Anyone had a hip replacement?

Anyone had a hip replacement?

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Discussion

Daz1855

Original Poster:

341 posts

166 months

Wednesday 27th October 2021
quotequote all
I have been told by my GP that I need a hip replacement due to severe arthritis, not the news I was hoping for aged 64/100kg but given that I have had considerable pain in one hip for some time now it didn’t come as a complete surprise.

Obviously I will put it off as long as possible before taking a complete gamble on a surgeon having a good day at the office, but I am after a bit of real world feedback on what life will be like post hip replacement.

So, if you have had one done what was life like afterwards on many levels, replacement life expectancy, what you can and can’t do after the op, are any sports (eg rowing) a thing of the past, how long do you need to allow to go back to a normal life.

Many thanks in advance for any input.

55palfers

5,973 posts

169 months

Wednesday 27th October 2021
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My dear old mum had one about 18 or so years ago.

She's 95 next year and has had no problems at all.

She was back on her feet a within days of the op.

sherman

13,705 posts

220 months

Wednesday 27th October 2021
quotequote all
My grandma had both of heres done aged 80+. She was up and mobile in days. She walked taller and straighter after getting her replacements.

I would say get yourself on the list as soon as you can. With the current delays because of covid you wont be done anytime the year and possibly not most of next tear either.

You might not be able to row after a replacement but at 64 how many more years rowing were you really planning on anyway?

Bannock

5,726 posts

35 months

Wednesday 27th October 2021
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My sister had one aged 28 due to sudden and extreme arthritis. Yes, 28. It wore out by the time she was 40 and she had to have it done again. The second surgeon managed to screw her sciatic nerve into some bone (in a panic closing her up after trying to fit what turned out to have been the wrong part) and she is now partly paralysed and lives with unending pain which can never be turned off. Her latest mitigation is to have an electronic pain relieving device sewn in under her skin - which will obviously need to be taken out again some time to replace the battery, and it only serves to moderate the pain a bit and get her off morphine, which she's been on for nearly 15 years.

Sorry to bring a tale of woe to proceedings, but they can go wrong, so be careful.

Please don't anyone bother with the "never happeneds", I've described it the best I can as a non-medical person, and it's been a very long and painful thing to watch happen, during which time some details will inevitably have been forgotten. She tried to sue the surgeon for malpractice, but her lawyer cocked it up quite spectacularly and the surgeon in question is still practicing and went unpunished, and she went uncompensated.

2 sMoKiN bArReLs

30,476 posts

240 months

Wednesday 27th October 2021
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My other half had her's done last Tuesday.

Horrible first few days, but the rate of progress (so far) has been incredible.

sherman

13,705 posts

220 months

Wednesday 27th October 2021
quotequote all
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
My other half had her's done last Tuesday.

Horrible first few days, but the rate of progress (so far) has been incredible.
You dont get to sit about once you have a new part installed. They get you up and moving as soon as the screaming in pain stops. Moving speeds up recovery.

prand

6,002 posts

201 months

Wednesday 27th October 2021
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sherman said:
You dont get to sit about once you have a new part installed. They get you up and moving as soon as the screaming in pain stops. Moving speeds up recovery.
My dad wasn't screaming, had too much morphine for that, but three days after his op, as soon as he could walk up and down a three step footstool, they let him go home. Remarkable recovery really given the trauma and extent of the operation. He's had both hips done, relieved a lot of pain and increased mobility.

However, his second op left one leg up to an inch shorter than the other that has left him walking abit like a sailor and he has to have a lift in his shoe, but otherwise he's in very good shape. Surgeon says "it happens sometimes", Dad doesn't want another operation to fix it, understandably.

2 sMoKiN bArReLs

30,476 posts

240 months

Wednesday 27th October 2021
quotequote all
sherman said:
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
My other half had her's done last Tuesday.

Horrible first few days, but the rate of progress (so far) has been incredible.
You dont get to sit about once you have a new part installed. They get you up and moving as soon as the screaming in pain stops. Moving speeds up recovery.
Exactly. It's amazing really.

More of her stress was from various bad reactions to the anesthetic rather than the surgery itself. That's calming down & today we got to the end of the garden path & back.

Stairs are tricky but passable with care!


dontlookdown

1,908 posts

98 months

Wednesday 27th October 2021
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My Mum had hers done 4 yrs ago at 80. She is much better than she was although one leg is now a bit shorter than the other.

My Granny had hers done at the same age about 25 yrs ago. It was botched and she never walked again, although the pain she had been in was much reduced.

If you look at the numbers the sucess rate has improved a lot over that time. Almost routine now. But it's still a major procedure that does carry some risks. Make sure you get a good surgeon who really does a lot of hip replacements, there is nothing like practice and experience to minimise chances of trouble.

dontlookdown

1,908 posts

98 months

Wednesday 27th October 2021
quotequote all
That sounds more negative than i meant it to. In your position i would def have the op. Just be aware of the risks and do what you can to minimise them.

Daz1855

Original Poster:

341 posts

166 months

Wednesday 27th October 2021
quotequote all
Bannock said:
My sister had one aged 28 due to sudden and extreme arthritis. Yes, 28. It wore out by the time she was 40 and she had to have it done again. The second surgeon managed to screw her sciatic nerve into some bone (in a panic closing her up after trying to fit what turned out to have been the wrong part) and she is now partly paralysed and lives with unending pain which can never be turned off. Her latest mitigation is to have an electronic pain relieving device sewn in under her skin - which will obviously need to be taken out again some time to replace the battery, and it only serves to moderate the pain a bit and get her off morphine, which she's been on for nearly 15 years.

Sorry to bring a tale of woe to proceedings, but they can go wrong, so be careful.

Please don't anyone bother with the "never happens", I've described it the best I can as a non-medical person, and it's been a very long and painful thing to watch happen, during which time some details will inevitably have been forgotten. She tried to sue the surgeon for malpractice, but her lawyer cocked it up quite spectacularly and the surgeon in question is still practicing and went unpunished, and she went uncompensated.
That is an awful lot of bad luck for any one person to get, I genuinely cannot think of anything else to say other than that, sorry.

I had a "routine" hernia op that went wrong, when they had a second go at putting it right that went wrong, they then told me if they had a third go at it there would be a 50:50 chance of making it worse. So I quit whilst I was ahead(?).

Needless to say I will put it off for as long as possible but ultimately when the time comes that the pain is worse than the possible cure what choice do you have.

Daz1855

Original Poster:

341 posts

166 months

Wednesday 27th October 2021
quotequote all
Maybe I should have started a thread like "Has anyone done any Triathlons after a hip replacement"

That would have soon killed the thread off rofl

sherman

13,705 posts

220 months

Wednesday 27th October 2021
quotequote all
Daz1855 said:
Maybe I should have started a thread like "Has anyone done any Triathlons after a hip replacement"

That would have soon killed the thread off rofl
Andy Murray had his hip resurfaced (not quite a full hip replacenent and he is back to a galf decent standard in the tennis world.
Anything is possible if you set your mind to it.

Johnnytheboy

24,498 posts

191 months

Wednesday 27th October 2021
quotequote all
My dad had one in May after a fall, then flatly refused to engage in the NHS's attempts to recuperate him through physio etc.

In a roundabout way it killed him.

Do the physio.

Daz1855

Original Poster:

341 posts

166 months

Wednesday 27th October 2021
quotequote all
sherman said:
Daz1855 said:
Maybe I should have started a thread like "Has anyone done any Triathlons after a hip replacement"

That would have soon killed the thread off rofl
Andy Murray had his hip resurfaced (not quite a full hip replacenent and he is back to a galf decent standard in the tennis world.
Anything is possible if you are famous, have loads of money and set your mind to it.
EFA

sherman

13,705 posts

220 months

Wednesday 27th October 2021
quotequote all
Daz1855 said:
sherman said:
Daz1855 said:
Maybe I should have started a thread like "Has anyone done any Triathlons after a hip replacement"

That would have soon killed the thread off rofl
Andy Murray had his hip resurfaced (not quite a full hip replacenent and he is back to a galf decent standard in the tennis world.
Anything is possible if you are famous, have enough money and set your mind to it.
EFA
If you were not at world class standard before your hip replacement its hardly likely even with endless money you will be after the op. rolleyes

Daz1855

Original Poster:

341 posts

166 months

Wednesday 27th October 2021
quotequote all
sherman said:
Daz1855 said:
sherman said:
Daz1855 said:
Maybe I should have started a thread like "Has anyone done any Triathlons after a hip replacement"

That would have soon killed the thread off rofl
Andy Murray had his hip resurfaced (not quite a full hip replacenent and he is back to a galf decent standard in the tennis world.
Anything is possible if you are famous, have enough money and set your mind to it.
EFA
If you were not at world class standard before your hip replacement its hardly likely even with endless money you will be after the op. rolleyes
Forget about being able to play tennis or not, you seriously think that you or I would get the same standard of care that he did, no chance.

Easternlight

3,476 posts

149 months

Wednesday 27th October 2021
quotequote all
A friend had one done a few weeks ago, and it all went fine.

But I was staggered to hear that they now do this with an epidural so you are awake!!
She was ok to start with but had to be sedated when it started getting serious/mechanical eekvomit

2Btoo

3,543 posts

208 months

Wednesday 27th October 2021
quotequote all
My dad had one about 3 years ago now.

Operation was on the Thursday. I collected him from Hospital on the Saturday lunchtime and took him home.

I walked with him to the end of the road (100 yards perhaps) that evening 'to see how he could get on'.

Once there he reckoned he could get another 200 yards to the post box. Reluctantly I allowed him to try but it was OK.

Once we were at the post box he thought that he could make it another 400 yards or so to the pub. Despite my protestations we pushed on and made it. Thankfully I had a bank card in my pocket so we had a pint each and walked home. Admittedly he was walking with a pair of crutches and he was 'a bit sore' when we got back but all was fine.

Now, 3 years later? You'd never know he had had a problem in the first place. It's truly marvellous.

sherman

13,705 posts

220 months

Wednesday 27th October 2021
quotequote all
Daz1855 said:
orget about being able to play tennis or not, you seriously think that you or I would get the same standard of care that he did, no chance.
My grandma was very happy with her treatment.
My Dad who has had knee replacements was delighted with his treatment.
If you dont do your physio you will do badly no matter who you are. He had intense physio but he was trying to achieve more than a regular person.
The surgeon in the nhs is usually the same as a private one. The nhs guy just does the private work on his days off.