Total hip replacement - What to expect for recovery

I am 75 and had an anterior THR in September. I am now about 8 weeks post surgery. I did 2 weeks of PT at home and then 6 weeks at a Clinic. They had me on a walker immediately after surgery. My home PT was too aggressive and set me back. I learned I had to say no to certain exercises. I was able to walk on my own after 2 weeks. It did take 2 months before I had almost no pain or twinges.
I took hydrolyzed collagen after the surgery and I do think it helped build cartilage, bone, etc.
I am a golfer and I was told not to drive the ball for three months, as the rod that goes down into your thigh needs to thoroughly knit to the bone and tissue. I did not want to risk that loosening, so I will be cautious about that. My Dr is a big advocate for just walking.
Everyone heals differently and we have to listen to our bodies. Most people are happy they did the surgery.

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I was back golfing after six weeks and could have done so earlier but didn't because of what you said: I needed to give my bones a chance to grow around the titanium implant. What surprised me was that my doctor advised me that I could do bicycling before lengthy walking.

My new left hip feels stronger now than my OEM right hip. I do play golf now from the front tees as a 5,000 yard course is about right for my old aged swing but from those tees I can score reasonably (for me...low to mid 80s).

Incidentally, I don't know if it made a difference but I never wanted to have to walk with a cane or even a walking stick so as soon as it was bone on bone I did the replacement and I had no pain post surgery. But anecdotal evidence is statistically worthless so take this for what it is worth!

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If you are 75 or older, congrats on a quick recovery and excellent golf score! I do think younger people heal faster and we have to take that into account in our expectations.

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By 3 days post surgery with every hip replacement I was able to go up and down the 7 stairs into my home. By one week, I was going out for short walks to the end of the driveway and then down the street, weight-bearing but with crutches for support. I slept in a lower bed in our guest room for a few weeks until I felt safe getting in and out of our tall bed. By 7-10 days, I was able to go up & down the 14 steps to the lower level a couple times each day. At 3 weeks on the last (5th) surgery, I even managed to go on a short road trip and walk with crutches into an outdoor venue to see Willie Nelson - with the oversight of my watchful husband and daughters.
Sue

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Did they go in from the front or back? I'm having total replacement on the left side in 2 weeks and they are talking quite a recovery time. They will be going in through the back and I guess it does take a little longer to recover from. My bedroom is upstairs so we are checking on bringing in a hospital bed for a few weeks. I have 14 steps to get upstairs.

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Did they go in from the front or back? I'm having total replacement on the left side in 2 weeks and they are talking quite a recovery time. They will be going in through the back and I guess it does take a little longer to recover from. My bedroom is upstairs so we are checking on bringing in a hospital bed for a few weeks. I have 14 steps to get upstairs.

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"One need only look at the incredible variation in body types to understand this. When you add the unseen – existing damage, bone issues, etc, it makes it even more imperative that the surgeon choose the correct procedure for each patient – and have the humility to refer onward any person whose needs are outside their skill set."

THRs are complex surgeries and I, for one, would only want one done by an experienced surgeon using the same approach. I understand the responder's comment about sometimes needing a different approach but I would not want a surgeon who claims to do multiple approaches. If, for example, Anterior and Superpath wouldn't work for someone, I would prefer to find a surgeon who uses Posterior as her chosen method and uses it all the time. I want muscle memory to assist my surgeon.

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I am 78 and just had a total left hip replacement. My surgeon invented the Superpath method and he used that method. I had no pain at all other than some minor discomfort at the incision site. But my sister-in-law used the same surgeon and the same method and has had continual pain (she waited a long, long time to get the hip replacement and was on crutches before doing so; her husband and I think she simply waited too long but she can walk without support).

Preop my surgeon walked into the room with the multipage hospital instructions for total hip replacements (don't cross legs, don't sit up, etc. etc.). He tossed them in the waste paper basket and said just follow his two page instructions: take your medication and be a couch potato for the first five weeks (his method doesn't cut tendons, muscles, etc. but he said the one thing he can't do is make bones grow).

After waiting the five weeks, I did a few physical therapy sessions (I did have the often occurring side effect of not being able to pull up socks) and resumed walking and playing golf. When I don't play golf I usually walk three miles at a pace of about 17 minutes or so a mile.

There is no guarantee when doing a THR. My understanding is that there is no difference in total outcome between the three methods (original posterior; improvement anterior; further improvement Superpath) but there is a difference in early pain and recovery. Carefully check reviews and everything you can about your surgeon. There are great surgeons, mediocre surgeons and ones that you want to run away from (I know it is hard to run when you have a bad hip).

If you are concerned about pain, I would recommend making sure that your surgeon uses either the anterior or superpath approach and, of course, has done it often.

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I had a posterior approach - it's someting of a misnomer, because it is really from the side...I was going up and down 7 steps 3 days after surgery (but only once a day, with standby assist.)

PLEASE do not let the fact that they are doing a posterior approach concern you. So I don't need to repeat, please read this recent comment:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/total-hip-replacement/?pg=12#comment-973891

For the next 2 weeks, it would be good to concentrate on getting your legs as strong as you can before you head in to surgery. I bet there is a sheet or list of exercises in pile of stuff from your doc - highly recommended!

Also, unless your housemate(s) are good cooks, get some easy meals into the freezer, some comfy pull-on pants to wear, a shower bench & a seat riser for your toilet. With grab bars for pushing yourself up. And a Cryo-cuff with a hip pad, or lots of large ice packs. I used them nearly 24/7 for the first few weeks, several times a day thereafter.

Come on back and let us know how you do - we're here to hold your hand. It will all be worthwhile in the end
Sue

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