Hip Replacement - Anybody had this done?

[BackInTex]

After putting up with the leg pain for a 2-3 years, and having maxed out my out of pocket spend in 2008 (ref to Fun With Gall & Bladder or How Gangrene Was My Organ) I had the insurance fully fund an MRI on my back.

Took the results to a bone & joint specialist. He took some more x-rays. Then told me I needed my right hip replaced. Seems it was 'built' with a sharper angle in than normal and has exceeded it operational life. He initially asked if I had an early childhood injury and I said 'no'. At least I don't know of one.

I plan on getting a second opinion, just to be sure that the hip is what is causing the pain. I'm convinced the hip needs to be replaced at some point, but right now I'm only concerned about the pain. Its not debilitating, but annoying and prevents me from being able to run at all, and I must turn about every hour while sleeping. I can live with it, but why? I don't want to come out of hip replacement and still have the pain.

So, my questions are:
Who here has had one replaced?
If not you, do you know someone close that has?
What was the recovery period? This is my biggest question. How long will I be away from work, on crutches, etc.

I'm looking to change jobs but want my current employer to pick this up as a going away present. My current project has been delayed pending further review and I'm really really really really pissed off about it. No risk of getting let go, but my work will be much less enjoyable, especially if they don't go with my recommendation.

So rather than waiting until summer (after project completion) to get the replacement I'm looking to see if I can get it done in a couple weeks, recover for a couple weeks, hobble into my bosses office in three weeks and give two weeks notice, then freely walk into my new job (maybe with a slight limp). Is that timeline possible?

I don't have a new job yet, but met a guy at lunch yesterday and there is a real good chance I could have one in 3-4 weeks.

[MarleysGh0st]

I haven't had one, but might need it some day.

According to the NIH:

How Long Are Recovery and Rehabilitation?

Usually, people do not spend more than 3 to 5 days in the hospital after hip replacement surgery. Full recovery from the surgery takes about 3 to 6 months, depending on the type of surgery, your overall health, and the success of your rehabilitation.

Being able to walk back into work to give your notice after a couple weeks might be too optimistic.

Also, talk to your doctor about how long these hip replacements last--it isn't forever. When this surgery is done on a senior citizen, that may not be an issue. For someone our age, there's a good chance that it would have to be replaced again.

You also might investigate a new procedure called hip resurfacing.

[BackInTex]

I haven't had one, but might need it some day.

According to the NIH:

How Long Are Recovery and Rehabilitation?

Usually, people do not spend more than 3 to 5 days in the hospital after hip replacement surgery. Full recovery from the surgery takes about 3 to 6 months, depending on the type of surgery, your overall health, and the success of your rehabilitation.

Being able to walk back into work to give your notice after a couple weeks might be too optimistic.

Also, talk to your doctor about how long these hip replacements last--it isn't forever. When this surgery is done on a senior citizen, that may not be an issue. For someone our age, there's a good chance that it would have to be replaced again.

You also might investigate a new procedure called hip resurfacing.

Thanks for the response. I read Consumer Reports report on hip replacements. They talk about resurfacing but I don't think that will be an option because part of the problem is a cyst that will need to be reomoved in the socket part of the hip.

They also talk about the 20% of the ceramic hips with a squeaking problem. I don't want to sound like Tim Man before Dorothy's oil when I walk. Someone mentioned a titanium joint, but Consumer Reports talked about the risk of metal shavings. Yeah, there are lots of options, but each with a different reason they are not perfect.

My Dr. did talk about longevity. He said that the published standard is 15 years (which would put me at 65), but he said he as patients going on 22 years with no problem. It just depends on the wear and tear. I doubt I'll run marathons but I would like to run some 10ks again.

[mellytu74]

BiT --

I am having my left hip replaced on February 16th. We scheduled the operation in December.

I think your back at work in two weeks scenario may be optimistic. Every case is different, of course.

I have avascular necrosis -- the ball of the left hip is not getting the proper blood supply and is crumbling into a mass of bone spurs. It's the same thing Bo Jackson had.

My hospital has a self-contained rehab section. I will have the surgery early Monday, be out of bed on Monday night and be released from the hospital on Friday afternoon.

How well I progress in post-op rehab will determine if I am released home or to a rehab facility. Assuming there is no trip to the rehab facility, I will be released home.

According to schedules, I will be home for a month. At that point, I should be making the transition from a walker to a cane, if I haven't done it at the hospital.

I will have outpatient rehab at the house three times per week. Twice a week, a nurse will take my blood to Coumadin levels. I am scheduled to go off the Coumadin after a month.

During that time, I can make short trips. I can do overnight trips after a month.

Is there someone at home who could be with you 24/7, at least for the first week/10 days?

Left hip replacement patients who have automatic transmission cars may be able to drive in two weeks. Right hip replacement patients whose cars have automatic transmission may not be able to drive for six weeks.

Because I do freelance communications, I can work at home. My agency is looking for assignment where I could do that. , because I probably won't be able to sit in an office setting for eight hours a day for six weeks.

That's all I can think of right now. Once you have that first month-six weeks out of the way, however, you should be able to do everything just as you normally would.

[MarleysGh0st]

I am having my left hip replaced on February 16th. We scheduled the operation in December.

Wow, that's coming up soon! Good luck with everything, Melly!

[ulysses5019]

BiT --

I am having my left hip replaced on February 16th. We scheduled the operation in December.

I think your back at work in two weeks scenario may be optimistic. Every case is different, of course.

I have avascular necrosis -- the ball of the left hip is not getting the proper blood supply and is crumbling into a mass of bone spurs. It's the same thing Bo Jackson had.

My hospital has a self-contained rehab section. I will have the surgery early Monday, be out of bed on Monday night and be released from the hospital on Friday afternoon.

How well I progress in post-op rehab will determine if I am released home or to a rehab facility. Assuming there is no trip to the rehab facility, I will be released home.

According to schedules, I will be home for a month. At that point, I should be making the transition from a walker to a cane, if I haven't done it at the hospital.

I will have outpatient rehab at the house three times per week. Twice a week, a nurse will take my blood to Coumadin levels. I am scheduled to go off the Coumadin after a month.

During that time, I can make short trips. I can do overnight trips after a month.

Is there someone at home who could be with you 24/7, at least for the first week/10 days?

Left hip replacement patients who have automatic transmission cars may be able to drive in two weeks. Right hip replacement patients whose cars have automatic transmission may not be able to drive for six weeks.

Because I do freelance communications, I can work at home. My agency is looking for assignment where I could do that. , because I probably won't be able to sit in an office setting for eight hours a day for six weeks.

That's all I can think of right now. Once you have that first month-six weeks out of the way, however, you should be able to do everything just as you normally would.

What about those who drive a De Lorean with a flux capacitor engine?

[silvercamaro]

What about those who drive a De Lorean with a flux capacitor engine?

They can drive into the future and get the new, improved hip replacements that will let patients run a 10K on Saturday, following a Tuesday surgery.

[ulysses5019]

What about those who drive a De Lorean with a flux capacitor engine?

They can drive into the future and get the new, improved hip replacements that will let patients run a 10K on Saturday, following a Tuesday surgery.

Only a 10K?

[silvercamaro]

What about those who drive a De Lorean with a flux capacitor engine?

They can drive into the future and get the new, improved hip replacements that will let patients run a 10K on Saturday, following a Tuesday surgery.

Only a 10K?

That was the distance mentioned in BiT's post. If you drove into the future, or if I did, I'm sure we'd rather run marathons, but I believe that those most often are held on Sundays, so the recovery time would be an extra entire day and the effort, therefore, perhaps not as impressive.

[BackInTex]

BiT --

I am having my left hip replaced on February 16th. We scheduled the operation in December.

I think your back at work in two weeks scenario may be optimistic. Every case is different, of course.

I have avascular necrosis -- the ball of the left hip is not getting the proper blood supply and is crumbling into a mass of bone spurs. It's the same thing Bo Jackson had.

My hospital has a self-contained rehab section. I will have the surgery early Monday, be out of bed on Monday night and be released from the hospital on Friday afternoon.

How well I progress in post-op rehab will determine if I am released home or to a rehab facility. Assuming there is no trip to the rehab facility, I will be released home.

According to schedules, I will be home for a month. At that point, I should be making the transition from a walker to a cane, if I haven't done it at the hospital.

I will have outpatient rehab at the house three times per week. Twice a week, a nurse will take my blood to Coumadin levels. I am scheduled to go off the Coumadin after a month.

During that time, I can make short trips. I can do overnight trips after a month.

Is there someone at home who could be with you 24/7, at least for the first week/10 days?

Left hip replacement patients who have automatic transmission cars may be able to drive in two weeks. Right hip replacement patients whose cars have automatic transmission may not be able to drive for six weeks.

Because I do freelance communications, I can work at home. My agency is looking for assignment where I could do that. , because I probably won't be able to sit in an office setting for eight hours a day for six weeks.

That's all I can think of right now. Once you have that first month-six weeks out of the way, however, you should be able to do everything just as you normally would.

I think you talked me out of it. Think I'll try the flux capacitor thingy.

Good luck on yours. Let us know how it goes.

[gotribego26]

I have an active neighbor who is about our age - he had one replaced in fall of 2006 - the pain in that hip was debilatating - he is a avid scratch golfer - he was golfing again after 8 weeks. The other hip was painful, but bearable. After the first he felt so good he decided to get the other done in fall 2007.

He feels better than he has in 10 years and golfs as much as ever. He was never a runner or jogger, so I can't comment on that.

His biggest regret now is that he waited 2-3 years longer than he should have for the first.

I don't know if he did ceramic or titanium - I will see him tomorrow and will ask.

[peacock2121]

A little different story here.

Steve (Amy's husband) fell off the roof in 2002 and broke his hip. He had it replaced. There were torn this and that - a real mess. So much damage and blah, blah, blah.

He followed the doctors instruction to the letter. He did all of the exercises and did not attempt anything before he was told he could. He was in bad shape for the first 3 weeks. Much of that from the damage done in the fall, not the hip. He was walking with a cane in 2 weeks (a walker before that). The cane lasted 3 weeks and then, you really couldn't tell he had anything done.

What he saw was people not following the plan - doing too much too soon or not enough soon enough.

Follow the re-hab instructions no matter what you do. Don't be a wimp and don't be macho.

Good luck - hope you are happy with your choice.

[ulysses5019]

I think that rubbing your hip with Caress Evenly Gorgeous Body Wash will help. Either that or Windex.

[mellytu74]

A little different story here.

Steve (Amy's husband) fell off the roof in 2002 and broke his hip. He had it replaced. There were torn this and that - a real mess. So much damage and blah, blah, blah.

He followed the doctors instruction to the letter. He did all of the exercises and did not attempt anything before he was told he could. He was in bad shape for the first 3 weeks. Much of that from the damage done in the fall, not the hip. He was walking with a cane in 2 weeks (a walker before that). The cane lasted 3 weeks and then, you really couldn't tell he had anything done.

What he saw was people not following the plan - doing too much too soon or not enough soon enough.

Follow the re-hab instructions no matter what you do. Don't be a wimp and don't be macho.

Good luck - hope you are happy with your choice.

Pea --

Because of my good general health and lack of arthritis anywhere else in the body, the doctor is very optimistic on my recovery schedule. But he also expects me to stick to the plan in the guidebook. That includes exercises twice a day, every day, including the days when the therapist doesn't come.

There's also the possibility that the therapist won't need to come three times a week for as long as a month. But that will depend on my progress.

He expects me to be driving within two weeks, because the car has an automatic transmission and it's my left hip. I can't go alone but I can drive.

He expects within the first two weeks, I will (as the guide says) "gradually resume homemaking duties." Boonie thought that was funny. The doctor thought the dirty look I gave Boonie was funny.

By the time we visit TLAF down the shore at the end of March, the doctor expects me to walk at least a half mile. He said the Wildwood boardwalk is a good measure, I can use the street signs as a measure.

He thinks the cane will be gone within a month but, as you said, sticking with the program is paramount. And maintenance, such as exercises in the pool three times a week, can only help.

[BackInTex]

I think that rubbing your hip with Caress Evenly Gorgeous Body Wash will help. Either that or Windex.

It works better if SC does it.

[BackInTex]

Don't be a wimp

not a problem

and don't be macho.

Macho not such a risk. Stoopid, more so.

Good luck - hope you are happy with your choice.

Every night I get closer and closer to scheduling.

[VAdame]

Good luck, BiT!

I have not had a hip replacement (and hope never to need one!) but my ex-husband Butch was in that situation when he was around 41-42 years old (you are around 40, correct?) Now, he was born in 1949, so this was around 1991 -- I'm thinking & hoping the technology has improved since then!

This is a bit of a horror story, so stop reading here if you want to. In fact, I'll spoiler it.

DO NOT LET ANYONE DO THIS TO YOU!

Anyway, Butch's orthopedist wouldn't do a full replacement on such a young man -- because he would probably need another one in 20 years. They talked him into waiting until he was 50.

So here's what happened. They did a little "pinning" operation and TOTALLY SCREWED IT UP!!!!! Plus, the doctor gave him a very optimistic false hope scenario when he told him, "Well, Butch, if it all goes well, you'll be home in about 10 days!" Butch, unfortunately, took that to mean "you'll be well in about 10 days!" In reality, he ended up spending 7 weeks in the hospital and an additional 7 weeks recovering at his Mom's home (because he couldn't get up and down the stairs at our old house.)

The first time they got him out of bed after the surgery, the little pin in his hip BROKE. So they had to go back in and fix it -- this time with some bigger hardware (a plate & screws.) Still no replacement, because "we don't do them on patients under 50!" So, he did the 14 weeks of recovery, never really returning to good function. He sought a 2nd opinion at another hospital, and they went in and revised the surgery, and recommended a replacement soon -- but meantime he had developed some other medical complications. He was always a big husky guy, buy he was now seriously overweight due to lack of exercise (and probably frustration-eating), and he developed diabetes and peripheral vascular disease in his legs (from the diabetes and smoking.) At our daughter's wedding (1993), he pulled me aside and rolled up his pants leg and showed me a sore on his calf and asked "what do you think this is?" I told him it looked to me like a diabetic leg ulcer and he'd better get to the doctor!!!

So now the question wasn't "when do we replace the hip" but "can we save his leg?" Yes, the leg was saved but he lost a couple of toes. Then he got pneumonia, and it went into congestive heart failure. He's now using oxygen and probably will need it for the rest of his life. He's never going to be medically fit for any kind of hip replacement surgery.

He walks with 2 canes, or uses a motorized scooter to get around, and he has a big O2 tank in the living room (of his now one-story house!) He lives with his girlfriend, who is a little older than him and also has multiple medical problems and uses oxygen -- they have tubing running all over the house. This is a man who's not quite 60 years old!!!!

BTW, the original orthopedist, who screwed up so badly, was Geroge "Doc" Medich -- former MLB pitcher who played for the Pirates. George's license was suspended for drug problems -- and yes, the surgery was during the time he was actively using narcotics! Butch sued for malpractice -- and refused the settlement that was offered, thinking it wasn't enough. BIG mistake; he lost in court -- couldn't prove the surgical fuckups were due to the impairment.

So, his life is pretty much ruined -- or at least, very different than if he'd been able to return to good health after his surgery! I think the general wisdom these days is to do the replacement when needed -- if you need another one when you're 60 or so, so be it!

Heckuva nice guy, BTW, even if our marriage didn't work. Here we are in happier times, with Megan (aged about 4, I believe):

[BackInTex]

(you are around 40, correct?)

I have a new best BB!

[BackInTex]

I think the general wisdom these days is to do the replacement when needed -- if you need another one when you're 60 or so, so be it!

My doctor said there are some Drs. who still will not even see you unless you are 60. That was because the older tech hips only lasted 15 years and they figured most would die by 75 anyway.

But the new hips, though generally listed as 15 years, last much longer. Some 25 years.

My Dr. will do mine when I'm ready.

Besides, in 20 years they'll have Doc McCoy's technology ready and all I'll need a wave of the Mr. Fix-It device.

btw, that was an unpleasant story. I'm sorry for your ex-husband.

[VAdame]

(you are around 40, correct?)

I have a new best BB!

Oh, I think I misunderestimated your age! I thought you were a few years younger than me.

But don't let Butch's horrible experience scare you off -- remember he never HAD a replacement because they fiddled around with him so much that his health was destroyed before he could get one

Now, my Mom -- 3 years ago, right around her 82nd birthday, got both knees replaced! At one time!

It was a tough recovery, but she's doing great now and is happy she went through with the procedure. Sometimes it's better to do both knees at once because patients sometimes refuse to go through it a 2nd time! Karen's Grandma-in-law had one knee last year and won't let them touch the other, even though she's in pain from it.

[BackInTex]

Oh, I think I misunderestimated your age! I thought you were a few years younger than me.

I don't know your age, but I am one of the many here who turned 50 last year.

1958 was a good year.

[MarleysGh0st]

I'm sorry Butch had this terrible outcome, VAdame.

I think the general wisdom these days is to do the replacement when needed -- if you need another one when you're 60 or so, so be it!

I still think I'll put off the surgery until I really need it!

[Bob Juch]

I'm sorry Butch had this terrible outcome, VAdame.

I think the general wisdom these days is to do the replacement when needed -- if you need another one when you're 60 or so, so be it!

I still think I'll put off the surgery until I really need it!

That's what I'm doing! Over two years ago my doctor told me I'd have to have mine replaced in a year or two. Thanks to MSM I'm still able to hold out.

[peacock2121]

A thought:

Being in pain or discomfort or putting up with not feeling great with every step - wouldn't one rather be pain free during 'youthful' years than putting it off to be pain free during decades when you will probably have pain somewhere else as well?

My m-i-l put off having her knee done. She was in pain during years when she had what it took be be active. She had her knee done and now has other 'reasons' for not moving. She is pain free in her knee and now it's her back that keeps her sitting. If she had had her knee done before the arthritis set in in her back, she would have had more years of feeling good.

Just a thought.

[VAdame]

I don't know your age, but I am one of the many here who turned 50 last year.

1958 was a good year.

Oh, same here! I don't know why I thought you were younger.