Hip replacement, recovery and riding

[Ceriann]

So 10 months post my fall (fractured and displaced hip, fixed with 3 screws), 4 of which have been battling with varying levels of pain (with x-Rays showing that my screws are sticking into my muscle), it looks like I'm not invincible and my hip bone is deteriorating. Appointment to work out timings for screw removal became a "sorry but it looks like you have bone deterioration around the fracture - it's looking a replacement is your only option". I've always known I was a high risk candidate but it's still a blow and my head is exploding with all the info on the Internet!! My surgeon tells me I will be back on a horse in no time (something I haven't done since the break due to risk and pain) - it's not my primary focus but it's a good threshold for how normal life will be post op.

Anyone out there with similar experiences and any advice re what to ask, with recovery and later on how to get back in the saddle?

 

[Red-1]

Hi, I have taught several people after a replacement hip. All I can say is that they rode as if they were 100% fit! I believe they were back in the saddle after about 3 months, although I would wait for someone with more personal experience to confirm.

As to returning to the saddle, the people with replacement hips were already riding when taught them, but as a confidence based trainer I have helped a lot of people back to riding after serious injuries. I would wait until you feel fairly robust walking and stretching, and are able to do some strength work, such as yoga/pilates. That way you have confidence that your body can cope if there is something unexpected happen.

I wld start with a sit on, a walk and a dismount. Simple as! Often I have led the horse to a huge mounting block, and led them around too, to be sure. Then you can take it from there for the next time, but you will have made sure noting will cramp up etc. Often it will come naturally if you don't push it.

Good luck with your operation.

 

[Horse lover19]

Your probably annoyed with your surgeon but have a word with him and see what he says! Also it depends on when your happy. There shouldn't be too much of a risk after the op as there a no screws to move and the only risk is the bone deteration which is probably very low after anyway.
As long as it doesn't hurt you should be okay just seek advice and keep it in mind. Hope this helps!

 

[splashgirl45]

I had Birmingham hip resurfacing(supposed to be better than total hip replacement for active people) on both of my hips 2006 & 2007 but unfortunately have had to now have total hip replacement and bone grafts because my bone had been worn away..its a very long story....anyway after the first hip ops I was walking without sticks within 6 weeks and riding by 12 weeks...just got on my horse and had no problems...after the last op which was quite complicated, I was not allowed to put any weight on that leg for 8 weeks so recovery was a lot slower and I had the complication of nerve damage in my upper leg......was walking without sticks after about 12 weeks but was not agile enough to consider riding for 6 months and then I had a lesson on a mechanical horse just to make sure it was not going to be too painful..then got on my horse and was fine...I am an oldie so I think recovery takes longer, good luck...just read the other posts and remembered I never get on from the ground as mounting is the most difficult part of riding in my case but otherwise I am fine to ride..

 

[Ceriann]

Hi, I have taught several people after a replacement hip. All I can say is that they rode as if they were 100% fit! I believe they were back in the saddle after about 3 months, although I would wait for someone with more personal experience to confirm.

As to returning to the saddle, the people with replacement hips were already riding when taught them, but as a confidence based trainer I have helped a lot of people back to riding after serious injuries. I would wait until you feel fairly robust walking and stretching, and are able to do some strength work, such as yoga/pilates. That way you have confidence that your body can cope if there is something unexpected happen.

I wld start with a sit on, a walk and a dismount. Simple as! Often I have led the horse to a huge mounting block, and led them around too, to be sure. Then you can take it from there for the next time, but you will have made sure noting will cramp up etc. Often it will come naturally if you don't push it.

Good luck with your operation.

You sound like my perfect instructor for post op!! My fall wasn't horrendous - leg injury was the only injury but my mare freaked after the saddle slipped so my last experience riding was scary. It's also 10 months ago so I'm likely to be 13/14 months out of the saddle. The taking it slow process sounds exactly what I will need to do. It's great to hear you have so many positive stories too - it's what I do to keep fit so I really don't want to give up (though my hunting aspirations may well be over). Thank you

 

[Ceriann]

I had Birmingham hip resurfacing(supposed to be better than total hip replacement for active people) on both of my hips 2006 & 2007 but unfortunately have had to now have total hip replacement and bone grafts because my bone had been worn away..its a very long story....anyway after the first hip ops I was walking without sticks within 6 weeks and riding by 12 weeks...just got on my horse and had no problems...after the last op which was quite complicated, I was not allowed to put any weight on that leg for 8 weeks so recovery was a lot slower and I had the complication of nerve damage in my upper leg......was walking without sticks after about 12 weeks but was not agile enough to consider riding for 6 months and then I had a lesson on a mechanical horse just to make sure it was not going to be too painful..then got on my horse and was fine...I am an oldie so I think recovery takes longer, good luck...just read the other posts and remembered I never get on from the ground as mounting is the most difficult part of riding in my case but otherwise I am fine to ride..

Hip resurfacing isn't an option for me as the deterioration isn't at head, it's at the fracture. Hats off to you going through your processes and your recovery. I'm trying to think of the positives - no pain, I can walk, ride etcetera - all things I can't currently do. It's great to hear such a positive story. Has anything limited what you do eg long hacks, jumping? Mentally does it feature for you when you ride? Thank you

 

[Goldenstar]

I had mine replaced I broke the head of my femur in 1991 and had hip pin removed a year later as it caused me awful pain .
My hip was finally replaced around five years ago.
It's easy peasy you have the OP you walk on crutches the next day I went home the day after that you walk and walk and walk and in just short of six weeks I was back on the horse ,I now hunt, jump do dressage everything .
Now it hurts a bit when they mobilise you but from the moment I woke up in recovery the awful painful chronic hip pain was gone .
I did need a lot of sports type massage and help from the physio because I had a lot of soft tissue stuff going on as my muscles etc got used to having a mobile hip again.

On the down side my brother was not so lucky he's one of the one in every hundred that get a hospital acquired infection in the implant they replaced the implant after a year but failed to get rid of the infection last Friday he had the second one removed the poor bloke is now stuck in hospital for a month minus his hip while they try to get rid of the infection again .

 

[splashgirl45]

I ride as long as I want to but only hack nowadays as my horse is 24 and semi retired(she doesn't think she is though) but is not a quiet plod so I have to be quite alert especially in the winter. as I said before I am an oldie (70 next year) so my back wouldn't take jumping even if I wanted to...but I would happily do a bit of dressage if I had a younger horse to ride. I am not completely pain free so be prepared to maybe have a little bit of discomfort, mine is when I get up after sitting for a while and it takes a few steps to get going ,I also find driving for longer than about an hour can get uncomfortable so I stop and have a bit of a walk then carry on driving...when I ride I don't ever think about hip replacements, just enjoy what I am doing.... ,,it now seems that hip resurfacing isn't being recommended for women as there have been so many problems and I have an appointment at the hospital next week to discuss when my second hip is to be re-done, not looking forward to that!!!!!

 

[Ceriann]

I had mine replaced I broke the head of my femur in 1991 and had hip pin removed a year later as it caused me awful pain .
My hip was finally replaced around five years ago.
It's easy peasy you have the OP you walk on crutches the next day I went home the day after that you walk and walk and walk and in just short of six weeks I was back on the horse ,I now hunt, jump do dressage everything .
Now it hurts a bit when they mobilise you but from the moment I woke up in recovery the awful painful chronic hip pain was gone .
I did need a lot of sports type massage and help from the physio because I had a lot of soft tissue stuff going on as my muscles etc got used to having a mobile hip again.

On the down side my brother was not so lucky he's one of the one in every hundred that get a hospital acquired infection in the implant they replaced the implant after a year but failed to get rid of the infection last Friday he had the second one removed the poor bloke is now stuck in hospital for a month minus his hip while they try to get rid of the infection again .

Getting rid of the pain sounds good, as does the recovery time. I will be all over physio - I haven't had any since the screws started to hurt but loved the weekly sessions before that.

Your poor brother though - I have read about infection risks - it is so rare but it's on the list of things I want to raise at my next app. Stats etc. I hope he makes a speedy recovery this time.

 

[Ceriann]

I ride as long as I want to but only hack nowadays as my horse is 24 and semi retired(she doesn't think she is though) but is not a quiet plod so I have to be quite alert especially in the winter. as I said before I am an oldie (70 next year) so my back wouldn't take jumping even if I wanted to...but I would happily do a bit of dressage if I had a younger horse to ride. I am not completely pain free so be prepared to maybe have a little bit of discomfort, mine is when I get up after sitting for a while and it takes a few steps to get going ,I also find driving for longer than about an hour can get uncomfortable so I stop and have a bit of a walk then carry on driving...when I ride I don't ever think about hip replacements, just enjoy what I am doing.... ,,it now seems that hip resurfacing isn't being recommended for women as there have been so many problems and I have an appointment at the hospital next week to discuss when my second hip is to be re-done, not looking forward to that!!!!!

I love hacking but I'm not sure I will ever do it the same again as my head tells me I can't risk Tarmac again!! A few aches I'll be fine with - small price to pay. Resurfacing is more iffy for women though the surgeon I saw today has a 93% success rate apparently (though no good for me as not an option). Do you need your hip re-done now? I was told expectations are now at least 15 years life out of a new hip.

 

[Sukistokes2]

A FB friend of mine, who I know through the local dressage show had a double hip replacement. I don't know how long it took her to get back in the saddle but I have known her for a year and she has gone from intro to higher prelims in that time and is doing really well, only saw her today having a lesson on her horse.

 

[karenb]

I had a THR 5 years ago and my experience and recovery was similar to Goldenstars. I was back riding after 19 weeks, that felt the right time to me to get back on board. I had a few gentle hacks the first two weeks then was back riding out for a couple of hours after that. I do everything that I did before and ride Irish Draughts one of which was 17.2. Once the op is done then the hip is 'fixed' it's just a mechanical part, but you must do the boring boring physio. Don't rush to get back riding, you'll know when you're ready. I have had a few falls off young horses since and the new hip stayed in place! I now have to have the other hip done and hoping that will be sooner rather than later. Feel free to PM me if you wish and good luck with your op.

 

[Ceriann]

A FB friend of mine, who I know through the local dressage show had a double hip replacement. I don't know how long it took her to get back in the saddle but I have known her for a year and she has gone from intro to higher prelims in that time and is doing really well, only saw her today having a lesson on her horse.

Good to hear examples of life as normal post hip replacement - thank you.

 

[splashgirl45]

I love hacking but I'm not sure I will ever do it the same again as my head tells me I can't risk Tarmac again!! A few aches I'll be fine with - small price to pay. Resurfacing is more iffy for women though the surgeon I saw today has a 93% success rate apparently (though no good for me as not an option). Do you need your hip re-done now? I was told expectations are now at least 15 years life out of a new hip.

your surgeon may have been lucky but there are lots of stories on the internet regarding failed hip resurfacing so I am afraid I am a sceptic. I was told the resurfacing would last at least 15 years, both started to fail after 4 years!!!!! total hip rep should last around 25 years and they have been going for a very long time successfully. its complicated but the resurfacing is metal on metal and I have high levels of metal ions in my blood stream which have caused the bone damage and also can cause other complications. yes my second hip needs replacing in the not too distant future so forgive me if I don't believe your surgeon..

 

[Ceriann]

He's the guy who led the Birmingham hip replacement (I've been googling him post my app as I usually see someone else). I'd read separately that women are more complicated for resurfacing - typical! One of my dilemmas is to go back to my original surgeon - they all put themselves forward as the best!! On the positive I've read a few stories of THR's now lasting 40 years! That would do for me!!

 

[splashgirl45]

yes THR is the way to go....my current surgeon says that BHR doesn't seem to work on women or small men, and he is being kept busy with revision surgery on mainly women.....he has no reason to be against BHR as his father and had BHR and has been fine for over 10 years...so he was quite surprised when so many had gone wrong... the problems were discovered in 2010 which is why I was being monitored by x rays, mri scans and blood tests....but didn't have revision surgery till 2013 on my first hip....

 

[Ceriann]

I meant to say he led Birmingham hip resurfacing (I need to get my terminology right)! I guess the proof is in the results and they take time to come through. It sounds like you've had a tough time - in some ways for me knowing which way it's gone is positive, i can have the THR and move on.

 

[splashgirl45]

yes THR will probably improve your quality of life...im glad I have given you something positive, which is why I felt I had post and explain what had happened to me so others will be very cautious about BHR....yes its been tough but my daily life is ok at the moment and I can ride and walk my dogs so not all bad.....

 

[Goldenstar]

Having been taken through the whole BHR thing when I was deciding what to do with my hip there's no way I would want one .
I went for a delta ceramic implant BTW .

 

[splashgirl45]

Having been taken through the whole BHR thing when I was deciding what to do with my hip there's no way I would want one .
I went for a delta ceramic implant BTW .

unfortunately i was told BHR was the best thing for an active younger person and 60 was the cut off age, i was 60 at the time and now really wish i had been 61!!!!!! before i had BHR i had pain 24/7, couldn't ride, could barely walk anywhere and hardly slept....after the op had some pain but much better, could then ride, walk and sleep, wonderful!!!! a few years on and the pain came back and once again couldn't ride,walk or sleep, now after revision surgery , still a bit of pain but can do almost everything i want but have been left with other health issues which are ongoing and wouldn't want anyone else to go through what i have which is why i have posted so much detail.

 

[Ceriann]

Having been taken through the whole BHR thing when I was deciding what to do with my hip there's no way I would want one .
I went for a delta ceramic implant BTW .

Did your surgeon give you or talk you through the options for a total hip replacement? Mine suggested one yesterday but I'll be honest the jump from having a follow up to have screws taken out to discussing the need for a new hip was a bit too much (given the 10 min appointment you get given)!!

 

[Goldenstar]

Yes he did .
I opted for the delta cermanic implant as part of it's EU trial .
I had no choice other than to replace mine several surgeries to the other leg ( which I had broken ) left my hip completely worn out because I had months and months on crutches .
I was a private patient so they do have more time with you .
One in 100 get infection but it varies by hospital so ask this question the hospital who did my brothers was one in two hundred so he was unlucky .
There is plenty of other data they can give you on other complications but as they are not adjusted by age they mean little if you are at the young end of the scale .
I had no choice I just could not walk /sleep even with heavy duty pain relief and the surgeon looking after my leg did not want to any more to the leg until I had a decent hip to hop on .

 

[Ceriann]

Yes he did .
I opted for the delta cermanic implant as part of it's EU trial .
I had no choice other than to replace mine several surgeries to the other leg ( which I had broken ) left my hip completely worn out because I had months and months on crutches .
I was a private patient so they do have more time with you .
One in 100 get infection but it varies by hospital so ask this question the hospital who did my brothers was one in two hundred so he was unlucky .
There is plenty of other data they can give you on other complications but as they are not adjusted by age they mean little if you are at the young end of the scale .
I had no choice I just could not walk /sleep even with heavy duty pain relief and the surgeon looking after my leg did not want to any more to the leg until I had a decent hip to hop on .

Thank you - the surgeon I've been seeing is private but the surgeon who delivered the latest news was NHS as my original consultant wanted to operate to remove my screws in an NHS hospital. He ended up not being there as on holiday and hadn't passed on any notes. It was a bit of a shambles really but even my untrained eye could see the issues on the X-ray (they've been good and clean up until now). I'm 40 so not young but still youngish for THR. I've done a lot of research today and found a localism hospital and consultant with very good stats etc. I'm pretty fed up with my pain and it's starting to affect my sleep - sitting, walking, driving etc already affected.