NC928S4

This past Wednesday I got a new hip. It had been a problem for 3+ years and I tried Yoga, stretching, joint supplements, etc. hoping to avoid surgery. Not sure why I waited so long because my joint pain is now gone. It's remarkable that I got my leg sawed off on Wednesday afternoon, walked on the new one and was sent home Thursday. The first couple of nights getting in and out of bed were no box of chocolates but I'm now walking (Sunday) with limited help from a walker. In general I'd classify a hip replacement pain level equivalent to replacing a 928 Torque Tube.

Anyways, I'm looking at my car and wondering how long it will be before I can drive it again. My concern is getting in and out. Last thing I want to deal with is having the titanium rod get pulled out of my femur as I maneuver in an out of the car.

Has anyone else gone through this? Any advice and guidance is welcome.

Thanks

Crumpler

Veterinary advice included? Lol.
Glad you are doing so well post op, that sounds great so far.

I will assume systems similar enough that you will recover like a large dog..., in that once the prosthetic is in place and set you wouldn't be able to create instability around the hardware even if you tried.
There's also alot of soft tissue, muscle, etc, around the joint which provides support as well. In fact, in dogs, you can get by taking the femoral head off and not even put a total hip back in at all....there's that much meat around the joint!
Now, that doesn't mean it wouldn't hurt to try and get into your car right now!
Take it easy, get past the post op incision care....don't be like my patients and try to chew out your sutures...

Adk46

If you have a titanium failure, I'm a doctor in metallurgy.

I will soon know what you've experienced since I need to do the torque tube job. Hips are fine, though.

I own a Bugeye Sprite because the previous owner had his knees replaced and could no longer get in it.

polecat702

My entire right leg, is put together with orthopedic nails and screws, plus hip replacement be 10 years tomorrow. I was crushed by one of our roll off tankers, and run between the drive axels.

They wanted me to walk on it after surgery, but the surgeon told me that they discovered that my ankle was broken too.

I can do everything I did before, and the only time it bothers me is right before it rains. Soon as it starts raining it quits hurting.

Good luck! You'll be fine.

BTW, I'll be 74 in December.

Jerry Feather

For hip, shoulder, or back surgery, or now, i believe, even perfect health, I recommend that you stop getting into the 928 head first. You should get into it butt first. Open the door, then back up to the opening butt first and align yourself so that you can just sit on the side of the seat, but sit on it as far forward as you can to avoid dragging your belt, braces, or clothing across the nose of the left bolster, then just sit on the seat. Then lift your legs into the car turning yourself facing forward into the driver's seat. Get out of it in the reverse order, which you are probably already doing.

M. Requin

Find a good physical therapist, and one who is VERY familiar with your particular situation, and follow their program assiduously. Got me through two post-ops, and kept me from getting a third (different problems, so YMMV).

RKD in OKC

Friend of mine finally got a new hip. He's been limping with the old one for years.
Took him a couple of weeks before he was back to doing normal stuff including driving in 85 Carrera.

I've had one kind of a Porsche or another for 20 years. Learned to do the sit and spin ingress and egress to save the bolsters. Now ingress and ingress with the sit and spin all vehicles by habit. Friend of mine's wife asked why I get in and out of cars like an old man

andy-gts

prosthetic is glued in the shaft, only a frx of the bone would dislodge it....bone is very porous and glue sticks well......

Dave928S

If you'd witnessed the hammering, sawing, drilling and gluing that goes on you'd know that there is no way, short of a high dive off a cliff, that prosthetic is coming out. They don't call orthopaedic surgeons the carpenters of medicine for nothing.

linderpat

I had a hip job too (resurface, not replacement, but essentially the same surgery with the prosthetic hip insert and a metal cap placed over femur head). I agree, was like getting a brand new lease on life. Zero issues after I healed, going on 5 years now. I agree about getting into the shark butt first, but I started doing that when the hip hurt, before the operation, and just stayed with that procedure. No issues shifting. Advice - don't drive/shift until the doc tells you it's ok. Shouldn't be more than 4 -6 weeks or so.

docmirror

My brother raced motocross as a kid for many years, and he had a bad crash in his late 20s that ended it. He was hobbling around for another 20 years before deciding to finally get the hip replacement done. 2 years post-op now and he's 100%, and no more residual pain in the joint. He said it's the best thing since sliced bread.

I recall going to the ortho surgeon for a followup visit, and I asked about his tools. He gave me a little preview and it was like looking in a Nascar tool box except they were all super clean and in steri-pack seals.

As for the doctor, I am - but just philosophy. So - how does a new hip affect the existence of man, and his view of the world around him?

Crumpler

Clean is good

soontobered84

I had that done for my very large 120lb yellow Lab. Born with 2 bad hips and couldn't hunt so the previous owners didn't want him. He was a great people dog and I don't hunt, so...... Funny thing for a Lab: he has never liked to get wet. He also doesn't retrieve, but I think that's just because he's lazy. I don't care. He's a great people dog.

I trust that you'll be fine.

KenRudd

Left leg? You are welcome to borrow my 5-Speed and get some clutch-leg workout!

NC928S4

Thanks guys. Great advice and encouragement. Entering the car butt first is the way the PT folks recommended too.

Recovery is going well but massive cabin fever is beginning to settle...I may go insane.