My name is Chris, a 55 year old from the US. For the past 2 years I've had debilitating hip pain in my right hip. I just kept putting off a doctor's visit believing "it would get better". Well, this spring when my answer to every "do you want to?" question was "NO", I finally got fed up with inactivity and made my first doctor's appointment in decades.
June 2 was the date of my first appointment. They took the x-ray attached below and said I needed a new hip. The person I met with that Friday was not a hip person, so I had another appointment the following Tuesday. I did not have a physical or blood work on file, so in order to have surgery I had to clear those 2 hurdles.
They scheduled me for June 21.
This was my first surgery and really my first medical attention in over 20 years.
I was quietly confident that everything would be ok, and couldn't possibly be worse than what I was living with.
Today is the 3 week anniversary of my surgery and I am doing great. I was able to walk unassisted on day 4 and have not used a walker, crutches or a cane since. I've been to 5 physical therapy sessions and bike and walk on most days.
I'm up to 2.5 miles at an 18 minute pace and my only concern is that I'm doing too much.
I feel great. I was a runner in my 30's and 40's but when 50 hit and my hip started to go, I stopped most activity and put on 40 pounds.
I am very optimistic for the next year as there is no pain, just the discomfort of swelling, stiffness and numbness, but all of those together are not the same as the pain I felt prior to surgery.
I would answer any questions anyone has and be glad to share my journey, from the initial popping in the joint to where I am today, 21 days after surgery.
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NewHip6-21-23
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hello Chris, I have a question. Both my hips pop when I’m stretching etc and recently my left hip has become painful. I’ve been running on and off for about 5 years but having my most successful and rewarding stint now (for the last 7 months) following strict running programmes to avoid my previous Achilles injuries. Hence I’m a bit irritated by the hip pain. I’m going to see a physiotherapist but if you have any insight that would be great.
The "pain" in the hip is something I might be concerned about. Just like you, I was extremely active and would run through or deal with injuries as they came. Luckily they all seemed to improve. The hip pain, beyond the popping and clicking, began in January of 2021. Because it was the winter, most of my activities were at the gym and on a more forgiving treadmill. That summer (2021) I was able to run, but found I was altering my gait to deal with the hip pain.
Then 2022 came and I basically shut down. The pain began to increase and it derailed any hope of a normal active life. I'm not sure why I delayed that extra year, but this spring (2023) I had enough and went to see an orthopedist.
It sounds like you know your body. It also sounds like you have allowed some to heal on their own. The hip, at least for me, did not heal, and it deteriorated. My wife lovingly mimics my walk just before surgery and I'm sure it is quite accurate....like a troll dragging one leg to the side and behind.
I've ruptured my Achilles and blown a few muscles and all of those did healed with time. My hip did not. Popping doesn't bother me as much as pain. If you feel pain I might advise getting an x-ray and seeing if some treatment is needed.
The doctor told me had I come in sooner I could have bought some time by cleaning up the joint (and that may be where you are), but he also said it would have only been a matter of time before I needed the replacement.
Keep me posted and please do have your hip examined. It was the one injury that really got me.
The swelling and stiffness vary. It seems to be a bit up on both accounts, but I have been at a desk more the past few days and for longer periods of time.
Aside from that it is largely a mental game. I feel pretty good. The "first move" (whether that be waking in the AM, or first after an extended sit) is getting less awkward and stiff, and closer to regular. The mental is what holds me back most. As in I don't want to make a sudden movement that will cause damage. But the actual physical feelings are not bad at all.
I am walking a lot. Today was my farthest at 2.67 miles in 45 minutes. I felt pretty good throughout the entire walk, so I just keep going.
Again, the mental is the real block. Like so many I've Googled everything and it seems that excessive walking can wear out the new joint before it "attaches". I've asked my therapist and he seems to think that as long as there isn't pain or the limp/compensation does not become too dramatic, it is ok to do the distance.
I see the surgeon next Wednesday, July 19th, and I hope that will give me some clarity as to if it is attaching properly and I am not doing anything wrong.
My nature is to want to do more and I tend to push it, I just hope I'm not pushing it too much.
Stay strong everyone!
Day 23 walk after right hit total anterior replacement.
The biggest challenge I have found is the mental one.
The concern that every "wonky" feeling in the new hip is a bad thing. I'm sure it is not, but convincing myself of that is another thing.
Confident support, without recklessness, would be the thing I would recommend most.
An "everything is fine" attitude, "but just be careful to avoid A & B" is something I am trying to work on myself.
I feel physically fine. There is the swelling and stiffness, but other than that, I'm in a much better physical feeling spot than I was prior to surgery.
So for anyone else going through a hip replacement I would advise caution, but also advise embracing confidence.
Too many "don'ts" and "nevers" seem to populate many sites, and I want to ignore those and embrace the "dos" and "cans" and "wills".
Looking good on the way to recovery! Just a word of advice from a 'two hip vet' 2011 and 2016. The can do attitude is great, essential for a good recovery. Do everything as advised in your physio recommendations and by your surgeon, but don't exceed! 6 weeks is the big milestone, don't try to get there in 5... Assuming all goes as well as both mine did, you will be able to push and exercise as much as you want in due course, but nature and the healing process must be observed, you can't push nature or she will push back. If you do damage at this stage, it cannot be repaired. Post hips and healing I was able to resume a normal life and many sports, pain free!
More recently I have other issues, but that's another story.
I have been wondering exactly what is too much vs what is not enough. That has been one of my biggest hurdles/concerns.
I was honest with my surgeon yesterday about the miles I've walked and the minutes and he was optimistic that absent a jarring or falling event, and/or running/high impact, that I was doing no damage to his work. I even asked it that way....am I hurting what you've done for me? And he doubled down saying "no".
But, I have read that too much too soon a concern, and that echoes daily, hourly.
The surgeon did say the setting process takes 6 weeks, and he counselled that I should avoid doing anything more aggressive, but what I had been doing was not hurting me.
But your words hit a spot that I've considered many times, and will continue to heed your advice and not overdo.
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