Getting my hip replaced beginning of January - what should I know?

[LynneSin]

Total hip replacement. No cartridge there whatsoever and it really sucks. I was losing weight like crazy and now I can barely walk.

Any suggestions,tips, advice to those of you who have had hip replacement surgery?

[Major Nikon]

1. Write front and back on your legs before you go in

[sarge43]

5. My surgeon wrote "This side up" on the hip to be replaced. n/t

[mithnanthy]

2. I had my right hip replaced 12 years ago.

Lose as much weight as possible and exercise, especially your arms. You'll need strong arms to pull yourself up in the hospital bed and for learning how to walk again, using a walker at first. My operation was very successful and you'd never know I've had it done. Follow all the instruction of the physical therapist after the operation. you'll be in good shape after 2 months of therapy. Lots of luck to you...you'll be glad you did it. My therapist, who came to my house, asked me what my goals were. I asked her to open my bedroom closet which displayed all my 3 and 4 inch heels. I told her my goal was to dance in them again. GOAL REACHED!!! No problems at all!

[LynneSin]

3. Oh good! I have heels I want to wear again too

Weight is tough since I can barely walk without pain. But my arms are already getting built up since I use them to get up and down in the restroom already.

[sarge43]

4. Had both replaced

Last edited Thu Oct 13, 2016, 10:50 AM - Edit history (1)

1. Talk with your med team about a spinal instead of a general.

2. You'll need the following: A sock tube for putting on socks. For awhile you and your feet will have a long distance relationship. A padded toilet seat. Sitting on hard surfaces will be out of the question for awhile. For awhile you can't walk unassisted, I recommend a walker with brakes and a basket. The brakes turn it into a cane, the basket for stuff. Loose comfortable clothes, I bummed around in sweats until the stitches came out. Just before you go in, hair cut and pedicure. Of course you can't get the bandages wet, so for showering an open ended plastic grocery bag works perfectly for protection, put it on like a skirt and tape in place. Keep your cell phone with you just in case. If you're living in multi-story home, stairs are out the question for awhile. Plan accordingly.

3. Will you have help at home? If not, don't be a hero. Go into assisted care facility. If so, involve your SO, especially in post op care.

4. Post op physical therapy is the key to recovery. Be positive and set goals.

5. Don't worry (ok, you'll worry some). The success rate is 97%. Once you start recovery you'll feel like you've been let out of jail. Pain free and walking normally again.

6. Sorry about the "for awhile". Experiences and recovery are very individual.

You'll do fine. Keep us posted. If you have any questions, PM me.

[Massacure]

6. My mother will probably be having a hip replacement pretty soon.

Her insurance is forcing her to try Cortisone shots first, but the doctors are pretty sure she needs a replacement. She's been told that the recovery will be easier than what she went through for her knee replacement.

[Aristus]

7. From a medical standpoint: be sure to comply with your rehabilitation plan.

I've known some people to blow off their post-surgical physical therapy, and they ended up with a side-to-side walking gait for the rest of their lives.

[geardaddy]

10. I was pretty diligent about mine.

That is good advice.

[mrmpa]

8. Not a hip replacemnt, but a broken hip repair.......

Number one, know your doctor well.
Number two, demand your pain meds on time
Number three, select a good place to rehab


Why these 3 things to know:

Didn't know my doctor, it was a work related accident & a workers comp doctor. He put in a metal plate that was too big for my body, and laid on bone, nerves & tissue it shouldn't have. 18 months later it had to be removed.

My pain meds were being stolen by a nurse, I went 3 days with no pain meds & everyone thought I was lying.

I demanded a certain rehab facility, went there & had the best care.

I don't want to scare you, you'll be fine. My experience was an anomaly.

[geardaddy]

9. You'll enjoy the relief from hip pain immediately.

That what I noticed when I had both my done at age 30. Be sure to listen to your care team about movement. You don't want to dislocate that new hip.

[mnhtnbb]

11. Your recovery will depend upon which approach is used to replace the hip. Had mine in 2007.

Did a LOT of research and ended up finding a doc that would do an anterior approach.

You can find out more about it here: http://www.newhipnews.com/medical-patients/

Using an anterior approach, the ortho doesn't cut any muscles, which makes for a much faster recovery and
no need for restrictions for fear of dislocation after the surgery. They can also use an epidural (not general anesthesia) and
a cocktail of drugs that will knock you out so you don't remember it with the anterior approach.

Be sure you know what approach your ortho is going to use: anterior, lateral, or the old-fashioned posterior (which is a much slower recovery).
The anterior approach uses a special table which allows the ortho to be a lot more certain of getting your leg the same length. One ortho
I interviewed--when asked how he made sure of getting the leg the same length responded, "best guess". Uh, no. Canceled the surgery
with him that I had planned (very highly recommended and well known guy who treats professional athletes) and kept looking.

With the anterior approach you will be weight bearing the next day. I was off the walker in <2 weeks, off the cane in 3 weeks.
Absolutely do all your exercises! I did not need PT. My husband, though, when he had his hip replacement 6 months later
did need PT and was not as obsessive about doing his home exercises as many times a day as I did.

You have a choice on what type of hip they will use. There have been some problems with the all-metal ones. Both my husband and I chose ceramic.

[sarge43]

13. Good point. The anterior is a much better choice.

My dentist had his replacement done by anterior and he was back to work in a little under a month - standing most of the day. He said very little post op pain.

[Phentex]

12. Do you need to me to come take care of you for a week?

If you promise me snow I'd be happy to fly up there.

[LynneSin]

14. You are welcome to come visit but I doubt there will be snow

Mostly we get slop

[panader0]

15. Slim Harpo: just take it easy at first......