THR at 33, anxious with a list of post-op questions. Help!
Posted , 13 users are following.
Hi everyone! I'm new to the group and am reaching out for help and answers. I'm a 33 year old female who has had hip pain since my teen's. I've started asking doctors in my early 20's why I have these issues. Every response was that I was too overweight and need to loose weight. I eventually gave up and continued on with life dealing with the pain and limitations. When I turned 30 I noticed that the pain and discomfort was getting worse a lot more progressive and the limitations became a lot more extensive. I changed my diet and lost 100lbs in two years which did not change the way I felt at all. Then, at 33, I finally found a physician that actually cared and referred me to specialists to help me find the answers that I was looking for. Well, the answer was that I had severe Osteoarthritis in both hip joints and that I need a THR of both joints. I did not want to believe it at first but after going to another specialist to get a second opinion and getting the same answers while actually seeing my images and having them explained to me by the doctor it finally sank in that at 33 I am going to have to have both of my hips replaced. Of course I made the mistake of watching a youtube video of the procedure and working in the medical field it did not bother me as much as I thought it would.
Now my concerns and questions are as follows:
1.) What kind of post-op recovery can I expect? This is what scares me the most. I am a very independent person and I hate being immobile and needing care for an extended period of time.
2.) What kind of post-op complications (and with what type of implant) have you encountered since surgery? Is there really a big difference in the type of implant used?
3.) Having gone through the surgery and recovery, knowing and experiencing what you have, would you have done it in the first place? Is there really an improvement in life activities?
Thanks for any and all advice that you may have for me. My anxiety about this whole ordeal is keeping me from making any kind of decision what so ever. All I know is that I don't want to live like this anymore.
1 like, 22 replies
chuck24117 singram284
Posted
I am 40 and pretty physical guy. My job is outside landscaping and running heavy equipment and being in the dirt digging. I started having terrible knee pain around 30 years old, leg buckling with knee pain and groin pain. It was only 2 years ago I found it to be my hip. I am starting my 6 week post op. After surgery, I was shocked how all that pain went away, and I just had very mild incision pain and weakness of leg from surgery. I definitely would do it again even though I am still not totally recovered. A lot of people on here are recovering home alone and have some local family and friend to help. If you can try to make your living conditions a single floor (no steps) if possible, Anything you need in life, try to get it up high, waist high or above. You will have the dr's (hip precautions) for 6 weeks, no matter how good you feel, you still should not bend past 90 at the waist, twist at the hips, or let your leg cross the center line of your body inward. My biggest post op complication was that I came home and overdid it on about day 8, that caused some internal bleeding and major swelling of my leg. That set me back about 2-3 weeks in recovery time. When you come home, that first week just plan on laying low in bed watching movies on your back with leg elevated. This was my mistake, coming home and gong for car rides and walking a bunch that first week. I didn't watch the y tube video, or even knew what kind of implant I got. I think its the new striker one??? mine has the dome that is screwed into place and the post in your leg bone. My pain before surgery , was a constant torn groin feeling, knee pain that caused leg to buckle while working in the field, throbbing in my calf muscle, and low back pain. When I woke up from surgery that was all gone!
Good Luck in your decisions!
Chuck
singram284 chuck24117
Posted
Thank you so much for your insight on your post op journey. I've had a lot of discussions with my aunt about this and she's ready to move in with me until I don't need her anymore, lol. I'm glad you're feeling a lot better since having the surgery and I wish you nothing but continued success along the way. Thanks for the advice and I'll definitely keep it in mind! =)
Moose0914 singram284
Posted
My advice is to make sure you do your PT each and every day, even on your own without a therapist. I was up at 3am and made a little walking path that I would follow, kinda like a course. It did wonders !!!
Hope it helps!!
singram284 Moose0914
Posted
Thanks Moose for your story!! Glad to hear everything went well for you! Not sure which approach my doctor wants to take or what type of implant but I know he won't do both at the same time, lol. I wish he could because I'd rather get it all done at once, but hearing about your positive outcome definitely helps ease some of the anxieties! =)
chuck24117 singram284
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singram284 chuck24117
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Lol, it's ok. I don't even know which approach my doctor wants to take so that's another thing to put on my list of questions for him!
chuck24117 singram284
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My surgeon was an older one, that basically said, this is the oldest most proven safest surgery (posterior) and I would have to find a younger out of school surgeon to do anterior.
singram284 chuck24117
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Moose0914 chuck24117
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Moose0914 singram284
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singram284 Moose0914
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staceymaz singram284
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Dsilk05 Moose0914
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Dsilk05 singram284
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Hi,
I had my first THR last Nov. I too was scared because I knew this kind of surgery is very traumatic to the body. But I had to do it as I was I too much pain.
I spent 1 nite in the hospital. I'm pretty pain tolerant so I really had no pain afterwards. I was surprised on how I easily I recovered. I was off my walker in 2 weeks and putting weight on my leg as much I could tolerate and it was pretty good. The only problem I have had is the startup pain or discomfort. After sitting for a while I have a tight feeling where my leg meets my torso and I feel tightness in my thigh. But then I don't do the stretching I should be doing. You will be ok. From what I've heard how your leg is moved around during surgery and the muscles are moved so they can do the replacement I cannot believe I have no complaints. I had the anterior surgery. Do you know which you are having? It's quicker recovery with anterior.
Best of luck....you will do good. I'm ready for my next one in Nov if things in life alllow it.
auntiebeanie singram284
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