Has anyone had hip replacement?

[JerryG]

Dear BF is going to be having a hip replacement. He's in constant pain and eager to "getter done". What's the recover like?

Has anyone had this? Any helpful hints / ideas to make recovery faster easier would be greatly appreciated.

TIA

[mauimagic]

Sure wish you would get some responses so I could learn too. Good luck to you both!!

[frugalfranny]

Probably not much help JG but my mom had it done a few years ago.

Since then they are now doing something called minimally invasive surgery (MIS) which might be worth checking out. (she didn't have that option)

Part will depend on how old the person is......and what sort of physical health they are in when going into it. If basically good,......except for the hip, it should be a better and faster recovery. Also, if they are replacing the whole joint or just part of it makes a difference too. Not sure what role the 'material used' plays in the recovery but might be worth asking about.

The one thing I can say......and I hope your BF insurance will pay for it........DO THE PHYSICAL THERAPY!!! It does help. And do any excercises they give you to do at home FAITHFULLY!! Sometimes the Dr. will give excercises...and sometimes the physical therapist will give some...be sure they are done. It speeds the recovery process and makes it a better 'over all' recovery.

Do some research......regarding type of material to be used in the replacement.....and type of surgery..(the MIS, referred to above). Knowledge is power and ask questions......here is a website that might help with some info.: http://arthritis.webmd.com/hip-replacement-surgery

Generally Dr's seems to 'have a preference' for material to use but if you don't think it is so great.......after doing some reading.......ASK questions!

Years ago my mom got one of the hips that was recalled!!! She was too old to 're-do' it so she suffered.........so DO SOME RESEARCH!!

Good luck and my best to your BF for a speedy recovery!

[Ceashels]

I've worked with an 80 yr old woman who had her second hip replaced (so she new it all).... when I went to see her at 9am, she had washed, dressed, eaten and was sitting in her bed side chair. We took a walk the length of a hospital hallway did some steps and we reviewed her exercises. LOL, what an easy morning that was for me.

Physical Therapy will get the patients up and moving according to their ability. The stronger a person is going into surgery the quicker the recovery. Depending on the person's progress they will be discharged from the hospital day 3-4 after surgery. This will either be to home or a rehabilitation facility. Most went home with minimal assistance of family for meals and bathing. Home Physical Therapy is lined up while still in the hospital and depending on progress at home occasionally Out Patient PT is warranted.

Equipment needs will also be assessed by the PT and a person may go home with things like a walker or crutches (if they are young and strong), a tub seat, some dressing aids because they can't bend over to put socks on, etc.

The anesthesia, heavy meds/pain killers, dehydration from the chemicals tend to make the patient feel lethargic for a week or so but after a week they begin to feel like themselves.

The exercises and getting out of bed (correctly) are the 2 major components of the surgical recovery. Total Hip Replacements (ball and cup/socket of the joint) often have limited motions so the person does not dislocate the mechanical hip. Strengthening those muscles so future dislocations don't happen is imperative because once it happens it can happen more frequently.

Depending on the age of the person the mechanical joint can be cemented in which allows weight bearing on that leg after 15 mins or have a porous coating that allows the bone to grow into the mechanical joint lining - this limits weight bearing for several weeks. Ask the Dr what he is doing to give you a better idea.

Partial hip replacements can be just the ball or just the cup/socket. They don't necessarily have the same limitations of a total replacement. The newer procedures tend to be less invasive but that should make recovery easier.

Everyone is different, the 80 yr old woman was awesome, the 55 yr old executive who never had any other hospitalization or major illness was a nightmare because "How dare he have pain?" Why would the Dr order PT if he had pain?...So he refuses PT, doesn't get out of bed and gets pneumoniam and delays his recovery by several weeks...idiot. Expect the pain. It is from the surgery and when it heals the arthritic pain will be gone.

The Dr/Surgeon will provide the details of the surgery and the expected recovery time. Have your friend to the exercises prior to the surgery so it isn't something new to learn under the effects of morphine/heavy narcotics. The gained strength prior to the surgery will help those muscles after.

All in all, I would rather have a hip replaced than an knee replaced, and I would rather have a knee replaced than a broken ankle.

I hope that helps you some.

[Michelle]

I have, but it was due to a car accident and was 21 yrs ago. Medicine has come a long way since then. My best advice is to follow the Dr's orders even if they don't seem necessary, have him do his PT, and accept help from others. It can be a humbling experience when needing help dressing, showering, etc.

:goodluck: I hope all goes well for him!

[MaryCarney]

I can tell you from my patients' experience that the one 'complication' you never hear about but will make him absolutely miserable is constipation.

The pain meds and immobility team up to stop up almost every one. But the pain med is important to allow you to get up and moving, soooo......

So my advice is this-
lots of fluids (the IV doesn't count - you need the fluid in the gut to work)
be as physically active as possible, and allowable
3-4 servings of raw fruit and veg every single day
ASK FOR A LAXATIVE IF YOU NEED IT!!!

Also, an infection will derail everything, and you cannot count on everyone in a hospital to do the right thing 100% of the time, so INSIST that your doctor, nurse, therapist - EVERYONE - wash their hands with soap and water before they touch you. (None of that sanitizer junk either!!)

One last thing, be nice to your nurse, she busts her butt every day and is little appreciated - especially the middle of the night nurse. If you send a thank you, don't forget the night shift!!

[Luckybustert]

My DH needs both hips replaced but he's trying to hold out as long as he can before having the surgery. His doctor was telling him about technology that's being used in Europe that's supposed to be significantly superior to what's currently being done in the U.S. He's wanting to hold out until its available here. And if not, he still wants to hold out awhile to increase the chance he'll only need them replaced once in his lifetime. It's obvious he's in a lot of pain some days, and I just hate seeing him like that.

[JerryG]

Thanks everyone so much. Your insight has been very helpful. BF is not "old" (62) and VERY active. He walks a lot every day (manager of a mobile home community and does not use the golf cart) and swims every day. Seriously, he's in better shape than most of everyone else his age.

His insurance will cover PT. He's getting a full hip replacement with titanium. I think the biggest problem will be him OVERDOING it after surgery. He's not a patient patient.

Thanks again for sharing! I feel better