Hello!
I am happy to find this forum and connect with others going through the same things. I had an anterior approach hip replacement 2.5 weeks ago after a failed labral repair surgery last summer. Are there others out there that are a similar age? Also I have been having pain and weakness in my knee at the end of the day or if I try to walk with one crutch.... I'd love to hear recovery stories!
Thanks!
Collette
Good morning Collette and welcome to this hippie festival 😊
I am a 43 year old from the Netherlands, who's had his first hip done on May 15th, will have the second done on August 27th and am now living the life in wonderful Bali for the holidays.
As for the knee, that is a familiar one. I have found that it acts up more though when I try to walk at my 'old' pace. And having to have the other one done still as well, I just can't so I overcompensate and hurt my knee(s) because of that.
So now I just slow down some and take my time more. Can be annoying at times, when you miss buses, trains and so on, but hey 😉
Agai, welcome to this lovely forum. There are quite a few 'youngsters' you'll find 😊
Hi Collette I am 54 and in good shape, I had the right one done on 16may I am left sided, getting the left side replaced on 23rd July all going well, am going sick from work on Weds, I did make a very fast recovery but did all the excersise in bed and walked about every day for a little, not too much and I ate a high protine diet of mainly meat and fish, yes t was a little pricey, but tastey, put on a few pounds with all the salmon and no real excersise but feeling much better, will loose the weight in Hospital this time for sure, and I do she it fasr if I dont eat right for three days I dissapear... I am 100KGs + - and I was very fir at Karate in my 30s+ Gym in my 40s, then at 50 I was fine now at 52,,,I got injured training and hnow have this Hip replacement to deal with, I am getting over it watch my space here and ask questions message me if you have any issues with your recovery as I have been through it once already, now again...Keep in touch Ian.
Thanks for your reply! I can't tell you how many times I have heard, "you're too young for a hip replacement!" It has started to wear on me and it helps to connect with others in a similar situation. Are you walking without crutches, etc...? If so, when were you able to do this? I was feeling great and starting to walk short distances unassisted and then the knee started hurting so I have backed off. Are you able to drive?
Hi Collette,
I am 46 years old and live in Western Australia. Welcome to the Forum. I am now 3.5 weeks post RTHR posterior approach. I did have pain in my knee for the first couple of weeks post surgery but I put it down to the fact that my hip has now been straightened and is now at the right height (mine had no cartlidge and was rotated). I think a lot of our muscles, especially in our legs and backs adjust to the hip being injured and have been overcompensating for so long it takes a while for them to get used to being in the correct position. I would definitely mention it to your physio though.
I believe the recovery from an anterior approach is a lot quicker than the posterior approach so I'm sure things will improve quickly. Just keep doing your exercises and remember to rest and DON'T OVERDO IT!
I'm still on one crutch and can walk without a limp on the crutch but take it away and I'm still a penguin. LOL
Kind regards
Gaylene
Thanks Ian for your reply. I am glad all has gone well for you with the first hip! Are you feeling at all back to normal at this point? When were you able to walk without crutches?
Hi Collette,
I am 45 and live in Australia.i am coming up on 3 weeks post RTHR anterior for OA. up until last year I did triathlon. Since October I've had to stop running and have been advised tot to return to it (not sure how this will go!!). Will still swim and cycle.
i am walking with a stick sometimes, I went out today shopping without it and it was hard. I have been doing walks along the beach on flat footpaths with my stick.
i am seeing the surgeon tomorrow so hope to be cleared to cycle and swim. It feels so tight and I think it might help to move differently. I'm also in need of losing about 5 kg gained from not being able to exercise properly and eating lots of treats brought to me since my surgery!!
My knee has been the worst part. It played up before the surgery when I'd been doing a lot. It was the first thing I felt after the surgery and it was very swollen. I used a lot of ice in the first two weeks and this helped more than pain medication.
Good luck in your rehabilitation....remember there is no normal!!
💌🌈💌🌈
Good morning from the Netherland, Collette ..
Welcone to this wonderful forum where you find the most understanding, supporting and loving group of fellow hippies .
we come in all ages as you are already finding out and in different stages of recovery while some still are pre-op or trying to make a decision.
the responses are honest and of course, very personal ... the good and the not so good are shared here -
we all heal at a different rate - try not to compare your self with others or get discouraged ...
you still are in the very early stages of recovery - do you have Physical Therapy ?
maybe it is too soon to walk with one crutch ... are you doing better with 2? We all know the feeling of wanting to move on and then over do it ...
There is a THR surgery video on youtube - when you are up to it, you might want to watch it - not for the squeemish though - it was an eye opener for me - I did not realize how major a surgery this is - I understand what has been done and gained so much more respect for my body and how it needs and tries so hard to repair the damages done ....
knee pain and weakness in legs are part of the healing process ... we move and walk different - unbalanced, trying to correct our posture etc...
May I ask why you needed this surgery?
Take care and take it easy . be kind and gentle with your self and come back here any time you have a concers, question or just want to rant !!!
warm hug
renee
Hiya Collette
Yes! Yes!! I'm 44 and after suffering on and off for 13 years with pain was diagnosed with slipped disc and then severe OA in hip leading to LTHR and now I have trochanteric bursistis. I look at older, less healthy seeming people and I do think 'why me.' I also have people say 'you're too young'!!!!!!! ALL the time... Bit late for that now! Lol
You're very early on in recovery so I'm not surprised knee hurts with referred pain. I found hydrotherapy one of the best things in my recovery process.... Everything's so much easier in water! I'm 6 months post op.
take care
Juliet
(London)
Hi Collette, recovery takes time and you will feel other pain that may be associated with your hip. However, you had the anterior approach which means your recovery process is faster than the posterior operation.
I am 57 years old and had my posterior total hip replacement last year. The journey to recovery was intense. I followed the surgeons instructions to the letter. After the operation on the same day had physical therapy. After discharge had physical therapist come to my home for the first 5 weeks. On week 6 had my follow up and driving privileges. Had instructions for continued therapy and attended another location.
Today no longer doing physical therapy. On Friday had the one year post op followup and surgeon was surprised how well I'm doing with my new hip.
Xrays were taken to determine progress and saw the left hip it was good no need for operation. He told me I'm doing great and be careful on my activities and work.
I am fortunate that I'm doing well and pray that my new hip endure for many years to come.
hi my name is lyn i am from cromer norfolk, i had a rthr 10 weeks ago, you will find good advice here, also if you feel like have a rant we all listen because we have all been there, and we are the most friendlyist lot, so do ask questions if you have any xx
Yes I was only on crutches in the hospital, to keep the nurses happy, and I used them during the first few walks to the shops, you will need a backpack for your bits and pieces, I found two 2L cokes a bit much but I am sure it was the added weight of the backpack and medium weight of shopping that helped me recover quicker. Sort of Weight Training for Hippies.... Ian+++
Oh that one I have heard some 1000 times as well 😊
Even here in Bali I ran into someone from Australia that asked me what as ailing me (as I do have a crutch with me on longer walks). He was amazed as well.
I started being able to walk about without crutches after about a week around the house, but outside, I still bring along my crutch. Sometimes the right, sometimes the left, depending on the leg with the highest risk of bothering me. These days the left hip (the one still needing the operation) needs support most often.
My first trip in the car was about week three, officially not released for it, but quite able. Did do a few tests around the block after testing getting and out several times though.
Been driving since without issues really!
Hi Gaylene,
Thanks for your reply. Today was 3 weeks post op for me. It sounds like we are about at the same point with one crutch. Yesterday I started getting a weird twitching sensation below the knee cap. and it refers up my leg into pelvis. Feels like nerve pain? This is worsened whem doing sqauts, etc.. or trying to walk unassisted Frustrating!
Nice to hear from you,
Collette
Hi,
I am 44 yrs and I too had arthroscopy but 2 yrs ago which did very little and after trying steroid into joint had TRHR 12 weeks ago. I struggled being so reliant on people and not driving but did my exercises and walked as much as I could and now feel that my life is showing signs of normality. I can walk for a decent length of time now, can drive and best of all take my daughter and her pony competing, although being on feet at events is very tiring.
I do get tired and still wake at night but not as much. I can sleep on my good side with a pillow between legs, but still way to tender to sleep on operated side. I do stiffen up, especially when driving and body does tell me that I have been doing too much. Consultant did warn me to be very careful as soft tissue damage is more predesposed to those with joint replaced.
I will try riding myself next month, as I work as a mounted police officer, so keen to see if I will be more comfortable that I was before (not hard). Still questions over how wise it is to stay in post or be front line but will not make that decision yet.
Socks are still tricky to get on (daft and annoying) but hoping mobility will continue to improve.
Hoping to go skiing again this year - obviously not hard core although sure people will tell me otherwise.
As far as crutches go, I could not go without one until 6 weeks and got very fustrated when others seemed to do it quicker but I limped so advised not too - found it has not held me back long term.
Good luck with your recovery
Helen