Are you ok after hip replacement

[icantchangetime]

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?

Sorry, I don't know what happened there, and now I completely forget what I was going to say.
But just see how you feel before doing any activities you enjoyed before and definitely ask your physio.
I'm no longer going to the beach which I loved before because I'm terrified I'll get dumped by the waves. I'm doing things a bit more gentle nowadays, not that I have to. I just feel it's best for me.

Did they not have you sitting in a shower chair?
I was sitting a lot of the time but out of bed.
Shower seat seat beside my bed and lots of movement to my legs like leg lifts and ankle movements.
Yeah, it is the best shower ever, and washing your hair feels amazing. I swear I had like an hour in the shower. I just felt so nice in the little movements I could do. I was scared to move too much, and so did what I thought was best. I could do.

I don’t remember a shower chair but there may have been one in hospital. There definitely wasn’t one when I went home and I was only in hospital 2 nights.

Oh, i brought one because they told me it's best to have one as well as a higher toilet seat and a higher chair to sit in at home (if your lounge is low) they actually ask me what I have at home and wouldn't let me home if I didn't have a shower seat or a toilet seat as they felt they were important to have.
I felt exhausted after doing even the smallest things, so sitting down in the shower felt like heaven.
But if this worked for your that's great it's probably the best and better/faster recovery as they always said to me movements are best.

I had one six years ago when I was 37. It was honestly life changing. From having severe pain every time I took a step to no pain at all even when I run has been amazing. I can do a 5k now with no problems at all.

Recovery for the first few weeks after was a little tough as I struggled with pain (I'm allergic to codeine so only really had paracetamol) and couldn't really get to sleep when flat on my back, but I was up walking the day after surgery and stopped using a crutch after about a fortnight. I think within 3 months or so I was fully recovered and raring to go.

I had one hip replaced 18 months ago, early 60s. Home on my own the next day, with no post-operative pain.
I followed all the physio and medical instructions to the letter, I wasn’t allowed to bend past 90 degrees for 12 weeks and had to be careful to avoid falls or overstraining for 12 months. Wasn’t allowed to shower until the staples came out.

I can do anything now - swimming, hiking, bendy positions - and am extremely happy with it. It’s given me a whole new lease of life.

I had the higher toilet seat but our shower at the time was very small and no room for a seat in there.

Mine was due to developmental dysplasia causing arthritis in the joint. They never tried to put me off the op despite me being young but could see it was really impacting on my quality of life. The consultant has told me that I'll need at least another replacement in my lifetime which could be a trickier procedure but that's a problem for future me.

Timely thread as my first orthopaedics appointment came through today. It appears I have had hip dysplasia since childhood and it caught up with me in early 50s. I can barely walk now.

Interesting to hear about the running, I’d love to be able to do a gentle run again but thought those days would be over.

I was born with a rare joint dysplasia and got severe arthritis in them all.
I hope you can get your surgery soon.

I didn’t know I had hip dysplasia but tore my labrum. Had it repaired when because of the dysplasia they shouldn’t have bothered.

Because of the dysplasia the operation expedited the collapsing of my hip - developing oa.

My hip issues started at 43 and I had it replaced just before my 45th birthday.
I did everything- all the diagnostic’s, mri’s, consultants privately. I could have done it with the same surgeon who I went with , on the NHS, but the wait was two years.

No one said I was too young - they went on the state of my hip and my reported pain levels but I did have to get more than one consultant opinion. Which is good practice anyway.

Thanks @Cherryana - so they didn't know you had dysplasia when they did the labrum repair? When was it discovered? Dare I ask what it all cost privately?

@garlictwist The surgeon who did the labrum repair did mention it but it was done in passing - like it was no big deal. He literally said “this is interesting you have hip dysplasia and that was all he said”.

It was only after the repair went so wrong and my pain went off the chart - that I found out what it really meant. Subsequent consultation with different doctors were shocked the first surgeon did what he did.

Which is why I am such an advocate for second opinions.

First consultation £250
Mri - £400
Second consultation and cat scan £800
…which got me to the point of hip surgery
£15K - package

Plus - £375 private physio for 13 weeks

Six months ago I had a total hr. Due to arthritis (I am 70). and had been in pain for approximately 2 years with the pain waking me in the night. Prior to that my mobility and fitness was great. Lots of long walks weekly and hobbies which required everything to be in good working order!!! I suddenly felt old when I had to stop my pastimes. On hearing and seeing the expression , bone on bone, I knew a replacement was the only answer. Fast forward surgery went as well as hoped for and though the first few weeks were difficult and not without pain I am doing fine.
I confess I didn't do all the excercises every day but what I DID do was walk both indoors and outside (with someone to accompany me) a lot! Six months on and there are still a few things I struggle with but there's time yet. The main thing I am happy about is that awful hip pain is gone and the tell tale limp is all but vanished.
Everyone has their own story but the surgery has a massive success rate so if you need it have it! ☺

My dad had some long screws fitted after he broke the ball at the top of his femur. He walks but slowly and with a stick and is quite unsteady on his feet. He's early 70s and used to be fit and active. I'm not sure if the hip replacement or repair is to blame or whether it's the years of smoking, over-drinking and under-eating that have taken their toll.

I had 1 in July. I am in a lot less pain now. I do have some ongoing issues, 1 leg is now shorter than the other and I have a pronounced limp, and some instability. I am having extended physio, still need to use a stick. I think my problems predate the surgery. I had a serious spinal issue and surgery 20 years ago which left a weakness on 1 side, affected my gait and ultimately led to the erosion in my hip joint. The hip is now fixed, but my muscles on that side are very weak. I am doing everything to fix this, and the wonderful physio assures me that I will eventually be able to walk without a stick. Everyone else I know has been leaping about after 3 months.

had a thr last year - 78 years up the same day on walker to go to the toilet - on crutches the next day and walked to the lift with partner. took about 3 weeks before, i was walking without aids but life changing. had all the injections and pain relief for a few years before - but at the end of the day it is only the replacement which works otherwise you are just managing. now getting the other one done. do not be put off by age - my surgeon has just done one on a 90 year and she is fine.