Guest guest Posted June 25, 2004 Report Share Posted June 25, 2004 I think you'll find a wide range of answers. Some folks get back all or almost all of their flexibility; but many of us, especially those who had severe range of motion and flexibility issues for years pre-op still have some things to work around. I'm never going to be a good " squatter " , and it's never going to be easy for me to get down on the floor and back up again, and putting on panty hose is, well, not a pretty sight, but I can do all of these things a heck of a lot better than I could 3 years ago. So I'm perfectly content to accept the relatively few limitations I have. Also, I think that if you really set a goal of improving flexibility, worked with a Physical Therapist, etc, you'd still have some room to improve. Pat, bilateral C+, 8/2001 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 25, 2004 Report Share Posted June 25, 2004 I think this has a lot to do with how far gone you were before surgery. Remember you also need a flexible back to bend over to tie your shoes. My back was extremely inflexible after many years of pain, so it took me quite a few months before I was able to tie my shoes comfortably, notwithstanding the other physical heroics I was able to engage in. I'm still working on the back flexibility more than one year post-op for my second resurf. It's still improving weekly (not weakly). Des Tuck In a message dated 6/25/2004 9:59:19 AM Pacific Standard Time, howardhou@... writes: I am about 4 months post op and have only just been able to bearly cut my nails and tie my shoes. Physical Therapy and stretching helped a lot. Its still not perfect, but I am still doing the exercises and am hopeful. My physical therapist helped the stretching by grabbing my leg and pushing through the hard spots. It hurt like hell, but was well worth it. It really helped me " breakthrough " the tight spots and increase ROM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 25, 2004 Report Share Posted June 25, 2004 I am about 4 months post op and have only just been able to bearly cut my nails and tie my shoes. Physical Therapy and stretching helped a lot. Its still not perfect, but I am still doing the exercises and am hopeful. My physical therapist helped the stretching by grabbing my leg and pushing through the hard spots. It hurt like hell, but was well worth it. It really helped me " breakthrough " the tight spots and increase ROM. > Hi > > I had my right hip resurfaced in july last year 2003 am aged 42, am > very pleased with the result no pain, no limp back cycling and > swimming but don,t run anymore think thats what may have wore it out. > Just got a general question you guys may be able to answer, I have > never got my flexibility back still struggle to cut my toenails and > tie my laces is this still just a matter of time do you think or am I > as good as it gets ? > > Thanks > Ivor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 25, 2004 Report Share Posted June 25, 2004 I am about 4 months post op and have only just been able to bearly cut my nails and tie my shoes. Physical Therapy and stretching helped a lot. Its still not perfect, but I am still doing the exercises and am hopeful. My physical therapist helped the stretching by grabbing my leg and pushing through the hard spots. It hurt like hell, but was well worth it. It really helped me " breakthrough " the tight spots and increase ROM. > Hi > > I had my right hip resurfaced in july last year 2003 am aged 42, am > very pleased with the result no pain, no limp back cycling and > swimming but don,t run anymore think thats what may have wore it out. > Just got a general question you guys may be able to answer, I have > never got my flexibility back still struggle to cut my toenails and > tie my laces is this still just a matter of time do you think or am I > as good as it gets ? > > Thanks > Ivor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 25, 2004 Report Share Posted June 25, 2004 Ivor, Most of us find that recapturing our range of motion is more difficult than regaining our pre-op leg strength. In addition to years of compensating and guarding against the pain, (i.e. avoiding full flexation), there's a lot of new non-elastic scar tissue to deal with. As if we don't have enough to deal with, as we age elasticity is one of the first things to go. The web has a ton of information on stretching and your PT is also a great source. From what I've read, there's a lot going on when we stretch, in addition to the muscles, ligaments and tendons adapting to a new length, the sheathing around these body parts only starts adapting after a couple of continuous minutes of stretching. And there's something about needing to get scar tissue fibers aligned in the same direction. I'm naturally tight jointed so in addition to contributing to wearing out my hips, it makes for a hard time with flexibility. I've found that the longer I hold a stretch, the better my gains. I don't make much progress with a 30 second stretch. On the other hand, holding it for 2-4 minutes at least twice a day makes a big difference. I do light stretching with joint rotation prior to working out and end my workouts with the 2-4 minutes static stretches. You can actually feel the muscles relax or loosen a bit, then hold it for at least another 30 seconds. I use a rubber exercise band for some of my leg stretches. I do about 6 sets of lower body stretches and can share the specifics if you're interested. They always caution that stretching should not be painful, rather a slight pulling sensation with just a slight amount of discomfort, but no pain. Don't bounce and breathe in through your nose and out through you mouth. Stretching with the warm muscles helps, so I also stretch after a hot shower. I've tried Bikram Yoga where the room is 105 degrees and 60% humidity. My range of motion improved, but I felt that the heat contributed to my joint inflammation, so now I do my own stretching routine. So the bottom line is range of motion doesn't automatically return just because you have a new hip. You need to invest time in stretching - find what works for you and then diligently do it. If a brittle old guy like me can continue to make gains, you can too. Dave C+ Amstutz, 3.24.98, 2.15.04 > Hi > > I had my right hip resurfaced in july last year 2003 am aged 42, am > very pleased with the result no pain, no limp back cycling and > swimming but don,t run anymore think thats what may have wore it out. > Just got a general question you guys may be able to answer, I have > never got my flexibility back still struggle to cut my toenails and > tie my laces is this still just a matter of time do you think or am I > as good as it gets ? > > Thanks > Ivor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 25, 2004 Report Share Posted June 25, 2004 Ivor, Most of us find that recapturing our range of motion is more difficult than regaining our pre-op leg strength. In addition to years of compensating and guarding against the pain, (i.e. avoiding full flexation), there's a lot of new non-elastic scar tissue to deal with. As if we don't have enough to deal with, as we age elasticity is one of the first things to go. The web has a ton of information on stretching and your PT is also a great source. From what I've read, there's a lot going on when we stretch, in addition to the muscles, ligaments and tendons adapting to a new length, the sheathing around these body parts only starts adapting after a couple of continuous minutes of stretching. And there's something about needing to get scar tissue fibers aligned in the same direction. I'm naturally tight jointed so in addition to contributing to wearing out my hips, it makes for a hard time with flexibility. I've found that the longer I hold a stretch, the better my gains. I don't make much progress with a 30 second stretch. On the other hand, holding it for 2-4 minutes at least twice a day makes a big difference. I do light stretching with joint rotation prior to working out and end my workouts with the 2-4 minutes static stretches. You can actually feel the muscles relax or loosen a bit, then hold it for at least another 30 seconds. I use a rubber exercise band for some of my leg stretches. I do about 6 sets of lower body stretches and can share the specifics if you're interested. They always caution that stretching should not be painful, rather a slight pulling sensation with just a slight amount of discomfort, but no pain. Don't bounce and breathe in through your nose and out through you mouth. Stretching with the warm muscles helps, so I also stretch after a hot shower. I've tried Bikram Yoga where the room is 105 degrees and 60% humidity. My range of motion improved, but I felt that the heat contributed to my joint inflammation, so now I do my own stretching routine. So the bottom line is range of motion doesn't automatically return just because you have a new hip. You need to invest time in stretching - find what works for you and then diligently do it. If a brittle old guy like me can continue to make gains, you can too. Dave C+ Amstutz, 3.24.98, 2.15.04 > Hi > > I had my right hip resurfaced in july last year 2003 am aged 42, am > very pleased with the result no pain, no limp back cycling and > swimming but don,t run anymore think thats what may have wore it out. > Just got a general question you guys may be able to answer, I have > never got my flexibility back still struggle to cut my toenails and > tie my laces is this still just a matter of time do you think or am I > as good as it gets ? > > Thanks > Ivor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 25, 2004 Report Share Posted June 25, 2004 Hi Ivor My surgeon told me that it could take up to two years to achieve my max range of flexibility - but that I would have to help it along with excercise. ine RHS 04/2003, LHS 03/2004 > Hi > > I had my right hip resurfaced in july last year 2003 am aged 42, am > very pleased with the result no pain, no limp back cycling and > swimming but don,t run anymore think thats what may have wore it out. > Just got a general question you guys may be able to answer, I have > never got my flexibility back still struggle to cut my toenails and > tie my laces is this still just a matter of time do you think or am I > as good as it gets ? > > Thanks > Ivor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 25, 2004 Report Share Posted June 25, 2004 Hi, everybody: I have read all the recent posts about flexibility, both pre an post-op with interest. I already have had one hip resurfaced and am scheduled to have the other one done in August, as it tooo is pretty well " shot " . However, I have never had any problems with tying my shoes or cutting my nails;in fact,I can put both hands flat on the floor without bending my knees no pain or strain. I'm not young(45), so what's up with that? Maybe I'm just a freak!!! lol FWIW Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 25, 2004 Report Share Posted June 25, 2004 I couldn't do that even when my hips were fully functional. Show off!!!! > Hi, everybody: > > I have read all the recent posts about flexibility, both pre an post-op with > interest. I already have had one hip resurfaced and am scheduled to have > the other one done in August, as it tooo is pretty well " shot " . However, I > have never had any problems with tying my shoes or cutting my nails;in > fact,I can put both hands flat on the floor without bending my knees no pain > or strain. I'm not young(45), so what's up with that? Maybe I'm just a > freak!!! lol > > FWIW > > > Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 25, 2004 Report Share Posted June 25, 2004 Hi Ivor: Your range of motion can and will improve if you work hard at stretching. I recommend a minimum of 15-min per day with 3 1-hour stretching workouts per week. Check out the website: www.exrx.net go to the exercise and muscle directory then link to the various body parts you want to stretch. They have detailed instructions and helpful photos of all of the stretches and exercises. Good Luck, , bilat C+ July '01, Dr. Schmalzried Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 25, 2004 Report Share Posted June 25, 2004 Hi Ivor: Your range of motion can and will improve if you work hard at stretching. I recommend a minimum of 15-min per day with 3 1-hour stretching workouts per week. Check out the website: www.exrx.net go to the exercise and muscle directory then link to the various body parts you want to stretch. They have detailed instructions and helpful photos of all of the stretches and exercises. Good Luck, , bilat C+ July '01, Dr. Schmalzried Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 27, 2004 Report Share Posted June 27, 2004 I reckon the degree of flexibility a person has pre-op will determine to a large extent what they can achieve post-op, even if arthritis has forced them into a peculiar gait or limp. Our bodies are pretty amazing (even if bits are wearing out) and they will find ways of coping with the demands we place on them post-op. The thing is, those demands need to be made and they need to be made regularly (and carefully, of course). I'm kind of looking forward to slowly struggling to cut a nail or do up some shoelaces post-op because I know it'll be a great daily flexibility workout, if a little frustrating. Tony (R BHR on 26 July) > Hi > > I had my right hip resurfaced in july last year 2003 am aged 42, am > very pleased with the result no pain, no limp back cycling and > swimming but don,t run anymore think thats what may have wore it out. > Just got a general question you guys may be able to answer, I have > never got my flexibility back still struggle to cut my toenails and > tie my laces is this still just a matter of time do you think or am I > as good as it gets ? > > Thanks > Ivor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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