i am having a hip replacement in a couple of weeks. I am trying to stay positive and tell myself this is a good choice. I fell down some stairs about 3 or 4 yrs ago. My hip is full of arthritis and it is painful to walk. i have worked for 2 years in the schools but found it was too hard to climb the stairs so i had to stop working at 1 particular school because i could not keep up with the students. They were really busy kids. I also found that i could not help the students in some of their classes such as gym. I cannot sit on the floor or play sports with them.
I know I need to do this surgery but so scared of getting it done. i am scared of the unknown. Will I survive surgery??? Will i regret getting this done??? Will I hear anything during surgery??? I know if I do not get this done i will be able to walk and may end up in a wheelchair. I cannot bend down to tie my shoes, cut my toenails, put socks on, etc. My hip is just getting worse. I know my fears and anxiety may not be realistic maybe but they are my fears.
MELLY what you are feeling is just what i was feeling before my TLHP .i waited so long i couldnt walk any more i had no choice i had to have it. i am so glad i did it doesnt take long and you will be so happy you did it good luck to you
hi. your fears are all normal and bones a log if us experience pre OP no matter how bad we are. all I will say is for the past 5 yrs I’ve had increasing difficulty walking far did to the pain till at the end of last year I could only walk if using a crutch never mind a stick. not tied shoe laces for a long time and put socks etc on with a sock aid. I’d adapted myself gradually without realising how bad I was getting.
had my OP end of may this year and am now just over 10 weeks post OP. ok first 2 weeks were hard but I’d knew they would be but gradually week to week I’ve improved loads. I know everyone’s different but I feel so much better. pain free from my hip joint just occasional muscle aches which with simple meds sorts uout. walking with 1 crutch atm but walked further in a day then I’ve done for quite a few yrs dont have to park directly outside a shop but can walk easily across a car park to get there. sleeping longer and better at night time. i certainly am so glad and feel lucky to have had my OP. it’s now up to me to keep the progress going.
main things post OP keep on with the pain meds so you can walk / move till you dont need them. elevate the leg / ice regular throughout the day till swelling settles. gradually increase your exercise regime till you’re doing the max your hospital has sd.
but over all best wishes in having a gd recovery 
please dont fret! I had a THR Dec 2018. I did have some arthritis in my hip but I needed the op doing quickly due to severely worn and torn cartilage. I also work in a school and I had got to the point of being barely able to walk. I went on sickleave 3 weeks prior to my op because I was in so much pain. It was best decision. I had posterior approach, robotically assisted surgery. Spent 2 days in hospital and was back working in school full days just 12 weeks later. As long as you are prepared, you hopefully will be fine.
p.s. I cannot state how important the physio is afterwards. Im in bupa so had sessions scheduled in. The more you do, the better you will most definitely feel x
Hi melly
Don’t panic, firstly your be sedated in surgery, I actually fell asleep I’ve been for surgery 4 times now for various reasons. Although my first op didn’t go to plan I have since had it done again, with complications but this may not be the case for you.
It’s been 4 months since surgery and I’m without crutches, my muscles really do still ache and I’ve just started putting my socks on. I went back to work full time after 3 months it was hard for the first 2 weeks but I’m starting to feel like myself now.
I’m actually going on holiday in 3 weeks to Lanzarote with just my daughter and hope to just relax and try a little swim.
I do have a limp and my leg length is half inch to long but I’m hoping my body will adjust so I won’t need a shoe lift again.
It certainly has its pros like no more pain in the groin area and walking is not longer painful from arthritis but it can bring other issues too, some only temp but after the 18months your body should be back to its normal self.
I unfortunately seemed to have taken on a bruised coccyx since the first op in 2018 and am still suffering but this was due to my pelvis being 1.5inch titled due to the first op not going to plan, but I do feel like it’s getting better.
I believe my case is rare and I’ve heard some people are up and about after 6 weeks, I was only 43 the first time and my surgeon said the younger you are the harder it is to recover.
You say you can’t walk far or do your socks that to me is taking your quality of life away and having to depend on others is hard although you will need help for the first 2 months after surgery but it is only temp whereas now that’s your life!
Good luck with it x
I think you will find that most of us are scared about future surgery if for a hip or something else. Replacement hip surgery is one if the most successful surgeries in the world. What sort of anaesthetic are you having? It seems most people are encouraged to have a spinal which I found brilliant. You can have sedation with it and won’t know what is happening. It is much better than a general in my opinion. I did opt for no sedation as I wanted to know what was going on! Some people have a mild sedation and even listen to music. Things can only get better after your op. I ended up in a wheelchair before my op and was worried silly it would be cancelled I was in such pain.
Hi Melly, believe me, after the operation you will look back and feel so silly that you worried so much. I had my hip replaced last december and, just like you, I was so worried with the same questions that you have - but the operation went so smoothly that at first I thought that nothing had happened. I had a spinal anaesthetic and sedation and within seconds I had " gone to sleep". I didn’t hear or feel a thing, I was spark out- and the first thing I knew was a nurse welcoming me back into consciousness. The first few hours back on the ward were mildly inconvenient as I was still numb from the waist down but once life came back into my legs all was well. Next day I felt reluctant to get my leg on the floor and start shuffling around with a zimmer frame, but I soon got used to it and it became routine. The next day - just two days after the operation I got dressed and went home.
Hi there,
Your fears are perfectly natural, I had the same thoughts before my hip replacement in July 2018, however I now sleep really well, walk without aids, can put my own socks on and even cut my own toenails! I had arthritis in both my hips and had my other hip replaced just 14 weeks ago.
I had absolutely no concerns when going into hospital for my second hip doing because I knew how much my life improved after my first.
If there is one thing I would recommend, it’s do the exercises the physiotherapist will give you post op. I did them faithfully after both my ops, I have absolutely no hip pain and have flexibility I have not had for many years. I am back at work, driving again and can get up and down from the floor to play with my grandchildren.
I wish you all the best for your op, go for it, you will not regret it
hello Melly
i am five days post op for THR and i cancelled before , as within ten days i couldnt go through with it.
I was afraid i would have a heart attack and up until i went in to have the op i wasnt sure whether i would go through with it.
as i was being assessed for fit for surgery i felt suddenly calm and had my op tuesday afternoon .
I had a spinal and refused sedation. As i had previously watched an op i knew what to expect .
Thats not for everyone but it suited me.
you sound at the same stage as i was , not even able to bend .
im so pleased i gathered up the courage to have it done as the other hip has to be done in six months the surgeon said .
I am 72 now and should of had it done at 68 . Go for it is my advice and you will be so pleased you did
jennifer
Hi Jennifer glad you finally went through with your op, well done and your situation was same as mine and now I’m becoming resigned to the fact that I have to have it done as on crutches full time now.
Your support and advice is spot on.
Melly go for it, how have you chosen to have it, anesthetic wise.
My daughter is having cesarean tomorrow with spinal as she has heart condition and she’s not bothered one bit.
You will be fine
X
Thanks Alexandria
We both know how easy it is when people see us struggling and tell us to go for the op but until you are in the right frame of mind you will not go ahead with it . I really hope u can gather the courage to move forward as being on crutches is so restrictive .
you have to come to the point when you know there is no other way out so good luck and let me know how you go on. oh and all the best to your daughter x
That’s absolutely right, I have become quite reclusive as I cannot take all the well meaning comments, yes I am getting closer as I have asked for a referral to see a Mr Brown who is supposed to be one of the best, I hope my mind will let me get there.
I’m appreciative of your support it really helps to know someone understands x
i could have written the exact same words before my surgery in December - i was terrified! So glad I’ve had it done now. Life without pain is just wonderful. i had a spinal injection, but I explained beforehand how scared I was and I was reassured that the sedation would mean I neither felt nor hear anything. i fell asleep quickly and don’t remember anything until I woke up in the recovery room. I was given painkillers and experienced very little discomfort. I was walking with a frame the next day, and used crutches on the second day. i was discharged on the third day after proving I could safely manage stairs. I kept up with the painkillers every four hours for two weeks until I comfortably manage without them. i live on my own, and apart from putting the surgical socks on and off I was fine on my own. Two grabbers 2 sets of crutches (much easier when managing stairs), and a leg lifter made life much easier. Hope all goes well with you.
Hi stay positive it will change your life, i had a double hip replacement 3 months i change my life , look forward ,you will be amazed
Best thing I ever did for myself was have this surgery. It is scary at first, but life changing. I can do so much more now than I could for the year before my hip replacement . And I’m not even fully recovered yet. Good luck.
Hi Melly,
I had both done . The pain was so bad I didn’t think of anything else but relief. It’s been 3 months, I went back to work after 2 months. I actually run down the stairs now.
I pray for you to be well sooner than later.
Take care