I ran today on my anterior hip replacement. I’m at 5 weeks and 2 days. No pain at all. No problems
Wow......how old are you? I used to run before this surgery but I'm coming up on 5 weeks and can't walk without a cane yet. I may not run anytime soon but I can't wait till I feel like it!
If you look back at many discussions after hip replacement who say the same, then all of a sudden there back on suffering, you need to ask your surgeon if five weeks is OK, the prosthetic joint want be healed yet and could slip down, not trying to scare you but revisions are not great.
I haven't had mine done just yet BUT I have researched this a lot and would really suggest you please take care. Did you have cemented or non cemented.
Don't spoil future success by over doing it early you want a lifetime with that new prosthesis.
Take care
Dear Chris
Excellent recovery so far but I wonder why oh why are putting the life of it in doubt by running on it, especially so soon before your bone has had an opportunity to properly mesh with the prosthesis. If cemented then it should be solid but the impact from running is still going to put it under stress and speed up the need for a revision.
When I had my hip replaced twenty years ago I was advised by my surgeon who was very experienced to not run on it. We'll I could run short distances on very rare occasions but I would not dream of doing so as a regular thing.
The hip gave me my life back and I did not spare myself with heavy and demanding work.
Good luck!
Cheers Richard
Hiya
I am 5weeks and 3days and there is no way I could run mind you I am 64and had a posterior replacement I am just managing no crutches in house but two outside but can climb the stairs properly but slowly please be careful
Susan
🎶 Take it Easy 🎵 Take it Easy 🎶
While running down the road try to
loosen your load 🎶
Be Careful It’s still healing 😜😜
Ha...love this!
No problems at all..... yet. Good luck for the long term
Chris wishing you a continuous awesome recovery.
Please take it easy as 5 weeks is still not very long
Did you get an ok from your surgeon to run?
Total recovery is 1 year.
Dear Dsilk
I'm interested to know how you have come to the conclusion that total recovery is one year.
Cheers Richard
Hi Richard, I don't know where Dsilk has got her information from but she is more or less correct, it takes upwards of a year for the bones to go through all the stages of healing and the last one is the remodelling stage, in the majority of people this is probably all done in 6 months, some 9 and depending on bone density and other health factors can take 12 months and even more.
Its not black and white and all cases have different scenarios.
I was investigating having resurfacing and an emminent orthopaedic surgeon told me that you can't consider recovery complete for a year for exactly the reasons you have quoted this I am sure will apply to THR either cemented or incremented same with broken bones.
Dear Alexandria
Would you like to expand on how the bones are remodeling as it would effect a complete recovery.
I had a total hip replacement twenty years ago by the posterior approach with an uncemented stem. It was drummed into me to avoid twisting the joint for the first couple of months because during that time the bone was growing into the stem and during this growing period the security of the joint would be at risk.
I only needed one stick when I left hospital and chucked that within a few days and I walked and walked and to be honest had forgotten about my new hip very quickly.
I was back climbing ladders and doing building and farming work pretty soon and was not aware of lack of muscle strength after a couple of months so cannot quite follow the expectation that it takes about a year to be fully recovered hence my question.
Cheers Richard
Just to add to my posting my hip revision (posterior approach) of a few months ago is history and I can operate normally with no concerns even when climbing ladders etc.
I'm really not sure what difference I will notice in another seven months, though of course I realize that we all get over surgery at different speeds due to lots of factors.
Cheers Richard
It's so difficult to be specific but most studies show that bone regrowth around the prosthesis is normally complete at 3 to 6 months so normal activities should be safe however DEXA scans tend to show that maximal bone density is not achieved until around 12 months with this in mind it is usually advisable to avoid high impact activities for the first 12 months this generally would include running especially on hard surfaces or any martial arts skiing etc.
Cheers Martin
Dear Martin
Interesting stats. I imagine that the speed of bone locking into the prostheses really flattens off after the first three months but obviously differs from person to person.
As for running at any stage, logic in addition to professional recommendations say that any impact to the joint will reduce it's life.
For me looking after my new joint was and is far more important than doing anything that is likely to shorten its life. It's the only reason why I did not return to hang gliding following my first hip replacement as one usually has to run to take off and for landings...sometimes quite a hard run!
Cheers, Richard
Hi Richard
Its very difficult isn't it everyone is different and we all start from a different place, I think the stem is secure at 3- 6 months but it is the bone density that seems to increase over time again this will vary especially in the more mature ladies when osteoporosis may be an issue.
I think at the end of the day it is all down to common sense and expectations. Shame you have had to give up hang gliding must be so exhilarating (tried free fall once) but can see it could be an issue with hips I am using that as an excuse not to do another freefall !!.
Hope you are having a good weekend
Regards
Martin
Dear Martin
All I know is that I was very active prior to the surgery twenty years ago and although the posterior approach indicates taking precautions over the first few weeks all I was told was to not twist or jar the leg/hip.
I'm pretty certain that I was not told about the ninety degree rule and I was mobile right from the very start and with almost no pain. Certainly no issues after leaving hospital.
Being self employed meant that I needed to get back to work fast and I gave that new hip a hell of a hard time over the twenty years and reckon that I got my money's worth out of it<BG>
The revision which was done the same way has been great and means that now I can concentrate on getting my total ankle replacement revised which only lasted five years.
Bit of a bummer as recovery is very much harder than a hip replacement is and the idea of having to go through it all again to put right surgery that was not as well done as it should have been is so disappointing.
All the best, Richard
I’m 70 1/2