I am scheduled for full hip replacement Feb 3

You are receiving some great advice

I bought a hip kit on Amazon; the one thing that wasn't included was a "hook/loop" to lift my leg in to the bed that was one of the most painful moves that I had for almost 4 weeks. The pain was in my quad not my hip. The hospital sold the device I needed which is great for post op stretching exercises as well

I changed the side of the bed I slept on - I couldn't imagine my operated leg slipping off the bed.

If you can find out I think it's important to know the procedure the doctor intends to use; there is a difference between anterior, anterior lateral and posterior. There are other variations as well

I went in for a resurfacing but ended up with a THR via anterior lateral. Knowing what muscles had to be cut and what muscles had to be stretched during the procedure would've given me a better understanding of my pain.

In hindsight I wish I would've worked more diligently on my hamstrings quads and glutes muscles prior to my operation. If you can safely do some exercise I think this will pay dividends in the end. Working on triceps another muscles needed to push yourself up from sitting made also be advantageous

As you've heard there's a lot of information out there. You will have moments of pain and some pain you don't understand but if you're following the rules you should be OK. Eight weeks out I have some tightness some pain and a limp but I would not trade these for the postop lack of range of motion and pain

Good luck.

I had the anterior approach on right hip five years ago. It is less invasive then posterior   I had it done on Wednesday.  Home on Friday. I did not have severe pain except the first day.  They did make me get up and walk on a walker the same day. My entire leg felt like it was made of steel. I was going up and down flights of steps in one week like surgeon told me to. The physicical therapists that was ordered to come to my home threes times per week for two weeks were amazed at what I could do. They had never seen the anterior approach. I quit taking pain meds that Sunday morning after I had come home on Friday. I have stomach issues and pain medicine makes me so sick. Now the top of my thigh after five years has never felt exactly right but it's because of those extenders holding open your thigh during surgery and probably some muscles were damaged even thigh they said they werent. But over all I have done excellent. I was in so much pain before surgery   Limping really bad and terrible groin pain. I am having some stiffness and weakness for about two months now but it may be because I have bad degeneration in the lumbar and my back has been hurting really bad. I had to have this surgery or I think I woukd be in a wheel chair. I was 55 when I had it done but started having hip pain at about 46. I have some friends that had the posterior one and they have done great to. If it is causing your quality of life to be bad then you would be much better to have it done. Hope I have helped you. I go for my five year check up next week.  I will tell him the problems I am having.  Good luck to you. 

You have got great advice and I might repeat some.  I live in Canada and I am 46 so I am quite young for a hip replacement.  Being young and healthy has certainly helped with my recovery.  My surgery was on Dec 2nd. 

I was also scared and didn't know what to expect despite reading and prepping as well as I could.  My lessons learned are:

​Patience, positivity and compliance with precautions.   Have all the equipment recommended beforehand.  I could weight bare right away and was able to walk up the stairs with ease on day 2.  I set an alarm for all my meds which was very helpful.  I iced my leg constantly and used an ice machine although this is not necessary.  

​I was nervous about putting my weight on my leg and almost felt I had to limp.  A healthcare friend told me I can't harm my joint which was reassuring.  After two days in hospital and doing home exercises I got my frist physio apt in 10 days.  I was amazed at what he told me I could do.  He had me standing on my operated leg and balancing and using weight bands. Your body will tell you how much rest you need.  

​I was very active before but always had pain in both my hips.  After surgery, I have not had any of that pain in either hips and even with the healing of the surgery it is manageable.  Hopefully you have a supportive family to help you and give you confidence on your first walk, shopping trip, swim, drive etc.

Good luck and rest assured your medical team are well trained and will support you in your recovery.

Hi Karen

I would say the greatest thing to expect is the pain releif that u will

appreciate as soon as you get mobile after the op yes you will have

discomfort which you can expect after any major surgery but no pain

The likes of what you have been suffering

I had not had an operation for 50 years and I was very nervous but with

the spinal you feel nothing I was awake the whole time chatting and

listening to Rod Stewart and back in the ward and a few hours later

having tea and a sandwich i could of got sedated but thought i will try it

and i was assured if i wanted sedated at any time they would do that

yes you will be scared to walk at first as you do not know what to expect but after the first few steps with the phisio it's the start of your journey

and every time you put a foot down you feel great and you will be so glad you had it done.

we are all different and heal at our own rate just take it easy and don't be a martyr and take and ask for painkillers till u get going and go at your

own pace it is not a competition to see who does the best

I am nearly 6 weeks post op and walking with one stick

I see the surgeon Next week and hopefully get the ted socks off and back sleeping on my side and driving again as I was unable to drive the last 6 months because of the pain so I will be free again and not depending on

My husband and family to take me wherever I want to go

I am only taking a few paracetamol now and then compared to the vast

amount of painkillers I was taking so things get better quickly

I still have trouble sleeping but a lot of that is down to sleeping on my

back so hopefully I will start sleeping better when I can get on my side

Good luck to you and anyone else getting ready for the hip replacement

you will not regret it

Hi Karen!

A warm welcome to the forum! I am 40 years old and 4 weeks post THR.

Everyone has covered the operation and preparation really well already...things I wished I had known before I went!! And would know for next time...

You need to know whether you can tolerate opiates or not. After your operation in order to be pain free and comfortable they will pump you full of morphine etc. Which is great, but not if you are allergic. I would whole heartedly recommend you either test drive the ones they will give you, or stick to the ones you take currently. A few people have a severe reaction to them, and it does not make the recovery any faster

A (apologies to be so graphic!) stool softener bought in advance, to take as soon as you have the operation on day two. The pain relief clogs up the bowels, and believe me you will thank me for this on day 4-7. There are number of good ones, I tried one beginning with d and it solved all of my 'issues' that become apparent very quickly

A fresh nightie for every day of the week ~ can bring such comfort. Even if you have to buy two-three weeks worth.

As much support as you can get in the first two weeks, I hope you will have someone with you?

A selection of programmes and films, preferrably with some humour, to keep you entertained for the first ten days when you will be resting for most of the time. I found Ramsays Kitchen nightmares to be so hilarious I even forgot I had the operation! You will not feel like watching anything heavy, scary or stressful....so light and funny is good.

A phone charger for the hospital, wet wipes, a she pi bottle ( I don't know how it is spelt ~ but a women's urinal will mean you will not have to use the ghastly bed pans which are tricky to balance on with a hip replacement) It needs a little practice, which should be done lying down and placing at a slant on one side. Do not practice sitting up as I did, as immediately after the operation you will be lying down! 

Soft bed socks your feet are so cold when resting night and day

A frame for the loo if you do not have anything to hold onto, a grabber at least one, and crutches if you are going to a private hospital. All can be ordered from the nations favouite website...

Delete all commitments for three weeks, and ask visitors to call first. I did not want to see anyone for weeks on end and felt so tired when they did drop in. You need all of your strength and energy for your recovery. If they do come, 20 mins should be the aim. Any more and you will need to be in your bed.

Remember you are not ill, you are simply having a repair. I found this thought very comforting. 

The hip replacement, for me was nowhere near as bad as I feared. The pain was nothing like as bad as I feared. It was all fine, and if I had followed the above from day one I would have been bounding out of there thinking there was nothing to it!!! I hope you will, certainly the relief when it is all over, and the pain is gone, there is nothing like it. Pure elation when you realise that terrible pain HAS actually gone! 

Good luck with the operation, come back to us with any questions you have closer to the time.