Hip replacement advice please.

[Dorset Diver]

Okay it's nowt to do with motorhomes, other than at present I can't use ours but...

In common with many of my age, I seem to be falling to bits and in need of replacement parts. The first replacement needed is a right side hip joint, or so I’m told by a surgeon who is supposed to know. He has also said that many thousands of such operations / replacements have been done very successfully. If that is the case there must be at least a few of you that have already had the procedure. If so would you care to tell of your experience and offer any tips and advice? I am particularly interested in knowing how long the real life recovery period is.

 

[Mr B]

There’s another thread regarding hip replacement on here but I can’t copy and paste the link

 

[KASPAR]

My twin brother had his replaced. Was a sofa surfer, hardly exercised before. 3 weeks after surgery was driving. You must do the exercises the physio put in place right from the start of the programme, that is key.

Neighbour of 72 had both his done, again followed the physio programme, driving in 6 weeks.

My boss had hers done, didn't follow the exercises, now needs a mobility scooter.

 

[Bustup15]

At age 68, I was in and out in less than 24 hours. Out and walking with crutches next day and progressed quickly.
2nd hip, left hospital within 24 hours and went to pub . Walking 5000 steps within a week.
Everyone's different but I would say do as much as you can as quickly as you can.

 

[tonka]

Do a search on here.. Been discussed on quiet a few threads.
Had mine done back in 2022 (i think)..
Follow all the advise like exercise and it usually all turns out good.
VERY GLAD mine was done, back driving within a month as i had an automatic and docs said that was ok.

Here is one..

https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/any-advice-on-hip-replacement.297051/

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[Dorset Diver]

There’s another thread regarding hip replacement on here but I can’t copy and paste the link

Thanks I'll try to find it.

 

[RowleyBirkinQC]

My right hip was done before I was 50 due to bad arthritis which I had put up with for years. The outcome for me was literally life changing in terms of mobility, gait and posture.

As has been said, listen to the Docs and Physios etc, do the exercises they advise for the best outcome (before and after the op).

 

[DBK]

I had mine done the end of last October. The first 6 weeks were uncomfortable and I was munching pain killers. Around 6 weeks things improved considerably and I was sleeping through the night, previously I would wake once or twice a night and need to take painkillers.

It's now a little over 12 weeks and I can do walks of 4 or 5 km with no problem. I'm slowly increasing the distance and doing more on the rough ground of Dartmoor. Still doing exercises.

 

[peterc10]

My wife has had both hips replaced. One in 2020 and the other in 2023. Her only regret was not getting them done earlier so as to avoid years of pain.

She now strides it out leaving me in her wake.

 

[Silver-Fox]

First thing I’d say get it done asap

I had mine done around the same time as DBK.

I still struggle to put my socks on without the Soxon aid.
But can do shoe laces up just about.

I’m not the most flexible person that ever walked and even as a kid couldn’t touch my toes so this is partly my problem.

Do stupid amounts of targeted exercise prior to surgery as it really helps with recovery after the op.

I was in for two nights and released on the Sunday, op was Friday afternoon.
The anaesthetist was a bit over eager with the spinal injection and it took a good while to get the feeling back in my legs so wasn’t out of bed until the Saturday.

I strictly followed the physio instructions and didn’t do any heavy lifting for 8 weeks, I’m building my own extension so that was frustrating.

I started driving just after 5 weeks without any issues.

Strange as it sounds you have to learn to walk again without limping

As said above see if you can find the other thread on hip replacement, lots of info on it

Good luck with it

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[Terry242]

I've had both done in the last couple of years.

Get it done.

Followed by as much exercise/walking/cycling as you can stand.

I found pool exercise really good.

I'm off cycling in Spain tomorrow.

Terry

 

[busby]

Okay it's nowt to do with motorhomes, other than at present I can't use ours but...

In common with many of my age, I seem to be falling to bits and in need of replacement parts. The first replacement needed is a right side hip joint, or so I’m told by a surgeon who is supposed to know. He has also said that many thousands of such operations / replacements have been done very successfully. If that is the case there must be at least a few of you that have already had the procedure. If so would you care to tell of your experience and offer any tips and advice? I am particularly interested in knowing how long the real life recovery period is.

Had mine done Aug 6th last year I was 79...Ca.e out of hospital next day a Tues.. Was driving on the Friday...Had zero pain from the hip from day one but had a lot of pain in my other leg.Was told this was because the surgeon had levelled me up.It appeared that when I had my knee replaced 11 years ago one leg was 2 cm longer than the other...Have found walking poles are suiting my mobility better than walking stick ...It stops the back ache...Managed to get away to Spain in the van six weeks after the op...BUSBY.

 

[Paul F]

Okay it's nowt to do with motorhomes, other than at present I can't use ours but...

In common with many of my age, I seem to be falling to bits and in need of replacement parts. The first replacement needed is a right side hip joint, or so I’m told by a surgeon who is supposed to know. He has also said that many thousands of such operations / replacements have been done very successfully. If that is the case there must be at least a few of you that have already had the procedure. If so would you care to tell of your experience and offer any tips and advice? I am particularly interested in knowing how long the real life recovery period is.

Lots of success stories and replacements are generally a very successful and effective procedure, but some patients do have problems.

My partner had one done 16 months ago and all was good for 6 months or so. Then she managed to pick up an infection and long story short, she ended up in hospital for 8 weeks with Sepsis and the whole hip replacement had to come out. The infection attaches itself to the metal, and then no amount of antibiotics will clear it. The hip was replaced with a temporary one whilst the infection was treated and it will need to come out again in the next two or three months for the permanent replacement to go back in. The infection has left several other problems behind that may well be life changing.

All of that said, she would still go ahead with it, because her hip was knackered anyway and she was struggling to walk beforehand.

Go for it is my advice, but pray that you dont get infected....I learned a lot through the process, and can assure you, infection is a very unpleasant thing!

 

[Mr porky]

I had mine done when I was 45 after waiting 5 years as my doctor told me to hang on as much as possible as I was so young to be getting it.
Now 54 and its like I never had any issues ever.
I was power washing our front drive a week later after surgery.

 

[Bobby dazzler]

My wife had both hers replaced she is only in her early 50. She was in excruciating pain with both of them and on the maximum pain relief. She worked as long as she could before the operations after she had had the second one completed everyone could tell the relief on her face at home and at work as if a 20 ton weight had been lifted.

It's made a massive difference to her life and trips away in the van are enjoyable again.

She will probably need them doing again in the future but it's the here and now that counts.

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[LostInSpace]

I am particularly interested in knowing how long the real life recovery period is.

Not me. But Mrs Lost.
She was back in the Motohome (as an enthusiastic passenger on the way to France) in about 9 weeks. But up and about long before that.

Had it done where they pioneered the original hip replacements.

 

[Tea Bag]

Hi.
As above. Did what the physio's said,never looked back. Waking up from the op..... PAIN FREE.... Just obey the rules.,best of luck.
Tea Bag

 

[MartinandBev]

My wife had her left hip done at 55 and her right hip 4 weeks after, and since has also had two knee replacements , so both hips and both knees.

Hips she was walking without aid within 3 weeks hence the second hip done 4 weeks later, as long as you follow physio ll good.

The knees were much more complex and took longer, that said she is now a fit as anything with no pain and walking without any assistance and with confidence of covering considerable distance

 

[Chuns]

I have had two hip replacements, one an original Charnley, the other a 'modern' resurfacing (also a knee, ankle and thumb). Call me Mr Arthritis.

All the advice given so far is good, but you will inevitably have to follow your own path. Your consultant will say “Your body will tell you when it is time.” And it sounds like you are at or near that point.

It is natural that you will be apprehensive, but take comfort from the knowledge that it is a most routine procedure, and far less intrusive and with a quicker recovery time than of old. Modern post operative pain management is amazing. The worst part of it all will be feeling like shit because of the general anaesthetic aftermath. If you are offered a nerve block instead, go for it. After my ankle replacement I had zero post-op discomfort, which accelerated my healing.

What you may not hear mentioned is how much better your life will be generally once you are not coping with pain. You will have compensated for it and it will have affected the way you live your life, affecting your outlook, your mood, your activity. Freedom from pain will re-open your world.

If you would like to talk about it, do pm me.

 

[lorger]

Had both hips replaced and I’m now 57, first one done at 50 and second at 55(2years next week) quite young to have both done due to a childhood road accident. As above do the exercises and get out walking, I was back on my bike within 6 weeks for gentle rides. Pain in hips virtually disappeared overnight but other things take a while, for instance you’ve probably been walking differently due to pain so your muscles will have to adjust to new way of walking. You may have different leg lengths due to wear as I’d lost 16mm so when new hip was put in two years ago they lengthened my leg again which still cause slight discomfort getting used to it two years later.
I’m now comfortably cycling up to 100miles at a time with no issues, still do the odd short runs and again no issues.

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