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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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  • sassybees
    sassybees kay1162

    Posted

    Best thing i ever did. Im 56. Amost 4 months. Came back to work today. No pain...awesome. do it
  • renee01952
    renee01952 kay1162

    Posted

    Dear Kay, 

    Warm welcome to this  wonderful forum - As you can see, all responses are personal and from experience -

    I m on this forum for 9 months - Had my 1st Right hip surgery in March 2015 and the left one done in September 2015 - 

    I see so many positive posts from hippies here that were petrified, freaking out, you name it and they went through it all - It is absolutely heart warming and encouraging how far they have come - ( I feel like a Mother Hen being proud of her chicks) -

    Is there something specific you are afraid of ? What things do you think you might not be able to do after the surgery?

    Come back with any question or concern, okay - there is no judgement of any kind - no topic is off limits ..

    Big warm hug

    renee

    • sue1957Geo
      sue1957Geo renee01952

      Posted

      Renee, i am one of the freekin out totally petrified ones who have come through it, i am now 8 weeks done and have got so far, i can now sit, stand walk a few steps on my own, but mainly on one crutch. G et very frustrated as cannot bend or put my sox on, if no one around cold feet till they come in.  All i can say is having this operation has given me my life back, and even though it is stil not completed yet, i have with the help of the fabulous people here got further than i thought.  So if you are reading this, please dont do what i did and put it off, do it  go get your life back.

      suexx 

  • rose0000
    rose0000 kay1162

    Posted

    Hi Kay - I am 40 and 4 weeks post op.

    The decision you make depends I think largely on how much pain you are in, and how much it is restricting your life. I left mine until I could bear it no more, fear and worry stopped me, and the thought of leaving my children.

    But in the end there was no choice. It was have the operation or let my life literally wither and die.

    I can honestly truthfully tell you it was fine. The operation was straight forward, and I am less pain right from the beginning than before the operation. The recovery takes time, you need patience and support for the first few weeks but after that you will slowly heal and enjoy your life again.

    If you need a replacement most people would agree not to leave it until you can not walk anymore - the muscles waste away and it is harder to recover. Good luck x

  • annone70291
    annone70291 kay1162

    Posted

    I would go ahead and get it done. The fitter you are the better your post op recovery will be. I was discharged from hospital on one crutch and walking without crutch at all at 3 weeks. I've had no pain but sometimes some discomfort as surrounding tissues heal. I was lucky in that my muscles were merely stretched rather than cut and I think that helped in recovery. I had lots of physiotherapy and I think it's important to do all the exercises they give you - and then some. Good luck!
    • mic71403
      mic71403 annone70291

      Posted

      Dear Annone

      Good to hear from you...I thought my recovery was fast..but yours twice as fast. Very well healed and more to come as they say it takes 12 months in all.

      I'd be interested if you are swimming, gym ing or jogging now? My one restriction was never to bungee jump!

      Yea...really helps to get as fit as poss pre op...and go for the op as son as you can.gentle hassling of nhs helped ne here! And oh yes...getting out to bed for 15 min exercising now

      Cheers

      Mic

    • annone70291
      annone70291 mic71403

      Posted

      Hi Mic. I can't swim! But would recommend some physio sessions in a hydrotherapy pool as they really get you moving. I do Tai Chi (a fairly martial art form) and I'm back doing that with some high kicks. Yes, a friend told me that 6 months is average to feel really recovered. I had my op 4 months ago so hoping it gets better still. Glad to hear you're doing so well.
  • Rocketman_SG6UK
    Rocketman_SG6UK kay1162

    Posted

    Kay,

    Click on my 'Rocketman54' name (in brown/orange) here, and look at my 'About Me' section - put the link (currently to 'zotty', but will change soon) into your browser, and you will see some information I have gleaned (mostly from this forum) on what it all involves.

    If you do go ahead, stick with this forum, it really will help you get through it all.

    Graham - 🚀💃

  • annie0412
    annie0412 kay1162

    Posted

    Hi Kay, I'm 52 and almost 5 weeks post op. The whole experience so far has been nothing but positive.  The hospital surgeon anaesthetist and nurses looked after me so well , making a major operation appear like a minor procedure The arthritic pain is instantly removed and replaced with wound healing pain which is very easily controlled , manageable and improves every day. I am amazed at how good my left hip now feels. Don't hesitate , the op allows you to start living your life again. Best wishes Annie xx
  • kay1162
    kay1162

    Posted

    Thankyou is very one who has replied so positively 

    im encouraged by all of the comments 

     

  • tpeter60
    tpeter60 kay1162

    Posted

    I have had both hips replaced twice. Yes, you read that right twice. The first when I was 25 and the second early 40s. The new procedures and devices are so much better than they were back in the day. The incision is far smaller, I have two scars 18 inches on each side. Now the incision is extremely small. Have had multiple friends who have had hip replacement in the last 5 years and it is amazing how different things are. 

    As far as pain, I was told before my first replacements that I would be in less pain post-surgery than I was before surgery. They did not lie, and it was not due to the drugs, but sheer pain was less. 

    I can get down in the floor, sit with my legs criss crossed, Hike, Backpack, play softball, among many other things today that I could not do before. 

    I can pretty much do anything now that I could before plus so much more. I still don't run much or well, but I didn't much before I started having hip issues. 

    My second set of replacements was more painful than my first, but that was due to issues removing the first implants. 

    If you are in pain and the doctor recommends replacement, I would not let wild horses prevent me from having them done. 

    Worst part in my opinion is Physical Therapy post-surgery. They will make you hurt, but it is why I have the mobility I have today. Don't cut corners on physical therapy. 

    I have been blessed with some excellent doctors and physical therapists, so that makes a difference as well. They will get you up and walking the day after surgery. Typically hospital stay is a couple days, and you are back home. You have to be able to walk 100 feet before they release you, but it will happen quickly. 

    Additionally, don't get discouraged in PT, I felt like I hit a wall and was not seeing improvement, then all of a sudden one day it was like my body recovered overnight and I was leg pressing 200+ lbs and able to really put my muscles to work and make great strides in recovery. 

    hope this helps. 

  • graham63169
    graham63169 kay1162

    Posted

    Hi Kay, I am 37 years old and exactly 5 weeks post op LTHR, like most people on here I had lots of pain with very limited mobility, and as a dad of 3 boys 15, 11 and 6 it was becoming very difficult. 

    Since the op I have no athritic pain at all, I have some minor aches from the surgery with the muscles, liagaments and tendons adjusting, but apart from that it is great. I am not taking any pain killers, prior to the op I was taking at least twice a day. I am walking upto 50 mins a day, with one crutch. I am allowed to drive an automatic car now, only short distances but it feels great. The physio is letting me pedal a static/exercise bike for 20 mins a day. Before the op I would have been in agony doing any of the above.

    The biggest recommendation I can give is keep up the exercises post op, whatever they tell you to do, do it. You wonder why you are doing them sometimes but you definately see the benfits from doing them.

    Hope this helps and good luck.

     

  • Rocketman_SG6UK
    Rocketman_SG6UK kay1162

    Posted

    Thanks for your post - it gives us all an insight into our future, and how to get there with lots of PT work to come.

    Graham - 🚀💃

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