THR Oct. 4th left hip THA, definitely not panicking, nope, not me...

[osteopoto]

Hi everyone. Came to this forum on the advice of the folks over at Reddit, and really happy they recommended it.

My THA is scheduled for Oct 4th, and I'm scared out of my noodle. I got my diagnosis of "severe OA" five years ago at the age of 39, and the doc I saw said flat out, "come back when you're in pain and we'll do steroid shots, and then we'll do a hip replacement". That was...not what I wanted to hear. No major injuries or any real reason for it (it's actually in both hips but the left's the one that gave up the ghost first) - working theory is bad genes coupled with dance team in the 90s with lots of knee slams and jump splits damaged the cartilage way back then and it was only a matter of time.

I've spent the last five years doing Lots of Things and feeling aggravated at the lack of mobility and the zaps I get when I move the wrong way, but it's really gotten worse over the last year. My left knee joined the pain party, and I was diagnosed with patellofemoral pain syndrome and patellofemoral arthritis and told to do leg lifts to strengthen my quad muscles. While I'd love to say I have uber quads and can now crush watermelons with my legs, sadly that is not the case. Maybe after my surgery?

Doc's doing an anterior approach, but since it's late in the afternoon I have to stay overnight at the surgery center (my insurance won't cover the hospital). Never stayed overnight, never broken a bone, never had a major surgery...and while all of that is anxiety-provoking, the aftermath has me far more stressed.

The whole "it could be a few weeks, it could be months" ambiguity does not work for me. And to be honest, I'm confronting a lifetime of ableism with the idea that I could potentially *not* be able after this surgery, but if I don't have the surgery I will *definitely* not be able. It's not like the US is set up to support people with disabilities. Heck, I blinged out my cane partially for fun, but also so that people driving can see me when I'm walking and hopefully don't hit me. This is just such a mixed bag of physical, emotional, mental stress, it's unreal. It gets better, right?

 

[benne68]

to BoneSmart, @osteopoto! And congrats on getting your surgery date.

Since you still have a little time to prepare, I will BoneSmart's helpful guide.

Score Chart: How bad is my arthritic hip?
Choosing a surgeon and a prosthesis
BMI Calculator - What to do if your surgeon says you're too heavy for joint replacement surgery
Longevity of implants and revisions: How long will my new joint last?

If you are at the stage where you are planning to have surgery but are looking for information so you can be better prepared for what is to come, take a look at these links:
Recovery Aids: A comprehensive list for hospital and home
Recliner Chairs: Things you need to know if buying one for your recovery
Pre-Op Interviews: What's involved?

And if you want to picture what your life might be like with a replaced hip, take a look at the posts and threads from other BoneSmarties provided in this link:
Stories of amazing hip recoveries

We try to keep the forum a positive and safe place for our members to talk about their questions or concerns and to report successes with their joint replacement surgery.
While members may create as many threads as they like in a majority of BoneSmart's forums, we ask that each member have only one recovery thread. This policy makes it easier to go back and review history before providing advice.

 

[benne68]

It gets better, right?

Yes, it DOES get better.

My THR was life-changing. Not only was I in extreme pain, but my hip wouldn't support me. I needed a cane to walk to the mailbox. Now (post THR and TKR), I can hike and bike to my heart's content. (In fact, I'm about to go to Greece and ramble up and down the hills of Athens and hike the gorge in Crete).

if I don't have the surgery I will *definitely* not be able.

Exactly! Hip replacements are one of the most common surgeries in the U.S. and have high overall patient satisfaction ratings.

Stick with us. There are lots of BoneSmart members who will be happy to share their personal success stories with you.

 

[djklaugh]

@osteopoto Welcome to BoneSmart! We have seen many folks your age (and younger) getting new hips and returning to physically demanding jobs and strenuous activities. The key to getting back to doing what you love is HEAL FIRST! And that can take a couple of months. Each person is different and each recovery journey is unique. It really is impossible to say YOU will be totally done in X number of weeks. And, yup, ambiguity is so frustrating! (been there, lived through that!) Generally hips do not need physical therapy (walking is the best exercise) but for some the muscles around the hip may need the extra help that PT can provide.

A couple of extra suggestions for you - get new shoes! Look at the bottoms of your current favorite pair - the wear pattern on the soles and heels is the old limping pattern. Wearing old shoes can keep you walking in that old pattern and that is not good for new hips!

Stock up now on easy to fix meals, your favorite movies/TV shows, and/or reading material. The healing part can get rather boring even though at first you won't feel like doing much. Also hang on to your sense of humor, fill up your patience container, and ask family, friends, and neighbors to stop in and visit.

It is totally normal to feel nervous about having surgery! Even folks who have had previous surgeries of any kind can feel nervous about getting a body part replace. Remember that ALL the folks you will see in the hospital are professionals. They do these surgeries most every working day and your well being is their first priority!

My hips are now almost 12 years old - and it was the very best decision I ever made to get the old ones replaced!

 

[Hip4life]

Welcome! I think the weeks leading up to surgery were the most nerve wracking. Once surgery is over, then you can deal with real facts as opposed to all the wondering. If you go into this remembering this is major surgery and it will take your body some time to heal, that's a major battle won both mentally and physically. You HAVE to give your body that time to heal or you'll be on the struggle bus. We can only give you what we have come to know as the norms: 8-12 weeks. Some people are able to rebound at the lower range, some take longer because each of us goes into the surgery with unique physiologies and circumstances. You have the added advantage of a younger age on your side. You can't plan for all contingencies but certainly take all the advantages you can get. Lol.

Since you haven't had any major surgeries, expect the first week or two to be painful or uncomfortable. The good news-this pain will be manageable and short term as opposed to what you are experiencing now. You will feel very tired for a while but again, it will improve. The recovery period is small in the scheme of things and well worth it for the ability it gives you to get back to an active lifestyle. It is okay to be nervous. That's human. The people who will be taking care of you do this every day and only want the best outcome for you. Just let them know how you are feeling and what you need. We'll also be here to guide you through any bumps in the road or questions you might have. Come back as often as you need. Not long now...
@osteopoto

 

[Eman85]

It is a major surgery and it takes a while to recover. It will eliminate the deep bone pain that you have now. It does come with risks and it is an elective surgery. Staying overnight was a choice for me and I took it both times, worked out best in my case. Prepare for the recovery and understand the hardest part isn't the pain, it's the patience.

 

[MarilynR1234]

Been through this once and next one Oct 3 . I’m nervous even though had great results with 1st replacement. Just keep reminding yourself it’s a small window of time and the rewards will be so worth it. See you on the other side!!!

 

[CricketHip]

Wow, no fractures or surgeries- you are a lucky man! Any new experience like a TKR is frightening but I will assure you that you will get through it and usually the surgical teams are so helpful and supportive the day of surgery.
Yes, it takes a while to recover but it won't be as bad as what you've been limping through for the fast few years... plus you will be improving so it's well earned discomfort, if that makes sense.
I am interested in following your surgery and recovery journey to see how you do.
In the meantime, try to stay busy and attempt to keep the worrying to a minimum..

Glad that you were referred here to us.. this forum made a huge difference to me the first time around.

 

[Tina Turk]

Hi everyone. Came to this forum on the advice of the folks over at Reddit, and really happy they recommended it.

My THA is scheduled for Oct 4th, and I'm scared out of my noodle. I got my diagnosis of "severe OA" five years ago at the age of 39, and the doc I saw said flat out, "come back when you're in pain and we'll do steroid shots, and then we'll do a hip replacement". That was...not what I wanted to hear. No major injuries or any real reason for it (it's actually in both hips but the left's the one that gave up the ghost first) - working theory is bad genes coupled with dance team in the 90s with lots of knee slams and jump splits damaged the cartilage way back then and it was only a matter of time.

I've spent the last five years doing Lots of Things and feeling aggravated at the lack of mobility and the zaps I get when I move the wrong way, but it's really gotten worse over the last year. My left knee joined the pain party, and I was diagnosed with patellofemoral pain syndrome and patellofemoral arthritis and told to do leg lifts to strengthen my quad muscles. While I'd love to say I have uber quads and can now crush watermelons with my legs, sadly that is not the case. Maybe after my surgery?

Doc's doing an anterior approach, but since it's late in the afternoon I have to stay overnight at the surgery center (my insurance won't cover the hospital). Never stayed overnight, never broken a bone, never had a major surgery...and while all of that is anxiety-provoking, the aftermath has me far more stressed.

The whole "it could be a few weeks, it could be months" ambiguity does not work for me. And to be honest, I'm confronting a lifetime of ableism with the idea that I could potentially *not* be able after this surgery, but if I don't have the surgery I will *definitely* not be able. It's not like the US is set up to support people with disabilities. Heck, I blinged out my cane partially for fun, but also so that people driving can see me when I'm walking and hopefully don't hit me. This is just such a mixed bag of physical, emotional, mental stress, it's unreal. It gets better, right?

I feel every word coming from you. We are one of the wealthiest countries in the world with no facilities for the sick. One has to be rich to have healthcare. Like you my bad genes gave me two replaced hips and one knee done twice. After 10 years im starting to hurt again. Also terrified of my upcoming doctors appointment. It does get better…except now im not sure how long it will last.