UKC

I am shortly due to have a full replacement operation on my left hip and after that another one on my right hip. In the lead up to this I have been given a variety of advice from the hip specialist, my own GP and an occupational therapist, not all of it consistent. Some of the possible post op limitations suggested include not being able to drive for 6 weeks or in another case 12 weeks, not being able to sit in anything other than a bolt upright position for 3 months, not being allowed to lie down for more than an hour during the day, not being allowed to take a bath rather than a shower, not being able to fly for 3 months etc, etc. I appreciate that all the advice I have been given is well meaning but some of it seemed couched in terms that might usually be addressed to someone who was generally not very fit/active and who might be a lot older than me - I am 60. 

I would be very interested to know how other active climbers of my age who have had this operation actually found the recovery period. What was the real extent of the limitations you faced, how swiftly did matters improve, were there times when you think you maybe pushed  it too far too soon?

Thanks

Colin

Sorry I don't fulfil your criteria for answering, but here goes... 

 I would seek out a physio - there is some evidence for physiotherapy before surgery being useful, some for physio afterwards more recently (after some earlier work that doubted its usefulness) - but this is the goto service for me as they seem to be most holistic in approach.

 Having had a couple of these ops in the family (one in a 40 something male) and the other in a much older person the advice above seems harsh unless they are just being pessimistic, but my experience is of unilateral surgery and 2 hips might make a difference. It could be that during rehab for the first leg you are going to place great stress on the other leg and this might change everything and a cautious approach is necessary.

It is very disconcerting when the medics we see disagree, so I wish you the best of luck and a speedy recovery. 

Quite interested in this as well - there are some old threads here on this topic that are worth a read. 

I think that a lot of the projections are for people who are spectacularly inactive. I've been doing physiotherapy for some time in preparation, which has improved stability not strength. It's the stability that is key to avoid device dislocation.  

https://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/rocktalk/climbing_after__hip_replacement_...

https://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/expedition+alpine/hip_replacement_-_how_l...

https://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/hilltalk/hillwalking_after_total_hip_repl...

https://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/rocktalk/hip_replacement_post-op-675154

https://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/rocktalk/climbing_after_a_hip_replacement...

That compilation is partly for my benefit!

Good luck with the ops Colin.  Have you spoken to Mike Arnold?  I remember him having a hip replacement from the Broughton days.  John Stringfellow will have his contact details if you don't have them. 

Ive emailed you.

My partner has had both hips replaced. First one was at 55 and second last Dec at 59. This is early but because of displaysia which wasn't picked up when born at home in the 1950s. For years she pushed on kicking the problem down the road using prescription NSAIs and a PPI to counter the effects of the former. Both operations have been a big success. She can regularly walk 9-10 mile and upon occasion far more. Good luck.

I think recovery speed depends on how fit you are before the operation. The fitter the better and the quicker you'll recover (dependent on how the operation goes). But I have a friend who quickly had no limitations at all after 12 weeks or so. And was active a lot sooner than that.

As pneame says, a lot of the advice is for very infirm people. The threads posted are well worth looking at, and you'll see that things are not necessarily as bad as the advice suggests. The long-term prospects are pretty good; the limitations on mobility are a pain to start with (I found the limitations on sitting the worst - didn't feel comfortable anywhere. Get good cushions...). 

One thing that's important is the kind of prosthesis you get. Some of these limit your mobility for a shorter time than others, which is why you see conflicting advice about 6 or 12 weeks before being able to certain things. I can't remember when I chucked my crutches away, but I do remember it was sooner than I expected. I had a stick for a few days after that and then just let my body lead the way. 

I found getting a new hip was the nearest thing to a miracle cure I've ever experienced.  The sense of relief when I found that my new hip moved freely without pain was fantastic! I went from a bucketful of pain relievers every day pre-op to a couple of paracetamol and a codeine at night within a few days of the op. I know that doesn't happen to everyone, but generally speaking this op works really well. 

Good luck anyway...

You've already had a load of good advice, and links to even more via UKC. You'll probably come across my two pennies worth, written within a few weeks of my RH replacement, but one year on I can add to that, positively I hope. I drove (probably illegally) after 3 weeks - but not far, and only the once (I was stir-crazy! My partner doesn't drive and I NEEDED to walk in a wood, up a hill etc) Long story short - gym 6 weeks on, climbing-wall 7 weeks on, 4 hr hill walk 6 weeks on, easy solos (Windgather) after 4 months, leading VS (Stanage) just after. I'm a bit worried about falling at start of climbs, and have restricted myself to bolted quarries (I bought a clipstick) leading upto 6b. Cycling's good, running's OK but a bit worrying!

I'm 71, so time is on YOUR side! There are no REAL constraints on what I want to do. Once over the initial few weeks ( difficult to sleep, awkward to sit comfortably etc, those horrid self- injections etc) when I acted like a MONSTER (I'm told!) it's been nearly all good. There is the worry that  you've overdone things, landed awkwardly, twisted something, but if YOU'VE DONE THE EXERCISES before and after the op, and extended your walks every day, all should be good

If you want further advice the PM me

Good luck      Richard

Oh - and when you're walking remember to stand up straight, and walk always in a straight line (no slouching!) with that book-on-your-head. Otherwise you'll up like the chap in my choir who didn't listen to me and he rolls along like a sailor on leave ashore!