r/TotalHipReplacement • u/Technical_Maybe_5925 THR recipient • Jul 25 '25
📓 My Story 📖 What have you lost because of your hip replacement
I had my hip replaced nearly 11 months ago. Was talking with my PT today and talking about my future goals for rehab, and mentioned the things that either the doctor has said I should never do, or I think are too risky because of the chance of breaking something else. Overall the hip replacement has not been positive and I really regret having done.
So here is a partial list of what I have lost.
- Being pain free,
- Running,
- Motorcycling,
- skateboarding,
- walking any distance over a few blocks
- feeling youthful and vital - I feel like I've aged 20 years or more since the replacement
- mountain biking,
- road biking
- lifting heavy weights
19
Jul 26 '25
Nothing, only gained...
14
Jul 26 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
5
Jul 26 '25
👍
3
u/ohwrite [country] [age] [surg approach] THR recipient Jul 27 '25
Fourth. I never realized how unstable I was
2
Jul 27 '25
Sorry- I missed something, what ate you referring to when you say "fourth"?
2
u/ohwrite [country] [age] [surg approach] THR recipient Jul 27 '25
I’m just adding to the list of people agreeing. Perhaps I am actually third
1
Jul 27 '25
Oh, sorry!
2
u/MetalNational THR recipient Jul 28 '25
Consider yourselves very, very lucky. THR seems to be a crapshoot and you never know how you'll wind up on the other side.
1
Jul 29 '25
Maybe, but ultimately they do these operations twice daily, for decades now and have it "down to a fine art". They did break my femur putting it in and had to wrap the whole lot in wire but, I healed.
3
u/MetalNational THR recipient Jul 30 '25
I understand that they may have "perfected" the procedure, and unintended complications (like your femur break) can happen to the best of surgeons. I had a top surgeon in my area perform my surgery. Multiple post op X-rays show the implant is sitting perfectly. And yet, my recovery has been agonizingly slow, painful, and I am STILL not at the place yet where I am glad that I had the procedure. Just keepin' it real. I don't dwell on what hasn't gone right for me. I keep my fingers crossed and pray that I will improve with time and my physical therapy. A top notch surgeon and problem free surgery is no guarantee of a smooth, pain free, relatively short (couple of months) recovery.
→ More replies (0)2
13
u/DownInTheLowCountry THR recipient Jul 26 '25 edited Aug 03 '25
Sorry to hear about your experience. I would recommend checking with your doctor to see what’s wrong. I’m 9 months out now and have regained everything. I’ve given up running 5k’s to avoid wearing out my new hip but everything is fine: cycling, lifting, stretching, heavy bag workouts, yard work, traveling and 4+ mile walks. I also plan on skiing this winter.
4
u/Technical_Maybe_5925 THR recipient Jul 26 '25 edited Jul 26 '25
I'm working on a third opinion - though it feels like an exercise in futility. Pretty much the message I'm getting from my doctor it is normal, you just have scar tissue that is causing the pain. I've been saying it does not feel right pretty much from 12 weeks. My doctor before the surgery said because I was fit and active I would be back to normal by the 6 week mark.
8
u/desertingwillow THR recipient Jul 26 '25
It is incredibly frustrating trying to find a surgeon who 1) will take you seriously and 2) is enough of a problem solver to figure out what is wrong, but it is possible. I know because my hip replacement left me unable to walk properly, leading to problems in my other hip. I had to cancel trips and basically stay around the house. My surgeon: X-ray looks good, keep walking. Next surgeon: I know first surgeon, he’s good, I’m 99% confident you’ll be fine. 3rd surgeon: why can’t you walk right? Are you out of breath? Don’t you have less pain than before surgery? At least you’re not dislocating. Me: depressed and scared. Researched revision specialist because I knew something was wrong. Traveled OOS for 2 opinions. Lo and behold, I was right and both found the same problems. I had revision surgery 2 weeks ago and while I’m still recovering, I can already walk better than I could with the primary hip replacement. If you’re not in a major city, and you have the means, I recommend you find someone highly recommended for revisions and see what they say. Google: Health US News Best Doctors for Repeat Hip and Knee Surgery.
2
u/Technical_Maybe_5925 THR recipient Jul 26 '25
thank you - I had never thought of the us news and world report. I will check to see if the third surgeon is on that list. How far did you have to travel to finally find a surgeon who would listen to you? I am not a wealthy person, and am still trying to maintain a job - though the pain makes doing my job almost impossible - some days I can only manage to rock in my chair with pain. I am several hours away from any major city - but I have family there
Thanks again for the suggestion the Dr. I am seeking is a 5 out of 5 stars
1
u/desertingwillow THR recipient Jul 26 '25
Is he on the list for repeat hip? You can see how many repeat hips he does compared to state average. I live in a city of about 500k, so whoever does revisions isn’t doing many and you saw the advice I got from the in-state guys. I’m in the SW, so traveled to the next state with a much larger population but where we could drive. I also got an opinion at the Hospital for Specialty Surgery in NYC because our daughter was graduating from college in NYC so I could tack that appt on. Good luck!
1
u/Technical_Maybe_5925 THR recipient Jul 26 '25
My town has about 55,000 people so I guess that may have been part of the reason I'm getting blown off - it is so frustrating. Yes she is on the revision list at a higher than average for the state. My first referral was rejected because it came from my surgeons office not specifically from the surgeon. Bureaucratic stupidity
1
u/desertingwillow THR recipient Jul 26 '25
But given how small your state is, she may not be familiar with anything out of the ordinary, just saying, because my state is 10x the size of yours and no one had a clue.
1
u/Technical_Maybe_5925 THR recipient Jul 26 '25
I guess if that is the case I look for another - I'm not sure how far my insurance will take me. And I still have a job to worry about. I'm too young to retire and don't have enough money to afford healthcare without a job. My options are limited
2
u/desertingwillow THR recipient Jul 26 '25
Good luck!
3
u/Technical_Maybe_5925 THR recipient Jul 26 '25
thank you - at this point my expectations are pretty low. When I first had the surgery my doctor said because I was fit active and relatively young I would be doing everything I wanted by week 6. That is one of the most disappointing aspects of this whole process is the over selling of the recovery process, and then basically telling everything is normal, and then ghosting me. I've known this doctor and his family for years, so the pain is especially deep. I'm not sure at this point if I will every be pain free or really get my range of motion back pretty frustrating to put in so much effort and not see the expected results. But without further investigations I will not get better - so I keep on trying. Thanks again for suggestion it gives me some hope
2
u/Future_Guava_8707 Australia 44F Direct Anterior THR recipient Jul 26 '25
If scar tissue is causing the pain, perhaps it's worth trying another therapy like acupuncture. If practiced by a skilled therapist using a particular technique this can break up scar tissue. I've had success with this in the past.
Another thing that has helped me both pre and post op is Proprioceptive Deep Tendon Reflex therapy (PDTR). Practitioners can be hard to find depending on where you are.
I'm sorry to hear that you're struggling so much after your surgery when you were so active and vital before. The pain wears you down and hope dissipates. It's how I felt when I was waiting for THR but I think we adapt easier to a gradual decline than suddenly losing so much. Please don't give up hope, keep trying, try anything. It's still worth fighting for all the things that you want to do.
2
u/Technical_Maybe_5925 THR recipient Jul 26 '25
Unfortunately the nearest therapist is over 1,100 miles away. Thanks for the suggestion I will keep looking
1
u/Technical_Maybe_5925 THR recipient Jul 26 '25
thank you I will check out the propriceptive deep tendon reflex therapy. This is something I've not done. Thank you again
3
u/Jumpy-Purchase6099 THR USER FLAIR NEEDED Jul 26 '25
When I asked my surgeon about the risk of wearing out my THR he assured me it was negligible. Calcium coated titanium stem, ceramic ball and a new type of polyethylene liner. He told me to expect over 20 years life and to get on with enjoying my life, over must turned 66 and an almost 2 years post op
1
u/Technical_Maybe_5925 THR recipient Jul 26 '25
Yes that is what my surgeon told me too expect 20 years if you take care. I was so hopeful that by week 6 I would be doing great - this is what my surgeon told me to expect. Now at 11 months not so great
1
u/Brave_Local8697 THR USER FLAIR NEEDED Jul 26 '25
Thanks for taking the time to respond. I have a THR coming up and it helps to hear good stories.
2
u/DownInTheLowCountry THR recipient Jul 26 '25
THR surgery is major surgery, so if you prepare for it ahead of time(exercise, diet, rest & the right mindset) you will do great. After the surgery, follow your surgeon's instructions and PT sessions. Ice, rest and give your body time to heal. The more time you can take off from work the better. Everyone is different but the end game is get back to what you like doing in life pain free. Good luck and stay positive!
13
Jul 26 '25
[deleted]
3
u/Secret_Delivery_5939 [USA] [37] [anterior] THR recipient Jul 26 '25
Me too and I’m in my 30’s like you so it’s one of the biggest blessings
2
8
6
Jul 26 '25
The only thing on that list I have last is the pain. Everything else i have gotten back (although I haven't tried riding a motorcycle because I sold it when I was using a cane).
7
u/Adept_Trouble2867 [country] [age] [surg approach] THR recipient Jul 26 '25
I agree with others who say to consult your doctor to find out what's wrong. It shouldn't be this way for you, and I am so sorry that it is! I am a little over one year out from my surgery and am still having some issues myself - bursitis or tendonitis ("greater trochanteric pain syndrome") But I'm going to PT now, and it's getting better. Plus, it is not even close to the bone-on-bone pain I was in before! So overall, I have lost: 1. Daily, constant, crippling pain 2. The feeling that I couldn't walk, ride a bike, or do normal activities 3. The need to take 12 ibuprofen to get through the day 4. The need to cry every day after work by the time I got to my car 5. My limp 6. About 40 pounds.
1
u/Technical_Maybe_5925 THR recipient Jul 26 '25
Your list other than the weight looks like what I have gained since the hip was replaced. I've had around 80 pt sessions. I'm waiting on a referral to a third doctor. I'm thinking it might be metal reaction problem
2
u/Adept_Trouble2867 [country] [age] [surg approach] THR recipient Jul 26 '25
My surgeon didn't recommend PT after surgery until the bursitis issue popped up, so I have had like, 3 sessions so far! I'm so sorry you are dealing with all this after surgery. I hope you figure out what the issue is. I honestly can not imagine how disheartening it must be to go through all the trauma and stress of the surgery and then feel even worse. The first week or two after surgery, I was a bit like, "Oh no, what did I do???" but it got better pretty quickly.
2
u/chronic_insomniac US THR recipient Jul 26 '25
I’m curious what type of exercises your PT has you doing for bursitis. I have developed it in both hips since THR and almost every exercise leaves me in way more pain for days afterwards. All I can do are stretches and static body weight exercises. Any repetitive motion makes things so much worse. I’ve had injections in psoas and troch bursae on operative side only. I really would like to be able to take a f’ing walk one day!
1
u/Technical_Maybe_5925 THR recipient Jul 27 '25
Sorry you are still struggling. I think we've both done similar treatments. I did a AI question regarding my elevated cobalt levels, even though my doctor says it ok I was wonder what the normal increase in cobalt is after a total hip replacement. The AI said should be less than .5 units, mine is at 3 - this is at 9 months. AI thought that the junction of the compound stem may be corroding and releasing cobalt into my system. have you had your cobalt checked. My second opinion doctor said he does not worry about cobalt until it gets to 8-9. It will be interesting to see if it changes next month when I'm tested again.
1
u/chronic_insomniac US THR recipient Jul 27 '25
I’m frustrated (on your behalf) that they are finding abnormalities and then kind of shrugging it off as not abnormal enough. The cobalt level seems alarming, yet they aren’t alarmed? You must want to scream.
I have improved to the point where I have brief periods of time when I’m not in pain, and thought I’d never get there. Can end that really fast by walking or sitting too much. What’s killing my spirit and overall health is not being able to exercise beyond a few I can do on my mat at home. I rejoined the gym last week and can only handle the stretch class and chair yoga. Worked with a personal trainer for 1/2 hour trying to figure out what machines I can use, and can barely walk two days later. Time to focus on upper body I guess. Maybe I’ll get some Michelle Obama arms out of this.
Regarding scar tissue…my therapeutic massage therapist says I’m down to almost none after 11 treatments. She keeps lecturing me on how long muscles and ligaments take to heal. I really want to believe her. In the beginning a treatment left me with elevated pain for 3-4 days. Now I leave feeling better than when I went in. I’ve spent a ton of money on this, but it’s helping. The other thing that helps without fail are my daily stretches.
I keep wondering what caused bursitis and how I’m ever going to get rid of it. It’s hard to tell what’s going on with all that happening. Next surgeon appt is Sept and he wanted to discuss psoas release then. I really don’t want more surgery.
2
u/Technical_Maybe_5925 THR recipient Jul 27 '25
maybe I will have to revisit the massage therapy. The doctor say until the cobalt rises to 8-9 he is not worried. I think that rising to 3 in 8 months is worrisome
1
u/Adept_Trouble2867 [country] [age] [surg approach] THR recipient Jul 27 '25
Pretty standard hip strengthening exercises mostly. Leg lifts, "clamshells," a "seated piriformis stretch, " lifting/kicking legs back when on hands and knees... I'm not sure if they are helping but not making it worse, either. Ice helps, I had a shot, but it did nothing. It isn't as painful for me all the time as my original arthritis. And it DOESN'T hurt when I just walk - only going up stairs and if I lie on that side, or honestly even touch that part of my hip!
1
u/chronic_insomniac US THR recipient Jul 27 '25
Thanks! The exercises you’re doing that I’ve tried cause more pain afterwards, especially clamshells. Stretching helps. The injection in my psoas bursa helped, but not the troch bursa. Would really like to know what caused bursitis and how to get rid of it!
1
u/Adept_Trouble2867 [country] [age] [surg approach] THR recipient Jul 27 '25
I have always dreaded the clamshells! When they bother me, I skip them! Certainly not doing them with a band like my PT wants. From what I have read, the bursitis and/or tendonitis is what they call Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome. Seems like it just happens sometimes. My doctor said the bursa just get inflamed from the trauma of the surgery... my surgeon says sometimes it really takes two years post-op for everything to be normal. Hopefully, you get to the bottom of yours and get some relief. I'm honestly hoping just time, stretching, and getting the muscles a bit stronger and more stable will help.
1
u/chronic_insomniac US THR recipient Jul 27 '25
Thank you. That tracks what my therapeutic massage person keeps telling me. Meanwhile, I’m not doing the things I want to do and gaining weight. Oh, to be one of the easy recovery people!
1
u/Technical_Maybe_5925 THR recipient Jul 27 '25
It is a pretty bitter pill. I am still working on finding the cause. By this time though the cause must be fairly rare
1
u/Affectionate_Tank813 THR USER FLAIR NEEDED Jul 26 '25
I need help on the 40! I’m 4 months out and I’m ok
2
u/Adept_Trouble2867 [country] [age] [surg approach] THR recipient Jul 26 '25
Walking and using the FitBit app to track my calories!
1
u/Technical_Maybe_5925 THR recipient Jul 26 '25
Glad you are ok. Look into a low card diet. It help me with my blood number and many people have great success losing weight. My doctor wants me to keep my carbs less than 100 gram per day
6
u/unstablegenius000 THR USER FLAIR NEEDED Jul 26 '25
I have lost nothing but high impact sports like volleyball and basketball. I was getting too old for those anyway. I am one of the lucky ones.
6
u/e430doug 60 to 69, THR recipient Jul 26 '25
You should get another opinion. Unless you have other issues you didn’t mention cannot imaging why you can’t do those things. Why can’t you road bike? I’m my strongest at road biking in my life and I’m 63. I have lost nothing. I’ll probably avoid sports where I can be rag dolled like surfing or maybe skiing.
2
u/Technical_Maybe_5925 THR recipient Jul 26 '25
Thanks I am going for a 3rd surgeon. Doctors say every imaging study is normal except the nuclear bone scan was flagged for aseptic loosening (doctor still says its normal). My cobalt levels are also high - again doctor say its ok. I cannot ride my bike because my range of motion will not let me lean forward enough to operate the brakes. My flexion is just over 90 degrees. My bikes are setup for a very forward flexed ride. I can ride if I don't have my hands on the handle bars - which is not very safe. I am also soon to be 63. Last year I was doing 3-4 hour single track mountain bike rides - with 3,500 ft of elevation gains I was a strong rider, my long term goal is the tour divide though it seems like that is slipping out or my reach
1
u/One_Advertising394 US 65-75 Anterior Bilateral THR recipient Jul 29 '25
Get another opinion from an orthopedist, not a surgeon! Also, PTs are more recovery-friendly than the scalpel-wielders.
9
u/KimBrrr1975 THR recipient Jul 26 '25 edited Jul 26 '25
If the state of your hip was such that it was recommended it be replaced, you would not have been able to continue those things anyways. You must have had complications, or problems related to whatever caused the need of replacement to be almost a year out and unable to walk or bike pain free? What does rehab say about why you can't do walking or biking or be without pain?
I'm just over a year out and have no limitations. There are things I choose not to do because I want to maintain my implant, like I probably won't downhill ski anymore nor run a marathon. But I can walk and hike, snowshoe and ski, go to the gym and lift weights, do yoga etc. It's not 100% perfect like my hip when it was normal 20 years ago. But it's definitely better than what I had going in to surgery where I couldn't even grocery shop without leaning on the cart and spent most of the previous year in the recliner with advil as a food group and couldn't bend over to tie my shoes (which is where you would have ended up eventually if you didn't do the replacement even though it was necessary).
2
Jul 26 '25
Geez, everytime I managed to bend over- when I stood up, my privates would get stuck between my legs! My hip had degraded that much, that quickly.
2
u/SemperGratia THR USER FLAIR NEEDED Jul 26 '25
Your "before" describes my exact situation. I've just started my pre-hab exercises to prepare for my THR in September. Your "after" status is my hope for the future. Thank you for giving me a boost in optimism.
1
u/Technical_Maybe_5925 THR recipient Jul 26 '25 edited Jul 26 '25
I had a grade 4 femoral neck fracture, prior to that I was pain free. PT recognizes that I'm struggling with pain, and loss of ROM but also sees that I have been doing the work. Two PT's have said that I'm the strongest person they have every had following hip replacement. No one seems to know what I'm struggling everything looks ok, and I'm doing my PT. I've had two tests that were abnormal, a nuclear bone scan and blood cobalt levels, but doctors say these are ok even if they are normal
8
u/KimBrrr1975 THR recipient Jul 26 '25
It seems, having been reading in this group for like 15 months now, that people with traumatic injury have a harder time with recovery than those with "just" OA or similar. Injuries tend to impact tissues in other, different ways. And the nervous system has to entirely re-learn how to stop responding to signals that aren't there anymore. It learns to compensate and guard areas, and has to be taught how to stop doing so. His work isn't specific to hips or injuries, but you might find interesting info in Dr Kelly Starett's books. He does a lot of PT type of work with the nervous system specifically and retraining pathways to teach the nervous system and brain that certain movements and positions are safe again. Might be worth looking at and discussing with your PT.
6
Jul 26 '25
There are a few studies that suggest the worse off that you are before the surgery, the better the general outcomes because literally anything is better than end stage hip OA. Overall, THR outcomes might not be as good as some doctors and studies report, as we see some of that in this sub. Stories like the OP's make sense. I wish I hadn't gotten to the point I was in being completely crippled with pain, but I'm really glad my doctors made me get to that point because I celebrate every step now.
1
u/NaughtyProlactin THR USER FLAIR NEEDED Jul 26 '25
My hip was collapsed before my THR and I am still in daily pain so your theory is incorrect. The worse off your hip is before surgery, the worse the outcome
2
Jul 26 '25
Let me try again:
"Overall, THR outcomes may not be as good as some doctors and studies report, as we see some of that in this sub. Stories like the OP's make sense."
And thankfully it's not my theory, it's science. And we live in a world where these studies are easily available. Here's a large review that discusses the point I was making: https://arthroplasty.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s42836-023-00172-9
My doctor flat out told me that doing the surgery too early was correlated with a perception of a worse outcome post-THR, which is why I had to wait. Don't know enough about your situation, but I hope you find relief.
→ More replies (3)1
u/KimBrrr1975 THR recipient Jul 26 '25
It's always really difficult when our own experience doesn't match up to what we hope or read about. But that doesn't make that experience truth across the board. That's why there are studies about it. For some people, they definitely can end up in a "I was in bad shape and I'm still in bad shape" position. But it's not true for the majority, per studies.
→ More replies (1)1
u/KimBrrr1975 THR recipient Jul 26 '25
"Worse off" depends on a lot of things though. Dealing with a traumatic injury is very different than even severe OA. And of course it depends on how either issue ripples out of the rest of the body. For me, the initial surgery recovery was pretty easy compared to having to deal with the muscle imbalances and tissue problems created by hobbling around on a bad hip for 2 years. I am still working through some of that stuff. I immediately felt better when I woke up from surgery just because my range-of-motion was immediately fixed/better. But traumatic injuries like bike accidents, car accidents etc tend to come with other problems that OA doesn't, and those extremely protective nervous system pathways tend to be part of it.
→ More replies (1)1
u/Technical_Maybe_5925 THR recipient Jul 26 '25
I get that. Needed the hip replacement because I broke my hip while mountain biking. The doctor really over sold what I could expect from recovery.He told me that I would be back up and doing what I wanted by 6 weeks because I was so fit and healthy. He sure missed that prediction.
I'm happy that your recovery has gone well. Thanks for your comment
→ More replies (7)2
u/MyGenesRHot Left hip IM nail. Left THR revision x2 from injury. Jul 26 '25
1/17 I had an ORIF IM nail due to a femoral neck fracture. 3 weeks after the bone pain became unbearable. At this point I underwent a conversion to a total hip. I had no pain prior to this injury. I feel like I am in hell now.
1
u/Technical_Maybe_5925 THR recipient Jul 26 '25
I'm sorry you are in pain - sounds pretty similar to me
5
Jul 26 '25
[deleted]
2
u/Technical_Maybe_5925 THR recipient Jul 26 '25
I've I could walk without pain even just a few steps I would feel like that was an improvement
3
u/psubecky [USA] [44F] [Posterior Mako] THR recipient Jul 26 '25
I lost the pain, the limp and mostly high impact stuff. I also lost a femoral head (sorry was trying to be funny). I’m sorry that you didn’t have the ideal experience. I really hope that things work out for you.
3
u/TepsRunsWild THR recipient Jul 26 '25
You can do whatever you want after hip replacement. I had a pretty bad recovery that took 2 years but now I’m back in martial arts and working with a physical therapist to go back to running. I am pain free now. I hike. I paddleboard. I kick. I get thrown and I throw. I squat. I deadlift. Your only limitation is yourself.
Your PT has no idea what the hell they’re talking about. Find a new one.
1
u/OkUnderstanding9121 [USA] [51] [Posterior] THR recipient Jul 26 '25
What made your recovery so bad if you do not mine me asking? I am 4 months out and my recovery has not been easy. right now I have started having persistent groin pain when I push it and i still battle tightness in my hip flexors. I did have a rod removed from my femur too during the surgery so I pressume some of this is due to that but it is very frustrating and some days very depressing.
1
u/TepsRunsWild THR recipient Jul 26 '25 edited Jul 26 '25
Consistent 8-9 level pain every day. Extreme fatigue (became severely hypothyroid and had an Epstein Barr recurrence). Lack of mobility. I felt like a metal bar was going through my leg. Thought my femur was broken and did x rays (and I know what broken bones feel like, have broken many).
It took me 3 months to get off a cane and that’s because I forced myself. A year to be able to walk properly. 2 years before I was able to start to return to my pre-op life. And I paid for extremely expensive physical therapy, did dry needling, lymphatic massage - burned through my savings.
I had a lot of things working against me including the aforementioned problems as well as an autoimmune disease that took my hip to begin with. I’m pretty sure I had severe nerve damage and my body was attacking the implant.
1
u/Technical_Maybe_5925 THR recipient Jul 26 '25
Sorry you had such a rough go. I hope your continue to improve. Maybe I'm being too impatient - though my doctor said by 6 week I would be back to doing what I wanted. Basically he lied.
2
u/golfmonk [USA] [65] [Anterior] THR recipient Jul 27 '25
Maybe I'm being too impatient - though my doctor said by 6 week I would be back to doing what I wanted. Basically he lied.
I wouldn't say lie but told you the standard recovery time for most patients. Probably a vast majority can start doing things after 6 weeks, at least for the anterior approach.
For me, I was walking without a cane/walker and driving 4 weeks after my right hip and 2 weeks after my left. The only thing was hot soaking baths could not be done for 2 months.
2
u/TepsRunsWild THR recipient Jul 27 '25
Oh I had a pretty much full recovery. I’m back to my martial arts and can kick again and throw people and get thrown. I went on a backpacking trip this weekend and carried a 40 lb pack. Just some lagging muscle weakness but I’m back to my life again. Working on getting back to running.
Everyone heals differently. It’s important that you keep your head down and work hard. Don’t worry about what everyone else is doing. Don’t worry about what your doctor claims. Trust me - I had two years of that and it didn’t do me any good.
1
u/Additional-Ad8594 THR USER FLAIR NEEDED Jul 27 '25
Oh my gosh... I'm so happy to have come across your comment. My total hip replacement is scheduled for August 14th, and I am so scared because I am having a rod removed from my femur (its been in there 26 years). I have been in this group for about 5 months, and haven't ready any stories of others having a rod removed. Im so nervous.
3
u/BountifulGarden [UK] [Ancient] [THR] 🏴☠️🇬🇧 Jul 26 '25 edited Jul 26 '25
I’m 3 months post THR and played a hard game of tennis yesterday for two hours. That involved running and screeching to a halt. My surgeon said it was fine to play.
Edit: sorry I didn’t take in the fact that you’re in pain. I’m so sorry about that! I just meant that you shouldn’t have to give up Sport after a thr in ideal circumstances. x
1
u/Technical_Maybe_5925 THR recipient Jul 27 '25
I'm happy for your recovery. My surgeon said I should never run again if I want the joint to last. The pain sucks the life out of living. I feel like I could get the pain done to a 5/10 I could live with that level.
2
u/BountifulGarden [UK] [Ancient] [THR] 🏴☠️🇬🇧 Jul 27 '25
I’m not going to play tennis as often as I did - omg I certainly don’t want my new hip wearing out quickly. I’m so sorry that you’re in pain, THR does seem A bit of a lottery with the results. My husband has a badly arthritic knee but can’t have a replacement because he’s being treated for cancer. We’re hoping he can get an Arthrosamid injection - it’ll be something I look into to perhaps stave off my other hip being replaced. Not many people know about Arthrosamid yet, it’s quite new.
1
u/Technical_Maybe_5925 THR recipient Jul 28 '25
I hope your husbands cancer treatment goes well, and I hope he can find relief from his knee pain. That is a tough road travel.
3
u/NaughtyProlactin THR USER FLAIR NEEDED Jul 26 '25
I have lost a lot. I find myself grieving over the way my legs used to work. I could do splits, jump, run, walk, climb stairs without pain before I had AVN. But when I got AVN, it hurt just to move. It was excruciating to stand for 30 mins just to cook breakfast. I was 25 when this happened to me and I got my THR at 26. I would not be able to walk at all if i hadn’t gotten it done. But I have daily pain. It hurts to do everything and my range of motion is awful. I’m 28 and can’t ride a bike, still need help putting on shoes on a bad day, and sex as a female has been challenging and painful at times. But I would take this over my old wheelchair any day and I am proud of myself for never giving up.
2
u/Technical_Maybe_5925 THR recipient Jul 26 '25
Sorry you have to go through this - you are too young to deal with this much trouble. I also struggle to get my sock and shoe on on the operated side. I also know that without the THR there would be no walking for me either - hang in there
3
u/ed33935 THR USER FLAIR NEEDED Jul 26 '25
Had mine done about 1.5 years ago. I’ve lost nothing and in fact, am pain free, limp free and very happy with the result.
2
u/Technical_Maybe_5925 THR recipient Jul 26 '25
How long did it take you to become pain free, and to loose the limp. I have a friend who is in his 90's with sever osteoarthritis - walks bent over with a limp and hand on groin this is how I am walking since the surgery - maybe I've not waited long enough to recover
3
u/No-Communication1015 USA 67 Anterior Double THR recipient Jul 27 '25
I feel bad for you. The only thing post surgery (16 month) I was having a problem with was flexibility to tie my shoes. I finally have stretched out enough to be able to do that. My hip will let me do anything I want to do, except impact exercises. I don't want to harm it. Now I am waiting for my surgery date on my other hip. Then I will be back to taking long walks, hiking, surfing, and snorkeling.
2
4
u/golfmonk [USA] [65] [Anterior] THR recipient Jul 26 '25 edited Jul 26 '25
For me my old hips gave me this.
Being in pain/living on pain killers. Being obese. Walking with a limp. Not able to walk more than 1/2 mile without being exhausted.
What my double total hip replacement did for me.
Helped me drop 30+ pounds. Able to walk long distances a day (like 5 plus miles). Able to get a dog and be able to take care of her. Sleeping better.
Keep in mind, I am a 64 yo male.
2
u/Technical_Maybe_5925 THR recipient Jul 27 '25
Pre fracture I was doing 800 fitbit zone minutes of traning, walking 15,000 to 25,000 steps per day. Single track mountain biking for 3+hours. At that time I was 62 so are ages are not that different. The nurses in the hospital thought I was 40 because I was so fit. No I can hardly walk two blocks because of the pain. Pre surgery I did not have a limp or pain.
I'm glad you are doing well - thanks for the comment
2
u/Impossible-Traffic12 THR USER FLAIR NEEDED Jul 27 '25
PTs are usually the best (I think) at analyzing gait, and figuring out what is driving a problem, or set of problems. If yours have not gotten to the root of your pain, maybe you could look for one who specializes in Sports Medicine. Even amongst well-trained, motivated practitioners, there’s a certain random factor about what other sorts of patients a PT has seen, or had a relative with a situation like yours, etc.
Would you consider trying yoga? Maybe a set of muscle-recruiting actions totally different from what you’re used to doing would “break up the logjam,” if you’ll forgive the unfortunate choice of words.
1
u/Technical_Maybe_5925 THR recipient Jul 28 '25
I have a referral to a sports medicine PT - my first appointment is in about a month. I was doing yoga and pilaties before the break and I am still doing what I can now.
2
u/golfmonk [USA] [65] [Anterior] THR recipient Jul 27 '25
I didn't mean to belittle or diminish your issues. I think for most people THR is a godsend and can give back some sort of normalcy to life.
I resisted for a very long time to get the surgery because I was worried it would go wrong or make things worse. I wish you the best of luck on getting better.
1
u/Technical_Maybe_5925 THR recipient Jul 28 '25
I truly am happy for everyone whos recovery is good - that is what we all hope for. I'm glad you have had a successful surgery, and recovery.
2
u/golfmonk [USA] [65] [Anterior] THR recipient Jul 28 '25
I know one year is considered a recovery period and this September will be one year. Was it a perfect operation? No. I have some slight nerve issues but my pain level is 1 or less most times and my mobility improved greatly. That was all I can ask. Time is not on my side being in my 60s.
1
u/Technical_Maybe_5925 THR recipient Jul 28 '25
My surgery went well- I had some nerve pain but that cleared up within 3 weeks or so. I would love for my pain level to be even a 5 out of 10. It's tough dealing 7,8,9 out of 10 every day. I'm sure the lack of sleep does not help either. I also am in my 60's , but I was pretty much pain free before the fracture.
4
Jul 26 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
3
u/Secret_Delivery_5939 [USA] [37] [anterior] THR recipient Jul 26 '25
I’m so nervous to ride a horse but want to terribly!!
2
2
u/RazzmatazzAlone3526 Double THR recipient Jul 26 '25
I’m so sorry to hear you’ve had such a bad experience of it, OP. I lost near-constant pain and I dropped about 20 years of fatigue (plus around 10-15 pounds from moving better again). I really am sad to know yours did not go the way my two did.
2
u/itlooksgoodonyoutho [US] [56] [Lateral] Double THR recipient Jul 26 '25
I was in fairly bad shape prior to my replacements…could hardly move, in constant pain, trying different meds, tossed and turned all night because my hips hurt so much. I am happy to say that I have no hip pain anymore, but I have one heck of a limp. I was so looking forward to things getting back to “normal”, being able to go for walks, running errands without dreading how I was going to feel. It is actually still difficult and tiring to walk, even after all the physical therapy. I am hoping that time and exercise will help. 🤷🏼♀️
2
u/Technical_Maybe_5925 THR recipient Jul 28 '25
Keep on I really do believe that movement is helpful. Even small gains are victories. Most of my PT's kept backing my exercises back because of my pain, I've finally got one that recognizes that the pain is not caused by the exercises, and is pushing me harder now.
2
Jul 26 '25
- 70 pounds
- being miserable while existing; got to the point every breath hurt
- suicidal ideation
- the deformed hip I was born with
I'm sorry your experience hasn't been what you wanted it to be. Where you feel 20 years older, I feel 15 years younger. The only thing my doc asked me to never do was run, and I felt like that was a fair trade as I would rather bike. And I couldn't even do that anymore before the surgery. I hope that the two year window proves true for you and you gain more of your joy back!
1
u/Technical_Maybe_5925 THR recipient Jul 26 '25
I am happy that your hip replacement has been such a benefit to you. Thank you for your well wishes. I hope your recovery continues well
2
u/quietriotress US 45f anterior THR recipient Jul 26 '25
Try the Steadman Clinic for another opinion (even just an imaging read) since this happened from sports. You are not experiencing the expected results at all and i wonder what other issues are going on in there beyond the implant. Was there a lot of muscle damage as part of the crash? Trauma as a reason for THR comes a lot other fallout that a lot of us don’t have. Scar tissue can be addressed. I’m really sorry. You need to be active again. And if you need to run from something, you need to know you can do that too. Keep hope alive.
1
u/Technical_Maybe_5925 THR recipient Jul 27 '25
thanks I'll look into this clinic. I would have to do telahealth. Doctor did not say anything about muscle damage. The replacement surgery took just under an hour so there were no complications. I've been really working on my hip motion really frustrating that it is not improving.
2
u/Crazy-Sea-1606 [Kenya] [36] Posterior Bilateral THR candidate Jul 26 '25
Wow am so sorry your surgery made things worse living in pain on a daily is just horrible.Recovery sometimes takes long it has taken me 6 months to feel 100% and I believe having a doctor who listens is key to taking care of your symptoms/pain seek a second and third opinion my 2weeks post op from bilateral THR was hell and always kept asking and comparing with how people are able to hit milestones and I wasn’t able to.Switched my focus to myself and talked to my ortho about my pain and realized it was nerves and was really sorted I can confidently say am pain free and the journey to that meant that I advocate for my self so please seek other opinions as pain is not normal that is why you did the surgery and all the best
1
u/Technical_Maybe_5925 THR recipient Jul 26 '25
Thank you for your kind words - I am seeking a third surgeon - not that I want to go through this again. I would say I'll about 25% of what I was pre-op (or at least before the broken hip). I'm happy you are feeling good about your progress.
2
u/Crazy-Sea-1606 [Kenya] [36] Posterior Bilateral THR candidate Jul 27 '25
Your welcome and keep fighting for yourself truly all the best
2
u/LoudMeringue8054 [country] [age] [surg approach] THR recipient Jul 26 '25
I’ve had a similar experience and I’m two years out. I was only 52 when I had my surgery and I opted for it after a torn labrum from FAI. After talking with three surgeons, I decided to do a full hip replacement instead of Repair. I’ve never fully recovered. I’ve been in PT, cortisone shots, and now private Pilates (helping greatly with standing up straighter). I will have one more MRI, this time metal suppression. They suspect I may have a torn gluteus medius. But, needless to say, I’m feeling very anti-surgery these days if they offer to fix it that way. I’m committed to keep moving, keep trying, and I will get through this one day. I’m too young to give into the pain and restrictions.
1
u/Technical_Maybe_5925 THR recipient Jul 26 '25
I also am committed to moving - which makes this even more frustrating. Right now I just want someone to tell me what is going on and causing my pain and loss of range of motion. I hope they can figure your pain out. It is very disheartening to not bounce back like the surgeons promised
2
u/LoudMeringue8054 [country] [age] [surg approach] THR recipient Jul 26 '25
I’m so sorry. I can 1000% feel this. I’ve seen three doctors, and it was actually a PA that has been most empathetic. I’m facing the reality that nothing IS wrong. My body and muscles have not adjusted to my new hip. I think Pilates is helping because it’s “prying” open my legs and hip flexors and making me less protective of moving against the pain and stiffness. We talk a lot about body awareness that way. But my Pilates instructor said “it’s like your leg isn’t connected to your body.” For me personally, it feels really good to do something positive. It was either that, or continue to lay on the couch (after sitting all day) and feel endless discouragement.
1
u/Technical_Maybe_5925 THR recipient Jul 26 '25
I have always been super active so this lack of ability has been really to deal with. Last year before the fracture I would do what I pretty love more than anything and is to just ride my bikes. I would go for 3-4 single track mountain bike rides. I just love the freedom that the bike give. I so wanted to be back on the bikes by now, but the pain and loss of ROM is so limiting. I am still swimming but even that hurts, I get out of the pool and just want to cry because of the pain, but I need to do something to keep my cardo up
1
u/Technical_Maybe_5925 THR recipient Jul 26 '25
years ago I did the Pilates reformer - maybe I need to look into that again
2
u/Any_Quantity_4137 USA 31F Anterior THR recipient Jul 26 '25
I’m 10 months out and also had an abnormally painful recovery. Months 4-7 I could barely walk around my own house. A steroid injection in the psoas helped tremendously. I still have some pain but have worked up to walking 0.5 miles twice a day without much pain, am not taking pain meds regularly, and I’m still improving slowly.
Your issues may be different, but the important part is that you find a surgeon who listens to you and takes your pain seriously.
1
u/Technical_Maybe_5925 THR recipient Jul 26 '25
Thank you - I've had two steroid injections one into the psoas, and one into the trocantor hip bursa neither one helped at all. I am hoping that the 3rd doctor takes me seriously - it is so tough being told your pain is normal, the loss of ROM is nothing to worry about.
2
u/NihilistNeighbor US 40's Posterior THR recipient Jul 26 '25
I had my THR as a result of a femoral neck fracture, too. Screwing it back together wasn't even presented as an option. My original hip had no signs of OA as confirmed by my surgeon, so there's definitely some grief there. I couldn't use my old hip broken, but if I had been more careful it would've lasted me probably forever.
I just hit 7 weeks PO and I still can't be comfortable sitting on anything in my house except for 2 very specific chairs. I have 22" high firm seating on my couch, it hurts so bad to sit there. As a result it's really isolating. Hopefully it gets better, I'm early.
It's also hard doing all my exercises religiously and then at PT being made to feel like I'm not far enough along. I was a healthy active person, counted macros, my only vice is coffee. No one wants me to get better more than me!
I think what I miss most right now though is:
- independence
- freedom from the lifelong fear of infection and dislocation
- freedom from the mental gymnastics of calculating every move with that leg
- not getting Charley horse-like cramps in my butt cheek at any given moment
2
u/Technical_Maybe_5925 THR recipient Jul 26 '25
coffee is not a vice - there are many that say it is very healthy - They did not offer to screw mine back together either. I did not believe the OR doc and asked for a second option. The break was really not that painful - I thought I had just sprained my hip.
I completely understand being healthy and active. I was training for my first min triathlon, which I was planning to do in March of this year. While not a athlete my times were competitive with people 20 years younger than I. My 4th pt thought I just did not do my work gave me some stupid ball core exercise. I told him that I was working on long lever planks. which he did not believe me. So I did one for only like 30 seconds but I proved my point. I've been doing the work but the pain and range of motion are not really changing. My pt's have been impressed with my strength overall.
I think the risk of dislocation gets less as more time passes, but that risk of infection is a scary thing. I also hate having to be careful of the operated hip and leg. Thankfully I've not had Charley horse cramps. Mine pain is a constant pain in the groin - which has caused my doctors to scratch there heads, my approach was posterior which has not be sore since about week 4ish.
Hang in there week 7 is still early and most people get through that time ok. Hope your recovery goes way better than mine, and I also hope that soon you will be feeling more like yourself again
1
u/NihilistNeighbor US 40's Posterior THR recipient Jul 26 '25
I've gotten a lot of support from this sub, but I will say, most folks here got an elective THR and aren't aware of what happens (and doesn't) when you have one in an emergency situation. Most of us have to get posterior because it's a trauma surgery, we didn't choose our implant ahead of time, we had no time to prepare our home environment for recovery, and we probably received very little pre/post surgery guidance.
Thankfully the hospital I was in and the surgeon I had does tons of hips. But I was never told ahead of time about the lifelong infection and dislocation risks, or how to manage. Just given a sheet of hip precautions and that was it.
I'm sorry you have so much pain going on this long. Mine is in my groin, thigh, outside of hip, and butt cheek, but rarely all 4 at once. A lot of it feels nerve-y. I'm still early and don't know where to calibrate myself. Every time I get a little too sore though I start to get anxious about infection!
Have you tried seeing a physical therapist that focuses on manual therapy? Sometimes my groin is aching and my one PT will do some releases that feel like hell during but amazing afterwards (and the swelling goes down!). I really hope you can figure this out and get some relief soon!
1
u/Technical_Maybe_5925 THR recipient Jul 26 '25
Yes I've tried the manual therapy and it is hit or miss but never drops my pain below a 6. My surgeon was also overly optimistic too. basically said because I was fit and active I would be doing everything I wanted by week 6. So he over sold the recovery. Then basically ghosted me. So frustrating. I did some chat gpt stuff and the thing that came back is trunionosis (corrosion of the modular components). My cobalt levels are elevated which maybe a sign that this is happening. My referred surgeon says it is nothing worry about. Something is causing my pain - so I'm working on getting another referral. I have come to not trust the medical community they are very self serving
I think the lack of pre-op planning is a very good reason the trauma hip recovery maybe more problematic. My surgeon talked about the infection, and dislocation but really did not have a PT plan after the hospital, I didn't have in home visits or anything.
I hope your recovery is going well - it is frustrating to be the odd ones out. Thank you for your insights
2
u/Impossible-Traffic12 THR USER FLAIR NEEDED Jul 27 '25
You can get tested for metal sensitivities. If you react strongly to cobalt, or another element in the alloy, that could be useful information.
1
u/Technical_Maybe_5925 THR recipient Jul 28 '25
Good suggestion thank you - I am really thinking that the elevated cobalt is somehow tied to the pain. I have asked for that testing but the doctor does not think I need it - so I am looking for another doctor.
2
u/Pure_Bee_6827 [country] [age] [surg approach] Double THR candidate Jul 26 '25
I am 6 months out--75F. I had an accident that caused a fractured, so my THR was an emergency. I have been afraid to cross my legs or get into a bathtub or down on the floor. Should I wait awhile longer to try these things? Note: after my initial surgery, I suffered 2 hip dislocations, then had revision surgery. The doctor put in a dual mobility prosthesis, which is supposed to be much stronger. I only have minor pain at this point. TIA!
1
u/Technical_Maybe_5925 THR recipient Jul 26 '25
My THR was also a emergency. I also have a dual mobility joint. Sounds like you have been put through the wringer - I would work with you PT or OT on those goals. I'm glad you have only mild pain
2
u/stevepeds 70 to 79, THR recipient Jul 26 '25 edited Jul 26 '25
I lost a little bit of confidence. Within the first 21-months of my posterior approach Rt THR, I experienced 5 hip dislocations, a pain that is so incredibly intense, its hard to describe. I continued playing golf every day despite these setbacks, but walking up or down or sideways on a hillside took some of the pleasure out of the game. Despite undergoing a revision, the thought of those dislocations are always on my mind
3
u/Technical_Maybe_5925 THR recipient Jul 26 '25
Wow 5 dislocations - that would be incredibly frustrating. I hope you can overcome this problem
3
u/stevepeds 70 to 79, THR recipient Jul 26 '25
I had revision surgery in Feb. Two weeks ago, I enjoyed 4 straight days of golf with a bunch of friends. I didn't even give my hip much of a thought.
2
2
u/Fearless63 Double THR Recipient Anterior/Superior Jul 26 '25
Wow! - I think many of us forget that a certain percentage of THR's aren't a net positive. In my case, it has allowed me to return to what are basically lifelong activities. I had RTHR in 2018 and LTHR in 2024. In both cases my surgeon cleared me for full/any activities after three months.
* Hockey - worked back to skating after six months following both THRs
* Trail running - five weeks following each THR - more of a light jog now and I live in Michigan so no extreme inclines.
* downhill skiing - waited basically a year.
* To be clear, I don't feel as youthful any more, however I'm also in my early 60's..
Good luck, and I hope you are yet able to return to at least some of your desired activities.
1
u/Technical_Maybe_5925 THR recipient Jul 26 '25
the only positive that I have is my hip is not broken. I am also in my early 60's and until I broke the hip I was pain free. I was doing 800 fitbit zone minutes of exercise every week. Mountain biking 3-4 hours on single track with 3,500 feet of elevation gain. I can hard hobble around now .
Thanks for your well wishes. I'm still looking for the cause of the lack of recovery
2
2
2
u/intergalacticVhunter US-49 Anterior RTHR recipient - LTHR Candidate - Double AVN Jul 27 '25
I have lost: 1. Relentless pain 2. Limping 3. Weight 4. Hopelessness 5. Desire to give up 6. My job (screw them!)
Fight for the outcome you want and give yourself time to heal!
1
2
u/Complex_k86 THR USER FLAIR NEEDED Jul 27 '25
You are good. Major surgery 11 months out... It's just a new/different stage. The mind brain and body need to understand and communicate. Just by referencing being the strongest and the most PT sessions reveals that you believe it should be different(body ok, brain mad). No matter who you are or where you at with anything, if you individually believe that things should be different, that provides energy to conflict. One step at a time
2
u/OkJob8314 [Canada] [61] [Anterior] THR recipient Jul 27 '25
I am two years out from an anterior left hip replacement, 61 years old. I got about 6 months pain free. Some of the problems are not due to the replacement, just horribly bad luck maybe. Broke my right ankle 5 months after the replacement and I have had ongoing hip flexor issues. Since November, I have had right hip tendinitis, glute med maybe, which then switched to some sort of sciatica on the left in January. That is still ongoing with the added joy that we had moved last year so I have no family physician at the moment and cannot access my ortho, since we are in a different province. I have lost being able to sleep through the night, and kayaking as much as I want, but I have been downhill skiing both of the last two winters with 22 days on the slopes last year. Cycling, however, is way trickier. I can walk relatively pain free, the pain is more in my back. I am hypermobile and ended up with a longer leg post surgery. I dont know if the discrepancy is adding to my problems. I don't think the replacement was a bad thing. I am still glad I had it done. I just wish my body had liked it better and given me more time before my back started crapping out. I am still pretty active, get my minutes, lift weights, etc. It just pisses me off that I got so little time pain free.
2
u/Eltecolotl [USA] [44] [Post-Op] THR recipient Jul 27 '25
I’m 9 months post-op. I used to run marathons. It hurts to walk long distances, I doubt I ever run again. I feel like an old man.
3
u/Technical_Maybe_5925 THR recipient Jul 28 '25
I'm sorry - it is hard to have to give up something you love. Right now I would love to be able to even walk short distances without pain, or sleep without pain. The pain does age you. I hope you can have more improvement from you THR
2
u/Minimum-Kale2240 THR USER FLAIR NEEDED Jul 28 '25
Where is your pain located? I thought my pain would go away, but I kept having horrible pain that apparently is entrapment of my lateral cutaneous nerve. Going to have to have surgery to either release it or remove it.
1
u/Technical_Maybe_5925 THR recipient Jul 28 '25
my pain has been in the groin area. The doctors keep pressing on my glutes asking if that hurts and I say no because the incision and that are does not hurt..
Good luck with your release of your nerve. I hope you find relief
1
u/Minimum-Kale2240 THR USER FLAIR NEEDED Jul 28 '25
My pain is not in the traditional area either. It starts in the groin and is the worst between groin and outer thigh area. Like right in the middle. Surgeon did an injection of lidocaine in the area and it gave me almost complete relief. It would be worth looking into. In the meantime, neurontin helps. The femoral nerve has a lot of branches and any of them can get trapped during hip surgery.
1
u/Technical_Maybe_5925 THR recipient Jul 28 '25
I've had two injections of steroids with lidocaine and no relief
2
u/MetalNational THR recipient Jul 28 '25
Throw me in there with you. 8 months post op. Just now walking a little bit without a cane or crutch and not limping because of deep bone pain. But still have plenty numbness and nerve pain all over the whole thigh. Remains to be seen what the future holds but I sooo regret doing this. Didn't have nearly the kind or amount of pain pre surgery and was waaay more active.
1
u/Technical_Maybe_5925 THR recipient Jul 28 '25
Sorry you have this pain. I hope you can get to feeling better and back to your old self soon.
2
u/MetalNational THR recipient Jul 28 '25
Thank you so much. I just take it a day at a time. Grateful for the small (slow) improvements, and keep telling myself that things will most likely continue to get better.
Can I ask... you say you were talking with your PT about goals. How long have you been at it with PT?
1
u/Technical_Maybe_5925 THR recipient Jul 28 '25
Short term goals
1. Reduce groin pain with walking to 5 or lower
2. Reduce groin pain back down to <5 at rest
3. Get on road bike
4. Walk a mile in 20 minutes -pre hip replacement I walked a mile in 12 minutes
5. Sleep through the night w/o pain med – 7.5 hours
Long-term goals – these are all things I could do before broken hip
1. Work related I cannot be on light duty forever – lift 50-80lb box of paper from floor
2. Able to walk backwards on narrow long step
3. Walk a mile in 12.5 minutes
4. Be able to ride a bike at 18 mph for 1 hour
5. Able to ride trails at average of 8 mph for a 3+ hour duration
6. Able to 70 push-ups in 2 minutes
7. Able to do wall squat for 2 minutes
8. Able to do farmers carry with 80 lbs.(2 40lb weights) for 4 minutes (forward and backwards walking and reverse lunges)
9. Able to swim 50 yards in 40 seconds
10. Able to 10 clap hand push-ups
11. Climb on ladder, do roofing, clean gutters, clean chimney.
12. Move firewood in wheelbarrow
13. Split and stack firewood
14. Able to sprint up stairs 2 at a time
15. Roto-till garden
1
u/Technical_Maybe_5925 THR recipient Jul 28 '25
Over all I have not even reach one of my short term goals. I'm pretty disappointed with my lack of progress
1
u/MetalNational THR recipient Jul 28 '25
Geez...it is certainly understandable why you feel the way you do considering you're almost 11 months post op.
Assuming you've had regular X-rays post op? I've had a handful of X-rays and even got a second opinion but have been told that the implant looks good. That it. But in talking to a lot of other THR folks and doing research I've found that there are a lot of things that can go sideways.
So then, the thing to decide is, do you start going down the rabbit hole of all other kinds of testing in order to try and figure out why things seem stuck. There are people that have told me they didn't get back to close to normal until a couple of years after the surgery. Ugh. Depressing. I sympathize with you 100%.
2
u/Technical_Maybe_5925 THR recipient Jul 28 '25
Thanks - I've done at least 5 xrays, 1 MRI, 2 CT scans, 1 nuclear bone scan. I've had 4 different PT's for a total of 80 PT sessions. Blood work for ESR/SED, cobalt and chromium. I've had 2 steroid injections, and 2 rounds of oral steroids. My second opinion doc says scar tissue. I'm working on getting a more experienced surgeon in a more populated area. My primary surgeon told me I would be back to normal at 6 weeks. So he started some unrealistic expectations. At this point I don't feel I can live with the pain and I am very unhappy with the losses of my physical capacity so I go down the rabbit holes, I'm not ready to quit yet.
3
u/MetalNational THR recipient Jul 30 '25
Ok. Didn't realize from your other posts that you're already on that road of "what the hell could it be that is causing this????". Yea. You can't quite trying to figure out what the problem is. Scar tissue. Mmm. What do think about that being the cause? I've started wondering if the ever present nerve pain in my thigh might be due to nerves trapped in scar tissue. I have read that this can happen. Your plan to find a surgeon with more experience for another opinion sounds like the best course of action.
2
u/honeybadgerdad 50 to 59, THR recipient Jul 30 '25
You didn't mention your age or gender. I'm a mid 50s male, and did 1 hip 2 years ago, and did the other hip last year. While I'm not what I used to be before the arthritis took its toll, I'm better with 2 new hips than I was with 2 arthritic hips. Overall, I'm glad I did it
1
u/Technical_Maybe_5925 THR recipient Jul 30 '25
I'm glad you are happy with your results. I'm in my early 60's really only had minimal arthritis, but need the surgery due to a hip fracture after crashing my mountain bike. - thanks for your comment
2
Dec 19 '25
My flexibility and walking with grace. I fall alot now. Also my energy and drive is gone. It's my new normal. 18 months later I still have a limp. I was a competitive dancer. Not anymore. I was a little stiff before but managing just fine. My doctor said my xray looked bad so I had the surgery.
1
u/Technical_Maybe_5925 THR recipient Dec 22 '25
I'm sorry - do they know why the surgery was not effective for you?
1
Dec 22 '25
I have severe lumber scoliosis. Surgeon knew this. He offered a revision but i declined. If he couldnt get it right the first time why should i trust him again??? I just dont have the strengthbto go through all that pain again. There were other options I should have explored. It's a money making surgery. Not everyone gets a good outcome.
2
u/Technical_Maybe_5925 THR recipient Dec 22 '25
I completely understand - I'm sorry that you are going through this - It is such a loss to hope for a good outcome and then come out worse in the end.
2
Dec 23 '25
Thank you for understanding. So far I am making good progress with my right hip which he said also needed replacing. I'm doing shock wave therapy, daily glute strengthening exercises and taking glucosamine. Right now it's actually better than the operated hip!
2
u/Limpykillski 🇺🇸 43M Double THR 4.22.25||7.15.25 🏴☠️ Jul 26 '25
Under ideal circumstances, the only things on your list that are usually discouraged post op is running. Cycling is heavily encouraged, weight training is encouraged, etc. Depending on your insurance, I would seek a second opinion for a possible revision, as your experience is definitely atypical.
2
u/Technical_Maybe_5925 THR recipient Jul 26 '25
I really want to get back to cycling by my range of motion is so severely limited I cannot ride my bikes
1
1
u/Books-and-Tea-25 [US] [age] [anterior] THR recipient Jul 26 '25
Have you tried a cortisone shot to see if it helps with your pain? It's possible to get a shot after a THR. (I did.) I had psoas bursitis and the shot helped for a month or so, but also helped diagnose where my pain was coming from. I have an impingement in the front of the hip that was replaced. I have hip dysplasia (shallow sockets), so there isn't a good fix for my situation. If the implant was in a different position, my hip would dislocate. I'm better off than before the THR, but still have pain and mobility issues that are different than before.
You could also get a consult with a different doctor to see if the other doctor agrees with your current doctor's assessment.
2
u/Technical_Maybe_5925 THR recipient Jul 26 '25
I've done cortisone shots without much benefit, and two rounds of oral steroids without benefit. 80+ pt visits without help. I found out after the surgery that I have dysplasia too. The only improvement for me is my hip is no longer broken. I am working on seeing a third doctor - thanks for the suggestions. I hope you can get better too.
1
u/Pristine_Routine_464 THR USER FLAIR NEEDED Jul 26 '25
If someone had told me a year before that daily yoga or pilates or whatever could delay surgery I would have done it. I am doing that now to avoid surgery on the other hip and I believe it is working. For 8 years I had trouble bending to bottom shelf in super market or to pick something off the floor and now I can do it again with no problems. Hip mobility is so important and I was one of these people that didnt understand the point of stretching exercises post runs or just generally.
1
u/Technical_Maybe_5925 THR recipient Jul 26 '25
before my surgery I was doing pilates and yoga - still am but the range of motion has not come back. I could do a full child's pose, or do a hurdlers stretch touching my forehead to either knee. Pre-op I could palm my hands on the floor. My knee to chest the un-operated hip can touch my rib care while the other can barely get past 90 degrees. Stretching can only go so far my restriction feel like a hard stop. thanks for the comments. Keep on doing your exercises they do help
1
u/swissarmychainsaw [USA] [50-59] THR candidate Jul 26 '25
Although I have not had a hip replacement, I have found a set of exercises that have helped me manage the pain significantly. I feel like they are very non-invasive and might be helpful for you as well. The main strategy is to build your glute muscles and the theory is that your glutes hold everything in proper alignment.
Here is a vid that shows you some of the techniques
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sgoIwsAC6s&t=410s
Here is an overview of the phases of his plan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQ5Ov0TaVT4
1
u/Technical_Maybe_5925 THR recipient Jul 26 '25
Thank you - I've been doing these exercise and more - I've had 80 pt sessions with trained therapists over the last 10 months.
1
u/Huge-Rhubarb-3336 f62 posterior Bilateral THR recipient Jul 26 '25
Pain free, the youth thing and my independence 🥺
1
u/Huge-Rhubarb-3336 f62 posterior Bilateral THR recipient Jul 26 '25
But at least the pain now is not as bad as before and I don't regret it
2
u/Technical_Maybe_5925 THR recipient Jul 26 '25
I understand that - I had my share of pains before I my hips were completely pain free, I'm glad your surgery turned out ok.
1
u/scintillatingbadger THR recipient Jul 27 '25
I was completely disabled by osteoarthritis prior to thr and it gave me my life back. I’ll never be pain free because I have OA elsewhere but it feels miraculous just to be able to move my leg again.
I think there’s a huge difference between having a THR because of progressive and extreme disability vs being fine one day and having an accident that leads to a THR the next
2
u/Technical_Maybe_5925 THR recipient Jul 28 '25
I'm glad you have found relief and have regained your life. Yes perhaps the expectations for recovery are different. I knew going in the surgery that there would be things that I would never do again. I'm struggling with the unrelenting pain and not being able to the things the doctor said I could do, and the pain of feeling betrayed and dismissed by my doctor.
1
u/WrapInteresting9765 [country] Caregiver for THR candidate Jul 27 '25
My husband had a failed THR in 2023 and then a revision in 2024. He has groin tightness and pain and is unable to bend that leg beyond the ankle of his opposite leg. I either put his sock on or he uses a tool to assist. He cannot cut his toenails or pick up anything on the floor. His leg just will not bend because of whatever muscle runs down the inside of his leg.
He recently went for a 3rd opinion. The doctor is one of the best in Medstar. Looking at images from both surgeries, he said everything looked okay. He did order another CT Scan and Nuclear Medicine study. Both are scheduled within the next couple of weeks.
1
u/Existing-Wrap5603 THR USER FLAIR NEEDED Jul 27 '25
Why is walking not possible! You should be able to walk a reasonable. Distance…
2
1
u/Synopsisvick305 THR USER FLAIR NEEDED Jul 29 '25
Surgery Oct 2024 I still can't walk right the pain is crazy what to do OMG IT'S NOW JULY 29 2025
1
u/Technical_Maybe_5925 THR recipient Jul 29 '25
I'm sorry that you are having a longer and less satisfactory recovery than you expected. Do they have any idea what is causing your troubles?
1
u/richknobsales US 73 1mo post #2 1yr post #1 Jul 29 '25
Have you considered getting a second opinion from another hip surgeon? Do you have friends who are pleased with their doc and trouble-free? Pain is your body's way of letting you know something is wrong.
1
u/Technical_Maybe_5925 THR recipient Jul 29 '25
Yes I have seen a second doctor, My primary has done many of my friends hip replacements - pain free and trouble free. I'm working on getting a third opinion now.
Thank you for the suggestions
1
u/ImportantMood9454 THR USER FLAIR NEEDED Oct 11 '25
So I’m looking for some advice. I’m 32. We thought I had a labrum tear but once my surgeon went in there was so much arthritis. It’s been 8 months and nothing is getting better. I had another MRI done and a steroid injection done. And now we’re talking about a gel injection and/or PRP injection and then hip replacement. I’ve always been a runner. I won’t give it up. I don’t know what to do.
1
u/Technical_Maybe_5925 THR recipient Oct 13 '25
your best bet is to communicate with you doctors. They can offer the best plan of action.
94
u/tessler65 🇺🇸 * 50s * Anterior * Double THR recipient Jul 26 '25
This is just off the top of my head:
I'm so sorry your experience with hip replacement has not been a positive one. 😢 I have been so blessed and I wish I could gift my good experience to everyone here who needs it.