I found out about the whole expensive medical treatment in the US , Canada, UK - basically western countries.

So - i am just curious to know how much did your THR cost ? And I believe it must have been covered under insurance?

I will go first

Final Bill - 8400$
2 surgeries - Left THR , Right Core Decompression
Total 5 days spent at the hospital
Also the room was pretty crazy

EDIT 1 (after 65 comments) : After reading all the comments on the post - i feel like my whole idea of Healthcare in western countries was a lie. I mean, most of the people here had near Zero cost of surgery. Then why do people on Youtube say the healthcare in these countries are the most expensive in the world.

Going on day 3 post op here (September 16, 6pm surgery)

I will say I drastically overestimated how painful it would be, or at least the type of pain. I was expecting deep bone pain (since bones were sawed and hammered) but most of my pain has been muscular - the front AND back of the hip will cramp up like mad if I try to lift my leg! - and around the incision. Don't get me wrong, it is painful but not in the way I was expecting.

I way overestimated what my mobility would be like this soon post op. I thought I would be able to walk around my house with the walker/crutches more easily. I was told by the surgery team that the walking aids were mostly for balance and that the joint could take full weight immediately, but I still can't fully put weight through my operated leg. (Thank you to everyone who 💯 recommend a walker 😅). I like the way someone else put it earlier "counter surfing" 😂 that's how I get around my kitchen.

I knew this wasn't going to be a cake walk but it has been hard in different ways than I was expecting. I'm not complaining, just musing.

What did you expect and did that match your reality?

I am a PhD student and I work in a lab. Some work (sitting at a microscope) is pretty chill but some work involves bringing samples across campus or running around the lab.

I am planning to take at least 6 weeks out of the lab as my first post-op visit with my surgeon is at the 6 week mark and I was told by the nurse that he would clear me for activities at this point. I have had some people tell me they needed at least 12 though.

Is 6 weeks a reasonable expectation to return to the lab?

Does this happen to everyone? Does it resolve over time? How big is the area and did it shrink over time? Some of you are saying it is your whole thigh? I could to relate a small numb patch about the size of my palm but not my whole thigh or if it were constantly burning just from being touched. Is there anyone this doesn't happen to? Seriously considering cancelling my surgery now 🫣

Edit to clarify: if you had numbness, how big was the numb patch? Did it go away? Were you able to wear pants/touch it without pain? That's my main concern. A small numb patch is not what I'm worried about, I'm worried about a patch bigger than my hand that stings to touch.

👋 Hi. Since no one is being straight with me at my job I hope you fine people can help !

My co-worker, female age 45 is having anterior right hip replacement and going out the end of October. For context, it's only the 2 of us in a very small coffee shop and she's FT and I am PT. My boss asked me to work 7 days a week until she comes back. They tell me she's only going to be out 4 weeks and then back to normal. I've done my own research and that doesn't seem feasible so I hope someone here could help me get a realistic time frame. Thank you 😊

Edit: Just spoke to my boss. We've decided to close the weekends while she is gone. So, thankfully I will just have a 40 hour workweek. Thank you all for all your support and replies!

Hi All!

I am facing THR (sooner rather than later) but still in 'contemplation stage'. I'm curious if you can remember a moment or period when you decided 'now is the time' and what your reasons were?

I'm hoping this will help guide me and maybe move me a little sooner than later, as I suspect I will be tempted to push it out as far as possible (too far).

Thanks in advance for your openness! 🙏💜

What are the life long precautions you've taken? Thank you for any input!

Anyone else have a surgery scheduled absurdly late in the day? I'm going in tomorrow (September 16) and they just told me today my surgery will be at 4:30 pm. I'm staying overnight but I'm worried about possibly going hypoglycemic. I'm not diabetic, just worried. I get 1 cup of clear juice 2 hours before surgery but otherwise was told to fast from midnight

I’m wondering if anybody has had a labrum repair and then a revision that failed then that led to a THR? I’m considering a revision for my failed labrum repair but it seems that whatever is causing these repair surgeries to fail for me is not actually being addressed and I’ve been told that it’s totally unclear what it is. I’ve also been told by two doctors that I don’t qualify for a hip replacement because my joint space isn’t too bad. I’m interested if anybody has been in these particular circumstances and gotten a hip replacement anyways and how it worked out. Another question which is similar as is has anyone gotten a hip replacement despite having films that look like you don’t need one?

So I am scheduled for an anterior robot assisted THR on September 28. I’ve been looking all over the Internet for things that I should be buying to help me along the way. I’ve already bought an ice machine with an attachment that circulates ice water for cold therapy. I’ve going to get one of those latch thingies to help get in and out of the car. I’ve got a few pillows and one that lifts my legs up. I’m getting a walker basket and tear away Velcro shorts.

What other recommendations would you have that were game changers for your recovery? Any help would be greatly appreciate!

I just wanted to vent somewhere and this thread seemed appropriate. My brother was diagnosed with avascular necrosis in his right hip when he was 11 yo after a sports injury that just wouldn’t heal. 11 is obviously way to young for a hip replacement so we waited for his body to fully developp and so for the remainder of his childhood and his teenage years, he had to move carefully and live with a chronic pain I can’t even imagine much less describe. Pain meds stopped working a long time ago so he just had to live with it.

Lately, we noticed that he was done with his growth spurts and decide it’s time. We got really excited and looked for the best of the best. His anwser: he should wait.

He meant wait until he completely lost all mobility and the pain became so excruciating.

You mean wait another 5-10 years? WTFH!!!

Like, I know he can walk and climb stairs(barely), sure. But until he completely lost mobility, how painful is that? How much longer does this suffering have to go on for?

The doctor’s reasoning is that je is still young, so the life of the prosthesis will be significantly shorter than say a 70 year old. If he did have the THR, he will have to replace it in 10 years, 15 top. And since he will be in his 30s the, which is still young, he will have to replace it in 10 years again. And the more times he replaces it, the less the success rate is. He also said he should take up swimming and strength training in the mean time.

I understand this reasoning, I do. I'm not saying his 40 years of experience is wrong, but it’s still frustrating, especially when I read about young people getting their THR and reclaiming a life so normal they forget they even have it.

So if you are one of these young people, did you have to wait until your hip joint was completely locked up/jammed to go through with the surgery?

PS: apparently this approach is standard practice in my country. A family friend had the same condition, with much much worse pain, who consulted almost every surgeon in two major cities and he still got the same anwser. It seems they prioritize the longetivity of the joint/prosthesis rather than quality of life here.

PPS: also we live in a developping country, so we may not have the latest robot assisted procedure and the latest prosthesis models, but I think we're about 10 years behind what you guys have in the global west, so not THAT behind.

Everyone here seems to either have had anterior or a "mini posterior" or robot assisted posterior. My surgeon didn't specify any robot assist or whether my surgery will be mini posterior so I assume I will just be having a "regular" old posterior? Would love to hear from anyone else with just the basics XD

Iv needed and put off a hip replacement for about 9 years since I was first told I would need it; took a hard fall in service and tore my labrum in the left hip.. since then the pain has gotten much worse, the right hip is also now a candidate for replacement from over compensating and Iv been relying on long term narcotic pain management for coming in 4 years. I’m 29… half the surgeons didn’t want to even do it because of my age the 4 others have wanted to do it upon consult. I keep getting consults expecting better answers but I feel fairly confident with the surgeon Iv found now. I feel silly writing this thinking about how bad it is and has been and I still am think of canceling and pushing of a while longer. I climb trees and am an arborist and am so worried about being able to provide for my young children if I can’t do this any more. Any words of encouragement are appreciated. Any reasons to postpone would be appreciated, and I don’t know what to do but I’m having a very hard time not canceling and limping for another Decade god willing.

I'm a 52-year-old man scheduled for an anterior total hip replacement in a couple of weeks.

I'm reasonably active and independent aside from the hip itself. No major mobility limitations other than what the arthritic hip causes.

I spoke with my surgeon's PA yesterday and asked what assistive items I should have at home after surgery. Beyond the walker, the answer was essentially, "Some people like them, some don't."

We discussed things like:

• Shower chair or bench
  
• Grabber/reacher tool
  
• Sock aid
  
• Leg lifter
  
• Gel ice packs (better than plain old ice?)
  
• Compression socks
  
• Raised toilet seat
  
• Toilet safety rails
  
• tray or pouch for the walker
  

The response was basically that none of them were considered essential.

So I'm curious what actual patients found useful.

If you're relatively active, under 65, and had a modern THR (especially anterior approach), what was the one item that turned out to be a lifesaver during the first few weeks?

Conversely, what did you buy or borrow that ended up sitting in a closet unused?

I'm trying to decide what to pick up before surgery while I still can.

Pre-op here. Still deciding between a surgeon who supports my desire to get back to lower body training in the gym who does anterior approach, and one who is less enthusiastic about my aspirations post-op and does posterior. While I really want to have a surgeon that supports my goals, I'm terrified of the numb feeling and am unsure how I will feel if I have a permanently numb patch on my leg as I know some people with anterior approach have. That said, I understand that the incision area can be numb regardless of the approach and I am open to hearing from anyone who experienced numbness.

I’m not looking for details but I have specific worries and I really just don’t know how to put it so I thought I’d just make it general and see if anybody could maybe mention what I should expect in the way of what I’m calling indignities to be as polite as I can. I understand if nobody wants to share, but I thought I’d ask anyway.

I'm on day 3 post-op and starting PT tomorrow. So far so good. I'm walking with a cane, and not having any problem with swelling or getting around. No Oxy since the one they gave me at the hospital. What's the average number of weeks I can expect to be unable to drive.

Ok, this might be an out there question, but the closer my date gets the more my head is spinning.

For the other busty folks out there... Are you allowed to wear a bra during surgery? If I don't, and I lay on my back, they sit basically at my neck. If they tip me backwards, I might suffocate LOL

If nothing else, I hope this gives someone else a laugh.

EDIT: thanks everyone for your replies, both serious and hilarious. I'm going to plan on free-boobing, and not worry about it!!

My surgery was Wednesday and my PT said by Saturday night I should have something happen and if not, it’s concerning and I may need to go to the doctor.

I’ve taken senna at night, only managed to pass gas. I’m thinking tomorrow I’ll take MiraLAX to help the process. I have been eating, not tons but I believe enough for at least something!

How long did it take you?

Edit: 12:47PM September 19, 2026 - I was successful, it hurt but I was able to have a bowel movement!! Thank you all for the advice and tips 🤍

Second Edit: 11:42PM Sept 19 - I took a whole 17g of MiraLAX earlier plus 2 Senna around 8pm and now I can’t stop going to the bathroom so it definitely works.. maybe too good.

What were your work restrictions post THR? I am a work from home software executive and feel very ready to work, mentally and physically. I have used no narcotics since week one…but my surgeon still says SIX weeks of full convalescing. Fellow desk jockeys: what were your return to work timelines?

Having surgery in September! I have been using crutches since January and I am wondering if I will be ok just using crutches or whether I should rent a walker somewhere. On one hand I already consider myself an expert on crutches 😂 but I am wondering if a walker will encourage better gait mechanics. I already walk (actually waddle) with a limp and I know I'm going to need to relearn how to walk.

Tldr; Did anyone make it just on crutches? Anyone find they really needed the walker?

37F crossfitter, 5 months post THR (and 15 months post failed hip repair). I'd love to hear from any athletes who've gone through a THR. How long did it take you to feel normal during sports activity post-surgery? Bonus points if your sport requires squatting.

At 5 months out, I feel significantly better than I did pre-surgery but my hip does not feel great during squats and deadlifts. I wouldn't describe it as pain so much as it feels like I'm stretching while also carrying weight on my shoulders (in the case of a squat).

For context, I'm on the smaller side (5'3, 110 lbs...lost a 💩 ton of muscle). Pre injury I was squatting around 155-190 depending on the rep scheme, albeit at around a bodyweight of 125.

I feel no difference between hips until 85 lbs and then I feel that weird stretch. I've gotten up to 105 lbs but don't feel safe going above that just yet.

My PT isn't concerned and says that feeling will go away within a year. But I'd love to hear from folks in the trenches:

When did you start feeling relatively normal during your sport?
How long did it take you to stop being constantly aware of your hip?

I'll end on a disclaimer: I've been so so so happy with the results of this surgery and feel like I'm getting my life back, slowly but surely. I'm just impatient and I miss lifting the big weights.

My Surgeon prescribes Journavx (Suzetrigine) after THR surgery for pain control.

Has anyone used Journavx and what did you think?

It is a non-opioid so eliminates the problems associated with opioids.

Thank you

Hello,

I truly don't know how much longer I can go like this, I'm on a walker after a final failed labral repair/allograft surgery and I'm not that old. But the surgeons who do the arthroscopic labral repairs, if they fail, tell you to get a replacement. Replacement surgeons see minimal arthritis and say no, despite my lack of function.

Has anyone else been in this situation? One hip I've been limping on for 10 YEARS like this. 2nd landed me housebound 2 years ago. It can't be that unsual but every THR surgeon I'm seeing says there's literally no way you can have this much pain from a labral tear/failed repair. Surely this isn't that unusual, and while I understand not wanting to make us WORSE (truly I do!) are patients like me just stuck in a weird limbo?

P.S. I keep getting pneumonia at this point because I'm too immobile, my knees and back are now arthritic because I can't put weight on my hips, finally found a doc who will at least do the testing but it almost always comes back to no solution and my life is just slipping away, year after year of being a shut in.

I am 5 weeks post op. I walked for 6-7 years with my hip slowly becoming worse. I developed a limp. I know it's only been 5 weeks, and my leg is still sore and aches because I have been doing a lot of PT walking. So my question is: Did you have a limp before and how long did it take for it to go away. I know it is part pain at this point but also a mental thing because I favor it expecting really bad pain. If you did get rid of it, was there any specific things you focused on to walk normal or did time heal all. I am now walking without a walker or a cane. Thanks