Bilateral THR Looking at Bi-lateral hip replacements

[Wild1law]

Good evening, I’m currently fighting workers comp for approval of my bi-lateral hip replacements. I have had 2 arthroscopic surgeries due to work related injury that resulted in torn labrums as well as debridement and FAI. First set of surgeries were 10 years ago when I was 30. Fast forward 7 years and I had to have the second set of surgeries done again. Fast forward 3 more years and I re-injured my hips and I have had two Orthopedic surgeons tell me that I need to have both hips replaced. Can someone shed some light into what lays ahead for me and how will having both hips replaced affect my employment in Law Enforcement?

 

[Mojo333]

Hi @Wild1law
I am the grateful recipient of two new hips over three years ago and I feel strong and able to do a very active job now that I don't have chronic hip pain and restrictive mobility, and I can actually sleep again comfortably.
Before BTHR, I was limping, back (and just about everything else) hurting, and seriously sleep deprived.
I don't know how long your recoveries from your other procedures were, but the time spent for recovery, in my opinion, will be absolutely crucial in getting you back to your life and important work as a police officer.
I feel like my recovery went exceptionally well, but the first three months had to be taken at a slow pace...and the full healing in my case (return to stamina and not having the aftereffects of overdoing it) took over a year.
Now, I feel as if I can do anything I need to.
Not sure what your law enforcement role looks like, but for the first year, long treks on rough terrain, heavy lifting, and the like would not be optimal.
Given the time to heal...my hips are better than ever.

 

[Wild1law]

The first set I was on the mend for 12 weeks for each hip. The second round was around 4 months recovery time for each hip. Sadly my job requires me to to hike through uneven and rough terrain while wearing the additional 30-40 pounds of cop gear and equipment. Plus I sometimes have to drag and lift heavy object ranging from 100 pounds to upwards of 400 pounds. Thank you for all the information you provided as it helps me understand what I’m in for and what I can expect. My body throws down a lot of scar tissue, fast!

 

[Mojo333]

You will feel so much better bionic, this I can guarantee.
I assumed due to your location that you might have those added requirements.

I don't have that kind of pressure, but at 1 1/2 years post op, I was running my food bank ..as I am now during the pandemic. Regularly unloading trailerloads of 30-50 lb boxes, walking 12,000 steps plus ...on a widespread campus and ATVing, woods-stomping, and fishing on the weekends.
I overdid things many times the first 6 months which is counterproductive.
Causes aches and niggles etc.
I think you will find THR actually not as intense as the arthroscopic procedures as I often see folks with about the time frame you describe above.
You may feel so much better faster it will be hard not to hit the dreaded ODIC (overdid it club)
If you could get on some kind of easier duty for the first year ..year and a half...you might be able to assess your situation better.
The time it takes to recover...strengthen and get on with it was well worth it.
There is much I can do, but try to edit myself as I want these to be my forever hips.

 

[zauberflöte]

@Wild1law for one of my hips, there was a firefighter on at the same time. As I recall, he successfully returned to work after a decent healing period. Sorry I can't remember his name!

 

[Teacher Jim]

@Wild1law
I too have two bald tires on the rear wheels (that's how my surgeon describes my hips). I asked him about both being replaced at the same time. He strongly cautioned against it, explaining that while it can be completed, it requires so much extra blood (on the level of a full transfusion) that the subsequent anemia would add considerable time to my recovery. Rather, he suggested doing the worst hip first, wait about 8 weeks, then do the 2nd hip. I like his thinking, as he's performed over 3,000 of these THR procedures. Just a thought...
Good luck on your path to healing!
Teacher Jim

 

[Mojo333]

I had my bilateral THR without having to have any blood, however there is obviously longer time under anaesthesia and more blood loss. I've read here of members interested in bilateral whose surgeons will not do simultaneous replacements.
An experienced surgeon who has done BTHRs weighs this option carefully.

My OS determined I was a good candidate for simultaneous replacement and I'm guessing my overall health, weight, and possibly age were taken into consideration.
The advantages of bilateral total hip replacement can include one trip to the operating room instead of two, one anesthetic and therefore one hospitalization. Patients who are employed may find that they need less time off from work overall than if they were to recover from two hip replacements on two different occasions. Often recovering from one replacement with one equally bad hip can be difficult.
Lots of double hippys on the site...
Many on the forum have done it with some months between.
Personally, I was happy to be one and done.

 

[LMock]

Thanks for this. I'm one who is struggling right now with her current surgeon and the surgery is supposed to be in a week. He will not perform a bilateral simultaneous THR and now suggests he refer me to someone else. I'm flummoxed. IT is just stupid that he won't perform it. I guess I'm going to get the referral to someone else which will most likely delay my surgery -- UGH!

 

[Mojo333]

Hi @LMock
Welcome to the forum.
This is a rather old thread that hasn't had activity so please consider beginning a pre-op thread of your own so maybe you could expound on your surgeon's reason for not being able to do simultaneous BTHR.

Starting a Thread
If you need help let us know.
There are certainly surgeons who don't perform BTHRs and we always stress that the Surgeon's skill should be the #1 priority vs approaches.
Mine routinely did bilateral but you don't want someone who doesn't routinely do them to do yours.

Staged hip replacements are more common and also successful.

 

[Zoebichon]

I only lost one half of a liter of blood for my bilateral surgery. For 6 weeks every day before the op, I munched on a dish of raw, chopped cabbage daily, which is very rich in vitamin K. They told me half a liter of blood loss is excellent.

 

[Jad26]

I had my bilateral THR without having to have any blood, however there is obviously longer time under anaesthesia and more blood loss. I've read here of members interested in bilateral whose surgeons will not do simultaneous replacements.
An experienced surgeon who has done BTHRs weighs this option carefully.

My OS determined I was a good candidate for simultaneous replacement and I'm guessing my overall health, weight, and possibly age were taken into consideration.
The advantages of bilateral total hip replacement can include one trip to the operating room instead of two, one anesthetic and therefore one hospitalization. Patients who are employed may find that they need less time off from work overall than if they were to recover from two hip replacements on two different occasions. Often recovering from one replacement with one equally bad hip can be difficult.
Lots of double hippys on the site...
Many on the forum have done it with some months between.
Personally, I was happy to be one and done.

Having bilateral is the best decision i would never want to go through all that again after 7 weeks. I never had a transufusion so dont think i lost to much blood all tests came back fine after surgery. On the road to recovery now 5 days post op went for my first walk outside with crutches and done a few step ups on the curb something i could never do before