My dear friend advised me that her father and his friend both needed hip replacements, one did it straight away and recovered within a few months and had an easy recovery (in his view his muscles had not disintegrated to such a degree, so therefore could support the new joint) and he found the whole thing very bearable. The other friend however waited over a year, could barely walk and had a very long journey and painful one back to full health ~ and took nearly a year to be fully functioning again.
I wonder what you could tell me about this? Is it better to get it done faster? And why do you think? Or did you wait and that was best for you?
As most of you know my appointment is on Tuesday and I need to make a decision. My hip is quite bad, I am hobbling through it but it is not terrible by any means, but quality of life is compromised and it is only getting worse.
You will probably be put on a waiting list, theoretically for no more than 18 weeks if you agree to the op. During this time things will only get worse. I hope you have got a list of questions written down to ask the consultant, and the timing of the op and why should be one of these. It would also be good to take someone with you as you will not remember everything said. Husband, friend, sibling? Good luck
Hi Rose
I know that I was adviced, onced I'd decided to go ahead with my hip replacement to exercise as much as I could bare. This would strengthen the muscles and make recovery easier.
It's a fact that surgeons can replace joints but they can't replace muscle.
Now , 9 weeks post op I think I'm doing ok.part of my recovery has been trying to re programme my brain to get my muscles up a running again, doing what they are supposed to do. A PT is helping with that.
Personally I would go for having it done sooner rather later
Xx
I was on list for 15 months . Sooner you get on list the better they don't operate on people who don't need it and it's not going to get any better is it ?
I am 14 weeks pis top today and it is great .
Mary
My hip was painful, I played tennis until just before Xmas and was ballroom dancing and playing golf until two days before my op. I was fit but made the decision to have my hip done before my lifestyle changed any more. I am 5 days post op and recovering extremely quickly. Was only in hospital 3 nights and because my muscle tone was still good exercises came easier. I would go for sooner rather than later.
Interesting observation. I was still able to walk 5 miles a day without limping did not take painkillers every day. However do have osteoporosis and in the danger zone for breaking, mine done early. At 7 weeks post op and still using 2 walking aids, sleeping on back, and keeping to the restrictions until I see surgeon at 8 weeks
Wonder if it has something to do with state of bones
Guess it's one of life's mysteries
Hi Rose
I'm not sure of the answer but your point about having it done before your muscles are wasted makes sense.. When I read what others have gone through I sometimes feel a bit of a fraud as I am in pain when I try to do things but am not in agony at rest as some are, however, it is seriously impacting on what I am able to do and my enjoyment of it and my surgeon says a new hip lasts around 20 years. I will then be 81. I would rather have the pain free mobility now.
Hi Rose
I faced the same decision as you, wait or not to wait. I spoke to my consultant and he said the hip was not going to get better and would only get worse. He was quite right, I decided to have a THR and while on the waiting list my hip did in fact get worse, though it was more of a constant ache rather than actual pain. This was two years ago and I am glad that I had the operation while I was still fit and fairly active as I am sure this helped me recover quickly. The bottom line is only you can make the decision so whatever you decide I wish you well.
Jean
If I knew what I know now I would have done it sooner. I struggled through pain daily as I'm tuff and not to be a whiner or complain. But the Dr. said I did wait too long and my whole hip joint, pelvis bone and femur bone where getting very worn out and fragile. So during the surgery my femur bone cracked. They had to put a metal band around the upper thigh bone so it would heal. Now at about 14 weeks I feel really great! Why did I wait so Long!!?? Why delay or postpone something that will be needed anyway? Make the NOW decision.
Well as I've previously said rose, I was in a wheelchair pre op but had a great recovery and no pain. I think everyone is different depending on their general health to start with, their surroundings and help and attitude to recovery, their surgeon and nursing staff etc so no two people are the same also what one person sees as terrible is just a blip to someone else. You can't decide what to do with your life by someone else's. Your grasping at straws rose lol !
Hi Rose
I am 46.I wish my consultant had acted sooner. I'm on a list to have a non cemented replacement and expect it to last between 15-20 years. I'd rather be pain free now & have to go through a THR again in my 70's/80's.
I've been in pain since end of 2012, diagnosed end of 2013 with dysplastic hip, OA after investigative surgery June 2014, put on THR list March 2015 when it went bone on bone. I was in agony by then & It has affected my life in such a negative way. Wheelchair bound, months off work, on disability payments (PIP) Op may be done in June or July.
I want my life back.
I can only go by my own experience. The sooner the better.
Good luck
Westie😊
Hi Rose ... it makes sense to me ... I was in denial for a long time - even when the xray showed bone on bone !!! It really does not get better ... probably did myself a disservice by postponing the unevitable as my good leg was so overburdened that it was hurting more than my bad leg/hip ... so now I am dealing with that - THR was succesfull ...I am 7 weeks post-op - go for it ... Big hug ...
Get it done as soon as you can. Once the hip starts going downhill, it can deteriorate very quickly, this is what happened to me. Mine was bone on bone and extremely painful in the end, affecting my thigh, knee and calf muscles. Go and get it done as soon as possible. I am 5 months post op now and it is brilliant. Good luck with it.