My wife had total bilateral hip surgery as well. Some difference might be that it was obvious that a few things happened that really should not have happened. When she went into recovery where she remained for seven days, she was black and blue from head to toe, including her back and breast. Upon attempting to walk it was determined that either her femur nerve had either been severed or badly compressed making it so that she could not control this leg at all without a mobilizer placed. After seven days there she was sent to a rehab facility. Her second days at the rehab facility she was dropped onto the shower floor because the physician on staff failed to provide important information in her medical file that the patient could not be moved without the mobilization of her left leg. Everyone panicked and no one knew what to do to get her up off the floor and out of pain. I crawled down in front of her and had her use her arms to grip my neck and I stood up and the nurse placed her backside into the wheel chair. My wife remained at this facility for just a few days before I made arrangements for her to go home. Not one person took any responsibility for any of the things that had happened! We, my wife and I became very strong advocates from this point forward in her continued recovery. Nine months after being dropped at rehab it was determined that her right hip was indeed fractured and required an immediate revision; thank god the nerve in her left leg was only compressed and started to come back to life. And this my friend is extremely important. If you are feeling that you are not back to where you should be you need to take full responsibility and do what you feel necessary to get yourself back into a “ normal” life. Speak with your physical therapist and get their opinion, perhaps water aerobics, have your legs checked for length disparity, perhaps a shoe lift on one side or the other. I shared what I did , not to scare you but so that we get a clear picture of what might be of a difference. My wife has a gait that will probably never fully go away!
First off, you asked, how can a person get up with a double hip replacement. There should be someone there to assist or call 911 and ask for help, then a follow up to ensure nothing got broke or knocked out of adjustment. How long after surgery did this happen. And another important item, how long ago was the double hip surgery, is it medal on medal or ceramic? My wife has had 6 hip replacement thus far. Some due to neglect which I should add, Not One Person took responsibility for; and some due to Cobalt / Chromium poisoning. Her orthopedic surgeon right out refused to check her blood levels so upon returning home we went to see her primary physician and requested blood work. Thank God her primary took her job seriously enough that she placed the order and my wife’s Cobalt was like 17.6 and Chromium was like a 9; both extremely elevated; in addition she acquired two staph infection requiring the whole hip implant to be removed, medicated spacer placed, IV Antibiotics for 8 weeks and then a complete revision, again.
My wife continues to have a gait, continues physical therapy, 3 years after her last surgery. She is able to control the gait some of she walks slow and concentrates on her steps! It is a lot like learning how to walk all over again!
Be the best you can in advocating for your self; it is your body and you know if something does or does not feel right! Good Luck