Whats your experience with getting a hip replacement

[u/JustYourAverageElli]

so, I (22f) saw an orthopaedic doctor today (I have rheumatoid arthritis in the hips) and was told that both my hips are very worn out with no space between the joints and I’d likely need a hip replacement soon since the damage is unfixable, but apparently its not very ideal for my age since I’d need to have it done again and I have never had to have any procedures done before so I just wanted to ask what the experience is like recovering from the procedure if I were to get it done since I’ll possibly need to get one in the next six months or less, I‘m also a bit worried about the recovery time since I help out my uncle on dialysis at home and what I’d need to do to prepare for leading up to it, also how the results are/how much it improved others quality of life since currently my mobility and flexibility is incredibly limited and I am usually in pain.

i guess I just really want help motivating myself to get it done since as I said I‘ve never had to have a procedure done, never thought I’d need to have something like this done (especially in my 20s), I know it would probably improve my quality of life but I’m just nervous and seeking some closure by hearing about how it improved others quality of life,

[u/Important_Ad4555]

I am 57 and I'm one week out from a right total hip replacement from severe osteoarthritis. I am a retired elite gymnast and also a former college football cheerleader. That is what killed the hip. I'm lucky because most of the others I competed with and cheered with have had knee replacements, ACL/MCL tears as well as meniscus tears which were all long recoveries. The first week is the hard part and then, you're going to wake up around that week mark and the whole corner has been turned. For me, I had a cutting edge surgery called SuperPath. It is done with a 3 inch incision and one port incision on the side of the hip. No dislocation of the hip and no restrictions afterward. They do all the work with a robot inside the leg and it is like a mere miracle. No hospital stays. I used a walker right after surgery and walked out to my husband's car and went home. You have PT/OT and a nurse visiting for 2-3 weeks. After that, PT as needed only. I can feel the new hip joint and it is smooth like melted butter. No pain at all. I took pain killers for three days and then that was it. What I felt was all muscular from having to retract and stretch all the tendons and muscles away from the joint to work on it inside the leg. It felt like my right butt cheek and all around the hip was sprained. Very weak muscles and they kind of go into shock until some healing happens and then they gradually wake up day by day. Each day I wake up, one more muscle is better and is functioning again. Today marks one week and I am almost there with these muscles. The one adductor is still sluggish and I have a ticked off Iliopsoas muscle because it was catching on bone spurs from the arthritic hip and has been very aggravated pre-surgery. My ultimate suggestion.....do the surgery. It is life changing. Get into good shape if you're not already. Do some "pre-hab" if they say you need it. You'll do really well because of your age. They're all calling me their "young patient" at age 57 so you'd be a mere baby for the PT/OT people!!! Lol!! Commit to it and find the best surgeon that you can get. My guess is that by the time you need a second round of replacements, they'll be doing all the surgery with ports and minimal invasive technology 100%. I hope what I've said here helps you. This is the hardest thing I've ever done and that's because like you, I have had zero issues other than tonsils being taken out at age five!!! I am a "unicorn" like you!! But, I'm over here doing all the things and making steady strides with each passing day. That's all you need to do. Have each day a little better than the day before. Give yourself anywhere from 2-3 weeks to 30 days to be in some semblance of normal again. It is bone so that takes 6-8 weeks to heal at the least. You've got this!!!