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Mom wanting hip surgery ... anyone have experience?

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Posted 6/29/2024 11:40 PM (GMT -5)
Hi All,

My mother is 83 years old, and she is interested in getting hip replacement surgery. This scares me quite a bit, because of her age. It sounds like a really serious surgery. A couple of her friends have had it performed and were fine, but I am very nervous about this.

I read the following articles, and it sounds like there is a very high mortality rate with this surgery:

https://www.arthritis-health.com/surgery/hip-surgery/total-hip-replacement-surgery-risks-and-complications

https://www.news-medical.net/news/20210310/Elderly-patients-at-greater-risk-of-dying-from-hip-surgery-during-busy-periods.aspx

It sounds like close to 1 in 10 people die from this surgery.

I am tempted to tell my mom to just deal with the pain in her hip and forget about the surgery. I know it's very painful to have your hip go out, but the alternative might be worse.

Does anyone have personal experience with this?
Posted 6/30/2024 12:12 AM (GMT -5)

gfields said...
Hi All,

My mother is 83 years old, and she is interested in getting hip replacement surgery. This scares me quite a bit, because of her age. It sounds like a really serious surgery. A couple of her friends have had it performed and were fine, but I am very nervous about this.

I read the following articles, and it sounds like there is a very high mortality rate with this surgery:

https://www.arthritis-health.com/surgery/hip-surgery/total-hip-replacement-surgery-risks-and-complications

https://www.news-medical.net/news/20210310/Elderly-patients-at-greater-risk-of-dying-from-hip-surgery-during-busy-periods.aspx

It sounds like close to 1 in 10 people die from this surgery.

I am tempted to tell my mom to just deal with the pain in her hip and forget about the surgery. I know it's very painful to have your hip go out, but the alternative might be worse.

Does anyone have personal experience with this?

Is your mom in good shape otherwise ? (Physically and mentally)
If she is - prob won’t be a problem.
Will she have family support for the first week or two?
ie - stay at her home ?
Posted 6/30/2024 4:35 AM (GMT -5)
My mum had one done aged around 75.

Recovery was very fast.
On her feet for limited amounts/physio in around a week.
Then moving around after 2 weeks.
I was impressed with how fast the body heals from such a big incision.
(Blood supply is very good to the hip vs say a knee joint - so they are known to heal quicker)

She is now 83 and part of an active walking group that goes out twice a week.
With all the social and exercise benefits that entails.
That would not be possible without the hip op.

Although there are risks with any procedure. The resulting lack of mobility of a deteriorated joint is also a serious impact on longevity as exercise deteriorates and with it physical conditioning - which is one of the best predictors of longevity and esp. healthspan.

If the Doctors think she is strong enough i would say its worth it.

I would also encourage her to do as much as she can to get as healthy as poss before the op - and make sure rigorous physio is in place afterwards as both of these have a major impact on the quality of the outcome.
In terms of speed of recovery, range of movement, pain etc.

All the best
Posted 6/30/2024 5:37 AM (GMT -5)
Thank you all for your feedback. She is generally in good health otherwise. The article that I read said there's a 1 in 10 chance of death after 90 days, so that was very concerning to me. I'm glad to hear that your mother had a positive experience with the operation.

My friend's grandmother had undergone a surgery several years ago, and there was a complication while she was under and she passed. So I was always hesitant about surgeries after I heard about that incident. She was an older woman who was not in the best health.

I read that sometimes these hip operations can cause blood clots, which was concerning as well.

I guess you never know what doctor you're going to get, and what their mindset is on the particular day that they perform the surgery. That probably makes a big difference.

I was down in Santa Fe last year, and a man I was doing business with had a wife who had just had a hip surgery and she had some complications with it, and had to have the surgery re-preformed, which he said was quite painful. But after the second surgery, she recovered fully, which is good.
Posted 6/30/2024 3:47 PM (GMT -5)
Has she ever been fully under anesthesia before? I assume she would be put to sleep. How long would the surgery last? The longer the surgery, the more time under anesthesia, the more risk.

Has she ever had blood clots, heart problems, slow healing or recovery from other illnesses or injuries?

Has she exhibited any signs of dementia? Anesthesia can affect some people’s minds.

Is she a smoker?

Those are things I can think of that might raise the risk involved.

Could she take supplements like Serrapeptase, nattokinase, or lumbrokinase following the surgery? I can’t remember the differences among them, but I believe one or two of them may help prevent blood clots. Others who know can correct me on this or add to it.

Post Edited (WalkingbyFaith) : 6/30/2024 12:50:35 PM (GMT-8)

Posted 6/30/2024 6:39 PM (GMT -5)

WalkingbyFaith said...
Has she ever been fully under anesthesia before? I assume she would be put to sleep. How long would the surgery last? The longer the surgery, the more time under anesthesia, the more risk.

Has she ever had blood clots, heart problems, slow healing or recovery from other illnesses or injuries?

Has she exhibited any signs of dementia? Anesthesia can affect some people’s minds.

Is she a smoker?

Those are things I can think of that might raise the risk involved.

Could she take supplements like Serrapeptase, nattokinase, or lumbrokinase following the surgery? I can’t remember the differences among them, but I believe one or two of them may help prevent blood clots. Others who know can correct me on this or add to it.

Excellent questions. Thanks so much. I hadn't thought of these.

I'm not sure if she's been under anethesia before. I will ask her. She had a hysterectimy a long time ago. Not sure if she was under for that.

I'll have to ask the doctor how long she would be under for the surgery. I'm not sure.

I don't think she's ever had blood clots or heart problems in the past. I think she has a normal healing response. She's never complained to me about that before.

She does not have dementia at all thankfully. My father does, but she doesn't have any symptoms.

Good point about Serrapeptase, nattokinase, or lumbrokinase. She is on statins. I'm not sure if there would be a conflict with statins and those supplements. I have been taking all 3 of those this month for my lyme protocol.

Thankfully she is not a smoker.

Great questions. Thanks so much!!!!
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