I will take 2 please - hold the pain

[myhips]

Well after 7 years of putting this off, I am scheduled to do my first of 2 THR on October 20. But is this what I really need? I am starting to getting a tingling in my foot and after an MRI is was determined that my back has been taking the brunt of my stubborness and the nerve in my back is being affected.

I thought that 47 is too young and I was just being a baby complaining about groin pain. That is what hurts the most, not my hips. Is it too late to change my mind? Range of motion is what affects me the most. I can still go to the gym and sweat like crazy on the no-impact machines.

My surgeon says I will be back to work in a week. I hope he is right. I sit at a keyboard all day, so not too strenuous.

Take care

 

[Laurie]

Good morning!
I was moved to respond as your thought process sounds like mine was--and probably started about 7 yrs ago when I was about your age. Pain wasn't that bad on a regular basis (wasn't even sure at that time that it was hip, thought it was sciatica, whatever), could go to gym 5 days a wk using elliptical, couple machines...but no treadmill or the like and walking was becoming more painful. ROM was the biggest deal for me too. It got so in the past couple of years, I hid from my hubby, all, when I had to tie my shoe or the like as the only way I could do it was in a very contorted, painful fashion. Didn't want anyone to know how disabled the hip had made me.

The good news is that I had very successful RH replacement over 6 wks ago and all is so much better than before. Like a new lease on life. Am on the treadmill and taking walks again.

I can't comment on the medical side of things, but I am sure you will hear more from folks about all the reasons to go for it. (But 1 week back to work sounds amazingly quick, even with my great recovery, my Doc advised giving myself 8 wks, which I have so appreciated--would have gone back earlier if he hadn't)

Wish I had gone for surgery 7 years ago instead of waiting---but we all know you have to be ready.

Good luck, Laurie

 

[JudyS]

MyHips

Back to work in one week????????? That sounds crazy. What type of approach are you having? I had posterior and my surgeon had me out for 12 weeks.
It is an awesome surgery, I vote you go ahead with it for sure.
But, I would stay out longer no matter what approach.
Judy

 

[BigDog Mom]

Go for it two hips!!!! Get your life back. It may be that your sciatica is from walking funny because of your hips.
I think one week could be done if you absolutely have too but I have had an amazing recovery (3 weeks out from bi-lats) and I couldn't really focus until week 2. Just mentally fuzzy and tired.
I too work at a lap top and by week two needed to work to keep myself out of trouble (over doing it).
You will be amazed at how much better you feel!
Hey gang, I fed my dogs breakfast this morning without the usual agony. WOOOHOOO! (Breakfast here consists of lugging 40 lbs of green tripe about 400 yards to feed the various breakfast groups. Every day there is some recovery of my old life - it is soooooo exciting.

Best,
Donna

Oh, the other piece is that usually the OS won't sign you off to drive until they see you for themselves. Can't say that I blame them but....
How silly is it that 3 weeks ago I had to use my crutches just to get to the car whilst on Percoset and I could drive. Now I can walk to the car get in and out without lifting my legs with my hands and I am taking nothing but the occasional Tylenol when I over do it. But like I said I do understand that they can not see me through the phone so....

 

[jaz]

I would go ahead and have the surgery to save your back! I am 39 and due to a developmental dysplaxia was told I would need a thr in my early 20's. Like you I had pain elsewhere (in my back, headaches etc) but rarely hip pain. Now that I've had the surgery all that has gone and I'm looking forward to getting back the range of motion.

Regarding work. I would take more than one week off

 

[Josephine]

How'd you reckon 47 is too young? Is your hip bad or isn't it? It's not a question of age but of condition. You've already had one red flag, your back is going along with your hip. Get it done before anything else happens and get your life back!

And I'm with Judy - one week is crazy. You might be ready in theory from the surgery point of view but from your physical emotional point of view you're going to need around 4 weeks to stop feel trashed and easily exhausted after 20 mins walking around or concentrating, even if you do have a sedentary job.

Another point - your scan may show some wear and tear in your back but they may be coincidental; an awful lot of hip pain masquerades as back pain and vice versa!

 

[clwhit]

First of all, welcome! You're in the right place. I, too, am in consensus with the rest of the group. Proceed with your surgery. As I look back, my hip problems started when I was about 35 years old. I had my RTHR when I was 55 years old. While I didn't live for all those years with the excruciating I eventually did have, I can now look back in retrospect and see how my quality of life slowly decreased during that time. Also, I remember asking my OS why my groin hurt so badly (felt like someone was stabbing me with a knife). He told me that true hip pain resonates in the groin. I, too, had lower back pain. X-rays revealed I do have arthritis at L4 and L5. Since my surgery, however, I've found that my back has not been as troublesome (used to walk bent over, not the case now). I truly believe my "penguin walk," resulting from the pain in my hip, caused irritation to my back which, in turn, caused pain in my back.

I hear us all saying, "Don't wait until you get to the point I did." If it has been recommended you have the surgery and you haven't quite experienced all that the rest of us have - spare yourself.

I'll be thinking about you. Keep us posted on your journey.

~Carol

 

[mvo]

Hello myhips,

I can empathise, my thoughts were Exactly like yours. I am 45, and had a THR (left hip) nearly 5 weeks ago. My sister is 40 years of age and had the same operation at the same time- just in a different country She will have her right hip done in a few weeks time.

We both should have had surgery years ago. Yes, I was still walking in total for about an hour a day, and going to the gym, but over the years the activities possible decreased markedly and the pain increased.

If you have done the research, looked at the options, are happy with your surgeon, then go for it.

I can hardly believe the lack of pain from surgery and the relative ease of recovery. I was in hospital 6 days and stopped pain medication (Panadol) a couple of days after that. Even if I never get the range of motion back, it is worth it to be without the pain. My sister feels the same.

I think a week for your return to work is very optimistic. I also wondered what was with a “6 to 8 week recovery” but now I know! (I have never had any surgery/health issues – not even been though childbirth.) The brain just seems to go into standby mode. I took six books to hospital, figuring I would read one per day. They remained unopened. It took me all day to get though a newspaper, between naps. I didn’t touch my laptop until about 10 days after the operation, and I’m in IT

It is natural to want to put it off, but as Josephine says, "It's not a question of age but of condition."


All the best for your surgeries,
Monica

 

[Traceyleth]

Hi myhips

My problems started around the birth of my eldest child 14 years ago and got progressively worse the last 2 years in particular have been very hard on me and all my family. I am 12 weeks post op LTHR i have more range of movement than i have had in years i do not limp any more i can keep up with my kids and husband when walking (so slow before) and i can't tell you what a relief it is not to be in pain and to be able to get a decent nights sleep. The best thing is i know that i am improving all the time and in another 3 months time i will be even better. I to was concerened about my age so i waited as long as i could, quality of life was extremely poor and its time with my kids that i won't get back. I wish i had done it sooner, i am 35. Good luck with whatever you decide.

Tracey

 

[jaz]

Myhips - I sit at a computer all day too and even though I feel fantastic now I will still take three weeks off then go back part days for a couple of weeks. After my first surgery I found my hips seized up when sitting for more than about half an hour at a time and I started to swell up around the incision, legs and ankles so needed to have a lie down or put my feet up for a good period of time early afternoon for the first month.

IMO - you are better to take a few weeks off. If you feel well enough to go back to work then start walking or swimming. In reading the boards the conclusion I've drawn is that people that have recovered the best have done their PT or plenty of safe exercise in the early days.

Also remember the anaesthetic and painkillers take a toll on your body. I found my concentration went by about 1pm in the first week or two then about 3pm after that.

 

[myhips]

Thanks all for the advice. I am going for it on 10.20. I will let you all know how fast I make it back to work. Went golfin with some old college buddies last Saturday, and they told me it was painful to not only watch me play (as it always was) LOL, but they told me after several beverages, that I needed to do it. Old friends are the best!!!!! and they are brutally honest.

Cheers

 

[myhips]

Well I am 3 days post op on my first hip and feel great!!!!! My hip, where the incision is sore, but pain killers ( and by the way they are fantastic) are getting me through. I plan on going back to work (I can work from home) starting next Monday as planned.

The surgery took about an hour and a half and after talking to several people, opted for the spinal and epiderhal versus totally being knocked out. I think if you are given the option, go for the epiderhal. I go back after 2 weeks for my first checkup and remove the staples -- and hope to be able to drive then -- we'll see.

The surgeon promised success if I do what I am asked as far as my own threapy during the day. My age is really factoring into my recovery as I was in great shape before, and will be in greater shaper after the second operation. The surgeon was confident he could give me "quality of life" back, and we are well on our way. Take care, and if anyone has questions, I will try and answer.

 

[JudyS]

Congrats on the new hip. Glad everything went so well. Work already??
Judy

 

[mvo]

Horray, well done!
Sounds like your brain is in great shape after the anaesthetic if you are thinking about work already
Don't overdo things though, the mind and body does need a bit of a rest after this sort of surgery.
Regards,
Monica

 

[myhips]

Well, I am two weeks post op. Staples were removed today. I am only using a cane now, and have been cleared to drive, even though it was my right hip. I do not go back for another month, but I plan to go back to the office on Wednesday this week -- I worked from home all last week. Everyone said that the first 2 weeks are the hardest, and I am still not fully back, but I am well on my way. With XMAS coming up next month, I want to get real strong on this new one before tacking the other hip.

Thanks all.

 

[JudyS]

I hope you are only working a little at home. I can't imagine how you are doing it.
I did not read the beginning of this thread. Did you have minimally invasive, mini-hip type ?
I know at 4 weeks I could not get my foot from the brake to the gas quickly enough to drive!!!
Keep up the good healing
Judy