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5 Positive Things About Getting A Full Hip Replacement

Posted , 12 users are following.

kimberley38758
kimberley38758

To All Hippies,

Do you remember how terrified you were when you first found out that you'd need a Full Hip Replacement (FHR)?  This is such a common procedure now and high success rates, but this doesn't always calm our fears prior to the surgery. 

Why don't we hippies reach out to posible newbies who are contemplating a FHR and tell them what we experienced by listing  5 POSITIVE THINGS about getting our FHR.  I'll go first:

1.  The surgery seemed quicker and easier than I'd expected and I went home the second day.

2.  The pain level was very managable with meds, ice packs and rest.

3.  I only needed walking aids (walker/crutches/cane) for the first 8-10 days. 

4.  Physical Therapy wasn't too bad at all.  In fact after 8-10 weeks I could comfortably get around and others couldn't believe that I'd ever had the surgery.

5.  It's now been 8 months, absolutely no pain, back to regular lifestyle, and most days forget that I had a FHRsmile

6 likes, 31 replies

31 Replies

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  • beth2509
    beth2509 kimberley38758

    Posted

    "Do you remember how terrified you were when you first found out that you'd need a Full Hip Replacement (FHR)?"

    ?No I don't, because I wasn't. I was positively raring to go and couldn't get in fast enough. Some people are; and having a positive attitude towards it is a big advantage. So to anyone who isn't worried about it - keep it up!

    But my five:

    1. Out of surgery with absolutely no pain in the hip - nothing at all!

    2. Continued with no pain in the hip - since the moment I came around the hip has been utterly perfect and painfree

    ?And I can't actually think of any others because that was that! I'm hoping for similar results on the ankle. Possibly being overly optimistic, but whatever....

    • kimberley38758
      kimberley38758 beth2509

      Posted

      Beth,

      Wishing you the best for your ankle surgery!

      Being optimistic vs. pessimistic definitely helps with everything in lifesmile

    • madla39168
      madla39168 beth2509

      Posted

      Desreved Beth i started know you little bit and I belive your results with ankle will be great. You are strong person and you will be OK. How are you? I wasn't scare about surgery I did not even have a time to be scare opsite I want to have done asap.

      Love and Hug Madla,

      PS I just want have done next hip ASAP.💗

  • lizbet20
    lizbet20 kimberley38758

    Posted

    Good to read this, as I'm getting a bit stressed about my THR, I have my hospital assesment next week, (should have been a few weeks ago but was cancelled) and I'm expecting my operation to be in the next few months or so.  I was and still am resigned to getting it done, (born with hip dysplasia fixed at 3 now 46 years later)  although I don't have terrible pain, I'm limited how far I can walk and I limp and being bone on bone I've no option as I know I'm only going to deteriorate further but these last few days I've been thinking about what ifs.... like what if  after the op I'm worse than before, or sitting here just now with little pain knowing I'm opting for an huge operation that will likely give me a lot of pain recovery wise, lot of things going through my mind, I think I'm having just a bit of a wobble about it all.  Good to hear positive things though 

    Lizbet x 

    • kimberley38758
      kimberley38758 lizbet20

      Posted

      Hi Lizbet,

      When to have the surgery is a question most of us have/had to face.  For me it came down to quality of life.  I too was born with hip dysplasia and my right hip finally gave out (bone on bone) when I had just turned 49.  I decided to get it done because I could no longer get up and down without pain.  When I got to the point when I was in pain every day no matter what I did, I realized it was time to take the plunge.  So glad I didsmile

      Wishing you the very best!

    • lizbet20
      lizbet20 kimberley38758

      Posted

      Hi Kimberley, I know your right, I think I'm nearly at that point too, as I'm very restricted to what I can do nowadays, and find I'm cancelling days out with friends etc, as I don't want to be the slow one or restrict others with what we do.   I know that I can't continue like this and have no option , I think it's just that the closer the op is getting the more I'm thinking about the what ifs .  Yours and others posts are very encouraging, and I can't wait for the day I can write down my positive things about a THR too 😀

      Many thanks for your reply 

      Lizbet x 

    • kimberley38758
      kimberley38758 lizbet20

      Posted

      Lizbet, just make sure that you find a specialist that has experience in the type of FHR they suggest for you.  Also, do some research about the do's and don'ts after the surgery.  PT is an absolute must from the very beginning.  So is rest and applying ice packs to help with any discomfort.  This forum is wonderful for gaining knowledge.  I love the fellow hippies on this site.  We are all here to offer guidance and encouragementsmile

    • Kimberley1108
      Kimberley1108 lizbet20

      Posted

      Lizbet

      I can completely relate to your post, in fact I could've written it. I'm 42 born with hip dysphasia (although didn't know until recently) and was told I needed a THR a month ago. I'm not in severe pain and I too am concerned that after the op will be worse than it currently is. Choosing to have a major op when you don't feel you 'need' it yet. However, the advice on here has really encouraged me and I have now decided that when I go back to my consultant in May I'm going to ask to go on the waiting list.

      This is a great discussion and just what we newbies need to read to encourage us.

      Thank you.

    • GoneFishing
      GoneFishing Kimberley1108

      Posted

      Kimberley,

      Good choice on getting on wait list.  The one thing I've noticed in this forum is most here are commenting AFTER the operation and therefore do not talk much about the pain BEFORE.  Clearly, you have figured out that it only gets worse (the pain).

      So kudos to you for taking care of this before you are in so much pain it shows on your face every hour of every day.  

      Hip Hip Hooray (seemed fitting   LOL)

    • lizbet20
      lizbet20 Kimberley1108

      Posted

      Hi Kimberley, yes it sounds like we are similar.  My dysplasia was picked up at three and I had an operation to fix it then.   All was well with my hip apart from I was never good with sports but it did not impact too much on my life .  Then in my 40s the trouble started to happen, I found I couldn't walk far at all without having to stop a lot, and I started to limp, this was now and again but has now progressed to all the time.  I don't as I said have pain when I'm in my bed or going about the house, but I do limp and the further I walk the more I limp and then I get pain as well .  I've had cortisone at the Drs surgery and a more intensive form of that where I got anti inflammatory injected deep into my hip joint in theatre to see if this would help.  My consultant told me several years ago that my hip bone was deteriorating and I was bone on bone, I thought I could keep going and put it off, but this past while it has deriorated more and is now restricting what I do, I can't climb up high steps, I've cancelled days out as I don't want to ask others to slow down for me, I now weigh up where I'm going and how far it is and if there is a lot of walking involved as then I won't go.  So in January I had a regular appointment with my cosultant and said I wanted to go ahead with a THR.  I was so tempted not to say it but I knew that if it wasn't now it would be next year or the year after and I was putting off the inevitable.  I'm not scared so much about the operation it's the recovery, and like I was saying various what ifs.  However, I'm at the stage where there is very little I can do, I dread to think how bad it would get if I put it off any longer so I'm glad I plucked up courage.  This forum has helped me a great deal and reading everyone's experiences is interesting and informative.  I'm on the waiting list too, I have my assesment this Wednesday and I think my op should be in the next few months 

      best of luck to you

      Lizbet x

  • hope4cure
    hope4cure kimberley38758

    Posted

    Great positive experience to share .

    i had same experience for my first THR. 

    The 2/3rd not so much! Sometimes complications happen and we hippies handle all of them with positivity and work thru all the issues to walk and have the greatest gift of mobility back again. May take longer and work harder and just the same our come is always hanging on the end of that carrot stick? ??👍

    • kimberley38758
      kimberley38758 hope4cure

      Posted

      Hi Hope,

      You are absolutely right. Sometimes things don't go as smoothly as we had anticipated.  We hippies push through the rough times without looking back to regain the mobility.  There are so many successful stories, even when it sometimes takes a little more patience.

      Best wishes!

  • samantha_2158
    samantha_2158 kimberley38758

    Posted

    I was also terrified before as had never had surgery before. The unknown was very scary.

    My five are:

    1. The anaesthetic (spinal and sedation) was not scary at all. In fact I woke up feeling great in recovery, no nausea and ready to eat!

    2. The spinal had the benefit of long term pain relief in operated leg.

    3. The weeks have gone by far quicker than I thought they would. Am now in my 5th week and only now getting a little bored!

    4. This forum helped answer all my questions about the process and that made me feel more comfortable about it all.

    5. I could not believe that the referred pain in my knee and groin that was so awful pre-op literally disappeared. Obviously there is surgery pain, managed by meds but the grinding 24 hour pain (that meds didn't touch) has gone completely.

    Sam

    LTHR 20/2/17 mini posterior

    • kimberley38758
      kimberley38758 samantha_2158

      Posted

      Hi Sam,

      I've been following you from the very start.  I'm so happy that your experience has been such a positive onesmile

      Please continue to keep us posted on your journey.  It's such an inspiration to others who are facing a FHR.

      Wishing you the best on your continued recovery!!

       

  • GoneFishing
    GoneFishing kimberley38758

    Posted

    Kimberley, what a great thread.  My surgery is in 10.5 days (yes I'm counting down the hours).  I am so excited and scared at the same time.  I have every confidence in my surgeon and his team and the medical center I'm going to is fabulous (new).  

    I am so thankful I found this forum (website) as I really wanted to hear from real patients.  My doc was not helpful on 'real world' fears / concerns but then he has never had the actual operation.  

    I will admit the very first post I read scared me so much . . . but I kept reading and glad I did.  

    I also know not every procedure goes as we would all like and should I be one of those it is comforting to know I can find "that" type of information here too.

    Almost a hippie

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