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What is normal recovery time/ progress for total hip replacement?
Bones, Joints & Muscles | Last Active: May 29 3:23pm | Replies (54)Comment receiving replies
New to MayoConnect, posting about something rare, so maybe limited comments. Experiences apparently vary widely based on posts I am seeing, pain, meds, activities, etc. I have a good surgeon, focused on outcomes. I had a little pain at night the first week, and perhaps should have used oxycodone(severe pain as needed Rx), but never used oxycodone/tramadol/opioid meds. A nerve block helped the first 3-4 days. Celecoxib 200mg twice a day, and Tylenol 1gm three times a day for one month covered pain. Prednisone 5mg/day for 14 days also covered inflammation/pain. Your kidneys, stomach, gi, bleeding/clotting tendency may require different meds. Recovery may be good in 6 weeks, but I believe 6 months at "half speed" might be a good safeguard. Unfortunately I pushed at 70 to 100 %, 1/2 to one mile the first week, perhaps better to let tissues heal. I have had 2 emergencies, painful dislocation, which resulted in urgent ER reduction (popping back into joint), and may require repeat surgery (called revision). I'm hoping 3 more months of careful walking/stairs, stricter avoidance of bending at waist to ground, will allow me to avoid revision surgery. Cause of my dislocation is unclear, unexpected, remotely possible lumbar/sciatic instability or tissue loose after 20 years of yoga. If anyone has had 2 dislocation and managed to avoid repeat revision surgery, please let me know. Hopefully no typos, autocorrect, phone typing is suboptimal.
Replies to "New to MayoConnect, posting about something rare, so maybe limited comments. Experiences apparently vary widely based..."
Hi tallbackhip,
Sorry you had to go through a dislocation. Very painful.
My dislocation occurred four weeks after surgery. I returned to the gym in two weeks, mostly to spin. I did myself in with an IT Band stretch that requires (while standing), crossing the feet (crossing legs, first mistake) and bending from the waist and putting my palms on the floor (bending hips greater than 90 degrees, second mistake).
My hip dislocated, and five painful hours later in the ER (heart attacks, strokes and gunshot wounds all come before hips), closed reduction was used to pop the femoral head back into the new hip socket. I was "consciously sedated" with a mix of ketamine and propofol. I don't remember the procedure, but it worked, and scared the hell out of me.
I'm lucky it didn't do more damage, and no surgery was required. Hips are deceptive wrt recovery. The incision looks good as soon as the bandage comes off at two weeks, and all the pre-op pain is gone.
As my Dr later explained, it takes time, like months, for the hip capsule to scar over.
What were you doing when the hip dislocated? Did the surgeon use an anterior or posterior incision? Dislocation happens mostly after a posterior incision. Mine was anterior..... But crossing your operated leg over the other, and bending the hips greater than 90 degrees can lead to dislocation.
Lesson learned, the hard way. I hope you can avoid revision surgery.
(Thanks Sue!)
Joe
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@heyjoe415 I think this member is calling you!
It sounds a lot like your too-vigorous try to get back to full splde.