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How long?

Posted , 8 users are following.

ali2301
ali2301

Did others leave in between hip replacements? 

I'm 8 weeks post op and after seeing my consultant 2 weeks ago we agreed that I would see him again at the end of the summer as I want to make sure the left one is fully healed and as strong as it can be before I get the right one. 

Two days ago an appointment dropped through the letterbox for 25th June, not what I would class the end of the summer! He's very keen to do the other one as he has said I won't get the full benefit until I've had them both done. I'm not arguing with him on that point but wasn't expecting to have the other one done that quickly. Everyone (hubby, physio, doc) have said to just go for it as soon as possible but I'm not so sure. 

The left one is textbook recovery so far so just thinking maybe I should bite the bullet and just do it.

What have others done? 

Thanks

Ali xx

0 likes, 17 replies

17 Replies

  • Mary8610
    Mary8610 ali2301

    Posted

    Haven't had same experience as you but feel that consultants know better than us and NHS don't usually pay for treatment  unless we need it . 

    Good luck whatever you chose

    Mary 8610 x

    • ali2301
      ali2301 Mary8610

      Posted

      Thanks Mary,

      My right hip looks just as bad on X-ray although I don't get as much pain from it. I can't straighten up at the moment which is affecting the back surgery I had done 2 years ago so they are all connected and I won't get the full benefit until they are all fixed. You are right they wouldn't spend money needlessly.

      Ali x

  • beachbum1957
    beachbum1957 ali2301

    Posted

    Too soon but it's an opportunity you,have. If you skip,this appointment you,may,have to wait longer to have the operation.
  • mic71403
    mic71403 ali2301

    Posted

    Hi Ali,

    good luck wotever happens!

    Mine were funny, one ten years ago, all seemed well, and then gradually downhill past two years,  this other this Feb....strange

    mic

    x

  • linnet2015
    linnet2015 ali2301

    Posted

    Hi Ali

    I need to have my other hip done like you and my consultant originally said it would be 6 months after the first op. I am on the waiting list, but from what he said at my 8 week check up I will be lucky to get it done this year due to budget cuts.  

    I am am older than you so it may be that, what would be, 17 weeks (?) post op would be fine for you and I assume your consultant knows you, your fitness and recovery rate from your first op etc.

    But in the end it depends on how you feel. Perhaps if you are managing fairly well at the moment you would prefer to enjoy the summer and then have your second op August/September and be fit by the end of the year?

    On the other hand if you accepted this date in June you could be recovered and raring to go by the end of September!

    Best of luck with which ever decision you make.

    Linnet x

     

    • ali2301
      ali2301 linnet2015

      Posted

      Hi linnet, 

      The appt in July is only to see him and discuss but I was originally thinking to hold off the next one until a similar time next year but due to linked back problems it would appear that I am not going to get my full range of movement back until they are all fixed. I'm now thinking when I see him in June to just go ahead and do it whenever he has a slot. I'm thinking the longer I drag it out between ops, the longer it's going yourself until I can get back to full fitness. 

      I hope you don't have to wait as long as he is saying for your next op.

      Take care.

      Ali xx

       

    • ali2301
      ali2301

      Posted

      sorry that should say the appt in June!
    • linnet2015
      linnet2015 ali2301

      Posted

      I think you might be right to take what ever appointment he gives you. I find my recovery is limited to how bad my other hip is and the pain I get. Personally I will go with any date they come up with, the sooner the better!

      you take care too 😀

      Linnet x

  • shelby99
    shelby99 ali2301

    Posted

    Hi ali, im 6 weeks post r thr, I have had both hips replaced now they were done 3 months apart, looking back now after the L thr done on Dec. 5 2014, when I was at the 8 week post op. I thought this 3 month thing might be too soon, but when the time came I was fine and it all worked out good, glad I got it over with. just had 6 week follow up today and everything is fine. By June 25 you will be feeling up for it, its hard to think of it when you are at 8 weeks, I know how you feel, but go forward if you need it done and get it behind you, it is worth it.
    • ali2301
      ali2301 shelby99

      Posted

      Thank you, shelby. 

      It helps to hear experiences such as yours that mirror my own situation. I'm glad it all went well for you and fingers crossed it will be the same for me too.

      Cheers

      Ali xx

    • shelby99
      shelby99 ali2301

      Posted

      Hi Ali,  Im sure you will do fine, my hips were in bad shape so it made my decision to go through with 2 thr in 3 months a bit easier, I had leg length issues and my back hurt when walking too, but all has been fixed up now. It is hard somtimes when we have time to over think it all.  Good luck to you, keep us posted.
    • ali2301
      ali2301 shelby99

      Posted

      Thanks shelby,

      I think I know what I should do but thinking it and having the courage to go with it so quickly is daunting. I think I will go with whatever he wants. He's done such a good job with the left one I don't doubt he will do the same this time.

  • sharon6161
    sharon6161 ali2301

    Posted

    Hi Ali,

    i saw my consultant at 7 weeks and he wanted to put me forward for other one Asap but I've booked a holiday seeing him in 4 months time be July or august and I'll be okay to be put on the list for the other one.  I'd bite the bullet and go for it if was you.  My holidays booked for August I probably should have delayed it but so need one.

    • ali2301
      ali2301 sharon6161

      Posted

      Hi Sharon,

      i have a hol hol booked at the end of May too and if I go with the op quite quickly I will have had such a long time off work and it fills me with guilt. I suppose my health comes first though and I will be a much more effective member of my team if I am at full strength so maybe it's best I just go for it.

      Ali xx

  • ZomersetGirl
    ZomersetGirl ali2301

    Posted

    Hi Ali

    I'm a few weeks ahead of you, at the 11 week mark from having a THR on my right side. My new hip feels so much stronger already I absolutely love it! No pain, nothing copared to before anyway - it's incredible. I'm due to have my left done on the 5th May, so only a week or so to go. I wanted it done even sooner (!) but the surgeon said around 12 weeks would be better because then my new hip would be strong enough to help me when the next one got done. His only advice was not to push it too hard, do all my exercieses and to invest or borrow in a static bike to help both of them get fully fit and strong again.

    To be honest I can't wait to have it done now, I feel as if the new one is now my good hip and the old left hip is now dragging me down as I still get so much pain in it. It's like I'm raring to go now that the rights been done but I can't because the left is still so painful.

    So I say go for it! You won't know yourself when they're both done and just think - by the end of the summer you'll feel like a totally new, bionic person with the rest of the year to enjoy pain free. Why wait when there's every chance the pain could get much worse, you'll be kicking yourself.

    Best of luck with whatever you decide, I'll let you know how I get on..

    Jxx

    • mic71403
      mic71403 ZomersetGirl

      Posted

      Hi Zomerset Girl

      Hopefully your doing well on medication of Zomerset cider daily?

      Love from Devon!

      Mic

      X

    • ali2301
      ali2301 ZomersetGirl

      Posted

      Thanks ZomersetGirl,

      Reading things like this make me so determined but as I said in an earlier post I'm so aware of how much time I've had off work and it will be even more if I go for the second one. Everyone though has said I won't get the full benefit until I've had both done so what's the point of putting it off. My work are very supportive so I'm probably worrying about nothing.

      Thanks for your very positive post. I know I'll feel like a different person once it's all over so why wait when I've suffered with this since 2008 but put it off out of fear and lived on painkillers the whole time. It would be so nice to be able to throw the pills away. I've seen people since my first op and they all say I seem so much brighter now that I'm pretty much off the copious amounts of morphine I was taking just to get through the work day. Lol it's funny but the more I type the more I'm talking myself into it.

      I hope to read very shortly that your second op has been just as successful as the first and it will spur me on with my decision.

      Thanks very much and good luck

      Ali xx

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