Just comitted to THR

[JudyS]

Hi,
I just made the surgery date of June 6th to replace my right hip. Very scared now!!!
The nurse told me I was down for a posterier . I had assumed it was anterior. Are there more restrictions on the posterier approach? I had hip arthroscopic surgery 3 months ago trying to grow fibrocartilage (micro-fracture). My Dr. told me there was a lot more arthritis in the joint than the MRI showed which is why it did not succeed.
I know I need to do this .
Any one have lots of pain in the other hip as you try not to use the bad one. Now my left hip really hurts and worries me.

 

[Bob A.]

Hi
I have pain in both hips, right is worse then the left, but both are bothersome enough that I am going to try and get them both done at the same time. What did your surgeon say about the left hip, how much has it degraded vs. the right one?

I haven't schedule my surgery yet, most likely sometime this fall or winter. I am not that apprehensive about it, had a couple of surgeries before, but I am sure my anxiety level will ramp up a bit. My wife is a PT, so I have a peripheral knowledge of orthopedics having lived with her all these years. Hip surgery is pretty commonplace now and thats a good thing. Most of the new technology like the metal on metal hips are showing very good results. I noticed you responded in another thread about running. My Dr. doesn't particularly care for the ceramic hips, the wear factor is phenomenal, but he says there have been instances of cracking when put under stress. If you are a runner, that may sway you away from them as well.

The Hip resurfacing technology is very promising as well, but it is not that well established in this country yet. Give it 5 or 10 years and it might. Minimally invasive procedures are also coming into play, they can reduce your recovery time significantly as well as the pain since they cut much less muscle tissue. Lot of what is available is dependent on what your surgeon is comfortable with. And you have to be comfortable with him or her as well.

What does your Dr. say about running? I would think he would have you wait at least 6 months to a year before he let you start that.

 

[MsSplenda56]

Hi,

Good question... I do have pain in my left hip that wasn't there before my THR of the right hip on 11/8/07. No like the right before surgery. The X-ray showed only mild arthritis in my hip before surgery. I obtained a copy of the surgical report which stated once the femor (sp) bone was removed severe gross OA was found. God bless you on your upcoming surgery.
MsSplenda56

 

[JudyS]

My surgeon does not want me to ever run again after the hip replacement. He said he does not want to do resurfacing surgery as women continue to loose bone density which would possibly create the need for a second surgery. (Hip fracture). I already have bone density issues so that makes sense.

 

[jwitty1]

From what I know the Anterior approach is less invasive, less muscle tear, smaller incision,and faster recovery with less restrictions; but you have to find a doctor who has done many of these and you are totally confident with. The surgery itself requires a special table in the OR that most hospitals don't have. So you have to research this and talk to your surgeon about it

I am now 8 weeks post THR (Posterior approach) and doing very well; but to be honest the first 2 weeks or so were pretty tough. It's amazing tho how almost every day you feel better. I went with the Posterior approach because that's the only method my surgeon uses and he's done more than a thousand this way...we met twice before surgery and I felt very confident that he would do a good job and he did.

Good Luck

 

[JudyS]

Hi,
I guess I will make an apt. with my Dr. to see why he is doing the posterior approach. I know the hospital does have the table for the anterior. I too had thought it was less invasive. He must have a reason as he has already done arthroscopic ssurgery on this hip.
What are the most important things you need at home after surgery. I had heard about a raised toiled seat and some type of grabber and sock thing. How difficult is taking a shower?
I know he said I would be using crutches for about 6 weeks as I will be uncemented. I guess I need a good list of questions and info on what I should have.

 

[tsmitty]

Hello-
I am brand new to this forum-just signed up a few minutes ago. I have a third opinion scheduled for April 29th. I am 46 and have OA and Hip Dysplasia. Because of my age, the first two DRs. wanted me to wait another year for surgery. I am very limited as far as day-to-day activities. I have pain in both hips after walking for a short time. I am now checking into implant types and what would be best for me. Anyone with any information would help me a great deal. Thank you!

 

[newwheels08]

Hi,

What are the most important things you need at home after surgery. I had heard about a raised toiled seat and some type of grabber and sock thing. How difficult is taking a shower?
I know he said I would be using crutches for about 6 weeks as I will be uncemented. I guess I need a good list of questions and info on what I should have.

You can find "hip kits" on the internet...quite a few options to pick from, and most contain the sock tool, grabber, shoe horn, pant tool, elastic laces etc. The raised seat is very necessary, and available though various med supply stores. I acquired everything for about $100..but there may be better deals out there. It was the best investment I have made in a while considering how handy all of it is, and I still use most of it.

It is good to be apprehensive as THR is major surgery. It did cause me take stock of my life and put things in order. I even changed my life insurance coverage, other legal and more personal stuff. Taking a shower is no big deal if you have the walk in kind...just takes about some time for the sutures to heal enough.

I am 55 and now 9 weeks after double (cementless) THR. I feel pretty good...better than I have for almost 10 years... when the pain started. If I am standing and pointed in one direction, I can now walk for several miles pain free, and without any aides (a miracle in my mind). I cant even remember what a pre-surgery "8-9" pain level feels like. There is still some weakness, poor range of motion, and some days where I really feel the surgery...but every day is now a good one without the Arthritis pain. I am planning to walk the bay to breakers again this year (a 7 mile foot race in mid May in San Francisco)....Last time I ran it was 2000...barely walked it in 2003...by 2008 I could not make a city block. Best wishes on your surgery, recovery, and new adventure. I am still in the middle of mine.

 

[Josephine]

The surgery itself requires a special table in the OR that most hospitals don't have.

Not necessarily. I have worked with surgeons who always did an anterior approach with the patient flat on the table. Indeed, Professor Charnley himself did this. Is quite routine. Just that those surgeons chose to go this route but even McKee (who was using anterior+ortho table way back in 1950s) abandoned it (the table) in favour of just having the patient supine. There's no mystique about it.

Hello-
I am brand new to this forum-just signed up a few minutes ago. I have a third opinion scheduled for April 29th. I am 46 and have OA and Hip Dysplasia. Because of my age, the first two DRs. wanted me to wait another year for surgery. I am very limited as far as day-to-day activities. I have pain in both hips after walking for a short time. I am now checking into implant types and what would be best for me. Anyone with any information would help me a great deal. Thank you!

Hello, smitty! Welcome to BS.

Have you seen my post at the top of this forum How to choose a surgeon and a prosthesis where I have listed some pointers to help people get a handle on this. Hope it helps. If not, please come back and ask again.

 

[JudyS]

Hi,
Thanks for the great info. Did you get a shower seat also? I remember the difficulty with washing my hair last summer (I had cervical diskectomy and fusion of 3 levels) Also the difficulty showering after the hip arthroscopic surgery when I was only allowed 50% wieght bearing.
Glad to hear you can walk for miles. Not being able to walk now without pain is crazy to me. I keep trying. It is tolerable on pain medication, but I am still afraid of falling . I have always tended to trip over everything and nothing!!! Also have low bone density. I recently broke 2 ribs when I fell on my left side. (It was a lame attempt at cross country skiing, the broken ribs are on the right side} Now I am rambling.
Thanks

 

[newwheels08]

Hi,
Thanks for the great info. Did you get a shower seat also?
Thanks

I ended up with a raised toilet seat is called a "3 in one" so it could also be used as a shower seat. I tried it once..and it was fine...but standing turned out to be OK too. A long handled sponge also came with the hip kit. Came in handy for showering and washing legs and back.

Best wishes.