# Totally Hip: Replacement **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 25, 2003, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/totally-hip-replacement/184286 "2003-06-25T13:39:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![meow\_meow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@meow\_meow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/meow_meow)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2003, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/totally-hip-replacement/184286/1 "2003-06-25T13:39:59Z")
I was wondering if any of you have had any experiences with total hip replacement surgery. My husband is having this done on Tuesday, and although the doctors and therapists have told us pretty much what to expect, the more information the better, I say. He has avascular necrosis. He’s only 31, and healthy otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2003, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/totally-hip-replacement/184286/2 "2003-06-25T14:17:42Z")
I had it done three years ago. I believe they make a much smaller incision now. The morphine enabled me to quit smoking. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![OldBroad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ed655f/32.png) [@OldBroad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldBroad)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2003, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/totally-hip-replacement/184286/3 "2003-06-25T14:37:11Z")
My 90-year old mother had this done last fall. Perhaps the age difference makes this irrelevant to your 31 year old husband but: she was able to get around pretty easily much faster than had been predicted. She was able to get back to her own bed much later than predicted. She found it difficult to get herself up from her relatively low bed. She got a great _Lazy Boy_ that lifts her to help her stand, and slept in that for a couple of months. Actually she slept in that chair longer than necessary just because it is so comfortable. Therapists came to get her up and walking before she was recovered from the anesthetic. They were adamant that she get up and moving – until she threw up on them. They finally decided that another hour or two of just lying there wouldn’t do irreparable harm and they went off to find clean clothes. She did very well after surgery, so at his age he should, too. Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![justwannano](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7ab992/32.png) [@justwannano](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justwannano)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2003, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/totally-hip-replacement/184286/4 "2003-06-25T15:12:41Z")
I had my left hip replaced in 2K. Your husband is quite young for the operation. Usually its the older folks. I’m 57 and am still considered young for the operation. I have difficulty with walking on uneven surfaces. Had to quit hunting and trapping. I’ve heard about the smaller incision that carniverous plant refers to. I was in a great deal of pain before the operation. None afterwards. Now if I twist the wrong way it hurts but it goes away soon afterwards. ---
**Author:** ![meow\_meow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@meow\_meow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/meow_meow)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2003, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/totally-hip-replacement/184286/5 "2003-06-25T15:53:25Z")
Thanks for the replies. **Old Broad** - 90! wow. **justwannano** - He is young for this - there was no alternative, though. His hip has actually died and is in the stage of flattening/crumbling. He is in a lot of pain. He saw another doctor about putting it off for awhile and having a fibular bone graft, but he is past the stage where that will be effective. I asked the surgeon about what happens in 15 years when the part wears out, and he said that they will go back in and make adjustments. The thing that scares me the most is constantly worrying about blood clots and infections. yikes. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2003, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/totally-hip-replacement/184286/6 "2003-06-25T16:05:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by meow meow \* > \*\* worrying about blood clots and infections. \*\* They give a blood thinner while it’s healing. Made my guns bleed. I have to take antibiotics when I get my teeth cleaned in case they jab me and get something in the blood stream. I have a little restricted movement in it. but no difficulty walking. I replaced the siding on the house with ladders and scaffolding and the associated climbing. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2003, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/totally-hip-replacement/184286/7 "2003-06-25T16:06:07Z")
Gums, not guns. Obviously didn’t help my typing. ---
**Author:** ![meow\_meow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@meow\_meow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/meow_meow)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2003, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/totally-hip-replacement/184286/8 "2003-06-25T16:26:14Z")
Bleeding guns. Hee. Good thing you corrected that as I surely don’t need another thing to worry about, like the possibility of cleaning up after bloody guns. That crazy raised toilet they are going to give us seems bad enough! Good to know you have healed up nicely! ---
**Author:** ![justwannano](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7ab992/32.png) [@justwannano](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justwannano)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2003, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/totally-hip-replacement/184286/9 "2003-06-25T18:09:04Z")
That raised toilet isn’t a problem. I wore wind pants after my op. it helps get out of bed. I just hooked my good leg under the leg and slipped out. The infection thing is a concern.but not so much to keepring. My joint was deterioted badly also. once it gets to bone on bone it is no choice. best of luck to you both. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2003, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/totally-hip-replacement/184286/10 "2003-06-25T18:24:33Z")
Hey, it’s not that bad. I saw an amputee in the therapy room (they make you walk up and down the hall a bit before they let you out) and I thought how damn _happy_ I was to be having a joint replaced. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![justwannano](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7ab992/32.png) [@justwannano](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justwannano)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/totally-hip-replacement/184286/11 "2003-06-26T04:40:40Z")
My neighbor just shook his head in amazement when he saw me walking down the road shortly after I got home. He knew how bad a shape I was in before the replacement. A note to Mr Meow A word of caution though. Go Slow.Make sure your healed before using the leg. It’s a great feeling to walk without pain and easy to forget what you’ve just been through.Don’t over do it. the best to you ---
**Author:** ![Miabella](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ccd318/32.png) [@Miabella](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miabella)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/totally-hip-replacement/184286/12 "2003-06-27T18:23:28Z")
My best wishes to your husband. I have no experience with the surgery in humans, but I did have the procedure done to one of my dogs who had severe hip dysplasia. It made a significant difference in her quality of life, she was able to live without chronic pain while doing the normal things big dogs like to do. Different species, I know, but the surgery is basically the same. The recovery period is critical, please make sure that your husband adheres to the doc’s recommendations for exercise restriction. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/totally-hip-replacement/184286/13 "2003-06-27T18:31:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Miabella \* > \*\*please make sure that your husband adheres to the doc’s recommendations for exercise restriction. \*\* And that he has fresh water and a squeaky toy. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![easy\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/eb8c5e/32.png) [@easy\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/easy_e)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/totally-hip-replacement/184286/14 "2003-06-27T21:03:10Z")
And remember that there are some seemingly normal activities that can put quite a strain on the hip joint, especially if the bone hasn’t healed around it yet. Some examples from my biomechanics class include: -walking up or down stairs -standing on one leg to put a pair of pants on -sitting in a chair, or getting out of one Our professor told us stories of people with lower limb joint implants who had their implant fail under conditions like that. We had to do calculations for the forces on the hip joint when you’re standing on one leg, and the numbers are pretty amazing. I’m sure all of this info will be included in some sort of physical therapy information. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/totally-hip-replacement/184286/15 "2003-06-27T21:07:18Z")
It hurts just thinking about it…thanks, easy. I hope you have a crummy weekend! 🙂