Total hip replacement - What to expect for recovery

Try and walk equal steps with each leg so you strengthen the correct muscles .

Please don't wait! Here is what was explained to me at Courage/Kenny PT after my 5th Hip replacement/revision. When one has walked on a bad hip (or knee) for a long time, the whole body mechanics are changed. About 6-8 weeks after surgery, when the primary healing is well underway, you need to be evaluated for any imbalances in how you stand and walk, and learn to consciously correct them as you walk, and/or with targeted exercises. Otherwise you will continue to walk unbalanced, leading to back or knee pain. Mine had gotten so bad that I had to start with pool therapy and progress to land, but all the back and knee pains I had for 6 years went away,
Sue

Thank you for your reply. Were you bone on bone by chance? My husband has no bone or little bone left. Would love to go to Rochester. Great Drs.

@palmsprings59 Yes, it was bone on bone. I had put it off for some time. The Rochester clinic is wonderful and no more expensive than anywhere else, maybe even less. My mom and I both had the direct anterior method with Dr. Taunton and Dr. Sierra did my dad's hip.

Me too. I had to retrain myself to walk without a limp.

I am not sure if I am posting this in the right place., I had a total hip replacement 6 weeks ago and my range of movement is vastly improved however in the last 10 days my ankle and foot have swollen up. The consultant is confident it is not a clot especially as my other foot is also swollen. So the first question is this swelling normal and what should be done about it. My GP has prescribed Furosemide which to date has not done much to reduce swelling. Is there any value in wearing compression stockings. The second question is side effects it appears to be exaaaserbating my irritable bowel or am i putting 2 an2 tofethr and getting 5

I had one knee replaced and both legs were swollen from hip to toe. They gradually went down in three to six months. My surgeon said it was normal. I exercised and iced my replaced knee which went down more slowly. Physical Therapist also used athlete tape in strips diagonally down my knee and ankle. Don't know how that works but it did.

@lotsofpain I was having some swelling from fluid retention in my R leg and I was told to wear compression stockings. I asked if they did anything beyond helping my leg to not puff up as much by nighttime and was told that they do. I had three different ultrasound tests done on my leg but none showed anything so the nurse practitioner I saw suggested it was "Chronic Venous Disease".

I can't recall exactly what the benefit was but I do remember that it impressed me enough that it made me more conscientious of wearing compression stockings for the problem. It was just one leg and now it seems to have recovered.

I found an article about the benefits of compression stockings:
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/what-you-should-know-about-compression-socks/

The first time I got some I went to a pharmacy that actually measured your legs and fit them to you but you can measure your own legs and buy that brand (Jobst) online too. I liked the ones that go up to the thigh because my legs are sort of short and a bit heavy so the knee-high high-compression ones would bind me below the knee.

If you want just light compression and knee-high though I have also had luck with the Dr. Motion brand that can be purchased at Target, Kohl's, and Amazon. They come in patterns, dots, etc. so are not medical looking. Even my old PCP commented on them being nice! Being a lighter compression they don't hurt at my knee. I pretty much wear them all of the time except in the summer when I have sandals on.
JK

I have some compression stockings I was wearing when I came out the hospital but I'm not sure weather like can wear them whether they will be the right size due to the swelling

In that case @lotsofpain you may want to go to a specialty pharmacy and have them measure your legs and advise you. I’m sure they would be able to help you and suggest stockings that will expand enough for your currently puffy legs.

The one I went to was suggested by the doctor I was seeing at the time but when I googled it I found another place close by that also had them and helped you to get the right ones.
JK