Hi everyone! I'm 65 and waiting for my second hip replacement, the first one was 23 years ago, I have the added complication of having to have a foot long nail removed from my right femur before they can insert the prosthesis, it's been in there for 52 years so not sure how easy it will be to remove! I'm flying into the UK from my home in the Caribbean in 10 days time and my surgeon is happy for me to fly back 2 weeks after the op, as long as there are no complications! I've ordered all the toilet seats, bottles and reachers from Amazon and they will be delivered to my hotel. I'm traveling alone as my partner has to stay here with the kids! It's been really helpful reading the posts in this forum, I had forgotten so much! Thanks to you all!
Wow quite a story...How did that nail get in there and stay for so long....I have just had both done at 54yrs just back to work next wed, no pain and feeling great able to walk again properly, best of luck with the operation and please keep us posted as to how it all goes, and the Nail....Yuk!! Kind regards Ian.
Goodness tha tnail is remarkable. Had my firs thip replacement in June at 75 years of age. Hope you will keep in touch with the group and best of luck.
June
Hi Ian! I contracted juvenile rheumatoid arthritis at 12 and when they Xrayed me they found a 6 inch cyst in my right femur, all the while I was incarcerated at the Royal National Orthapaedic Hospital in Stanmore, I was there for 5 months and even though I had come from a very tough boarding school, it was hell! My parents had to make a really tough decision, either go for an untried operation, inserting a 12 inch nail down the middle of my femur or spend another year in hospital either stopping my other leg from growing or stretching my leg a turn a day until both legs were the same length, thankfully they bravely chose the nail!
Hi June,
thanks for for your good wishes!
Hi Loneanger,
Wouln't it be nice if a family , friend could come with you. You ae so much braver than I do do this alone. It's important to have family support. I know that skype will come in handy or I Phone.
I am very sorry to hear you must go thru this however I know that from my experience ( have had 3 THR), you will be much better once your thru recovery.
Be good and do all your exercises especially the glute squeezes. Very important to build up the glute & tendon to help the body stabilize after OP. It sounds like you have all the aids needed. Don't forget a walker and a walker helper which is a pack that fits over the front of the walker with pockets to carry things in. It came in extremely handy for me! I would recommend clothing that you can put over you head rather than stepping into for the first couple of weeks.ba lot easier and adult diapers.
What are you doing for meals? Or are you going to rehab after released from the hospital? Also take the pain meds as recommended . Some patients go off to soon and suffer a set back. Stick with rehab and you will be back on your feet before you know it. Also ask if they have water therapy. It's a gentle way to rebuild muscle just walking in water. Then a hot tub to relax muscles. It was great! I wish you the very best thru recovery.
I have a question about the foot long rod you mentioned in your femor. Why was it implemented and has your bone grown solidly around it?
Hang in there & never give up! Your so lucky to live in the carribbean. Where abouts? I know sounds a bit nosey.... But it's not like we know who you are right!
Also, If going to England for surgery going back home sitting for a long periods after surgey is very difficult, unless your in a sleeping plane with seats that stretch out like a recliner, or in first class. Just Hints to make recovery easier for you! I hope all goes well. And you will set off the metal detector at the airport. I do all the time. They take you aside and run a hand wand detector over the metal area. It's so lame because they can see it in the X-ray detector used today in airports. Be sure to wear shoes to slide off and on easily yet good foot support thru airport inspection, tieing tennis shoes is a pain to bend over & for several months after THR.
Keep me posted on your progress .
Hi there ,
I see now why you had a metal rod made with surgical metal inserted into your femur as a child with RA. That was very difficult decision for any parent to make. They were very brave and so were you.
It took me so long to write my reply as I had to stop for dinner. When I started my reply your explination was not posted yet. And now after I finally posted I see it here.
Take care....
Usually any surgical rods are made of surgical metals with colbalt & a Crome alloy. Safe metal use in implants prevent infection. I think a nail was simply a word used to explain the rod implementation. If it were a nail made from impurities and metals like iron it would simply rust in the bone and cause infection.
Today THR components are made of surgical metals,and lined with polyurethane lining in the ball joint connection or ceramic. This will help with metal rubbing or friction from causing toxic metal inclusion in the tissue and blood resulting in toxic poisoning in many patients with MOM THR Implantaion. Today there is a Implant Registry in England to verify how, what hospitals, types of implants and where implants did best, as well as the many doctors who performed the surgery. It's all online.
It was determined in the 70's that metal on metal implants in the ball joint area was dangerous due to the above reasons. They are no longer produced by any manufacturers, (MOM ball joint). Thank goodness.
You had very brave parents and the "nail" has served you well. All the best, keep us posted, and use that room service!
Hi good luck with the op good to hear the first one lasted that long. Do you have to go private from the Caribbean ? Or do they have an agreement with the UK ?