something the surgeon gives you?

Ann

Re: Use of walker after surgery

, I think you misunderstood. Most THR patients use a walker for less than a week, then switch to either crutches (usually forearm crutches) or a pair of hand-held canes.

For both hip replacements, I was out of the walker by the fourth day and switched to forearm crutches, which I used until the 6-week followup visit to my surgeon. FYI, I was 53 for my RTHR and 54 for my LTHR. By 8 weeks, I was walking unassisted.

, RTHR-2003; LTHR-2004

On 8/1/07, mmqc <chiriquimary@...

> wrote:

Hi, I'm having LHR this Friday. My dr. said that I'd be on the walker for about 6 weeks. Not sure if I misunderstood or if that is true. I know that everyone recoups at their own speed but what is the norm for those here that have had THR? Just to bring all up to speed for my situation. I tried the injections into my hip, didn't work. So now I've reached my limit of pain and lower quality of life. I'm having the surgery this Friday and am really looking forward to being able to (in time) get back to being active again. I'm 56 and am too young to just sit and let the world go by!

-- on, AST

Technical, Business, Medical, Academic & General TranslationsPhone: +44-208-248-2343Mobile: +44-793-610-0017E-mail: anmtranslations@...Member of the Israel Translators Association

[Guest guest]

I had a THR last Friday. I will also be on the walker for 6 weeks, followed by

one crutch for an additional 2 weeks. I was dreading the walker, but it is not

so bad afterall.

Maggie

>

> From: " on " <greywolf852@...>

> Date: 2007/08/01 Wed PM 06:36:26 EDT

> Joint Replacement

> Subject: Re: Use of walker after surgery

>

> , I think you misunderstood. Most THR patients use a walker for less

> than a week, then switch to either crutches (usually forearm crutches) or a

> pair of hand-held canes.

>

> For both hip replacements, I was out of the walker by the fourth day and

> switched to forearm crutches, which I used until the 6-week followup visit

> to my surgeon. FYI, I was 53 for my RTHR and 54 for my LTHR. By 8 weeks, I

> was walking unassisted.

>

> , RTHR-2003; LTHR-2004

>

>

> On 8/1/07, mmqc <chiriquimary@...> wrote:

> >

> > Hi, I'm having LHR this Friday. My dr. said that I'd be on the walker

> > for about 6 weeks. Not sure if I misunderstood or if that is true. I

> > know that everyone recoups at their own speed but what is the norm for

> > those here that have had THR?

> >

> > Just to bring all up to speed for my situation. I tried the injections

> > into my hip, didn't work. So now I've reached my limit of pain and

> > lower quality of life. I'm having the surgery this Friday and am really

> > looking forward to being able to (in time) get back to being active

> > again. I'm 56 and am too young to just sit and let the world go by!

> >

> >

> >

> >

>

>

[Guest guest]

OK, thanks. I keep forgetting that there are medical supply stores that sell to the public.

Ann

Re: Use of walker after surgery

, I think you misunderstood. Most THR patients use a walker for less than a week, then switch to either crutches (usually forearm crutches) or a pair of hand-held canes.

For both hip replacements, I was out of the walker by the fourth day and switched to forearm crutches, which I used until the 6-week followup visit to my surgeon. FYI, I was 53 for my RTHR and 54 for my LTHR. By 8 weeks, I was walking unassisted.

, RTHR-2003; LTHR-2004

On 8/1/07, mmqc <chiriquimary > wrote:

Hi, I'm having LHR this Friday. My dr. said that I'd be on the walker for about 6 weeks. Not sure if I misunderstood or if that is true. I know that everyone recoups at their own speed but what is the norm for those here that have had THR? Just to bring all up to speed for my situation. I tried the injections into my hip, didn't work. So now I've reached my limit of pain and lower quality of life. I'm having the surgery this Friday and am really looking forward to being able to (in time) get back to being active again. I'm 56 and am too young to just sit and let the world go by!

-- on, ASTTechnical, Business, Medical, Academic & General TranslationsPhone: +44-208-248-2343Mobile: +44-793-610-0017E-mail: anmtranslationsntlworldMember of the Israel Translators Association