Post hip replacement problems

I agree that the stories I heard about how easy the THR was for others has not been my experience. I had surgery July 5 and have thigh pain, swelling, and numbness but really don’t want to take anything more than Tylenol for fear of constipation. Even so it took a week for me to get some results from the laxative regimen prescribed. I was really hoping to be able to get around without a walker but now I’m afraid to for fear of falling . I’m 76 and just retired from nursing on Jan 31. This Is not the retirement I planned and it makes me sad and angry.

It is 2 weeks tomorrow. Still stiff, bruised, swollen, and sore. I can tell I’m a bit better but a long way from normal. I get exhausted after cooking supper. I’m hoping to go with my husband to his clinic appointment tomorrow but I’m afraid of getting in and out of the car. Wish me luck!

It is 2 weeks tomorrow. Still stiff, bruised, swollen, and sore. I can tell I’m a bit better but a long way from normal. I get exhausted after cooking supper. I’m hoping to go with my husband to his clinic appointment tomorrow but I’m afraid of getting in and out of the car. Wish me luck!

I was told I needed a hip replacement last year. I was shocked because I have had no pain. I have had both knees replaced and got along fine. My right knee had caused horrible pain and the Dr said I needed a replacement. Once it was replaced, no more pain. About 7 yrs later, routeen check up for the replaced knee, the Dr said my left knee needed to be replaced. I was surprised because there was absolutely no pain. He showed the xray to me and I coud see it was bone on bone. Still, I said I wasn't having any pain and as long as there was no pain, I didn't want surgery. By the next year checkup, I still had no pain, however, I could feel the knee bones knocking as I used the knee. By this time, I was 80 yrs old and in great health, so I told the Dr. Ok for the surgery, which went even better than the right knee. Now I am 84 and at the next knee checkup, I was having some issues with sharp pain in my left side, so they xrayed the hip along with the knee's. That is when I was told I needed hip replacement even though the Dr. didn't think the sharp pain I was having was caused from the hip. It was a shock to me because there was no pain at all in the hip area, just the sharp pain in the side. So I again said no to the surgery. After several months, I decided to go ahead with it, except my Dr now has second thoughts & is reluctant to do the surgery due to my age. I decided to get a 2nd opinion and the new Dr. said he is not concerned about my age that he has had 90 yr olds have it and no problems as long as my health is good which mine is. However, he says "if there is no pain, don't have surgery". He compared my old xray (which I had gotten from the first Dr.) to the new xray and it showed very little difference. It is bone on bone and full of arthritis. It is hard to believe it isn't causing me great pain, but it isn't. So----no surgery. My regular Dr. is concerned about the hip because she is afraid the hip could cause the leg to "give way" and cause a fall which also concerns me as there have been at least twice where it did, but I was able to keep from falling. I am at a cross road. Do I have the surgery or do I continue the way I am? I really don't know what I should do. Sorry this is so long.

I was told I needed a hip replacement last year. I was shocked because I have had no pain. I have had both knees replaced and got along fine. My right knee had caused horrible pain and the Dr said I needed a replacement. Once it was replaced, no more pain. About 7 yrs later, routeen check up for the replaced knee, the Dr said my left knee needed to be replaced. I was surprised because there was absolutely no pain. He showed the xray to me and I coud see it was bone on bone. Still, I said I wasn't having any pain and as long as there was no pain, I didn't want surgery. By the next year checkup, I still had no pain, however, I could feel the knee bones knocking as I used the knee. By this time, I was 80 yrs old and in great health, so I told the Dr. Ok for the surgery, which went even better than the right knee. Now I am 84 and at the next knee checkup, I was having some issues with sharp pain in my left side, so they xrayed the hip along with the knee's. That is when I was told I needed hip replacement even though the Dr. didn't think the sharp pain I was having was caused from the hip. It was a shock to me because there was no pain at all in the hip area, just the sharp pain in the side. So I again said no to the surgery. After several months, I decided to go ahead with it, except my Dr now has second thoughts & is reluctant to do the surgery due to my age. I decided to get a 2nd opinion and the new Dr. said he is not concerned about my age that he has had 90 yr olds have it and no problems as long as my health is good which mine is. However, he says "if there is no pain, don't have surgery". He compared my old xray (which I had gotten from the first Dr.) to the new xray and it showed very little difference. It is bone on bone and full of arthritis. It is hard to believe it isn't causing me great pain, but it isn't. So----no surgery. My regular Dr. is concerned about the hip because she is afraid the hip could cause the leg to "give way" and cause a fall which also concerns me as there have been at least twice where it did, but I was able to keep from falling. I am at a cross road. Do I have the surgery or do I continue the way I am? I really don't know what I should do. Sorry this is so long.

Jerelyn,
How are you feeling now? Better, I hope. I am 3 weeks and 2 days out now. Feel some improvement. I can see that, if improvement continues, I could feel “normal” at some point.

Don't be sorry about the length of your post - you gave us a great description.

When an Auntie in my family "fell and broke her hip" at 85, the surgeon who replaced it said "No, her hip broke and she fell." She was a firecracker like you, he replaced it, it took about a year to heal, and she hummed right along well into her 90's, when her heart just gave out.

Last week, I was with another awesome Auntie, who will be 96 in a few days and lives in her own apartment with a little help from her son. Her only concession to age it that she now uses a walker, just to make sure she doesn't fall, because as she said to us "If you fall at my age, it's a one-way ticket to the nursing home."

So here is my question to you, since you have already experienced your leg giving out. Are you willing to use a walker or cane to be sure you won't fall if your leg gives way? Every day, all the time? If not, can you talk to your doc about some PT to strengthen your muscles and make sure your balance stays as good as it is?

There's a few things to ponder today!
Sue