Should I have a hip replacement? Advice please.

This thread today has been wonderful, I am in exactly the same situation as Yebutnobut.Pain in hip getting worse, physio therapy twice a week, doesnt seem to be improving things.I am fed up having to take painkillers, sleeping isnt too bad, but always interrupted, cant bend properly to put socks on etc, I am miserable.This thread has really made my mind up, I hope to be able to benefit a few more years without pain if I have the operation.I have never been in Hospital apart from having children the anaesthetic is putting me off to be honest, but to waken without pain would be wonderful-. Thank you so much for this thread. Good luck Yehbutnobut.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Had one on October 5th.Now walking without a stick in the house, and trying to to walk six steps and then put the stick down when I'm outdoors. Started driving again after six weeks and am doing cooking, ironing and shopping. You won't be able to sleep on your side for a while, which means you snore! I slept in the spare room for about seven weeks so we could both get some rest. My consultant said that it would be about four months before I would be fully healed. Have it done and make sure you do all the post-op exercises

i had a hip replacement in 2006 and it has been good (TG).
I just want to add to other comments - best not to leave it for too long because your recovery rate depends partly on the health of the supporting muscles. So if you leave it until you can hardly walk it will take longer to regain your strength.

I think the operation is a lot simpler and less painful than it used to be and you are encouraged to exercise asap. My friend had velcro shoes and a gadget for putting on her socks. I had to dig her garden as she, obviously, wasn't allowed to.

Nanny41, you can choose to have an epidural and remain awake.

Very positive advice on here for everyone getting to the hip replacement stage. My OH is on waiting list for his second.
All I would add is that different surgeons give different post op advice depending on type of op.

My OH, after recovery from first op, has been out regularly walking 7 - 8 miles with the ramblers plus over stiles. The worst thing (for me) was his snoring whilst he had to sleep on his back.

Spinal anaesthesia is often given these days and recovery is quicker afterwards. Don't worry about it, you can have sedation and may be totally unaware.

Up till recently everyone I know who had hip replacement was very happy with it. However, it does seem to be important to follow advice re 90 deg etc to the letter. A neighbour of mine had hers done in September and after about 3 weeks decided to sit outside on a sunny day. Unfortunately the bench she chose was a bit low, and when she went to stand up, the hip dislocated. Extremely painful, ambulance, hospital etc. They put it back, but recovery had to start again from scratch.

Then when she was just past 6 week mark, and given all clear by surgeon, she dislocated again, this time just bending down to pick up something. She had to have further surgery, longer op, lost a lot of blood and needed transfusion. She’s been told there’s no guarantee it won’t come out again- something to do with her shape.

I suspect she was a bit over-confident and tried to do too much, too soon, but advice given about 90 deg, leg crossing, is given for a reason.

It is 3 years since mine. I would recommend having it done for a pain free life. As soon as the operation was over I was pain free after a long period of awful existance. If they are actually offering it, do it.?

They will.advise you at the hospital what to do to recover. The Red Cross is great for appliance loans. Physio is a must. Good luck.

I know two people who have had it done. Both were up and walking unaided within weeks. One person went in and had the other one done within a few months as it was so successful!

Go for it. Six weeks is nothing out of the rest of your life. I felt rejuvenated.

Thanks to all the positive replies I’ve made an appointment today for January 3rd to take the next step. Could have had one before Christmas but needed to get all my ducks in a line.

Get it done ASAP. I was in agony until I had my hip done. I was told the pain would go as soon as new hip was in. I thought ‘no way’ can that happen. But it did. The pain went. I recovered quickly and was soon out and about. I can’t recommend having it done enough. If my other hip goes I’ll have it done as soon as I can. I had the epidural but asked for sedatives though some prefer to stay awake. Be sure to do the exercises though as I’m sure they help recovery.

Terri I will. I used to exercise every day until the pain got too bad.

Mine was replaced about 11 years ago after hobbling around in pain for years. Done with an epidural and a sedative not full anaesthetic. I agree with everything said about recovery. Do as you are told, especially the exercises! I struggled for a couple of days with pain because they could not find the right pain relief but was OK after that. In fact I needed none after the first week. The 90 degree thing does seem to be important for the first few weeks and I used a raised toilet seat and extra cushions to sit on. I needed help with the post op stockings for a week or so but found a device to help put on socks and used one of those grabber things to avoid bending. After 2/3 weeks I was doing physio and using an exercise bike. Also gradually built up walking, and driving was possible after about 6 weeks. Sleeping on that side took a few months but I got used to sleeping on my back. After recovery I was able to do so much I hadn't done for years, hill climbing, gym, cycling, swimming which did wonders for my fitness and NO PAIN!

The physio advised me to keep exercising not just to build the muscles on the operated side but to help avoid similar problems with arthritis in the other hip. So far so good.

Good luck to you. I am told it is one of the most successful operations. Let us know how you get on.

I'm 3 weeks post replacement hip surgery and already weight-bearing on new hip although unable to walk without a crutch for support - but getting there. Saw Physio yesterday and all is good. So glad to be off painkillers, etc. and apparently all the pain lines have vanished from my face. As everyone else has said, keep doing the exercises to strengthen those weakened muscles and follow all guidance about what to do/not to do. HTH

Have a look at Bonesmart.org
Lots of helpful advice for post and pre op. And realistic descriptions of recovery too.

Another thing you have to be careful about post op is 'marital relations'. If you're still active. Probably the last thing you think about at that stage.
When I was discharged after my op. we were shown a sort of cartoon film about all the warnings, including sex, showing safe positions etc.
The nurses at the back were giggling - ok for them with no problems.

As a retired orthopaedic ward sister, my advice would be to go for it. As with any surgery there is a risk but, you will be given all the relevant information. I have seen so many people return after their surgery delighted with the result, The sooner it is done, the easier it is too.

I recently had a knee replacement, which is actually more complex than a hip replacement (less worry about bending down etc immediately post-op though). It has made a tremendous difference. I no longer have to take pain-killers, I can do so much more than I could before, I sleep pain-free and have thrown away my walking stick,

Fennel We used to tell our patients to ‘make love like hedgehogs - carefully’. There is far less danger of dislocation for a woman than a man anyway.

Tweedle .
I didn't know about that male/female risk.

I don't want to question your expertise Tweedle but my research shows that elderly women are most at risk of dislocation, but there not be a particular gender bias because women live longer and are more likely to be older when they have the op.

I was in such excruciating pain that I didn't need to ask, it was either 'replace the hip or kill me now please'.

I didn't have an anaesthetic but was numb from the waist down (instead of from the neck up as is usual with me) and awake the whole time and talking with the surgeon ( lovely guy from the UK now working in Truro).

I wanted him to save any bone he took out because I hoped to carve it, so we were talking about that.

In the event it was too crumbly but he did allow me to save my staples afterwards to put in my journal.

I know, macabre

I'm 8 weeks post replacement. I was having trouble walking as my hip kept giving way and the pain from my groin down to my knee was intense and continual. It was particularly bad at night. I had a spinal block although I was sedated so out to it totally but the recovery was much quicker. From the moment I woke up I have been pain free in the joint. I had some pain from the surgical wound for a while.

My problem came when I developed clots in my lungs the day after surgery. Due to this I was in hospital for a week rather than just a few days however, I was up and weight bearing on my operated leg the day after surgery. Next negative was 3 weeks later when developed cellulitis at the wound site. I'm still fighting that and after 4 weeks of antibiotics it is clearing up albeit slowly.

As for crossing your legs, my physio said they don't like you to take the operated leg past centre point of your body and do not bend the leg beyond 90 degrees for 6 weeks. Also avoid sleeping on your side for 6 weeks. At the 3 weeks mark my surgeon said I could do all of those thing if I felt I was able. Your body will tell you when you can do things.
I'm now starting to walk unaided inside most of the time but I am also hampered by a knee that needs replacing and an ankle that does not work as it should.

I am used to doing hydrotherapy at least 2 or 3 times a week but due to the infection I've not been able to do that. I now have the go ahead from the surgeon to start again so I hope that will help my walking.

My advise would be to go ahead and have the replacement, there will be a couple, maybe 3 months before you are back to normal but it will improve. Not having it only leaves you in a situation that will get worse.