im in a lot
of pain now and have no life due to right hip worn away . I have seen the consultant who says i need to lose a bit of weight before he will do it but its hard due to no mobility.. Im so scared though. I know the pain will be gone but im
Stillfrightened. I just need my life back ..
Hi Julie, I know how you feel. I had a bilateral hip operation 11yrs ago, like you never had an op before. I remember waking up in the recovery room and saying ‘when am I going in?’ It will be fine, in my experience there was no pain at all afterwards - the hospitals pain management worked a treat.
You just need to make sure everything is organised well at home for your return so life is as easy as possible. You will have a new lease of life…
It is because like everything that’s new or unknown we let our minds conjure up the worst case scenario, what bit are you most scared of because if you break it down you can lessen the fear, also how old are you
Have you heard the saying, theirs nothing to fear but fear itself.
Hi Julie,
In 2017 I was in the same position as you are now. I was in constant pain from my right hip. I could not bend down fully, tie my own shoe laces or even put my socks on without assistance.
My GP referred me to the hospital and the consultant told me because my BMI was over 30 the local health authority would not allow him to replace my hip. He told me to try to lose some weight and gave me an appointment for 6 months later. In desperation I joined slimming world and managed to lose the weight. I had my right hip replaced last July and it gave me my life back. I faithfully did the exercises the physio gave me, which I think was key in me making a full recovery.My right hip is now totally pain free, I can happily recommend this operation.
My bags are all packed now because I am booked in for my left hip replacement tomorrow! I am not worried about having another operation because I know how much my life will improve and be pain free.
Its daunting to face surgery, particularly if you’ve never had an operation before, but its short term discomfort for long term gain.I wish you well Julie, God bless.
Julie,
Have you tried using an exercise bike, it is non weight bearing and should not cause pain. Once you start using regularly it will ease the pain before and especially after the hip op, the fitter you are the less or zero pain you will have.
Hi Julie, last december I was just like you, terrified and contemplating my first operation since I had my tonsils out sixty odd years ago. But believe me, the operation was a doddle - you go to sleep, you wake up, your done. I was having a conversation with the anaesthetist - blinked - and carried on the conversation not realising that I had been out for over an hour. Back into the ward for a sandwich and a cup of coffee. Certainly for a few hours I was trussed up with tubes and wires but they didn’t worry me. Next day I joined the other post op patients shuffling up and down the corridor with my zimmer frame and feeling silly that I had worried so much. Second day being checked over by the surgeon and physiotherapist - got dressed - went home. Never any pain, just a bag full of pills, and a leg to take special care of for a few weeks. I was fortunate in having a wife who likes to fuss to help me in and out of bed, put my socks on, lace up my shoes. The only downside of the first weeks at home - putting on weight and having to watch daytime television. After four weeks, catching a bus into town for a coffee and a sticky bun, driving the car to the clinic. Six weeks - digging the garden. Looking back I am convinced that the hip operation was less stressful than a trip to the dentist.
Hi Julie,
I find it so sad when I hear this wight issue as I was a private patient and when I said to my surgeon I was a bit over weight he said so are we all! It made no impact on my op as I was paying. I feel its just an excuse to keep the cost of the NHS down and waiting lists shorter. Good Luck as the op will most definitely change your life as it has my life.
I can say exactly the same for me
Hi. I was just getting over a planned surgery to my right ankle when I had a fall off my crutches and broke my right femur up high near the hip joint. The weight issue is more about making life easier for you. After the op their will be no weight bearing for a short while,so the less you weigh the easier it will be to move around with your walking frame. That extra weight will just add to your exhaustion levels etc. Its been seven weeks since my operation and although I have no pain I am still using my frame until I feel a bit stronger. I am going to upgrade to a walker with wheels this week. Although it was not a hip replacement,recovery time can be a bit longer with a fracture. Good luck.
Hi i think its the fear of being put to sleep. Its stupid i know. Im 57 but feel older ..
Thankyou for your lovel y reply. That has reassured me . Im struggling to lose weight but so determined now.i just want my life again .once again thankyou x
Hi jen no havent tried that . I used to use one years ago before my hip problem but i found it made my knee worse. Do you think it would be ok now ? As my hip is very painful.
Thankyou john thats reassuring.yes i know that once im asleep its done but i think its all the lead up to it that scares me. Im just being silly and need to get on with it ..
Hi john yes you are right .. Bet they would do it if i was paying.. My surgeon actually said to me if i operate on you now i would probably kill you … What that did to my confidence i cant tell you !! I asked him to explain as that made me feel like was about thirty stone ! He said it wasnt the anthestic it was the afterwards as overweight people are more prone to infection !! Id never heard of that before . So after him telling me that it understandbly put me right off..
Yesi totally understand. The weight needs to come off anyway .it makes sense for an easier recovery thankyou
Hi john glad im not alone . Do you need a hip replacement ?
Julie,
I suffered several years with my hip as I was terrified of having an operation and always said to people who nagged because of how badly I walked “I prefer my own bones”. My legs became very unlevel, I would estimate between 1 - 2 inches as I had to put my toe on the floor not the foot, they are now level.
You will not feel or know anything about the op, it will be all over in two hours from being wheeled out of the ward to being woken up.
Exercise is the best remedy for pain. prior to my hip op I walked so badly I made penguins look good 
, yes I had pain of course I was bone on bone for several years, but I never stopped exercising - walking the dog, pilates, aerobics, exercise bike then elliptical walker. I only took paracetamol occasionally, normally at night for sleeping by morning all good. After the op last april I have had no pain at all, I did not rush recovery as people seem to try and do I preferred slow and sure, I joined the local leisure centre at 5.5 months for pilates, step aerobics and zumba.
In answer to your question I personally, think you should exercise, sometimes we need to push ourselves to improve.
I did not go to sleep, I had a spinal and opted for no sedation. You do not have to have a general anaesthetic for a hip op normally.
How much weight do you need to lose, what is your current BMI? My surgeon would operate on people with BMI less than 39.
Your surgeon is not saying he will not operate just because of the cost, there is more of a risk if you are heavier and they naturally want to limit it. I am sure that the NHS may be overdoing it a bit, but it really depends on your BMI. There was a person in my ward who had been told to have bariatric before they would operate on her hip.