Manual labor

Hi Randy I can understand and I was put on disability before I had any surgeries. I was an ambulatory medical driver and I also did wheelchairs a lot. I was told it would be hard to squat onto the floor to lock chairs down. I want these hips to last long as possible. I am praying every thing works out for you.

Hey Randy, I am a painting contractor/handyman. I had both of my hips replaced 22 months ago. Before the operation things were pretty bad. I could only work for 4 or 5 hours before I was done for the day. The surgery went well for me and I can now work a full day, and do most everything I could do when my hips were in good shape. Things aren't perfect, but they are much better than with arthritic hips. I'm more careful with what I do now because I want the hips to last as long as possible. And I'm not as flexible as I used to be, so I've learned to adapt and do things differently when necessary. I've always been fairly active although I wouldn't call myself athletic. If the pain is bad I think you will appreciate a new hip. You'll probably be able to adapt to any possible limitations with your new hip. Just takes time and a strong will to get better. I wish you all the luck!

Jim

I will be happy when things are better because now I still hurt to move. I still rely on others to do some things for as I have a weight bearing issue with new hip. He does not want me to put no more than 100 pounds on it. I still feel like my right leg is shorter than the left. It has only been 3 days since the surgery. Thanks trying to get passed this pain.

Any surgery is bad news if you have a heavy job. As a computer engineer I used to have to remove floor panels and scramble about under false floors. I changed job in order to lessen the OA pain before my THR,.

Even with my new desk job, commuting in and out of London was a struggle for me, and they started me on 2 days/week max of 4 hours per day, gradually increasing over 4-6 weeks.

I was in flooring business 40 yrs before bilateral thr    not anymore just couldn't do it,,,,my advise is to get  a second opinion  from a doctor in another practice,,,,,you will definetly be limited on movements and weight bearing  and we both know its heavy work,,,,,sell your kicker,,,relax and enjoy life...….  def get a hip with plastic insert   NOT METAL ON METAL....I am currantly a candidate for revision    metal in blood   make sure that you cant function without thr because you will never be the same after thr …. you will be limited   6 yrs post and its been hell on wheels  since day one,,,,Good luck Randy

Dear Randy

If I'm not mistaken I think we have had this conversation with you on this forum at great length some months ago, could have been last year.

Many people joined in the conversation to support you then. I even offered to talk on the phone as I was in the same line of business and had enjoyed twenty years of tough building work, roofing work, flooring work etc on a total hip replacement and thought that my experience could put your mind at rest........ But you did not make contact! Oh well just saying!

Cheers Richard

Randy,

I am a registered nurse which requires me being on my feet all day and the ability to climb under beds and wrestle with patients.  I think that you will have to give yourself a bit more time off to feel like you will be able to do the job functions required for your job.  You will know when you are capable.  Discuss this with your doctor in advance and make sure that he/she is someone who is willing to extend your disability for more than 3 months.  I know I wasn't ready to go back at 3 months.  

My husband is a roofing contractor and has an employee with hip replacement that does just fine.  

As for sports.  I used to ski.  I am a little concerned about falling on this hip.  I think you can play hard as long as its not a high impact sport on your hip.  I'm not a physician and I have not researched what the fracture rates are relating to high impact sports but that just seems to make sense not to do them.  jogging/running/biking/golf/swimming etc should all not be a problem.