44 - Hip replacement end of August

Bones, joints and muscles
1

Hi all - Just joined today!

I've been struggling for some years but knew what was wrong as I watched my mum go through it in her 50's. I finally bit the bullet and went for xrays earlier this year which showed a hip consisting of (according to my consultant) shredded wheat. So I have a TLHR booked for August 27th.

I want to prepare my 6 year old for what I'll be like afterwards - any tips? Also how long have people been off work for, I have a pretty light office job but they keep mentioning a week or two, I think they are in denial but would be pleased to be put right, I've asked them to refer me to Occ health as well

2

vikki, I hope the newer "anterior" method was proposed to you as an option to the old posterior way of replacing your hip. this will cut down on the "down time" to recoup and is much less evasive. If not, consult your doctor about this option.

3

hi vikki well all my operations ( 4 in all ) resulted in 3 months off work as instructed by the surgeon .going back to work too early could lead to problems you need ample time for hip joint to settle ,having a sitting down job will be ideal to prolong the life of your new joint.that was 3 months off for each op I meant.

4

I think I'm restricted as to what type I have as I have Psoriasis. I am having treatment for it up front of the Op but they may have to do the surgery in a certain way to avoid the patches, and I have to have a cemented joint so they can use antibiotics in the cement

5

Thanks Brian, I'm hoping for 6 weeks and trying to manage their expectations

6

Hi Vikki.....

First of all good luck! Even at six weeks, I think your employer is VERY hopeful! Remember we all recover at different rates, I'm currently 3 weeks post op & feel I'm doing ok, probably on par, but I can't see myself giving back to work (I drive coaches) until around the end Sept. When you leave hospital you will probably be told to take pain meds when needed, I wish I'd taken a note of the doses I was getting in hospital along with the times of day, simply because they kept a steady flow of pain killers in me, nice! When I saw my anesthetist I asked to be kept awake so just having a spinal was my plan, she said that's not a problem & she can do that, but she said "there's a lot going on in the theatre, with the noise etc & sometimes people get distressed & I've had to put them out!"........I think she means with the drilling & sawing etc, that can be distressing, so I said oh, ok knock me out Lol! The op for my TRHR was about an hour or so. I felt great when I woke up but guys tend to she told me, females tend to feel nauseous. I found it difficult to replicate the comfort I got in hospital, but am just getting used to sleeping on my back! Do your excersises Vikki & listen the physios..........best of luck!

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hi Martin - thanks for the pain relief tips and yes I think work are being very optamistic (unrealistic) with 1-2 weeks I'm sure my GP's note will put them right.

interesting on the GA - I am always violently sick afterwards so have asked for spinal but I will consdier sedation as well.

8

Hi new hippie to be! Loads of good advice and tips if you follow the various threads on this site. We've all been exchanging hints and tips and I've been so grateful to people on here for their advice. It's all here if you go looking. I had my THR 3 weeks ago today and am doing really well but I think 6 weeks is very optimistic for work. You will probably be fine but you don't want to hold yourself to a return date if you're not. This is a very big op, up there with hearts and hysterectomies, so don't push yourself too hard as it is exhausting doing anything much ,let alone thinking! Very best of luck for when you have yours done - best present you can give yourself.

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Hi vikki

i do not know about others but I find sitting to long not good, when I get up I can be stiff and end up limping till I have loosened up.

i was told my operation was more complicated and my hip very deeply inset, so you may be luckier but may be when you go back mention you may have to get up quite regularly and have a move around.

i have only just gone back at 6 months but as a nurse have a very active job.

all the best and the excercises are very important.

mary

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Hi Vikki.

The main thing you have going for you is your comparatively young age for THR.

Your recovery time should be much quicker than for folks in their 60's.

You will obviously need help for the first 6wks with the youngster.

Dont be put off by some of the bad outcomes you hear about,percentage wise it's very small.

I had an epidural and heavy sedation and didn't feel a thing.

Try not to get to stressed out before the op,it doesn't help..much easier than done I know..

I had a mild panic attack in the anaesthetic room,which is why I think they sedated me straight away..

Good luck,you'll be fine.

 

11

Hi Vikki

Welcome to the forum. I cant help you with advice about 6 year old   Sorry....mine were grown and left home. I had just retired so not much help there. You ve 6 weeks where you have to sleep on your back {or try to LOL} cant bend or twist etc etc you'll be given all no no's beforehand so for that 6 weeks alone you need to have things at a level you can reach, without stretching or bending. Shop on line possibly?  Get some dry shampoo in. Or you can get shampoo that you put direct on to your head, lather and towel off{no water} its good as an in between if you think it needs freshening. The OT will be a big help. I saw a physio beforehand who talked me through it, also an OT who sorted out what equipment I would need.  Probably a lot more  that I cant think of at the moment. 

I had a spinal block with a light sedative and it was fine.

Just shout if you want to know anything else.

Eileen

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Vikki - i had both hips done, the right hip posterior approach and the left anterior approach so i can discuss recovery process for both of them, but also, be aware that we all recover at a different pace.  If you go with posterior, it will take you about two extra weeks of recovery due to weight bearing on the operated leg, at 5 weeks i was able to drive and pretty much function normally, with aids and being careful of course, that was 14 months ago and today the hip feels so normal that i forget i have an implant.  My Left anterior recovery was a bit shorter, i did not need to do weight bearing right after surgery, there were fewer precautions than posterior but everything else was similar to posterior - driving, bathing, sleep pattern etc.  that was 16 weeks ago.  With the posterior you go thru a muscle pain period that ultimately will resolve after a few months; with the anterior you go thru nerves and tedons pain that may not resolve with time, in my case,i have swelling and numbness on the left thigh which my doctor told me, up front, may always be there, it is a very common end results with anterior surgery. personally, if i had to do it over again, i would go with posterior.  That is my opinion.

 

13

Hi vikki,

sorry to hear u r scheduled 4 THR . Take care to follow the dr advice following surgery.yrt what r the alternatives without THR. 

going back to work depends on how & when u  can drive walk without walker/cane. Also the home should be cleared for tripping over area rugs, animals and prepare kitchen to have things stored high . Bending is a issue for  several weeks. Heights of chairs should follow the criteria for safety . 

UR dr should give u a phamplets on the do & don't after surgery. Post op checks will help with when u can return to work depending on UR progress. Usually a few weeks out PT helps with getting strength back muscle tendon issues r addressed. 

Watch after care video online. Find out what type of hip joint u r  dr plans on implementing. see all the educational videos online from the manufacturer or at UR dr. Office.

there r many safety & rehab guidelines to follow. Ask UR daughter to watch a animation video on THR .with u. LOOK  online & see the parts used and this will give u a better understanding on the mobility issues for rehab as well as following guide lines to preserve the THR device to last as long as possible.

be familiar with all proceedures from the epidural used during surgery to pain meds after. 

Realize the immediate need for a leg pump a air sock on the op leg hooked up to a pump to squeeze the leg muscles for better blood flow & oxygen to provide better healing and prevent blood clots.

read as much as u can to be prepared . There is so much info. Annimation videos and on both pre & post surgery protocols are most useful.

Ask ur daughter to help with lifting, putting on shoes & socks,, pants. Lifting the leg will take a few weeks. At her age they r great helpers. Just what is needed. Stooping down is difficult UR needs to help u for that. As long as u watch the rehab videos or read thru them the both of u understand the road ahead very clearly. Steps sitting getting up from a sitting position r very difficult. 

There r aids u can get ...toilert seat riser a necessity, a reacher - necessity. 

The dr will have phamplets of these aids where to get them & more.

Ask for water therapy as soon as the incision is healed ,great way to get back into shape. 

Ask ur dr what the manufacturer hip device he is going to use.. Be sure there is no metal on metal in the design. Do not get the STRYKER ABG ll  THR device. It has mom and recalled by the manufacturer can fail after a few months. See info on line about any hip joint recall.

i have both hips replaced. I wish u well thru recovery & back to a normal life with a positive recovery & no hip pain. 

Peace, luv & laughter

14

What do u mean by weight bearing ....what?...  "My Left anterior recovery was a bit shorter,___ i did not need to do weight bearing ??____right after surgery, there were fewer precautions than posterior but everything else was "....

i got got it very well described up till weight bearing part..u have given an accurate description of recovery using aids very well. 

We'll all be salsa  dancing like it never happened.

(( hugs))

15

After anterior surgery i asked the doctor if i should do weight bearing walking  on operated leg 50 or 75%, like i had to do for my posterior surgery, he said no, no need to, putting pressure on both feet was okay.

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I guess our docs were different weight bearing lifting objects carrying weight limit.

i had both ant and post could and can not do weight bearing exercised. Biking ok water ok. Now legs weight lifts to build muscle back was des outraged br both dr & PT.,

 

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The main problem you may have with 6 year old is not just the picking up but the bending down!!  You will not be able to fasten shoes unless the child can bring their feet high enough so you don't flex more than the right angle etc etc. You should get a booklet giving you the dos and don'ts plus some advice on how to do things. Get some extra grabbers so you have one to hand and perhaps see if the hospital has a suitable doll you can use to help with explanations for your youngster.

I think 6 weeks to full time return to work is optimistic. You may not get clearance to drive till then and you will get tireder because doing chores takes longer and you need time for your rehab exercises, including walking, and dodging round the office furniture is not a good replacement for some straight line rhythmic activity.  Try to negotiate a phased return to work, I would suggest 2 or 3 shorter days then build up as your stamina improves. What you need is a stable state and you will find some stories on the forum of setbacks when people push too hard too early. The motto is 'listen to your body'.  This is not like getting a tooth out, it is serious surgery - my rheumatologist says that she reckons full recovery takes 6-9 months and for some people it can be longer. I think that is a bit pessimistic but 6 weeks is definitely pushing it.

Good luck, keep us posted.

18

I am not sure we are talking about the same thing.  Weight bearing as my doctor explained to me is not using the operated leg full strength, in my case it was using it 50% the first 4 weeks, with a walker, then 75% for about two weeks.  At my 6 weeks follow up, doctor said ok to use leg normally.  That was for posterior only.  My anterior doctor said no need to do it.

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Hi Amnesia - thanks for your reply. I think my employer will settle down once they've spoken to Occ health. Thing is there is only me that does my job and I think they are panicking a bit. Me not being here is hardly likely to stop the job but still

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Thanks Mary - I'm so glad I found this site, it's very useful - it should be put on the thousands of leaflets they give you to read