Hip Replacement Surgery .....?

I've had both hips replaced in separate surgeries several months apart. I was in somewhat the same situation as you; although the doctor diagnosed osteoarthritis in both hips, one was more symptomatic than the other so I had that one done first in the hope that the other hip would last for awhile. That didn't turn out to be the case; the second hip didn't like being the "good hip" and got very painful. So at my 8-week checkup after surgery #1, I asked the surgeon if we could take care of #2. There was no point in having just one good hip. Now I have a matched set.

As for the rehab after surgery, you may have physical therapy for several weeks. I went to outpatient therapy for 5 weeks, 2-3 times a week after each surgery. I also did the exercises 3 times daily at home for a couple of months. Whatever pain I had was treated very well. For the first couple of days in the hospital, I had a PCA [patient-controlled-anesthesia] pump where you push a button to get more pain med. Then they took that away and put me on oral pain meds. They sent me home with tylenol3. Pain wasn't a big consideration after I got home. Plain OTC Tylenol was all I needed most of the time, and not much of that.

If you can ever call a replaced hip "normal" I guess it's when the physical therapy exercises have succeeded in toning and strengthening your stretched muscles, your balance is normal, and you can walk with no limp, no walking aid, and no pain. For me that point came after about 2-3 months. But I was back to many normal activities sooner than that. I could drive at 5-6 weeks. I spent about 2 weeks on a walker or crutches, and then graduated to a single crutch, then a cane, then nothing.

Hello,

There is nothing to be worried. Some people think that hip replacement wait times are long but it is not that long. After I have completed my hip replacement I just started normal work after 1 month and my doctor was just astonished that how could you? Actually the main fact is the mental confidence. Just start the daily activities slowly no matter you can be back at your best with in a short time.

Thanks

I think you hear allot about hip replacement now because it can be done. Years ago people had to suffer the pain and eventually not walk. Now you can have a new hip and no pain. What would you choose?

Hello,

The causes for hip pain when walking may be different for you and me. You may have arthritis in the hip which is just normal wear and tear of the joint tendon that eventually exposes the bone. You may have hip bursitis, or inflammation of the hip bursa. You may suffer from tendonitis, inflammation of the tendon in the hip joint.

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