Several of you have asked a good question about the timing decision of the 2nd hip surgery. While I'm sure each of our situations is different, here's my thoughts ------
First of all, I had the same question before my 2nd THR, since my 1st recovery was going well, and I really didn't have much pain in the 2nd hip. The x-rays and my very limited range of motion indicated that it was just a matter of time before #2 would need to be done.
I questioned the OS about him wanting to do them 8 weeks apart - when I thought waiting a year or so might be more appropriate. He responded that the final decision was certainly mine, but that delaying it would cause my first hip to compensate for the bad 2nd hip, and therefore #1 and my pelvis would not properly heal. Because of this new compensation by hip #1, when I finally DID have #2 done a year or so down the road, then IT would not heal as well since #1 was already "set".
It crossed my mind that asking an OS if you need surgery is kind of like asking a barber if you need a haircut, but his explanation convinced me to go ahead and have them done 8 weeks apart. Besides that, the timing was good for for me personally - I would rather be recovering in the winter than in our precious short summers here in Chicago.
JohninSeattle - there is no way that I would have wanted to do them at the same time - I can't imagine not having a good leg to rely on during recovery & rehab.
Also - I am doing considerably better the last 3 days since the PT I go to gave me some excellent tips for reducing my pain at night. She thinks it's coming from my back, so to refrain from sitting on my sofa (low, soft & deep), and knock on wood, I think it's making a difference.
Jaycey - still not sleeping well but not due to pain. That 6 hours I mentioned was in 4-5 segments.
So ... to all of you who inquired, I have no regrets now about having them done 8 weeks apart, and feel kind of good mentally knowing that the surgeries and initial recoveries are all behind me now, and I'm looking forward to getting outside this spring for yardward, biking, kayaking, etc. Now if I could just make some progress on that 15 lbs I should lose, I suspect my back & hips would feel even better.
Brief change of topic - I was thinking about this forum yesterday and how great it is to have a community of on-line friends to whom we can all share our challenges & successes. Probably none of us will ever meet, but we've sure been a help to each other. Lucky for us we all waited until the internet and this forum existed - people before us had to go thru all of this with less help. I guess this paragraph is my corny way of saying thanks to everyone out there in BoneSmart land.
Kevin
United Kingdom
you had two major surgeries fairly close together. Big time recovery mode for your body. 
I DO believe that there is a recommendation (and I've mentioned this to my family), that you wait a minimum of TEN YEARS beffore attempting yardwork! :wink1: That may just be a Massachusetts thing.
