OT Hip replacement

Stan in Oly, WA

Well-known Member
I'm scheduled to have hip replacement surgery in November. Today I took a look at the information packet from the surgeon, and was startled to read that among the things I should plan to never do again was lift more than 25 pounds. I thought I knew a lot about hip replacement surgery, but I don't remember ever hearing that. Is that right? I was really looking forward to not being in pain 24/7 any more, but I'm at least two years away from being able to take it that easy. Who has had hip replacement surgery, and what have you been able to do since having it?

Stan
 
My brother in law (just down the road from you, near Tenino) has had both hips replaced, and he's bucking hay bales just like old times. Oh, and he just had his 75th birthday this summer. Of course, he's Norwegian, so maybe he can get away with it just because he doesn't know any better.
 
I knew a farmer that had a hip replacement. One day pitching manure he used his leg for leverage snapped the hip in half. I know he kept the dang thing. So yes you will be limited but act your age it's hard I know. But the therapist told me a gem you got a new joint but you still got old muscle maybe it might be wiser taking two fork fulls instead of one maybe we get older possible wiser.
 
Stan,
I don't know about the 25 lb. rule, but my neighbor, who is in his early 70's, had a hip replaced after several years of suffering with the pain and limping. Now, he seems to be back to his active life, tending to a couple hundred head of momma cows and doing AI for show stock all around this area. He does all kinds of tractor work, and I've never known him to shy from doing whatever is necessary.
Butch
 
I know of a man who had hip replacement and was forced to retire because of the restrictions


My late wife had two hip replacements. Dr screwed up the first one. She was never able to do much. Had to be very careful, not twist on that leg, lifting, how she went up and down stairs.

Hip hurt when weather changed. No fun.
 
(quoted from post at 01:43:05 09/19/16) I'm scheduled to have hip replacement surgery in November. Today I took a look at the information packet from the surgeon, and was startled to read that among the things I should plan to never do again was lift more than 25 pounds. I thought I knew a lot about hip replacement surgery, but I don't remember ever hearing that. Is that right? I was really looking forward to not being in pain 24/7 any more, but I'm at least two years away from being able to take it that easy. Who has had hip replacement surgery, and what have you been able to do since having it?

Stan

Stan,
just had my left one done in July... there are three different approaches to this surgery... back, side and front. the surgery from the back is probably the worst since there is so much muscle cut and the restrictions on activity are the worst. Twisting the hip, squatting, etc are limited. The side incision is somewhat better but still care must be taken with certain movements.

I had the front (anterior) incision. Have about a 5" scar on the front of my hip. I was up on it the same day with a walker. Second day I was walkiing the halls w/ walker and physical therapist. Home on third day with visiting therapist doing exercises for range of motion and strength building. In my case, I had very little pain.. There was stiffness and weakness but little pain. DO THE THERAPY !! After two weeks of two a week therapy sessions I was on a cane walking... First of third week I was released and told to use cane when I was on un-even ground. Released from pt and the doctor at end of third week with no restrictions and the only caution was to be careful and 'don't fall". I did my exercises for about three more weeks.

Took it easy for another month and by Sept I was back to doing my normal stuff... Last week I lifted a 100# welder from the floor up on a 32" workbench... now granted... I tried to put all the weight on the other leg and use my left for balance and bracing.

I still have some stiffness and still have to pull up on something when getting up off the floor... but that's 69 birthdays causing that. I struggled with mine for two years till finally it was waking me up at night and I was dragging it around. No cartilage left in joint is wht the doc said.

Talk to your doctor, ask lots of questions and get comfortable with what HE tells you... not the brochure or the internet tells you.. a lot of that info is bad. If I can tell you more let me know

john
 
I have had to have both hips replaced three times, yes each hip three times. The first time the Dr put in faulty parts and my hip fell out of joint just laying in bed. The second replacement came 11 days after the first. The first and second times was bilateral (both at the same time.) The second time I developed heterotopicosification. That is where the body thinks bone is to be healed instead of muscle. The muscle turns to bone. A dose radiation, like cancer patients get, prevents this. The third time the Dr had to remove some of the muscle on each side before replacing each hip. The last replacements were done separately. Same Dr. did the first two, different Dr the last ones. All of this took place in a period of six months. I was told that I have a 60 lb limit. Before the surgeries I was a class 8 truck and trailer mechanic so I had to retire because of the weight limits. I was always doing lots of work at home and had built different lifts and such machinery to lift very heavy materials because I never hired any help. Now I grab the mechanical helpat 50 lbs. I'm not taking any chances. The surgeries took place in 2010. I still do most of the normal stuff I used to do. Two Years ago I rode my Harley Sportster from here in Central Texas to San Diego, up the coast 300 miles and back home, all on two lane roads. I was gone 31 days. Oh yes, the Dr said I would never ride again. I still ride around 2000 miles a month. I don't ride a larger bike because of the 60 lb limit. I can ride a larger bike but can't push it backwards. I refuse to consider anything but a Harley two wheeler. I mow and weedeat several yards to help out folks that need help. I'm very, very active. I go to the gym Monday through Friday each day . I just do that for cardio conditioning,45 minutes each day. I believe the best help for hip replacement is to be in good physical condition and eat healthy. I am 68, will be 69 in two months. I hope all goes well for you. Rick, P.S. I did sell my bigger old iron because it was difficult climb up on it. I still have a Simplicity model D walk behind that I use in the garden.
 
Stan:
My wife had her right hip done about 4 years ago and after recovery she gets around quite well. Just a small scar about 2 inches long in the right hip area. She did all her exercises and things are going well. She was put on her left side so the Dr. could work on the right side. They started at 8AM finished about 10:30 we saw her about 2 PM. We are lucky to have 2 excellent hip and knee surgeons here.
 
Had mine done last November and I don't have any restrictions. I'm 68 and I wish I had done it years ago. They made the incision in the side of my leg.
 
My mother just turned 82 today. Thanks for reminding me to wish her a happy birthday. She just had a new hip installed 3 weeks ago today, so I posed your question to her. For now, she is restricted from lifting anything above that, from driving, from vacuuming, mowing her acreage with a push mower and things as such UNTIL her hip is firmly seated, musculared back in, and so on. She does have to see a physical therapist twice a week, tomorrow and Friday. She also has to see her physician/surgeon for routine inspections...................but she says that there are no long term restrictions. Soon enough, she will be able to get back to mowing her 3+ acres with her old 2-stroke lawnboy push mower that burns oil by design.

Good luck and remind yourself that you aren't the first to go through this generally very highly successful procedure and you won't be the last. Best of luck to you, and no my mom doesn't mow her lawn...by hand, although I have neighbors down the road, a husband and wife about the same age that do. Two push mowers, a couple few acres. I'm not joking, bless their hearts.

Mark
 
I had one done in '09 and the other in '10. End of Feb. for both and I was stacking bales on the wagon and in the barn in June. That restriction may only be for the first month after. I had the side technique and was up walking the next morning, and I'm over 200. Do your therapy and you should be fine. I found that without the pain I actually "wanted" to get up and move around.
 
Stan, I'm going to say that is an incorrect statement put in by that specific doctors office. No where when you google this does it mention any restrictions on lifting after healing. My therapy partner was a hip and they never told her she could not lift things. Once it heals you will be good to go . { Doctor of Harley- Davidsons]
 
We are very fortunate where we live. Rutland Regional Medical Center has two excellent Doctors(they have their own offices across the street)- one for hips Dr. Lightheart and Dr. Marsh for knees. Many of our friends have gone to them and have been very pleased with the result. Getting a GOOD Doctor makes all the difference in the world.
 
Right hip, 2009, left hip, 2015. No restrictions like that....important thing is to do the prescribed exercises. Doesn"t hurt to start them before surgery, if you can.
 
Stan, That does not sound right. I had mine done 6 years ago and was not given that advice. Been working and doing right along since.Best ask the doc though as there may be special circumstances.
Good luck. Mine has been a blessing.
 
I had my right hip replaced mid July this year. I can already do way more than I could before surgery. The surgeon said how long it lasts depends on how I treat it at the beginning. So I did the exercises, used a walker then a cane. Quit using the cane about a month after surgery.. Never heard the 25 lb deal. I was in only overnight and home.by noon the next day. (Home is 150 miles from hospital). Do what they say and you will get better, but the schedule of progression is for a worse case/minimum scenario. Doc told me, if it is sore , OK. If it hurts, back off on it. If it is not sore, get off your a#! $s.
Good luck.
 
As others have said if you have a choice opt for the anterior replacement, it reduces recovery time a bunch. As far as the limitations your Dr. knows you, your medical history and most important your bone. Not everyones femur and pelvis are the same and the new stronger components put a strain on the old bones. Good luck with the surgery, Mike
 
Thank you everyone. Your responses were informative and mostly reassuring, though tempered with enough descriptions of bad---or less than perfect---outcomes to keep it real.

Stan
 
Hi John;

Thanks for the information, and for the advice. I'll do my best to follow it. I can't think of anything else I want to ask right now, but if I think of something, I won't hesitate to contact you.

Stan
 
Thanks for the information, Rick. It seems like you've done an amazing job of coping with some amazingly bad outcomes. Since it was a different surgeon who finally corrected the problems of the first two surgeries (or four surgeries, considering that they were bilateral), do you feel that the problems might not have occurred if that surgeon had been the one to do the replacements in the first place? I'm convinced that the skill and judgment of the surgeon is critical to the success of the procedure, but medical care in the US is generally stingy about releasing information concerning things like track records of surgical (and other) outcomes. I'd be much more comfortable if I were able to use objective measures to choose the surgeon, but it generally comes down to making the decision based on indirect information (for instance, the quality of the hospital or clinic where they practice---if that information is available), as well as a good deal more subjectivity (gut feeling, etc.) than I would prefer to have to count on. I have a good feeling about the surgeon who will perform my operation, and my wife, who has more experience than I do at gauging the difference between what people say and what they can actually do,
feels the same way about him. But I certainly can't say I'll be going into this without some trepidation.

Stan
 
Had it done 21 years ago and no restrictions on anything. Yes, you don't not rush into things and do follow the therapy recommendations.
Ask your surgeon for clarification; it may depend on the type of replacement you are getting. Mine was full hip, ball & socket.
 

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