:dizzy:Hi Everyone, Have been reading, as you suggest, from you "6 months after" forums. Am almost finished.
Apparently none of you have had THR in S Georgia so I will update to some other fears and worries I have. Yes, even after reading so many of your wonderful, factful, posts.
First of all, as I said, I am scheduled for surgery at the end of July and I am resigned to having it because I know it is not going to get better. However, after reading some of the things you all have had to deal with, I feel sort of insignificent. You all were in terrible, grinding pain, most of you, and I know that everyone has a different level for pain tolerance, and mine IS getting worse, but so far, not what you have described. The OS has told me that the joint is gone, mainly from OA and that it will probably turn out to be worse than it looks on the xray and I can see the damage for myself.
This same surgeon has replaced my husband's knees and I am as confident as I can be of any doctor at this point.
I do HAVE pain, I cannot lift my leg into the car, I cannot reach that foot, without real pain. It hurts to walk but not as you describe. I limp, I drag that foot, I have fallen down 8 times in the last two years, that leg is weak, the knee on that side hurts if I limp so I try not to. My father had both hips replaced and had no pain except in his knees prior to surgery. My range of motion is great, can still squat with no pain, bend over to touch the floor, slowly of course, I am 60 and I hate the idea that all that will be gone. Now, it's like if I don't move, I don't hurt (that much, yeah right) so when you all say (yes, I said South Georgia) that the pain will be gone it, how will I know? The surgery site is not going to feel good, I understand that- but with all the things one cannot do after surgery, how does one know it is better. Apparently all the ways I love to sit, such as with my feet drawn up under me, the easy, although painful bending over, not being able to tie my shoe or paint my toenails on that side without pain LOL, will be off limits anyway. AND, I am reading where you all have a lot of tripping and falling down after surgery. I thought at least THAT would be better.
We just put in a costly addition to our house, including a whirlpool and bidet, and it looks like I wont even be able to use them.
Please help. I know I am terribly afraid that I wont even be able to get through surgery due to an earlier, near fatal experience, not related, where things went from bad to worse to the worst. As I said I am resigned to going through with it but I would really love some moral support. My husband has been superb and I am sure will continue to be, but hips are different than knees. Am I going to regret this because my range of motion will be so affected or will that gradually improve. I am so afraid that I will forget and do something, later, when and if I improve, such as move in a contortionistic (is that a word?) manner and dislocate, that I am waking up at night in cold sweats worrying about that and other fears of this whole thing. Please help!!!!
Darlene

How does one know it is better? Here's how I knew. Before surgery I couldn't stand for more than 5 minutes without extreme discomfort. I couldn't take a step without a cane for the last 9 months. I limped. I quit my job 2 yrs before I got up the nerve to have THR thinking that not working would help me. It didn't. I turned down a couple of opportunities to travel because I knew I could never have done the walking required. The last trip I took before surgery was to Las Vegas and the walking distances INSIDE the hotel were too long for me.

The moment I got out of bed late on surgery day to take my first walk, THERE WAS NO PAIN in the joint. That was my first clue that all would be different. I went on to have the other hip replaced. That was 6 yrs ago. After recovery & rehab I can now walk miles instead of a half a block. And it doesn't hurt any more. I take no pain meds. use no walking aids, have no limp. I'm not as limber & flexible (nor as thin) as I was before I got arthritis but I'm also 20 yrs older.

I think they can fix your hip. Even in Georgia!

If you're not in great pain, maybe you could wait awhile. The problem with waiting is that you start to lose living. I lost a lot of living. Took me a long time to get up the nerve to see the surgeon. I kept trying to believe that "in the morning it would be better" but, day after day, it never was. It took me a very long time to get there. Some people are less tolerant of the disability caused by arthritis than others. Don't sweat the possible complications. You mention specifically dislocating. If your surgeon is skilled and you behave yourself as instructed during your recovery, you should be fine.

Hi Tobia, Thank you for answering me. I AM having more and more discomfort, pain, whatever, each day it is a little worse. I think that I am still so limber and have trained myself in so many ways to accommodate and move in ways to avoid pain that I am no longer aware of it. Your statement about being able to walk any distant sort of jarred me into thinking, hey, that sounds like me.
Also, I did see the xray, and it does look like the cartilage is nonexistent, so I just have to trust the doctor when he said that I would let him know when, which I did at the last visit, wherein he scheduled the surgery.
I also feel that it is not fair to my husband, who finds it difficult to walk slowly with his knees, to have to wait, offer me his arm for stability, and then waits on me even though I try not to take advantage.
Again, thank you and perhaps I will get some encouragement.
Drlene

Dear Darlene:

Please try to not worry so much about having hip replacement. Of course, I KNOW this is easier said than done!

My experiences before having my right hip replaced last December, were pretty much the same as Tobias'.

I never had any tripping or falling during my rehab - I used the walker until I felt sure of using the cane, and now, at the 6 month stage, I am just about ready to walk without any support, even when I leave the house for errands. However, I do use the walker in the middle of the night - just for safety, and I also have a kitty that just might get underfoot. Actually, any pain I have in walking, now, is from the knee on the other side. I think I might be needing that hip replaced. Have osteoarthritis in my hips. The operated hip side has no pain at all now.

As for using your new bidet - would a toilet riser fit over that and still allow it to be used properly? I am not familiar with bidets. Maybe some other reader here, is, and could comment.

Recovery from hip replacement happens so rapidly. There are those first couple of days in the hospital where any pain you might have is very well covered by meds, and the hospital people will take wonderful care of you. They are really great, in my experience. Actually, I don't remember having pain. And after the two weeks in a rehab facility, I got along with extra strength acetaminophen.

Then with the physical therapy that starts just about immediately, you will see improvement each day. It is amazing how fast things get better in your walking. You will be using a walker right away. Each day you will suddenly realize things are better than yesterday. At least that is my experience!

We hope you will keep reading and posting here and letting us know how you are coming along.

Shirley H.