Hi Amy
So happy to hear how well you are doing.
I am interested to know you had your op at Harpenden. I used to live there until my divorce. Now I am in Dunstable but not too far away from Harpenden.I drove over the other day to visit Waitrose as I am trying to follow an organic diet and wanted to check out their produce.
Of course Dunstable is in Beds. and the referral service here tries to funnel everyone into a Beds hospital ie L&D Bedford or MK.
A neighbour of mine suggested I try Spire Harpenden and I am interested to know that you had a good experience.
Would you mind telling me the name of your surgeon?
It may be that it would only be allowed via a private message but I would appreciate it.
It is so nice of you to post your experience. We are all scared of what is a very serious operation. I am terrified not only of the op but coping afterwards.I live alone am nearly 80 yrs. old very awkward and clumsy,
with a shower over my bath which I struggle to get into already. So any encouraging words are always helpful.
It is clear from following the forum that only so much professional advice helps,while the experience of those who have been through THR is invaluable!
Best wishes for your continued recovery.
Joyxx
Hi Gloriajoy,
I'm in Kensworth so technically in Dunstable too. Though when I started this hip process I was in Caddington. I hope Kensworth will still come under The Spire when time comes for the right hip to be done but I doubt it. I've not heard bad things but I'd hate to have to go L&D or Bedford after the loveliness of The Spire.
I'm sure it's ok to say his name as I already did on another thread, he's called Brian Bradnock. You can google him, there's a bit here and there about him online.
It must be hugely daunting to be facing the op when you live alone at your age and with a shower over the bath that's already a challenge. I'm lucky I moved in July or I'd have also faced that problem. It may be you'd have to do 'strip washes' a while. We just have to keep thinking towards the future don't we? What's incredibly annoying/difficult etc is short term and ultimately the new hip will be worth it for the mobility it gives us.
Any time you want to ask anything feel free. All the best to you X
Hi Amy ,
Glad to hear your doing so well. As for sleeping on your back, me to it caused back pain, but I ended up putting pillows grading downwards and it worked, yay, no more back pain ,
Please be careful with the 90 degree, you made me wince then lol
Keep up the good work , hope you get the answers about your leg length.My physio said that using your stick helps you stop limping, .
Onwards and upwards 
Best of wishes.
Thanks Jo,
Yes that's what I'm doing with pillows when on back. Still get a bit of pain but nothing like it was. Never expected back pain from lying on back. Seems silly.
I must persevere with the stick, I'm just always dropping it or not using it correctly.
Thanks for the good wishes. X
It was a shock for me to Amy, I thought, flippin heck give us a break don't want back pain lol lol .
I think the stick makes you use your leg properaly without us realising it.
It drives me bonkers cause , as you said , I drop it , and it always falls over , annd in the flat(my flats tiny ) I keep forgetting were i put it. and my grabbers for that matter, but soon we will forget all this , and thank heavens we have had it done yay ,
Dear Amy
Thank you so much for your reply.
I am sure for you at such a young age the op is really worthwhile.
What I pick up from your posts is that you are really positive and cheerful, and that is so important.
From what I have learned online a large part of successful recovery is down to patient attitude,and attention to advice about exercise etc.
I have found interesting guidance on youtube showing before and after exercises by two physiotherapists.
I am sure you will do well anyway, young patients seem to do well post op.
Best regards
Joy x
Positive is the last adjective anyone who knows me would describe me as, haha. Before the op I was all doom and gloom, ready to cancel, convinced everything would go wrong and that after I would be completely disabled. So far it's surprised me pleasantly but it's early days. My pain is less than I expected, I've not touched the codeine based pills I was given to go home with. I'm not as disabled as I thought I'd be and I can see little improvement every day which encourages me. I realise I'll recover quicker than many older than me but it's all relative and therefore you never know, it may not be as bad as you expect.
When I was in hospital I watched a lady in the room across the corridor from me doing her walking every day. She'd had a revision, a more complicated operation and she was zooming up the corridor on her sticks while I was hobbling like a lame duck. She was easily well into her 80's and her fast progress was amazing. Probably helped her that she weighs about half what I do. Piling on 7lbs over Christmas sure hasn't helped me!