More than two years on

Someone just asked me where my blog could be found and I suddenly realised that I have not posted anything for a long time so it is time for an update.

Well, to be honest it is pretty boring. My hip does not bother me in the slightest now and I rarely remember that I have had the operation. The hip works fine in almost every respect.

I do have to remember not to cross my left leg over my right and try hard not to over-do it in the gym but other than that it is completely normal. I no longer even consider that I once had problems putting my socks on and tying shoe laces so that is a major plus. In fact, I realised the other day that I have re-gained my balance too as I quite happily put my socks on while standing on one leg – I haven’t been able to do that for quite some time!

I think it is the fairly rigorous exercise regime that has helped. I can’t say that I have become an exercise addict but either walk, swim, cycle or go to the gym fairly frequently and do exercises most days. The rowing machine in the gym is a slight issue as there is a tendency for you to over-stretch the hip joint and pull a muscle but other than that I have had no issues. One thing that I think has helped a lot is the balance exercises that the physio taught me. This involves doing squats while standing on a wobble-ball. This really works on the micro-muscles around the hip joint and helps you re-gain your ability to balance.

4 months – “Sign-off”

It is now 4 months since my hip was replaced and it was time to go and see the surgeon for a second check earlier this week. The latest X-Ray looks absolutely identical to the one on the day of the surgery so the hip is exactly where it should be and everything is going according to plan. My hip can rotate forwards at least 100 degrees so that seems to have passed the test. My walking is fine and I have virtually no pain.

The best news yet is that I can now do all the things which I was previously told not to do. I can use a bath again, swim breast stroke and cross my legs (but not the operated one over the other one).

In almost every respect, my hip is now so much better than it was 5 months ago. The only issues I have are the occasional slight “twinge” when I move awkwardly and what I was told is called “start-up” pain: This is when I have been sitting still for, say, a long car journey and then try to stand up. It seems to take a few seconds for the hip to get itself working properly and can be mildly painful. The surgeon tells me that these will disappear over the next couple of months.

Job done!

Day 51 – “On yer bike!”

I had an excellent day yesterday when I saw the surgeon for my first post-operative check and found that everything is going to plan. I am now allowed to do almost all of the things that were banned in order to protect my hip and my job now is the get my strength and flexibility back. 

The only mildly annoying thing is that I am still not allowed to use a bath as it puts too much stress on the hip joint when you get out. After 7 weeks though I am so used to using the shower that I don’t miss it too much.

First things first and I have booked an appointment with a sports physiotherapist and then it is on to my bike for the first ride since the operation. Amazingly it felt absolutely fine and I did a 2.5 mile circuit with no problem at all. It was flat though – hills will come later! I am still debating whether or not to get a stationary exercise bike but if the weather holds then continuing to ride outside is going to be so much more pleasant.

I managed about 10 miles walking over the last few days including a 5.5 mile one that I struggled with before my op so I can now say I have walked 60 miles and cycled 2.5 on the new hip. Onwards and upwards…….

Day 46 – Time to try a longer journey

Now that I am feeling pretty much back to normal I decided that I am ready to try a longer car journey so today we drove 150 miles (3 hours) to the coast. Although my wife was prepared to do some of the driving I managed the whole journey with no problem whatsoever. It was a beautiful day so we were even able to get out for a 2+ mile walk over rather muddy marshes to see the sea. 

A lovely day and best of all I had far less pain than I would have done if I had tried to do this 2 months ago. Fabulous!

Day 42 – 6 weeks post-op and time to improve my stamina

Having survived the longest walk so far quite happily yesterday, I decided it was time to see if I can walk a little faster now. This loop is 2.4 miles and I have sauntered round it many times in the last couple of weeks. This time it was cold and threatening to rain so I decided to step up the pace a bit. According to Endomondo I managed it in under 1 hour (just) and peaked at 5 miles per hour (briefly!). I am happy with that!

Out of interest, I decided to add up all the walks that I have done so far and found that my new hip has now done over 50 miles!

Day 41 – A walk in the winter sunshine

It was a beautiful winter day today so we decided to go for a walk by the river Thames at Cliveden. The main grounds were shut for the winter so we drove to the woodland car park and took a steep, muddy track down to the river, about 60 metres below the car park level. The river has overflowed massively on the southern bank, flooding fields and houses and closing the road at Cookham but on the North where we were it was still about 50cm below the bank in most places. The water flowing off the fields back into the Thames made a strange “whooshing” sound like a mini waterfall (which I suppose is what it is in effect).

This was my first walk on slippery mud and steep slopes but my walking boots worked well and the hip performed perfectly. After a total of 3.3 miles (without a walking stick) my leg was starting to ache rather but it was a great walk and proof that I am still improving, recovering well and my stamina is returning.

Day 37

I had a lovely 2 mile walk this afternoon, completed without a walking stick and with virtually no aches and pains. Progress!

Day 36 – 5 Weeks with my new hip!

Now that I have had my new hip for a full 5 weeks it is hard to remember how much has changed in that time so I am really pleased that I wrote this blog.

I am now very used to doing at least a 1.5 mile walk most days and today I didn’t even bother taking my walking stick with me. My leg still aches a bit after a walk like that but most of the time I almost forget all about it and just carry on with life as normal.

I have got used to the slightly awkward way of getting in and out of my car and can now drive very comfortably. I have yet to do any really long journeys but hopefully I should be OK for a long trip very soon.

The only thing I can’t do as normal is bend down to tie my shoelaces!

Day 31 – Happy New Year!

Well, I managed to stay up the latest yet and finally got to bed about 1.30am after a 1/2 mile walk home. My hip caused no problems at all and it seems to show that my stamina is returning.

The weather today is cold and rainy so I doubt I will manage any more than the 1/2 mile walk that I did this morning. 

Day 30 – New Year’s Eve

More foul weather today but managed to get out for a 1.5 mile loop in to town and back during a lull in the rain. I decided to use the walking stick today as my hip has been aching a bit since last night. Either the walk without a stick yesterday was too much or maybe I sat in my office chair for too long. Either way, I need to ensure that the ache goes away as I have a long night ahead of me to celebrate new year tonight. Having gone to bed no later than 10.30 for the last month (and often a lot earlier!) it will be a challenge to stay up beyond midnight but I am determined to enjoy the evening.