Was told I will eventually need hip replacement. The doctor took an xray and said I have bone on bone and I will know when its. time.I stopped running 3 months ago. For exercise now I do rowing machine, weights, stretching. My hip brothers me more when I do not exercise and when I am sitting. Has anyone experienced this. (58 year old male)
when the hip pain interefers in you lifestyle then its time. dont put it off doctors always leave it up to the patient. what my dr also said not to wait to long as they need good bone and blood flow to the area for a good outcome. dont wait till ur limping around in pain as that can wear down the muscles, bones tendons,back, knees. keep in mind that your want to be in good shape for a great recovery. been thru 3 hip joint replacements and i cant stress enough how important it is to stay in good shape because core muscles back and knees take a huge load while healing from thr surgery.
Yeah, if they’ll listen to you when you describe your level of pain and immobility, do it sooner rather than later. I always say that when you’re grateful to be using a cane, you know it’s time, but really, that’s well past the time. I had to put myself off work (I’m a substitute teacher) when I could feel my ability to walk going downhill month after month, even with a cane, and I no longer felt that I was safe being in charge of adolescents. This won’t happen to me again
Best of luck
(10 months post R THR, lateral approach, age 51)
When the pain keeps you from doing what you want to do, and when you cant walk without pain, you’ll beg for the surgery. But don’t wait until your legs and back muscles are weak due to inactivity. The stronger you are going in to surgery, the better your recovery will be. Most important is to not rush your recovery. This is a big procedure that takes time to heal on the inside, even if the outside seems healed. I’ve had LTHR, a revision of same, and another revision coming up in March. Good luck. Deborah
Oh, Deborah, can I ask about your revisions?? My surgeon is referring me for a revision consult in March, and I am so glad, but I’m nervous. I don’t want to make anyone nervous, I’m pretty sure that THRs are like 95% + successful, but someone has to drag it down from 100%, and I was the lucky one…
Melanie
(R THR Mar 2018, age 50)
melaruse…i hope your doin well. your right about enjoying the ability to have the feeling of safety and stablility…thr is a great option to maintain mobility. it is tricky to feel the pain of knowing our hips are going down hill and fast. i started out young 1999. rthr. then Ltrt hip replacement. and again left hip revision. and my rt hip is 20 years old the first one done in 1999 and it’s still tickin.
My revision followed 3 dislocations of a 3.5 year old THR that healed beautifully and performed like my own hip. I fell on my hip and two days later the first dislocation occurred. Torn muscles and ligaments led to 2nd and 3rd dislocation 
. My revision involved replacing all the parts. My post op course was very cautious but steady. I came home on day 2 and did well at home alone. I used a walker for 6 weeks then a cane. I had a leg length discrepancy of 3/4" after revision so my gait was off. I’ve had previous back surgeries so the leg length issue caused me back problems. I have had no pain since 6 weeks after surgery in July '18 but I was still using a cane when I left the house. I navigated at home fine on my own. Unfortunately for no reason yet known, my new hip dislocated Dec 15. During this or the reduction it seems my implant became damaged as it now makes a lot of noise (clicking, grinding, clunking) and feels very unstable. I have some pain in the groin which is also new. My surgeon has indicated the only way to know whats going on is to go in :((. Mar 11 is my day. I’m told what has happened is very rare though that doesnt make me feel better! Let me know how your consult goes. Good luck. Deborah
It’s time! I stopped running a year before my surgery. I too was bone on bone. At 51 I have osteoarthritis. I wish i had not waited a year. Towards the end the pain became unbearable. I will be a year post op on February 19th and feel wonderful. i still get sore when I over do it, which is often because I love the outdoors and being active. But, I will take soreness over extreme pain any day. GOOD LUCK!!!
Hi Linvin,
I exercised right up to my THR, like you it helped the pain, I did aerobics, pilates, used my elliptical walker and walked, walking did become more difficult as the years went by, had to use a walking stick constantly during the last year to walk the dog before op, but aerobics etc, never hurt me. I only had to take a paracetamol occasionally, nothing stronger. If you carry on exercising you will not have any pain after the op therefore, no painkillers as your muscles will be stronger. Keep up the exercise it will pay dividends.