I've had both hips replaced and didn't experience any problems with foot drop or other issues. One of our community members has had some issues after hip replacement, but it seems more to be related to her back (as far as I recall). Any form of paralysis in the leg usually comes from the back, not the hip.

some nerves will be cut, primarily those related to sensation in the skin and this happens in any surgery. Usually, it results in numb patches of skin around the scar and often, the nerves knit together again over time and feeling returns. I've had hip replacements in both hips, and a synovectomy in my left knee and right wrist. I have normal sensation almost everywhere, except for a quarter sized area of numb skin around one part of the scar my knee.

As well, muscles in the leg will be cut - you can't access the bone of the hip joint without cutting through tissue and muscles. Again, this happens in any surgery. As the cut heals, the muscles knit together, just as nerves do and with rehabilitation,you should be fine.

All surgeries have a risk of not working or of causing other problems. It's why they get you to sign that awful informed consent form that is really scary to read. Most of the time, surgeries work well and do what they're supposed to. Very occasionally, something bad happens. Make sure you find a good orthopedic surgeon and when you talk to them about the procedure, ask a lot of questions about the procedure itself, their experience, possible bad outcomes, their success rate, etc. Explain that you're nervous and need to have as much information as possible.

about the YouTube video - I recommend notwatching it. I used to like watching the show Operation and could watch any surgery without getting queasy. That is, until they showed the hip replacement. I could watch that, it hit too close to home.I didn't want to see what they had done when they did my surgery. As well, any orthopedic surgery tends to look really violent, so it can look kind of scaryl. Inform yourself about the procedure by reading and looking at drawings, not by watching the actual surgery.

suzzy

8/17/11 4:32pm

thank you so much LENE.im really thinking about hip surgey instead of doing the hip injections , but im a big gaint baby when it comes to stuff like this an scared to death. my hip is getting where it hurts alot now seems in july when my rhuemy ask me do i hurt an at that time didnt an im hurtting alot with every day that goes by an scared too thinking of the what ifs. an if something goes wrong im the only one brings in the money just scared i might lose everything if something goes wrong. but when that time comes im going to make app with my ortho an ask millions of questions an yes i will tell him that he has a big baby an a big scaredy cat to deal with. im trying to find alot all i can so i well know what well be going on an know what to ask him   thank you so much   hmm wondering if you could come down here an hold my hand an bring lots of tissue

Lene Andersen, Health Guide

8/17/11 7:15pm

surgery is scary. I've had several of them and I would still be scared before going into hospital. It just makes sense.

 

as for coming down and holding your hand through it, well...  I've always wanted to visit the South.