i am due to have thr in about 7 weeks. My surgeon does not use the anterior approach. I have been googling this and it seems that the recovery time can be shorter.
Has anyone had this method and can suggest a surgeon aroun London/ Kent?
Feel that this method would be better for me as I live alone and am in a second floor flat.
thank you.
My doctor used to do it but stopped for various reasons including blood loss. Discuss with your dr. What is best for you.
Carol
If you read through messages on this forum it seems that not many surgeons do the anterior approach. Recovery after posterior approach is quite rapid in most cases.
If you tell your physio you need to climb two floors he/she will no doubt make sure you are confident on stairs before you leave hospital. Stairs are a bit scary until you get the hang of them. I live in a house so just have one floor to climb but unlike in a flat I go up and down several times a day. Carrying shopping will require a bit of care but you could put it in a backpack as dangling bags from one hand when on two crutches requires care, especially in the wet.
Hope it all goes well
Mike
Hi carol
I'm 4 weeks post anterior thr. The reason I chose anterior is because there are no restrictions regarding dislocation. The first 6 weeks recovery post op for both techniques is the same. I am having a bit tougher recovery than most because the surgeon lengthened my leg 1cm to correct leg length discrepancy. That caused the femoral nerve to be unhappy due to stretching.
Hope this helps
Carol,
I had posterior 12 weeks ago. Was able to climb a big flight of stairs up and down from the day I was released from hospital (2 days after op). You will be slow to begin with but it's fine.
I wouldn't get too hung up about the approach. I had posterior - 4" scar and a great recovery. The restrictions were not difficult to keep to and honestly couldn't have bent much more than 90 degrees in that time anyway. I was walking with 1 crutch at 2 weeks and no crutches at 4 weeks. I have just come back from walking Italian hill towns in Italy up to 10 miles a day at 12 weeks. It has been an amazing experience really considering how much pain I was in pre op and those 6 weeks of restrictions fly by.
Good luck with your op. Go with a surgeon you trust with experience in his/her technique.
All the best,
Sam
Oh and forgot to add I have no restrictions at all post the 6 weeks - apart from bunjee jumping and skydiving!!
Sam
Hi Carol,
I had a posterior 10 months ago, and had a really good recovery. I think the most important thing is that you have a very experienced surgeon.
In hospital they will show you how to go up and down stairs safely, and it's much easier than you expect.
Good luck, Judith
dear carol,
warm welcome to the hippies forum -
Anterior approach of hip replacement surgery seems to be more common in the USA than in UK or here in Holland - but it is done and I hope someone here on the forum will be able to give you a referral -
As mentioned in previous responses, you will learn how to manage stairs by physical therapist in the hospital before you get discharged -
please let us know how you are getting on, okay --
it will be okay ...
big warm hug
renee
Thank you Eileen.
Have spoken to surgeon and he only uses posterior method.
Very much a take it or leave it attitude.
Thank you for advice Michael.
i will, no doubt, have help on using stairs but will need an awful lot of confidence to tackle 28 stairs!!
shopping can be sorted , but you're right, nothing seems easy whilst on crutches.
thank you for your reply Don. The thought of having no restrictions definitely appeals. I have 2 friends who had the anterior approach and were mobile very quickly and weren't in too much pain.
im just having problem finding a surgeon who does this. Will keep trying.
Thank you Samantha. IT sounds as though your recovery has been amazing.
i guess I need to be certain I can cope with stairs before leaving hospital.
my surgeon said scar would be around 8"/10". trying not to panic!
😂
Thank you Judith
Thank you renee. There must be surgeons in and around London with experience in this method. Will keep googling!
Morning don....I'm curious, what are your symptoms from this femoral nerve are you experiencing? I had anterior surgery back in July last year 3 weeks later I find out I dislocated it 2 days later having total hip revision, I'm 9 & 1/2 months out now and having nerve issues too!! Is it the cutaneous nerve? Numbness, sensitivity....have had 2 injections in that nerve, helped some but still sensitive. Also taking lyrica. I just was curious how you are dealing with it. Thanks. LD
I was 1&1/2 inches short before surgery and dr gave me back all the length which I'm thinking that's what is causing all this terrible stuff!! 😖😫😩😢
I'm from the United States so I can't help with a dr. My first surgery was anterior but I dislocated mine after 3 weeks and had to have a total hip revision using posterior method. So don't know how anterior would of been. Although with posterior dr was able to give me my full 1&1/2 inches back but like Don I'm having nerve issues. No doubt from all the pulling to give me my length back. Wishing you all the best for your surgery. hope you get all the answers you need and everything goes well for you. Hugs 🤗 LD
Carol
If you have a rail stairs are fine. Holding onto the rail you have good stability. Without a rail is scarier but they will teach you that at the hospital too.
Mike
Carol,
They will go through the stairs part in the hospital and won't release you until you can do them - slow and steady!
My recovery has also been steady mainly because I took it slowly at the beginning resting and walking between rooms and building up very gradually. There will be moments where you feel frustrated but at the 6 week mark I felt much much better and by 12 weeks the odd ache when I've overdone it. Slow and steady wins the race with this op!!
Let us know how you get on.
All the best,
Sam x