Archery post hip replacement?

[Centex]

I am sitting here on Fathers Day, five days out from having my hip replaced, and I am feeling sorry for myself.  Joint feels great but the soreness from the muscle manipulation is killing me.  Has anyone else had their hip replaced?  I am a school teacher, so i have the Summer to recover.   Been planning to spend some chair time at the range this summer and I am wondering how quickly I can start shooting again.  I am a recent convert to traditional and I want to shoot a lot of short distance anchor sequences.  I had made some big jumps right before the surgery so I am kind of anxious to shoot again.  Any advise?

I did speak to my Dr. about shooting and he said no,issue, we just did not discuss time table.

[K.S.TRAPPER]

You should be fine as long as you do what they tell you and finish all your PT.    

Been through major leg and hip surgery in January before but hunted Nov/Dec on crutches. I mounted a bow holder on my crutch so it wouldnt be into much of the way going in and out. I hunted out of are blinds and had no trouble at all sitting and shooting but you do need to practice it.

Good luck to you and I wish you a quick recovery!    

Tracy

[lpcjon2]

I recently had my back surgery(rods and screws) and was shooting about a month after(I am nuts). just do what the doc says and you will be shooting soon.

[Canadabowyer]

I went through the same thing 2 years ago. I don't remember how long it took to start shooting again but it wasn't too long. I had more issues with just walking comfortably than actually shooting the bow. I had the operation in June and was able to hunt from a treestand that fall in October with great care in how much I walked each day and climbing into the treestand. At that point I didn't have the stamina to do both morning and evening hunts so I just hunted from dawn to about 10 am each day and took the rest of the day off.It eventually took 2 years before I felt I had my former strength back and felt the operation had been a success.  Now I just had my left knee replaced in May and am hoping to be able to hunt this fall. The knee has been more painful and it seems like it is going to be harder to get back to normal function than it was with the hip. Bottom line it takes time to heal and then to get the muscles working properly again. Just keep at it and do as much exercise as possible and it will get better.  Bob

[awbowman]

Do what they say and you will be better than ever.  Good luck

[smokin joe]

Been there.

I had my hip replaced in 2005 and had to have that replacement replaced a little over 4 months ago (early February of this year) because it failed prematurely. In between those two repairs I had to have a knee replaced too.

You are in the roughest period of the ordeal now. The two to three weeks right after the replacement are just miserable. Take your pain medication, try to be comfortable, and give your body a chance to repair itself.

Here is what I know about recovery from hip replacement:

Be patient. You have had a very serious surgery -- they basically cut your leg off and then put it back on with artificial parts. Muscles have been cut and manipulated, bones have been completely sawed through, and you were under general anesthetic and losing blood for hours. You have been through a lot. It will take one to two years of dedicated rehabilitation work to be at your best again. The good news is that if you work at it things will be OK, you won't be in pain, and you won't have a bad hip any more.

While you are recovering you will lose strength all over your body. That is to be expected. Remember that your body is dedicating a lot of energy to healing, and your activity level is very limited for a while.

I was walking well enough at exactly 4 months post surgery to shoot 3-D, and I was able to start shooting in my back yard at a few days past 3 months post surgery. I was very weak and had a hard time shooting at first, but the strength is coming back fairly well now.

If you have a set up in your yard and someone to take the walk to get the arrows out of the target, there is no reason why you couldn't start shooting once you can stand with stability and without support.

Having to depend on a walker to get around is awful isn't it?

I am a few months ahead of you, my friend. If you need some cheering up, feel free to PM me.

I wish you well,
Joe

[M60gunner]

I had mine done April 7.I just got back from the range. I shot 20 of our 28 3 d targets. I  am tired right now. Out of shape plus I lost 50 lbs. that has sapped some of my strength. Best part is no pain, no pills no cane. That pain from the surgery has gone away. I had in home PT for a month which was the best thing. I do excerises twice a day and have started back at the gym 3 times a week. You will get better!!! I rigged up a small table and cut out a new back quiver and made arrows to take mind off of being couped up all day.
Good luck, Tom

[Benjy]

I had my hip replaced around 6 years ago.  I had it done in March. I was out of the hospital in 5 days. Crutches for a month, walking cane for a month. I went with some friends hog hunting in May. I had a bar stool with a back rest at my house that I practiced off of for 3 weeks before the hunt. We put my bar stool in a ground blind at one of the feeders that I could get to. I rode my 4 wheeler to within 50 yards of the blind. I killed 2 hogs that morning and one that same afternoon off that barstool!

My hip is better now than it has been in the last 20 years! Keep your head and spirits high and do your therapy!!!!!

Benjy

You are welcome to PM me also!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Caughtandhobble]

Get well soon!!! I just had knee surgery and 2 days later I was sitting on my back porch shooting, and my shooting partner Tod (my 8yo son) was fetching arrows for me, LOL...

[Mike Bolin]

A good friend of mine had his hip replaced in late April last year, shot the Cloverdale shoot the 2nd weekend in June and elk hunted in CO the first week of Sept. Follow your doctor's and pt's advice and you will do fine. Good luck and God Bless! Mike

[Centex]

Thanks guys, I am in my early 30's so I don't forsee a real long recovery.  But last night and this morning were bad enough to wreck my confidence for most of the day.  I am a "pull yourself up by your own boots strap" kind of person and I can't reach my boot straps right now.  Wish I had the money for a lighter poundage bow for when I start back.  Again thanks for help and encouragement!

[Hit-or-Miss]

Hell, you will be fine. My Grandfather had a hip replacement after a car crash, he was 60 or so, and that was back in 71. He was back on his tractor pounding in fence posts with a sledge hammer within a few weeks. With the technology they have now, and your age, if I were you I would just relax, not worry and kick back and catch up on your reading. You have all summer to heal up.

[Cwilder]

As soon as you can after getting out. Get in a pool swim and walk in it the best thing you can do for recovery

[Benjy]

Talk to your doctor first but I don't see why you can't be pulling your bow back now? That way you can keep in shape.

[rubicon]

I had my hip replaced March 8.  My doctor wanted me to wait at least six weeks before shooting my bow.  The best advice I can give you is do your physical therapy.  I was able to ride a stationary bicycle at six weeks and started lifting light weights at eight weeks.  As mentioned, I lost a lot of strength but by doing the physical therapy and following the doctor's orders, I am getting close to being where I was before surgery. Although the doctor told me it would take six months to be fully recovered, I am doing everything I was doing prior to surgery (maybe a little slower).  Be patient.  You will be fine.

[Fatboy]

Centex at your age you shouldn't have many problems getting over a hip replacement.I had mine replaced at 41 and was back at work at 3 1/2 weeks and doing pretty much what I wanted within 8 weeks.The more you follow the exercise program the better and quicker you will heal.I'm a fairly big guy at about 325 and didn't have any problems at all.It was the best thing I ever did for my sanity.

[CEO]

I don't remeber how long it was after my new hip before I shot my bow, but I got my first long bow moose 2 months later. You will heal fast. Good luck.