hi all I’m recently diagnosed with severe arthritis to my R hip.none to L thank goodness. had hip pain for over 4 yrs and just thought it was arthritis as now 62. But since July been getting pain at night in R leg which has now progressed to having to walk with a crutch all the time due to severe pain to hip groin and thigh. not getting out a lot either. anyway I’m now awaiting my first hospital appt date and hopefully surgery.
any advice 're surgery and recovery dos and fonts would be appreciated.
thx for any replies and hope you are all recovering well
Hi Julie,
I am also 62, had THR at 61 last April eight years after a fall which caused the arthritis to accelerate. The best thing you can do is exercise, exercise, exercise, it will help with pain before and after the hip op. Aerobics, Pilates and using my exercise bike did not cause me pain, I had most pain when walking and had to use a walking stick, full time in the last year. As I exercised I only needed to take a paracetamol occasionally, normally before bed.
I had no pain after the hip op therefore, no painkillers which are bad for your liver etc., If you have or can get an exercise bike or better still an elliptical walker cheap (lots around) it will pay dividends while waiting for your hip op.
Hi Julie, sounds very similar to my situation but I think you have read my story so far. Good Luck and keep us posted.
The for your reply. Interestingly I fell 9 yrs ago landing on my bum but snapped my L knee ligament. They never checked my hips but wouldn’t be surprised if the fall escalated the arthritis as my L side is almost normal with only a mild bit of arthritis in it. I’m atm having to get any using a crutch as it’s so painful and I feel like I’m going to fall otherwise. I doubt I can do the bike exercises cos of my L knee as that can give way at times lol. But I’ve found the exercises they suggest on here post op so I’ll start them and see how I go. All the stuff I’ve read so far (not much ) does suggest pre op exercises reduces immobility post op.
Thx again for your advice and reply x
Hi Julie, are you having your hip done on the NHS? I feel the most important thing is to get a really good surgeon who has done lots of hips and has a good track record. I think the op results also depend on your age, your attitude and also your fitness, it really is worth getting as fit as possible beforehand.
See my website for tips from hippies on this forum, the address is in my personal info here …
Patient Communities - Our community of patients, carers, and health-conscious individuals is here to help.
and at the bottom of the moderator’s “useful resources” page at
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/thr-useful-resources-487147
Best wishes
Graham - ¯_(ツ)_/¯
My mind says NO, yet I am a 66 year old healthy, active woman.
From December 2017 to December 2018, I, a once very active women, became very limited in all activities, due to the excruciating pain from my groin, buttocks, back and shooting pains down to my knee. In that 1 year I met with various surgeons at Hospital for Special Surgery, a neurologist and a pain doctor. I received 4 spinal injections in my back and 3 cortisone injections in my hip and bursar. I received multiple opinions . . . back, hip, sacroiliac joint, etc. I had hoped to be a candidate for Stem Cell and Platelet Rich Plasma. Another year from a prior MRI now showed severe hip deterioration as well as AVN. I was no longer a candidate for Stem cell and went back to the first surgeon I had met with. We did not have a good rapport, and the only reason I chose him is because he studied under the surgeon who replaced both knees on 9/2/11. That surgeon was no longer at HSS. I had postponed hip surgery due to fear and vulnerability. When I had my knees replaced, I lived alone with my 2 German Shepherds, my husband had passed away the year before. I didn’t feel vulnerable, no fear, I was looking for relief and never doubted that I would receive it. I had no pain when I woke from surgery and was numb from the waste down. I knew that I would not feel anything because I had received education about having both knees replaced.
I had RTHP on 12/26/2018 and when I woke from surgery I felt as though my hip had been ripped apart by a shark. When I had my knees done, there was no pain and I was out of bed the following day. It took too long to get my pain under control and I believe that was a huge emotional set back for me. Because I lived alone with my now 2 Portuguese Water dogs, the surgeon decided to keep me in the hospital for 2 nights and then he was going to send me home. I did get out of bed and did PT in the hospital, but emotionally I was a mess. I had a panic attack, was in pain and could not stop crying. They gave me more dilaudid and that helped a bit. Next they tried oxycontin, and I had tremors. I had taken vicodin prior to surgery and while it helped before the surgery, I was still in pain. Back to dilaudid and I experienced some pain relief. Thank God my son spoke to the surgeon, the social worker and the PA, and insisted that I be sent to rehab. I didn’t want to go to rehab, but I knew he was right, because I was a total emotional mess. My surgeon may have done a good job, it’s not yet been a month so the jury is still out, but he was a cold fish. On Friday my son drove me to Kessler, a world renowned rehab and I was admitted. He also took my 2 dogs back to Philadelphia with him which was a huge relief.
Upon my admission to Kessler, I stared at the wall, could not eat and had not slept for 24 hours, nor did I sleep at Kessler that first night. I had to ask for help to go to the bathroom, to dress and undress and was not able to weight bare on my right leg. The following morning I was wheeled into rehab. I looked around and saw amputees, a 17 year old boy who was now a paraplegic due to a game he was playing with friends and fell, and I saw patients with brain injuries. As I looked around, I began to feel as though my pain and my hip were a luxury problem. With the help of the PT’s, the aids, the nurses, the volunteer who brought a newspaper daily, I was able to become the woman I knew I was. I made a huge turn around and could not wait to get my green card which meant I could leave my room with a walker or a wheelchair. Bt the 3rd or 4th day I received that green card and continued to become aware of my surroundings and my gratitude continued to grow. I took pain meds before therapy and received nothing less than encouragement. They had therapy dogs and my main PT arranged a 20 minute session with a Golden Retriever who fell asleep with his head on my stomach and lightly began to snore. She told me that she knew I would move forward swiftly and the meeting with my wonderful doctors, nurses and PTs determined that after my stay of 8 days that I could go home. They arranged for an OT, a PT, and a nurse to visit me at home. After observing my movement, my OT advised that I did not need her. I had already made my home ready for recovery, ie, I had 2 raised toilet seats with handle bars, I purchased a hip replacement kit from Amazon, as well as a wonder wrap that could be used to ice my hip or alternatively it could be heated in the microwave.
After being home for 10 days, my son asked if I was ready for Randall, my 11 month old dog. I missed them terribly and had made many advancements at home, and readily agreed that I was ready for Randall to come home. We both agreed that it was a better idea for me to do 1 dog at a time. Randall has been like a therapy dog. Always at my side, and always looking at me as if to say “are you okay?” As I walked Randall, I was amazed at how light the leash was. I live in a 3-story townhouse, and taught him to heal as we descended the stairs and I always had my cane inside and out. I always had my cane and he gently came down the stairs when I gave the go ahead. They had been gone since December 25th and as I grew healthier, I longed to have Stella, my soon-to-be 3 year old to come home. My son brought Stella home two days ago and it was a wonderful reunion. I walk both dogs separately, and despite Stella’s uncertainty with the cane, I continue to use it.
My follow-up is February 3rd. I don’t expect my surgeon to apologize, but I want to know why I had to wake in so much pain. He is against pain meds, however his PA did give me a script for viicodin. I find the morning to be most difficult and have pain that begins at the groin and goes to my knee. I wait until after I’ve walked Stella and Randall to take a vicodin and the pain is gone. It allows me to walk, walk, walk, which is excellent for hip replacement.
Were I to ever have to do this again, I would make sure that I never wake up again in pain. I’m home with my 2 dogs, have had wonderful support, and my hope is that I will be able to again hike and walk 3-5 miles daily. But a little common sense goes a long way and I listen to my body. When I get tired, I rest.
I hope all goes well with you. If possible, bring someone with you when you meet the surgeon - I was flying solo and that is a regret that I now have. Make sure to have questions written down, it is overwhelming and you may forget to ask. Find out if you are having the anterior or posterior surgery and before you go, read up on both and also read this board. There is a lot of information here. Good luck and keep us updated.