In my opinion, one of the most important parts of recovering from an injury or operation like this is exercise.
Now, I’m not talking about going running or climbing K2. I’m talking about doing the CORRECT exercises and the correct AMOUNT of exercise for the stage of recovery you are at.
The problem with this is that most of us don’t know what these exercises are, how many of them we should be doing and when we should be moving on to the next stage. This is where Physiotherapy comes in. Physiotherapists are trained to know these things. They spend years at university and, obviously, gather more knowledge, experience and possibly specialisms as they progress in their careers.
So,”Get to a Physio as soon as possible!” would seem to be the obvious advice….Apparently not, if you are using the NHS! After speaking with my doctors’ surgery, they have agreed to refer me to a local physio… This could take up to 6 weeks, just to get an appointment….
I’m thinking that this first 6 weeks of recovery are possibly the most important and where I’ll benefit most from the support and input of a physio. So, now I feel like I’ve got to find and pay for a private physiotherapist, which could obviously become a bit pricey. I have been looking on the internet and phoning around this morning, trying to find a local Physio with experience in hip replacement. I found a few and called them up asking for availability and costs, etc.
Generally, they all seem to come out around the same price – £30-40 per hour if you go to them and £55-£65 for a home visit. For me, it would probably be cheaper to get a taxi there and back, rather than have them come to me. And when’s the earliest appointment that I could get?…. Tomorrow!
I can’t quite get my head around how there can be a 6 week wait on the NHS, when there are physios with availability the next day. I know that there are funding issues within the NHS, but surely there are some areas that are more important and pressing than others? In my opinion, recovery has to be one of the most important areas after surgery.
If the recovery is bad or compromised, won’t the overall success of the surgery be compromised too?
Of course, there is always the ‘DIY’ version, using Google and Youtube! – Maybe that’s the way to go??
bhrat28 
i was on the NHS but was actually treated at the spire hospital by Mr Nolan who is one of the leading hip replacement surgeons in the country. He didn’t believe in physio after surgery, he said just walk as much as possible and you body will adapt and go back to normal. I questions this with the physios while at hospital and they agreed, best thing to do is just use it, like i said i am back playing sport having no side effects at all. some days i completely forget i have even had anything done!
guess each surgeon does things there own way so best to follow your surgeons advice.
I honestly can not explain too you how much better my life is now and how more independent i am. in 3 weeks you want to be driving and going back to normal! i know you cant but you will feel like it!
Thanks again for the encouraging words Emma!
to be honest I’m not as down and depressed as my blog makes out at the moment! I’ve just read a few back and realised what a misery guts I sound!
I’m really pleased I had the op and have no doubts that eventually I will be back to full fitness! thanks gain for your support Emma, keep reading and I promise the next one wont be quite so glum!!
I shared the same concerns you had about physio when I broke my ankle. I thought it was quite an important step post-op, but my GP said that I wasn’t going to be referred because I didn’t need it. I felt slightly ‘robbed’ as a taxpayer and the aftercare (lack of) I got.
Like you I was quite worried, but my GP said the best exercise is to just do some walking exercises, putting weight onto it etc. I can honestly look back now and say that it did the trick – after all, that’s what you’re ultimately trying to achieve – walking without any difficulty!
I must offer credit to my Mum though, with her NHS background. She gave me the best tip for recovery – ‘heel first, toes last’ Just think about it when you’re walking, so you’re walking in a more natural way more than simply shuffling that meaty leg of yours about. It gets all the muscles working again!
Hang in there fella – normality will feel like it’s far, far away in the early stages but it comes round quicker than you think!
Thanks Alex!
I managed to get a physio in the end and it was quite rapid to be fair! one of the bits of advice the physio gave was the same as your mums, so she was spot on there!