Hip replacement booked 😀

Posted , 12 users are following.

Hi all

Iā€™ve been following everyoneā€™s stories for a year now while waiting to find out what will happen for me.. and finally Iā€™ve been given the green light! Originally we planned to do both hips at once, but that was vetoed by the board so itā€™s right first, then left in three months. 

I have twins who have just turned two, a four year old and I work in a storage facility struggling up and down 15 stairs multiple times a day. I had a staph infection last year in my right hip after stem cell treatment, and recovered almost completely within 3 weeks after two wash out surgeries that involved dislocating my hip, my recovery was apparently swift.

Should I expect a similar recovery this time?  And do you think the stairs and lifting of children will cause me problems?

Iā€™ve booked 4-6 weeks off work and have enlisted my parents to essentially move in to help with the kids while I recover so I should get plenty of rest!  Iā€™m not particularly overweight and do a lot of walking/stair climbing daily so I consider myself pretty fit.

So excited to be seeing light at the end of my tunnel!! Thanks for any input you can give me 😀

1 like, 14 replies

14 Replies

  • Posted

    Very happy to see that you are not having both done at same time. I know I would not have been strong enough to handle that. I am recovering from my right hip done on the 7th of September and had left in January 22nd of this year. I am not in pain at all before any surgeries so I have too much energy. You will have plenty help with your parents and you will be great. I wish you well and just get ready to enjoy life without hip pain once you have completed the surgeries.
    • Posted

      Thank you! Congratulations on such a great recovery 😀 stories like yours make this seem so much less intimidating!

    • Posted

      I agree with Nuggie56. I had my right hip done 8 weeks ago and am making excellent progress and all much quicker than I expected but I don't think it would have been so easy if I had both hips done. I think you need to have one good, strong leg to help you cope. It's also the mental trauma which we tend to overlook. It takes a little time to have total confidence in your new hip and I wouldn't have wanted to have both sides weak and healing at the same time.

    • Posted

      Thank you! Itā€™s reassuring to hear that this is probably the better road to take! I was wondering how hard it might be with no ā€œgood sideā€ to lean on. Iā€™m so happy for your excellent recovery 😀 

    • Posted

      Thanks Suzie. I hope you have a recovery like mine. You'll be delighted!

  • Posted

    Hey Suzie,

    Congrats on the green light. I did my left and waiting on the green light for my right. What state are you in?

    Ā I wish you Gods blessing and a speedy recovery. Keep us posted.Ā 

    • Posted

      Iā€™m in South Australia 😀 and I was expecting to be waiting far longer than just a year so Iā€™m super excited that I should be past all this in the next 6 months!

  • Posted

    Hi Suzie

    I'm just wondering about that stem cell treatment..I had my left hip replaced but my right hip is feeling that feeling .was researching stem cell....

    It sounds like you have a physical job..I went back to work around 6 weeks..I had restrictions..I'm involved in education..I work with emotional children and at times we need to restrain to protect others and the child....the restriction was lifted at around 4 months

    • Posted

      My first round of stem cell treatment was incredible. I walked out of the surgery like a normal person and it just got progressively better over the passing months.  Pain wise, mobility - excellent! Then I got pregnant with twins (I wouldnā€™t have even considered another pregnancy prior to the treatment) and pain etc returned following that. Opted for a top up treatment which resulted in a staph infection which ultimately destroyed my remaining cartilage and the surgeries to clean out the infection resulted in getting some attention from the surgeons who declared my hips unusable 😀 ironically Iā€™ve been trying to get on the waiting list for 5 years but was considered too young for consideration prior to this despite the shoddy condition of my hips!

      But i honestly found the stem cell treatment was life changing and could have at least deferred the need for hip replacement for years. I was just a bit unlucky...

      feel free to hit me up with any questions about the stem cells 

  • Posted

    So pleased for you that it's getting sorted. Excellent idea to move your parents in as you have small children to cope with. 6 weeks sounds more realistic to be off work. I am now 8 weeks post op and was walking without sticks at 2-3 weeks, driving at 6 weeks and can now get pop socks and jeans on without help. You will still be sore this stage as it seems that deep healing takes a long time but you should be able to function almost normally. I still don't bend right over or squat. I seems sensible to avoid those sort of extreme positions for a few months even if you are doing well. Do be prepared to get tired at first and if you need an afternoon nap, do it! I hope your recovery goes as well as mine. All the very best of luck.

  • Posted

    In my humble opinion ....

    Ā  Stairs - no problem,you will be shown how to negotiate them.

    Ā  Lifting children - Impossible for several weeks.

    You have however enlisted the help of parents, so that will definitely help.

    Being reasonably fit before the operation is one of the best things you can do.

    Being on this forum is the other great thing - a source of help 24x7

    Best wishes

    Graham

    • Posted

      Thank you! And I agree, this forum is invaluable 😀 I had similar limitations after my surgery last year, so Iā€™m hopeful this will be along the same line... but without the excruciating pain of the infection lol 

  • Posted

    Definitely good idea for you to have help from parents you are best having ALL the help you can get especially in first 2 weeks. What was reason for not 2 at same time? You have to go through it all again? I had both mine done 9th July. Best decision. Am only 51. Guess youā€™re younger than me.Ā 

    Good luck x

    • Posted

      Iā€™m 45, so not much younger! The surgeon planned to do both at once but it went to a board for approval and they decided the risks and recovery time are far greater for an ā€œelective surgeryā€ and the decision was taken out of our hands. Iā€™m trying to look on the bright side and consider that at least my recovery will be faster with one good side to lean on 😀 but I agree, both would have made more sense...  especially with time needing off work twice but at least itā€™s getting done!

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