That depends what you mean by 'run'
Depending on the level of running you were doing before hip problems you may have to re-assess what running is and what will now be possible. First though, heal. The length of your running rehab after your hip replacement depends a lot on how you progress in the first few months.
Rehab varies widely but here's what many runners experience in the first year after hip surgery.
In the first 3 months you’ll likely:
- Get out of bed post-surgery
- Walk with a walker or crutches
- Go home
- Get off major pain killers
- Have a full night’s sleep without pills
- Walk without crutches
- Walk a couple of blocks without pain or stopping for a rest
In the first 6-12 months you'll hopefully:
- Heal surgical wounds
- Heal internal soft tissues
- Return to work
- Feel ‘normal’
- Energy levels return
Why do I feel so tired?
Your energy levels will take a big hit for months after surgery while the deep wounds are healing so don’t be impatient. Even though the pain may have gone and the surgical wounds appear to have healed there’s still a lot of deep healing going on. There will be times when you feel exhausted.Don’t overdo it – Yes, yes, I know!
Healing will be slower if you put your body under stress, as frustrating as that can be. If you want to get back to exercise as soon as possible then take notice when you feel tired and rest.Don’t skip the pills either
Take all the pain medication you have been prescribed, even though you think you can “tough it out”, pain means stress and as I say, stress means your body will take longer to recover.If you’re like most runners you’ll want to know what’s going on with your body, what the damage really is and is everyone just being a bit over-cautious here? After all you’re used to pushing through a bit of pain. It’s all very well for someone to say “take it easy” and “it’ll take time for the internal wounds to heal” but you want to get on with it.
Our next blog is a reminder that major surgery is not a bothersome injury.
