How much swelling is normal following anterior hip replacement surgery

Stay ahead of the pain! This will help a lot. Alternate tylenol and ibuprofen, maybe even a pain pill at bedtime.
I guarantee you that at 10 days, my unassisted walking was measured in feet, not blocks. By a month I had left the crutches behind (wrist arthritis prevented use of a cane) unless I was out in public- then it was to keep from getting knocked down.
The tiredness is your body healing- rest as you can.

I am still learning that this procedure was not as easy on me as I thought it would be. I've always been pretty tough, but this surgery got me down a bit. I am grateful for all of your comments as I now know that really I'm doing OK. I just had unreasonable expectations. Thank you.

Hi Sue and Valleygirl,

Valleygirl I hope you're feeling better since hip replacement. Even though hip is the "easiest" joint replacement as far as recovery, it takes at least 3 months (IMO) for the heel capsule to scar over. At that point, you'll be feeling a lot better (although even the initial recovery is usually pretty quick). But your symptoms at 10 days are what I would consider normal. Of course, I'm not a Dr either!

At 10 days I wasn't nearly at this point. I could get out and go to the gym to shower (really an excuse to get out of the house).

But at 4 weeks I thought, incorrectly, that I was superman. I was back in the gym doing an IT Band stretch I've been doing for 40 years. Standing straight, place right foot over and next to left foot, bend from the waist as far as possible. Im my case, I could put my palms on the floor.

FIRST THOUGHT WRONG! Bad idea that went against all of the advice I was given. Don't cross the operated leg over the other leg and don't bend your hip past 90 degrees. I heard a slight pop, and then fell sideways onto a yoga/stretch table. I hauled myself up on the table, back against the wall in intense pain. I also noticed my right leg, the one with the new hip, was at least 6" shorter than my left leg, and my right foot angled unnaturally to the outside.

In my ignorance and rush to get back to the gym, hip replacement be damned, I dislocated my new hip. I was taken to ER and had to wait 4-5 hours for an ER physician to pop my hip back in place. The ER Dr met me immediately, but in an ER heart attacks and gunshot wounds come before hips. They did give me some ketamine that provided relief for about 30 minutes. Opiates do not work for me.

That was an adventure I will not repeat. I've also had both knees replaced and honored the rehab process and all went well. And on Aug 6th, I'm getting my left shoulder replaced.

So give your hip time, at least two months. I'm sure you'll feel better, just reread the things you are supposed to dip and not do. Check with your Dr, but you can probably drive sooner than you think. It's good to just get out now and then, even a short walk if possible.

(I also had "hip snapping" when I tried to put my socks or shoes on. This is the IT Band cramping badly because it has snapped to the wrong side of the hip bone (greater trochanter). It's more frightening than damaging. Anyway, I hope you are not going through that. The hip snapping stopped gradually and was over by 2-3 months.)

So don't worry Valleygirl. You might want to use ice instead of heat on your thigh. And remember there is s big piece of metal in your femur (thigh bone). It is not flexible at all. You'll get used to it, but it takes a few weeks.

All the best to you both!

Joe

Hi Valleygirl,

Please see my reply to Sue and you above. Be well and patient (something I'm not good at.....!).

And any joint replacement surgery, even an anterior hip replacement, causes great trauma to the body. What kept me going, especially with my knees, was that the post-op pain wasn't as bad as the pre-op pain, and it was lessening each day, slowly but surely as I faithfully did all the exercises I was given.

Joe

It really is starting to turn that proverbial corner! Slow baby steps, but at least I feel like it's in the right direction. Plus, I'm off the high dosage antibiotic and I have substituted Tylenol for the anti-inflammatory that was prescribed as I think it may have been the hot/cold fluctuations culprit. Thank you everyone for reaching out to me. The Home Health I ended up with are super!!! Glad now that the one the hospital originally set up was "too busy" . Again, being completely on my own has been rough and not knowing really what to expect has been scary; so each of you have indeed been my lifeline!!! Thank you and God bless.

I don't know what I'd do without all of you who have reached out with your kind thoughts and words of wisdom. It has meant everything to me and made me realize I really wasn't as prepared for this as I had thought, nor did I really know what I was getting in to. It is slowly getting better. I notice every morning that it's a wee bit easier to get out of bed. I'll take the wins where I csn get them; but because of all of you, I know that there will be small set backs. And that that is normal, just my body healing on it's own time and not my minds' idea of how fast that should be. God bless each and every one of you. You have been a life saver for sure!

You are very welcome.

And you found the most important thing about all joint replacements - post-op involves pain but with rehab, the pain lessens a little each day.

Glad you're doing well!

Joe

To answer the question: My first THR took THREE MONTHS for the swelling to go down enough to fit into my jeans. My second THR took only 1.5 months. My surgeon said he "learned my body." I followed the protocol for exercise to a "T". Doctors/rehab orders are very, very important so you don't dislocate your new hip. BE PATIENT. Also, my use of opioids didn't return to normal (presurgical use) for 3 months on the first and 1.5 months on the second. I felt really embarrassed because I was in so much pain beyond what they told me to expect. They make such a big deal about the opioids, too. Everything returned to normal. But NOT on THEIR timetable. LOVED my new hips! I felt that doctors waited far too long to figure out my hip needed replacing. The second hip I did in advance of it being as bad. I believe my healing was much improved (and faster) because the hip wasn't in such bad condition.

I also feel as though I'm just not progressing quickly enough. I read on line where many people who underwent the anterior approach procedure were pain free and walking with no aids whatsoever within 2 weeks. I'll be 2 weeks out on Tuesday the 29th and I can already tell I am not going to be nowhere close to giving up either the pain medication or the walking cane. So, I felt really bad; like I wasn't doing enough. Then I heard from quite a few good people on this forum and they patiently explained to me that each body is different and there really is no set time frame for healing; in fact 100% healing is usually not accomplished until at least 6 months out, if not closer to a year. Now I feel somewhat better. I still wish it would hurry cause I'm not a patient person; but I am slowly learning to take it slow!!

It takes a long time to recover from THR. I had surgery in January and feel I am still evolving in my recovery. Some days are good and other days there is pain and issues with walking.
Some people do seem to recover quickly, but that is their recovery. Your tissue and muscles go through so much in this surgery, as well as all the bone stuff. Rest, ice, do PT and let your body recover. I iced for 2 months.
I’m 64 and active, but I’m listening to my body and giving it a year. I know this from other bone injuries and surgeries. It takes time and patience. Best to you.