Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Anyone with hip replacements got tips?

Now I have the bad news that I need both hips replaced, I'm interested in how others have got on after this kind of surgery.

Sorry to hear that Wendy.

They are going to both at once? Thought they only did one at a time for hip replacements.

I can think of a few here that have had both replaced, but not at once. Will let them follow up first.

Tim

They will only do one at a time but both are completely shot, all cartilage gone and down to bone on bone. My right is worse than my left so they'll do that first. The wait list could be up to two years but they may bump me up the list because they're so bad. I'm very shocked. Had no idea they were that bad. Think I've just adjusted to the pain levels. I knew I had a labral tear in the right hip and thought that was due to a fall. The fall may have made it worse but now the joint space has narrowed to nothing.

Hi Wendy: I had both hips done about 19 years ago, approximately two years ago I had both hips revised and I am still going strong. Back then I finally gave into the pain and had my hips done and have been pretty much pain free in that area since then. About a year after the procedures I went back to work for about 15 more years at the BC government liquor stores. I am very happy with my results. I can only wish you have similar results...Tom

Wendy
sorry to hear of your troubles...

are you in a lot of pain?
if so the replacements will be an enormous benefit to you

THR type, cemented or cementless?

your surgeon will decide what is best for you.
with the cemented THR you are up on your feet a lot sooner and In general this type is more suited to the older ,less active patient.

with the cementless THR the recovery period takes a little longer but is more suited to the younger, more active patient, and is said to be a little more robust and easier to replace when it eventually wears out (hopefully in 20 odd years time)

epidural or general anaesthesia?

most surgeons would rather you chose the epidural option for quickness of recovery and the less chance of complications.
it's not for everyone being awake through the op as you are aware of everything and can here everything that's going on but you could request a sleeping tab and chances are you would sleep through most of it.

epidural wears off some hours later then comes the pain...morphine usually.

you will probably stay in bed all day for the first day then they will have you up and at it the next day. The first and second days are the days when the pain is at it's most intense, after that it gets easier day by day

I worked very hard for my THR pre op prog but underestimated the recovery work involved in the post op prog,it's hard work, but whatever effort you put it will determine the speed of your recovery

you will also require special injections every day and support stockings for 4/6 weeks

you will need help at home.do your exercises every single day. It's not easy but if you are in a lot of pain the benefits outweigh all the negatives.

All the pain I have carried with me for the past 10 years in my hip are GONE, all I have left is some manageable post op pain which I expect will last for some time yet

set yourself some goals everyday.... on the day after your op, use the walker
the next day use two crutches, the next one crutch

then two canes /one cane until you can fully weight bear on your "bad leg"....that's your first hip "done"

I am shocked to read you could wait up to two years for surgery.no one waits any more than 8/12 weeks for an op here

if you surgeon decided on the cementless approach I would be very surprised if he offered you the second THR in anything less than 3 months....it take time to heal

be prepared Wendy to put up a fight and give it your best shot. the elation you will feel on day 2 or 3 is something to behold.

on Tues it will be my 6th week post op.i can walk for miles with no pain but still require a single cane because of cementless op but every day I am getting stronger

wishing you the very best and hope all goes well for you.
drop me a PM if you have any concerns

John

yeah Dot on the odd occasion some folk get two at once......brave, brave souls.

i could do them for you...........cheap......!

oh I forgot......

anterior v posterior approach

once again your surgeon is best suited to suggest which approach to take

I had the traditional posterior approach, lovely 5 to 6 inch scar. I asked my surgeon about the newer anterior approach and he said he would not use it because of the increased risk of nerve damage to the thigh

http://www.sutterhealth.org/orthopedics/hip/anterior-hip-replacement.html

John - Thank you so much for all this solid information. I didn't realize you had hip replacement surgery so recently. I have a lot of confidence in this surgeon. He did my sister-in-law's hip replacement a few years ago and he has an excellent reputation. I will be seeing him in the next few weeks to make these kinds of decisions. He will do one at a time.

I am shocked at the speed in which both hips degenerated. Especially as I had the impression that we had got the RA under control. Unfortunately, I was misled by having a bad fall 18 months ago and putting the increased pain down to that. Hopefully, I'll be seeing another rheumatologist shortly, the 4th, who will hopefully pay more attention. I feel I got brushed off somewhat by the first 3 because my RA symptoms are not classic and I'm seronegative.

Your comments give me a starting point for my research as well as a base for questions to ask the surgeon.

I'm sure you'd do an excellent job....