I am 5 weeks post op posterior and phoned hospital yesterday to try and book the usual 6 week check up in outpatients. I was gobsmacked. It would appear that the “powers that be/bookings clerks” have been trying for a long time to get proper follow up appointments in place but have been unable to do so.
My young surgeon was new to the hospital and I was very pleased to get onto his new list early and pleased with the way my op went. The staff like him and sum him up as being “very ambitious”. He trained at Stanmore and told me on day one there were no restrictions on my bending. He had fitted me in on his new patient list on a Saturday,early,so I was very pleased about that being in agony for almost a year, and staff told me he was working really hard as he was trying to get all the backlog operated on.
However it appears that there are no outpatient appointments in place. I was given a first outpatient appointment in March 2018 and my operation was November 2017. I had never heard of first outpatient appointments being difficult to set up. The booking clerk said there had been requests to get this sorted but as yet the surgeon didn’t have the necessary time slots for many of these. I have now been given one a the end of January but it’s still 9 weeks post op. Has anyone else had a long wait for their first outpatient appointment following a THR?
Not after my hip op. I saw my surgeon 6.5 weeks post op, then he said he did not want to see me unless there was a problem, which surprised me when the joint school class and info said we would be followed up every year. He said no need for unnecessary radiation from x rays if there are no problems. However at another hospital recently, had first appt and diagnostics done very quickly but had to wait over 3 months for a follow up to get results! If he is new and has a backlog to clear it sounds like all his clinic slots are full. The seem to be flaws in the hospital system if you were given a post op follow up initially 4 months post op. Perhaps complain to the chief exec about it.
Yeah, I didn't see the arthroplasty nurse in outpatients until after 10 weeks and that was the date given to me a few days after the op. I think waiting a bit longer is better (unless you have a problem) as things will have healed up more and they will get a better idea of the success (or not) ! 👣
Hi Sarah,
That seems a long time. My follow up app is some 7 weeks after the op so that'
s ok. I also saw the physio after 3 weeks and another one with her in another 3 weeks so am pleased with that.
Tony
Hello sarah
I had my operation in the Nhs Golden Jubilee hospital in Glasgow and their standard follow up appointment is 12 weeks after op which I got few days after coming home. Then in a year with a dedicated helpline if you need advice. But yes I agree why do they not have a system in place for follow up whether their own guidelines are 6 week or 12 weeks. Hope everything is going well.
Dear Sarah
I'm so glad that your surgery went well. I presume you had an X ray of your hip before leaving hospital. I had a follow up at six weeks but I think that really was to check my pelvis which was thought to have been cracked in the ambulance taking me home after the surgery. I think I will be having a check up at one year. If you have no issues then I really would not worry.
All the best, Richard
Hi Sarah,
I hope you are feeling well.
I am in US so timing is a little different but I will tell you something my surgeon told me:
I was having pain so went to see him about 3 weeks post op ( not initially scheduled). My X-rays looked fine and I asked him if the bone had started growing on the stem yet. He told me it was much too early to see that yet.
Please use that as some comfort if you are not in pain that you may get some good news when you do see him in March. Happy New Year!
Sarah ,, no there should not be any reason why to have a delay on following up on your surgery,, if you are having problems and you think something may be wrong, don’t hesitate to go to the ER at the hospital where you had the surgery,, the doctor will have to make you priority if there is something going on,, Him being a new doctor, this surprises me cause he could face a law suit if not careful with his patients,, good luck,, let me know what happens!
Did you have it done on NHS sarah if so which hospital was it xx
Seems a long time which hospital is it Sarah ?
I saw the physios about four weeks after the op to be signed off and the after ops team after six weeks. They were both conversations really and I moved my leg a bit for them. Both appointments were organised before I left the hospital. The check up with my surgeon is six months after the op, I just got sent a letter with the date.
Ohh I totally forgot about the physio appointment. I must phone hospital about that too. Thanks for reminding me.
The only issue I have is my operated foot won’t point forwards. It’s still curved and very difficult to straighten it. There is a chair exercise where you extend the whole leg and then bring it back. My unoperated leg points straight forward but for the life of me I can’t get the other leg the same. Any ideas Richard?
That’s very reassuring to know Nole 
No I don’t really have major problems, it’s a good hospital so I was very surprised to hear a bit of exasperation in the voice of the bookings clerk when she told me this problem had already been mentioned a couple of times but still nothing had been done. I told her it was good he was operating on so many patients in pain but these same patients were going to need follow up appointments!! She agreed. So goodness knows why this is happening with this particular newbie surgeon.
Yes it was but I don’t want to mention hospital names as I’m otherwise satisfied with things.
Dear Sarah
I would do any exercise that stretches the muscles that are restricting your leg movement. Take it steadily just pushing gently and you should find things starting to improve.
All the best, Richard
Hi, I had a physio appointment at 6 weeks where I was discharged, and I had X-rays and follow up appointments at 7 weeks and 7 months when I was discharged. I didn’t see my surgeon again at clinic, except for a wave in the distance.... He was usually busy seeing people who were having problems, and I was lucky, all ok. I saw various other doctors. Good luck with your recovery.
Sarah,
That seems excessive, I was booked in for a 6 week appointment, but due to errors that were uncovered after my THR I had an extra one at 4 weeks 
.
I had another 'first' appointment 6 weeks after my revision too.
Graham
......also..... I’ve realised I haven’t been given a physio appointment either. I’ll be ringing them again next week 😡