Riding after hip replacement

[ChrisJackson52]

Has anyone had a hip replacement ? If so, how lo g was it before yiu could ride again ? My surgeon is saying it'll be 12 months which seems ages to wait.

 

[Britestar]

I had THR after an accident, and rode at 13 weeks.

 

[Surbie]

Two women I know have started riding again at roughly 5 months after their hip replacements.

 

[gallopingby]

Twelve months is longer than usually advised but could depend on the type of op or alternatively on the surgeons degree of caution. I would be asking more questions as to why he thought that long and was there an alternative. There are a number of different procedures but not all will be suitable.

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

I had my right hip October 21 and my left one scheduled for May 22. I had hoped to be riding again by October/November 22.

Unfortunately the first replacement has failed, I have a loose femoral stem that will have to be fixed at some point, revision surgery was cancelled last June due to my son's unexpected death, My surgeon thought my grief would not have a good impact on more surgery too soon.

It is now 6 weeks since the left one was replaced, recovery is slow due to the damaged femoral stem. not being weight bearing on the other side. BUT _ the newest one is doing just great, so I still have great hopes my surgeon will agree to doing the revision on the right replacement as soon as I am fit enough for another op.

I still have every intention of riding again God willing, I am 74 so don't judge my slow return to riding. I have younger friends who only had one hip replacement that were back riding within a very short period of time.

Good luck!

 

[suebou]

Total hip replacement March 2022, 12 weeks to riding… I did ride at ten but everything ached and I maybe shouldn’t have done! No long term damage and all good now!

 

[Merry neddy man]

Had mine done and was advised 3 months, that fell a month before the spring clocks forward time so I waited till 4 months had passed, rode in the arena walk and trot 1st time, arena 2nd time all 3 paces, 3rd day hacked out for an hour, then gradually increased to 2hr hacking. I was mid 60 years old when this happened, having the OP was the best thing I ever did health wise, I followed the instructions on exercise and recovery to the T, and advise everyone to do the same.

 

[Britestar]

@Mrs. Jingle

I too am scheduled for revision, but due to infection.
I imagine my return to riding will be longer next time.

Good luck with yours.

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

I agree with neddy man, follow all exercise and recovery instructions exactly as given to you. Not to Joe Bloggs down the road, and unless you are very unlucky you will very soon be back in the saddle.

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

@Mrs. Jingle

I too am scheduled for revision, but due to infection.
I imagine my return to riding will be longer next time.

Good luck with yours.

I am so sorry to read that Britestar, tis a bugger isn't it, to say the least! We will get there, stick with it.

 

[splashgirl45]

I had my first hip done when I was 60 and was back riding after 3 months. 2nd one done a year later and the same time scale. After my first one I had a lesson on a mechanical horse first, then rode a couple of times at a riding school , then rode my own. After the second I got straight back on my own scatty horse as I was more confident that time.

 

[Bobthecob15]

Also very hard to know pre op, depends on the surgery on the day, often they don't go exactly as planned...rehabilitation after is also crucial, again may not be that straightforward...post surgery complications, infection, pain etc...

If your surgeon is saying 12 months that sounds like a more complicated surgery (possibly due to extent of damage or other medical factors) or they are expecting you to have a more complicated recovery. Your best bet is to ask them not online as everyone is different and no 2 operations are the same. Best of luck!

 

[Ceriann]

Whilst I agree that you should always listen to your surgeon, few are familiar with specific sports and may not know enough to properly advise. My surgeon was very knowledgeable about sport etc so gave me sensible advice and I rode after 12 weeks after getting the all clear. He even said that I wasn’t at higher risk if I fell off. If they are advising 12 months ask lots of questions to understand why. I was 40 having my THR due to a horse riding related fracture that didn’t pin successfully, so didn’t have other complications or damage. Do follow your physio - I have needed periods of physio since too (8 years for me) as the muscle structure takes a knock with these procedures too.

 

[Goldenstar]

Both hips replaced at different times first one back riding at week five very easy that was right one and mounting was a bit yuk at first.
The left one six weeks back on I was older and it was slightly harder but the mounting was easy getting off was hard at first .

I don’t ride very wide horses now.

 

[QuantockHills]

Has anyone had a hip replacement ? If so, how lo g was it before yiu could ride again ? My surgeon is saying it'll be 12 months which seems ages to wait.

8 weeks after the first one (felt a bit too soon) and 12 weeks after the second one... I was 40 at the time of the first.

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

Crikey, I have to say I am very impressed with the rapid recovery rate and how quickly some of you were able to ride again. Now I feel liek a really feeble old crock!

 

[Xmasha]

Crikey, I have to say I am very impressed with the rapid recovery rate and how quickly some of you were able to ride again. Now I feel liek a really feeble old crock!

I’m due to have mine done in a few weeks , and surgeon who has done these for a lot of riders has advised no riding for at least 4 months . So no need to feel like a feeble old crock !! Although tbf I can’t imagine anyone ever referring to you in that way ( and living to tell the tale )

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

I’m due to have mine done in a few weeks , and surgeon who has done these for a lot of riders has advised no riding for at least 4 months . So no need to feel like a feeble old crock !! Although tbf I can’t imagine anyone ever referring to you in that way ( and living to tell the tale )

Asha you've seen my resting bitch face haven't you? C'mon 'fess up, when did you meet me IRL?

 

[Xmasha]

Asha you've seen my resting bitch face haven't you? C'mon 'fess up, when did you meet me IRL?

You mean you don’t actually look like your Avatar

 

[wildandwoolly]

I had a THR following an accident at 59 (fractured head of femur). My brother, a GP, said to do a much physio as you can. I had 8 sessions NHS physio and then probably the same private. I had a session on a riding simulator to check all ok and once I’d sussed mounting/dismounting with the help of friends and a steady pony I was away! Op was mid Feb, back riding early July. Don’t push to ride too soon, give yourself plenty of time to recover and fingers crossed all will go well. Good luck.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

Has anyone had a hip replacement ? If so, how lo g was it before yiu could ride again ? My surgeon is saying it'll be 12 months which seems ages to wait.

I had a recent TRKR in October I had to wait 6 weeks before driving and 3 months before riding.

Have you thought of joining a facebook hip replacement group??? I joined the Knee replacement UK, it was great to answer questions and feel not alone, also other riders on there gave me encouragement.

My neighbour had this ( hip) he was only 30's but he was riding way before the GP said with no sisue, though don't recommend it.

 

[phizz4]

This is probably obvious advice but, after my wife's recent, second bout of spinal surgery, the surgeon's comment was, basically, that the success of the surgery and her rapid recovery time was due to her high (for her age) level of fitness. So, lots of Pilates, Yoga, stretching, walking etc before and as soon as possible after the surgery.

 

[sbloom]

Just take rider saddle fit seriously, you may need a different saddle (and consider working with a rider fit expert for this reason) and may indeed need to ride on narrower ribcages.

 

[Tiddlypom]

I'd listen to your surgeon, but by all means ask them why they recommend 12 months off riding in your case.

Surgeons can get a tad tetchy with patients who ignore sound post operative advice, overdo things and fetch up back in hospital.

Good luck.

 

[Carlosmum]

I had a THR in January following a fall. I am not riding yet ( 7 months) mot because of pain but current pony is a baby and 1. I don't want to come off unexpectedly and 2. My mounting and dismounting is still rather untidy so I don't want to cause problems in that department. If I had an experienced pony I would be onboard and loving it!

 

[bluehorse]

I had a hip replacement after my horse ejected me at speed from the saddle . I was back on at 6 weeks, I was told 3 months but decided I would be back on before that! That was nearly 2 years ago now. I’ve had a couple of falls since then (one carbon copy of what happened when I broke it, naughty boy, and another when we got chased by a dog). Neither caused any issues with my hip at all.

What I did manage to do though was dislocate it when I was taking off my long riding boots. The zip at the back got stuck and as I was struggling to unzip it out it popped. That was an experience I never want to repeat I can tell you!

 

[karenb]

I've had both hips replaced and rode 19 weeks after the first one and about 30 weeks after the second one. But you must take your consultants advice. You must do the boring phisio exercises because those are what will secure your hip by building up the muscles and the more you can do and the longer you keep it up the better. My advise is don't rush to get back on, think long term of getting fit and well and your body will tell you when its ready, it's not a race to get back in the saddle. Then take it slowly. First time I had some muscle memory loss so when it came to throwing my leg over the saddle I had to really think it through and get my brain tell my leg to move !! My first hip is 14 years old and my second one is 7 years old and I've fallen off my big 17hh horses several times since the ops and touch wood have been OK. It's an amazing operation, all the pain disappears immediately, hope all goes well for you, good luck.

 

[gunnergundog]

An ex-four star eventer I know had both hips replaced and is hunting with a Shires pack in her 70's. Also, breaking 4yos. although did take a bit of a decking earlier this year but is back ready for the cubbing season. Crack on!

 

[Leah3horses]

I had my right hip October 21 and my left one scheduled for May 22. I had hoped to be riding again by October/November 22.

Unfortunately the first replacement has failed, I have a loose femoral stem that will have to be fixed at some point, revision surgery was cancelled last June due to my son's unexpected death, My surgeon thought my grief would not have a good impact on more surgery too soon.

It is now 6 weeks since the left one was replaced, recovery is slow due to the damaged femoral stem. not being weight bearing on the other side. BUT _ the newest one is doing just great, so I still have great hopes my surgeon will agree to doing the revision on the right replacement as soon as I am fit enough for another op.

I still have every intention of riding again God willing, I am 74 so don't judge my slow return to riding. I have younger friends who only had one hip replacement that were back riding within a very short period of time.

Good luck!

Hi, you've really been through the mill, sending empathy. Hope you get your needed surgery and are back in the saddle before you know it. Love your determination. You've inspired me to face my upcoming hip replacement at 53 with your kind of determination!