Who here has had hip replacement surgery?

[disneyfan67]

Next Monday the 29th, I'll be going under the knife for my left hip to be replaced. Who here has had the surgery and what was your experience?

How was the pain level when you first woke up after the surgery and how did you feel.

How long was your recovery time and how is the joint replacement feeling today. Are you happy you had it done and do you wish you had done it sooner?

Any firsthand info from people who have had it done would be great.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Cinderella2004]

Hi!

Hopefully someone will come on with first hand experience for you, but in the meantime, my Dad had a hip replaced in 2005. Actually, Sept. 30th. We went to Disney with them the first week of December that year.

As far as happy he had it done.....ABSOLUTELY!!! And YES, he wishes he had done it much, much sooner than he had.

Best of luck to you!!!

If no one else answers, I'll be sure to ask him your other questions for you.

 

[Saphire]

Hi! I have not had my hip replaced but have helped to rehabilitate hundreds who have. I am a phyical therapist in a short term rehab department. These surgeries are almost always very successful, and most people will say they are thrilled they had it done. There is pain after surgery, but many people state the surgery pain is nothing like the pain they lived with, often for years. With pain medication, the pain should be well controlled after surgery. It usually takes a few months to feel 'normal' again, with the worst being the two to three weeks after surgery (when I see people). It will be important to learn your 'hip precautions', those movements you must avoid to prevent hip dislocation.
I would be happy to answer any questions you have from my side of the fence. Best wishes to you.

 

[Breezy_Carol]

I have not had the surgery but like Saphire, I am a physical therapist. I do home care so see a lot of people when they first come home after surgery, often as early as post op day 3 or 4. It is amazing to see the progress they make in the first week. I too would be glad to answer any questions.

 

[Allie322]

I haven't had it done but a good friend had it done a few years ago. He was only 40 at the time and had suffered for a few years before he finally gave in and had the surgery. The first week was the worst. He just couldn't get himself into a position that was somewhat comfortable. He finally got himself situated in a big easy chair and he ended up sleeping there as well. After that, each day was an improvement. The only other problem he had was was using the bathroom. Apparently their toilet is quite low and it was difficult getting up and down. (Sorry if that was TMI).
He has never regretted having it done. He plays tennis at least once a week and rides his stationary bike every day. He is in great shape.
I wish you lots of luck and a speedy recovery.

 

[Jcricket Fan]

My dear friend had her hip replaced Monday of Thanksgiving week. She had been in pain for years and walked with a very bad limp. I went with her to all her pre-surgery visits and her Dr. (who from what we researched is one of the best in his field) said that hip relacement is second in patient satisfaction only to cateract surgery. It is all about quality of life.

She was on pain meds. for the 3 days in the hospital (which she regulated)but after she left there she had no need for it just an occasional Advil. The pain meds were for the incision not for the actual implant. She says she felt a little "odd" with the implant but it was more a psychological idea that she had bionic parts now she couldn't actually feel an internal difference.

Surgery on Monday out of the hospital on Thursday (Thanksgiving day) to rehab. (She lives alone and needed to get some help before she went home) She spent a week in rehab. The stay probably would have been shorter but no one really worked with her over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

When I took her home she was walking with a cane. She had done so well in rehab. that she needed no PT once she returned home. The only modifications we made at her home were to add a commode seat with hand rails for the toilet. She made sure to sit in arm chairs and rest as needed. Pre-surgery she was taking at least 12 Advils a day. Now she needs none!

It is now less then 2 months and she is walking without a cane or any device and driving and doing all she wants (ok, not playing football!)without pain.

She is sorry she waited so long but the fear of living alone and possibly being helpless kept her from having it done sooner.

She is a very happy 72 yr. old!

Peace,
Colleen

 

[LJC1861]

A good friend had hers done 6 weeks ago. She was back up and even driving short distances in just under a month.

You will need a "gopher" or "grabber" to help you reach things as you can't bend over for awhile. You will need a chair that is high enough for you to sit comfortably as you can't bend your hip further than 90 degrees for quite awhile. Get some sturdy shoes that you can slip on your feet. You want something that you are not going to feel like you are turning off the bottom of your foot. I am not sure that makes sense, but Carolyn said that there were certain shoes that she had that she just couldn't wear the first few weeks out.

The toilet situation is a problem.....and it is one that even 6 weeks out still bothers Carolyn. As not all toilets are raised there are some "devices" out there that may help with this. Check out www.Campmor.com and look around. If you want the name of the item that Carolyn purchased, PM me and I will find out which one it is.

Probably the most important thing that I can recommend for this and any other surgery is positive thinking. Get yourself ready mentally and emotionally. The more confident you are going in that everything will be okay, the faster you will heal. Something that I have always done myself just before being put under is ask everyone in the operating room to pray with me. It makes me feel better and I believe has helped in recovery.

Anyway, best of luck to you and keep us posted on your recovery.

Linda

 

[disneyfan67]

Thank you to all who responded. I already have a walker, a cane, and the toliet seat riser all ready to go when I arrive home from surgery. I'm kind of worried about dislocating the hip with certain movements and I want to be very carefull about that. The thought of dislocating the hip joint is scary indeed.

I'm wondering about the ride home from the hospital and how I'm going to be able to get in the car without causing myself too much pain. This whole surgery thing has been weighing on my mind and I'll be glad when it's all behind me. I have my heart set on going to WDW in the last part of July of this year and I hope there will be no problems with the new hip by then.

 

[Mermaid02]

I need my left hip replaced (I'm 39 btw) they told me 10 years ago to wait until I couldn't stand the pain anymore.... I'm very stoic.

Good luck to you!!

 

[Saphire]

I'm wondering about the ride home from the hospital and how I'm going to be able to get in the car without causing myself too much pain.

A therapist should show you or tell you how to do it, but that doesn't always happen, unfortunately. Getting in and out of the car should be ok if you break the steps down, like this:
When you get to the passenger side, turn all the way around (no twisting!) until you are facing away from the car and the back of your knees are touching the car. Then, lower yourself down slowly, using the dashboard and/or the seat back to steady yourself. Then use both hands to put under the operated leg, (at knee), to help lift your leg up and over into the car. The other leg won't need help, just swing that one in. It might be a good idea to bring a pillow so you won't be sitting too low in the seat, therefore breaking the 90 degree rule.
Getting out: bring both legs out first, helping the operated one as stated above. Use the dasboard or the back of your seat to help lift you up (don't pull on your walker or the car door, they move!) Be careful to not bend far forward when you stand up, keep your back as straight as possible. Take your pain med before going home. I don't think you need to worry about the pain as much as getting into and out of the car within your precautions. Sometimes it can be tricky, especially if the car is low to the ground. Also, put the seat all the way back, this will give your legs more room and less likely to flex at hip so much. Sorry so long...I am off today but would be doing this stuff if I were at work, ha-ha. Please ask any other questions, I am happy to help.

 

[sugarpie]

I haven't had a hip replacement but my mom has had 2 hip replacements. She had pain for years & I'm know she wishes she'd done it sooner. She's 100% better afterwards.

I'm also a nurse and I've worked on a rehab unit. Don't be afraid to take the pain meds. I've had a lot of patients refuse pain medication and the pain becomes intolerable. Stay ahead of the pain. It's extremely difficult to do physical therapy when there's pain.

Some patients actually have little or no pain. It's all a matter of pain tolerance.

Good luck. Try not to worry.