Hip replacement operation.

[JohnTheRevelator]

Has anyone on here had a hip replacement operation? I'm hoping to have one in the near future,I've got an appointment with the orthopaedic consultant in 6 weeks and I'm hoping that I will be approved and put on the waiting list. According to the X rays,my hip is in a pretty bad way and I'm having trouble walking,and find it nearly impossible to get comfortable in bed to sleep. No painkillers seem to help. Basically it's interfering with my quality of life. My questions are these - how long did you have to wait for the operation after being out on the waiting list,and did you find a real improvement afterwards in the reduction of pain, and being able to walk more easily?

After fighting for 3 years for people to believe me (I was 33 at the time) and refer me, once referred, I waited about 4 months. Had I been able to accept a cancellation, it would have been less.
Best thing I did. 14 years later, it’s going strong.

It is increasingly being done as a day case procedure and with good results, but there is plenty of flexibility for patients for whom that isn't appropriate. It's not common for it to be done with GA and generally there's a better chance of being up and about quickly when it's done with spinal anaesthetic (ideally without sedation, but sometimes with light sedation) unless there's a real medical contraindication to spinal. There has been quite a bit of progress in anaesthesia for lower limb joint replacements recently so not everyone's historic experience of what happens may be so useful these days. (doi: anaesthetist)

My DH (77) had his done last July. He was fairly fit beforehand because he cycled. He saw the consultant on 31May, and had a cancellation. Our NHS Trust gives three options: neighbouring trust, our trust, and then, thirdly, the Nuffield, all with differing waits. In the end he had a cancellation and went in the Nuffield under the NHS. Operation on Wednesday afternoon, discharged on Friday afternoon. Physio offered, and several gadgets for assistance: a wonderful thing to help putting on surgical socks, a picker-uperer, long handled sponge for the shower. Special equipment was delivered: two toilet things, special high chair for perching on. I can't fault the Northumbria NHS Trust, tbh.

He was very good following instructions, was riding his bike again at the right time. My only caveat would be that the spinal injection upset his digestive system and he went into acute retention. However, although it took time to sort out, the NHS was brilliant with that, too.

He still has some swelling in his leg, but that's gradually disappearing.

It has been life chsnging for me.

Was walking normally within about 3 weeks. Hadn't realised how much I did to manage with it beforehand, like waiting to get a drink or something until I needed a wee so I moved as little as possible so as not to be in pain.

It has been one of the best things I did.

A new life at 65! It is better than my original hip!

Don’t put it off.

I'm 62,63 in October and really want to get a new hip so I can start enjoying life again before I get too old! I must say I'm very encouraged by the posts on here saying they've had a new lease of life after the operation. I knew I one person,quite a few years ago (late 90s) who had both hips replaced and he said that he honestly didn't feel much improvement afterwards. I'm hoping he was the exception rather than the rule!

@JohnTheRevelator Don't compare yourself to someone 90+ years old!

Medicine has moved on quite a bit and people are getting hip replacements much younger. I could barely walk and was using a cane and was all bent over and in terrible pain. Now I am back to long walks, hiking and bike riding. I need the other hip replaced soon and then will be back to skiing with my kids and grandchildren !

Go see your surgeon and get on the list. You can thank me later. ;)

What are you talking about That sounds fantastic! I didn't realise that there could be so much improvement. I'm getting to the point where I am really struggling to walk, even with a walking stick. I had a bit of a setback a couple of days ago when I had an email from the hospital saying that my appointment with the orthopaedic consultant had been cancelled, from the 2nd April,to the 15th September. To say I'm pissed off does not come close. I was literally counting down the days to the 2nd April. Plus knowing that even after that appointment,I will be put on the waiting list,which could be months.

Can I ask those of you who had the operation with a spinal block,what your experience of it was? I'm really not keen to have it done this way, I was counting on a general anaesthetic. I feel really anxious about being awake for it even if I am sedated.

I have had 2 spinal blocks. Really prefer them.
I agree it sounds scary but you don’t feel or hear anything you don’t want to hear, you are in control.

You are given a local in your back, then the block is injected. You lie down and are given a sedative (it’s your choice if you don’t want it, you don’t have to or you can have a lot). You wake up after the op and feel so clear headed, compared to a GA.

You need a little help with the bed pan for a few hours as you don’t know if you need to pee or not (no feelings).

I just felt so much more awake and comfortable, GAs knock me out and I feel really sick afterwards but with the spinal, I was wolfing down my lunch and chatting to the physio about my hip. I’m sure it helped me recover faster and do more physio in hospital. In and out in a couple of days.

Best thing I did. The pain and lack of mobility was devastating beforehand and it was miraculous afterwards.

Currently waiting for both knees to be done. THere is apparantly a problem with bone cement supply causing delays and NHS are prioritising trauma

Both parents and FIL had them.

The parent that went to a rehabilitation centre for couple weeks did a lot better much quicker than the one discharged home.

FIL looked after himself much much better than parents. Always fit and active and healthy weight. Got a private physio before the operation. Really watched his weight and food after the operation as its easy to pile the pounds on if moving less and the more weight on the new joint the more strain its under and harder recovery. He did a 5 mile walk maybe 6 months post op. Recovered the quickest by miles and miles.

Had mine 4 years ago 1.month after my 50th birthday, waited a bit too long due to covid and could.only bend hip 45 degrees.pre surgery. I think if you are younger and demand more from yiur hip total.recovery is about 18 months. But functuional 3 to 4. The october before my hip i crawled round london with my teen and just manged 3000 step, paid.for with alot of pain for 2 weeks. The following october i did 13 000 steps.in a day in amsterdam. Only my feet hurt! Definatley was and still is life changing, now do pliates, dance class and walk minimum 7000 a day

Some surgeons don't use cement for hip replacement operations.

I loved the spinal block - much easier recovery than GA. Had a chat with the anaesthetist, nice snooze, woke up being pushed in to recovery. In for one night, back at work in three weeks, no regrets.

I had my left hip done Sept 2018 and my right hip April 2019. Waiting times weren’t as bad as now - I had my op around 6 weeks after my appointment with the consultant.
I Was back on my horse 12 weeks after my second op, and I’ve just gone from strength to strength. Yes there is discomfort during recovery from the op, but that awful pain you describe is just gone. I am so thankful I had both my ops. My life has got so small, I was in agony day in day out.
I was in hospital 2-3 nights, they would only let me out when I could demonstrate I could get up stairs!

I fell asleep during it. I only woke up when they were finishing putting the new hip in.

I had sedation also, slept through both only waking up briefly absolutely high as a kite. It was marvellous 🤣

They don’t tend to on younger patients, as they want the bone to grow around the new joint, for added durability.

Thank you to everyone who has responded! I have found all your replies most helpful.

What is classed as a 'younger patient'? I will be 63 in October. I have been told by several people that I'm 'on the young side' for a hip replacement,but I'm not so sure seeing as I hear of people in their 50s or even their 40s having one!

I had a hip replacement. It was life changing once healed. I forget I even have it except for occasionally when I bend my leg inwards and feel like a metallic click- it doesn't have quite the range of movement that a natural hip would have. I don't find it comfy to cross my legs anymore!

It's 2 nights.
You wouldn't be ready to come out same day.

I was 30 when I had mine- they certainly do when your pain is very bad.

My grandad went in for his hip replacement and was out again the same day. I was in for a week! So it certainly varies.