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@oregonjan

It sounds like you're making great progress! I am getting frustrated with mine (or lack of?).It was 4 months post-surgery before I got ANY exercise program and that was only after I finally got a PT referral. On discharge after surgery, I was given NO exercises to do except that my surgeon said to "just walk" (my P. Therapist says I "fell through the cracks" on early exercise). I have been doing progressive balance (not a problem) and strengthening exercises but to this day, 5 months after surgery and after nearly 2 months of PT, I still cannot bear full weight on the operated side and am having to use a cane. Due to severe arthritis in the hand/wrist using the cane, I am not able to walk for more than about 1/8 mile before my hand and wrist get too painful ( I do wear a wrist brace). The same pains prevent using the treadmill for more than about 1/8 (SOMETIMES almost 1/4) mile. As for the THR itself, x-rays show it has healed just fine and my surgeon has "signed off" unless the joint itself has any trouble.
I have only seen my PT for video visits and she cut those back from weekly to semi-weekly due to lack of weight-bearing progress (which she can't understand the cause of). My range of motion is nearly back to normal and I think the sit-stand exercise, the stand abduction with resistance band and side-stepping along 15' of counter while in semi-squat MUST be adding strength to my glutes but I still cannot get the last 20 lbs of my weight shifted onto that leg. The muscles just can't support it. There is no pain just continued weakness. I have been using a pedal exerciser and a gravity rider and my endurance is improving but I can't see any improvement in weight-bearing although friends say I'm walking more evenly with the cane now.
I don't know if it has an effect, but the operated leg was always about 1/4" longer than the other and I think that has increased as it looks it on the standing x-ray with height scale. At any rate, I am going to request an in-person visit with the PT to see if that will give her a better idea of what else I should be doing to get weight onto that leg. I'm now 5 months post-op and the PT doesn't know why I can't stand on that leg yet. It's hard to stay positive.
I appreciate all the tips and encouraging posts on this thread!

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Replies to "It sounds like you're making great progress! I am getting frustrated with mine (or lack of?).It..."

@oregonjan Reading your description makes me think something else is going on. An in person PT or chiro consult might pick up something else like a nerve impingement or a spine issue. Water PT might help too. If the cane is an issue (I cannot use one due to arthritis) a forearm crutch or an upright walker are options. Please pursue this as the longer it lingers, the harder recovery gets.
Sue

Hi @oregonjan

I was an avid hiker before hip replacement surgery and it sounds like we face(d) similar challenges walking after THR surgery. I ended up seeing a PT who is a gait specialist. Here’s what helped me the most, beyond the strengthening exercises, I think. I had to intentionally walk slow for a week or two using the heel, roll, toe. This was for every step, no exceptions. I had the same walking sideways along the counter exercises too. One day I turned on some dance music. It didn’t happen overnight, but after that I played fun music when I did them. I guess a multimodal approach worked. Best wishes on your recovery! I know how difficult it is.