For some time I have been suffering from sciatica and bad low back pain, so my GP referred me to a consultant with specific requet for help with that. My MRI had shown degenerative disc disease and a tilted spine. The consultant was abrupt and hardly listened to my explanation about the back pain and the pins and needles in my leg etc - he simply examined me, manipulated my legs, sent me for a hip X ray and said I needed a replacement. Yes, the hip X ray shows osteoarthritis in the hip with no cartilage left and I assume one day I will need a replacement. BUT at present I can get in and out of the bath with no pain or trouble, I can get up and down stairs, etc. The problem I do have is with standing which induces pins and needles in my right leg and bad back pain, walking for more than, say, 20 minutes, which again brings on the back pain and leg tingling. Occasionally I get a twinge from my hip if I roll over in my sleep, or move awkwardly doing housework but it's not life limiting in any wkay. I feel that I would rather see a physio (which the consultant didn't mention) and try other things first. Does anyone have any advice? I am 69 and in good health - am on medication for high blood pressure but this has now been stable for months at around 116/72 so that's not a problem. Many thanks
Hi Rosie ,
if X-ray shows wear in UR joints & u have been diagnosed with OA... THEN u will eventually be in enough pain where to improve UR quality of life THR is a good option. If not u risk bone and tissue necrosis & bone loss and THR can be difficul. I know hearing THR for the first time from UR dr is quite a shocker believe me it doesn't get any easier the second or third time. But it keeps bone and tissue healthy.
Please research as much as u can and learn how important THR surgery is. I have hyper mobility extra room in all my joints very flexable and that's is what causeed my OA .
The space in the joints eventually caused the joints to wear the cartilage down and bone on bone in the joint area and caused extreme pain. So THR surgery fixed that issue but it not a piece of cake. However it's better than the alternative.
Do UR research that's the most important piece of infor I can give you.
CHEERS 
hi Rosie, i am 64 in september, like you had not much wrong with my hip, i thought, but my back well that was so painful, if i went anywhere that I had to walk i took a wheelchair, they looked at my exray and decided that i needed a THR i was shocked, but they know best. I am now 3 weeks and 4 days PO and I walked around Chamonix yesterday, couldnt do that before, get it done now it can only get worse. all the best love..
Hi Rosie,
From my personal experience I would say explore every avenue before you make any decisions.
My symptoms were very similar to what you describe, walking and especially standing was very painful. I saw a spinal consultant who referred me to the hip surgeon and I went blindly into having a THR. Now my pain is far more severe and I cannot walk more than a few steps.
If only I could turn the clock back but I can only say I wish I'd tried more options before having the operation.
I wish you all the best and look forward to hearing how you progress
Hi Lynn,
I'm delighted to hear that your thr went well and that you are doing so well. I only wish I could say the same but, see my reply to Rosie below, unfortunately not all of us have successful thr's.I guess we're all different and as to the doctors knowing best, in my case they did not!
For a start Rosie, see someone else. There is no need to put up with rude and arrogant doctors. There are some out there that will listen and talk to you as though you are a human being.Go back to your GP and ask to be referred to someone else. I certainly wouldn't consider having an operation that is not necessary.
Hi rose57572/hope4cure
hope4cure is 100% correct, that if you don't have the THR done at the where possible the later down the line when you are in unbearable pain then when it comes to the THR you may have more damage to the joint. Also isn't it better to get it done while your BP is stable and your in good health and thinking about it if/when the time comes for the THR it may play a big factor to your BP.
Hi Rosie, first off i would say ditch your ignorant doctor and find a more sympathetic one, im not medical trained but i would say it dosnt sound like you need a THR, but who am i to say, normally pain for needing a new hip is groin pain, leg pain and of course hip pain, my consultant did ask if i had back pain because if i did it wasnt my hip, as i didnt have back trouble he was satisfied, so if i were you i would think long and hard and make the right desion, good luck to you
Hi, personally I would absolutely say (from personal experience) DO NOT have a hip replacement unless you are in considerable pain. I often wish that I had not gone ahead with mine, as I have had a "sub-optimal" result, but have to remind myself that I was unable to sleep due to the shooting pains down my leg, & I needed to sleep in order to do my full-time work. From the sounds of it, you do not need it done yet, & you really don't know what the outcome would be - you may be left with other difficulties after the op.
Hi Rosie, what a dilema you seem to be in? On the one hand if you are getting on pretty much pain free (apart from the problems you describe) at this moment in time, then it would make sense to probably put a THR on hold and explore other avenues that may be open to you? On the other hand your hip condition will worsen with time, so I think what you need to look at is, if you feel you are in generally good health at this moment in time, would it not benefit you to have a THR & hopefully be in a healthy enough condition to recover from surgery while you are still feeling quite fit, and hopefully improve your quality of life, or would it pay you to put the surgery off for an unspecified time, and end up where you are in so much pain that you will have no choice in the matter and surgery will be your only option? I'm 57 and 15 days post op left THR and touch wood things are improving daily for me I'm also due to have my right hip replaced within the next 3/4 months and if the left one is anything to go by I can't wait, just to be able to stand straight and walk for a bit without limping is something I look forward to on a daily basis, I hope whichever route you choose it brings you success, good luck Rosie, keep smiling 
Hello Rosie,
Well it seems like you have alot of advice here by personal experience, however the decision has to be yours alone, hope you have someone close to bounce your concerns off, friends or family...it does sound like you have alittle time to play with to see another doctor, but some of the advice here to have the surgery sooner than later is based on your current good health and that can make a difference to your recovery....whatever your decision stay on this site and you will get wonderful support....Patricia from Toronto
DO NOT BE QUICK to do any replacement, they are not a walk in the park and seem to done like handing out candy to anyone.
I've had a lower back issue since 18 and I'm 76, had the hip replacement at 76 and STILL in back misery, even worse than before... I've had 2 MRI's AFTER replacement, so again, backs are everyone's bain of misery sooner or later.
Knee and foot/ankle is worse all from hip replacement MESS and mine has been a mess.
Some others say, they often wish they could go back with what they had, that's me too OFTEN think that one.
My issue that pushed me to hip replacement at 72 was narley groin pain which showed bone breakdown when xrays were done.
I would work with back, with exercises, supplements, acupuncture if you can...
Most of the world have back issues before they leave this planet, and I would not do back surgery either....I've seen a few good results and a LOT of pretty bad ones....
I don't know if I saw your age, but unless emergency and not walking etc....I would NOT do a replacement....for eons they were for really old old folks, today they start them so early, that's how I see things.
Thank you so much for that, Joy - it echoes what my gut feel is (I am 69) and while my back gives me a lot of pain, and I get pins and needles down my leg, my hip isn't that painful (unless I do something stupid like twisting awkwardly). Thank you for your advice Rosie
Thank you for your help - I am so sorry your experience was a bad one but very grateful for your warnsing
Hi Rosie,
I was in almost exactly your situation last year, I was 62 then, had suffered with back issues, then one bright PT suggested a hip x-ray, I was bone on bone. I tried PT, Chiropractor's, massage therapists and Laser treatment. I was like you, actually still am very flexible. I saw a surgeon last December, he gave me choices, but I decided to go on the waiting list for surgery. So glad I did, I am now in so much pain, I have my replacement in 3 days and honestly I can't wait. I went from walking every day, gym 3 times a week, yoga on Thursdays and training my dogs daily, to only being able to exercise in the water, moving on the ground has become so difficult. We all have to make our own choices and perhaps you don't have such long witing lists where you are. I would also suggest getting a second opinion with a nicer surgeon. Good luck. Lorraine from Vancouver Canada.
I would suggest you seek a second opinion; not because the examinations are necessarily wrong but because the consultant is not one i would ever consider doing anything to me. A better consultant should discus with you just what your problem is and what is likely to happen, even when it will deteriorate and gi ve you confidence in him/her and what operation is suggested.
Then I would seek a good physio. In another thread I have mentioned how I have successfully avoided further sciatica. The problem for most of us who get that lower back pain with or without sciatica is that the muscles in our back are not up to meeting the strains we place on them. If we do no strenuous work regularly and then twist, bend and lift when and how we should not our back rightly complains. So I keep my back muscles in good order by daily exercises designed just for that purpose. That is where a good physio comes in, advising the exercises to use.
There are explicit exercises for sciatic nerve issues.
I ended up with sciatic nerve damage when I had a hysterectomy in 1980's,,,,it was HORRIBLE...I had a lot of PT work done at that time and over the years later too.
Now I have a specific exercise when the sciatic nerve acts up.....
I don't think it ever heals totally,, it hasn't for me, but I know how to work it after so many years. I'm sure you can find exercises online with pics etc....Spine Universe site has a lot of good back exercises.
I've had two surgeries in my life and ended up with nerve damage from both....Such Nerve!!!!!
Hi mark,
UR right health plays a big role.. So many have had great results. My aunt was in her 80's and was in rehab for a few weeks. That's pretty amazing!
Go Lynn!
Much of the problem when we get sciatica is caused by the nerve being pinched in the spine; we bend, stretch and the nerve moves. Releasing the nerve is the 'cure'. My physio achieved that by use of a frame much like a deckchair without the cloth but with a firm fixed support that takes one's weight and which one stands in while the ankles are securely attached at the bottom. The frame is then rotated through a central axle so that one is lying flat. Then the frame is moved further to about the 45 degree position and after a second or so to allow the blood to flow towards the head the frame is moved so that the body is upside down and allowed to swing free from the frame for a second supported by the ankle strapping. This permits gravity to work on all but the arms and all our joints open fractionally and reset immediately as the frame is reversed to the start position. During that process the trapped nerve is released and any other misalignment corrected. The frame is a German product.