Hip replacement advice - PLEASE!
Discussion
I know that there are many much worse off than myself, but for me this is a big deal.
I'm 51 years old and have always been fit and active, enjoying weight training, running, cycling and sking. But I've had trouble with a hip for four or so years and have just found out that I have arthritus and need a full replacement.
I've now upset myself by doing some internet searching, and 'realised' the probable limitations to my life from now on. I was pissed off but accepted the fact that I won't be able to run anymore (I like half marathons) but some sites advise against cycling unless it's static, and suggest only cross country rather than downhill skiing. There is also suggestion of avoiding 'extreme' walking which I take to be 15 to 20 mile hikes - something that I was going to start doing again to offset the lack of running.
From the websites I'm not even sure that I will be advised to perform squats or leg press at the gym, and there is suggestion that I won't be able to bend the joint more than 90 degrees.
And of course for the younger more active recipient of a new hip, there is the almost certain need for revision surgery, which is more complicated and comes with a smaller chance of success, after 10 - 20 years.
Is there anyone out there that has had such an operation when in their early 50s and have any first hand information to share. I'm not a happy bunny and want to be cheered up, but equally having my fears confirmed will at least settle the doubt and allow me to try to plan out what I actually will be able to do.
TIA.....
I'm 51 years old and have always been fit and active, enjoying weight training, running, cycling and sking. But I've had trouble with a hip for four or so years and have just found out that I have arthritus and need a full replacement.
I've now upset myself by doing some internet searching, and 'realised' the probable limitations to my life from now on. I was pissed off but accepted the fact that I won't be able to run anymore (I like half marathons) but some sites advise against cycling unless it's static, and suggest only cross country rather than downhill skiing. There is also suggestion of avoiding 'extreme' walking which I take to be 15 to 20 mile hikes - something that I was going to start doing again to offset the lack of running.
From the websites I'm not even sure that I will be advised to perform squats or leg press at the gym, and there is suggestion that I won't be able to bend the joint more than 90 degrees.
And of course for the younger more active recipient of a new hip, there is the almost certain need for revision surgery, which is more complicated and comes with a smaller chance of success, after 10 - 20 years.
Is there anyone out there that has had such an operation when in their early 50s and have any first hand information to share. I'm not a happy bunny and want to be cheered up, but equally having my fears confirmed will at least settle the doubt and allow me to try to plan out what I actually will be able to do.
TIA.....
My Dad (62) had a hip replacement in April this year, he's quite active for his age, golfing 3-4 times per week, enjoys walking the dogs and playing badminton, he was nervous and thought it would put an end to his activities.
His operation took 2 hours and went very well, he has a titanium hip now and we cannot believe the progress he's made already, he says it's like a new lease of life, he needed his operation due to arthritus too, I think the hardest part for him was the 'toilet thing' as he slept downstairs for a few weeks then was up and about, to see him now going off out playing golf and walking as well as he does is incredible after 3 months.
Good luck with it, you'll be just fine
His operation took 2 hours and went very well, he has a titanium hip now and we cannot believe the progress he's made already, he says it's like a new lease of life, he needed his operation due to arthritus too, I think the hardest part for him was the 'toilet thing' as he slept downstairs for a few weeks then was up and about, to see him now going off out playing golf and walking as well as he does is incredible after 3 months.
Good luck with it, you'll be just fine
My bro in law had a hip replacement a few years back. Similar age 50s. He's just about to go in for another on the other hip.
Once he healed up after first op he got quite active again, in fact pretty active (diving off rocks into sea on hols with us). Just s
te luck his other side has gone (arthritis they say).
One thing I noted when he was in hospital for the first op (with 4 other guys all having similar hip ops), is he really tried hard doing lift ups off the bed etc after the op to build up his strength, while the others sort of led there sleeping and reading.
He got out first, days ahead of any of the others!
Once he healed up after first op he got quite active again, in fact pretty active (diving off rocks into sea on hols with us). Just s
te luck his other side has gone (arthritis they say).One thing I noted when he was in hospital for the first op (with 4 other guys all having similar hip ops), is he really tried hard doing lift ups off the bed etc after the op to build up his strength, while the others sort of led there sleeping and reading.
He got out first, days ahead of any of the others!
Welcome to my world!! I'm 52 an am awaiting a hip replacement. My wife (also 52) had hers done in March. Ignore the stuff on the web & take advice from your consultant and the physio. Listen to what you are told abut exercising both pre and immediately post operation and you will recover quickly. Your hip will be stronger than before and you will be able to do pretty much whatever you want in time. Just don't be imaptient.
A mate of mine had both of his done in his mid 40's & was back refereeing rugby within 12 months as well as playing golf (single figure handicap), bowls and walking bloody miles in his job as a postman.
A mate of mine had both of his done in his mid 40's & was back refereeing rugby within 12 months as well as playing golf (single figure handicap), bowls and walking bloody miles in his job as a postman.
I've had discussions about replacing various joints, result for me at present is that they don't want to go there... a schoolfriend with quite nasty severe juvenile arthritis had his first hip replacement at 16, he was rock climbing 6 months later!
Cycling should be fine as long as you don't do serious BMX insane flying-through-the-air type stuff, a mate of mine suggests trying a recumbent if you can find one to borrow at first. Basically you will be a little bit more prone to dislocating the hip so if you do anything with an unusually high risk of putting a hip out you'll need to reconsider doing it, or see if you can do it more safely.
Good luck!
Cycling should be fine as long as you don't do serious BMX insane flying-through-the-air type stuff, a mate of mine suggests trying a recumbent if you can find one to borrow at first. Basically you will be a little bit more prone to dislocating the hip so if you do anything with an unusually high risk of putting a hip out you'll need to reconsider doing it, or see if you can do it more safely.
Good luck!
Thanks Guys. Seems the immediate future may still be fit and bright. I guess the only question now is, how long will the replacement last if I give it some punishment?
Isaac, some advice. Go have a scan on your hip. I had physiotherapy on my hip for 4 years and have kept running - three half marathons over three weekends earlier this year.
However, it looks as if I should have visited the Consultant earlier. I was too late for the resurfacing which is a lot less intrusive. And after that you can still have a replacement I believe.
Anyway, I'm under the knife next Wednesday. Seems that's been happening to me a lot over the last two years.....
Isaac, some advice. Go have a scan on your hip. I had physiotherapy on my hip for 4 years and have kept running - three half marathons over three weekends earlier this year.
However, it looks as if I should have visited the Consultant earlier. I was too late for the resurfacing which is a lot less intrusive. And after that you can still have a replacement I believe.
Anyway, I'm under the knife next Wednesday. Seems that's been happening to me a lot over the last two years.....
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Mate, please do go and see a doctor - it sounds like you're assuming that you have arthritis but there are all sorts of issues it might be, some of which are treatable/reversible if you get it seen to in time. Get yourself an x-ray and talk to a physio, ideally see an orthopod. You suggest you've got scoliosis - if this is the case then replacing the hip won't magically make you symmetrical but it might help if you're having back pain and may well avoid worse pain in the future. Do you have a built up shoe? Might also help!I've got a slightly wonky left leg - torsion of the tibia is the technical term - which affected my gait when I was still able to walk (unrelated issue) and passed a load of pain on up through the knee, hip and my back. Learning to walk a bit more evenly with the aid of a stick helped hugely (aged around 15), I had crutches for a bit when I was younger but my stupid physio fixated on me being 'reliant' on them (er yes, you do tend to rely on things you need to be able to walk well - twit!) and removed them leading to a few miserable years of staggering around trying not to fall over too often.
Hope you don't mind me asking but do you have hip dysplasia?
I'm in a similar boat. I drove my femur through my pelvis. Breaking my accetablum when I was 25. its been pinned and plated.
I've now have pain and very limited movement. I can't tie my laces for example.
I'm now almost 29 and am waiting for my surgeon to give the green light for a replacement as I struggle to do any of my hobbies with out ruining my self for days after. I'd be interested to hear how you get on.
Scuse the poor spelling/gramor on my phone.
I've now have pain and very limited movement. I can't tie my laces for example.
I'm now almost 29 and am waiting for my surgeon to give the green light for a replacement as I struggle to do any of my hobbies with out ruining my self for days after. I'd be interested to hear how you get on.
Scuse the poor spelling/gramor on my phone.
I should be out on Sunday - and I'm taking it very easy
Jeez, that's rough about your femur/pelvis. I will keep updating the thread.
So far my hip does already feel better. The nerve block has worn off now but the pain I'm feeling is due to the wound rather than the bone. So there seems to be an immediate improvement. The actual recovery immediately post op is a nuisance as I must not move my leg at all and I am having to make a very conscious effort with that. But overall so far things are OK. Not looking forward to catheter being removed tomorrow
I will be taking my first steps tomorrow morning and depending on how that goes walking in the afternoon with aid of a frame.
I'll forgive the spelling and grammer due to your phone if you forgive any of my morphine and anaesthetic generated mistakes!
I could murder a beer...
Jeez, that's rough about your femur/pelvis. I will keep updating the thread.
So far my hip does already feel better. The nerve block has worn off now but the pain I'm feeling is due to the wound rather than the bone. So there seems to be an immediate improvement. The actual recovery immediately post op is a nuisance as I must not move my leg at all and I am having to make a very conscious effort with that. But overall so far things are OK. Not looking forward to catheter being removed tomorrow
I will be taking my first steps tomorrow morning and depending on how that goes walking in the afternoon with aid of a frame.
I'll forgive the spelling and grammer due to your phone if you forgive any of my morphine and anaesthetic generated mistakes!
I could murder a beer...
You're right, removal of the catheter was fine - just sort of a surprise!
But I'm afraid that I spoke too soon about the lack of pain. My leg, hip and lower back were/are in agony and the oral morphine barely took off the edges. But I'm waiting for physio now, to help me with my first few steps which is supposed to losen everything off and start easing the pain.
But I'm afraid that I spoke too soon about the lack of pain. My leg, hip and lower back were/are in agony and the oral morphine barely took off the edges. But I'm waiting for physio now, to help me with my first few steps which is supposed to losen everything off and start easing the pain.
The exercises are very low key, just clenching muscle around the knee. Prior to coming in I was just told by the physion to keep the muscles strong and stretch. SO I was using leg machines at the gym, along with the cross trainer, and doing some general hip stretching/opening stuff. TBH with the state that the hip was in the cross trainer just seemed to cause more wear and more pain so I don't know how effective they were.
Anyway - update. The pain last night was a real bh and I hardly slept at all. I was on the side of the bed this morning to try to go to the loo as it all seemed to freeze after the bloody catheter was removed. I've persevered all day as I do not want another catheter inserted; I'm not peeing normally but I am peeing and it will improve.
The pain in the hip, lower back and leg has subsided a lot now and I've been out on the zimmer frame several times to and from the loo which is only a few paces away. It's weird putting weight on the leg as I know there is something a bit odd going on - and off course it hurts! But it is all progressing as it should, apparently.
I can't believe how much I've slept today; making up for the crap night and getting the anaesthetic out of the system. Feeling quite weird so typing is not easy. And I can't remember what I've already told t whom so if I'm repeating myself apologies.
Oh yeah, the results of having the epidural was not nice as everything was numb below the waist - but trust me, I wish the bloody thing had taken longer to wear off!
Crikey - just a few minutes typing and I think that I need to doze again.
Anyway - update. The pain last night was a real b
h and I hardly slept at all. I was on the side of the bed this morning to try to go to the loo as it all seemed to freeze after the bloody catheter was removed. I've persevered all day as I do not want another catheter inserted; I'm not peeing normally but I am peeing and it will improve.The pain in the hip, lower back and leg has subsided a lot now and I've been out on the zimmer frame several times to and from the loo which is only a few paces away. It's weird putting weight on the leg as I know there is something a bit odd going on - and off course it hurts! But it is all progressing as it should, apparently.
I can't believe how much I've slept today; making up for the crap night and getting the anaesthetic out of the system. Feeling quite weird so typing is not easy. And I can't remember what I've already told t whom so if I'm repeating myself apologies.
Oh yeah, the results of having the epidural was not nice as everything was numb below the waist - but trust me, I wish the bloody thing had taken longer to wear off!
Crikey - just a few minutes typing and I think that I need to doze again.
I woke up from surgery thinking I was wearing furry trousers with the epidural. A very surreal fealing. My left arm ached as I had been lying on it during surgery.
I was quite glad I didn't have a catheter fitted.
Glad the pains easing, give it a few days mate it will be well worth it.
I was quite glad I didn't have a catheter fitted.
Glad the pains easing, give it a few days mate it will be well worth it.
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