6 weeks post-op

So 6 weeks post right THJR. Slow going, though mostly good. The best thing is that I am sleeping well at night, on either side, and the stabbing pain in the right hip that used to wake me up so often at night has gone (the left hip, yet untreated, has very limited movement but pain settled over the years).

The surgery and the new hip, according to the OS seen yesterday, went well. No leg length discrepancy, and good looking X-ray. I got rid of one crutch 2 weeks ago (week 4), and yesterday (week 6) I replaced the single crutch with a cane, though I limp along without aid for short distances. I have quite some damage to the hip abductors: currently I have a Trendelemburg gait on the right, and can only bear weight on my right leg if I lean right quite a lot, but it is slowly improving. I am walking in the pool with progressively low water level to get to walk straight. And I only need a minimum of support from the cane, just a touch to the ground, so I am hoping to get there.

Since the left hip is not painful and currently is the one bearing the weight, the 2nd hip op (on the left) is now postponed, and I am glad of that. I will see the OS again in 6 weeks and we’ll go for it if my right hip is strong enough.

I read of so many people who walk perfectly fine after a few weeks. I seem to be taking the long way home, but it is getting slowly there nonetheless. So for now I focus on walking properly. Running is still there as target, but in the distance. Oh well. Patience, patience, I am told.