r/TotalHipReplacement

Hello everyone, 57M here. I've been reading posts here occasionally for year now and I got my hip done this morning. I have never had an operation in my life nor been knocked out with anesthesia. I checked in at 6:45 am, got changed, they put the IVs in and gave me a something to relax me. With my wife at my bedside, I fell asleep for maybe 10 minutes then awoke when they put on my boots and said they would start anesthesia. Next thing I remember was waking up. I asked how it went, and they said everything was good. Did my walk, 2 step stair up and down, and bathroom. And that was it. I was home by noon.

My thigh is numb and swelling up. I'd rate my pain as 4. But I've been shuffling around with my walker and taking care not to overdo it. Right now, I'm resting in my recliner and typing this out. I bought one of those ice machines from amazon and it makes a huge difference. Ate lunch and dinner at the dining table with no problems.

I immediately notice that at a seated position, i can now rotate my foot outwards a little. I'm so happy to be able to do this again. It has been years since I've ridden my bicycle or my motorcycle. It hurt like hell trying to open my legs wide enough for either activity.

If they injected a nerve block, I had no idea it was done. They said it will wear off in a day or something. I'm kind of afraid of the pain that is awaiting me. But for now, I'm comfortable, I think I can sleep through the night in this recliner without too much of a problem. If the pain doesn't get much worse than this, I think I'm going to be just fine.

I finally got my surgery date after 9 months of waiting! It’s in 3 weeks. I have a friend’s wedding 15 days after surgery. Would be about a 40 minute drive each way. Am I crazy for thinking I may be able to go? Maybe if I skip the ceremony and cocktails and go for dinner? Or should I just tap out now.
I’d be with my husband so I would not be driving myself.

I’m scheduled for left anterior THR. Had right done in ‘18 so I know the process. Have everything ready for recovering at home… but I’m soooooooo anxious. I’m trying super hard to calm down— but having rough time.

What suggestions do you all have for getting thru your final 24 hrs before surgery?

And is there anything else you’d suggest for making recovery easier— the “oh, I wish I thought of that,” stuff.

Thanks in advance. 🤞🏼

I’m getting VERY anxious.

Well I have 2 weeks to go, today was PAT day. You know what’s really cool? When I sat down with the post op coordinator, she reviewed everything I needed to purchase. And guess what? Due to all of the information sharing on this sub, I had already made the purchases - the discussion was much simpler and more of a validation than a discovery. So thank you!

That said - it is good to confirm what the surgery center will provide to you before you buy any gear. I am getting either crutches or walker and the cryocuff/ice machine. Unfortunately I just bought the cryocuff yesterday but it will be easy to cancel that order.

So two weeks of workouts and PT prehab plus a week or so of multivitamin drinks and shower surgical scrub. I am getting nervous. That last night of sleep is going to be rough.

Anterior procedure, located in Virginia, the surgeon who did the procedure is THE joint replacement specialist in town (not a big MSA, the local population is ~450K).

I know it's early, but everything has gone so much better than expected. I was first on the schedule, so in at 5:30 a.m., surgery around 7:45-8. When I woke up in recovery, the pain was probably 7-8 out of ten. They put something in the IV at that point, and it helped a lot.

I was able to pee, and I was able to walk with a walker, no problem. I was discharged around 2 p.m. EST, and I've had 3 Oxys since I've been home. They have helped.

I'm not trying to flex or make anyone feel bad, but I can get up from the couch and walk around the house without a cane or walker, including stairs. I've been very careful. It's a miracle of modern medicine. I feel really good.

Here's why I think I'm bouncing back so quickly: While I've been in pain, I didn't let the hip deteriorate too long, and I've been able to stay active and in pretty good shape. For example: I walked my dog ~4 miles this weekend. I did some landscaping last weekend for a few hours. I tried 2 months of PT and massage prior to surgery, and it helped some, but I knew things weren't right. The moment the ortho doctor showed me the x-ray that was clearly bone-on-bone, I decided the next day I was going to get the surgery on the calendar ASAP.

If you have the ability to get it done, there is very little reason to wait. You may lose strength, have decreased mobility, etc.

Best of luck to everyone out there. You got this!

Hi all,

I was diagnosed with avascular necrosis in my left hip just about a week and half ago, had my surgery yesterday. Just wanted to share my story so far because reading other people’s stories in this sub made me feel a lot better about what has been a whirlwind couple of weeks, and because I’d love some advice on what I can expect in terms of recovery and lifestyle going forward.

About about 2 months ago, I had a crazy day doing yard work. I was raking a huge plot of sand during a rainstorm because there were bamboo rhizomes washing out and I didn’t want them to get wet and spread (we had just had a big clump dug out and the guys who dug it out did a poor job cleaning up, I didn’t notice until the rainstorm the day after) - I was twisting and pulling with my hips after my arms got tired and woke up the next day with pain in my left hip - figured I had just strained something.

After 2ish weeks of it getting slowly worse I made an appointment with an ortho. The appointment for that wasn’t for another 2ish weeks after, and again it was slowly getting worse during that time, which had me thinking labrum tear. He took and x ray which didn’t show anything and he was thinking bad muscle strain; but because he heard a clicking in my hip, he ordered an MRI.

Got the MRI results from him the Friday before last, I was so shocked at the diagnosis. He wasn’t a specialist and couldn’t stage me but told me there was evidence of some collapse. Luckily I knew a few people with connections in the local medical world and got an appointment for last Wednesday with the primary hip guy in town. Got to his office hoping for a revascularization as I’m a fairly active person and young(ish) father, and was pretty devastated to be staged late stage 3, almost stage 4 as the x ray he took that day now showed collapse just 2 weeks after the first one came back clean. Because of how advanced it was and the pain I was in, he squeezed me into his schedule for yesterday. As I waited for the surgery I browsed this subreddit and the stories of the younger people who have gone on to live active lives kept my spirits up.

The surgery went well, and he took an anterior approach. I was blown away how quickly they had me standing and walking (supervised with a walker of course). I’ve had 4 other major surgeries, and this has been the easiest first 2 days by far, especially as I can’t tolerate narcotic painkillers (I get severe nausea from anything more than 5mg oxy and even that makes me sick without antiemetics). Got home from the hospital a few hours ago, resting up in bed and trying to change positions as they told me to not stay in any one position too long to prevent it from stiffening.

I’m a little nervous about what the next few days are going to bring. I start a new job on the 31st (desk job) and I’m a little anxious about showing up with a cane on the first day. I’ve been massaging the thigh (not the incision obviously) and I can hear fluid bubbling in there. Left side of the leg is mostly numb which had started before the surgery (thinking I pinched a nerve walking with a cane the last 1.5 weeks since the diagnosis)

The bright side is that this whole ordeal has helped me understand my wife better. She has several chronic diseases that left her feeling like her body betrayed her, and that wasn’t something I could relate to before. I’d had major surgeries, but those were all injuries (plus an appendectomy.) She’s been my rock through this, taking on all the housework and caring for our kid.

Mostly I’m still just reeling from the shock. This happened so fast, and I had plans for so many things that I’ve been told are off the table now (hiking the Appalachian trail, getting back into MMA/jiu jitsu, skiing black diamonds again, setting a new squat PR at the gym).

I know the road is both short and long, in the sense that I’ll be walking in a month or so independently, and will be mostly back to feeling normal in the next 6 months to a year. If anyone has any advice on what to expect, I’d love to hear it. Mostly I’m curious about what physical activities y’all have gotten up to since the replacement. I know there will be some limitations, but it’s comforting to hear from those of you who kept living active lifestyles.

My 70 year old mother is finally having her hip replaced tomorrow. The severe arthritis has progressively worsened over the past several months and left her near immobile.

Thankfully I work remote so I will be staying with her for at least a few weeks, longer if needed. I got her the supplies that the doctor & physio recommended, I went through the house to check for tripping hazards, etc.

I've been stressing all week. My big concern is that with her diabetes she is higher risk. Her sugars tend to run high, which from my understanding complicates healing & recovery.

I'm wondering if any one can provide insight or advice for a diabetic recovering from a major surgery like this? Also, how can I best support her? We're going in blind and my anxiety is through the roof.

Hi Friends! THR on right hip 1 week out and HOLY HELL…..the bruising!!! I mean I know why but it’s just awful, doesn’t seem to be going anywhere (kinda the opposite) and hurts like hell! I bruise easily anyway, but there are colors I’ve not seen before on my thigh 🫣
Y’all having this too? Any tips?
Also, my bandage was taken off yesterday 😱🤢🫣😱🤢🤮 Kinda looks like I’ve been attacked by a werewolf (no pics, too gross). My surgeon used surgical glue instead of staples or stitches. The glue got a little stuck to my bandage which made it even more pleasant when the PT removed it 🙃 Kinda thought I was going to pass out!
Anyway, I’ll stop now and let my fellow hipsters chime in if ya want! Happy Healing Friends! ❤️‍🩹

Please educate me, on some images shown around here.

Some implants have a little bump out that rests on the bone, some don’t have that bump out and some have a gap from the bone.

In my simple mind I like the look of the bump out flush against the bone, perhaps not causing anywhere for things to get caught up. Tendons, nerves, muscles, just like the smoother look.

Anyone want to share some correct terminology and thoughts on this.

Hello, hope everyone's okay

I had my THR on 11th August and stayed an extra night due to pain management. I've been home since Thursday afternoon after a 4 hours drive from the Hospital in Edinburgh back to Middlesbrough. That was so uncomfortable and wouldn't recommend that for anyone, the morphine wasn't even touching the pain!

I was given medications for pain, just 5 days of paracetamol and 5 days of liquid morphine, 35 days worth of blood thinners, and laxatives. I thought I would have been given stronger pain med when being sent home, the only thing that worked in the hospital and got rid of the pain was Oxycodone.

I've been doing my exercises (Twice Daily)which are:

• Laying on bed: Active hip/knee flexion
• Laying on bed: Abductions
• Laying on bed: Knee Extensions
• Standing - Hip Flexion - Knee Lift
• Standing - Hip Abduction
• Standing - Hip Extension

==============================================================

The last 24 hours

Yesterday I had a lot of aching pain in my left knee, ankle and side of thigh. It comes and goes. But nothing really gets rid of it. Its constant aching which pulsates sometimes very painful and other times not that bad. Over night I have been getting bad night sweats, waking up and my pillow and bedding it absolutely soaking. When standing at the toilet, my left knee starts aching and that continues when I get back to bed for 10-20 mins before it finally stops.

I'm still walking with two crutches, walking with one I'm unbalanced and it hurts the leg, I am unable to walk with no crutches, its just too painful I just don't have the strength in the leg to move it. I guess with the posterior approach they cut through more muscles, which then need repairing.

My incision areas are still very sore to touch and to sit on. So I'm sitting at an angle to keep the weight off the operated area. I am definitely stronger now than what I was on Thursday, I would take me 5 mins to get out of bed, its now 20 seconds. So there are improvements.

I have a Physio phone call tomorrow, then face to face next week, hopefully get more exercises to do.

I have just a few questions.

1. When did you stop using crutches/walkers?
2. Have you had any knee pain since your hip operation?
3. When did you return to work?

Thanks and apologies for the long post, I have plenty of time on my hands!! :)

I have had osteoarthritis in my right hip that’s been noticeable for a couple of years. I walk 4 to 5 miles a day even with it some days. I feel great other days it really hurts. Two months ago I wanted to jump on the table and operate on my own hip because I was hurting so bad. But then a couple weeks later it felt fine. All that to say I’ve been seeing a hip doctor for about a year and a half and this last time I went I told him I think I wanted to go ahead and get the surgery over with. But I swear as soon as I had that appointment, my hip started feeling better again. So I’m conflicted. Should I just go ahead and have the surgery that I know is inevitable? I’m not saying I don’t have any pain. I do still have some discomfort, but I’ve gotten used to just living with it. Anyone out there have the same situation where you couldn’t decide if you should wait or not?

Last friday I fell on spilled shampoo and had a clean break right at the hip.
The surgeon convinced me that a total hip replacement would mean a quicker recovery time.
It has been 9 days since the surgery and I am able to hobble around my house, but the pain meds are a must. Now I’m only taking a muscle relaxer, Toradol, and over the counter tylenol.
I am walking slowly and for the most part I am staying off it.I am seeing the pt tomorrow for the first time.
So any advice that you all wish you had been given?
I was moderately active so sitting around has been driving me crazy.

After a recent MRI of my R hip I found I have acetabular retro version and a mild labral tear. I was told the degree of retro version and tearing is minimal and pain is likely due to inflammation, probably worsened my recent pregnancy. I got a cortisone injection (under fluoro) 11 days ago and feel like I’m at my baseline. Yesterday I did some hip rehab exercises and walked about 8k steps. I am in so much pain today that I just have to rest. I was told the injection should peak at 7 days. Feeling disappointed is an understatement. Has anyone else experienced a failed injection? Should I give it more time? I was told PT rehab is the way to go and surgery is rarely considered for what I have. From what I’ve read here I feel like most people have seen success with surgery. Any words of encouragement or advice are welcomed.

I had a THR on my right hip a week ago. The x-ray on my left hip shows there's some cartilage left. Is there anything I can do to stop it from progressing to bone-on-bone?

I'm going to look again at the x-ray notes to see if there are bone spurs, which might be able to be removed with a hip scope.

Its been 6 months and I am highly frustrated now. I had hip replacement due to fracture so I knew recovery would be longer but I use to walk miles daily, hike, do yoga and I feel like I am losing it mentally now. I had pt that caused so much muscle pain and they kept giving me different people every week who didn't pay attention, so I quit in May and started walking in pool and floating. But walking outside was giving me leg spasms and some weakness. I went back to surgeon in July had xrays, he said everything fine and I found better pt in small office and just started working with her when I got a bad rash. Went to urgent care, this was 2 weeks ago, they told me I had shingles, put me on antivirals. It was super super itchy and kept spreading all over. I freaked out because shingles doesn't do that unless your immune system is tanked. Finally made it in to dermatologist yesterday and he said last 2 doctors I saw were wrong I had bad case of poison oak. Ugh! Meanwhile no pt or pool for last two weeks, and now they don't have any appts open for a month and leg getting worse. Probably because I have been going all over house with cane doing tons of laundry and cleaning upholstery to get rid of poison oak. My husband is the one who didn't know he had it until after he sat all over house and cars. The new pt lady is great she said my weakness is because my core is weak and its putting too much pressure on my leg. I have to get back to exercises she have me, I stopped because the rash was on my non operated leg but doing any movement made itch worse. Any advice anyone? Talk me down from my negative thinking? Watching my friend who had regular hip operation month before me hiking all summer is killing me. I miss my life!

Hey everyone,

A little over 18 weeks post op, and yesterday I learned I made a HUGE recovery mistake. I JOKINGLY put on my wife's compression socks... LIFE CHANGING within an hour!

Anterolateral approach 18 weeks ago. A rather rough first month for me, tons of swelling, but it never reached or fell below my knee, so we never even thought to try a compression sock. I've been relatively fine for the last 10 weeks, with virtually no thoughts to the actual implant, but the area around and under the incision has been achy, swollen, and overall making my t-lean and glute med painful and irritated, making walking, pardon the pun, a pain in the ass.

My wife ordered new compression socks for herself, and, as a joke, I tried them on as I never did before and thought it would be funny. I pulled them up, and within 5 minutes my calves and feet felt better, and within an hour I was walking with no T-lean! I'm no expert, but I think that the swelling moved away from near the bursa sack, and my annoying discomfort just disappeared.

I know, to many of you, this is an "No shit, Sherlock!" moment 😄 but to those who, like me, didn't truly understand the science behind compression socks, or have never tried them on, this is my version of "And now you know".

TL;DR - THR post-op? Get compression socks.

Mac

I’m a product photographer and have been asked to do my dream shoot and be paid well for it. I’m having my THR next week and I want to know how long you think it will take for me to be able to do a shoot like this. I could have an assistant for moving around lights and heavy stuff but it will involve me moving products and my tripod so being on my feet a fair amount. After a bit of googling it says that I could easily get a dislocation if I do the shoot a month after surgery, but what are your experiences? I’m afraid I might have to cancel the shoot. For context I’m a 29F that’s done a lot of physio so hopefully recovery won’t be too bad but who knows!