6 week check last week, now 7 weeks on

Bones, joints and muscles
1

Hello again, been a 2-3 weeks since I checked in here. 

Had my op on Jan 26th THR, left side posterior approach. Saw surgeon last week who was amazed at how well I walk, bent me around a lot and told me all restrictions are over. The weird thing I was surprised by is I am to have no more checks. I assumed there would be scheduled check ups on how well the hip is doing in a year, 5 years etc but apparently not!

I had it done in a private hospital (paid by NHS) and all he said was I was now being referred back to the NHS and that I wouldn't be checked in the future. Seems everyone else is though!?

Although I was never a 'runner' as such I did start getting into it this time last year so I asked him if I'd be able to run again and he said there's no problem with that. This is contrary to almost everything I have read online. I asked if it would hasten the need for revision and he basically told me to go out and live a full life and not worry about that as I could get hit by a bus tomorrow and it's best to live the best possible life and do all the things you want to do rather than worry about possibly needing a revision a bit sooner. Which is a great point but is anyone here running regularly? I don't want to do marathons but just ease myself up to 5K in time. Really don't want to kill my hip or undo all his great work though! Any running advice/experience post THR would be appreciated.

I've now built weights into my daily exercises which is helping stregthen the muscles quicker. Doing the physio in a pool 3 weeks ago was also really helpful. Think I have been really lucky compared to some people. My scar is great and I've not needed pain killers since I got home. For 2-3 weeks I have been sleeping in any position. I was such a mess prior to the op, worried about all the things that have actually been quite easy to cope with. I live alone and want to encourage anyone in the same boat not to worry, it's do-able.

I'll need the right hip done in the future and hope I won't be so freaked out next time.

Thanks again for all your support 6/7 weeks ago!  

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Unless there are complications there are no further checks after the 6 week check up for the hospital where I had my surgery. I was very surprised to read of 1 and 5 year checks

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Hi Amy

When I had my 6 week check, I had all my restrictions extended by another 6 weeks and then told not to come back! 

I then received a copy of a letter from the surgeon to my GP saying that I had been released from his care. 

It is very strange indeed. 

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Such a lovely moment when we are given the green light and it is a major milestone - the all clear is a great moment!!

So happy for you all is good.

I loved running prior to hip replacement - my consultant said the opposite to yours!!! Not sure how old you are, but I was told to definitely look after my new hip - no massive jumps when riding horses, avoid high impact sports, cycling on the road etc. Running not so good - I am 40 and could potentially get 30 years plus apparently from this joint - so this is the advice I intend to follow. I don't want a revision until absolutely necessary.

I think it is decision for you, and depends how you want to live, and if you are chilled about the need for revision ( I could end up needing six hip replacements in my lifetime ) so would like to reduce it to four if I can!! I am thinking tactics!!

I completely agree with the sentiment about enjoying your life though - the whole point is to be free and enjoy our lives!!!

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Amy, I'm in the USA and was told no running, and we have a 1 year check-up then a 5 year check-up.

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Hi Amy, it's great to hear that all is well with you.

At my 6 week appt, I was told no running. I was alos given a follow up 3 month appt to see the surgeon again and have one final xray taken. Like you, private hospital paid for by the NHS. So many variations in processes and advice given. Thank goodness for this forum!

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Just thinking about running sends me walking very modestly for the hills!

I am surprised at that info and I think we should all make (informed) choices about what we do after we get our new hips, however, after hearing the following story I made a bargain with myself that there would be no more running, ever. You did ask for experiences so I am going to tell you this.....

Last year I was in hospital having steroid injections into my hips. I met a lovely American lady who was in a wheelchair and had been for nearly a year. She was about the same age as me and had both her hips replaced in the US two years previously. My surgeon was going to try and get her back on her feet again because she had broken both femurs, The implants had driven down into them and splintered both bones. Her surgeon in the US has told her she was fine to go running. 

Her own surgeon wouldn't touch her and she came to the UK with her English husband to get fixed

Amy, I am not trying to scare you, and I know that hip replacement have improved amazingly, but please read everything you can.

When I saw my surgeon after my first hip he said no impact sports of any kind - ever. If I wanted to run then the best thing would be on a trampoline. He said that a hip implant will never replace the strength of the old ones (pre-arthritis) and the bargain was he took away the pain and I looked after them!

I apologise again, I don't want to scaremonger, but please think about it.

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Oh Kate - what a story. Okay, I am never going to run after reading that! Oh my goodness that poor lady, did you ever find out if the surgeon fixed her hips in the end? I hope they could help her, how heartbreaking and so young as well. Just reading that made my tummy roll over once or twice....it really did. I do think we have to talk about these things though, how do we know otherwise and make well informed decisions....it is very good you shared this with us.

My consultant was very straight with me about running, and there are other sports I love just as much that will not damage my hip, so therefore  it is not a problem just to adjust - there are many ways to enjoy life and still care for our lovely hips. The way I see it, you look after your hip, your hip will look after you. 

 

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Aghhhh Kate what a horrifying story! Not sure what to do. My surgeon said just don't go jumping off tables or chairs, anything like that....which luckily is easily avoidable. That's literally the only thing he said not to do.

Rose, I am 37 so near in age to you. He said I could get 15-20 out of it, nothing like 30. But assures me revision isn't the horrible op it once was, partly because of the invention of a instrument called Oscar which removes the cement cleanly and easily. He invented/developed it and has been all around the world to demostrate it apparently. I was on the phone to him prior to Christmas asking questions and back then he even said the more you exercise the more the adhesion the implant gets to the cement! Something like that anyway, said it 'tightened' the fusion between the two. Something which made my eyebrows raise. He didn't repeat that last week though.

I just don't want to keep having these ops. Will have to strike a balance between being careful and enjoying life. If I was some tiny little waif I'd worry less about bounding about and running but I'm a tall, fairly hefty lump.

 

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I was told the same 15-20,years and revision is easier...Lets hope!

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So no running, not even for a bus wink

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Hi Amy

I was told the same at my 6 week check, the consultant didn't bother to examine or anything, told me I could live a full life and no need to worry about anything, I could do all things!!!! My new hip should last 20-25 years!!!

Im amazed how everyone gets conflicting advice........

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Dont go jumping off chairs and tables??!!! I would have laughed out loud if my surgeon had said that..... as if!!!! The chance would be a mighty fine thing don't you think? smile smile smile 

Shall I give it a go and see???!!! eeerrr nope I don't think so, my days are over falling off tables anyway hee hee!

I did a good impression of ice skating the other day on my bathroom floor and that was indeed not funny laying there wondering whether this was it I had dislocated a mere three months into it, and without even as much as good heroic story too!

You are a young and spritely 37, so definitely he was not advising you to do whatever you please becaue your chances of getting to a revision are unlikely anyway! So with that in mind, what a puzzling thing to say.

My only thoughts were possibly that he does not want your hip to hold you back really living your life to the full, maybe some people can be too careful and it sucks the joy out of life.....possibly.....he wants you to go out and there and have fun and make the most of your life. Fair enough.

Also if he is devising ways to manage revisions that will be much easier in the future, maybe he thinks a revision is a bit of non event therefore not worth worrying about..... (I am sure he is not the one going through 'just' a revision though me thinks) sometimes professionals can become desensitised to the realities, and in real time a revision is still quite a big deal.

If you love running, and this is your passion then maybe to hell with the consequences...we do only live once. As long as you know the possible consquences then I would do it, informed decisions shouldn't stop you, you just need to know the possible (unlikely) outcomes. I still intend to go riding at the end of the year, if I fall of my horse, it is not going to be pretty but I have gone through a hip replacement so I CAN do things like this, not so I can continue watching everyone else from the sidelines!!! biggrin

If you are going to run can you make sure it is on a running machine or grass, that will help the impact issues at least. 

Let us know what happens on your first run if you decide to, I hope someone posts with experience of running for a few years, it would be great to know.

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Hi amy I was given the all clear at 6 weeks post op with clearance for driving

and removal of teds etc.I was not examined by the consultant he just watched

me walking as I was walking with one stick and he said you don't need the

stick now just gain confidence without it and he said I will get a follow up

appointment in one year.never asked about anything else as it's just a matter

of doing what you feel capable or comfortable with

Hope all goes well for you as you seem to be doing really well good luck

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I had a THR right hiplateral in January at Antwerpen hospital in Belgium as a private patient and was told the same as you. Severe restrictions, stockings and daily injections of blood thinners for six weeks. Physio and training only until three months. After 3 months no restrictions. I was so amazed I checked three times with the surgeon.

I intend to take him at his word as amongst other things I want to play tennis singles and doubles, mountain bike and and run 5-10k.

No follow up schedule, no annual check up. I was literally told you only need to get in touch if you are

In pain !

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Same here, in terms of anticipated lifespan of the hip. But, I was told that the revision is more complicated!

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PS I have also done a lot of Snuffling around in scientific literature to try to clarify the point for my own peace of mind. The verdict seems to be inconclusive. The best review I found still had a small sample size and was based on surveys of patients - trying to evaluate what they actually did bs what they had been told they could do with a new hip and any clinical consequences. Suprisingly there was some evidence that more activity helped to prolong the life of the prosthesis ! Less (not more) chance of loosening for example.

I walked away with the impression that people, surgeries and prostheses are infinitely variable ... I intend to take the sage advice I find on this forum time and time again and 'listen to my body'

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I had much the sameadvice for the future, no follow-up, no checkup, see my GP if i get any problems, and he will refer me as needed.

Graham - 🚀💃

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Hi Amy, I can' t remember what I was told when I had my first THR at the age of 37, but I'm now nearly 50 and I am waiting for a new one as it has worn away, I've had 13 good years from it. It's because we are young it wears out quicker.

Tracy

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Hi dawn, yes revision has many more complications as my surgeon has explained to me on my last appointment. Higher risks for clots, surgery takes longer as they need different equipment too. 

Tracy