Re: Walking without crutch

[Guest guest]

I couldn't agree more, as I have posted before, I was kept on crutches (toe

touch only) for 8 weeks. When I went in for the 8 week checkup, Dr. s

said " OK , put all your weight on your right foot and pick up the left as

high as is comfortable " . I had this overwhelming feeling that if I placed my

weight solely on my right leg, my hip would explode like an erector set.

s looked at me and said " come on Mr. , you are holding up patients

who have real problems, lets do it. " I did it; it worked with no

pain--literally the longest step this old firefighter ever took. I asked

about crutches and canes etc--he said " keep on using the crutches but with

more and more weight bearing on the right side,: when you get out of bed in

the morning, go to the kitchen, and realize you have forgotten your crutches,

you have arrived, " I can't comment on having arrived but I've been expanding

ever since.

Sheff

[Guest guest]

At 11:55 PM 7/18/2002 +0000, you wrote:

>I was resurfaced (one hip) July 1st. Feel really good, have been

>doing my exercises several times a day and today for the first time I

>have had no pain or discomfort ALL DAY! For the last week I have

>been getting along on one crutch, but so far am kind of scared of

>trying to getting along without the crutch.

Marie,

If I'm reading you correctly, you are for some reason not feeling

comfortable without the second crutch? I would not give it up until you

start only using one naturally. I heard of one 'surfer that gave up her

crutches too early and suffered a fractured femur because of it (and had to

convert to THR).

I gave up one crutch probably in November, gave up the second on Jan. 14th

(day after I came back from the Caribbean), gave up the cane for Easter

weekend. That means I was walking with some kind of support for nearly a

year. Took that long before I felt secure in giving them up, but my hips

are great now. You will find a time when you are just carrying the second

crutch more than actually using it. That is the time to give it up. Then

you will find that you are walking away and leaving the one crutch leaning

against a wall somewhere. Time to switch to the cane. When you have to

search the house for the cane, and your gait has stabilized, off you go on

your own.

We're not trying to break any records here (although I could probably break

several for the longest recovery), we're trying to heal and live our lives

pain-free and enjoying our new hips. Don't jeopardize that!

C+ 5/25/01 and 6/28/01

[Guest guest]

Pleeeese, I didn't mean expand as in equatorially, but in the sense of

expanding one's horizons (activity wise). This could be worse than my snafu

about the " FF kind of guy " . Come to think of it I never did get a

confirmation on my toe nail color request. Did I ever mention this toe

fetish thing I have--well never mind, probably not allowed anyhow, is

interesting though.

[Guest guest]

At 12:38 AM 7/19/2002 -0400, you wrote:

>-he said " when you get out of bed in

>the morning, go to the kitchen, and realize you have forgotten your crutches,

>you have arrived, " I can't comment on having arrived but I've been expanding

>ever since.

Sheff,

Maybe he should have said " go into the living room " . Less stuff in there

to make you expand ;-).

[Guest guest]

Glad to hear you are progreesing well. My surgeon suggested I used 2 crutches

for 6 weeks, irrespective of how I felt, to give the wound and leg to recover.

After that, it was one cane for a week and then just walking as normal.

But you will find every doctor has idfferent recommdations. The bottom line is

to listen to the surgeons advice and your own body.

All the best Joe R

Walking without crutch

I was resurfaced (one hip) July 1st. Feel really good, have been

doing my exercises several times a day and today for the first time I

have had no pain or discomfort ALL DAY! For the last week I have

been getting along on one crutch, but so far am kind of scared of

trying to getting along without the crutch. I remember seeing a post

a month or so ago saying that the resurfacee had been walking unaided

since the 14th day. I would love to hear the experiences of others

or any opinions as to when I should be walking without the aid of a

crutch or cane. Thanks,

Marie Yates

[Guest guest]

I'm sure it will be many weeks before I discard my crutches since I had same day

bilateral surgery on July 2, but I drove yesterday at day 17 so I think that is

pretty cool!

Saeed

[Guest guest]

> I'm sure it will be many weeks before I discard my crutches

since I had same day bilateral surgery on July 2, but I drove

yesterday at day 17 so I think that is pretty cool!

> Saeed

Saeed,

Welcome home! I hope you greeted Koen for me.

Congratulations on you excellent recovery, but it's to be expected

with DeSmet's surgery. Take it easy on the driving though, you

wouldn't want to do an emergency stop.

Verne

[Guest guest]

Hi Verne,

I did convey your greetings and helpfulness to me on to Koen.

What a great person! There are special people that one meets in one's lifetime,

and Koen DeSmet is on top of that list for me.

Thanks, I will be careful with the driving. My office, home, & Noble, are

all in close proximity in Madison so I won't drive too far away.

Best to you.

Saeed