re: Hip replacement experiences

I had anterior replacement on the right hip on July 2nd. I'm 59. Stayed overnight in the hospital. I was working a month later but it was computer stuff from home. I suggest getting a few things prior to the surgery.
1. Power recliner
2. Shower chair
3. Raised toilet seat
4. Lots of ice packs
Make sure you do your PT exercises. They really help. Prayers for you as you prepare for your new hip.

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I’ve heard possible nerve injury from anterior but quicker recovery

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You can pretty much guarantee damage to lateral femoral cutaneous nerve with the anterior approach. But that just supplies sensation to the anterior thigh skin and will come back within a few months. Deeper nerve damage always possible with surgery but I've never heard of that happening with this.

My experience 10yrs ago, 10 days @ home, 20 days no driving(rt side), then pretty much back to normal activities.
My therapy started immediately, only spent 1 night in hospital. So far, so good…

Had mine done in 2023. Surgery around noon and I was out at 8 the next morning. When I woke up from surgery they had me walking and it already felt better. They sent me home with a booklet of exercises to do at home and I did the whole booklet twice the first day. Pain medicine wore off and I was pretty sore that afternoon and the next day

Other than that I was walking and getting around fine when I got home. Flexibility was tough to get back for a couple weeks so plan on extra time getting dressed in the morning. The glad branded press and seal cling wrap is great for keeping it dry in the shower.

I had a numb spot on my leg for probably 6 months which was weird and every once in a while I'd kinda glitch out when taking a step but other than that I was back to normal within a month or so. Never did PT but I'm also younger so that probably factored in.

Walker three-four days, cane for another three or four. Walking without assistance week and a half in. Cleared to do anything at four weeks.

I was 62. Daily gym routine up to surgery. Golfing at 2 months with absolutely no issues.

My dad did his first at 82. Just did the second one at 90. No issues. My suggestion is if it needs to be replaced do it don’t wait. The longer you wait the more stress on other hip and knees and the recovery will be harder.

Had total hip replacement about 5 weeks ago.

Went with posterior approach per Doc's recommendation. Some say anterior approach is better, IDK.

I was up walking the same day, they had me walking around the whole floor. I got up several times to go to the bathroom the same day.

Doc wanted to keep me over night just to make sure which made me feel a lot better about the procedure.

Anesthesiologist put me under around 7:00 am, woke up around 10:00 am same day.

This was kind of strange, but I couldn't move my legs or wiggle my toes for a couple hours.

Nurses checked my blood pressure and temp about once an hour.

They gave me a list of do's and don'ts. Main thing is not to bend over past 90 degrees from the hips and no twisting, no crossing legs and don't bend knees inward.

First day post-op was pretty much pain free. Once the pain meds and Anesthesia wore off, the pain started hitting me so I took one hydrocodone pill but they gave me an alternative pain med called Journavx. Did the job to get me through the 2-4 days post op. I took Tylenol, Aleve, and aspirin afterward.

One thing they were adamant about was having me take a baby aspirin twice daily to make sure I didn't have any blood clots.

At first I was doing the PT exercises, the after 2 weeks they wanted to do the exercises twice daily and go from 10 reps to 20 reps per exercise.

Ice is going to be extremely critical to your recovery. I ice down my hip 3 times a day and it has done wonders.

Followed up with Doc 2 weeks post-op. Took a couple of X-Rays and Doc was very pleased with how everything looked.

I go see the Doc next week for another follow up and I should get 'released' to return back to work.
I probably could have went back to work after the 3rd week but I am enjoying the extra time off plus I am on short-term disability pay so no big loss.

As far as time needed for recovery, it depends on your job description. If its light duty, I would guess 2-3 weeks. Could be 6-12 weeks.
If your job involves a lot of heavy lifting, could be up to 3 months but that is just a guess.

It's going to depend on how well you heal, job duties and doctors' recommendations on when you can return back to work.

Late 50s and I had my right hip replaced last year. Should have done it sooner. Pain is all gone. Recovery is very simple. Only caveat is I now have one leg longer than the other. Used the surgeon that came recommended by everyone I knew that worked at Broc… but I have at least a half an inch difference.

I good friend of mine was told he needed a hip replacement. He went on a GLP1 and dropped 30 pounds and the hip is working just fine. He'll still need a replacement, he just moved the date out.

Anyone ever had both hips done at once?