Question
I am a retired ENT physician. My wife at 76, had a hip replacement 12 months ago. It has been a great success with attenuation of all her arthritic symptoms.  She has returned to cycling with no side effects. We are also recreational rowers and when she recently  tried to row and she experienced some discomfort in the operated  hip area. This rowing is in racing shells with a  sliding seat. She was advised not to flex her operated hip past the 90 degree point post op.
With rowing, although it is non weight bearing, there is flexion beyond 90 degrees. Do you think it safe to continue trying to row?

Answer
Glen

Your wife is crying because she is probably in a grief stage for things she cannot do anymore.  That is completely normal.  But if it continues, I would suggest that you get her to a competent therapist so she can learn to deal effectively with the feelings she has.  

Most THR patients have these feelings early in recovery and then as they return to their daily activities, the depression gets less and less.   My immediate feeling is that since she has returned to rowing (which I will address in the next paragraph) and she really should not be doing that, she is feeling the loss.

My first reaction to your statement that she is rowing was fright.  My advice would be not to let her row unless her doctor tells her it's a good exercise for her.  I have never heard of any orthopedic surgeon suggest that flexion of over 90 degreees is a good thing.  Normally all THR patients are told from the get-go NOT to go over 90 degrees and not to cross their legs over the midline.  That is one sure fire way to dislocate.  

I would suggest that you and your wife find another activity that you can do together and run it by her doctor.  When a patient has a THR, it is NOT the same as a broken limb healing, which will allow the patient to eventually return to normal.  THR patients have rules they must follow for their lives and if they don't follow the rules, they risk dislocation, or the lessening of the life of the prosthesis.  Again, all this depends on the advice of your doctor.

Apparently, your wife has been told not to go over 90 degrees and, personally, speaking as someone who has dislocated before, I would highly suggest that you both look into safe recreational activies that both you and your wife can enjoy that does not risk dislocation for her.

Sharon Davis