It's been little over three weeks since my RTHR, and I've gotten to the point that this week, I'm back to work fir 50%!
I must admit that I'm flabbergasted about the change in quality of life even three weeks has brought me.
To any of you waiting out there or doubting to have the procesure done due to age (I'm 43) I'd say go for it.
In three weeks time I went from hardly able to do anything, to walking without crutches around the house, repairing the lawn where the dog had decided to dig and this morning I even was able to go pick up my daughter from dancing practice. By car.
I'm back to the point where my wife doesn't have to take on all tasks requiring some physical means, though I do them much slower.
All minor things aside (such as having to sleep with a pillow between my legs still), it was all worth it! Now off to get my next goal sorted, which is walking the dog the long way. That's a 4 mile goal. Will be a bit, but it'll happen 😊
Getting life back feels so darn nice...
Wow! Sounds like an amazing recovery which is so inspiring. At age 45 and 5 days post op I'm hoping to follow in your footsteps. Did you have a posterior approach THR?
Wow it sounds like your doing great so soon after your op. All these positive comments are making me less scared about having my op done. I was worried as I'm only 49 but I see hipster is only 45 & doing great too. Thank you all for such positive feedback. It really helps. Just don't overdo it am6ft8.
Hi Hipster,
Yes, I do have the battle scar running down my right buttock 😊
At times it irks me, as the healing makes it sometimes feel like I scraped my bum and am touching bare nerves, but that's mostly short lived. Not worrying now and chalking itnup to the healing process.
The ine thing I do in all cases, is try slowly. I do listen to the doctor of course, but once upon a time there was a PT I had who said that the best limiter to what you can do is your own body. So I took that to heart and live by the rule that my body knows me better than the doctor does. Doesn't mean he's wrong, does mean that I might be able to do more than he thinks. So trying is the rule for me. And taking the things I find I can do, slow at first, then gradually build from there.
Hi Gossip,
Like I said above, I listen very closely to my body. Once there is protest, I back up.
I'll need to have the other hip done as well after the summer (well, August/September), because I have avascular necrosis in both hips from extreme Prednison use, so rushing now wouldn't serve me at all. But having this first hip done has already made life so much easier.
Until the other hip is taken care of though, I am going to do what I can. Not what I want, what I can.
Of course there are still things that can't be done, probably for a good while, but slowly trying for me is the quickest way to being healthy as can be.
Oh and, important to mention perhaps as well, I have weened myself of the pain killers. I want my body to be honest and not give me false signals.
Only times I might take some is before bed if I've had a busier than normal day.
well done, I am going into my third week and am like you trying to do little things. I just stood up top wash some lunch pots for the first time. You have to try if you can't do it try again later. Best thing I ever did was to have the LTHR have no mention yet at having my right one done. The consultant said it was in very good nick and still had a lot of cartiledge there so I guess that is some way in the future. xx
That's exactly it Gill 😊
Just try. And if not, don'tget discouraged, take it as a slow sign and just try later 😊
It's great being able to do more with each passing day!
I'm sure there will be slower days too, but every bit of prigress is a win.
Brilliant news. I'm 2 weeks post op and too can't believe the difference. Hope I feel like you in 2 weeks time. Boredom is killing me!!
Oh yes, especially the first week! Everyone kept treating me like I was made of porcelain and no matter how often I stated that that was only part of my new hip (😝), it didn't go...
I had to get up and do something and then halfway say something, or else anything I'd want would have been handed on a platter. While nice for a few hours, after days it got boring!
Keep a steady pace and you'll be fine! 😀
Hi am6ft8,
So glad your experience is going well! It feels great to contribute again doesn't it? Admittedly I am surprised you are driving so soon, but I also do not know which kind of surgery procedure you had.
Keep up the good work! Quality of life does far out weigh the fear of surgery.
💛 Dawn, USA
Wow am6ft8,
I too had AVN from long term use of corticosteroids! I mostly hear of OA as the cause of the need for THR's. Nice to know I am not alone. I did my replacements four months apart, but had complications with the second one. My shoulder joints died also, but am putting distance between surgeries as I am 3 months post op second hip.
So I am paying my dues for turning to steroids to help me breathe. Was born with a lung disease but did not use steroids until age 23. It caught up with me at age 56.
Heal well!
💛 Dawn, USA
Hello am6ft8,
It is good to hear how well you are. May I ask what type of hip replacement did you get? Anterior, superpath, posterior?
I have not got mind yet, I am so afraid of it. Eventually I will have no other choices. 
Keep up the good work.
good morning am6ft8 .... wow - thank you for sharing your story - to me you also have a great attitude ... thank you for reminding me that in stead of thinking about the things I (still) can't do and get upset about it, I will focus more on what I can do and do a little bit more of it - knuffel
Hiya Dawn,
my AVN is basically the collateral damage of successful chemotherapy in 2011. So who am I to complain? Basically, if I hadn't tken the drugs, I'd not be typing this now... It's a small price in that respect 😉
my operations will be about 4 months apart as well, first I'm doing vacationing and by then I don't want to be as limited as I was and am right now.
If my doctor had had his way, the other would be done in July.. Now it'll be August/September, based on calendar really. Luckily the waiting times here aren't that bad.
Good luck to you as well, especially having to have the shoulders done in time as well!!
The biggest step was gettingin and mostly out of the car again. I could easily get in the passenger seat by now, so I just went out and tried getting in and out a few times, trial and error (first time seriously pondering how on earth to get out again hahahah!) and then driving around the block a few times. I won't do long drives yet, but being able to just go to the store and bring my daughter to dancing is a good start in my opinion!
Mine was the posterior approach, with uncemented ceramic on ceramic hip.
It's still a bit strange, as the muscle that they went through acts slightly different from the other side, but other than that it's all functional again.
I have to deal with muscle pains though from all the things that I can actually do jow that I for a good time couldn't. It really comes down to doing the excercises as muscle 'forgets' quickly!
I've even started doing the excercises for the side that needs to be done still. Build those up some before the day is there...
Good morning Renee,
I will admit, at first I was somewhat hesitant about telling about my progress as it feels to me like tooting my own horn and I'm more quiet normally. But then I also thought about the fact that while it is some serious stuff they do to us (that youtube video is quite something) it is also something really good for most of us.
Don't feel too bad about things that are hard to do or sheer impossible still, in time they'll happen as well. Suddenly even. That is even more fun, then you get to feel proud and surprised about it 😊
I had that for instance when going up the stairs, without crutches, and walking normally, one foot on each step. Only upstairs did I realize how easy it had been. It was fun to have that little epiphany 😁
So glad you survived the cancer! About the driving, I was thinking more about the legal ramifications if your doctor has not officially released you to drive yet, then your motor insurance would not pay should there be a collision. There was a discussion on here recently about this and it surprised me to learn this!
So does you ID name on here reflect your true height? Is your motor vehicle high off the ground?
Thank you for your positive attitude on here!
💛 Dawn, USA
Good point about that actually. Nobody told me about a rule regarding that beforehand. Might be that here in Holland the rules are slightly different, though I can imagine an insurance company being difficult...
but yes, I am 6ft8 indeed 😊
The car is not that high, though we are looking for a new one that is somewhat larger. I do fit though, so that's the basic win already! Finding crutches the right height was almost harder. Affordable ones anyway 😉
Oh and yes, I'm quite happy having beaten it as well 😉
Holland? I used to live in Santpoort (Spelling?) for three years as a child, age 7 thru 10. Attended a Dutch school instead of the American one and still have one of the wooden shoes I used to wear. Great Great memories I have! And the culture shock of it is still vivid to me.
💛 Dawn