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Sex after a Hip Replacement

Posted , 12 users are following.

gary45745
gary45745

i am three weeks post THR and wondering at what stage it is safe to have sex again. 

At at the moment in bed I am sleeping on my back. I can't really lie on operated side as the wound is sore and lying on non operated side is discouraged as it pulls tendons. As such I haven't lay on my stomach at all yet. 

I am 42 and do have a high sex drive so the past three weeks have been very difficult. Sex is often a bit of a taboo subject but my view is it is very much a natural part of life and the lack of guidance from professionals is unhelpful. 

I have groin pain still when I exercise and have been told no flexion.  I am at home walking with no crutches although it is painful to do and I can't without limping. Longer walks I am using two crutches although this seems a bit self defeating as I am trying to avoid not putting weight on operated leg as I don't want the muscles to be underused and then walking on crutches putting weight through operated leg brings similar pain as with no crutches albeit not as quickly. 

My fear about sex is dislocation or doing any damage. I am male so obviously that makes is different than for ladies in terms of effect on muscles and the new hip I would imagine. 

I asked my physio and she point blank avoided the question and went a bit flustered which I found unhelpful really. 

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. 

0 likes, 29 replies

29 Replies

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  • sandra67350
    sandra67350 gary45745

    Posted

    Hi Gary

    Grahams link is good information. You could also Google sex after THR as there are a few sites that give possible positions. Agree with Graham on the waiting til six weeks as I was told by surgeon. I have found it ok with no problems but as you say...different for us ladies.

    As for the crutches !!!! I understand your concern on not using the muscles but..... If you walk unaided before your body can do it properly with no limp and have a correct walking gait you will only cause yourself further problems. When we walk, normally, our various muscles around our hip wor in conjunction with the hip. Until these muscles are fully repaired our hip takes the brunt of everything alone. You will end up walking correctly without limp a lot sooner if you follow this advice and protect your new hip.

    Sandra

  • jackieL
    jackieL gary45745

    Posted

    At 42 you probably have an uncemented hip replacement.

    Therefore you cannot weight bear for 6 weeks regardless of how you feel. Use 2 crutches, although I use 1 occasionally in the house, but hydrotherapy helps recovery no end.

    Your surgeon at 6 wks will tell you where to go from there.

    • steve86482
      steve86482 jackieL

      Posted

      Can’t weight bear for 6 weeks with uncenentedstem?  Who ever told you that?? That may apply to a small % but most can weight bear 100% the same day as surgery. As far as the sex question, at least 6 weeks if that is not doable then just be the best you ever had 
    • peggy15811
      peggy15811 jackieL

      Posted

      I also had uncemented and was told I could bear weight immediately using a walker for proper balance and to walk properly. I was told to use the walker for 2 weeks but in retrospect I should have used it for 3 to 4 weeks because I was not ready to go to a cane. I put undue stress on my new hip and got an IT Band injury. I would not wish that on anyone and it set me back for several weeks. I am thankfully moving forward again but it is slow. I hope to one day look back at this and think “no big deal”  My surgeon reminds me it takes a year or longer to fully recover and we all may have strange pains and difficulties until then.....so I am trying hard to be patient.
  • carol_ann68169
    carol_ann68169 gary45745

    Posted

    I think the six week rule covers driving and sex 😂 I won’t drive until I am confident I can use my brake foot without pain.. if something hurts too much don’t do it as you could risk more damage and more time without sex.  Build up and strengthen your muscles ( remember the pelvic floor exercise I mentioned) the stronger the muscles are the safer the new hip joint will be

    Patience Gary x

    • gary45745
      gary45745 carol_ann68169

      Posted

      I'm doing the pelvic exercises you mentioned. Patience is what I'm struggling with, but it is hard isn't it! 

      How are you getting on at the moment overall? Xx

    • carol_ann68169
      carol_ann68169 gary45745

      Posted

      Good thanks, I am lucky, so far, that I haven’t had any of the complications some of the people have discussed on here. 

      I can feel my muscles getting stronger and the pain lessening around my hip joint every day.

      The reason I say be patient is because I had both knees replaced 7 years ago, 6 months apart. The first one was fine as I did everything I was supposed to, careful physio, a gradual build up of walking without aid etc. The 2nd I wasn’t so disciplined and the negative results speak for themselves. It’s not terrible but. as the operation is so horrible, I should have worked hard and smart to reap the benefits and I didn’t

       I was determined to do everything right with my hip, I don’t want to have to go back into hospital for a long time so, my thinking is, take some time out now from everything (sex and drugs and rock and roll 😂wink and after six weeks or so I will be better stronger and fitter than I have been in years!

      I am using the time to get better, rest, read, watch movies, Netflix (but no chill) and to do any work I can on my laptop ( I am a photographer so editing is all I can do really)

      How are you doing? Are you finding the ‘doing not much’ difficult? I bet you get very frustrated x

    • gary45745
      gary45745 carol_ann68169

      Posted

      Hiya

      yes, being stuck in the house and not being able to do sport and go to gym and enjoy regular sex is really getting to me now. 

      Inthink its compounded by the fact when im at rest I'm in no pain at all. To the extent I even forget I have a new hip. 

      I am also paranoid about doing doing anything wrong so add it all together and it's really frustrating. I know it sounds a bit spoilt really and I I am reluctant to moan too much but as you ask I have to be truthful, it's really frustrating. Only positive is at least I'm off work! Xx

    • carol_ann68169
      carol_ann68169 gary45745

      Posted

      I don’t think it sounds spoilt at all 

      We are all having to learn new things that, if we get them wrong, could cause more damage and set us back even further. It’s not a bad thing to be cautious but  follow your own instincts too. Being fit before the operation means that you have a really good chance at a faster recovery. Patience is easily advised but hard to find, especially as you are used to an active life. Why don’t you set yourself a task or two? Research a really good holiday destination, go on duo lingo and learn Italian, do something that you have always wanted to do/watch/read/find out about.

      Break your day up into time slots where each is filled with something that does you good or makes you feel good

      The time will pass quickly, before you know it you will be back at work/gym/ football etc and be feeling painfree and back in control x

    • gary45745
      gary45745 carol_ann68169

      Posted

      Hey carol

      well I was supposed to be in Texas now on holiday but had to miss it so desperate to go on a good holiday in march time so that's something to do. 

      What is is your daily routine like? Do you differentiate between weekdays and weekends for instance? Xx

  • peggy15811
    peggy15811 gary45745

    Posted

    6 weeks before sex, if you are able without pain and you must be careful of the position. Others can give you much more info on that but I wanted to comment on you walking with a limp without crutches. The limp is telling you your hip and gluteus Maximus have not healed and strengthened enough to walk without an aid. I know you are young and anxious but it can set your recovery back. I know, I did so and got an IT Band inflammation, which meant intense pain upon standing, 3 weeks of not walking at all, a steroid shot, KT tape on the outer hip and starting over. It has been 5 weeks since my injury and I still have tenderness in that area, although I am now walking with a cane. When you are able to walk without a limp, you are ready to lose the walking aids. That is your first hurdle. Believe me if you hurt your IT band you will not feel like sex!  The hip recovers relatively quickly but it does take it’s time for the first 3 to 5 months. You are young and should be one of the quicker recoveries, but still you need to follow the rules such as walking without a limp before losing your walking aids. You have to listen to your body,if it hurts to do something you don’t do it. Hip replacement surgery recovery does not go by the no pain,no gain rule. If something is uncomfortable, you can push forward slightly to strengthen, but if it hurts, you don’t do it, you give it more time to heal and then try again.It often feels like one step forward and 2 steps back, but you will get there!
    • gary45745
      gary45745 peggy15811

      Posted

      thanks peggy, I think I'll go back to two crutches even in the house. I was using them outside but I found them a pain in the house but that was me being lazy. 

      When i first walk I fell ok but as I do more pain comes on in outer hip so I'll take that as a sign I'm not ready. Thanks for the heads up. Xx

  • auntiebeanie
    auntiebeanie gary45745

    Posted

    Gary, I would still use one crutch around the house until you don't limp, as others have said you must stand straight before you use your crutches and whilst using them. I was terrified of dislocation, at 6 weeks, I could not even contemplate having sex, I still had pain from op, although my groin and thigh pain had gone. I waited 12 weeks till all restrictions lifted and then took it slow. This op taught me patience, and that I am not superwoman, listen to your body, its a major op.

    • gary45745
      gary45745 auntiebeanie

      Posted

      hi 

      im using two now so I'm well balanced rather than leaning on good side which I get tempted to do. Xx

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