My hip tips (I had November THR)

[Guest guest]

I had a total hip replacement on my right hip last month.

Here are some tips I'd like to pass along, based on my experience:

TIPS:

1. Do research about doctors, methods, outcomes, etc. beforehand. Go

into the hospital confident about why you're going in and know that

you are R-E-A-D-Y. I researched a LOT beforehand. I read stuff on

the Internet, asked questions to doctors, etc.

2. Be confident in your surgeon.

3. Note that there is a lot of talk about manufacturers of the

materials (e.g. Stryker). I think the more important factors are

clearly:

A: Which DOCTOR (they're different - some are better or more

experienced; a doctor may not use all choices of materials (see 3B);

a doctor may have a preferred method of access to the hip (see 3C)).

B: Which MATERIALS work best for you (ceramic, metal, other).

C: Which METHOD OF ACCESS to the hip (anterior, posterior).

4. Do exercises beforehand.

5. Have family or friends scheduled to help you afterward, if at all

possible. Plan out the surgery, immediate hospital stay and the post-

op rehab.

6. Put forth a serious effort on the post-op Physical Therapy. Get a

good physical therapist and work at all your post-op exercises. You

got this far, don't slack off now.

7. Take music player (CD, Cassette, MP3 player, Ipod, etc.) with

earphones to hospital. With soft tunes. Great for post-op recovery,

including sleepless nights.

8. Post-op motion precaution and other things are DIFFERENT depending

on your surgeon, which method (see 3C above) was used and other

factors. Everyone talks about motion precautions

but they are DIFFERENT for different people, not the same for

everyone. E.g. some allow moving leg backwards, some don't. Some

allow compressing joint less than 90 degrees, some don't.

9. Don't shave your hip beforehand. An inadvertent cut might get you

sent home on Op Day. Let them shave you.

10. Everyone is different. I am 50 and have been active so my post-

op and rehab have been quicker than some others. Just realize there

is no one schedule for everyone.

PS: I'd be glad to share more of my experience with others, if folks

are interested, especially if younger and active. In brief, before

the surgery, I had bone-on-bone in the joint (cartilage had worn

out), a lot of pain, limping and hindered activity. After the

operation, I have had no pain and a very quick and functional

recovery so far.