Post hip replacement problems

I’m having one hip replaced today and the other one is scheduled for September 5. I hope it’s not too soon. Since you did both close together I would appreciate any advice you can offer.

It took me almost 4 months before I could almost walk normally. Six weeks with a walker. Six weeks using a cane. Fourteen weeks after surgery I was able to walk from the train station to my doctors appointment at the hospital. It was three quarters of a mile. Granted I was hanging onto my husbands arm but that was a really big accomplishment for me. You don’t know what you don’t know. Had I known what the surgery entailed I might not have gone through with it BUT I am so much better after surgery than before. Before surgery I could hardly walk at all. I couldn’t walk up a slight incline without pain. Feeling much more normal now. It takes time and someday soon you will hopefully realize that you feel better than you did the day before.

Hello,
Let me start by wishing you a speedy recovery with the first hip replacement. I think it's going to really depend on how you feel after the first surgery. I was 51 when I had my hips done and not very active except walking a lot at work. The first two weeks are pretty rough. Try not to get discouraged, it's going to take time to heal. The best exercise I did was walk a lot. I didn't do much physical therapy after my second surgery because I went in one day and my therapist had me doing some crazy exercises and it hurt me. Really bad. So I told my surgeon about it and he said to just walk a lot, which I did. And another exercise was stand up against the counter and put your leg out to the side and bring it back in and that happened to work for me, but everybody's different. When I say it's going to depend on how you feel after the first surgery is because I felt really good after the first surgery when I went to my 2 week post op,so I was able to do a second surgery . I wish you the best, if you have any questions please reach out.

You said, "Had I known what the surgery entailed I might not have gone through with it BUT I am so much better after surgery than before." I say "Amen!"
When people are surprised by the rigorous recovery from joint surgery, and complain that "the doctor didn't tell me" I usually respond that "if they told you every detail, nobody would get fixed!"
I think back to the 1950's and 60's, and all the people I knew who were disabled by bad knees and hips while the rest of their bodies and their minds still functioned perfectly - they were pushed to the sidelines and lived out their lives from the rocking chair on the porch, doing chores and going to church in great pain. Many of these folks were in their 60's and 70's.
Today we have such wonderful tools that I am chasing my grandkids instead of living in a wheelchair. And joint replacement, even at 80+ years is possible.
Sue

Well said Sue. I was told in February 2020 that I needed a hip replacement but due to Covid the surgery was considered elective and could not be scheduled at that time. Whew I said to myself as someone who could not fathom in a million years getting surgery. Three years later I felt like I had no choice. I was I think collapsing on my left side. I was told that my surgery was complicated. I research everything but did not want to know the details about the surgery which is SOnot like me. I did research my surgeon and I have to say no one came close to his credentials. My eldest daughter did lots of research and both her and her sister were very concerned. When I texted them a few hours after the surgery both of them replied “ you’re alive”. Yup. My thoughts exactly. If I hadn’t had the surgery for sure I would have ended up in a wheelchair. No way. I want to live long enough to see my grandchildren go off to college. I need seven more years before all of them go. It’s my goal!

Linnie - You're way ahead of me, I need 14 more years to see them off, but I'm determined to do it on my feet, not from a wheelchair.
I did have to admit last evening that I was "done with stairs" and get my girls and young neighbor to finish bringing everything up the single, steep flight of stairs from patio to kitchen after entertaining there for the third time in 5 days! Thank goodness we figured out we could use the lower level window as a pass-through for moving all the ice and beverages instead of hauling everything up and down those stairs! So...I may be looking at one new knee sooner than I had hoped - it's going on 30 years since it was surgically repaired, and at the time I was told it would last me 20...
Today I am resting!!!
Sue

You entertained three times in five days! Wow. I hate cooking and my daughter and son-in-law have taken over for me. Even my granddaughters are better cooks. Take it easy. I’m still not all the way there yet with going up the stairs like a normal person.

I had a lot of help! And we do a very simple menu, with each guest bringing a side dish or dessert.
Sue

Sounds nice Sue!

Thank you for these words. I am almost six weeks out and feeling frustrated because I cannot walk without a cane. I need to be patient. Life is already so much better because the horrible arthritic pain is gone. And I know, or at least have hope that at some point I will be able to resume my daily two to three mile walk.