All the smart ones are here, yes, wrong category, but If you have had a hip replacement, would you share?

Question

I'm sorry, yes, I know wrong heading, but all the good minds visit this category, and not the others.... I am facing a hip replacement, and if you or someone you know has had one, would you share your experiences? (I'm scared pea green.) Also, could you make it so I could contact you and discuss the doc who did it, his education, hospital care you received, etc. I live in a small town, and know I will have to travel so as long as I am on a plane, it can be anywhere. Thanks in advance, guys. Really appreciate you information...

Answer 1

I have had both of my hips replaced in separate surgeries several months apart. That was about 4 years ago. I have recently posted several answers to hip replacement questions. If you go to my profile and look at my list of answers you will find several comments that you may find helpful. (I like to answer questions about this topic but I am beginning to repeat myself.) You may also contact me via email through my profile.

I was scared too as I had never had any kind of surgery before nor had I ever spent any time in a hospital. It was all new to me. I have read everything I could get my hands on about the procedure and I urge you to do the same. Since you ask about choosing a surgeon I will pass along what seems to be the prevailing thought about surgeon choice: it is important that the surgeon do a minimun of 50 hip replacements per year (and the hospital should host a minimum of 100). These recommendations come from the issue of US News & World Report cited below. It is also important that your surgeon is fellowship trained. This means that he/she spent additional time after completing his residency in advanced training in a specialty such as adult joint reconstruction. In addition, the OS should have done lots of surgeries on people like you with the problems that you have. It goes without saying that the OS should be someone you trust.

I had no choice of surgeon as I have HMO insurance. I am delighted with my results. I went from a person who could not walk without a cane or crutch (and was close to needing a wheelchair) to someone who has no limp, no pain, takes no pain meds, and can walk miles.

I was 4 days in the hospital for each hip. I went directly home and was treated for about two weeks by a home health care nurse and a physical therapist. They visited me about 4 times each. After that I went to outpatient PT. I was asked to give blood for myself prior to each surgery. It didn't work out so well for the first as my Ht was low after the first unit. I was able to give the required 2 units before surgery #2. I was transfused with my own blood within a day following surgery.

I was pleased with my care at the hospital (in a small midwestern city). They have lots of joint replacement surgeries and had a program all worked out for hippies to follow, printed out in a notebook giving the patient and family a schedule for what would happen every day of the stay. This gave the procedure a sense of "routine" and I found that somehow comforting.

I had general anesthesia for both surgeries. I had thought I wanted an epidural but the anesthetist convinced me that I didn't. For the 2nd hip, I actually asked for general. Aside from a short bout of nausea, I was fine. This would be something to discuss with your surgeon and anesthesia staff when the time comes.

I was intimidated by the surgeon and his manner. However, I didn't hire him to be nice and friendly (although it wouldn't have killed him). I hired him to fix my hips and he did that. I didn't have a choice of prosthesis. Knowing what I know now (which is probably way more than the average hip patient knows) I would have definitely asked about ceramic bearings. I am not that young but if having ceramic would make it more likely that my hips will outlive me, I might even pay extra for it. As it was I got metal/poly.

As important or more important than what hardware the OS uses on you, is the skill of the surgeon. The latest hardware and techniques mean little if they aren't installed correctly. So worry less about hardware, mini incisions, computer imaging, resurfacing, metal or ceramic or poly, blah, blah, blah, and find yourself a good surgeon.

Other matters: I could drive at 5-6 weeks after each hip. I discovered that the arthritis pain was gone immediately after surgery. They got me up and walking within hours after surgery. You may have precautions imposed for a period of time. These will be frustrating but need not be forever. In the early hours, you may wonder why you let someone do this to you. You will worry about dislocating. You may be surprised at how well you do. There may be swelling of the thigh and leg on the operated side. This is temporary and abates. You may be given some kind of prophylactic measures to prevent DVT and blood clots. These measures can include a drug, special TED sox or a device that massages the legs. Moving around and walking are another good way to prevent clots so the sooner you are up and moving, the better.

I had one radiation treatment on day 2 with my second hip (but not the first) to prevent HO (heterotopic ossification), something that the OS said he noted during the surgery. It was uncomfortable but it apparently worked because I never got HO. This is not a common treatment but certain people are more vulnerable to it (and it can be quite painful and crippling if it develops). It's easier to prevent it than to try to dig it out later.

I could go on, but will stop by saying that THR is one of the most successful surgeries done today in terms of how it relieves pain and restores function in people who would otherwise end up in wheelchairs, burdens to their families and society.

Answer 2

"Then when Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he became very enraged, and sent and slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its environs, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had ascertained from the magi," (Matt. 2:16) If Herod really did slaughter all the male babies in Jerusalem, why isn't there any mention of it in historical accounts outside the Bible such as the Jewish historian Josephus or some other Roman historians? Since we find none, doesn't that mean that it didn't happen or at the least cast doubt upon the validity of the event? After all, killing a town full of babies is something that would have been recorded. First of all, not having any evidence outside the Bible of the slaughter of the babies, does not mean it didn't happen, especially since the Bible does record it and the Bible has already been proven to be historically accurate. Second, Bethlehem, as far as the Romans were concerned, was an insignificant and very small town located about five miles south of Jerusalem at around 2500 feet elevation. It probably had a population of no more than 500 - 600 people. Micah 5:2 it says, "But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity.” Notice that Micah (written around 500 B.C.) prophesies that from Bethlehem, a small town, Jesus will be born. If there were as many as 600 people in Bethlehem, how many children would have been under the age of two? Ten, twenty, thirty? Whatever the number, it would not have been hundreds. It would have been relatively few. Add to this the fact that Herod was known for committing horrendous crimes against people and you could see why this event in an insignificant village in the Jewish area, might be ignored. "But it is not surprising that he [Josephus] and other secular historians overlooked the death of a few Hebrew children in an insignificant village, for Herod’s infamous crimes were many. He put to death several of his own children and some of his wives whom he thought were plotting against him. Emperor Augustus reportedly said it was better to be Herod’s sow than his son, for his sow had a better chance of surviving in a Jewish community."1 Third, there were more "important" things happening in the Roman Empire which would occupy the details of historical writers. T

Answer 3

My uncle just had both his replaced at the same time. It is important that you find a specialist that performs just hip surgerys. He had his hips replaced in Spokane Washington. I can't remember the Dr's name off the top of my head but know that he is the best in his field. I am truly amazed at how having my uncles hips replaced have changed his life for the better! He is able to do the things that he loves with out all the pain now. He is a team roper and within months was back on his horse and competing. I know that his hips were really bad before hand and are tip top shape now. I have talked to him and he said that he didn't consider the surgerys that hard of a recovery. He just followed his Dr's orders. On the other hand, my neighbor had one hip replaced and has had problems (she had a differnet Dr than my uncle) Her main thing is that the Dr was unable to lengthen her leg back out so she still has one leg longer than the other. My uncle to had this problem, but he claimed his Dr just wouldn't give up until his legs were the same length. He said that they streched it millimeter by millimeter until he acheived his desired results. Here is my email: [e-mail] If you are interested in my uncles Dr., let me know and I can get you the information you need. No worries! Everything will be just fine!

Answer 4

I have never had one myself, but I work in the Emergency Room and I have seen many patients that have had to have them and they are all doing well. It is a rough surgery and a BIG RECOVERY, but it is all worth it. I work with a paramedic who had to have his hip replaced years ago after an accident and he still works and is able to function just fine with his hip. Just keep in mind it is a long recovery and is painful for awhile, and after you are done healing just be careful not to fall and displace the hip that is MORE painful than the actual replacement. As for the hospital care, it depends on where you go, in ours you will be in what they call an abductor pillow which will keep your legs spread out and even so that the hip will not fall out of place so to speak, and this is placed between your legs and attached with straps. Then within the first couple of days after the surgery you will have physical therapy walk you it is going to be painful but it is important to do so that you don't stiffen up to much and that is what is going to hurt more. Once you get going it will get easier every time. If you want any more info, just send me a comment it will go to my e-mail box and I will get in touch with you from there just leave me an e-mail address. Not comfortable leaving my address on here

Answer 5

If you are still young, the docs will not replace it yet. They say they only last about 15 years. If you are older (no offense) and active, it isn't that bad. Recovery time depends on your will to get back up on your feet. They will have you up in about 3 days taking steps. My mother had both hips done at different times at the age of 73 for the first and 74 for the second. She is doing very well now.

Answer 6

Had my R hip replaced in 1977 ... NOT one problem since.

BENEFITS: no more aches and pains; better balance; easier sex (got it on 5 days later!).

PRE-OP: for three weeks leading up to my surgery I took 1000 units vitamin C every day, and at night I massaged the area where the incision was going to be for 5 minutes with Vitamin E cream.

BENEFITS: quicker healing; easier removal of stitches; diminished scarring; greater skin tone.

Don't sweat it -- you'll be fine! As long as you have a top flight Dr., a healthy state of mind, and today's technology ... Blessings to you.

Answer 7

My mom just had hers done after she fell here at home and broke her hip. She had it done this Sept. and was in the hospital on her birthday. I was there with her all the time, even when she was in therapy. And she is 72. She even had a stroke last year to boot and then this year she broke her hip, same side as the stroke was on. She was in the best hospital here in Oklahoma. Yes you can email me if you want to, not a problem.

Answer 8

Im afraid I cannot help you but I want to wish you good luck in your research and in getting a successful hip replacement,

Answer 9

I hope you enjoy the new hips, mine left me in a wheelchair and ended my sex life........I can only perform fellatio now and am sometimes left by the winos on a railing afterwards while they play chariots on my wheel chair...

Answer 10

dr kevin coupe houston tx..the best