Injuries draw on all resources

donjtomasco

So I had hip replacement surgery last Monday. Today was my first day back in the gym, 'gingerly' doing some upper body. My last workout was last Saturday. I set the weight on my first exercise at 75% of my last amount (doing 4 sets of 8). I guess I was kind of surprised that this was a good starting point on what turned out to be each exercise.

So my question is, does the hip and region affected by the surgery, that is under repair, does that area draw THAT MUCH energy from the rest of the body thereby affecting the amount that I could lift by that much? Just like I am sucking down water more then ever because my body is asking for it, and retaining water in my right leg (that is pretty enormous right now) like crazy, and this could last for a week up to a month.

It is pretty interesting how the body puts itself back together if we feed it and give it what it needs.

Thank you!!!!!

STEVE142142

I am asking these questions as someone who had double hip replacement surgery last year. Based on your post I'm guessing that you had surgery on your right hip. Before anyone can answer these questions you need to answer these questions. Thank you.

Is your doctor aware that you're in the gym? Did you get authorization from the doctor to go back into the gym.

donjtomasco

Were your anterior surgery's and both at the same time? Or one hip twice?

SonyaCele

if you just had hip surgery, yes your body is under a great amount of stress. the gym is the last place you wanna be. go home and rest , and just do gentle rehab. You're gonna hurt yourself if you dont let your body use all its energy to heal the trauma it just went through. When i had knee surgery, i didn't go to the gym for 4 weeks, and only after my dr cleared me for very specific exercises and i set my weights at 0, and just went through the motions and only added a little bit of weight at a time with a goal of being 90% after 8 months and 100% at 12 months. AFter a major surgery you basically start from scratch, its just how it is if you want to rehab properly, its humbling but empowering.

STEVE142142

donjtomasco wrote: »

Were your anterior surgery's and both at the same time? Or one hip twice?

I had the anterior method both hips replaced at the same time. What my doctor told me is with the new ceramic titanium technology that he used, unless something catastrophic happens my hips will outlive me.

If you only had surgery a week or so ago you should be working with a physical therapist at this point. Are you? If not you need to contact your doctor and find out why you're not working with 1.

STEVE142142

As a follow-up I'm guessing you had an anterior method since you mentioned it. What you have to remember about the interior method is even though they don't cut any muscles ligaments or tendons they still put that area under a lot of stress your muscles are stretched out as your tendons and ligaments are. When they say there are no restrictions on the anterior method that may be true but you still have to remember that area has gone under a lot of stress and it takes time for the body to go back to normal.

After 3 months my doctor told me it was okay to go play golf. The only concession was that I don't wear spikes and I sort of understand why. I went out played a couple holes my hip felt a little funny so I stopped got in touch with the doctor and what he told me is everybody recovers at a different rate and sometimes it takes some time for the body to go back to normal. I took last year off I stopped playing golf got myself better did my physical therapy like I was supposed to continued and this year I'm absolutely fine. I can't overstate this please talk to your doctor I don't think he would approve of what you're doing.

ninerbuff

You're in the gym after just a WEEK of hip replacement surgery? Sorry dude, but I'm sure that's not a recommendation by any orthopedist.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

astrampe

Why are you in the gym a week after surgery? Not clever....

donjtomasco

Thank you for your comments. I have my first Physical Therapist appointment tomorrow, then my post op doc meeting on Wednesday. I was supposed to not even start on my exercises and stretching that were on the handout that they send home with everyone. I know that "each" person recovers differently, which is why I have been very careful to not only fully educate myself in every way possible, but also to be very cautious in everything that I do.

Monday morning was my surgery. Doc told me it went really well, and that I should be out the next day, turns out they ONLY let people out if 1) they obviously are not experiencing and physical or other obvious issues that would prevent the hospital from allowing a release of the patient and 2) patient must pee. If patient pee's, but shows other issues, patient stays in the hospital. If patient is doing well, but does not pee, patient stays in the hospital until patient pee's . If patient is doing well and pee's patient is released. This is to demonstrate that the kidneys are functioning properly (or so I was told). Surgery was at 6:30, over at 8:00, I was awake (kind of) around 9:00 or 10:00, had lunch, and was feeling pretty good around 2:00pm. Doc said I was free to get out of bed and try to walk using my walker, and if possible use my cane. Which I did. In fact, I could walk without the cane. Doc and staff said this was normal, since the anesthesia had not worn off yet, but that within 48 hours, pain and discomfort would hit me like a bomb, so for me not to take my current feeling good state as normal. BUT, I was told to walk as much as I wanted and as much as I could, taking care to walk right next to the wall railing, strategically located on all hall way walls for people doing just what I was doing. I walked till I was tired out. Rested. Staff came back. I asked if I should keep walking. Same answer "If you can, then do, the more the better, just don't go crazy" which is when I asked what "crazy meant", they meant, do try to walk to fast, don't try to run, don't try to do any exercises, don't try to make any sudden movements, JUST exercise the hip, and that this Anterior Surgery is designed for patients to "immediately after following surgery" to apply pressure to the hip in the form of immediate pressure with the assistance of a walker or cane, especially when the anesthesia wore off.

So, I was able to "pee" at 8:00pm and was discharged. Tuesday I was on cane walking as much as I could. Doc and Hospital called to check up on me. Anesthesia will be soon wearing off, but till then, I was advised to keep walking with the assist of my cane as much as "I wanted" and could, but to not go crazy. That afternoon I felt the effects of the anesthesia wearing off, and it was nominal. On Wednesday "In home health care" arrived to check me out, and make sure I was on track and doing ok. I was. Wednesday evening I called the docs office who called back on Thursday telling me to go ahead and start doing the stretching and exercises on the handout that were supposed to not be started till after seeing my doc next Wednesday. My guess is that docs visuals, with hospitals visuals and checking on me, with in home health care all communicating with them, is what caused them "without" needing to see the doc, to start early on my rehab, since I was "doing okay". Then the head of the hospital rehab department called on Friday to check on me, and I told them where I was currently, and all I was doing, and in their opinion was this all okay, and she said sure, 'just don't go crazy'. She included saying that alternating stairs with each foot without a cane was great exercise, and that if I wanted to get back to jogging soon, the more now the better.

In fact, I am now down to a painkiller in the morning and one before bed, which is probably a little early, and most of you would call me crazy to not take the pain killers, because I am not 'on time' to stop taking them, while many others would think if you can tolerate not taking pain killers, then it is better to not rely on them.

So, when I went to 'the gym', it was to 'sit' on a machine and exercise my chest, stand and exercise my biceps, sit and exercise my shoulders, then go home. Which I can see most of you think is crazy. But maybe you all think my doc is crazy too, and the hospital, and other professionals who have told me to do more then is normal because their assessment is that I am fine for it. And so far so good.

But I do appreciate your prejudgements of saying I am not cleaver, and that you know more then my doc, and whatever else was said. I am so surprised to learn that that all of you are qualified as doctors and physical therapists to make such judgements.

My simple question was about % of normal reps, it was not to invite individual criticisms based on lack of knowledge or your individual prejudging before you knew the judgements of professionals on my end of the deal.

But for fun, I will let you know what my Physical Therapist says after I meet with her tomorrow, then I will let you know what my doc says after I meet on Wednesday for my x-rays, and to make sure I have not done anything crazy. Since this thread might be helpful to others now or in the future going though what I am going through, I will be honest if doc says I have done anything wrong, since this MFP is for help and guidance and advancement, and I would just like to help others if I am able. To you who were just trying to help with your comments, thank you, to those just judging without a credible background to do so, but just doing so because you felt better doing so, well hey, I am all for freedom of speech and you had your say.

Back tomorrow on Wednesday to let you know what 'the professionals' said, if you care to check back in.

Peace!

SonyaCele

stupid stupid stupid

donjtomasco

Back it up Sonya, if you are going to accuse back it up. You don't trust my docs? You don't trust the hospital? What part are you having a hard time with? Is it that so far so really good for me? I will comment truthfully tomorrow after my PT appointment and after seeing my Doc on Wednesday which will include x-rays. Again, I am big enough to be wrong, if it helps someone else to see that I screwed up. But if I haven't then what the heck, I will just be another person who comments about their progress, which so far has been really really good.

In fact, this morning my swelling broke which was a big improvement. I want to know why this happened, was it walking and doing what I was told to do, and doing it diligently? Or was I lucky? I googled pics of "bruising after hip replacement surgery" since I was worried on Wednesday that the back of my thigh was turning purple. When the hospital therapist called, and I told her, she said I can expect 'only more of this, and more gruesome looking, but that the yellowing was a sign that the bruising was letting up where before it was black and blue after surgery'. Her words, not mine. Well, this evening, the only bruising I have is a small strip along my groin muscle and around the incision that is covered, but very nominal. Interesting, that today my bruising is either pausing, or maybe the diligent 'doing what I was told to do' is working.

However, what I might have done wrong is going into the gym to do my 8-9 sets, while not using my hip. But that will be the top topic to clear up with the doc. If either the PT or doc says I was STUPID, STUPID, STUPID, then Sonya, I will let you enjoy yourself in saying it once again.

But really, could you have not done a little better then stupid, stupid, stupid? Seriously, back it up as to what I said in the prior comment was so stupid, stupid, stupid?

mom22dogs

I've had numerous surgeries - dozens due to my disability. I recover very quickly from anesthesia, and surgery in general. But, it takes time for your body overall to recover. Just because you feel good does not mean you can just overdo it. Walking carefully and going up and down stairs carefully is entirely different than going to the gym for a workout, even if it is for just your upper body. If the doctor didn't specifically say you can go to the gym, then going to the gym is most likely overdoing it, and probably what he meant when he said "no exercises".
I hope you don't have a setback with recovery.

SonyaCele

donjtomasco wrote: »

Back it up Sonya, if you are going to accuse back it up. You don't trust my docs? You don't trust the hospital? What part are you having a hard time with?

Do what you want, its your body. But if you are posting here for conversation, you're not gonna get anyones seal of approval. You'll figure out the hard way the importance of healing time.

ninerbuff

I'm younger than you by a couple of years and had a Steph Curry fall on my left knee back in Jan of this year. Except mine was a 3rd degree strain with almost a detachment from the femur. Rehab time was 6-8 months. Now while I'm ahead of schedule (I've been leg pressing, squatting and light running again) I didn't even attempt it till the beginning of the 5th month (May). I took a conservative approach because healing time in your 50's isn't like in your 20's.
And rehab is one of my specialties, so I'm not just talking out of left field here. I'm more than sure that they'll tell you to back down on exercises that are weight bearing against the hip.
There's no rush. Just remember that coming back too soon from an major surgery can cause complications for other parts of your body.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

robertw486

In for results.

From my understanding, there is a huge difference between recovery from a planned surgery where things were under control and no trauma, no surgeries or rehab from a trauma. I had a friend from work that had a planned knee replacement and had instructions with more immediate movement than the OP. He actually had a device that moved his leg/knee while he was relaxing, and was told to walk minimum distances per day along with minimum times on the machine.

We were contractors, and he worked with his wife. I think they had arrange for people to help her assuming at least 7-10 lost work days. If I remember correctly, he was back and helping in some capacity within 2 days. Everyone was shocked, including him. I don't remember him speaking of diet changes, but do remember him saying that energy that had been diverting to the pain management of the bad knee was no longer needed, as pain and the problems (swelling, altered movement due to discomfort, etc) created "wasted" energy.

Granted, this was a knee and not a hip, but was also 10-12 years ago. He was probably 60 or older at the time, and within a week was back at it full swing. And both he and his wife worked harder than most people their age. They were doing fine in a piece work contract position that had a decent bit of physical work involved, and was mostly dominated by younger people.

Medical changes have really changed the game for certain things.

mitch16

Holy cow--I'm 2 weeks post-ACL surgery and rehab is the most that I've done (and I was in really good shape prior to surgery)! On Saturday I pulled weeds in the garden for an hour and needed a nap in the afternoon because of it.

Be completely honest with your PT and your orthopedist about what you are doing and how much. Regardless of how much/how little pain, your body needs time to recuperate after major surgery.

Packerjohn

I've had a number of shoulder operations. In all cases, the instructions were no exercise (except walking and the PT exercises given) until the stitches were removed 7-10 days post op. After that was allowed to do lower body machine exercises where the shoulder wasn't involved.

Doctor and PT said main reason was to allow the stitches to heal.

Best of luck.

MelissaPhippsFeagins

To answer your question, OP, yes it is completely normal for an injury in one anatomical area to affect strength in another area and overal endurance.

Because I work with an orthopedic surgery group, I would think that maybe you and your doctor have different ideas of what is "going crazy". A revision to a hip replacement is a big, freaking deal and if your insurance company decides that you caused it by not following the instructions in the standard of care then they may not pay for it. In your place, it's not a chance I would take.

I love lifting, but what's the hurry?

stealthq

There are two reasons to avoid lifting immediately following surgery.

One is to avoid putting extra weight/pressure on the injured area. You probably didn't do much with the seated chest machine. However, you were standing for the biceps exercise and I'm presuming 75% of your max is more than the 10 lb weight that is usually the heaviest you're allowed to lift. So that's not good.

The other is to avoid jacking with your blood pressure. A jump in blood pressure can cause bleeding issues with new incisions. Apparently some patients have the opposite issue as an after effect of anaesthesia and lifting causes a sudden drop in blood pressure and the patient faints. This is why you aren't supposed to lift the first week after even simple oral surgery - where clearly you are not risking straining anything around the surgery site.

My mother just had gum surgery and she was told not to do her regular strength training for two weeks afterwards.

donjtomasco

RobertW486-you pretty much described my situation to a T as to what your co-worker/friend experienced.

To others, I clearly stated in my post that I did not lift to put any pressure on my hip. I see one comment about my standing doing biceps was adding strain, and YES, agreed. Great point. The rest I was sitting, and just working the muscles, but NOT my hip. It sounds like some of you think that I was in trying to do squats or other exercises that directly would involve the hip. Nope. And it is not real fair and accurate to compare one surgery to another. I don't know what and ACL recovery is like, but I know ACL surgery is brutal. I had rotator cuff surgery, I was dead in the water for months, no movement, no nothing with that shoulder injury. But I would not compare my hip replacement to my rotator cuff surgery. Look up Anterior Hip Replacement and you will see that you "SHOULD" be on it the same day, surgery is designed for this to be the case. Start rehab "SAME DAY" in the form of walking with a cane or walker, then without when able.

There have been some really intelligent comments here, and Thank You. There have been other very myopic resentful sounding messages with no thought to my original post, so either people are commenting without reading, or do not understand my post. Yes, this is a discussion post and I welcome all discussions and comments. I think my response to intelligent and ignorant comments are valid too. It is an open discussion.

Knee surgery is different from hip replacement too. Best I can tell, ANY knee surgery is harder to come back from then hip replacement. My "pre surgery material" to read included both knee and hip surgeries/replacements. In ALL cases, knee procedures were expected a longer hospital stay, more pain, longer time to rehab, just a tougher operation.

Personally, I would not be making "absolute" comments or sling insults to someone's post without first doing a tad wee bit of research. But that's just me.

Physical Therapy in 25 minutes. Can't wait to hear what "this professional" says. And why would I NOT be honest with my PT? I guess that comment exposes that people would lie to their PT? PT is voluntary, what good would it do to not be completely transparent? This would be like paying hard earned money to go see a shrink, then not telling the shrink the main reason why you are there. Shrink can't help unless you are honest, PT can't help unless I am honest.

This post is showing all kinds of different ways that people approach things and react. I will "be honest" with my PT and will report back "HONESTLY to my post". Why wouldn't I? I don't know any of you anyway. I would rather be up front and transparent to help others. I guess the reverse that I am hearing is to not trust what people say here, like people are not being honest in their own comments. I guess that might very well be true, even though the forum set up is designed for "no risk to being honest". But I guess still people worry about what others think. I don't.

donjtomasco

Sonja, nice defense of your "stupid, stupid, stupid" comment. I expected nothing more...lol. Not much thought put into what you say it seems......

TR0berts

Your doctors gave you the OK to start on your PT exercises.

Unless what you did in the gym was part of your PT exercises, you really shouldn't have done it yet.

mom22dogs

TR0berts wrote: »

Your doctors gave you the OK to start on your PT exercises.

Unless what you did in the gym was part of your PT exercises, you really shouldn't have done it yet.

Well, apparently none of us know what we're talking about. He seems to know better than anyone that he can work out days post-op. Guess he's smarter than the rest of us.

donjtomasco

True TROberts, and I have acknowledged that I might have erred on being in the gym, to work out my upper body. I might have been wrong and stupid, stupid, stupid. PT appointment was rescheduled for tomorrow, so no answers till then. But no, no more working out in the gym till my PT and/or Doc, or both give me the okay on this. And I thank STEVE for his intelligent comment regarding this. In fact, I regretted going to the gym after reading his comments and have only done walking and my doc approved stretching and exercises for my hip, in addition to daily activities, and I am a pretty active person, pretty much on my feet all day. When my hip gets tired, I rest it. But walking with my cane "as much as I can" is part of my post op rehab.

Mom, doc never said "no exercises", so I don't know where you grabbed that one from. What he said was to be as active as I could, and I got the go ahead to do my stretches and exercises well in advance of my scheduled visit with my doc on Thursday, this based on his (I would assume) assessment of me post surgery, then review of how I did in the hospital post surgery, and that I have experienced no problems post surgery. So in fact, your comment is false.

Also Mom, can you define "feel good" and "over do it", or what your definition is, since you seem to base your first comment on your personal judgement and knowledge versus my actual post surgery progress.

And it was quite rude of you Mom22dogs to paste TROberts comment and insert what you think my thinking and response would be. But then again, you probably commenting realizing you might be called on being wrong, which is what a discussion is all about. Again, TROberts, you are correct. Gym was NOT part of my PT exercises, I hope my lack of judgement did not cause damage to my hip, but I will see tomorrow and Thursday.

Thanks TROberts for your thoughtful and intelligent comment.

donjtomasco

FYI Mom, I am in these discussion groups to learn, and my success (so far) is weight loss this second go around is directly due to the intelligence of most of the people in MFP. I do more reading then commenting since I working out, nutrition and weight loss are not things that I am well schooled in or have a background in, other then a past life as a tennis player. So, my entire journey in MFP has mostly been to absorb knowledge and learn. And I am doing this in my post too. (what I meant was I am learning from some of the people who are commenting in my thread).

robininfl

Healing does take resources, and yes you will slow your recovery if you do not eat enough or if you work out too much. Especially when older, injuries and surgeries can take even longer to heal. Waiting and being cautious will result in more gain of fitness overall, jumping back in will make healing take longer. In other words, something like:

six weeks of rest then six weeks to get back - 12 weeks total.
vs.
one week of rest then five months of trying to heal and build at the same time, just to get to where you would have been in three. 20 weeks total. If you don't get injured.

(fake numbers, just illustrations)

donjtomasco

Thanks Robin, makes sense. Gotta go with what the PT and doc says. The worst PT was with the rotator cuff, very very painful. But I have heard too many stories of others with that surgery who slacked off because of the discomfort from doing the exercises, then their should did not heal completely, and they were right back in with another surgery later, or, worse, lived with a messed up shoulder because they did not do what the professionals told them to do.

Thanks for your comment!

Packerjohn

donjtomasco wrote: »

Thanks Robin, makes sense. Gotta go with what the PT and doc says. The worst PT was with the rotator cuff, very very painful. But I have heard too many stories of others with that surgery who slacked off because of the discomfort from doing the exercises, then their should did not heal completely, and they were right back in with another surgery later, or, worse, lived with a messed up shoulder because they did not do what the professionals told them to do.

Thanks for your comment!

As I mentioned above 8 upper body orthopedic surgeries in the last 5 years or so.

I developed a good relationship with my pt and will pass along a suggestion. Assuming you are, tell the pt you are willing to do tbe work and endure a bit of pain to push the rehab process (they won't instruct you to do anything stupid) to get back with life faster and stronger.

The pt told me that moat people don't take the pt very seriously so they tend to water things down a bit so people will actually do it. They can give guidance for those willing to pit in the work. My pt and surgeon said I was recovering like a 20 something athlete even though I was in my 50's

Best of luck.

donjtomasco

THANKS PACKERJOHN!!! What is TBE work? And the PT that did me through my rotator cuff rehab (she was tough, and really stretched me hard which I am certain helped in my full recovery) is on maternity leave, so I have a new lady. I would like to get the TBE info correct you are saying. I 'think' I am maybe like you in how you described your results and your docs comments in that if they say it works, just do it, and be diligent about it.

Thanks again!

SonyaCele

donjtomasco wrote: »

Sonja, nice defense of your "stupid, stupid, stupid" comment. I expected nothing more...lol. Not much thought put into what you say it seems......

i dont put much thought into saying things to people that dont wanna hear. you can justify your decision to go to the gym so soon after surgery all you want, but its still a bad decision .

donjtomasco

I acknowledged that my decision to go to the gym was a bad one and thanked the poster who told me. I guess you don't practice reading before just saying what you think will sound good to yourself. Since I have expressed my desire to hear what people have to say, I am still interested in your logic behind telling me (after a thorough explanation myself) that I am "stupid, stupid, stupid". It appears that your inability to come up with anything, and to continue to tell me that I don't listen, just proves that you are a spontaneous emotional person who only wants to 'appear' right. But appearances can be deceiving. But if you are unwilling to really look at yourself, then you are simply stuck in your narrow range of acceptance of what others have to say.

Are you always this accusatory with people? Just wondering....you sound angry and hostile and it feels like you have unresolved issues that you have not worked through and take it out on others in these forums. Just a thought, but you are probably not one to listen to what others have to say that might help you better yourself.

Just trying to help. But you don't need to explain your 'stupid, stupid, stupid' comment since there is obviously nothing behind your mean words, just your personal anger issues. Therapy might help you out.