Hi all i need a hip replacement but too scared of the op and also recovery process i am now
Restricted with walks yoga etc
Need to get myself on the list
Need encourgement
Natural to be scared but as you can see on here we have all come through it and although recovery is challenging the awful hip pain will be gone. All have different speeds of recovery and the secret is to listen to your own body and follow your individual instructions given by your medical team
Our ages vary from 25 - 70+
Be brave and join the club
Don't be scared , I am 8 days post op after having THR under epidural , the op was a doddle . I was awake throughout and aware of everything . I will not lie the recovery is hard going , it's early days for me still but it's great not to have that horrible hip pain , yes I am in pain and discomfort but that's just post op healing , wound etc it is worth it already to be free of the pain I was in
I have to have my other hip done too and I have t been put off 😊 I am hoping that in another 6 weeks or so I will start to have some normality in my life again x
Hi Lucite,
I give you encouragement times 3! One of my favorite sayings is, and I cannot remember the author of it, "We do not make a change until the pain of remaining the same becomes greater than the pain it takes to make the change."
This is a superb site with wonderful people who share and care and cheer each other along. Whatever and whenever you decide what you want to do, we are here for you!
The fear and dread over the surgery is natural, God knows I felt it, but this type of surgery is performed so much and the success rate is high. Do your research which includes asking us, your fellow hippies, anything.
Wishing you the very best! Please keep us informed as you go along so we can cheer you on!
💛 Dawn, USA
Hello Rachael 8 days yes it is hard, day 14 marked a milestone for me when I toddled outside. I am now week 9 and recovery well under way but I still get tired if I do too much. Keeping up with the given exercises and told to do so till next check up in September. Walking lots and enjoying not popping pills
Be kind to yourself and go slowly
Hi all !! Thanks for your replies yes it is now my option of not been able to do lots that i enjoy and pain or going for the op looks like sooner or later i will have to brave the op!!
Hi Lucite.,
I was / still am always scared of any operation I need to have. I have a fear of hospitals and do not trust them because of past experience. I promise that waiting will do you no good at all. It will leave you in sevear pain and feeling miserable
I waited almost 4 years and even though I am scared because I have been through it once and know what is coming. I to have to go through this all again in September I know it is for the best. I do understand that you are scared. Please don't wait get it done. I promise you won't regret it.
Hi lucite .... welcome to this wondeful site ... i agree with all the comments - it is really normal to feel anxious and afraid - funny thing is that it more about the post-op and recovery than the surgery it self .... how are you doing right now? are you still able to do yoga ? walk without pain ?
You probably have more questions and I encourage you to ask them here - you will get honest answers - of course based on our individual journey - all ages and stages ....so please come back
take care - warm hug
Thanks dawn that is a great quote you said and very helpful to me!!
I do walk still but 30 mins max and pain sets in ! Stil do yoga with slight discomfort but restricted i like cycling but thats a no as painful not yet needing painkillers daily only if i over do things i.e long walk and at 54 i dont want to be restricted on outdoors activity also its nice to keep fit
Hi Lucite, as with all the others on here, I definitely advise you to have the op. You are doing quite well at the moment, able to walk for 30 mins and still do some yoga, so the fitter you are, the easier will be the recovery. Don't leave it too long as once its starts to deteriorate, it does this quite quickly. Its not all plain sailing of course, there will be days when you feel down and will feel discouraged, but the other days are great and after a few weeks you will so much better and you won't be in any pain. It goes much more quickly than you imagine. Don't be frightened of having the operation, you will be fine. Lots of encouragement on here and lots of tips in preparation for the op and afterwards that maybe the hospital doesn't tell you about, so keep in touch.
Hi lucite
I am 54 and had the op last october, like you I walked cycled and did yoga, but the pain was becoming increasingly worse. The final straw was on a holiday in Australia I couldn't walk more than 300 yards then needed to sit down so on my return went for it, I was very nervous like yourself but I feel with a bit of youth and fitness on your side you will sail through it. This forum is a godsend there is always someone that has experienced your pain or worry and will reply. I'm 8 months down the line after LHR and I'm virtually back to normal doing walking riding my bike and yoga swimming etc, the only thing I feel I've not got back yet is my stamina which I believe can take up to 18 months to come back but hey no pain.....there is also the odd day when you will feel achy but I put that down to me being nearly 55😁 so my advice would be to go for it before the pain gets that bad that it wears you down, let us know what you decide😁but I would say go for it
Regards Vicki
Hi. I had my left hip replacement 6 weeks ago and on road to being pain free. I too was very anxious, but I talked it through with the surgeon and the anaetheitist on the morning of the op and everything was fine. As others have said, the recovery is slow and my difficulty is that I try to 'run before I can walk!'
I have just joined this forum as wanted advice from fellow hippies, as we are now called. Thw main the Is take it slow and do the exercises.
i am in my mid 40's, if that helps.
let me know how you get on. Best wishes. Sarah
Hi Lucite of course your are anxious we all were at one point. What we can all tell you with conviction is that the pain will get worse, you will end up with no life and that is the awful truth.
The good news is once you decide you want the op, by the time it comes round with advice from us and encouragement you will walk with confidence in for your turn. I was in horrific pain with both hips, unable to walk, put socks on, pain sitting unable to sleep.
It is 5 weeks later and yesterday I went shopping walked further than I have for 2 years and still no pain in my new hip. In fact I have had no pain at all, mild discomfort from my operation but pain killers kept this at bay. When you are ready you will know, ask your GP for either xray or the detials to self refere for Phisiotherapy, they will tell you honestly how bad you are, mine did the referal that set the wheels in motion. Ask any questions you want someone on here will help and reassure you in any way we can. Best Wishes Mags
Hi Lucite. Your fear is completely understandable. I will tell you of my experiences. In 2008 I had to have a left knee replacement and was very scared. I am not going to lie but the recovery was painful. Then in 2010 I had to have a right knee replacement and was dreading it but it was unavoidable. I have since had no regrets about having them done. I am now just over two weeks post op from having my right hip replaced and I can tell you that this has been a doddle compared to knee surgery! I was very restricted with my walking before the op, walking very slowly with a stick and a very bad limp. Walking my dogs was just no fun anymore. The operation I've just had was put off too long and because of this I needed a bone graft so the op was more complex. However, after just over two weeks the recovery has been really good, still walking with one crutch but almost managing to get about, carefully, without it. I have been out in the car with my husband, walked down the High Street and been shopping. Managed to hoover and dust and generally tidy up and have started cooking again (husband is hopeless 
). The only thing I can't do at the moment is walk the dogs or drive but it is only 16 days! With a good waterproof dressing I have been able to shower (being very careful not to slip so have an anti slip mat). The surgeon has told me the other hip needs doing and he doesn't want it to get as bad as the one he has just done so is going to book me in for it when I go for my check up in June. I have no fear of it anymore and the only thing I am not looking forward to is the inconvenience but hopefully the outcome will be worth it. Please don't be scared, be positive and get yourself booked in before it gets any worse. ((hugs))
Hi Lucite, I am also 54, and 55 in sept, my range of walks dropped off so quickly from Jan to March I could hardly get from the carpark into work, and my operation fell right in the middle of some leave I had taken just to stay away from work....now, waiting for my left one to be done and hope it lasts the time I need for the right one to heal up, So now, after the operation last saturday, in one week I can stand on it unaided and totter about the flat unaided but use a stick, I use two crutches out in the street and done two walks, in last two days, each half a mile, but one a bit further than the last, I am sleeping quite well for 6 hrs maybe 7hrs on a wedge of Pillows, and dozining um my recliner, best get on the list before you have to wait too long, here in the UK they have to see you within 18 weeks of you seeing the surgeon, and that can take a while...Dont be scared, it needs doing, and wont get better by without it, and if you loose muscles because oi not getting it done, that will lengthen your recovery time...Wishing you well ands hope you get seen to as quickly as I was...
Kind regards Ian.
Thank you jill this is so encouraging to hear
I think i am going to set myself a target of next week to go and get on a op list!!
Thanks every one who has replied given me confidence i think i am more positive
to go ahead watch this space😀
Glad to hear it gave you some encouragement Lucite. when you go for your assessment you may have to fill in a "tick list" asking questions about how you are coping with your condition. I didn't have to do this and was admitted fairly quickly (only five weeks after referral, probably because of the bad state of my hip shown on the x-ray) If you do have to do this tick list it might be an idea to exagerate a little bit to reduce your waiting time 
Ian, so glad to hear you are doing so well!
💛 Dawn, USA
Hi Dawn thanks for always being there and reading how it goes for all of us, I am now using the stick on the otherside ie on the right to support my left leg now that the right has more strength in it, I had a break fro walking yesterday to see how it all went after two walks in a row, and my right calf swelled up, so the rest was timeios, need to get out later today for a shorter walk. Thanks again for your daily continued interest, it is really nice to have this forum so we can all chat together about our shared predicaments, some folks are having a really hard time of it.
Kindest regards as always.
Ian.