Hip Replacement

[chante]

Good morning everyone,

Hope everyone is well and not in to much pain.

After visiting the Drs I have been informed I will need a hip replacement,

to be honest I'm struggling with the thought of having surgery. Has anyone been through this?

I know it won't happen overnight and I've said, I need time to think. What does this mean for my RA and meds, on methotrexate, abatercet, folic acid, vit d, and pain relief meds. I know I will need to have a proper talk with Dr.

I would be gla for anyone who's had experience or know anything about recovery time etc.

Cheers, have a great day.

[Metal-legs]

Well I can honestly say out of all the surgery I've had over the years the hip replacements have been the most successful. They are 13 years old now, i was 32 when I had them replaced. The recovery time is about 6-8 weeks, you will be up and walking on a new hip straightaway. It's really important to do the physio exercises to strengthen your new hip. It got rid of all that nasty bone crunching pain for me, I have no regrets at all.

You will be advised to stop your methotrexate and abatacept for 2 weeks before your op and for a short time after. There are recommendations for a new hip i.e not to cross your legs, not to bend to put socks on,avoid low chairs and toilet seats but an occupational therapist will give you advice and offer some aids to help you cope at home.

Any surgery is a big decision so I can understand if you are worried about it. You have to weigh up how much pain you are in, and the impact it is having on your mobility, sleep, and quality of life. Try and get as much advice as possible from your surgeon and that will help you make a decision. All the best x

[chante in reply to Metal-legs]

Thanks, I needed that as I am wandering how long and effective the recovery time would be. Yes Drs can give you information but I wanted to hear from a personal perspective.

[Hidden in reply to chante]

I have no personal experience but a neighbour has had both hips replaced and for her was a great success, no regrets. Best of luck. X

[chante in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for your support.

[Metal-legs in reply to chante]

You're absolutely right, hearing other people's experiences can help enormously. If there is anything else you need to ask I'm happy to help you

[chante in reply to Metal-legs]

Thanks, appreciate that, will do.

[Livingston]

Have not had replacements done myself, although I think the left one may be looming in the not too distant future.

When I used to nurse, I looked after lots of older people (and some VERY old people) who had either elective replacements for arthritis or emergency replacements for fractures. I can honestly say that those who did the work afterwards - got on with the physio and followed the advice they were given by the orthopaedic team - those people did very well. The ones who didn't do so well either ignored advice (and dislocated repeatedly) or didn't do the work & got progressively weaker on their feet, rather than stronger.

I recall one very arrogant man in his 50's who had an elective replacement done privately and had insisted on going back to golf a couple of weeks in. (Twisting movements are forbidden in the early rehab period.) He had to have a revision. Then he went & did the same thing again. And again! I came across him after the 3rd revision. He was admitted to a home I worked in for 24 hour nursing care because his surgeon put him in a full body cast (nipples to just below knees) for 6 weeks as it was the only way left there was any hope of him healing & eventually regaining mobility. If that revision didn't get a chance to 'take' he was going to be left with an empty hip socket as there wasn't anything else to be done. Oh he was a nightmare & he still didn't want to listen.

In contrast, I have seen people in their 90s get up & start to work on walking the day after surgery & progress very well.

If the decision is made to go ahead, I think attitude is everything. As to making that decision, I don't have any experience, so I'll shut up! All the best.

[chante in reply to Livingston]

Thanks, you've put a smile on my face.

[jillab]

Hello Chante, I don't have RA. I have kidney disease, but that had nothing to do with me having a hip replacement on my left hip, I remember feeling as you do now, but if you have the same experience as I did I can tell you not to be scared of having it done it has been such a relief being able to walk without all the pain, I had mine done 7 years ago now and still feels good, I had the ceramic and titanium put in as apparently it lasts better. Try not to worry about having it done, it really is worth it. After the op. the wound will only take a few weeks to heal right up, and make sure you don't try to do too much until it does but then you will be fine, great fun at the airports afterwards when you make the alarms go off though, we are terrible as hubby has had his knee done too so we both set them off ringing. Good luck with yours. Jill.

[chante]

Thank you very much for your kinds words, I really appreciate the time you and others have taken to answer my post. You have answer some of my concerns.

[flow4]

I had a hip replacement last year (aged 48). It has been great and I have no regrets. That awful pain goes immediately - literally the first time I stood I noticed it had gone! - and I found the post-op surgical pain much easier to deal with because it gets better day by day, rather than worse.

It took me longer than 6-8 weeks to recover, though it does depend on what you count as 'recovered'! I was up and about and walking better, climbing stairs normally, etc. very quickly - from a few weeks... But I was utterly exhausted for 12-14 weeks, and off work for 18. I have also been limited by other bits of my body going wrong - my feet are awful so that limits my walking... Successful hip surgery recovery does depend a lot on you exercising!

There's a lively, friendly and useful Facebook group if you want more info/support specifically about hip replacements - search for Total Hip Replacement Forum.

Good luck!