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Left Hip Replacement is it worse than right?

Posted , 25 users are following.

m0rningangel1
m0rningangel1

On the 22nd of November I will have a total hip replacement on my left hip. This morning a friend of mine told me that I am probably wasting my time I would be using a walker for the rest of my life that a left hip replacement  never does right. Has anyone heard this. I am really upset about it all..sad

1 like, 82 replies

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  • Loral
    Loral m0rningangel1

    Posted

    I havd a LTHR in May 2015 and I'm fine, no walker, no cane, no problem.....You'll be fine..

    • m0rningangel1
      m0rningangel1 Loral

      Posted

      I am ready to do this. Right now my insurance is paying 100 percent so I am fixing this and I am going to do this!!  I am really not afraid but nervous  for sure...22nd is coming up fast
    • Loral
      Loral m0rningangel1

      Posted

      I'm in Michigan..good luck to you, you'll really have a thankful Thanksgiving! smile 

    • m0rningangel1
      m0rningangel1 HipsterLHS

      Posted

      I know and believe me I am taking advantage of that fact. Right after this surgery on the 19th of December I am having a big eye surgery in Dallas and it is paying 100 percent. That is around 55k for both surgeries...They are raising my rates till I can't afford them in January so I have to do this now.

    • m0rningangel1
      m0rningangel1 Loral

      Posted

      Thanks and I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!  I don't mind skipping it this year since I will be in the hospital..worth it to be able to walk normally again next year. biggrin

  • sandra01353
    sandra01353 m0rningangel1

    Posted

    Absolute rubbish..... My first hip replacement was 15 years ago and when I woke up from surgery the pain in my groin which I had siffered with for years, was gone!  This operation is a great success.  You will only need crutches or walking Stick for a short while.  From 6 weeks to about 3 months.  I would recommend it to anyine.  GO FOR IT 

     

    • m0rningangel1
      m0rningangel1 sandra01353

      Posted

      Thank you for answering I am truly not totally afraid but nervous. This morning I got an email from a very close friend and it has me totally upset.This is what she wrote...

      Which hip is being replaced -- the right or left?  I thought it was your right and the condition of your hip was the reason you couldn't stand straight or walk right.  Sorry, we've gotten really out of touch with each other's lives.  But if the arthritis in your left leg is causing all this trouble then you'll never walk without the walker again and likely won't be able to get a regular job.

       The reason I am having it is to get rid of the walker and be able to work again and get on with my life. The pain I can almost tolerate..hurts all the time but I am somewhat used to it.

       I am only 63 I am not ready to spend the rest of my life using a walker...and I have to work 2 more years or starve to death in my house...this is all so crazy

    • patricia72715
      patricia72715 m0rningangel1

      Posted

      What a sad person your friend must be to send you such a message.  If you have read any of the posts on this site you will know that everything she said to you truly is pure rubbish.  At a minimum everyone is different so she has not idea how your progress will be.  This is a very common surgery these days.  The results have been excellent.  THe first time you stand up after your surgery there will be no pain.  The first week will be a little rough then you will see improvement every day.  We all seem to have good and bad days but you will be walking without any assistance in just a few weeks.  Just take everything a day at a time.  And keep in touch.  Best wishes.
    • m0rningangel1
      m0rningangel1 patricia72715

      Posted

      Patricia I have been reading and answering notes for about an hour now. I am much more encouraged now and feel really good about having this done. I am going to avoid emails with my friend for a while till this is over and maybe forever. I really can't deal with this sort of negative attitude right now. 

      On Dec 19th I have another surgery to go through on my left eye. Right eye was about two months ago. I had a donor implant done and will do the same on my left eye. I made it through that I can do the hip surgery!!!

      Thank you again so much for your note!

       

  • kaye26746
    kaye26746 m0rningangel1

    Posted

    I had my total LHR on 28th July. I've walked without sticks from about week 4, never needed a walker. My bone pain went as soon as the spinal anaesthetic went in and I was only in hospital for one night. The first few weeks were uncomfortable but the benefits are great. I am so pleased I have had it done. Life changing!

    • m0rningangel1
      m0rningangel1 kaye26746

      Posted

      Today I go to Harker Heights Texas which is about 40 miles from me. That is where my surgeon is. I have done all the preop stuff with the exception of the blood work and that is today. I am so tired of limping around and my life feels like it is just over right now. I just want to be me again and do all the things I like doing. 

      I am hoping as soon as I can in the hospital I am going to get up and try to walk. I will take myself to the bathroom. I need to be mobile enough when I go home to manage to get to the bathroom and to the back door to let the bratty dogs in and out. Food I have cooked quite a bit ahead of time so just need to be able to get to the fridge and micro wave. My grand daughter is staying with me for three days to help then hopefully I can do this by myself with people checking in several times a day. 

      He is keeping me from the 22nd to the 25th. 25th is my birthday so good birthday present!

      Top everything off on the 19th of December I am having glaucoma/cataract surgery in Dallas Texas. This is a lot but with the insurance situation the way it is right now they are paying 100 percent on everything so I need to do this now.

    • steve86482
      steve86482 m0rningangel1

      Posted

      66 year old male. Left THR 1 year old. Used a cane first 3 weeks. Feel great. Just got back from walking 8-10 miles a day in Corsicana, TX ON A 5 day Hog Hunt. Best of luck
    • m0rningangel1
      m0rningangel1 steve86482

      Posted

      oh wow....awesome...I am in Waco ...I hope you had a great hunt. This all sounds so positive. By April I am hoping to be back to work and swimming again. I miss both!
  • HipsterLHS
    HipsterLHS m0rningangel1

    Posted

    Hi morningangel1,

    I had my left hip replacement done 7 weeks ago.    I was in so much pain and could barely walk before surgery.    I have 0 pain now!!!     I put off surgery for 2-3 years terrified and afraid.  I have a young son and I was not able to be active with him and would stay home instead of run around with him .  I was miserable all the time.    I am beyond happy i did the surgery.  I feel great.   I still limp a little - but my leg is getting stronger.   I can sleep and move without pain - its such a releif.  If you are miserable and in pain do the surgery but you need to do what is best for you.

    HipsterLHS

     

    • m0rningangel1
      m0rningangel1 HipsterLHS

      Posted

      Thank you so much for the information. I am so ready now to go forward with this. Totally freaked me out when she wrote that this morning. She has never written anything to me like this before and she is a really well educated woman. I was really shocked...I have to put this aside what she said and truly ignore it and move on. Several have answered and have gone through it already so proof is in experiences!
    • erin1956
      erin1956 m0rningangel1

      Posted

      Hello:

      I don't know what she based her comments to you on but hip replacments have been around for 40+ years. Lots of experience. Does she have experience with hip replacements? I'm getting my left THR on Monday and can't wait to have it done! I'm tired of limping and scuffling around.I am a active person and this has been a drag. I am having the anterior approach which is the least invasive (no cut muscles). This should provide a faster recovery timeline.

      Knowledge is power. There is a ton of research information online. All of it says that this is the right thing to do. Inform yourself.

      Positive mental attitude/outlook and listen carefully and work proactively with your PT. As stated in other comments, it will be life changing.

      As an aside I had my shoulder resurfaced 2 years ago. It was a life changing event as well. Have confidence in your orthopedic surgeon. OA attacks all of the joints and is a genetic/family condition and/or derived and acclerated by a traumatic event. In time, decisions must be made regardng the diseased joints. It doesn't get better.Thankfully modern medical tech has answers. You don't have to suffer or (worse) be on a regimen of pain killers that have much worse outcomes to control the pain.

      I'll be posting more online when I get home from the outpatient (!) procedure on Monday.

      Be assured you are doing the right thing!

    • erin1956
      erin1956 HipsterLHS

      Posted

      Hey Hipster:

      Great news! Yes, putting off the one thing that will change your life it indeed is ironic, isn't it?

    • m0rningangel1
      m0rningangel1 erin1956

      Posted

      Thank you so much for your note and advice!!!  I am ready to do this and my mental attitude is much better because of all the great responses on here. I was good till she wrote that note to me this morning.

      Today is more pre surgery stuff for me. Did the dental check up, heart, physical...all I need now is my blood work and my chest xray and I will be good to go!

      I sort of wish mine was like on an outpatient but I will be in the hospital from the 22nd till the 25th. I will be thinking about you on Monday...take care!!!!wink

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