Has anyone been in this situation?

Bones, joints and muscles
1

I have had problems with my hip joint that have steadily worsed over the last 10 years and rapidly worsened over the last 2 or so years. 

I had reached the point of needing strong pain killers to sleep and using crutches when having to go to the shops. I was in excrutiating pain often and could walk more than a couple of hundred metres.

My surgery for LTHR is in two weeks.

Over the last 2 months I have been going to physio and diligently working on leg, glut and core strengthening exercises. I have also been maintaining a healthy diet and have lost 5 kilograms.

Yesterday I spent the entire day walking with only mild discomfort and wasn't limping until about the 7000 step mark. I slept through the night without pain killers. 

I am beggining to think that maybe I don't need this op yet but everything is booked in and paid for and there is the weight of expectation from friends, family and work.

2

Typo in second paragraph. Should read '.. and couldn't walk more than a couple of hundred metres.'

 

3

If you have osteoarthritis in the joint and your xrays show narrowing of the joint it's important to continue with the surgery. 

Osteo does not get better on its own only worse as time goes on. It's wear and tear disease of the joint. Since you have worked on staying strong then recovery from surgery will be easier. It's tougher if necrosis sets in or muscles tendons have not been kept in shape due to non use. 

Good luck. 

4

Well here it is

The surgery will allow u we hope to walk in stores

Catch a train

Get groceries etc

I am but over two weeks and just getting from round 4 around block in hot sweaty illinois

Read others posts

Risks and complications there from mild on

But fir me going back to work in two weeks full time with some foot numbness i vote yes yes yes

By working out diligently few months before u will b so happy

Thats what i did as well

Keep us posted

Jozie

5

Went back to work in 2 weeks. Wow. Seriously very impressive good for you!

it great to read how positive your attitude is, that's what makes the difference. Always stay in shape. Great advice.

6

John,

i was benched before my surgery. My hip was "shot" so said my second opinion surgeon. Get a second opinion and research your surgeon and hospital. I, too, was physically active, gardening ,walking, mowing lawn. Always worked out. Ran in my youth. If you have improved, my recommendation would be to wait a bit. It's a major surgery.

7

Yes yes stay in shape but NONO

Going back after 1. Month

Could never make it now 🙋🙋🙋🙋🙋jozie

8

I 'd get the surgery over with. I get my 2nd hip done next week. It doesn't feel that bad right now but there are bad days and the x-ray showed severe OA. I want to put all this behind me and move on. My vote is get it over with because if the cause is OA it won't go away.

9

Don't you dare cancel,  to be blunt, your hip is only going to get worse, once that cartledge has gone you are bone on bone.

Been there done this twice over, first hip GP kept saying I was fine, and prescribed pain killers, when I finally saw the specialist he was shocked and said I should have seen you five years ago, you have a broken hip or all but, tried to find me a bed there and then.

I was not walking at that stage, the pain was unbearable, developed a clot in my leg due to lack of being able to walk, that ended up cancelling my surgery for a further six weeks.

Woke up following day after my surgery, and nurses amazed I had not used my pain killer button, my reply I was in less pain after my surgery than I was when i had walked/wheeled, using a granny walker to move at all, in the front door of the hospital the day before.

Of course not for long was i lacking pain, moving with the physio's help that following morning was challenging to say the least, but even i recognised the pain was less by the second morning, and I was able to move about more, walked to the day room of the ward, full length of the hospital ward, and no pain from the hip itself, all just in the muscles and the cut, what a relief.

Been better since than I have been with my hips for many years, my right one was never right after I had an accident in my 20's, 40 years later I had my suspicions confirmed, I did have dead bone right in the ball of my hip joint, but such a small amount never showed on x-rays, surgeon visited me the day after my surgery to discuss what they found and asked some questions.

I want a refund from all the Dr's and physios's i visited for all those years when they contnued to insist it was not the bone, it was the muscles and tendons that needed stretching. Fat chance.

10

I am guessing xrays were done that shows a serious deteriation in the hip joint. If that is true then it is not going to get better because one day you had no pain. I always had no pain the days I had to see any medical professional. I am guessing my body was releasing endorphens that bloocked the pain....temporarily. I had my right hip done 8 years ago. After 2 or 3 months of repair I never looked back, going to the gym and on week long wilderness kayak trips. I had my left hip replaced 9 weeks ago and am well on the road to going on another kayak trip next summer. I will work hard again at the gym to make that goal come true. I am also 66 and am not going to let 2 artificial hips stop me. Don't give up now. You will know it was worth having done in a few months.

11

Its amazing what we can do when we find the situation on us. Just 3 months after my 2nd THR it was recalled by the manufacture. Yeap went thru a third one just as determined to recover as I was with the first. 

 

12

hi John I had the same problem 14 days ago. I was trying to talk myself out of having my hip replaced. I'm glad I didn't the op was nothing like I had expected. I was out of pain straight away a bit feeble on the leg, but two days then bam everything kicked in I'm up walking about with sticks no pain like I had before the op just a little uncomfortable when sat too long. Go for it follow the rules do the excersises and you won't look back. good luck x

13

Hi John

I also thought about not having op right up to point when I was actually in hospital .

I had a day or two when pain would almost go and I'd wonder if all this pain and suffering was in my head.Not so

I'm now five weeks post op and all that pain has gone ,also walking pretty upright and not like

ape woman I cryed when I realized the pain had gone , of course there is a different pain now but nothing compared with before you must have it

done really you must . Hugs xx

I

14

hi john, 

ultimately you are the one who decides - from my personal experience, it will NOT get better - I was in denial for such a long time, even when THR was scheduled as x-ray showed bone-on-bone - 

congratulations on doing such a great job with losing 5 KG and keeping fit .. it will be such an advantage post-op -

let us know how you are getting on, okay --- it will be so helpful to other hippies here on this forum -

big warm hug

renee

15

Thanks for the responses. Hip was as bad as ever today. Just had a weak moment. To be honest it was quite bad yesterday. I was just sub conciously playing with the idea that I could just live with it and be a pained limpy person my whole life. But nope. Not going to do that.

Someone asked me if the operation was day surgery. I know it is far from it, but that is how I am going to think about it from here on in. Just ducking in for a LTHR. Nothing to worry about. Thanks again.

16

I had a similar situation John...

I broke my femur very badly 27 years ago. I had a pin inserted, removed 3 years later, then 5/6 years ago started having pain. A lengthy diagnosis took place (X-ray, ct, then mri), to reveal a spur on my hip bone probably from the original healing of the accident grinding into the socket. A labrel tear and some arthritis to boot.

My consultant was very good, debrided the femurs head, and repaired the tear.

That was 4 years ago. The spur returned quicker than before and he said the next and only thing to do was THR. I thought this was a bit drastic but hey ho. In the interim he gave me a steroid injection which didn't work for 2 months during which time I said go ahead with the THR and got put on the waiting list. I was given a date, then as if by magic, my hip instantly became Superhip!!!

It never felt so good!

A friend of mine is a clinical nurse and she said go ahead with the op, as it's the steroid masking the problem but the problem is still there...

I took her advise, but on the actual day of the surgery, was nearly dissuaded from the op by the clinical lead as he saw that my pain wasn't crippling. However I got it done and I'm now without any pain without any pain killers 7 weeks post op.

My surgeon said that my socket was very arthritic and I am glad I've had it done as its only onwards and upwards from here

Hope my (long) story has helped a little

Jelboy

17

That's great!! My only advice is how much damage is in your hip......the more damage then it becomes difficult to do the surgery. I hope this helps. God bless you and give you his peace and comfort. Hugs, 🤗🤗

18

What a dilemma, I have read all responses, and everybody is different, this is my story: Im 47 and was born with a dislocated hip, not spotted at birth I spent 2 years with the hip out of the socket, only discovered when I should have been walking like my peers but wasnt, lots and lots of surgery followed at Great Ormond St hospital ( you dont mention if youre in the UK) I had various procedures, was in traction, plaster for 4 months, had an open reduction, a fractured femur and a ton of metalwork in the hip. It was always agreed that I would need an "early " hip replacement, and I managed until I was 39, I had my Son at 34 and never really lost the weight, and I was a bit of a chubba prior to his birth too, however it was agreed that the hip was shot and I should have a THR...once I had a date I decided I must lose weight to give me the best chance in surgery and for rehabilitation, and to this end I lost 3 stone (21 kilos) and lo and behold the pain that I had experienced daily dissipated so dramatically that I knew I could cope for more time, and I suppose thats the key, how long can you cope for, and what is coping for you, with your lifestyle, only you can answer that question. I called my surgeon 2 days before surgery and said to him "this may sound like cold feet, but this is what has happened".... he said to me your own hip is always your best hip, hand onto it for as long as you can, and thats what I did, for another 8 years. Im now 4 weeks post op, and to be honest, I probably hung it out for a year longer than I should have, but work and home life were too busy to allow me the time to do the op...unfortunately my femur got broken in surgery so my rehab has not been what I planned because I cant put any weight on my right leg for 6 weeks, but I have noticed that the mobility that I had lost is back, and that bone on bone pain which had been unberable for the last year has gone....this was the right time for the op, 8 years ago wasnt, I dont think there is enough info given re the importance of being a healthy weight when you suffer from hip and knee problems, and of course I understand the viscious circle of being overweight and not being able to exercise due to pain and poor mobility, and the comfort eating associated with the pain...

Whatever you decide it will be right for you, we all have our own stories and they are unique to each of us. Whatever you decide I wish you all the best, go with your gut...