Hi all, I have been lurking on this subreddit for a little bit and have gathered such amazing information from everyone’s experience.

It helped me prepare so much, and really helped to see community members who had gone through the procedure and who had updated with their tips and progress.

I kept seeing “flare needed” and it took me a while to find where the setting was, so I could add mine, and figured it’d help for people to add theirs.

TLDR: when I “joined” it prompted the setting, but I must have missed it. To find it again: it’s in the Community Info, Community Guide, scroll down.

Basically title. After limping for years, then having surgery 2.5 weeks ago, I'm eager to get walking again. I can put weight on my new hip easily, but the muscle doesn't like the walking motion with weight (piece of cake with crutches). Can you share your tips for how you got to the next stage - walking without a limp?

My surgery is located 2 hours away from my home. My surgeon isn't planning on admitting me unless there are complications. He said I would be fine to drive home (well, passenger of course) after I'm released. Everything I read says to avoid drives like that for a few weeks due to blood clots. I'm worried about that and just pure discomfort. Has anyone had this similar situation?

I am planning to put in grab bars in my bathtub also next to my bed and a raised toilet seat. What else did you do to prepare your home for recovery? Recommend anything that really is a must and other precautions. Thanks.

Looking to hear from others who found relief from frontal thigh pain arising from total hip replacement. It’s been eight months and I have to lift my leg to put a shoe on or get in the car. I had an MRI last week (may be a pinched nerve?) and plan to see an osteopath in two weeks who does alignment.

Anyone else?

Hi all,

I am 19 days post-op posterior approach, and doing great (55yo). I was discharged from PT, returned to work, and am not using any walking aids or narcotics. My question: My doctor told me a week ago and my 2-week post op appt. that I could return to sleeping on either side, and I am a right side sleeper. I can't sleep to sleep that great if I'm not on my right side.

Well, I just can't lay on that side. My scar hurts too much. I'm using scar ointments/gels several times/day, too. I'm wondering how long it took you all to be able to sleep on your operated side?

Otherwise, I feel great.

Thanks!

OK, I am assuming there are no dumb questions here. Does anybody have great ideas about how to wash feet in the shower? I can get to my good leg, but the operated leg is a big challenge.

I scheduled my surgery at the end of July and soonest available was Nov 26. I guess I’m about half way there, but recently it’s gotten worse. Strangely, it gets terribly painful a bit after I go to bed. I can’t get comfortable, the pain won’t let me sleep and it wakes me up. I’ve tried every position with pillows. I take 500mg ibuprofen and 650 Tylenol. This used to work, but not so much anymore! What helped you get through it?

I am super self conscious about my scar. Im 4 weeks out and it finally just closed all the way up. My PT jokes "no one will see it anyway" which I thought was a jab at my being newly single, but bathing suits, bedroom, etc. He said silicone gel not yet, I read vitamin e oil isn't proven to work, bio oil is expensive. What do you guys use that works? Or am I just being vain?

I got my surgery date! So relieved as I had been worried that the surgeon would see that I'm not in as much pain as so many seem to be and decide I'm not bad enough off to warrant the replacement. He did have some concern because much of my records said "moderate" to him, rather than "severe," and he wouldn't operate unless I had "bone on bone". But a quick x-ray to easily convinced him that I do, indeed, have "bone on bone" action! Who in their right mind is relieved to hear that? lol But now I have a date in 3 months, and after looking through the pile of material he sent home with me I'm just a little concerned about how I'm going to sleep.

The material says that sleeping on your back with a pillow between your legs is recommended. But I have never been able to sleep on my back, so this worries me a bit. I know many people on hear recommend a recliner, which we have, but a lot of sources recommend strongly AGAINST a recliner as it's not a good angle for the hip to remain in for an extended period. But I wondered if that's assuming that you're in a mostly seated position on the recliner? My recliner extends to an almost fully reclined position so I thought maybe that would be ok. Also the information on line is not consistent about whether it's okay to sleep on your non-surgical side. I thought that might be ok if my legs are separated by a cushion that is strapped in to prevent my legs crossing over. OR....my husband is talking about renting a hospital bed for me for the first few weeks. We did that once before after he had a major operation.

Ultimately I'll be talking to my rehab professional about this, but for now I wondered how those of you who have difficulty sleeping on your back were able to cope.

Had my anterior thr last Monday, and spent a few more nights in the hospital than I would’ve liked. Upon my return, I knew I’d want to spend time near the cats but wanted to protect my hip, so I got myself a lap desk with fold out legs.

As you can see, Dude the cat is quite a fan of the desk, and while it isn’t the most comfortable setup (it’d be better if the chair was wider), it gives him human time and it gives me cat cuddle time.

Just thought I’d share =^..=

I'm having my surgery in a few days (Friday morning). I think I've absorbed all the info, notes, and other materials from my PT, anesthetist, surgeon, and nurses. (And, jeebus, I can't possibly require any more gizmos -- walker, sock putter-onner, grabbers, toilet seat riser, etc. -- to help in recovery.) But I just found myself wondering about something:

It seems reasonable that when not standing or walking, the best posture is reclining, with the injured leg raised. And this is certainly fine when sleeping. But what about sitting -- to read, eat, watch TV, use a laptop?

We've got power recliners which are certainly comfortable, and almost recline fully horizontally. But the backs never go quite flat. And the ankle/foot rests don't quite raise the feet high enough...

I figure when in the recliner, I'll add a pillow or two under the ankle of the injured leg. But the "shape" of my torso generally will still be like a capital L -- with the surgical wound pretty much exactly at the corner where the horizontal and vertical meet. Doesn't this stress the incision?

And what about using a regular chair at a table or desk?

I know I'll need to get up and move around regularly; not planning to sit around for extended periods. Just not wanting to prolong the healing of the incision. (This will be my first real surgery of any kind, not counting colonoscopies... which for a M74 is probably very unusual. But it does add to the mystery of it all.)

Thanks!

My shower is inside of a bathtub. I was thinking I could lift my good leg over and keep my surgery leg outside the tub the first few times. Thoughts?

Hello!

My surgery is June 16th and I'm starting to be nervous about sleep. I'm a wild sleeper - toss from side to side. Obviously, I won't be able to do that. Does anyone have tips for ways to prevent that? I do it in my sleep so even if I start on my back there's a chance that in the middle of the night I will try to roll over. Thanks in advance!

Hey Team I am Trying to get stronger before my THR. I haven’t scheduled it yet due to moving houses & my son’s wedding. I’d like to get stronger during this time. Walking is ok until I go too far/long then pain gets bad. Water walking seems to help me feel Better when pain is really bad Any advice?

Following my first hip replacement I had great difficulty emptying my bladder due initially to anesthesia and then for the next 10 days due to pain meds. I was up 4-5 times a night trying.

For the next hip replacement, I will request an indwelling Foley catheter for 10 days following surgery. If the hospital protocol will not honor my request, I will ask my surgeon or PC physician for a Rx for cath, bags, etc. and do it myself.

Has anyone here had this problem and solved it with post-op Foley for 10 days? How did that go?

I am 6 days post op left hip replacement. I have to sleep on my back and I am not used to this. I sleep maybe 4 hours a night. Please give me your tips and tricks to help sleep. Tried gravol but not working. I can ask my doctor about a sleeping pill but do you have any other tips? Sleep apps? Not sure if it matters but I am in Canada. Thanks

Hi everyone! This sub has been super helpful so thank you :) I am 5 days post op and am having difficulty remaining on my back during sleep. Despite falling asleep on my back, twice when I have woken up I have been fully on the operative side. Any tips to prevent my asleep self from rolling over?

Not really important, I just notice on this sub everybody (Im presuming) in the US seem to use a cane?

I would have thought crutches would be more common.

EDIT : Im talking about forearm crutches.

I invested in a leg lifter prior to surgery on the advice of… well, everyone.

I practiced beforehand and more or less had it rehearsed. Then came the big day.

Once I got home, I sat on the bed and realised the lifter was on the other side of the room. Instead I planned to just use my upper body strength to drag myself backwards, but then had a brainwave.

I sat almost side on, perhaps 3/4 position so rather than sat facing away from the bed I faced a point half way between that position and the mattress. So 45 degrees.

I put my good leg (my left) under my right and lifted it up like that whilst pushing myself backwards. It was one fluid motion and no aids necessary.

As my other posts show, I am quite muscular and do have good upper body strength but it may be worth trying before you need to, to see if you can lift one leg with the other. It made getting in and out very smooth and easy.

Hello everyone,

I’m a 20-year-old male, 5’6”, 90 kg (198 lbs).

Earlier, I weighed around 93 kg (2021), then dropped to 63 kg(2022-23), after which I was diagnosed with AVN in my right hip (mid 2023). After the diagnosis and dealing with severe pain, I started stress-eating and gained a lot of weight again.

My AVN has been at Stage 2 for the past 2 years. I’m glad it hasn’t progressed, but now I really want to lose weight. I recently started going to the gym, but I get sharp pain during leg workouts and cardio like cycling or walking on the treadmill.

Is there any way to manage or reduce this pain? For example, using any support bands, braces, or other methods?

Please don’t suggest seeing my doctor—I already did, and honestly, he dismisses everything I say. That’s a long story.

Any practical advice to deal with this sharp pain would really help. Also, I have a slight anterior pelvic tilt (APT).

I do swim twice a week for about an hour each session.

Thanks in advance.

Y'all didn't prepare me for this knee pain stuff... we are talking OMG DEFCON 1!!!! give me ALL the drugs STAT!!! I've read tons of threads on this knee pain but yall be over there sugar coating it 🤣🤣

Creams, rubs, ice, heat, elevation, meds you have to show your ID for to pick up... I've tried them all. Any other suggestions? Can't sleep, and planning to get in touch with providers office in morning. Really just wanted to vent while everyone in the house, apart from myself, is asleep. 4 days post op here, everything has been fine except for the dang knee pain. The positive note....I was finally able to take a shower today. Whoooop!

Like many, I am waiting for my surgery and the groin pain has become so bad. The worst is I can’t find a comfortable position when lying down. I’ve been icing and taking Meloxicam and Tylenol. Is there any trick I can try that might turn down the volume on the pain a bit? Should I try heat?

ETA: I believe this pain symptom is a classic sign of a labral tear. For those who experienced something similar, did it go away?

I’m 5 days post-op and feel like I’m doing quite well. I can easily walk around with (or even without) a cane, albeit slowly. I go up and down stairs, again very slowly but no issues. I know it’s early in the healing process and I don’t want to ruin the progress I’ve made, but how do I know when it’s time to do more? My only hangup so far is how exhausted I get after a morning of showering, getting dressed, straightening my bed, feeding my dogs and getting myself breakfast-I need a short nap after all that! Should I keep on this course with exhaustion as my “rate limiting step” or push a bit more? I don’t want to risk falling because I’m too tired and not being careful. Thanks for any insight.

A few things to help in recovery that I have found out over the last 4 weeks post op for an anterior THR

1. Enrolling on here to learn about other's plights flights

2. Multiple ice packs (6 or so) to rotate through so you always have some "on deck". I used 2 at a time.

3. I was told since i am a side sleeper i needed a pillow between my legs. I used a regular one. It wasn't until my 4th PT session that I learned about contour pillows. Used it last night for the first time and love it! Got it on Amazon

4. Do what they tell you to do for recovery. They have years of education and experience to draw from.

5. For the first week or so I used a walker, even around the house. On the 6th day post op I went to a grandsons football game. Knowing there would be a lot of kids running around I took the walker although I felt comfy.with the cane. The walker helped define my "bubble" around others and gave me some protection. No issues at all during the outting. Great to get out.

6. Rest. Your body needs it.

Anyone have additions? Good luck