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Original poster

Are you ok after hip replacement

42 replies

icantchangetime · 15/10/2023 22:08

Friend (age 58) going in for a hip replacement. She's also had some health issues so her fitness has deteriorated but she used to be very active 10 years ago.

What are her chances of being 'normal' after a hip replacement?

For instance, can you ride a bike, be on a horse, go climbing or are we talking basic good mobility when walking?

OP posts:
Londonscallingme · 15/10/2023 22:11

My boss had one and he was doing normal stuff (walking, riding a bike, riding. Motorbike) within a few weeks, it was incredible. He’s also had a knee replacement but the hip recovery was much faster. Suggest they take all the advice from the physio very seriously and do everything they are told. Hope it goes well!

PushingPeopleAway · 15/10/2023 22:18

I’ve known 3 people personally who’ve had the op. Two were left in pain with a limp, one has needed a stick to walk that she didn’t need pre op. Some sort of issue with screws, I believe one was able to have them removed (or trimmed or something), although they didn’t do it for a very long time, they were unable to help the other lady and she had to medically retire.
The 3rd wasn’t very mobile anyway as older, but it obviously meant she was no longer in pain.
I’ve seen other people (but don’t know them) who say hip replacement has been marvellous.

Twiglets1 · 15/10/2023 22:19

I had a hip replacement a few years ago when I was early 50s and I can do almost everything now pain free. Haven’t tried horse riding though so don’t know about that & think I would feel a bit nervous in case I had a fall. Overall though, it was amazing to get the hip replacement done as I was in so much pain I could barely walk and now I feel normal again.

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Dementia & alzheimer's
AgingDisgracefullyHere · 15/10/2023 22:24

I've had both of mine replaced over the last two years and I feel fantastic. I can do everything.

Zofloraqueen27 · 15/10/2023 22:25

I had a second hip replacement done last year at 72yrs old. Two days in hospital and I was discharged home. I live alone and had to manage by myself. I batch cooked some food to last me a couple of days. I had a few weeks ordering food online as I could not get out.

I managed to get around my flat with crutches. I could not drive for about six weeks.

I could manage walking quite quickly but don’t think horse riding or biking would be a good idea -risk of falling and dislocating new hip. It is sensible to avoid any risks as far as possible to prevent tripping or falling.

Physios will advise on chair seat and bed height. levels and may provide some aids such as temporary higher toilet seats and lifts for chairs. These two items will help as your friend will find it difficult to get into lower seating posture for a while.

All in all I recovered very quickly as I have a very positive outlook which does help, no other choice really.

I am sure your friend will appreciate short visits and someone to make her a cup of tea and a sandwich. Getting out of the house would have been a nice treat.

Cherryana · 15/10/2023 22:45

I had one 5 months ago.
At first you think will I ever walk up and down the stairs again or sit on the loo?! But you do recover and while it can feel slow at the time - it’s very quick.

Your friend must do her physio exercises. I went to a private physio for 13 weeks post op - and by that time I was walking limp free.

I am now 5 months and go to the gym - I am doing everything low impact until 6 months have gone by.

I do get aches and it’s a 12 month recovery all in, they say. But it’s been life changing- going from excruciating daily pain to being able to walk normally and pain free.

JayAlfredPrufrock · 15/10/2023 22:46

My friend’s mum had one a few months ago and is now doing regular 26 mile walks.

It’s life changing. In a good way.

Original poster
icantchangetime · 15/10/2023 22:54

Wow. Sounds amazing. Thank you

Someone else pointed out that Craig Revel on Strictly has had one too so all sounds good

OP posts:
Wbeezer · 15/10/2023 23:03

My mother has had two and has great mobility at 80, my poor MIL seems to have had every horrible complication going including a drug resistant fungal infection in her hip, her mobility seems to get worse with every op ( I think she is on joint number 4 on one leg). She was a fit golfer in her early fifties at the start, and now has a blue badge at 73.
I have a friend my age (55) who had one and is back hill walking.

Twiglets1 · 16/10/2023 07:09

You definitely still get aches for at least a year, actually 2 years in my case. But they are very mild compared to the pain before a hip replacement.

I believe the operation has a high success rate, especially in younger people who are more likely to be mobile after the operation. Doing the exercises they tell you to do is very important.

onlyoneoftheregimentinstep · 16/10/2023 07:23

I had one over 10 years ago, when I was sixty, and it's been amazing. The first few days were hard but I was soon off crutches and only using one stick, and back to normal in six weeks. I'm very active, do childcare for my DGC most days and walk for two to three hours whenever I can fit it in. I never really think about it.

GreenVelvetCushions · 16/10/2023 08:26

Physio physio physio.

garlictwist · 16/10/2023 09:07

Can I ask people on this thread the reasons they had a hip replacement? I really want one but am only 42 so the NHS says no. I have a torn labrum on both hips and increasing OA as a result. They also won't do a labrum repair as they say I'm too old for that surgery so I am stuck being both too old and too young!

Disturbia81 · 16/10/2023 09:12

The people I know who've had one have completely changed for the better, it's been amazing to see. The false hips have come a long way.

Twiglets1 · 16/10/2023 09:19

garlictwist · 16/10/2023 09:07

Can I ask people on this thread the reasons they had a hip replacement? I really want one but am only 42 so the NHS says no. I have a torn labrum on both hips and increasing OA as a result. They also won't do a labrum repair as they say I'm too old for that surgery so I am stuck being both too old and too young!

I was in a lot of pain from one hip despite only being early 50s. No idea why as the other hip was absolutely fine and still is. I was limping all the time and taking more and more painkillers and waking up in pain at night.

I got a replacement on the NHS after they did an x Ray to assess the situation.

garlictwist · 16/10/2023 09:45

Twiglets1 · 16/10/2023 09:19

I was in a lot of pain from one hip despite only being early 50s. No idea why as the other hip was absolutely fine and still is. I was limping all the time and taking more and more painkillers and waking up in pain at night.

I got a replacement on the NHS after they did an x Ray to assess the situation.

Show quote history

Thank you - what did the xray show? Do they know why you were having pain? How long do they expect the replacement hip to last?

Marilla1966 · 16/10/2023 09:52

My mum had one a few years ago at the age of 75. She was petrified but wouldn’t hesitate now, if she needed it in the other one. She did everything she was told to do and exactly 6 weeks later was strolling around the local flower show in no pain at all.

Mum2aTeen · 16/10/2023 09:52

I had my second in April this year. My first was July last year ( the first one was my left hip. the second was my right hip).
It's absolutely amazing afterwards they get you up as soon as you feel your legs again (they give you a spinal before putting you to sleep) so basically the next day they take you for a little walk and get the catheter out so you can go to the toilet and shower (that's the best shower ever) I was in hospital for 5 days each day they had me up walking by day 3 I was trying the stairs I wasn't allowed home til I could do them (as I have stairs to enter my home) they send you home on crutches it's about 6 weeks to recover but 8 weeks for me was back to normal.
I would

Twiglets1 · 16/10/2023 10:06

garlictwist · 16/10/2023 09:45

Thank you - what did the xray show? Do they know why you were having pain? How long do they expect the replacement hip to last?

Show quote history

I’m sorry I actually don’t know what the XRay showed but presumably that my hip socket was in a very poor condition hence the pain. I should have asked at the time but I was more or less just following the process & waiting to hear if I qualified for a hip replacement on the NHS or not.

I was told it will last for a good 10 years. My reading around the subject suggested that was a very conservative estimate but I guess it’s better to be conservative than give people false hope. My BIL had a hip replacement when he was about 40 (congenital defect) and his hip is doing well even 20 years later so of course I’m hoping mine will last way more than 10 years too.

I know they prefer to operate on older people ideally as having a second hip replacement is more complicated.

Twiglets1 · 16/10/2023 10:10

Mum2aTeen · 16/10/2023 09:52

I had my second in April this year. My first was July last year ( the first one was my left hip. the second was my right hip).
It's absolutely amazing afterwards they get you up as soon as you feel your legs again (they give you a spinal before putting you to sleep) so basically the next day they take you for a little walk and get the catheter out so you can go to the toilet and shower (that's the best shower ever) I was in hospital for 5 days each day they had me up walking by day 3 I was trying the stairs I wasn't allowed home til I could do them (as I have stairs to enter my home) they send you home on crutches it's about 6 weeks to recover but 8 weeks for me was back to normal.
I would

Agree it’s the best shower ever, though a slightly nervous one. They got me up and walking the day after my surgery, just a few steps to the loo and to shower.

I was a bit nervous after reading some guidance on the internet saying you can’t shower for a few days but my surgeon said it’s fine to shower the day after as long as you have something solid to hold onto & ate generally steady on your feet. I think some of the guidance is designed for older people.

Twiglets1 · 16/10/2023 10:13

Marilla1966 · 16/10/2023 09:52

My mum had one a few years ago at the age of 75. She was petrified but wouldn’t hesitate now, if she needed it in the other one. She did everything she was told to do and exactly 6 weeks later was strolling around the local flower show in no pain at all.

Brilliant … my MIL took a lot longer to recover but she didn’t follow the advice re getting moving asap (typical of her not to listen to professional advice 😂)

SomeonTookMyAnonymousUserName · 16/10/2023 10:16

garlictwist · 16/10/2023 09:07

Can I ask people on this thread the reasons they had a hip replacement? I really want one but am only 42 so the NHS says no. I have a torn labrum on both hips and increasing OA as a result. They also won't do a labrum repair as they say I'm too old for that surgery so I am stuck being both too old and too young!

I had my first THR at 40, second at 45 (on the NHS) due to developmental dysplasia. X-ray said I had hip joints of a woman in her 70s in my 30s.

I keep hearing that 'it's too early', or 'they don't do it'. They do if it's necessary. I had young children and, whilst it was a challenging time to parent during recovery, I've gained so much more quality time with them.

I'm 52 now, I run (I probably shouldn't), do HIIT classes, weight-train, walk for miles.

I was told not to ride horses or ice skate because a fall could be catastrophic.

tedgran · 16/10/2023 10:19

Had a hip replacement in 2019, went really well, you must do the exercises afterwards, really important. You ca ride a bike afterwards, but I think hore riding is probably not a good idea. Now 75 , I'm having a knee replacement in November, it will be a longer recovery, but I will be glad to be able to for longer walks again.

AgingDisgracefullyHere · 16/10/2023 11:55

garlictwist · 16/10/2023 09:07

Can I ask people on this thread the reasons they had a hip replacement? I really want one but am only 42 so the NHS says no. I have a torn labrum on both hips and increasing OA as a result. They also won't do a labrum repair as they say I'm too old for that surgery so I am stuck being both too old and too young!

They will try to make you wait. I was 51 and I just insisted. I said that I needed to be active NOW, not "be spry with dementia someday."

I would look into pushing for it. Exaggerate your issues. Make it sound like you can't move at all and it's affecting your health. Be a squeaky wheel.

AgingDisgracefullyHere · 16/10/2023 11:59

My physio told me that running and being really active actually extends the life of the replacement. The titanium won't wear down - the issue is the surrounding bone and activity keeps it stronger. So you hear stories about someone running marathons on a hip reokscemt for 20 years and that's not unusual at all. Being sedentary weakens the bones.