Hip Arthroscopy Surgery

[MrsH497]

Shameless repost as I didn't get any replies on general health.

Hello, I'm booked in to have my first hip arthroscopy surgery in January. Has anyone had it? Any recommendations for surgery essentials?
I have bilateral hip dysplasia and labral hip tears. They won't do hip replacements as I'm only 37 unless when they get in and find the joint is worse than expected.

Any help and advice appreciated.

Thank you x

Yes, i had surgery a good few years ago and totally recommend it. I went from crawling to bed at night in agony to doing a 5k in a reasonably short space of time.

I bought ergonomic crutches that fit the palm of your hand and would absolutely say that’s essential. Gets you up and moving, hand blisters are no fun. Also got a raised toilet seat and shower stool - less essential but made life easier. I struggled to sit on a sofa for the first few days, I needed something with arms and firm. Dining chair did the job. I vaguely recall taking fybogel a few days before and a week after to minimise the binding effect of the painkillers, but by surgery I was on pretty strong stuff anyway, as I imagine you are. It’s such a miserable pain.

I’d say the absolute essential though is a keeping a positive attitude to physio. Short term pain, long term gain, get out what you put in and all that. What’s your plan for rehab? I was obsessive and I think it made all the difference - there will be grim days ahead but it will be worth it when you get back to what you did before…and hopefully more! Wish you all the best for a smooth recovery. PM if you need to

Thank you so much for the reply. I will look at those crutches, I've been told about 2-3 weeks on crutches. I've not been told much about the physio and rehab side of things. I know they hope to repair the labrum tear if it's in the right place and in ok shape and reshape the joint.

I want to be pain free for my little ones mainly. Then hopefully get the second side done!

Son had hip arthroscopy aged 18. Hip pain was resolved and he recovered quickly. He still plays basketball when he can and does mad things like run marathons and ultramarathons with no repercussions. Just make sure you get physio afterwards and do the exercises they give you!

In my early twenties, about 15 years ago. Crutches for 4 weeks ish. Definitely agree with PP about laxatives, high toilet seat and dining chair rather than sofa. Work hard with your physio and you start getting range of movement surprisingly quickly. Less than 3 months later I was walking miles, but then realised how much the pain from hip 1 had masked hip 2! Make sure you have a thermos flask - in January you'll get cold sitting still but with crutches you can't carry a mug.
I'm getting pain again now and hope it'll be another arthoscopy as I really don't want a replacement unless I absolutely have to.

Brilliant tips thank you so much!

It's been an incredibly long process getting to this point. I'm looking forward to eventually both sides being done and being in much less pain. My consultant has said it's not a magic wand and it's about a 60% success rate. Obviously all dependant what it's like when he starts surgery.

I will definitely be on it with the physio! I'm estimating overnight in hospital?

my son had one night in hospital and went home the next afternoon. Not easy getting him in the car comfortably. ( due to his young age they sent him to an NHS specialist in London for his procedure and we had a 2 hour drive home).
The procedure resolved years of hip and knee pain and was most definitely worth it.

I had mine done this summer and it was miraculous! I went from only able to walk around 50 yards due to severe pain, needing a wheelchair to get out and about, on disability benefits, to being almost 100% pain free and able to walk all over. I was told by the surgeon that around 80% of his patients have around an 80% recovery. I was also advised to rest almost completely for the first week, then very gradually build up after that. My physio suggested literally walking one more lamppost down the street every day. I also religiously did the exercises she gave me (the NHS probably won’t give you much physio follow up, so if that’s your experience, I’d highly recommend booking some private sessions if you can).
Happy to answer any other questions you have as well.

@Chocolatepeanutbuttercupsandicecream @Chickenkorma64 thank you both as well for replying. The date came through a lot sooner than we expected so now trying to arrange my husband having some time off work to look after our children (and me of course) and rope in what help from friends and relatives we can as well.

We live in a 3 story house are stairs very difficult after? Crutches are a new one on me not something I've used before.

Once again thank you all

Hello. I had my op (one side) in 2015 and it was amazing, the reduction in pain and symptoms I had and have still got.

I was in overnight from the surgery, although they hadn't planned for me to be as I had the op first thing in the day. I don't recover well from anaesthetics though and needed the overnight stay. They had inflating socks on my lower leg over the first night and sent me home with crutches. The only info i was given though was that I could fully weight bear from day one and the crutches for when I had pain and/or tiredness in my leg. I wasn't allowed to bend at the hip to 90 degrees for several weeks and also couldn't drive for the first 6 weeks too. That meant pegging it up or down stairs to only bend my good leg. I needed slippers I could slide my foot into without bending and got good at putting my knickers on without bending over. :)
I also got the gel padded crutch grips to save my palms from pain!

I have hip dysplasia and had this done 20 years ago when I was 21. I really had to work hard with the physio afterwards for months but I was pain free for 15 years so definitely worth it. I have had a hip replacement now

This is the aim with me get me to late 40's early 50's before starting the hip replacements. I will have to have at least one so we are trying to reduce my pain until then.

I actually found stairs much easier post op than I had before! Before I was discharged from hospital, the physio showed me how to do them safely with crutches, so make sure you ask if they don’t.