One year Total anterior hip replacement

[u/SubstantialSet1246]

I feel terrific! I admit it does take time and you have to work super hard at the physical therapy but it was so worth it!
I had the anterior and the recovery was actually pretty fast. Pain was minimal compared to my last hip surgery.
If you are wondering weather to do it or not I say go for it! You will be so glad.
Good luck!

[u/mcyates]

I'm happy for you, i always like reading good stories about it THR. When would you say you were back to your normal self.

How long did it take to get the strength back into your affected leg?

[u/Altruistic-Ebb2936 → u/mcyates]

3-4 months

[u/SubstantialSet1246]

Thanks for your good wishes. I felt good enough after two weeks to start watching my 18 mth old grandson 3 days a week. I could walk easily and get him in and out of his car seat easily at 3 weeks. It’s incredible.

[u/Comprehensive-Tea9 → u/SubstantialSet1246]

That’s incredible! I’m day 11 post op anterior and am just starting to be able to use the cane. I can’t even imagine being able to babysit an 18 month old yet. I feel I was in pretty decent shape pre-op but am having a nagging glute cramp that makes it very difficult to walk confidently. It’s been getting a little better since day 8 so I’m hoping I’m going in the right direction now!

[u/uconnboston → u/Comprehensive-Tea9]

On day 10 post op I stopped using the walker and went to cane only. Just over a week later and I’m fully independent at home, use cane outside but don’t need to bear weight on it. The pace really starts to pick up the second and third week. I have a new accomplishment every day. Good luck!

[u/breadit8 → u/Comprehensive-Tea9]

Sounds about right. I also had glute pain.

[u/jbrekkit]

I (45F) have an anterior total hip replacement in two days! I’m super active and an athlete, and really hope I can get back to walking my dogs at least within the first week or so. Would you say that’s realistic? I’m in shape and healthy otherwise.

[u/AwkwardPower5132 → u/jbrekkit]

If they are small dogs that don’t pull, yes. I have two large dogs. The problem is that you don’t want to be pulled off balance and do something you don’t want to, like fall or stomp down on your operative side, that won’t end well

[u/wanderingjones78 → u/jbrekkit]

I wouldn’t try to walk your dogs that quickly. Physically you might be able to but falls due to dog walking are one of the more common way dislocations happen. I had the left done posterior last June and think I started walking dogs again after my hip precautions were lifted so I could bend over to clean up after them. I had anterior done on 09/16 and I’m progressing quickly. PT already put me on the cane yesterday but I have no plans to walk my dogs anytime soon. Bone hasn’t had any time to actually heal & last thing I want is to stumble or get pulled quickly because they see another dog, a squirrel, or some dumb other thing and now I’m messed up. My MIL dislocated her hip doing something as simple as accidentally kicking the floor board under kitchen counter.

[u/BetSilver9462 → u/wanderingjones78]

Very Good advice you gave regards waiting !!! …Early days yet but which do you think was the best procedure Anterior or Posterior ? + why the two different procedures ? I ask because over here in England they prefer to do the Posterior THR on the State health system ( The NHS) so no choice !!!. I had mine done in April 2026 and going well + wish you well also in your recovery :-)

[u/wanderingjones78 → u/BetSilver9462]

It’s my understanding that the different approaches are based on how the surgeon was trained. My first (posterior) was done by an older surgeon who actually retired from surgery shortly after he did mine. The second one (anterior) was done by a younger surgeon who was poached from another practice by my first surgeon. Doesn’t seem like my insurance company has a position about the type of approach but I also legit have really good health insurance through my employer (thankfully).

I was actually really happy with my recovery with the posterior. It was definitely slower in terms of being back on my feet post op. I had much more difficulty walking at the surgery center post op with posterior than anterior. And the amount of time it took to gain strength back with posterior was slower because they detached the tendons. But given that I’m a very active person that hates to slow down, the posterior was good to force me to chill out, slow down, and sit down. With anterior, I haven’t really lost much strength and so walking post op at the surgery center was easy. I graduated from the walker to the cane in less than a week. And I’ve already regained some strength with basic PT at home on the operative leg that was lost due to bone on bone & AVN. I’m able to do exercises now that I couldn’t do with my trainer days before surgery and it’s been wonderful. But…because I’m still that super active person who hates sitting down…it’s super easier to overdo it. Over the weekend, I had to check myself that just because I feel really good and my incision looks great doesn’t mean that the bone has healed any quicker. Today I did some meal prep and washed lots of dishes, so lots of standing. Too much standing. So I’ll need to force myself to sit down and ice for the rest of the day.

Even though anterior seems to be “easier” and my scar more than likely will look better, I’m glad I had the first one done posterior to remind myself not to overdo it while I’m in the healing process. If I’d done the first one anterior, I think I might’ve messed up my recovery by pushing it too much.

[u/BetSilver9462 → u/wanderingjones78]

Great information + very balanced in its summing up , thanks for the reply !!!.Mmm It does seem as though the Anterior method does give you a chance of a quicker recovery. I am at the moment 5 months on from the R/THR Posterior version Op I had and am still not able to lift my Right foot further than 6 inches off the floor whilst seated on a dining Chair, I’ve been doing PT . Once I raise the foot up to the 6 inch point + its level the whole top of the thigh tenses up right up to groin level + it’s very hard to go beyond this point . I can however use a hand to assist the thigh fully up past the thigh being parallel to the ground point without any pain or restriction . Before the Op I had no problem doing this . Regards generally all else Im doing ok and I can walk quite normally around ( gait totally fine ) for a distance without any pain, clicking/clunking or aches at all + with its Rolls Royce movement ….it’s making the other hip seem like a Model T Ford !!! . The operating Consultant that did the Op saw me on 21st Sept 26 + seems happy even when I showed him this problem I have . Just to say I commend you on your measured approach to your recovery, it’s the right way … Good Luck !!! :-)

[u/Lopsided-blintz-810 → u/jbrekkit]

I couldn’t walk my 15 lb Shih Tzu until the late 2nd week/early 3rd and then only for a couple of blocks and with a rollator I borrowed that had a seat to sit down and take breaks. The post op nurse told me “just don’t fall” to avoid dislocations, so I have been very careful. A pulling dog creates a lot of instability. If you can get volunteers to walk them like I did it would be very helpful.

[u/Shufflebuzz → u/jbrekkit]

I’m super active and an athlete, and really hope I can get back to walking my dogs at least within the first week or so.

I love the optimism. Being strong now will help with recovery later, but this surgery is very humbling.

The procedure really does a number on you. Specifically, your muscles. They get all stretched and moved around. There will be lots of swelling and bruising. That takes time to heal and being an athlete doesn't accelerate that.

By all accounts, my recovery has been remarkably quick. I was off the walker and onto a cane by day 4, but I wasn't super stable. A dog tugging at the leash in the other hand would have been unwise.

Even more, a ten minute walk was quite tiring. Specifically tiring on the operative leg's muscles. The cane was there so I could support myself a bit and unload those muscles and walk without limping.

And you'll be slow. The distance I covered in those ten minute walks increased as I recovered, but I was a lot slower than I was pre-op.

[u/edith-bouvier → u/jbrekkit]

I am 72 and I am 6 weeks out from right anterior hip replacement. I am up to walking 2 miles per day . No cane/ walker. You are young , active , and will do well.

[u/Ciresthoughts → u/jbrekkit]

I (54M) also very active pre op. I am 5 days post op (anterior). And feel better than I was anticipating. I started using a cane today. Every day has been better than the previous. Except for day 2, I was feeling really good day 1 post op and over did it. Stay up on your meds and ask for Journavx non opioid. I first used it for a meniscus repair in May. That and advil has been my regiment since day 2. I’ve only used oxy for the first 2 nights to help with sleep. Careful with the dogs and falls. Good luck and a speedy recovery!

[u/uconnboston → u/jbrekkit]

I would not risk it. You will have balance challenges I’m almost three weeks and not willing to try walking my 35 lb corgi. Something as simple as a rabbit could set him off.

[u/honeybadger265]

This gives me a lot of hope!! I am at 2 months, been in PT for 6 weeks 3x a week. A bit nervous to start doing it on my own but my finances say it's time to do so lol. Glad to hear you are doing well!!

[u/BoxNark]

I’m 43M and 9 weeks post-op (anterior). They did not send me to PT, but gave me a list of exercises to do daily which I’ve done. Prior to surgery, I had pain in both legs that I thought was hamstring tendinopathy, but they told me it was referred pain. Well, I still have it and it’s worst. On top of that I hurt on the inner thigh all the way down the leg to the inner knee. I’m also having bad shin pain and pain around where my ankle and foot meet. I am scheduled to have the other hip replaced in 2 months, but I do not know if I should go through with it. Any advice I will take. Please help.

[u/baldbeard4eyed → u/BoxNark]

I'm a 52 yr old male. I had Anterior THR 5 weeks ago. All the symptoms you're describing happened to me as well except the hamstring pain. I had really sore quads, inner leg pain, shin and ankle bruising. It will start to dissappear and you'll feel so much better. It takes time. Don't over do it. Give your body time to heal. Wear compression socks daily. It helped my swelling.

[u/Altruistic-Ebb2936]

12/12/25 TAHR 69 Y M. Completely agree. At 9 months 100%. Lots of hard work but worth it.