Well, I have read a lot of the comments on this web, and it has not been very consoling.
I am due to have a right hip replacement 14th August. They intend to do it with part porcelain and part plastic (some excellent hard plastic I am told). I am 62, healthy diet, fit, etc..now this. I have been on crutches now for 3 months and am beginning to lose muscle strength and height in my right leg
Yes I am scared, and like everyone else, heard good and bad results.
They did not check my left hip - is this normal to check out only the problem side?
I also have a prolapsed disc, and ot sure if this has been taken into consideration - I have asked.
I suffered a lot 3 months ago and the cortizone injection helped. I copy with the discomfort, but not looking forward to not sleeping and not being able to sleep on my side etc.etc. Although I can not walk without the crutches, feel that I almost have a life, though not the same as 3 months ago.
I pray that it well get better and will try to be positive, though I do not like some of the comments on this site._ 0 votes F Report g Share
You will be fine. I'm 40 and had a total r hip replacement in aug last year and I won't lie it isn't a pleasant op and recovery can differ from person to person. I was about 9 mths until I felt the real benefit but everyone time is different. I have osteo arthritis and if u were to ask if I was glad to get it done I'd say yes. Took me a while to say that coz u do have to make changes to your sleeping positions and how u do things but I'm sure you will be fine. I got ceramic on ceramic. Don't look too much in to how quick people recover because I remember that getting me down thinking I should be able to do this and that... Good luck x
Don't worry. I am 4 weeks post op for a left thr and am doing really well. I am also 62 and fit. Missing walking the dog and doing my garden, but both will be still be there a few more weeks when I am a bit more mobile. Sleeping on my back has been amazingly easy, considering I have never done it in my life. Every day gets better, so please don't listen to all the doom and gloom - the doctors have your best interest at heart you know!
Try to stay positive..I'm 63 and had right THR in Feb...now back at work with no pain, no limp and almost where I was 5 years ago.....it just takes time!
Hi I had a thr in May couldn't believe how good my hip has been , I had trouble sleeping on my back so just got lots of pillows and put them under my stomac and leg and I slept part on my side which was a bit more pleasent and a pillow in between my legs that helped a lot . When I went for my checkup I seen that the other hip is on it's way but wasn't as bad as my right hip , I also have it in my spine and neck and foot and get injections in them but not much help , hope your pain goes soon
I think you should stick with the good news only. Forget the bad news. We all come out of this differently. I wish i had visited forums before my surgeries (both hips) and became more informed if only to discuss the issues with the surgeon.
I knew that both my hips were bad because we looked at the xray together and doctor explained what we were looking at and then said 'these are the worst hips i
have ever seen'. I was crushed. He then went on and described how he was going to do this but i did not hear a thing, it was all just a big blurr..
you'll be fine, keep positive!
Hi Mrs Anne,
Am sure you'll be fine, i had THR on my left hip in April of this year and still use a crutch when going out for walks i find it help me when the left hip is a bit tired. But everyone is different and recover at different times. I use to read the bad comments and it leave me feeling down but now i only read the good comments and know everyone recover at different stages.
Good luck hun, Keep us posted on your progress.
Anne, I'm having my THR on my right side with also correction for hip dysplasia next week and next year will have my left leg done....with dysplasia also, but the reason for the replacement is arthritis....I have been waiting almost two years between seeing doctors, tests and referrals, so I am anxious to have it done as I stay pretty much close to home for past year....when I started readingthis forum 2/3 weeks ago it was full of very positive comments and yes lately I have been reading some issues patients have beencoping with....but Ithink this is normal....they too need someplace that they can seek support and advice and learn from others what road they are going down....unfortunately with any surgery there can be complications and we all go into it hoping for the best, and for the vast majority everything goes as planned, but it is still nice to know that there are many people here that can offer words of advice and comfort when we need it....patricia from Toronto
Hi,
Forget al the negative comments and concentrate on the positive, we are all different. You will get used to sleeping on your back quite quickly and the six weeks or so will go quicker than you imagine and then you should be able to find some other positions to sleep in (I must admit it was the one thing I was worried about but its really not that bad). Good luck and best wishes for your future THR,
I am 12 days post total left hip replacement and I am doing well. You need to stay positive do as the doctors/physios tell you and you will be fine. Everybody is different. I was absolutely terrified but it was fine and will not worry about getting my knees and other hip done - listen to your body as it will tell you if you are doing to much xx
Ok, some people have a difficult rehab, most do alright and a few seem to hardly notice the op after the first week. But, have confidence that overall most people have a better function than they did pre-op and that it doesn't get worse for many years.
They prefer to do hips one at a time and only a few surgeons will consider doing both in the one op, sometimes a hip which a doctor says will need replacing settles down after the first op so take it one joint at a time. So get this one done and see how the other one behaves as you get more mobile.
I did wake oftener for the first couple of weeks and needed to go to the loo but I can't say that I didn't sleep, pillow under the knees a great help. You do get tired from the effects of the surgery - take a nap - get as much help as possible and save your energies for getting well and strong again.
The mantra for rehab in the early stages is little and often and when your body says 'enough' then take notice. Build up steadily and each increase gives you a boost - concentrate on improvement rather than how far you have to go. It's a marathon - think about the next goal, I walked to the gate, I walked to the corner etc. Don't think, I hoped to do this 10 mile hike - that may well be next season assuming the rest of your body is OK.
If you look at some of the comments you find that people will say things like 'I was really disappointed for the first ... weeks then it all got much better'. I had a really easy time, no breakthrough pain, walking felt so 'right' and now hoping that my knee replacement goes as well. 4 months on can walk a couple of miles with sticks - any further and the knee sulks and complains.
Be prepared for some pain and ask for top-up relief, do your exercises and walks and I'm sure that in a few weeks you'll say that it was worth it.
Good luck
Hi Anne..similar to you I have had arthritis for at least 10yrs,but managed to walk,cycle without too much pain until around 12mnths ago when it became impossible to walk unaide,even then I had to stop every few hundred yards.
I had LTHR in Feb this year,and as most other people found it quite an ordeal
It wasn't til 16wks post op I began to feel it was worthwhile,now 6mnths post op and my new hip is brilliant,,so much so I hardly ever think about it.
the muscles do take months to repair and probably a year to get back to normal,it's a slow process requiring a lot of patience.
You asked about your other hip,well my right hip now gives me pain and I will need that replacing sometime,but plan to enjoy this summer first and have it done next spring.
Arthritis is an unpredictable disease.some days are fairly pain free,then the next day can be painful.
I still take a stick with me walking,just in case.
Very easy to say,but try your best not to get to anxious about your op..but the 16wks of pain and discomfort is only a short time,and if all goes well your life will improve beyond belief..I used to drum that thought into my head everyday.
Six months from now you'll wonder what all the fuss was about,good luck.
Forgot to add on my previous comment to you - i am now 18 weeks post left anterior surgery and doing GREAT. So go for it.
Many thanks. Yes, I have a dog too and enjoy walking. Hate sleeping on my back because of back pain!
That sounds good and encouraging! Thank you
I have managed the pain, I was given a cortizone injection last April and doing OK. So dreading the previous pain and restrictions that I had back in March and April. Just started to enjoy sleeping on my side. Now back to square one by the sounds of things. But, lets pray it is for not TOOOO long! Thanks
Thank you. Yes - positive is the KEY word. I will try to keep smiling!
Will do, and thanks to you all for being so encoraging!
Yes, that is true! Thank you andall the best to you too.