I need to get a hip replacement. I just read on the internet that being overweight can affect the results as well as smoking. Can people tell me how much over weight will affect my hip replacement? I have gained weight not being ble to move properly and sitting due to iinstability. I do not smoke much. I know I have to quit. Can any of you outh there please give me some input? I am concerned about the leg being alot shorter than the other. Any input on that? How long do you have to take pain medication?
Well, I can speak to the weight aspect and a little to the smoking. I do not smoke however, I do know that smoking affects the bone growth into a new hip prosthesis. Poor bone growth affects the stability of the joint. From the weight aspect, what I was told by my surgeon was my weight neede to be proportionate to my height. I am 5'6" and right at 250, fairly muscular. I had weight loss surgery in 2012 and my highest weight was 363 lbs. after losing weight, I became much more active, riding my bike, doing various exercise classes. About 2 years into the exercise program was when I started noticing lots of hip degeneration symptoms. As far as leg length issues, that was one of the reasons I elected to do the anterior approach. They are able to do realtime x-rays during surgery to check leg length and if needed, camps be corrected at that time. With posterior and lateral approach, leg length is based on surgeon experience. I preferred the realtime X ray and ability to address it at the time. I don't know about other surgeons but mine would not even consider doing the THR if I was smoking.
Hi Cathy, I was slightly overweight due to mobility but nothing that hindered my hips.
I luckily gave up smoking a couple of years ago and switched to vaping (painlessly!). My surgeon also said that he wouldn't consider smokers because of the need for good bone growth after. Use this as the excuse you need to dump the cigs.
Leg discrepancy doesn't happen that often and usually for good reasons - I had to wait for my second hip 6 months later to be totally straight but this was known before.
Getting fit and ready for this big op is normal for a lot of people and if you are living in pain then it is worth kicking the bad habits!
Hi Cathy,
Warm welcome to our family of hippies forum where we share our personal stories -
I live in Holland and my weight (considere obese in Los Angeles - erm .. yeah, I am overweight) was no issue and so was my smoking - smoking however was a biggie in Los Angeles - so my conclusion : it depends where you are and who is your surgeon -
Pain medication depends on your experience of pain ...
Do you have difference in legs right now? I had prior THR surgeries, they are now (supposedly) same length ..
please come back here okay, you are not alone !
warm big hug
renee
Don't know much about the smoking aspect but I have struggled with my weight over the years.
My surgeon told me that no routine (and hip replacement seems to be a routine op nowadays) operations can be done on anyone with a BMI of 35 or over.
Not sure if this varies from different Health Authorities but it's the rule in Staffordshire
On the weight front, in the UK, we are 'advised' to have aBMI of less than 30 - youcan calculate it on the NHS website (google NHS BMI CALCULATOR), see my website for a link to it. Details of my website at
https://patient.info/forums/profiles/rocketman-sg6uk-907025
Graham - 🚀💃
Hi Cathy...
I am considered overweight but have had a very successful THR...I had also gained weight due to pain and relating inactivity. My surgeon was kind and knowledgeable. He understood that my ability to lise,weight was significantly hindered by my pain and inability to be active...he was able to complete an anterior approach THR...he was so encouraging and indicated that I would be able to be pain free and more active after surgery...and he was right!
I am not a smoker...but all went very well...
I encourage you to have a good talk with your doctors and get a second opinion if needed...there are talented surgeons who can help you, just as you are!
Best of healing...
Harplayer
Hi Cathy,
I had to lose weight in order to have my op. I lost enough weight to get my op. Took ages as I didnt move at all, sat down day and night due to pain.
When I saw my surgeon the other day for a check up. He said I must continue to lose weight to help with the life of my new hip. It will wear out faster if I remain too heavy.
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