Having a hip replacement in 2 days?

I am going in for a hip replacement in 2 days. I have never had surgery before. I am relatively young (30s) and am curious to hear from people who have had this experience.

Is there a lot of pain involved afterwards?

How soon before I can walk without a cane or crutches?

I intend to get into shape after, what excercises are good besides the normal physical therapy?

I am told that I will always have a slight limp, how can I make this as not noticeable as possible?

I've had both hips replaced in separate surgeries several months apart. I had never had surgery before either. The anticipation and fear before surgery are worse than the experience. I especially feared that I would be in extreme pain after but the reality was that whatever pain I had was well-treated in the hospital with a PCA pump for a day or so and then oral meds for a few more days. Hospital personnel seem very tuned into patients' pain levels. The worst pain was sporadic, usually related to moving "wrong", getting into bed, etc. I learned quickly which moves hurt the most. The very worst was when they turned me in the bed, rolled me from my back to my good side. I would just grit my teeth for a few seconds and it was over. Actually I found it a relief to be on my side for even a short time.

They had me up and walking on a walker within a few hours. I used a walker at home and 2 forearm crutches outside the house for several weeks, gradually moving to a single crutch, then a cane, then nothing.

After your formal PT is over, you will no doubt be delighted that you can take long walks again and walking is good exercise. I joined a gym and continued to do my PT routine way past the formal PT sessions + spent time on an elliptical trainer, bicycle, recumbent stepper, etc. As for getting in shape, don't forget about your upper body; you may also want to try free weights and tension bands. There's even an "arm machine" in some gyms which gives aerobic benefits just from arm movement alone - good for your early post-op days when your hip is still healing.

I don't what the reason is for the expectation of a permanent limp - that seems unusual but perhaps there is some aspect of your case that warrants that prognosis such as a leg length difference, which can be treated using a shoe lift or built-up shoe so that there is no reason to limp. The only way I know to "cover up" a limp is to use a walking aid such as a cane to smooth out your gait. Doing this is better than limping because your muscles will eventually "learn" to limp.

As for me, I have a small leg length difference and use a small lift in one shoe. It isn't enough of a difference that I limp without it but I am more comfortable walking with the lift (and have less chance of tripping because of the longer leg). Otherwise I now have no limp, no pain, take no pain meds, use no walking aids, and can walk miles.

o hamburgers
good luck

Oh no, its Professor Chaos...!

Sorry, I just had to say that...

Self discipline and Physical Therapy.

Well, time is definitely on your side!! My dad had a hip replaced 6 years ago when he was 73, loved the results and had the other one replaced this past July... The first replacement he was sick from the anesthesia immediately after the operation, but recovered completely within 2 months.

The second one was done under a different anesthetic and it went perfectly... Was only in the hospital for 4 days, then was transferred to a nursing home for physical therapy for less than a week. He was back home, using a walker and climbing stairs in 2 weeks. Fully recovered and back to his part time job within 2 months of the surgery.

They had my dad up and walking down the hospital hallway, with a walker, the day after his surgery.. Painful, but necessary.

I certainly hope your surgery goes as well as my dads did!
He woke up during this last surgery, but didn't feel pain, just pressure from what they were doing.

Just from seeing how my dad went through his surgeries, I would not hesitate to have a hip replacement done if I ever needed one in the future. It has DEFINITELY improved the quality of his life!

BUTTERS why are you on your Mother's computer. You are on restriction young man!!

I haven't had the hip surgery but I had spine surgery which left me with a slight limp.

Pain wise I hurt pretty bad for about 2-3 weeks. My injury was pretty bad so I am still in a pain management program.

Best exercise I found was walking and swimming. The swimming really helped with getting movement back and range of motion.

You will notice the limp far more than anyone else will. I went through the same thing thinking everybody was watching me limp. They're not, so once you get use to it you won't even think about it.

Good luck and hope you recover fast. Just in case you have pain issues after the operation here is a link that may help you down the road.

http://www.clinicalconnection.com/?gclid...

Wow - you are pretty young for a hip replacement! The pain level varies from patient to patient. As far as walking - I worked in a facility nthat had a joint replacement program and they actually had people up walking VERY short distances using a walker about 8 hours post surgery. I imagine it will be about a week before you walk with a cane or crutches - most patients I have worked with use a walker first -but my youngest hip replacement patient was in their 50s. You will be given hip precautions - no bending past 90 degrees at your hips, no crossing your legs, no turning the leg inward, no adduction of the leg (moving your leg inward). You most likely will be given special equipment (such as a reacher, sock-aid, long handled sponge and long handled shoe horn) to help with bathing and dressing.

You will be given leg exercises by your PT, however it is important to strengthen your arms as well, since they will be taking some of the weight from your lieg initially - tricep strengthening exercises are realy important!

Initially, you will have alimp and working with your physical therapist will help you reduce this. However, the majority of my patients who have made good recoveries do not have a limp eventually.

Good luck!

hi,
may i ask why are you going to have hip replacement? did you fracture your hip?

well, basing from my experience in the hospital where i work, you will feel some pain but the intensity of the pain is really subjective. some feels intense pain especialy if the treshold for pain is low. but some has a very high treshold so they wont have pain or little pain.
some procedure, allows you to immediately put on some weight or allowed to bear weight with walker or bilateral crutches.
walk often it will strengthen your muscles and build your stamina. then the limp will be resolve.