+ or minuses of putting - off Hip replacement...

Two months recovery time. Will take a year or so to regain full strength. Physical therapy is an absolute must at a minimum of 3 days a week. If your pain is so bad and you can not do what you used to, it’s time. Once you had the surgery you’ll be mad at yourself for not doing it sooner.
Very little post op pain as well.
If you have no one to help you they will put you in a live in rehab center until you can get by .If no one can take care of your dog you might have to kennel it.
The hip replacement was the easiest surgery of many that I’ve had.

Thank you.

Hip or other joint replacement is a very personal decision. If you can do what you want/need to do with little pain, maybe it is too early to think about a joint replacement.

If you have degenerative hip disease (aka your joint is wearing out) it will continue to get worse, but how quickly is anyone's guess. When the pain gets bad enough to interfere with your normal activities or keeps you from sleeping well, you will know it is time. If it becomes unstable due to deterioration and makes you a fall risk, you will know it is time. It may come gradually, or you may suddenly have another injury.

What would I do? Start now to find someone (a neighbor or their near-adult kid, a college student or young retiree...) to help out when the time comes. Familiarize them with your animals and routine, arrange for them to drive you (really only for a few weeks - I drove 3-4 weeks after every hip surgery) using your vehicle if necessary. If you need residential rehab it is usually only for a few days to 2 weeks. After that, you should be able to take care of yourself and your light work. You'll need help with the heavy stuff for 6 months to a year, but that's only intermittent.

So keep on for now, but do you think you could come up with a plan for the future?

Shellbyjazz,

Everyone is different. Your age, general state of health, support, resources to help, all are important to how well you do.
I had LTHR a little over 2 years ago. I was careful to select a highly-qualified ortho with excellent credentials. I won't go into the long version but bottom line, I am one of the unlucky ones who has damage to my femur nerve. In the beginning, it was unbearable, felt like fire ants in lower thigh and knee area, even a sheet touching it was painful. I was told by PA and Ortho it would gradually go away - at first a few months but gradually extended to 18 months. I am at 26 months now. It has improved, but still have later thigh nerve tightness/discomfort that bothers me, makes my leg feel "heavy" and is really unpleasant. I tolerate pain well, I think, and am getting used to it. The Ortho said my femur was retracted maybe a bit too long or tight and bruised or irritated my femur nerve. Nothing really helps it (TENS, PT), but walking is good for it, and I attend exercise classes for stretching, strengthening, and balance. I guess I will just have to learn to live with it. My right hip (unoperated) is bone on bone, same length of time as my left (operated). But I am NOT going to get surger on the right until it hurts bad because I may "swap the witch for the devil." I realize this is a rather negative story, but it is true, and THR is seriously invasive and no guarantees. As far as support, with Medicare you may get 2 weeks in rehab, that's it. Unless you are on some form of benefit program like Medicaid (not Medicare) or are lucky to have Fed Govt Tri-Care with more benefits, you will have to pay, most likely, for help and support. I was on the walker about 30 days, then gradually walking, but I could not do housework. I have 3 cats and certainly could not learn over to scoop the litter, little things like that. So I hired part--time caretakers a few hours each day from an agency to help with housework, cooking, and light chores. Today for the first time since my LTHR surgery, I plan to begin with my golf again. I believe I can manage it and have missed it so much. The Mentor gave good advice, listen to it. Best of luck!!! 🙂 (I did not proof this)

Everyone really is different and we must each “listen” to our body. I was told i needed THR but I had very little pain so I said I would wait. I asked him how i would know it was definitely time. He said “oh you will know.” I tolerate pain fairly well and routinely resist meds of any kind and certainly surgery, but he was right. Two years later i had reached my pain tolerance. The surgery went well but it did take a year to get back to complete normal. I think your hip might well tell you when the time is right. Good luck to you !

Thank you very much. Lol. " you didn't proof this". A+ it read perfectly !!!