Whoever I speak to says ...

I know exactly what you mean!  I've had the same experience over the last six weeks since my revision of THR.  That was the reason I logged onto this forum in the first place.  The advice I had here, and have taken to heart, is don't listen to anyone else, listen to your own body and go at your own pace. Everyone is different and everyone heals at a different rate.  I know that I've got more pain this time than I had with my original THR, which is frustrating but I have to just go with it and keep taking the painkillers.

I'm sure many people sail through without any problems at all - I heard of a woman who was climbing mountains 4 weeks after her THR  - well good for her but not everyone can do that!!! 

I feel glad for those people who haven't had any problems but don't let us forget there are many more who do have problems.

I heard exactly the same before I agreed to have the op. That had swayed me to go for a replacement. I suppose like all other surgery they carry risks. When it doesn't turnout like most it can be devastating coping with the difficulties and pain. I only found out what was wrong with me by looking up my symptoms after having a replacement. Though my surgeon has tried to help we don't seem to have emotional support. Thanks to this site I don't feel so alone.

Thank you.b/c i was told the same thing. What's the matter with you? Other people I know did just fine.

That caused Me frustration. No one seamed to understand what I was going through.

Finally I found this site.The people have been so supportive. I'm thankful for them.

It's the usual thing that when people ask after someone they like to hear that everything is fine and dandy. If we tell the truth then usually they will avoid asking next time. It's human nature. And it's very hard to explain the nuances of hip replacements to the uninitiated. How to explain that, well yes it's better in some ways but it's not quite the same as your own hips. That you have pain but it's a different pain and that unfortunately some people are worse off than they were before. It's an urban myth that people are good as new a couple of weeks after the op. Maybe we have to choose who we tell the truth to. I am used to a life of deceit as my husband is severely mentally disabled due to a stroke. He walks ok and rides a bike and is good at bluffing. People think that there is nothing much wrong with him. But I accept that people in general really don't want to know. So I say, yes he's fine. Same with hip replacements. Best to say it's fine unless the person is genuinely interested or it's important that someone knows.

It upsets me to read on this website about all those with complications following THR. I think you should should and carry on and insist you get an appropriate assessment of what is going on in your particular case. I trained for my surgery by getting into the pool 3-5 times a week and then pulled myself around in a transport chair to build up my glutes (since I was unable to walk more than a few feet). 

I hope you have had the opportunity to get good PT, have access to a pool (for me a godsend before and after surgery), and that you have had an appropriate assessment of your surgical outcome: Prosthetic properly sized and situated, legs the same length or shoe insert to compensate the difference.

THR has been around long enough that there should not be so many problems! For it not to be successful in this day and time seems surprising and maybe inexcusable? Bless you, Jayive. I hope you keep shouting and get to the appropriate professional to evaluate your situation who will put a proper plan of care in place for you. 

I honestly think if there not having to go through what your going through they will never understand the pain.. A hip replacement might work for some but not all.. I am in the same position I can not stand or sit for long walk a distance or up stairs I get woken up because the pain is so bad.. I felt like I was going crazy because they told me the exact same thing the doctor would tell me its rare a person has had problems recovering I was in his office a month after there surgery he said it was a mind thing that the nerves are sending a pain signal to the brain but your not really in pain I was in his office every month that year the surgery was in the beginning of 2011 its now 3 going on 4 years later and I'm still dealing with this pain I have been seeing different doctors but as soon as they speak to the doctor that did my surgery they shut the door and just says there is nothing wrong I recently got help from a hip specialist because my blood work showed my sed rate and c creative protein was extremely high so now they are looking into it running different test because the MRIs Bone Scans & X rays show everything is fine.. I went to get my lab work from the past it showed that my sec rate and c reactive started rising after the surgery and the surgeon told us nothing so I talked to his nurse yesterday and all he could tell us was that "the doctor can not pin point everything" I think that is wrong this is my health were dealing with if something is abnormal I deserve to know but it took me to see plenty of orthopedics before they referred me to a specialist and that surgeon said its not in your head there is something wrong and it cold be that the doctor that did the surgery put the hip in wrong or there can be an infection it could be both but he has to run more test he has given me hope something I lost I stopped trusting these doctors because I've been let down multiple times.. I do not think they hear us it should be wrong letting people suffer with horrible pain It seem like they do not take us serious as if were wasting their time why would we waste their time its our time as well getting wasted so that makes no sense I am truly sorry you are dealing with this it brow my heart seeing how many people there are dealing with the same problem I am having

I quite agree. Before I had my THR anyone I ever heard about had been "as good as new in no time" ~ no mention by anyone of how long it takes probably the majority of those who've had THR to properly recover.  My frustration is that it appears that the majority of the public also think that it's no big deal. Consequently people are continually saying to me that I must be back to full form & capability by now (3 months post op). Many seem to think I'm a hypochondriac & malingerer if I say any different: consequently I now lie & say "Oh, yes; all tickety-boo"...  It would ceretainly be helpful if the general public had a more realistic understanding of the reality of THR.

Hi Jayive,

I totaly agree with you, That person havent had a replacement so why would you listen to them, I heard the same thing. my reply was everyone is different, everyone recover a different time. don't listen to them,  you'll know when your body is ready, you are the only one that's knows how much you can and cannot do, dont rush yourself.

A work college of mines came to work shouting her mouth off saying her church sister age 90 had a replacement 3 months ago, she can go shopping, go up and down stairs and she,s running about. I said that's good for her at her age to do all that, but she don't work tho :-) I told her until she had exprence the THR then stop shouthing her mouth off. :-)

I had my THR 6 months now am back to work but taking it easy, my job is standing for hours at a time, but i can sit down when i wants to apart from Lunch time and Tea breaks, my HR Department is very good. they go's by my Doctors report so take no notice of anyone when they say that. You just do what's best for you Jayive take no notice of some people. :-)

Hi,  I find that people cannot relate to our pain as it is not a visible one.  It is very hard for people to understand, I am lucky because my family are very supportive.  I have been shouting about my problems for the last three/four years now.  All the consultants (hip side) say is everything looks fine and move you to another department (ie spinal consultants/pain clinic).  Its called passing the buck!  My consultant at the Pain clinic has told me that chronic pain is very hard to diagnose and many people just have to live with it and was told 'learn how to manage your pain', easy for him to say!  He also said you may have to try numerous medications until you find the one that makes a difference to you.  There are so many grey areas with chronic pain its unbelievable.  I am so glad I found this site as without it I would be pulling my hair out.  Good luck to everyone who is suffering with pain after THR.

Jayive, I've been following you and Hope, Eileen, etc. for awhile and truly feel for your pain..  We all go into this surgery hoping for the best but sometimes it is like the lottery you never know the outcome.

I was one of the lucky ones, and with that said I've still had people make comments that are beyond rude....I usually just tell them to get back to me once "they have had their surgery" or "just them a f....you smile" and say "thanks for that advice"!!!!

It doesn't seem to matter whether you are in the U.K., USA or Canada, the doctors seems to have the last word and never want to admit to anything but chalk it up to some mystery of surgery?????

It is also easy to get a second opinion but at least in Canada, that could take up to l year and another 4/6 months to get tests done again, and then get your follow up appointment with new doctor --- only to have to wait for surgery another year....I know we have a great medical system in Canada but it is NOT without its flaws.....

I'm glad you have fond this forum as you are not alone and have many people here who will listen and support and give you encouragement.....

all the best,

Patricia