My hip arthritis is now to the point of needing a replacement. Would you share your experiences?

Question

If you have had this proceedure, would you tell me
1.Did the pain disappear?
2.How long were you in pain
3.How long did it take you to be able to get back to your original life style?
4.Would you do it again?

Answer 1

Elisabeth, also, please read my answer to the question that you posted in "Other--Health".

1. Definitely
2. During the first days after surgery, the pain was fleeting and was most acute when I was moved or when I moved "wrong". An example was when they turned me in bed in the hospital. Once I got home, I really had no pain that couldn't be handled with OTC Tylenol. In fact the pain meds that were prescribed made me nauseous so I didn't even fill the script the second time around and just relied on OTC tylenol and tylenol-PM at nite.
3. Since I had the hips done separately, I was still in bad shape a couple of months after hip #1. However, 5 months later I had hip #2 done and was walking with one crutch by the 4th week and no walking aid at all by 2 months. I received permission to drive at week #5 for both hips. I no longer work, but I feel that I could have returned to my old job full-time by about the 6th week after surgery #2, maybe even a bit earlier. I was cooking our meals, and doing the laundry by the 2nd week (all is on the main floor). I had to hire house cleaning for about 2 months as I couldn't really push a vacuum or get down on the floor yet.
4. You bet! It gave me my life back and made a new person out of me. During the years preceding surgery my world kept shrinking. I could hardly bear to go shopping unless there was a shopping cart to lean on. Standing in a check-out line for more than a minute killed me. If I tried to travel, I ended up staying in the hotel because I couldn't stand the walking. I was truly a mess.

Answer 2

Since I had my hip replacement AFTER a near fatal car accident, it would be difficult for me to comment for everyone. But, I can tell you I was in rehab for 3 weeks; the surgery was difficult because I was very overweight at the time (now, they do minimally invasive proceedures) and I was up and walking with a walker in 3 days. I did have to have blood transfusions. At any rate, now, after 5 years, my hip is fine and I don't really feel it nor can I really tell the difference in the titanium and the "real thing". During harsh weather, I do get a few aches and pains. Yes, I would do it again!

I also had a total knee replacement on the same side. It's been 18 months and it still is painful, but I think that it might be a result of the accident, not so much the knee. I have to walk with a cane but my range of motion is over 90 degrees. I'd have to think twice about another knee replacement, cause it was worse than the hip.

Ask your doc what type of implant he will use; and if the surgrey can be done "mini". YOu'll be up and around in no time! Go for it! Godloveya.

Answer 3

My father had it done 3 months ago, and he's feeling good now. The pain disappeared - not only in the hip, but also in the knee. Of course, it's not that you are perfectly able to do anything now, but there is a difference. My father was operate on Septemver 3 and returned home 3 weeks later. He says the first 2 weeks were difficult but bearable. After a month since the opperation he was driving a car, having a walk round the block. He uses crutches but is quite mobile. He will have another opperation done in spring for the other hip.
I hope I could help. Wish you all the best :-)

Answer 4

I have not had one but do a lot of rehabilitation work with hip replacement patients. Some patients have more pain than others but the pain pills prescribed are effective for the pain. The length of time you have pain varies widely from patient to patient. Some patients are back to their regular self in a matter or two weeks or less but again each person is individual and it depends on lots of factors including how motivated you are to return to your former life style. I not seen any rehab patients who were sorry they had the proceedure done. Your life is 100% better after the surgery.