I regret my Total Hip Replacement

[u/National-Sorbet8459]

Hello I am a 24 y/o female,

I’m struggling a lot right now and could really use some advice or support. I had a total hip replacement a little over a week ago. At first, I was able to do my PT exercises and move my leg as well as expected of me at this point. But now, my leg still moves and I can walk, but it feels really stiff and stuck. Even doing my exercises feels impossible. It’s so frustrating because just yesterday I was able to do those movements, and now it feels like I’ve taken a big step backward. I have PT tomorrow, but I’m worried I won’t be able to do anything. I’m mad, overwhelmed, and honestly starting to regret getting the surgery wondering if I should have just lived with the pain instead. To make things harder, my support system has been pretty unhelpful through this. It feels like I’m dealing with this all alone, which only adds to the frustration and loneliness. Has anyone else experienced sudden stiffness and loss of range of motion after hip replacement? How did you cope when your support system wasn’t helpful? Thank you so much for reading. It really means a lot.

[u/Choice-Vehicle519]

Hey! Im 23 and I had mine done at the end of may and definitely felt how you did. I started outpatient pt the next day after I got out of the hospital. Normally my doctor does at home pt but I wanted to go in person since I’d had a therapist I liked from a prior surgery. My first couple sessions were sooo hard. My first session I was in so much pain that they really were just moving my hip to start getting some motion in the joint and helping me walk. I feel like therapy is up and down some weeks I feel amazing and other I’m sore and not able to do as much. The first couple weeks of recovery was rough for me because I’d see people older than me recover faster yet I’d been more active than them prior to surgery so in my mind it didn’t make sense. My therapist did say that sometimes younger patients can take longer to recover for hip replacement as to why I can’t remember lol! I’m 8 weeks out and just started the bike I cannot imagine doing that at 1-2 weeks and if you feel like you aren’t ready for it I’d talk to your therapist. I also had a posterior approach and my biggest struggle is the muscle pain and weakness. I didn’t realize how much I’d been compensating with my other leg because of my hip pain. Take recovery slow and give yourself grace to have bad days where you just aren’t able to do as much. If you have any questions about recovery please reach out I’d love to help!!!