Hey how goes it !!!
I’m 50 and had a hip replaced 4 months ago … hope I can help with some facts and homework I’ve done.
My damage was done thru years of triathalon training and surfing … but have a few friends back on bikes and running marathons after hip replacements, after responsible and proper rehab…off course
Firstly, my specialist / orthopedic surgeon is a surfer and friend which was a big bonus for getting it right … shaping him a thank you board as we speak !!!
The procedure I had done was a “resurfacing procedure” which is a lot better for active people. This is were the ball and socket joints in your hip are ground back and capped with titanium fittings. The benefit is that if and when it wears out it’s a simple matter of replacing the capping again… all so simple, “yeah right”
The other procedure requires the removal of the ball joint, (cutting of the head of leg bone) and placing a long stem with a new titanium head in it … which is just fine if your 76 and not doing to much, why !!! because this procedure is prone to dislocation more than the other !!! … and as was explained to me, (and makes sense) the leg is a heavy limb and concentrates a lot of pivotal and rotational force around the hip joint … a bit like a slamming, swinging door’s only life line being the hinges that hold it to the rest of the house.
As my surgeon pointed out, getting rag dolled in the surf and dislocating your hip would cause serious implications especially if you consider getting pounded by the rest of the set with a swinging, dislocated, heavy limb … his sobbering prognosos on this senario went along the lines of getting found with your big toe stuck in your ear hole and both lungs full of water … hmmmmm very very painful and not good !!
The long term success of any hip replacement will greatly depend on what happens post operation …very important.
Forget all the bravado you hear about magic overnight recovery’s … bull****
The hip joint is subjected to some pretty heavy trauma in the replacement process … dislocation, ligament damage, muscle damage, bone work, surgery etc etc etc
My surgeon’s personal strict advise to me “no surfing for six months” … as he stated, there is no way the hip can recover its original state before that elapsed time … and I was a fit and healthy 50 year old pre - op.
You need to use the six months post - op to rebuild and repair damage done to hip, prior to operation, (don’t forget your hip has already degenerated and weakened thats why were having this conversation, right !) and post operation. The biggest threat to hip replacement post operation is dislocation, dislocation, dislocation… the joint and everything around it is weak and needs to be rebuilt through rehab.
You have to think long term … don’t skimp or get lazy on proper, relevent rehab … or its back to square one
Four months in and I feel great … any way sorry if some of this sounds heavy, but apart from running and surfing everything is near normal with me
If theres anything else I can help out with happy to chat, I can even go thru my shower fall 4 days after operation or even walking on the same day as the op all good stuff … anyway drop me line if you need anything
Happy dayzzzzzzzzzz
W