Hip replacement surgery

[Jersey mike]

I’d like to ask if anyone who has had either a whole or partial hip replacement surgery comment on their recovery, current status and overall opinion of the process.

My wife has arthritis in her hip and bone spurs in the socket portion of the hip. A few years ago she was told surgery was in her future but she had a cortisone shot which helped for a number of years and had put off returning to the doctor for care because we were caring for her father here at home.

2 weeks ago she did get X-rays and saw a orthopedic who told her her spine was not the issue which was reassuring and she made an appointment for another cortisone shot which she got yesterday with the hip orthopedic doctor.

After a quick discussion in the office it was determined again surgery is still on the table but the hope is she can get by for a while with the cortisone shot as she did previously. This wasn’t an in-depth office visit, it was just for the shot and his quick opinion. He informed her with the current (C-19) situation having surgery right now that wasn’t vital was not something he’d advise but would do it if a patient insisted.

My question to anyone who’d be willing to share their experiences whether it was you or a spouse who had this surgery is how recently the surgery was, how difficult recovery was including physical therapy and how comfortable the new replacement hip is functioning. Is/was there complete relief? I know 2 people who have had knee replacement surgery, 1 person had good results and the other had to go back for repair surgery.

Thanks, I appreciate any feedback and the time to post your thoughts.

[Bighead]

Mike I personally have not had one but have assisted surgeons with literally thousands of them and the recover is different with every patient. Some people. Ome walking in the  office at two weeks as if nothi g has happened (not the norm) while others it takes 6 weeks or so. Rehab is the key. Also she would have to wait at least 6 weeks after an injection to have a replacement.
Talk with John Schmidt he had one about 4 years ago and was one oftbe speedy recovery folks. He had a direct anterior approach.

[John Schmidt]

Yup, that be me.    I was a bit of a gym rat so physical condition obviously has a lot to do with recovery. The procedure used was the anterior approach which left me with a small 4" scar on the front of the hip. That doesn't involve cutting muscles or ligaments although I'm sure there's some stretching of them during the process. I had to have some pain meds the first night, next three mornings the staff had me up and walking. In fact I walked to/from the bathroom four hours following my return to the room. They wanted to release me the next morning, but since I was taking care of my wife I asked for a couple extra days so as to have as much mobility and strength back as possible. It paid off....they had me up and exercising twice a day during that time. Once home, the first couple nights I used half a tab of pain meds, after that only Tylenol. I had both crutches and a walker but never used them, just a cane. My wife and I would take short walks...she with her walker and I usually took a cane just in case but seldom used it. At my two week follow-up it was in the car when I walked into dr. office. I had to remind him which side he did the work on.

I highly recommend the anterior approach, my recovery was quick and with no lasting negative affects. It's also less restrictive in what moves and positions you can do but you still need to watch what you do for a while. It was a relief for sure, the pain was actually less than what I was incurring on a daily basis before the operation. With physical rehab visits 3 times a week, it was a quick recovery.

An afterthought told to me by the surgeon; if the patient, especially females, is up in years and has osteoporosis, often they won't do the direct anterior. Bones are too fragile. They didn't use it on my wife when she fell and broke her hip, went in from the back kind to the side. I teased, telling her she's the only person I've ever seen with two butt cracks....referring to the scar.    Due to her chemo meds, when she passed her bones were so brittle she had 9 compression fractures in the spine. She was still in pain even with morphine in her system. Very distressing and heartbreaking for me to watch.

[Jersey mike]

She’s had 5 physical therapy sessions so far and has quite a few more coming up over the next several weeks. We are hoping the cortisone will do it’s job and relieve the pain she’s in. The doctor reminded us that 3 shots a year are an acceptable course of treatment. Her PT therapist said that from the pain Barbara has and lack of movement she may have a torn labrum.

We are hoping she can get relief with the shots while he father is still alive as she is the sole family member still here in the state as well as his power of attorney. We were told over 2 years ago he had 6 months to live by a cardio-surgeon yet he still here with all kinds of issues involving the heart and his Alzheimer’s.

What you said regarding recovery is the same thing I read about online in mostly generic terms. Recovery and pain is personal and different with each individual and PT is important and putting the effort in even more so.

Thanks for taking a few minutes to touch base.

[Jersey mike]

Yup, that be me.    I was a bit of a gym rat so physical condition obviously has a lot to do with recovery. The procedure used was the anterior approach which left me with a small 4" scar on the front of the hip. That doesn't involve cutting muscles or ligaments although I'm sure there's some stretching of them during the process. I had to have some pain meds the first night, next three mornings the staff had me up and walking. In fact I walked to/from the bathroom four hours following my return to the room. They wanted to release me the next morning, but since I was taking care of my wife I asked for a couple extra days so as to have as much mobility and strength back as possible. It paid off....they had me up and exercising twice a day during that time. Once home, the first couple nights I used half a tab of pain meds, after that only Tylenol. I had both crutches and a walker but never used them, just a cane. My wife and I would take short walks...she with her walker and I usually took a cane just in case but seldom used it. At my two week follow-up it was in the car when I walked into dr. office. I had to remind him which side he did the work on.

I highly recommend the anterior approach, my recovery was quick and with no lasting negative affects. It's also less restrictive in what moves and positions you can do but you still need to watch what you do for a while. It was a relief for sure, the pain was actually less than what I was incurring on a daily basis before the operation. With physical rehab visits 3 times a week, it was a quick recovery.

An afterthought told to me by the surgeon; if the patient, especially females, is up in years and has osteoporosis, often they won't do the direct anterior. Bones are too fragile. They didn't use it on my wife when she fell and broke her hip, went in from the back kind to the side. I teased, telling her she's the only person I've ever seen with two butt cracks....referring to the scar.    Due to her chemo meds, when she passed her bones were so brittle she had 9 compression fractures in the spine. She was still in pain even with morphine in her system. Very distressing and heartbreaking for me to watch.

Thank for the feedback John and I’m sorry about your wife’s issues and dual butt cracks.

Unfortunately Barbara is too dedicated to her father and his care to put her own care and health ahead of his. Luckily he’s in a good memory care facility but the calls still continue to come in regarding his behavior and other issues. Somehow he recently lost his false teeth, we can’t take him out to get fitted for another set and the dentist will can’t have another set made up.

We are keeping our fingers crossed the cortisone does its job and gives relief for a good period of time. 

[Bighead]

Mike if she has been told she is arthritic in that hipa torn labrum wouldn’t be her issue at all.

[John Schmidt]

Mike if she has been told she is arthritic in that hipa torn labrum wouldn’t be her issue at all.

Barry, how is the labrum handled in a total replacement like mine was. I know my x-rays showed the head  looked like the skyline view of NYk city, very full of "arthur" and the dr. wasn't going to mess with more shots. If a new socket is put in place, does that take the place of the labrum(OEM version )?

[Bighead]

Yes you cut the labrum out when doing a total replacement.

[NewValker]

Hey Mike,
  I’ve had both hips replaced, left in ‘17, right in ‘19.
Anterior cut is the way to go. Barely have a visible scar on either side now.
I have no pain at all now. I play 2-3 softball games a week & don’t have to take a courtesy runner anymore.
I was walking a mile in 3 weeks after surgery. I now do around 5 miles a day plus whatever I do at work, usually between 1 & 2.
I also went to a massage therapist after each surgery. She specializes in clients with special issues, and she is awesome with post surgery people.

Hope it all works out for your wife,
Craig

[NautiBrit]

I've had both hips and both knees replaced within the last 3 years and am redoing my left hip in a month. If your wife is susceptible to bone growth, as I am, tell your surgeon and he may recommend radiation that will prevent any potential growth. The reason I'm going back is to redo the hip because of bone growth and tendon problems and yes, I will be having radiation this time.

[da prez]

  I had a right total hip done. An hour or so after surgery , I was told I could go home if I could walk down the hall and up and down a therapy stair set. They gave me a walker which I picked up and carried thru the course. I went home in about another hour.
 I stopped taking pain meds the next day.
 The ISSUE I had was the surgeon nicked a nerve in my leg to this day I still have trouble. He did a horizontal anterior approach. I was later told that should not have been done.

                                                 da prez

[Jersey mike]

Thanks for taking the time to touch base and give me some feedback, I appreciate the info and you taking time to give me some information.