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Hip replacemnt

Posted , 19 users are following.

kay1162
kay1162

I'm in need of a hip replacement

those of you that have had this surgery, can you tell me if its all you hoped for?

how painful was the op and how soon was you pain free?

what can you do that you couldn't before surgery

what are you unable to do now? 

Im really scared to push for surgery as only 54 and worried I'll not be able to do things as befor. If that makes sense?

1 like, 30 replies

30 Replies

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  • mic71403
    mic71403 kay1162

    Posted

    Hi Kay,

    Greetings from Exeter, Devon!

    Well, we are all different, ages, gender, illnesses - BUT

    I had the operation 10 months ago, and am DELIGHTED: so much more mobile, now jogging and smiling all pain free. I can't crouch or do squats properly, but everything else like stairs is so much easier. tis a bit wobbly on crutches post op yes, but with good pain meds for a few weeks even one month afterwards it was VERY worth while having the op done.

    Go girl, and good luck!!

    mic

    xx

  • gertie61
    gertie61 kay1162

    Posted

    Do it! I too am 54. Wished I had pushed harder for the op, id I knew then what I know now I would have avoided 3 years of pain and lifestyle changes, I wouldn't be so fat, and my muscles and general fitness would not have deteriorated.

    I am 4weeks post op tomorrow. No painkillers today for the first time, and in far less pain than I was a month ago. It is a slow but steady recovery, and I don't expect to be fully over this for many months yet, but the benefits are already apparent.

    Good luck!

  • vanessa88276
    vanessa88276 kay1162

    Posted

    I'm 49 and had mine done 17days ago xthe horrid arthritic pain goes instantly or in my case it did and its bliss :-) yes I'm still on 2crutches but managing stairs the scar is sore and tender but the stiffness of my hip has eased up lovely x I'm still very early days and in the first two weeks get as much rest as you can you do get exhausted easily the pain is very manageable just jeep on top of it with painkillers xx I'm so glad I had it done and believe me I was petrified lol but everyone who has visited me says how well I look in the face no more sad etched with pain face because that's all gone so 17 days post IP and feeling really good :-) go for it girl best decision you will make and listen and take advice from other hippies on here they are wonderful and will get you through it xx
  • TJ007
    TJ007 kay1162

    Posted

    Hi Kay,

    I'm a 49 year old female who had a LTHR 4 weeks ago tomorrow. My hip before surgery was bone on bone, very painful, and I had restricted movement: couldn't cut my left toe nails, paint them, wash my feet alone or put socks or shoes on unless they were slip ons.

    In my opinion the surgery is nothing to worry about at all, and believe me I am not brave. I has a spinal with some form of sedation so I was totally unaware of anything until I awoke in recovery. No pain at all after op as the spinal was still working but I had also been given a 12 hour acting morphine tablet which would be working when the spinal wore off. The nurses kept checking on my pain level & topped me up with paracetamol & morphine as necessary. The morphine tablets didn't make me go fuzzy like the PCA machine I had attached to me after a C section. I can honestly say I was never in pain in hospital nor have I been in pain at home. As my operation was at 4pm in the afternoon it wasn't until the next morning that I got up for a shower. Getting up was a lot easier than I thought it would be and it is so nice to be free of the OA pain.

    Since getting home I have been visited by a physio once and have been following the exercises given and walking outside, when the bloody rain stops! I can already walk further than I could before the operation. In face I feel like I could be on my knees cleaning the floors, running, dancing, but obviously I'm not and am sticking rigidly to physio rules. I have experienced a short sharp pain twice since I've been at home in the early days, I had moved my leg in a way it wasn't ready to be moved.

    I can already tell that I will be able to cut, pain my toe nails and all the other things I haven't been able to do for the past five years. My life became very restricted due to pain when walking. I feel I am now on my way to getting that life back.

    The hardest bits of the process for me are: sleeping on my back for 6 weeks, not extending the 90 deg angle leg to torso, sitting around recovering when I want to be doing things and lastly the dreaded surgical stockings that I've been told to wear for six weeks. For me the recovery is more of a mental than physical challenge, one could easily dip into depression due to limited activity. Would I have the operation again - yes with no hesitation at all.

    Hope this helps

    TJ x

  • Hailea
    Hailea kay1162

    Posted

    Hi Kay from a very soaking wet South Wales 

    i am younger than you and I am in hospital tomorrow for my second hip replacement having had the left hip replaced back last April. Although I have to be honest and I had a very rough ride of it I do not regret it. If I di I would not be going for the second one except for the fact that my right hip has now collapsed only a few days after the left one was done. I learned a very serious  lesson and I  advise anyone who is offered this operation don't put t off you will get over it much quicker the fitter you are. The longer you leave it the more suffering you go through. Don't be put off I am just as scared now as I was the first time but I do know I will be fine after I am in so much pain now I can't get out of bed even to go to the loo without taking a large dose of  oramorph and crying my eyes out every time I move. 

    I will ill be so glad to be out of pain hat I can't control and just taking pain killers when needed for pain I can control. I havnt even seen the front door of my house for months I want to walk and get my life back. 👍

    • mic71403
      mic71403 Hailea

      Posted

      Good luck tomoro Hailea...love n light and a good recovery

      Mic

      Xxx

    • Hailea
      Hailea mic71403

      Posted

      Hello Mic

      how are you doing ?

      thankyou  xx

  • Gossip
    Gossip kay1162

    Posted

    Go for it. I'm 49 for another 10 days & had my first thr 14 weeks ago & having lthr done in 26 days. Instant pain relief from bone on bone pain with 1st op. Worst part for me was not being able to drive for 6/7 weeks. Everything else was the healing process. My scar is practically invisible. The pain of healing is manageable compared to pre op pain. Don't worry we're all here for u x
  • sue1957Geo
    sue1957Geo kay1162

    Posted

    Hiya, i was so scared of the op i refused it, but thanks to the support of the wonderful people here, I agreed and the pain i was in has gone. I am nearly 8 weeks and have been very lucky had hardly any pain i can stand with both feet on the floor, sit in a chair go up and down stairs properly,  none of which i could do before.  I am walking with one crutch and can do a few steps on my own, i am 58 and to be honest this has been the best xhristmas and new year for about 4 years, pain free, no pulls to take being able to walk.  This surgery is everything plus more than i could ever hope.  Go for it, i wish i had sooner.

    sue xx

  • Kate53CornUK
    Kate53CornUK kay1162

    Posted

    I'll echo what everyone is saying and add that you sort of know you have to go for it when the thought of being in pain for the months/years ahead seems more than you can bear.

    I am 52. Your new hip should last you 10 - 20 years with careful use. Isn't it better to have quality of life now? i am six months on from RTHR and having the second done next month. It's hard work, takes longer to heal than you think but the results for me are beyond my expectation. Like Mic I can't squat or crouch and have to plan getting up from the floor but painless on the op side. Don't put it off!

  • jennifer531
    jennifer531 kay1162

    Posted

    I love all the positive, encouraging responses. This is an echo of what I heard when I asked for input when I was on the fence about having my right hip replaced.

    I am a 44 yr old mother whose pain wasn't quite as advanced as others on here. I figured why wait for it to get worse, why not start the healing process now, so I can lead a fuller life. I am now 6 days post op and I feel so relieved. It's not as hard as I thought it would be. I did a few stairs the day after surgery and I was scared at first, but that has dissipated (I've scaled my home stairs twice since I've been home). I've taken 2 showers already and walk with my walker a bit every day. There are noticeable improvements all the time. I think the one of most important things is to ensure you can take it easy for quite a while. You can't go right back to your normal life in two-three weeks. I've resumed some activities already, but it will be a while before I can do all of my work duties and fully care for my son. I also cringe at not being able to drive for a while (I've been told 4-6 weeks depending on the person and which hip).

    All that being said, I am thrilled so far and proud that I was brave enough to do it.

    The people on here are amazing. They are quick to respond and so kind and knowledgable.

    I hope this helps. Best of luck to you!

    Jen

  • miele55255ch
    miele55255ch kay1162

    Posted

    Hi Kay!

    I am 56 and am 9 months post op today. Prior to surgery I had constant stabbing pain in my hip and groin. Standing or walking was horrible for me. I have to say that although I am still recovering I would do it all over again.

    I have no OA hip pain but still have some residual surgical pain. I can only walk steps one at a time, I can't stoop or get on my knees but I can walk around our shopping mall for about 45 minutes with no pain whereas before I could barely stand for 10 minutes

    But everybody heals differently.  

    I will be needing my other hip replaced in about another year or so and I'll be looking forward to it.

     

    • cindy11654
      cindy11654 miele55255ch

      Posted

      I'm 58 and had surgery 3 months ago.  When you say you can't stoop does that mean you can't put on your socks or zip your boots up yet????  I have been so discouraged because I can't bend to shave my legs, put socks on, put lotion on, etc.  The doctor told me Dec.22nd that it would take a year to heal.  I would be better at 6 months but it would take a full year to be completely healed from this surgery.  Do you find this to be true since you are 9 months in?  I don't know that I would do this again like everyone is saying.  The recovery is so long or I am so impatient.   LOL
    • miele55255ch
      miele55255ch cindy11654

      Posted

      I use a sock aid to put my sock on my right foot because it feels uncomfortable to have to bend my leg outward. I can shave my legs and lotion them though.

      At 3 months I never thought I would see the light of day. But it came. You just have to give yourself some time. I still feel like I'm getting better every month.

      Everybody's different. You'll learn what's right for you. Just don't overdo it!  My doc also told me that it would be at least a full year before all of the muscles and that would be healed. 

      Don't be impatient! It's all worth it!

       

    • rose0000
      rose0000 miele55255ch

      Posted

      How do you shave your legs without breaking 90 degree rule? Would love to shave my legs!! Husband currently doing it every ten days which is not ideal. Lotion the same smile
    • cindy11654
      cindy11654 miele55255ch

      Posted

      When I went back for my 3 month check up Dec.22, 2015 the doctor told me i could break 90 now.  Well that doesn't mean you can do it just because he told you you could.  LOL  I can but i can't!!!!   I still do the exercises that I learned at the hospital from the P.T. I try to go just a little further down with my reach but still can't do the shave and lotion, my socks either.  My husband did my leggs as well until i taped the shaver to the long shoe spoon, now i can do it myself..biggrin  I didn't  say it was the easiest thing in the world but my whole world is going a little slower than it use to.  I am just hanging in there and it is getting better I think????  I didn't wait until i couldn't walk or get around or was in a lot of pain before I did my surgery so i guess that is why I wonder if i did the right thing, but I know it was because the groin pain is gone.  I just wanted to do it before i got older and it would be harder to recover.  I am 58.
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