What has been your personal experience with hip replacement surgery?

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What has been your personal experience with hip replacement surgery?

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I am probably going to have this done, and I'm scared. I've read some things online that make it seem painful, a lot of rehab, and a lot of restrictions on activity afterwards. Seems like one wrong twist and the whole thing is wrecked.

People on the forum have been kind and encouraging, and one person suggested I ask others what their experience with hip replacement surgery was.

Right now, I'm not in pain, but my walking gait is wonky, and I can't put my foot out far enough for a normal step. Either something is "catching" in the joint, or my body won't let me put full weight on that side.

Difficulty Walking Hip Replacement Senior Health

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I sent you a PM about my THR experience; it was very good. I will do my left hip in a heartbeat when the time comes, and it will come b/c I have bad osteoarthritis. Back in the old days, they'd cut the body in half practically in order to do a THR. Nowadays, it's totally different; the entire procedure takes 90 minutes (approx) and is done through a rather small incision on the hip/leg area. I had an epidural instead of general anesthesia which was GREAT b/c there was no 'recovery' period afterward. I have asthma, so I was a bit concerned beforehand. I chose Propofol to knock me out during; I could have chosen to stay awake, the surgeon said many people do. Uh, not me nope. LOL.

Anyway, I had very little pain afterward. I was sent home the next morning with NO physical therapy orders; just to walk 4x a day, first with a walker, then a cane, then nothing. Walking is the best PT for THR. No bending, no putting socks on, nothing like that for the first 2 weeks. I needed help for the first week; getting up from bed to the bathroom, etc. I had a toilet riser which helped; nothing in the shower. I showered myself the whole time; the bandage came off rather quickly if I recall. I was back to work in 3 weeks.

"One wrong twist & the whole thing is wrecked" is very bad info! The new hip is very very strong. It takes A LOT to 'wreck' it. I'm sure if you were to try jogging or biking, you'd FEEL it and that would stop you from hurting yourself, you know? I think the worst you'd be able to do is pop the stitches from the incision! But your body tells you when to stop, too. You're not going to do something 'automatically' that's going to foul up your surgery!

One day I thought it would be a good idea to get on my KNEES and clean up some dog hair from the area rug in the dining room, so I did. As soon as I got down there I started sweating. I thought, Oh Great, How Are You Gonna Get UP Now? I was home alone. I managed, although it took me a while and set me back a bit in my recovery. The point of this is to say I was feeling SO good SO fast, I thought I could get on my knees and clean!! LOL

Things are not going to get better with your joint.........things only get worse. Don't let fear stand in your way here. Medical science has come a LONG WAY with THR in the past few decades, and it's miraculous the new body parts we can be given!

Good luck!

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Please take into consideration, I had hip replacement in 2006, and the procedure has been improved and changed since then. I was 59 years old and was born with a defect in my joint that did not manifest itself until then. I was in severe pain every step I took for years, and finally had the replacement. It took several months to happen because of tests, x-rays and getting in to see the surgeon. The operation itself and the day of it was not bad. But they made me get up and walk (!) within hours of the operation; this is common practice. Everyone told me the pain would be gone after the operation. It was, but not for weeks after. The first steps walking were extremely painful to the point I cried and acted like a child because I was expecting less pain then before the operation like the told me, and I was mad. I was hospitalized 3 days and sent home with a walker. A physical therapist came to my home 3 times a week for two weeks. Husband stayed home the first week with me; he had to give me shots in my stomach every day to prevent blood clots. It sounds worse than it is; it's a tiny needle. I had to get up and walk for about 15 minutes several times every day with the walker. One humorous thing, my husband always walked behind me when I did the walking with the walker, and our dog followed behind him. It was so funny. After 2 weeks and a follow up doctor's visit, I could use a cane, and about 6 weeks later I could walk completely on my own, and it was WONDERFUL. I have had no problems at all, except probably for the first year my thigh would occasionally have a dull ache, but nothing serious. I wish I would have done it before I was desperately in pain because it changed my life so much for the better. Like I said at the beginning, I think the timing and technique of things have changed for the better today. Best of luck and don't be scared, the spate of pain will be replaced with wonderful pain-free walking.

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Yes thing are better and they rarely ever use the stomach shot. Most use a blood thinner like aspirin or Elaquis. That you had that kind of pain with initial walking is quite unusual too.

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My 84-year-old aunt had her hip replaced 2 months ago because it got to the point she couldn't take the pain any more. She was in the hospital for a few days but they had her walking the same night of the surgery, and then did PT/rehab for a number of weeks. The doctor said he wanted her walking without a cane 8 weeks after the surgery and she is nearly there (she was driving after 3 weeks). My aunt lives alone in a 2-story house and goes up the stairs every night to bed and is pretty active (she is an avid golfer... this is mainly why she wanted to have it done, I think, it was messing up her swing lol).

She told me that she did her exercises regularly which she believes helped in her recovery, and was just plain DETERMINED. No pain killers other than OTC when she was discharged. She has noticed a great improvement in not only the pain level but her gait as well. She can't wait to hit the links this summer.

Good luck to you, surgery is always scary, but you'll know when it's time.

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Okie, I haven't had hip replacement, but my husband has. He was born with vargas hips, and had both replaced when he was 36, one 6 weeks after the other. The second hip replacement had to be done along with a bone graft. Then about 6 years ago, he had to have a revision on one of them.

He was in a lot - and I mean A LOT - of pain before the replacements, so any pain post surgery was way less than he had experienced on a normal day to day level. When he had the revision, he was in a bit more post surgical pain, but he had been many, many years without any pain, plus he was a bit older, which made it somewhat more painful. But the pain was in no way, shape or form anything unbearable or unmanageable.

For him, the key to recovery was to do his post surgery therapy as much as he could stand. He did way more than the minimum, he was vigilant with keeping on top of all of his PT. Both times (replacement and revision) it took him about 6 weeks to get back to "normal" so to speak.

The biggest difference between the first 2 surgeries and the revision was after the surgeries the first time, he was instructed to put no weight on each of the hips; however after the revision, they encouraged him to be full weight bearing on the leg that had the revision done.

As far as post-surgical equipment is concerned, you should at least have a toilet seat extender, and a shower bench. He didn't need a hospital bed; he did use crutches after the replacements, but not after the revision. The reason for the extender is they don't want your hips to flex more than (I think) 90 degrees - your orthopedist should go over all of this with you. The shower bench just makes things a little easier while you're recovering.

Also, ask your orthopedist if it would be helpful to do any sort of pre-surgery PT, to start building up the muscles in your legs. My husband's doctor is actually prescribing this for his patients who can stand it - he says it makes recovery easier and quicker.

My husband never regretted for one minute having the surgeries.

Good luck.

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I had one hip replaced at age 54. Luckily there was a local doctor trained in the “anterior approach” technique. They go through the side of the hip and don’t cut any big muscles, so the joint stays strong and well-supported. I’m allergic to nickel, so I have a titanium-ceramic prosthetic. You can bear weight on the joint right away, and doing PT/walking will aid in quick recovery. I was walking a mile within a month. There are no restrictions like with a traditional replacement where you aren’t supposed to bend the joint over 90 degrees. I do yoga, hike and exercise and I’m only sorry I waited so long to have it done!

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As a nurse I have had patients who tell me it is very painful. But I have had MORE who tell me that they haven't felt this good in years, almost immediately after surgery. I will tell you that my friend who is a fiduciary had a hip replacement some few months ago and just sent a Christmas card saying how wonderful he feels. Said "No marathons yet, but I feel great". He did his rehab in home.
I will tell you that in the final analysis I have seen everything, having worked ortho years ago, and with any surgery I like to say it is like a fingerprint. All of us have one, but each is unique. I wish you the very best of luck. A wonky gait isn't only bad for your hip pain, but it throws out your back, your knee and ultimately your ankle. So in the final analysis you are, with a bad hip joint, almost without an option. It is at some point, and your doc will tell you when you're there, a case of do it or do more injury to yourself.
I sure do wish you great good luck.

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I remember the client we were warned we mustn't rush, because she'd just got home with a new hip, but especially hearing myself call "wait for me - !" as she vanished off towards her bathroom door with her walking frame while I was still picking up her slippers.

You'll be advised about not bending your hip more than to a certain angle until everything has had time to settle down. Perhaps the best idea would be to ask your surgeon's physical therapy team how to get yourself as fit as possible in advance, for a good recovery after.

Good bone density would be in your favour, too - no worries on that score?

You may have to wear compression stocking(s) for a while. Buy spares! And consider getting a device to help you put them on, but if possible do try before you buy - they all tend to need a bit of practice before they're much help.

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My 86 year old mother just had it done. We call her the bionic woman. Walking with cane in 3 weeks only took tylenol for pain. She was cut on the side not in the back and that makes a difference in pain and recovery time. She also did a spinal and twilight for the surgery. Do your exercises . Use ice alot ,it help alot. We opted for home therapy due to covid concerns. My sister and I took care if her. She has to have her other hip done after the 1st of the year. But we got this. God luck and god speed.

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As you know I sent you several private messages and would have both my hips replaced again in a heartbeat! I have my life back, I can exercise and walk more than 1/4 mile now without pain. I look forward to hiking again.
Hip Replacement surgery is touted as one of THE most successful surgeries there is. It has come a long way with recovery too because of advances made. I highly recommend robotic assisted surgery because they will custom fit your implant and socket.
if you follow the post op care and exercises you will be amazed that usually by week 3 or 4 you are back to driving.
they get you up and walking the same day as the surgery.

walking "wonky" as you put it is affecting other muscles and joints because of compensation. Go see the surgeon and ask lots of questions to put your fears at rest. The surgery itself takes less than an hour. My first one was done in 30 minutes!! It truly is a miracle.

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My MIL (81 at the time) fell and broke her hip, no choice in having the surgery. My advice is LISTEN when they tell you don't move a certain way for a period of time. She was stubborn and said she was going to do what she wants when she wants. She was not supposed to be crossing her legs, supposed to put her legs up a certain way to lie down, and do PT to help. Well, she discontinued PT after only a few times, continued to cross her legs and everything she was not supposed to do. Now, she has constant pain despite 3 steroid injections, won't do PT, and her legs are so weak from not using them she barely makes it to the bathroom. Listen to the doctors, do the PT, and things should turn out great! I have a friend who had it done in 2014, said it was the best decision he ever made! He followed directions from his doctor, did everything he was supposed to, and now says he can't even tell it's there, it's great!

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Msharleyb--Together these two patients clearly indicate that if one "cheats" after having this kind of surgery by not doing or not obeying what the PT prescribed, the patient only cheats herself/himself of a pain-free life. One has a pain-free life after obeying while the other is suffering as if the surgery had never been done.

What has been your personal experience with hip replacement surgery?

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