running after hip replacement

Would love to hear of anyone who has returned to running after hip replacement, had mine six months ago missing running like hell, oh come on my fellow runners kick me back out there

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  • I had a metal on metal hip resurfacing three years ago.The surgeon had no problem with me running but told me to wait for a year to let everything bed in and lose some weight.I have since completed two marathons,twenty half marathons and twenty five 10Ks.I sometimes get a bit of discomfort with the longer distances so have cut out the marathons.

    Best of luck with your return to running and don,t rush it.

  • O thank you Jim you an insperation, well done to you, well have got out there again and WOW am re hooked the mind allways was!!  bit info for you my hip ceramic on titaniam with large head my surgeon says at least 25 yrs use. We the new breed of bionic runners. Good luck to you. Gosh it must have been hard waiting a year.

  • The waiting was hard,but no point rushing it and risking more damage.

     

    Hang in there.

  • You  very sensible Jim.

    Did short run in the week along Blackpool prom 'O it was heaven' the waves rolling the lovely warm breeze, yes it well worth being patient.

    Thank you.

  • had my hip resurfaced 7 years ago. Started running 10ks three months after operation. My top distance was 12 miles after the op but reduced it to just 10k due to some pain. Up till tree years ago I was running to keep wait down when sudenly the pain started kicking in when I got only a few miles in to my run. I then also got news that the implant was being recalled! So all running stopped. Tests came back from hospital that my implant was ok and no need to take it out. The pain is to do with lower back. Now I have moved to semi retire in Tenerife, Canary Islands and in the last week have tried running again. I did a test 3.3mile run yesturday and it went ok with no pain. So Im going to give it a few days now before another run, make it 4 miles this time. The heat out here helps alot! 

  • I had a hip replacement a year ago.



    I took it very carefully for the first 4 months - no running, stuck strictly to my exercise program etc. After 4 months my doctor signed me off and we had a chat about running. Basically, running is likely to shorten the life of your new hip and therefore they cannot recommend it. However, you as an individual need to balance the effect on your personal wellbeing of not running with the fact that you are shortening the life of your hip. The health professionals would rather you found something with less impact to do.



    I can't imagine not running- so I do. I know that I am probably knocking time off the life of my hip, but if it is a choice between running for 20 years or walking for 25 I choose to run.



    However, that doesn't mean I go silly about it. I try to listen to my body.



    My first run was just after 4 months after my op. It was a parkrun 5K. I walked the first 1K, then moved to a very slow jog. The plan was to do maybe 500m before walking again, but I found that I just kept going at a slow jog.



    For the next couple of months I kept it to no more than 4 miles and on grass where possible. A couple more months, up to 6 or 7 miles. Just over 1 year after the op, I did a half marathon (last weekend). I know now that was my limit. For the first time I was properly aching afterwards, so I will do 1 HM per year, but nothing longer.



    And, for the record, my fastest post-op 5K is only 10 seconds slower than my best pre-op and my HM is an official PB.
  • I have recently had a hip operation and at some point would like to start running again - it is my passion. I noticed your operation was in 2012. I would be so interested to find out how you went on and would be grateful for any advice you can offer, I have found very little on the web regarding running after a hip operation.

    I cycle (it is a good substitute) but never feel the same when I get off my bike as I do after a run.

    Running on the prom at Blackpool - that would be heaven.

     

     

     

  • Still running - and these days quicker than I was pre-op.

    But I do make  few compromises to my hip and a few things to note.

    I didn't expect to be able to run or do much, so everything was a joyous bonus and I let things develop slowly. I had no ambitions, no targets, so I never pushed things beyond what I was ready for. I set out thinking I wouldn't do more than 5k, so when I found 5k comfortable and knew I could go further I did and thought that was wonderful, and slowly it went up from there. I didn't set out expecting to beat PBs - the fact that I have smashed all my old PBs is incredible. But it happened because my recovery was ready. It was over a year before my 5k PB went, but it eventually did. (It's now been beaten by 1:30 - but that's just me being smug.)

    I know there are limits.

    I have found that it is the 'intense' runs that put most strain - so I train gently more often than I used to (like the books say we should anyway).

    It doesn't like too many consecutive days of impact training - so I usually ensure a rest day after 2 days of running.

    I know the long runs take their toll - so I have stuck at HM. (Friends have my permission to tell me off for even thinking about longer runs - and to be fair, they have had to invoke that a few times.)

    I feel really lucky that I am able to run post-op as much, as comfortably and as well as I do. But I don't take it for granted and balance enjoying and protecting it.

  • Many thanks for this information and advice Wilde Rover.

    I will take on board your advice and act accordingly. It is ten weeks since my operation. I have started my fitness programme on my bike and intend to build this up and possibly start running early 2017. A 5k park run will be my aim.

    I have recovered remarkably quickly from the operation. I am sure this is due to good fitness levels  - a benefit of 30 years running and the desire to get back to some form of exercise

    My consultant has not given me any encouragement to undertake any running. However your experience has given me hope that maybe, I have not reached the end of the road yet! 

     

     

     

  • paskhapaskha ✭✭✭
    Seven years ago today, age 62, I had a total right hip replacement. I had to stop running 4 years earlier ... I had adjusted to not running during those 4 years & assumed I wouldn't run again, I'd had to stop cycling in 2010 as I got too stiff, still needing to walk everywhere! Couldn't afford to run a car, living in Cornwall (crap wages). So I reluctantly took painkillers & did finally get the strong ones about a month before my hip-hop! The easiest way to check out "What happened next" is to go to my Power of 10 profile, Liz Easterbrook, FV65, club Mounts Bay Harriers ... before my operation I heard my bosses mother (younger than me) had dislocated hers fairly soon after her op! So I had a warning - I paid for pre-op physio & was so careful post op & followed instructions to the letter. I have never had any discomfort (apart from irritation from the scar) It was nearly 3 years after the op that I tried a "shuffle" a bit like the "ultra shuffle" (so called towards the end of the Dartmoor Discovery!) I built the miles up & did lots of events a lot slower, with a more cautious running gait, including 5 marathons & 13 Half's.
    I would not recommend anyone runs after a hip replacement, but I am! Just listen to your body (btw that profile pic is about 12 years ago, haven't been on RW forums for years) I am not doing any events this year, 2019, just parkrun, because I have to move house. I log all my activities on Strava, every parkrun, walk & shop! I walk more than I run, always have & most of my runs include walking too.
  • SHADESSHADES ✭✭✭✭
    paskha - lovely to see you on RW forum again.   Will I see you at the Cornish?
  • I've just had my second one done in November and have run for 20 years , its surprising the differing advice with regards to running again, I'd come to terms with no more long distance but was hoping maybe 10k, first consultant said I might if I behaved so I did, the consultant who did 2nd op said absolutely no , his house dr on post op appt said why not , physio yesterday sat on fence and said wasnt her place to say yes or no. I don't want to undo all the time and effort but at 58 I wish somone would give me a straight answer, is it feasible to even try ? 
  • TTTT ✭✭✭
    One of my gym buddies is 5 1/2 months from hip replacement surgery. He is running the Paris marathon in April. I think the reason no one will give you a straight answer is that the medical profession is unable to do so. There are no certainties, unfortunately. 
  • Hi I came across this discussion as I was looking for recommended trail trainers for someone who’s had a total hip replacement. I had my hip replacement last year at 44 (in fact Tuesday was my hip’s first birthday,😂). I had been running 3 times a week including training for the great south when I received the diagnosis and was devastated - I reduced to once a week and started doing spinning and strengthening work in the run up to the op. I was told never to run again. The post op went ok but although I’d always thought I was fit and healthy it was a wake up call to how poor my biometrics were. Lots of physio, core strengthening later I still had a pain in my glute/hip area that just would not go away. I was referred back to the specialist for further MRI. Good news is that the implant is all fine. Verbally the specialist said to me to just back to exercising as long as it didn’t hurt and I could try a 5-10 min run on treadmill (physio also sat on the fence about running) - his view was it may reduce life span of hip but in the scheme of things becoming confident in using my hip and doing something I I enjoy is important - so I did that and it felt fine - I’m not a treadmill person so after a couple of goes I started running outside - mainly trail rather than road so softer underfoot. I started once a week with the wrong attitude (just trying to get back to my 5k run pace) and getting annoyed with myself - I came across an article on max aerobic fitness running where you keep your heart rate to 180-age. it’s meant really slowing back my pace and even walking in places (not that it was ever that fast 😉) but this has really helped me to focus on my running gait/form - it’s made me feel so much more confident and now I’m running 3 slow run/walks a week and have recently started one speed session a week (but still really concentrating on my gait even when speeding up), - only short distances (max 5k at the moment) but no pain in my hip. Also doing spinning and circuits as well as some weights/core strengthening each week to help build up my muscles to protect the hip.
  • TTTT ✭✭✭
    Sarah what a positive response, excellent news on your moves forward and congratulations on your hip's birthday.

    What you say is an excellent message we all need to take heed of (myself included) core work and strength work are a necessity. I hope all continues to go well.
  • Excellent work... true inspiration x
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