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Hi Chris,

Sorry you’re going through this. I had a hard time wrapping my head around a major joint failing too.

I’m 10 weeks post op anterior on my left hip. My implant is titanium with ceramic. My surgeon only offered anterior approach as it’s been his preferred method for the past decade. He knew I plan on being active and it’s the implant he thought would suit me best.

My suggestion is to have conversations with a few surgeons and go with the one with the most experience and you feel most comfortable/confident in. I met with three surgeons and each had a different response to me getting back to running and playing basketball (happy to go into more detail here but it’s not ecessary to answer your question).

My suggestions are to get your body, house and mind ready. Ramp PT as much as possible now (glutes, quads and hip flexors). Buy an elevated toilet seat with handles, a leg lifting strap, a walker (my hospital gave me one) and a pillow designed to go between your legs. Remember that everyone’s response to a major surgery is different. I spent the first four days mentally beating myself up because I had a tough time in PT, took lots of pain meds while others only needed small amounts, etc.

Don’t let that last part scare you – I’ve been feeling great since I “turned the corner” and plan to start mixing in short bursts of light running with my walks in exactly 11 days.

Feel free to ask any questions.

Best,
Jonathan

Hi Chris, the mental part is hard to prepare for. I’m 6 weeks post-op, posterior with titanium/ceramic. This site has really been a huge lift for me, almost like group therapy. Jonathan puts it well, and I’m sure just about everyone here will say the same thing, that everyone’s journey is different, but when you do “turn the corner” it makes it all worth it.

I started throwing in a couple of 20 to 30 second slow jogs with my walks last week – almost function running, barely leaving the ground, but even that little bit was enough to make me feel like I’ll be back running again someday soon. With my surgeon, I flat-out told him not to tell me what I couldn’t do, so he asked what I wanted to do. Run, coach and play football with 10 year-old son, downhill ski and he said “go for it” on all of them. I think he did say layoff the moguls and don’t jump off any cliffs for the downhill part :).

The things Jonathan lists above are really helpful – especially the raised toilet seat. I’d add a hip ice pack/wrap to the list. I bought mine off amazon and it made icing, which I did a ton of, much easier. I iced from hip to knee several times a day for the first three weeks.

Please don’t hesitate to ask lots of questions, that is why we all came to this site!

Brian

Hi Chris – I am 5 months post op posterior THR. I would suggest if you are also a biker to do that prior to your hip surgery to get in good shape without the pounding. As mentioned above…prep for the surgery is important to your recovery. I am running easy at about 3 miles per day plus bike training three times a week and swim training three times per week…waiting for that spring triathlon. Don’t attempt to run until at least past four months to give the bone the opportunity to secure around the new post. I also got the titanium post and ceramic ball. My doctor said i won’t wear it out and it is a much bigger socket so can support running.

Let your hip and pain be the guide as everyone is different. The first two weeks will be uncomfortable until the staples are removed and flexibility will be slow to return. I am guessing at six months I will feel normal but at 12 to 18 will be fully back….good luck!

Hi Chris, I had my 6-week post-op meeting with my surgeon this week and he told me the little bit of function “running” I’m doing is fine, but wants me to wait until the 3-month mark to start actual jogging/running . As OB mentioned, it is related to making sure the bone grows around the titanium rod enough that it doesn’t come loose. He knows how much I want to get back to running and is asking me to be patient, to look at the long-game and not what my brain (and body) needs in the short-term.

Good luck and keep us posted!

Brian

Hi Chris,
The first thing you will find after surgery is the old hip pain is gone. As the days progress that pain will be replaced by the less pronounced pain of the recovering surgery site. I started running at about 3 months but it took me close to a year and a half until I was back in racing shape. Now 8 years later I am still enjoying the benefits of running ….. my primary fitness activity. Keep your head up, stay optimistic and look past these initial days to when you’ll be running strong again!

Hi Chris,
The first thing you will find after surgery is the old hip pain is gone. As the days progress that pain will be replaced by the less pronounced pain of the recovering surgery site. I started running at about 3 months but it took me close to a year and a half until I was back in racing shape. Now 8 years later I am still enjoying the benefits of running ….. my primary fitness activity. Keep your head up, stay optimistic and look past these initial days to when you’ll be running strong again!

Hi Chris, I’m looking forward to running a 100 mile race with you some time in the future. It can be done and you can still be competitive. Biggest challenge is to listen to your body and work out what works for you, that may also change over time. Learn to adapt and take what you can. Take your time, enjoy 3 months off and just go slow the first year, then start to explore what’s possible. I hope you enjoy your journey as much as I have mine. Dave.

This is more of a rant than a comment. I, too, was told by the first orthopedic surgeon I saw that I would never run again after getting my hip replaced. For the life of me, I don’t understand why doctors continue to say this, especially with all of the evidence to the contrary, on this site alone. It’s so counter-productive. Why take away all hope? Shouldn’t doctors want to encourage physical activity and mental health? For many of us, running has been a balm that has gotten us through rough patches. Shouldn’t doctors want their patients going into surgery with an optimistic attitude, not devastated and depressed? After the surgeon told me I’d never run again, I asked follow-up questions, like, “Well, what will I be able to do?” A lot, of course, including hiking. When I asked how far I could hike, he said unlimited miles. I asked, “Like 30 a day?” He said, “Sure.” He never asked about the terrain or how heavy my backpack would be. How can hiking 30 miles with a heavy backpack up and down mountains be OK, but running a couple of miles on grass not be? It makes no sense. Fortunately, the second surgeon I saw — and the one who did my hip replacement three months ago — supports a return to running. I will wait a couple more months before trying, but just the possibility that I will be able to run again, even a little, is inspiring. That’s all I wanted.