Hi Sue and Valleygirl,

Valleygirl I hope you're feeling better since hip replacement. Even though hip is the "easiest" joint replacement as far as recovery, it takes at least 3 months (IMO) for the heel capsule to scar over. At that point, you'll be feeling a lot better (although even the initial recovery is usually pretty quick). But your symptoms at 10 days are what I would consider normal. Of course, I'm not a Dr either!

At 10 days I wasn't nearly at this point. I could get out and go to the gym to shower (really an excuse to get out of the house).

But at 4 weeks I thought, incorrectly, that I was superman. I was back in the gym doing an IT Band stretch I've been doing for 40 years. Standing straight, place right foot over and next to left foot, bend from the waist as far as possible. Im my case, I could put my palms on the floor.

FIRST THOUGHT WRONG! Bad idea that went against all of the advice I was given. Don't cross the operated leg over the other leg and don't bend your hip past 90 degrees. I heard a slight pop, and then fell sideways onto a yoga/stretch table. I hauled myself up on the table, back against the wall in intense pain. I also noticed my right leg, the one with the new hip, was at least 6" shorter than my left leg, and my right foot angled unnaturally to the outside.

In my ignorance and rush to get back to the gym, hip replacement be damned, I dislocated my new hip. I was taken to ER and had to wait 4-5 hours for an ER physician to pop my hip back in place. The ER Dr met me immediately, but in an ER heart attacks and gunshot wounds come before hips. They did give me some ketamine that provided relief for about 30 minutes. Opiates do not work for me.

That was an adventure I will not repeat. I've also had both knees replaced and honored the rehab process and all went well. And on Aug 6th, I'm getting my left shoulder replaced.

So give your hip time, at least two months. I'm sure you'll feel better, just reread the things you are supposed to dip and not do. Check with your Dr, but you can probably drive sooner than you think. It's good to just get out now and then, even a short walk if possible.

(I also had "hip snapping" when I tried to put my socks or shoes on. This is the IT Band cramping badly because it has snapped to the wrong side of the hip bone (greater trochanter). It's more frightening than damaging. Anyway, I hope you are not going through that. The hip snapping stopped gradually and was over by 2-3 months.)

So don't worry Valleygirl. You might want to use ice instead of heat on your thigh. And remember there is s big piece of metal in your femur (thigh bone). It is not flexible at all. You'll get used to it, but it takes a few weeks.

All the best to you both!

Joe