Looks like Im getting a new left hip. Anybody been through a hip replacement, Im kinda worried about recovery and finishing my career.
My symptoms, lower back always in pain" especially with my gun belt on". Left butt cheek and inner leg nerves always twitching, massive pain in hip general area. Leg keeps giving out or crumbling as I walk. Back half of my foot is always numb. Any pressure on the left hip is sensitive with throbbing pain.
I got a steroid shot about three months ago and it did a great job of masking all the pain manufested from the shit listed. The Dr. says if I want to fix the pain and stop whinning like a bitch get a new hip.
This pain came on quickly about 18 months ago and has gotten progressively worse with time. The steroid shot is wearing off after 2.1/2 months and the pain is at times overwelming.
Anybody been thru this and what can I expect regarding recovery time. Etc, Etc.
I work in a small hospital and we do quite a few of those. For some reason recovey time is quicker and easier than for knee replacement. My wife has had both knees done, and recovery on that to get full pain free mobility is hitting about 3 months, sometimes longer. I was a hard task master and made her exercise it and force flex it more so she recovered a bit quicker.
Physical therapy is the key, listen to what they say and push yourself. Take the pain meds early on and befor PT, and add just a a bit of extra work at home and recovery should be quicker. At home go to the point of extreme discomfort, not pain and pay attention to what the therapist says and does and repeat it carefully.
As far as pressure from gunbelt, I don’t really know, but would not think it should be a problem after all the soft tissue fully heals, probably a 6-8 weeks there considering what has been done.
First off, listen to the PT people and keep up with the program.
Expect up to a full year for you to be fully ‘healed’ since there is a lot of cutting of muscles.
I am under a slew of restrictions (I’m on the very young side for hip replacement, had it at 31) but would undergo it again in a heartbeat if my choice of going under was given a cosmic ‘do over’ if everything else was the same.
You need to be aware of your footing, a bit thing is having the new joint pop out.
Also, running is a no-no if your relatively active.
Again, listen to the PT people, and be honest with yourself AND them.
If you have any questions just shoot me a PM and I’ll try and answer them.
Mine are gone too, but I am trying to hold out as long as I can. My rheumatologist sent me to a PT. I delayed going because I didn’t believe it would help. It helped a lot.
The PT introduced me to a guy that had his done a few years ago. I asked him about the pain after surgery. He said, “what pain?” The office manager at my General Practitioner had hers done three weeks before I saw her. I couldn’t believe how easily she was getting around without crutches or even a cane. She also said little to no pain. She did say that after a long car ride or sitting for long that it felt she had a steel ball in her butt. Of course, she does now!
My understanding is that a lot of the restrictions, such as not crossing your legs, are just temporary while you are healing. Also, my understanding is that not all doctors cut through muscles anymore. They go in from a different place and just move the muscles out of the way.
Remember Bo Jackson? He felt so good that he wanted to return to playing pro baseball!
My dad just had one replaced two weeks ago Thursday. The only thing he has to say about it thus far is that it hurts like hell but he was out and doing things less than a week out.
It is a pain in the Butt!!!. I had my left replaced 5.5 years ago from from a fall. You can’t do what you used to do. Can’t run for crap. Which is maybe 30". You can’t lift what I used to lift. Mine took 1.5 years to recover. Some days it’s great and other days it’s a pain. There is some bone growth with mine. I’ll tell you one thing not looking forward to have this done again. Are you having half hip or full. Plus you need to learn how to walk again and due anything else. Any oher ? feel free to send me a PM.
Thank you guys for replying. Im off on Dr. Orders until the 20th, my next steroid injection is this Thursday. Im 53, and would like/need to finish another 10 years in California for full retirement.
My Dr says the hip has to be replaced period. This is most likely a presumptive injury or on the job as Ive never done anything off duty that would warrant this kind of a re-do.
Sitting here doing nothing for the past week except thinking is driving me nuts. I guess it’s the “Not Knowing” what is going to happen that concerns me.
Some say ill be medically retired, some say no worries back to work. My current plan is to get the injection and work until next winter hopefully then get the hip replaced in the dead of winter when it’s quit.
Thanks, your posts are encouraging with great advice and give me peace of mind.
By all means shop surgeons…My wife had a hip replaced about 2yrs ago (prior to that, both knees), So, Do what the PT people tell you,Take your pain meds when you’re supposed to, pain management is very important. other things to consider, grab bars for the shower/bathroom, I’d also consider installing a handicap toliet these sit alot higher (18" I think) than a standard toliet, in the weeks after sugery, this will be a godsend. possible potty chair in the bedroom (when you’re healing up at home) you might not get to the bathroom as fast as you’d like…If you’re overweight, consider losing some weight now, before surgery, this will help after,
After your surgery you will find out how low toilet seats are. I don’t know why they make so low to the ground. The VA sent me home with a raised toilet seat. Plus walker and cane.
i used to work with a guy who got a new hip, he was about 50 and has been active all his life.
he was out of work for like 2 months, but he came back limber and pain free. i think he’s quite happy with it overall. he’s back to hiking, kayaking and bicycling.
Post surgery: You must follow the hip precautions or you might end up dislocating the new joint.
Do not bend beyond 90 degrees (hence raised toilet seat)
Do not cross your legs beyond the mid line.
Do not point your affected toes inwards.
There are 2 types of hip replacement.
Total hip replacement = replaces the ball and socket joint
Hemi-arthroplasty = replaces on one part of the hip joint.
Recovery time: 3-6 months post ops… but you are still in your 50’s you have a better prognosis compared to the elderly population.
Infection: avoid it like plague… keeps everything sterile for it might delay your recovery time or it might cause a problem with the new hip joint and you might end up having a revision(another surgery.
Blood clots: yes there’s always chance you might end up having blood clot s or DVT(deep venous thrombosis). It can be fatal once not treated appropriately. Be aware of your affected limb… if your leg is swollen or you are in alot of pain. Notify your doctor immediately. sometimes it’s just cellulitis but still it has to be ruled out it’s not a DVT.
Pain pills: highly recommended in the first few days post surgery but try not too dependent on it for it might cause some serious side effects in your body.
Assistive device: use a FWW (walker with wheels) in the first few weeks is highly recommended to avoid too much pressure on the new hip joint.
Physical Therapy: yes we specialized on this kind of stuff. The therapist will guide you all throughout your recovery.
It’s not a picnic but you will get through it. shoot me a PM if you have specific questions. goodluck…
The hip is going to be a total replacement. I plan to be back at work in a month. I seem to always push injuries for recovery reasons. Pain meds. Id rather deal with the pain then take meds, I hate feeling out of it. I haven’t even drank a beer in 18 years. “Used to be in the USN and learned really poor drinking habits”.
I do taken ibpropren like candy, which is a problem in it’s self. Anyway The short term pain of the replacement has to be an improvement over the pain Ive been experiencing for the last 15/18 months.
There have been times when I wanted to curl up in a ball and scream from the pain in my hip and butt area. There have also been times when my left leg simply quit working shut down no movment no weight bearing ability, just massive pain.
On another note why is my left foot going numb and the nerves running down my inner leg twitching madly a couple times a day. What does the hip have to do with those nerves.
A good friend is a PT. He’s very progressive regarding treatment and always off to training to learn the newest training ways.
I was hoping to still be able to attend advanced sniper school in two weeks. Im thinking that my be a bad bad bad idea.
Thanks you guys for your input, it’s very helpful and keeps me focus on positive recovery, rather then negitive thoughts of poor poor me.
I used to do a bit of work in the Orthopaedic Captial (Warsaw, IN home of Zimmer, DuPuy and BioMet among others). There are a lot of choices with any brand. For example Stryker has Press-Fit and Cemented Stems (see HERE) and several choices in each of those categories. I highly recommend looking into the different choices and making sure the implant fits your lifestyle and needs and is not just the one your surgeon is used to using.
