How long does it take to walk after hip labrum surgery?
Hip arthroscopy patients can expect to walk using crutches for 1-2 weeks afterward, and to undergo six weeks of physical therapy. It may be 3-6 months before they experience no pain after physical activity. Below is some guidance on ways to expedite the recovery and healing process.
You will be non-weight bearing (on crutches) for five to seven days and progress to partial and full weight bearing as tolerated.
Walking & Crutches:
You are allowed to put full weight on your operative leg the day following surgery, but you must use crutches. The crutches will protect the surgical repair of your hip and help to prevent injury during your recovery. You will continue with the use of crutches for 4-6 weeks following surgery.
Exercises for the first 2 weeks (start the day after surgery): DO NOT STAY IN BED. You are to be up walking as tolerated. We recommend at least 10 minutes of walking every hour while awake, and no more than 30 minutes of sitting at a time.
In general, expect to be home the same day as your surgery and to be on crutches or using a walker for 1 to 2 weeks post-surgery. The hip labral tear symptoms resolve almost immediately after arthroscopic surgery, but there may be some swelling and pain as the hip heals.
Once your sling comes off, you will need to do flexibility exercises in order to restore strength and mobility to your shoulder. Overall, you can usually expect your torn labrum shoulder surgery recovery time to be between three and six months.
Patients are not allowed to drive until they are completely off all sedating medications and crutches. For right hip surgery or standard transmission driving 6 weeks postoperatively is the earliest driving is allowed. For left hip surgery, 2 weeks postoperatively is the earliest driving is allowed.
Most hip replacement patients are able to walk within the same day or next day of surgery; most can resume normal routine activities within the first 3 to 6 weeks of their total hip replacement recovery. Once light activity becomes possible, it's important to incorporate healthy exercise into your recovery program.
Most patients progress to toe touch weight bearing in week 2-3 and are off crutches completely by 3-4 weeks. However, if osteoplasty (shaving of the bone) is done, you may be NO weight bearing for the first 3-4 weeks. If a labral repair is done, crutches may be needed 4-6 weeks.
Avoid putting too much weight on your leg and lifting the leg up. Your surgeon recommends avoiding active hip flexion (lifting your leg up at the hip) until 2-3 weeks after your surgery. This precaution is to prevent excessive hip flexor tendonitis after your surgery.
Is walking good for a hip labral tear?
Take a break from any activity, including standing or walking, that may cause pain. If your doctor recommended using a cane or crutches, use them as directed. This can help relieve stress on the hip. Do exercises and stretching as directed by your therapist or doctor.
When sitting, try to sit with the hips at 90 degrees. Sitting with the knees closer to the chest might produce pain or pinching at the hip. Limit prolonged standing and walking up to four weeks after surgery to avoid hip discomfort. Avoid deep squatting or heavy lifting up to six weeks after surgery.
The second complication we try to avoid is loosening of the implants. This can happen when patients do too much walking and stress the implants prior to the ingrowth process. Generally, I advise patients to walk only a few hundred yards a day total until they get to around six weeks.
We recommend that you walk two to three times a day for about 20-30 minutes each time. You should get up and walk around the house every 1-2 hours. Eventually you will be able to walk and stand for more than 10 minutes without putting weight on your walker or crutches.
Returning to normal after your hip surgery
You should be able to stop using your crutches within 4 to 6 weeks and feel back to normal after about 3 months. After this time you should be able to perform all your normal activities.
Generally, you'll experience some hip discomfort during recovery. This discomfort may also be experienced in your buttock, lower back, ankle and knee. We can use appropriate pain medication to reduce the discomfort.
A tear in your labrum can cause pain and instability in your hip, damage other tissue and cartilage in your joint, and lead to osteoarthritis over time.
These repairs can bring back the strength and function of the affected hip joint. And since a successful surgery also alleviates the pain, you'll be able to move more freely and do the things you did before the pain and tightness limited your movements.
- Know the Stages of Rehabilitation After Shoulder Surgery. ...
- Don't Resume Physical Activity Too Soon. ...
- Embrace Physical Therapy. ...
- Perform Shoulder Surgery Exercises. ...
- Know Recovery Times Can Vary.
It can take anywhere between 4-6 weeks to build up enough strength in the shoulder to go back to regular every day activity. All in all, if you are just trying to get back to a normal routine, it takes about 8-10 weeks to recover from a labral tear.
How long do you have to sleep sitting up after labrum surgery?
Bolstering yourself up in your bed with several pillows or with a 45 degree wedge that you can purchase at a medical supply store will help you rest. Often, patients have to sleep with an incline for 4 to 6 weeks after surgery.
- Manual joint mobilizations GENTLE - avoid aggressive traction. Strengthening/stability.
- Prone hip extension. Lie on stomach. ...
- Side laying hip abduction. Lie on uninvolved side. ...
- Hip hikes. ...
- Sport cord rotations - begin at 6 weeks. ...
- Posterior squats. ...
- Spilt squats/lunges. ...
- Bridging progression.
The study concluded that one should wait at least six weeks before considering driving after rotator cuff or labrum repair surgery.
- Lean on your non-operated hip for support.
- Support yourself even more with your arm/elbow on the same side.
- Use your free hand to reach behind you to wipe.
- Avoid twisting your upper body too much.
- The foot on the side of your hip replacement shouldn't turn inward.
Drink plenty of clear liquids as the anesthesia can cause dehydration/constipation as well. We highly recommend having prune juice on hand to help assist with bowel movements. If you have not had a bowel movement in 3-4 days, you may add milk of magnesia or miralax.
Usually this is after six to 12 weeks but some operations may take longer. Discuss with your surgeon about your preferred choice of sport if you have any concerns. Going up steps or stairs requires you to lead with the non- operated leg. Coming down steps or stairs requires the operated leg to lead.
Patients are not allowed to drive until they are completely off all sedating medications and crutches. For right hip surgery or standard transmission driving 6 weeks postoperatively is the earliest driving is allowed. For left hip surgery, 2 weeks postoperatively is the earliest driving is allowed.
To be able to start driving after surgery you should no longer require narcotic pain medication. If it was your right leg: you should also have no pain and strong leg control (meaning without crutches or a limp). If it was your left leg: you should be off any narcotic pain medication before driving.