My journey had been a long one with my right hip. I don't know the exact point I hurt it, but in 2001 I was in a car accident and another one in 2007 and a snowboarding incident in 2010 that all contributed to the way my hip is today. I went through hip injections, foam rolling, pain meds, pain patches, tens unit. Doctor after doctor. I was still running too, at the time. I finally gave up for awhile, but in 2013 the pain became so unbearable that I went one last time to a different doctor finally I found I had dysplasia (shallow socket). I had my first hip surgery in 2015 for a labral tear and femoral impingement. I thought to myself this is it I can finally get back to my life. I was dead wrong. My hip was worse, my hip buckles, it catches, pinches, felling like it is coming out of place and it pops all the time. In constant pain I went back to the doctor. Now a year later I'm getting a hip replacement on the 4th of January and I am scared to death. There going in anterior approach. The liner will be polyerathanie and the ball will be ceramic. I will be in the hospital for one to two days. On a walker for 5 days and came for 5 to 8 days. I hope this gives me my life back, I hope it does not make it worse. I hope I'm doing the right thing. Feeling nervous.
Hi Linley you have been through alot !!
I can only speak from my experience but I am 6 months post RHR and I am a different person...no pain !!!!
Having a new hip sounds as if it will fix your problems? Focus on the things you can't do today but want too after your new hip .
Good luck Merry Christmas Julie 🖒
So your hip has been hurting, in one way or another, for a decade plus! How awful! The good news is that chances are excellent that the hip replacement will get everything repaired and you will be out of pain and able to walk well soon. Sounds like things are bad enough now that it could hardly be worse! Just be aware that your doctor's comments about you using a walker for 5 days and a cane for an additional 5 - 8 days may be overly optimistic. MANY people here, and on an other forum in which I participate, take weeks and even months, longer to stop using walking aids, especially if they have been in pain and walking with difficulty for a long time before the surgery, like you have. And they usually end up with very good results. So, plan for plenty of time to rest and allow your body to heal after the insults of surgery.
To prepare, you might want to check out "A laymans guide to Total Hip Replacement from one of our users - Rocketman54", which is the last of the resources listed in the pinned discussion at the top of the thread page called THR-Useful Resources: https://patient.info/forums/discuss/thr-useful-resources-487147. Graham (Rocketman) created this page so that many good ideas regarding recovery issues, based on his experience and those of other users on this site, would be in one place.
Best wishes for your surgery!
Hey you have had quite a journey so it makes perfect sense for you to be scared. I too was scared when i had my surgery...granted i didnt face all the adveristy you have had to encounter but i was also involved in a car accident which in as a result fractured my hip..i recently had a THR on my right hip anterior approach on Dec the 6th so my wound is still fresh and i'm still healing...And let me tell you...it was the best decision ive could have ever made for myself pain wise...after dealing a whole year of going to the doctor for tens units and injections and everything else under the sun..im just mad i didnt get this surgery done sooner
Hi Linsey. Like you I had FAI surgery which didn't work and made my hip worse with bone on bone OA within a year. I'm 7 weeks post op from THR and am thrilled with the result. No pain, walking unaided after 3 weeks, just residual stiffness and that is going. You won't regret it - it's a fantastic operation. The first week or so are tough but I recovered more quickly than I did from the FAI surgery. Good luck!
Hay lovie please don't be scared. I have a similar story to yours . Hip dysplasia , pain actually started around age 11 and progressively got worse with little or no help . I became house bound in extreme pain , bone on bone , inpinment etc etc ... anyway I had my hip operation 10 weeks ago and I know I'm going to have my life back , I had posterior approach with is a much longer recovery time . You will need help after the operation of course and most importantly a good physiotherapist, but you really have nothing to be scared about xxx I'm 35 xxx
I had a hip replacement nearly six weeks ago and was terrified! But all the staff were great and immediately my leg felt stronger even though stiff. Do rest because the muscles need to mould tothe new hip. You sound like you are doing the right thing. Do all the exercises they give you too which make all the difference.
dear linsey,
that took some courage to make an appointment for hip replacement surgery ..
of course you feel nervous and are freaking out at times -- it is major surgery after all ... no matter what we tell you, just know that it is perfectly normal -
from waht you wrote I am assuming that you will get the anterior approach and perhaps are in the USA where hospital stays are shorter -
This approach also has less (barely any) restrictions than the posterior approach -
you'll find out for yourself how long you need the walking aids for - You probably get physical therapy as well as your body telling you when you are ready ..
you are definitely doing the righ thing ... what would be the alternative, sweetheart? more pain, more limitiations ?
Please come back here anytime you have a concern or a question, okay
big warm hug and happy holidays
renee
Thanks Julie, I keep telling myself that. I try to think of all the things I will be able to do and do it pain free. Thank you I hope you have a good Christmas. If you traveling be safe
Thank you for the information. yeah I was skeptical of the time frame of things too. I won't lie part of me is hoping the doctor is right, but reality is I know I just have to take one day at a time. Thank you so much again for the information.
I'm glad to hear everything went well for you, it gives me hope and some peace of mind. I hope your right, just nerves. I hope you have a good recovery and you heal fast. Has anything been hard for you?
I hope so, it felt like it took forever for to heal form the FAI surgery. I'm glad everything went so well for you and it has made a difference for you. I really need to stop reading, I have heard so many horror stories on hip replacements. Thank you for easing my mind. I hope you continue to heal and recover fast. Any tips for when I get home?
I hate to hear you struggled in pain and it was for so long. I'm so glad you can get your life back. That's where I am, house bound, the only position that is comfortable for me is lying down on the good hip with a pillow between my hips. It makes me sad. I feel this struggle inside, part of me can't wait to be pain free and regain my life and have my mobility back in that hip and the other part of me is so scared I will die during the operation or something will go bad and I will regret the operation. Im just nervous, but I appreciate the kind words and you helping easing my mind. I hope recovery is going well for you and you are healing up feat. again thank you
Thank you, I will follow the doctors orders to the letter. Any other tips for me? I hope you doing well and your recovery is going well. How long does the stiffness last and are you still experiencing that?
Hi Linsey
​As others have said - every story is different, but there really isn't anything to be scared of. I am nearly six weeks post op and it's GREAT. Really GREAT! Since the moment I woke up I have been pain free for the first time in a very long time - a few aches, but really, nothing much and not at all often. After so much time, you sort of forget what life was like when it didn't hurt, but believe me, it is wonderful. It the best new year present you could have. By summer you will be able to really enjoy all the lovely weather, and the new lease of life you have been given. Hip replacement surgery is now the most successful major surgery going. Sure, there are risks. Everything is a risk, including not having the surgery. But the risk are small, and the opportunities are enormous. Try not to worry.
Thank you so much renee, your so right what would be the alternative no life, pain and not being able to do things. That's where I am now. It gets old. Any tips for when i get home? I hope you have a wonderful holiday, stay safe and warm.
Hi Linsey, Sorry for all the pain and discomfort that you've had. I think everyone is scared before surgery. I certainly was! I just tried to be positive, it's a very routine op these days, must be hundreds done every day. I had pain increasingly for about 5 years. My op was v straight forward, posterior, out on day 2, hardly any pain, just a bit achy at times, and a bit rubbish at night. The bone on bone pain disappears, as if by magic! Everyone heals differently of course, but it's not all bad.
Do you have someone to help you at home? With the posterior approach there's a no bending over 90°. So you need the raised toilet seat etc, and a grabber for picking up all the stuff that you've dropped. There's lots more info on here. Best of luck!