Riding after hip replacement.

FrecklesTheCat

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Obviously I'll be guided my my physiotherapist and consultant but . . .

For those who have had a hip replacement:
How long did it take to get back into the saddle?
What do you think helped or hindered your recovery?

Mine is getting done next month and I'm presently nervous - but looking forward to getting off all of the painkillers!
 

Follysmum

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My mum has had both of hers done. First time she took about 4mths to get on board again at 67, 2nd one done at 70 and back in saddle at 3mths. She does have severe osteoporosis and arthritis so not being as active as normal hindered her recovery time as it really knocked the stuffing out of her. The best advice she was given from her friend was to get as mobile as you can and make sure you do your exercises.
 

Suby2

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I had my hip replacement six years ago due to osteoarthritis and hack out three times a week. My advice would be to follow the physio exercises to the letter. It made an amazing difference to my life. (I will be 70 next year) The other hip is still dodgy but not nearly as bad as the other one and so is not likely to be replaced.
 

oldie48

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A friend is currently recovering from her second hip replacement, having had the one hip done some years ago. She reckons on 12 weeks to get back aboard, she's a very fit 60 yr old, who does pilates regularly, she's also quite light weight and does her exercises regularly. Initially she'll only ride something super safe though.
 

Silver Clouds

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I had my first one in my early thirties, having not ridden for about two years prior to surgery due to the state of the joint (my 'real' one). For six months prior to surgery I was unable to put that foot to the ground (the ligaments had contracted around the joint and the joint had 'compressed' due to missing bone) so I lost quite a lot of muscle in that leg (and the other one as I wasn't able to be very active). I started riding again six months post surgery, I would have tried sooner but there were complications. The biggest immediate difficulty was strength, but this has gradually improved the more I rode.

I am now able to ride more now than I was ever able to in the ten years building up to surgery (the hospital tried to delay it as long as possible due to my age), and have great fun now hacking, schooling and competing. My biggest ongoing challenge is that I'm twisted through my pelvis, and my leg on the replacement side is weak when riding (due to nerve damage)- but these are partly due to problems during the surgery and partly due to the condition that resulted in the surgery being necessary. In my early twenties when I had to stop competing I thought that was it, so I am over the moon to have been able to get out and about again! I have however, spoken to two other people who had replacements at a relatively young age, and neither of them have been left with any problems when riding

I would definitely say that if you don't feel that the NHS-provided physio is enough then it is worth paying to see a private physio. Prior to surgery the hospital promised all sorts, but once I was discharged from hospital that was it regarding NHS support. A combination of private physio (in the month following surgery) and Alexander Technique work (ongoing) has made a MASSIVE difference to the outcome for me.

Good luck with your surgery and with your future riding adventures!
 

splashgirl45

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i have had both hips replaced, and one of them done again and riding is the most comfortable place for me. walking,bending,getting up from the floor all of these are not easy and cause some pain. my first ones were not total hip replacements but birmingham resurfacing which is different and is not now done on women because of the failure rate, which is why i had a total hip replacement on one of them and the other may need replacing at a later date. it took me 3 months before riding and i am much more comfortable than before so dont worry, you will be fine just do the exercises..
 

karenb

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I had my first hip done 9 years ago and had my second one done 3 years ago, I'm 59 and both ops have been a great success. Agree with others who have said how important it is to do the physio, it is critical to getting your muscles built back up. Don't think about how quick you can get back in the saddle, the right time is when you realise that you've forgotten that you've had the operation. I rode 19 weeks after my first op on my big but very sensible Irish draught and second time it was was about 28 weeks because I decided to leave it till after the winter and I had a youngster.
Then just take it at a pace that suits you. I find that Pilates and yoga helps with my flexibility.
Hope all goes well, it's amazing when you come round from the op and find that all that pain has gone.
 

neddy man

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Had my left hand hip replaced lin December 2016 being in so much pain i hadn't rode for over 6 months. While in clinic my bed neighbour told me he played cricket and a professional player who had a hip replacement told him STRICTLY follow the clinics recovery process, both of us followed his advice, he is playing regular cricket, and i am riding 6 days a week for 1and a 1/2 to 2 hours a day in summer and 4 days a week in winter. Doing to much exercise can be as bad as not doing enough, another thing i found personally was keep useing 2 walking sticks instead of 1, it keeps you more central and avoids you leaning to one side. Much as i wanted to i avoided rushing any recovery and didn't ride until April when the clocks had gone forward, 20 minutes the 1st day 45 mins on the second 1 hour the 3rd and back up to 2 hours within a week, covering lots of hill work, lots of trotting and a good canter every day, having the op was the best thing i have ever done for my health and sanity. If i ever need my other hip doing (just of to touch some wood) i will be back to Barlborough clinic in a flash, fully recomend a hip replacement to anyone who is suffering.
,
 

QuantockHills

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I had my first hip replacement aged 40 and the second one a year later. Prior to the new hips, I would ride but be in agony most of the time. Getting on was very painful and i couldnt normally sit in the saddle for the first 10 minutes. I would also have to get off and walk every so often. Since my replacements, I have been able to ride for hours with no pain or problems. I was back in the saddle after 10 weeks after the first replacement but i think this was too quick and waited 3 months after the second one. My top tip is like others have said above and to follow the physio advice and exercises to the letter! good luck.
 

FrecklesTheCat

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Thanks Guys,

Op was 20th, was out on the 23rd. Seems to have gone well. :)

Christmas was a bit weird - My kids chose to go through to Granny and Grampa while I was in - and there through until yesterday - it was a bit strange waking without them on Christmas Day. We headed through to them all early on to spend the day with them. Unfortunately I didn't manage the whole day :( We do the main Christmas meal in the evening so it meant I missed Christmas Dinner - we had Christmas Curry instead :D

My wee man came home with us - but daughter is still there as her cousins are all through today so she wanted to see them. Hubby will go and collect her later.

The hip itself is fab, previous pain all gone - but oh boy are the muscles objecting :p Hopefully they'll shut up quickly. I'm being a good girl and doing my exercises and trying to do little regular walks too. I'm not totally sure if I'm due more physio - but even if not I'm going to request some. My hip complaints stem from having been born with dislocated hips and been picked up late. My weak hip/leg was replaced 17 years ago and this is the stronger leg being done now. I'm finding that the weakness of the other side is causing problems with getting up etc. that I hadn't foreseen - so I figure this is a good opportunity now to get me all sorted out :)

As an interesting aside: As the anaesthetist was giving me my spinal - he commented that my back ligaments were strong - unusual for someone with life long hip problems as it usually indicates someone who has done a lot of sport as a child. The only thing it could be is my riding!

On a less serious note: When I came round after my op I noticed that my right hand with the drip in it was really bloody and resting on a pillow also covered in blood . . slightly concerning. . . Turns out that, I was one of the ones that the anaesthetist had warned me about that doesn't actually doze with the sedation that they use to accompany the spinal. No, I was the one who every time one of the surgery team came round the screen so that I could see them, waved at them. On one occasion waving so much I managed to pull my drip out . . . . Theres always one . . . . . . why's it always me :p:D:p
 

cobgoblin

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Thanks Guys,

Op was 20th, was out on the 23rd. Seems to have gone well. :)


On a less serious note: When I came round after my op I noticed that my right hand with the drip in it was really bloody and resting on a pillow also covered in blood . . slightly concerning. . . Turns out that, I was one of the ones that the anaesthetist had warned me about that doesn't actually doze with the sedation that they use to accompany the spinal. No, I was the one who every time one of the surgery team came round the screen so that I could see them, waved at them. On one occasion waving so much I managed to pull my drip out . . . . Theres always one . . . . . . why's it always me :p:D:p


LOL!.... Love the thought of you waving at the surgical team.
 

Reacher

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Wishing you a speedy recovery (very funny re waving at the surgeon)
Mum (age 79) had hip replacement in September, was back at RS in November. Did her exercises faithfully. Came to visit over Christmas and rode my horse today for the first time!20FF15CA-E36B-439E-A2FC-0AF07D7C555A.png
 

neddy man

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A tip i was given , when negotiating stairs / steps real leg goes to heaven 1st, (going up) artificial leg goes to hell 1st(going down ) i found it helped a lot.If the pavements slope side to side put the artificial leg to the lower side (or walk on the flat road if no traffic about).Glad everything has gone well, hope you have an excellent recovery.
 

Loobiloo69

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Just had a hip replacement and found this forum soooo reassuring. Haven’t been able to ride consistently for about 4yrs due to hips and knee and now can’t wait to get back in the saddle at 59 yrs old. Thank you everyone for sharing so much on this forum!
 

Goldenstar

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Within six weeks I was back to normal except better because I had no hip pain neither of my hips is my own .
I never give them a second thought .
 

ycbm

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I met a friend yesterday I hadn't seen got a few years. She had a hip replacement at 65 ish and was back on board in 8 weeks. Her consultant apparently went spare and she told him she was perfectly well able to monitor her own body for pain and would have stopped had there been any, but there wasn't.
.
 

Ceriann

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I had THR 3 weeks ago, but due to trauma, not elective.
I'm aiming at 3 months with the approval of Surgeon.
Will see how it goes.
I had the same, though THR was 11 months post the trauma (we tried but failed to save the joint). I didn’t ride until 12 weeks post THR - surgeon knew when he operated that I wanted to ride and was supportive. I’ve ridden regularly since. Every now and again I can suffer with discomfort but this is down to the trauma and the impact on the major muscle structures that have now seen two surgeries. Physio is incredibly important and deals with these blips effectively. 6 year anniversary of THR coming up.
 

Britestar

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I had the same, though THR was 11 months post the trauma (we tried but failed to save the joint). I didn’t ride until 12 weeks post THR - surgeon knew when he operated that I wanted to ride and was supportive. I’ve ridden regularly since. Every now and again I can suffer with discomfort but this is down to the trauma and the impact on the major muscle structures that have now seen two surgeries. Physio is incredibly important and deals with these blips effectively. 6 year anniversary of THR coming up.

Mine actually suggested 8-10 weeks, but I'd already decided 12. During the op, he kept going on about how much muscle I had, and was fully aware that I ride. He specialises in muscle sparing surgery.
 

sbloom

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I've fitted saddles for people who've had hip replacements, young and old. I would highly recommend looking again at your saddle if you had any issues at all with it before replacement, so often we don't realise that being in a chair seat and numerous other issues are down to the saddle at least in part. This could become exacerbated when building strength from a hip replacement and so many saddles don't help riders. I would also recommend a rider conditioning programme such as The Neuromechanics Coach, Activate Your Seat or Refined Riding so that you come back straighter, stronger and better to ride in symmetry and balance.
 
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