Total Hip Replacement

I will be getting a new hip in June and was wondering if any of you have had this done. I don't see any problems with having a pacemaker but just want to know how recovery is. I am 54 years old and it is due to an injury with a torn ligament many years ago which has now caught up with me - I guess I didn't run fast enough. LOL. My health is otherwise great and I don't have to take any prescription medicine. I am one of the lucky ones where the pacemaker does what it's supposed to do and that's it.
I am planning on going back to work again after 4 weeks out of the hospital, is that a reasonable time to recover?
Anything to watch out for besides the knife coming at me?
Any good advise?
Thanks

2 Comments

Hip Replacement & Recovery

by maryanne - 2009-05-21 11:05:37

If you are talking about a total hip replacement you are talking about replacing the ball and socket. Generally those kinds of surgery take up to 3 months to heal or longer depending on your health prior to surgery.

I don't know what kind of work you do and how physical it is. Many people post hip have a certain amount of convolences that needs to take place and then a lot of physio. The wound and muscles themselves take up to 6 weeks to heal,and then as I mentioned there is the rehab. You would need to speak to your doctor about what your expections are and what he has to say about the recovery process.

Being a critical care nurse and now working in the recovery room I have seen many hip patients and yes I have had many patients with PM's as well. The PM is generally not an issue if things are controlled prior to the surgery. Hip replacement although very common surgery it is still a major surgery. A medication that many post hip surgery patients are put on is a low moleculer weight blood thinner like fraxziparin, or tinziparen these drugs are used to prevent blood clots from forming and are used for up to a month post op so that would be something else you would have to consider and speak to your doctor about.

There are many variables and at the end of the day this is something you need to discuss with your doctor, what are his plans for the surgery what does he estimate the recovery time and will you be on any post operative medications.

Prior to surgery I am sure they will do a complete cardiac work up to ensure you are fit for the surgery.

My sister who is the same age as you had a total hip replacement in December 2007 by the end of April 2008 she was able to go to Europe and walk where ever she wanted.

Best of luck with your surgery...

Cheers Mary Anne

Hip replacement

by georgeh4 - 2009-05-21 12:05:24

As a person who had a total hip replacement it's at least 3 months and that's if you do the physical therapy daily since you have to totally rebuild all the muscles, tendons, etc.
It will be closer to 6 months before you have complete healing and can do just about anything you did before.
It's been great for me and as a senior I play tennis 3 times and week and other physical activities.
Best of luck.

George

You know you're wired when...

You run like the bionic woman.

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