Anyone had their hip(s) replaced?

[John Deaux]

I'll be 53 in a couple months and have been told I need both hips replaced. From what I've been told and found researching, the recovery seems pretty reasonable at around 3 months. I'm curious if anyone that has been through this had to give up any activities.

I'm currently getting injections every 3 months but my last round provided much less relief than before. I'm wondering if I'm suffering for no reason. Procrastinating only to wish I had done it sooner.

**I realize this is the internet and strangers, I'm not seeking medical advice. Just looking for any first hand experiences**

[Calatrava r]

Check around with some other docs and maybe get some lifestyle strengthening and diet changes. The best advice is to generally put off hip replacements as long as possible where you can. This is one area where earlier is not always better. The good news is most folks I 've seen with them are back up and moving within the 3 months as you mention. Good luck with your journey forward on this.

[JasoninDenver]

My personal trainer just had his done at 48 due to wear and tear from wrestling throughout high school and college. He put it off for five years and continued to lose mobility and gain weight as the deterioration progressed.

After 10 weeks, he already feels better than he did before the surgery.

[brandrea]

One of my best friends had one down about 5 years ago, and he’s having the other one done next week.

His recovery time was indeed right around 3 months. They like to get you up and walking asap, and he was out of bed the very next day.

[AzPaul]

I've had two friends, early 60's get it done. One hasn't had any issues and falls into the 'why did I wait so long' category while the other has had nothing but difficulties from the word go.

Just go in knowing it's not always sunshine and lollipops on the other side.

[codecow]

I had someone in the gym telling me to get mine done because hers worked wonders. Saw her about a year later and she was having it done again.

[Letsgodiving]

My father had his done around 60 and it was a great relief for him. I would put it off as long as you are reasonably able. As his doctor told him, 'you will know when it's time'.

He had much more trouble with his knee replacement but that was performed when he was significantly older and he refused to do the recommended physical therapy after the surgery.

[colpol]

My brother in law had his hip replaced 5 weeks ago

I was at his house on Sunday there & he’s down to one stick now. The worse thing he says is hasn’t had a proper nights sleep since the op as you have to sleep on your back for 8 weeks. He’s up 2/ 3 times during the night

I saw him at the 10 day mark & was surprised that he was up/ walking ok with his sticks. . He was off the high strength pain killers after a week & just taking the odd paracetamol after that.

[Calatrava r]

Originally Posted by codecow

I had someone in the gym telling me to get mine done because hers worked wonders. Saw her about a year later and she was having it done again.

That is really a shame. A re-do is called a revision and generally the recovery is not a full as the first time around. Best wishes to her.

[codecow]

After having knee surgery I am still not 100% 2.5 years after the surgery; it will never be the same. So I think it’s the devil you know versus the devil you don’t know.

[geoach]

Originally Posted by codecow

After having knee surgery I am still not 100% 2.5 years after the surgery; it will never be the same. So I think it’s the devil you know versus the devil you don’t know.

I'm have the same issue left knee replaced little over year ago pisses me of have pain and swelling mostly after walking slow pace for 30 min

[biknut]

Originally Posted by John Deaux

I'll be 53 in a couple months and have been told I need both hips replaced. From what I've been told and found researching, the recovery seems pretty reasonable at around 3 months. I'm curious if anyone that has been through this had to give up any activities.

I'm currently getting injections every 3 months but my last round provided much less relief than before. I'm wondering if I'm suffering for no reason. Procrastinating only to wish I had done it sooner.

**I realize this is the internet and strangers, I'm not seeking medical advice. Just looking for any first hand experiences**

Have you researched the different surgical approaches? A golfer friend had his done posteriorly since it apparently gives better stability and is less likely to dislocate with activity. He said recovery was pretty painful and required a cookie sheet to slide his heel to the bedside to get up for awhile. Another friend had hers done from the front since it's more "muscle sparing" and was very easy to recover from. I think there's a side approach too..anyway food for thought..

[codecow]

Originally Posted by geoach

I'm have the same issue left knee replaced little over year ago pisses me of have pain and swelling mostly after walking slow pace for 30 min

They told me 6mos and I laughed at them and said no way I will be back in no time.

I had a torn meniscus on top of previous damage, graded ACL sprain, and bad cartilage degradation.

If I do a wrong workout on it, it will get inflamed and swell up. Lately for no good reason my ACL has been flaring up as well.

[mailman]

Had a full knee replacement 2-1/2 years ago. Took about a year for full recovery. Best decision I made. Very few issues at all. I didn’t take any pain meds during recovery. Once in a while the weather lets me know it’s there. I can’t squat what I used to however I can leg press 450lbs plus. As long as I keep my quads strong, it’s good.

[rjd1]

I had them both done in the past 3 years - Age 56 now. Degenerative bone/joint issue plus years of sports/weights/abuse. It isn’t fun but it’s well worth it. Find a good surgeon and ask a lot of questions. My biggest regret is having waited and suffered too long. Plenty more to add if you have specific questions, happy to share.

[John Deaux]

Thanks for the feedback everyone.

I am glad to see many more positive statements than not. I should have provided more information to start with, my issues are complete bone on bone contact in some area as well as a torn labrum in each hip. It is believed the labrums have been torn by spurs on the bone that have "cut" the labrum during certain movements. Yes, there is a surgery to repair the labrum, but recovery is said to be quite miserable and 9-12 months each! It would be silly to go through that when the Chondral Lining is gone anyhow. So, even being healthy, exercising 5-6 days a week, and eating reasonable won't help me too much at this point.

As some have said on TRF, so has my doctor, "you'll know when it's time". This is proving difficult because is seems the tear will sometimes catch and get irritated. I will be beyond miserable for a week or so and then all of a sudden start feeling reasonable. I've been ready to pull the trigger a couple times then everything is fine a week later.

I can definitely relate to those who have given knee surgery stories. I blew my ACL back in 2000. Even with surgery that knee has never been the same. I really regret doing the Patella Tendon method.

Originally Posted by biknut

Have you researched the different surgical approaches? A golfer friend had his done posteriorly since it apparently gives better stability and is less likely to dislocate with activity. He said recovery was pretty painful and required a cookie sheet to slide his heel to the bedside to get up for awhile. Another friend had hers done from the front since it's more "muscle sparing" and was very easy to recover from. I think there's a side approach too..anyway food for thought..

I'm curious how long ago this was? I've had no less than 6-8 doctors and therapists tell me if a doctor tells me he will do the posterior method to get up and walk out right then . Apparently, this used to be the primary method but has since been clinically shown to have a much higher chance of future dislocations, even to the extent patients are told to not cross their legs when seated.

[blassy]

My wife is a marathon runner who was dealing with hip pain forever due to labral tear. Wanting to continue running, she opted for the surgery to repair the tear. They also discovered she had terrible bursitis and scraped those clean while they were in there.
It was a miserable recovery. Month in a wheelchair, months on crutches and a cane and a year later she’s still in as much pain as she has before the surgery.
They’ve now offered her a hip replacement which will end her running pursuits but hopefully end her pain as well.
Labrum tears are notoriously difficult to correct. In retrospect, she wishes she would have just had the hip replacement surgery and not lost a year of her life.

[biknut]

Originally Posted by John Deaux

Thanks for the feedback everyone.

I'm curious how long ago this was? I've had no less than 6-8 doctors and therapists tell me if a doctor tells me he will do the posterior method to get up and walk out right then . Apparently, this used to be the primary method but has since been clinically shown to have a much higher chance of future dislocations, even to the extent patients are told to not cross their legs when seated.

The golfer friend was about 10 years ago, he had both done and is still playing a few times/week. I did a search and did see posterior may dislocate easier..won't tell him though. My other friend is a tennis player--70 y.o/doubles only--has also had both done anteriorly, 2nd one about 10 months ago. She said recovery was easy since they didn't cut muscles and is also back to playing. Though I bet you've done lots of internet searching, this looked like a good YT summary; 1 year ago by PhysioShow:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67niAklA9Hg&t=752s

[John Deaux]

Originally Posted by blassy

My wife is a marathon runner who was dealing with hip pain forever due to labral tear. Wanting to continue running, she opted for the surgery to repair the tear. They also discovered she had terrible bursitis and scraped those clean while they were in there.
It was a miserable recovery. Month in a wheelchair, months on crutches and a cane and a year later she’s still in as much pain as she has before the surgery.
They’ve now offered her a hip replacement which will end her running pursuits but hopefully end her pain as well.
Labrum tears are notoriously difficult to correct. In retrospect, she wishes she would have just had the hip replacement surgery and not lost a year of her life.

I hate to hear your wife going through such misery, but the story did make me feel better about my choice not the repair the torn labrums. The mere thought of two plus years of recovery had me thinking - no way. I've had a crazy journey with those. I went through five physical therapists and every type of doctor you can name over two years before a therapist suggested I ask my ortho about a torn labrum. I had an MRI and while waiting the week or so for follow up visit to get the results, I tore the other one! It was completely different symptoms, but I just knew

Originally Posted by biknut

The golfer friend was about 10 years ago, he had both done and is still playing a few times/week. I did a search and did see posterior may dislocate easier..won't tell him though. My other friend is a tennis player--70 y.o/doubles only--has also had both done anteriorly, 2nd one about 10 months ago. She said recovery was easy since they didn't cut muscles and is also back to playing. Though I bet you've done lots of internet searching, this looked like a good YT summary; 1 year ago by PhysioShow:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67niAklA9Hg&t=752s

Being ten years ago definitely makes sense. Posterior was considered the only acceptable way for a long time. That's why I asked, that could be a doctor following the best practice or one that is operating using outdated procedures, with only a few years separating the distinction. Thanks for the video, I'll check it out.