@franee and others, HeyJoe
Dislocation and serious complications do occur, not often, but it's important to recognize the need for precautions after joint replacement, indefinitely.
Doesn't seem to matter surgical approaches either (reference JAMA Hip replacement article published in recent years), 1-2 % per year complications even with the purportedly safer anterior approach.
In talking today with my surgeon, follow up 7 months after anterior hip surgery and 3 months after a 2nd dislocation, I mentioned the case reports of anterior hip replacements dislocating several years after surgery with forward bends in yoga. We noted this occurs perhaps 5% or less of the time, but disagreed slightly on whether or not people needed to know the risk existed. (I was pain free, highly mobile, and cleared of all precautions after about 8 weeks, then dislocated. I'm in good health, no chronic diseases.)
Anterior approach or "Super " or posterior surgical approach or any other, all have risk. Search on hip replacement outcomes mentioning the approach or technique you care to review, published patient research indicates no approach perfected or proven superior, complications 1-2 % per year.
So beware bending the waist more than 90 degrees, certainly more than 130 degrees, for a year or perhaps indefinitely, unless you are willing to accept the low risk (2 to 10 % eventually? ) and a very painful trip to the emergency room. Shark's report above seems to indicate bending at the waist more than 90 degrees in a chair is a risk also, which makes sense. Personally I am wary of most chairs, chairs being too low for people taller than average.
For now I am using a sock aid to put a sock on the involved foot. I use a grabber or my good foot to pick objects off the floor. Step in shoes or sandals. A loofah on stick for the shower. If you need these sorts of tools, suggest to look for a "hip kit" online, I found a reasonably priced kit from "Nourislif" but I'm not financially linked and don't necessarily want to say any product or source is best. I wish I had a hip kit right away after surgery.
If you have a dislocation, you might search on the terms research hip dislocation after hip replacement causes, to see positions and movements causing dislocation.
In regard to healing - agreed fascia, tendons, muscle, nerves, blood/lymphatic vessels and other tissues need time, ideal nutrition, and moderate exercise to scar or heal. Hoping all my tissues will heal despite my two dislocations!! Hoping to avoid revision, which is riskier than first surgery, and my surgeon agreed things seem positive today.
Best wishes
Thanks for this valuable intel Tailback,
It's been 5 months since my THR and 4 months since the dislocation. The "hip snapping" I experienced after surgery has stopped. I think that was due to my IT Band passing over the outer edge of my hip bone. The bark from these events is worse than the bite. It happened most frequently when I put my socks on. Just another cautionary tale to give the body time to heal, maybe especially with the lower-trauma THR. (Fortunately, the hip snapping has stopped.)
When I did dislocate my new hip at 4 months, I was doing a stretch for my ITB - right foot crossed over and next to left foot (mistake #1) and bending forward at the hips, keeping knees locked, with palms on the floor (I am very flexible, but this took me well beyond the 90 degree max, mistake #2), and out popped my new hip. Fortunately, no bones were fractured and the prostheses are intact.
I'm glad you mentioned yoga. I did hot yoga for many years and loved it. But there are too many postures/asanas that 1) require crossing the legs and/or 2) require a bend of greater than 90 degrees at the hip.
So I've decided that these things just aren't for me anymore (ITB stretch described and yoga). At my age (71 next month) the risk isn't worth the reward, and I'm still fortunate to be able to do so many things at my age. I think part of successful aging includes a willingness to move on from things that were part of my life for so long - like marathons, yoga - but just can't be done anymore without great risk.
Speaking of joint replacements, I had my left shoulder replaced on Aug 6th (anatomical, not reverse). I'm running out of joints to replace! I feel good, been in a CPM machine for two weeks, and start PT in two days. Stay tuned......
All the best!
Joe