Anybody here playing after hip replacement? How long after surgery were you able to play? I've seen elsewhere some guys were playing after 3 months.
My surgeon says I'm in danger of dislocation until 3 months are up and total and full healing can take 6 months to a year. I'm still following the protocols they put in after surgery, no crossing legs, no bending over 90*, etc.
I feel good, walking fine, stairs no problem, PT released me a few weeks ago saying I'm doing fine. However I do get some pain if I forget to move my feet and just pivot. Got a sharp pain yesterday doing this. Still a little sore today.
I don't feel like I could swing a club with any speed yet. We were planning on a golf trip in mid April which would be 4 months but don't want to book anything if I can't play. What's your experience?
Golf after hip replacement?
In my opinion... 4 months may be pushing it a bit.
Go anyway. Have a good time bumping it around. Chipping putting etc... Consider it advanced PT.
I had hip replacement surgery on November 1, 2019. I was walking about a mile in late January and was swinging an easy pitching wedge in March. My first 9 hole round was in late March if I remember correctly. Everyone heals differently and at their own pace. For me, four months was too soon to play a round. It helped that my surgery was in the winter so that I wasn’t tempted to do something dumb (which I am famous for).
In my opinion, take your time, religiously do your exercises, and walk every day. Your new hip will let you know when you’re ready to golf again.
Now, after a bit over a year after my surgery, I feel great. I play 18 a couple times a week and hit balls at the range often. No pain. My wife and I walk our dogs 2-3 miles every day.
I have my life back again!
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I've got a friend who was playing only two and a half weeks after a total hip replacement. His Dr. didn't like it but he kept at it. He only played nine at a time but he played.
Sorry, to hear about the surgery. Hope you heal up quickly.
I haven't had that particular surgery, but in my case, I wish I would've waited longer to start swinging. I was out there the day my 6 week period after surgery was over. It went terribly and I haven't played a single round in over 7 years. Had I given my body more time to heal instead of pushing, I doubt I would've missed 7 years of playing, but we're all different.
Hope you're back in the saddle, soon.
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Like I've said, I was released with Zero restrictions after 5 weeks and my job is physical alot of the time. I played the following week. I had a little discomfort the 1st couple times I played, but it went away. Curious, how did they do yours, G?
Mine's the right side, btw.
Mine was lateral.
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I had full left hip (I'm RH) done via anterior (front) approach Jan 2019. I skipped playing a year before surgery because it hurt so damn much & it just killed my mediocre swing by not being able (afraid) to get through to my left side. I was hanging back, flayling away with an arms-only swing ..... I hated playing because I couldn't keep up with anyone so I said frig it, I'm done.
I then skipped the year after surgery because I didn't want to try to start over & pick-up even more bad habits so I'm going to give it a go this spring.
As far as pain after surgery, none came as a result of surgery. My hip was bad for so many years I had begun making lots of compensations when walking, bending, ...... just any moving. Geometrically and anatomically things were just out of alignment & I had some muscles I was overworking & some that weren't doing much at all. Surgery repaired my left hip joint but did nothing for my underworked/overworked muscles so I've been working on trying to get back to normal for a 69 yr old. Gym 4x a week plus yard work last year was working well but then COVID hit & that was it for the gym. Now winter is here so no yard work or even casual walking so we'll see what happens in a few months.
Got an upcoming appointment with an orthopedic specialist, initial consult, to get the ball rolling. Just had X-rays done confirming essentially what I already knew, that I have severe degenerative osteoarthritis in my right hip.
It started hurting off and on about 3 years ago. Pain became more frequent two years ago. The past year has been nothing but pain. Can't drive anywhere longer than 30-40 minutes without feeling like someone is stabbing my hip/thigh with a kitchen knife. If I stand longer than 15 minutes, I gotta find a seat. Then when I sit, I can't sit longer than an hour. Tired of going up steps one step at a time, not being able to put my socks on without a sock-aid, not being able to clip my own toenails... not getting out of a chair without using my arms to pull myself up, etc.
I've not played golf now in two years basically. So six months, eight months, another year, whatever... just knowing that maybe I can get back to doing everyday normal things again is more than enough for me at this stage, but also knowing that perhaps I can get back into the game on some level at some point?!!!
Looking forward to those days again! Appreciate the post and the replies! Very timely for me, as I am beginning this journey myself.
Wise to take it slowly with the posterior approach. Although, pivoting on that leg in an aggressive fashion is not advised for all approaches. Six weeks is the normal post surgery recovery time for healing with hip precautions. But it’s not ready to just jump in and go full bore. Of course, walking is good all along but the golf swing is too dynamic to take a chance immediately after that time. I think between the 6-12 month mark you will get a feel for what’s good for you.
I figure I can hold off till May, then the urge will be too strong and I'm going to give it a go. It seems to me a right leg (for a righty) would be easier to come back from. Doesn't seem like it would be stressed as much. Even before surgery every once in awhile I'd catch my left foot where it'd kind of get stuck and I'd get a hip or knee pain. I quit wearing spikes so my foot could slide if I make a bad swing, usually OTT which would strain the hip/knee. I wish I had gone for surgery in November. April will be 5 months though, so there's still some time.
PA-PLAYA Sounds exactly what I went through except my pain extended over 6 years. Just wasn’t ready for surgery ((never had any prior). I was ready physically but during that time I was still running my own business and couldn’t take the time off. Once retired, the time was right.
I do wish I had done it sooner if I was able.
One thing I can tell you is that eventually you will be pain free and able to do the things you used to do, including golf.
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From everything I've heard here and from friends who have had it done, I'd be requesting lateral, no front, no back, but what do I know. My surgeon said he did it that way because I'm a big fella. I reckon less soft tissue to go through. I had surgery on a Tuesday, released after 2-3 PT sessions in the hospital on Thursday and was actually walking without a walker on Friday. Still have that video somewhere. I will say my physical therapist chewed my ass for it, but I couldn't help myself.
PA-PLAYA Got an upcoming appointment with an orthopedic specialist, initial consult, to get the ball rolling. Just had X-rays done confirming essentially what I already knew, that I have severe degenerative osteoarthritis in my right hip.
It started hurting off and on about 3 years ago. Pain became more frequent two years ago. The past year has been nothing but pain. Can't drive anywhere longer than 30-40 minutes without feeling like someone is stabbing my hip/thigh with a kitchen knife. If I stand longer than 15 minutes, I gotta find a seat. Then when I sit, I can't sit longer than an hour. Tired of going up steps one step at a time, not being able to put my socks on without a sock-aid, not being able to clip my own toenails... not getting out of a chair without using my arms to pull myself up, etc.
I've not played golf now in two years basically. So six months, eight months, another year, whatever... just knowing that maybe I can get back to doing everyday normal things again is more than enough for me at this stage, but also knowing that perhaps I can get back into the game on some level at some point?!!!
Looking forward to those days again! Appreciate the post and the replies! Very timely for me, as I am beginning this journey myself.
I'm excited for you, Brother.
Have not had it done so cannot provide a personal experience. However, I do know a number of close friends who have ( some both hips) as well as my brother and can say that to a person they all kicked themselves for living so long with the pain.
As for recovery times that will vary based on the procedure, extent of the bone decay and removal as well as the other things which can impact recovery times: age, obesity, smoking, general health etc.
My younger brother was late 40's maybe 50 when he had his first done. He keeps himself in excellent physical shape, surgeon still suggested he drop a few pounds so he dropped from 175 to 160 in 3 months leading in. He recovered fairly quickly and was doing his extreme hiking and playing hockey again within about 4 months. My buddy down the street who is in his mid 60, smokes and a bit heavy had a longer recovery period. Couldn't play softball ( the running so used a pinch) for a good year.
good luck !!
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