Sometimes I feel like a recording, but bear with me please. When you have major joint or back surgery and are "clinically healed " there can still be a long road to complete healing. When joints are replaced, not only so you have bones, muscles,tendons and nerves that must heal, but your body mechanics are altered and you need to get everything working together again.

Let's compare getting a new hip to getting a new computer. The machine is only part of the deal - then starts the fun of setting it up, putting your own stuff on it and learning to use it.

Replacing a worn hip or knee can change leg length, the angle of the joint and the mechanics of how the it interacts with the rest of your body. For example my hips were"frozen" so it was difficult to lift my legs, so I had a stiff waddling gait and my back hurt. After the initial implants, I was never coached on how to walk properly and my back continued to hurt. I spent 2 years in back and neck therapy with no relief.
Fast forward 4 years. Hips were recalled and had to be replaced again. Back still hurt, but new ortho said "You need rehab" - not just a sheet of PT exercises but complete evaluation. I ended up at a PT that specializes in ortho rehab after accidents, amputation and other catastrophe.

There my gait, posture, foot position, flexibility and leg/back strength were all assessed. A series of exercises and stretches were designed for me - land and water. I spent many appointments walking up and down a hallway being coached on foot and body position, movement, learning to look forward and not down. After 8 weeks I continued on my own for several months. Back and hip pain gone.
Now, 12 years after all of that, other parts of me hurt due to arthritis and other issues, but I seldom think about my hips except when scheduling my annual x-rays.
And I still do many of the stretches daily because a few years ago I quit them and soon got bursitis and sciatica from muscle imbalances.
Sorry this is so long, but surgery is only about 20% of a successful joint replacement. The other 80% is prehab and rehab, which only the patient can do!
Can you get a referral for rehab therapy?
Don't give up-you already got the new hardware, now you need to learn to use it to your bast advantage
Sue

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