From being a fully active 33 year old I ended up needing a hip arthroscopy a year ago, having not recovered from that op, I have now found out that I have progressive arthritis and need a THR. I am anxious especially as the last op seems to have accelerated my condition.
I am booked for a minimally invasive posterior op and since have been reading mixed opinions / risks regarding anterior – I am wondering from other people perspectives what type of approach they have had, experiences and any tips?
From my reading I want to go with what I have booked as seems a less risky option even if it takes longer to recover.
Thanks for your reply in advance!
Emma
hi Emma.
I am 11 weeks out from a minimally invasive superpath procedure.
having been on this forum lots and read about so many different recoveries, my conclusion is that at around 10 weeks out everyone is pretty much in the same boat regardless of method.
ahead of my op, most advice seemed to be to find a surgeon you like and trust and go with him, no matter the method.
no one can tell you how your body will react to the op or what types of settling in pains/challenges you might have.
but bar the extreme cases, everyone recovers and recovers well.
if you are happy with your surgeon, then go with whatever approach he favours.
in my opinion the hows and the wherefores of rehabilitation are just as if not more important than the op itself. a good surgeon will do a good job no matter what approach he uses.
THEN it's about rehabilitation. find yourself a really good physio that you trust, who understands what motivates you and will push you and encourage you as required. that is what will get you back on your feet after the surgeon has done his job. (...... in my opinion)
best of luck x
I had anterior 3/15 RTHR. 67 years old , your young. 3 in scar. Drove at 2 weeks . PT 3x week .Minimal pain, only Tylenol. Week 4 back to work however go with the procedure your surgeon is most comfortable with. Good luck.
Hi Emma.
I had posterior THR almost 5 weeks ago and have had incredible results. The only drawbacks is the size of the scar, recovery time, and chance of dislocation during recovery. From what I have read, the anterior approach, while having less scarring and quicker recovery time, is more risky than posterior. My surgeon wouldn't even do an anterior.
The anterior approach requires specialized equipment, training , and experience. If you go the anterior approach be sure to make sure your surgeon has a lot of experience. Check out their reputation for success. Just remember that an inexperienced surgeon needs to get experience on someone. Don't take a chance on being that someone. Posterior approach is far less risky if you can't find an experienced surgeon for anterior.
I read a lot about people liking their surgeon. I just want to tell my experience. I do not like my surgeon. He had no interpersonal skills and his bedside manner is aweful. Just not a person I could see anyone liking but he is an incredible surgeon. I am very pleased with my results. Just remember that your relationship with your surgeon is temporary, your relationship with your hip is permanent.
didn't mean you have to.like your surgeon, his personality or bedside manner etc.
I meant that if you feel good about your surgeon ie trust their abilities and have no "pinch factors" about them, then whichever technique they use will be well executed and successful.
Hi , thought id pisted but doesnt seem to be here . Ive had left and right hips , different approach for each. Cant say i noticed any appreciable differences either way , same restrictions for same length of time . As LDW has said , if you trust your surgeon trust his approach. I,m a nurse but not an orthopaedic surgeon so I trusted mine , who is very pleasant . I had all restrictions lifted at 6 weeks both times and was back at work that week also . Doing your post op exercises is the most important thing ( we dont get physio usually in UK unless needed for a specific reason ) and all the other rehab stuff . You dont have to like your surgeon , but you do need to trust him/ her !
Thank you, I'm also 67 and dreading my surgery so much I keep putting it off. Your comments helped me decide to do it! I just wanted you to know that you have no idea how many folks you touch. Thanks Catherine456!
I had minimal invasive surgery done ten years ago and the surgeion said he had done many successful..........well mine wasnt ...........he injured my FEMORAL Nerve and in some cases it comes back but mine didn't so go with the old way....safer and surgions are suppose to know just where that nerve is ! It should not have happened and all I got was a bad leg and handicap sticker!
Good luck ..don't expect alot of sleep initially. Do your exercises take meds , use ice ( I used it nightly). You won't be able to lift your leg at first no one tells you that but with exercise you will..
Take care..
Not previously heard of an MIS Posterior? The anterior is usually the minimally invasive surgery?
And even that is no guarantee. My surgeon came highly recommended and both hips were done during the surgery, but 1 turned out 100% fabulous, the other one not ... They're only humans at the end of the day
Tools I need? Toilet riser, leg lifter and seat cushion for car, cane?
thx
Crutches initially ( probably) walking stick/ cane for later/ high toilet seat/ grab stick ( invaluable for picking stuff up / liading washing machine etc) / small rucksack for easily tansporting things around the house and leaving both hands free . You can get a thing to put socks on , plus a leg lifter ( im not sure what that is) high stool to sit on in the kitchen if cooking ( i just stood - depends on how comfy you are) would recommend a memory foam cushion . Loose trousers/ joggers to wear first few weeks / shoes with good soles that can be slipped on ( no fasteners) , big comfy knickers for first couple weeks ( and hospital appts depending on your normal underwear!) in UK the hospital / OT dept provides the essentials for you . Check sofa and chairs for height and elevate if needed / v shape cushion for sitting up in bed / extra pillows for between legs / possibly a slide sheet ( or carrier bag works) for getting in and out of car , online shopping for groceries , shower stool if needed , long handled brush for washing feet , bio oil or vaseline to massage scar ( not everyone likes bio oil) , a good supply of friends and access to this site full of lovely helpful supportive people xxxxx
No restrictions if you go anterior except can't sleep on your,stomach 4 weeks per my doc. Can't drive till off narcotics and comfortable .
Thx bini
im in USA, don't know yet what, if anything, they supply. My "get the ball rolling" appointment is May 27. I was so scared I cancelled 2 previous appointments. Now I can barely walk. So, I want to get prepared.
I put my first (of 3) hip ops off for 2 years because I was scared - so know how you feel - but wished I hadnt later. The surgery itself is so safe these days , no one wants to be in hospital but staff are usually great and other patients even more so ! The op will be fine , they are very god at addressing the pist op pain so you dont have any . Once your home its the tedium that got me so make sure you plan lots that you can do sitting at a table etc , sorting out family photos , writing real letters to old friends etc . It all sounds so very daunting but I promise its something you can do - and its very much better living without the awful arthritis pain . Worst problem most people seem to get is not sleeping well or at all in some cases over first few weeks so id say expect that, apart from that recovery is very different for all of us , some cope better/ have it easier than others, but I,ve never met a single person who said they wished they hadnt had it done . Getting prepared is really sensible and will help you cope with all the post op issues - which although they all feel like they,ll go on forever DONT , they all end eventually I promise . Yes, there can be complications , and yes there can be miserable moments like when my compresion socks were stangulating my big toe and I had to wait 8 hrs for other half to come home and rescue it ! But eventually you get back to normal , As most of us have forgotten what normal feels like its a pleasant place to be 😀 as ive had 3 hip surgeries please believe me when I say having the first didnt put me off having the 2nd or the 3rd xxx ps I havent got 3 hips by the way , the third was a redo of the first one as the prothesis failed ( they are not using those anymore. So dont worry ) xxx
Hi Emma
I had my second posterior THR in mid March. I was able to stand up and walk around the bed on the day of the op ( with help) I was walking with only one crutch on day 4 when I was let out of hospital. By the end of week two I was walking outside 3 times a day no walking aids at all. I had no pain killers apart from panadol after the second night.
In NZ you are given exercises to do at home and no further physio. So I do the excercises 3x a day.
I'm due for my 6 week surgeon check on Tuesday and am booked to return to work that night (I'm a dance coach).
So for me I don't know how much faster I could have recovered. I'm certainly in better shape this second one ( the first one had some wound healing complications that took 4.5 months to sort out even though the hip was great)
So my advice - trust your surgeon - hips are thier business.
Sleep - exercise - walk - eat well and trust that you know when you have done too much.
Regards
Elly
I had Anterior, where is your nerve pain exactly, I have some down the side of my left leg, it feels like it's burning....