Hi all,
I'm 20 years old and had my first total hip replacement in December 2012 after having problems with my left hip, since birth.
I had a great 5 months with my new ceramic hip and was able to do so much more than I was ever able to pre-op.
However, on May 2 2013, my replacement hip dislocated - while I was with my physiotherapist. I was taken to hospital where my hip was manipulated into place under a general anesthetic. The surgeon there told me that my hip was a little unstable in one position but to go about my day-to-day business as normal and have a follow up appointment with my own consultant who carried out the procedure. Just shy of a fortnight later, I was due to see my consultant at his clinic, as I was putting on my shoes, my replacement hip dislocated again. Again, I was rushed to hospital where my hip was manipulated back into place under a general anesthetic, this time by my own consultant. Since then, it has been decided I require further surgery, which I will undergo next week. Not me, nor my surgeon knows what the procedure will entail as my x-rays look fine but my hip feels unstable.
I am absolutely devastated and wondered if there is anyone out there who has gone through the same thing or can give me an indication into what may be done and recovery times?
Thanks
Emma
Dear Emma I feel for you and would very much like to hear about how you have progressed since it has been months since your post. I had my hip done december 18 and had as you know the excruciating experience of dislocation 5 weeks out was reaching for a sock.After it was put back in they put me in a terrible brace (terrible due to uncomfortableness of it).The whole experience really set me back as I was already dealing with reactive depression .I cannot imagine going through it twice as you have and pray you are doing well.
I am a 50 year old female with left hip displasia. i have had had multiple operations, the latest being 02 January this year when I had a hip revision. I have huge sympathy with your experiences as I have suffered 4 dislocations in the space of 3 weeks and am very depressed, in huge pain and feel as I am on the road to nowhere. My surgeon tells me I need to be patient and let my hip scar up and the muscles develop, but I am so scared to do any movement and wonder how on earth I will ever trust myself to live normally from this point on. The last dislocation happened when I was sitting at a table and let my hip fall slightly inwards while the previous one happend when I leant over on my non-operated side to take a phone call. Neither movements were obviously in breach of the 3 Cardinal rules( ie no more than 90 degrees, not crossing your legs and not letting your leg fall inwards) but I do know the first two were when i was being careless. i would love to hear how Sarah and emma have got on, as well as from anyone else who can give me some advice.
I am a 65 year old female and had my left hip totally replaced because of arthritis in Nov 12. In June 13 I was doing some gardening (carefully!) and felt my hip dislocate. Oh the pain was unbelievable and the ambulance took an hr! It was put back in A&E immediately and I resumed life or so I thought. I was coming to look after my grandsons for the weekend and was with them while they were in the sports centre when I bent down and it went again. This time it took A&E 8 hours to eventually sort it out as they tried once and failed so put me out completely to try again. I am now terrified to do anything. I do appreciate what you all have been through and wonder how it could happen again. Is the hip that was put in faulty as I cannot believe with all the exercise I try to do would let this happen again. I would also love some advice as I try so hard to make sure that I do not exceed the restrictions, but to no avail. Unfortunately I also need a new right knee which makes it even more difficult to cope with the problems on the left hand side. Good luck everyone.
Sorry to hear this. The pain is so horrible! What does your surgeon say? I ask because I now know my problems are to do with my malformed pelvis and hip socket area, along with v bad necrosis from the previous metal hip that I had put in 10 years ago. I have not had any more dislocations although I have been told that I need to wait 9 - 18 months (to make sure the muscles have developed properly) before I can attempt to bend over and do things like put my socks on myself and will only do these movements for the first time with my surgeon in attendance.. There is still a good chance that my new hip will work, although if it doesn't I will have to have a plastic hip put in ( as opposed to my current ceramic hip) which will be bolted in. My surgeon would not let me go on living with the chance of dislocation so I would be curious to know what your surgeon says. If yours has dislocated after such a long time, I would be wanting a revision done that would enable me to live life without fear. Good luck.
Nicki74079 - I was very interested to read your notes. Have just got back from surgeon who basically has said to get on with it. He actually will take me in again within the next 12 weeks to open me up to see if the socket needs realigning or there is tissue damage which needs removing. Hopefully when he has done this it will be better. Was interested to hear that you need to wait 9-18 months before you can bend, haven't been told that so will take note. Luckily its coming to the summer so I won't need socks! It doesn't help that my right knee needs replacing but have been told it will be at least two years! Luckily it locked when I was with the surgeon and he said he would do it as soon as my hip is sorted as that is part of the problem as I can't bear much weight on that knee! I totally understand your comment about living life without fear - hear hear. All the best.
Hi Flossy. I thought I would reply immediately as it is worth pointing out that in fact I had two hip revisions done in January within a week of each other because it was immediately obvious that the first op had not worked due to the immediate dislocations I had in hospital within days of trying to stand up. My surgeon redid the whole procedure with a different alignment of the socket which has certainly been more effective although, of course I had those 4 dislocations even after this. I wear a brace for periods of time where I am unsure of my safety ( restaurants, busy streets, shopping etc) and this brings a degree of confidence that really does help. Therefore it is v possible that a realignment of your socket may help, but in the meantime I would also ask for a brace to help you get through those days where you want to do things like gardening, but are scared to do so. The brace effectively helps to prevent you from making those movements which puts you in danger of dislocation ( it is not a 100% guarantee ). It is uncomfortable, but in comparison to what you have been through, I do feel it is worth it. I also wanted to highlight that I gave been given 9 - 18 months timeline because of my misshapen hip and terrible state of my muscles pre surgery as I will need longer than most to develop the muscles to hold my hip in place. If you don't have these issues, I don't think you would need this long and as you have already had longer than this since your surgery, I would certainly be looking for more answers and explanations from your surgeon. It may also be worth asking how much a private consultation would be to speed up your answers. I am devoted to my beloved NHS which has enabled me to walk despite my condition, but I have also in the past paid to get a second opinion. At £200 for my hour's meeting, I found this a worthwhile investment.
Hope this helps.
Hi Nicki
That has all been a great help, thanks. Saw surgeon yesterday and he is going to open me up sometime in the next 3 months to see if either I need new hip or the socket needs realigning, so hopefully this will help. Also am going to see specialist physio to see exactly what and what not I can do which should help with the confidence problem. Have been told can go away on holls with all the family next week so will do lots of swimming and gentle exercise and keep fingers crossed!!
Thanks again for your comments particularly about the brace and will ask about it.
Flossy.
Hi
I've recently had a THR and it dislocated after about 3 weeks. Back into place now and I am being very cautious with it; but my physio strongly advised against swimming - particularly any type of breast stroke leg movements.
Richard
Hi sorry to read so many people who have had dislocations. I have had 2 late dislocations-1 at 18 months post op, and 1 at 5 years (6 weeks ago). I have both my hips replaced due to bilateral hip dysplasia, and it is the same hip that has dislocated. My surgeon can`t find a cause for it happening again, and advised physio. I have had physio fortnightly, and done the exercises at home daily, and been swimming (no breast stroke) and I see the surgeon again this week.
I am worried that he will still have no answers for me , and am scared to just go away like this and have the risk of it happening again over me. (he said as it has happened twice I am at higher risk of more, as my muscles are so damaged and weak)
Has anyone got any advice?
Thanks
Hi. Sorry to hear about your problems particularly after such a lengthy period of time. The good news for me is that I have not had any more dislocations with my surgeon and physio v pleased with my progress as I can now do most (not all) of the things that previously caused my hip to dislocate. I have been very proactive with excercise ( physio and swimming) so my muscles are doing a good job of holding the hip in place. My surgeon feels that after 18 months he and I can relax so I am puzzled and scared to think that these things can happen after such a long period of time. It was clearly stated to me that if I have any more episodes, I will have to have the whole hip re-done with a plastic hip which is bolted in place to prevent more dislocations. However, the longevity of this type of hip is significantly less so at 50 years of age, I am clearly keen to keep my harder wearing ceramic hip. My pelvis and hip socket are very malformed due to my displasia so the angle of my acetabulum was replaced and reconfigured in order to to compensate for the wierd shape of my pelvis. This has made a positive difference so I wonder if this is the same issue with you? Might be worth asking your surgeon for his view as well as checking if you can have your hip bolted in place? Hope this helps...good luck!
After 3 dislocations after THR 18 months ago I had to go back to have revision work done 4 weeks ago. Apparently some material has been added to the cup to prevent further dislocation. Am doing all exercises and walking lots though it was a lot more painful initially than the original op. Am keeping fingers x that it will work this time. Good luck and hope that all the exercise works for you. Flossy 48.
hi Emma and all!
i had my THP 4weeks ago and am petrified at the thought if it dislocating,so far everything is fine but for some reason I thought it was just the early days following the op that were most at risk and hoped I had got away with it.
Is ther anything any of you feel could have caused it when you look back? Apart from the obvious guidelines is there something else I should avoid or cut back on?
or is it just a case of if it's going to happen its going to happen no matter how cautious You are?
leanne 39 yrs
Sara, i had my t,h,r, on the 14th.of august 2013, in less than 3 weeks i had four dislocations, was going frantic, frightened to move, had done every thing according to the book, had to wear a brace, very uncomfortable, wore it day and night, wore it for 4 months, came off the 3rd. of Jan. touch loads of wood has been o.k., did lots of walking, still have slight swelling and a little pain, do hope this helps you, am sure it can be done, stay positive, good luck and best wishes, Derek
Hi
I had a hip revision of the right hip on the 2/7/14 (this was the 3rd hip operation due to on going problems over the last 10yrs). I had been touch toe weight bearing for 6weeks then got the ok to begin partial weight bearing, all was going fine and finally thinking things were beginning to get better. On the 1/9/14 I was sitting on the chair watching tv with my family when I seemed to get a slip sensation from my hip. I had no pain with this apart from the normal I had been having but my leg seemed stuck, anyway I got my son to slightly lift my leg as I sat forward and I felt a jolt in the hip joint then it was fine again. This happened twice within about 20 minutes of each other so rather than causing problem as it was about 9:30 pm I though I would call my surgeon for advice the following day. I got up the next morning a little sore but that's all, so come about 10:30am I decided it was time for the call, as I was on the phone organising to see him ASAP my hip slipped again which I told his secretary on the phone she said something wasn't right and to go Friday but if anything happened to call an ambulance. Then as I was thanking her for her understanding at my request the unthinkable happened and the whole hip dislocated the pain was so bad I just couldn't talk anyway cutting a long story short I was rushed to my local main hospital to have the dislocation reduced under general anaesthetic. I was told 3times I would be going down but I just lay there in agony with them only giving me paracetamol which did nothing for the pain at all. It got too much and was in the process of getting myself transferred to see my surgeon when they decided to sort it. I was lay there on a bed with a dislocated hip for 32 hours and minimal pain relief. I am back home now but off to see the surgeon in an hour to see what can be done. I am scared to move it feels so weak and unstable. I was told after the reduction it was unstable in some positions.. And I'm very worried it will just go again . I just wanted to put this on here for you to all see and anything you can tell me going forward about how you coped would help I'm male and 43 yrs old. I wish you all well with yours
I am so sorry to hear this. Following 3 dislocations on my left hip after a full replacement 18 months ago, I had a revision in May. So far so good and it would appear that my surgeon has literally stapled the socket to the ball! I have been ultra careful as like you say, the pain is terrible and I am terrified of doing it again. Have been now doing lots of swimming (crawl not breast stroke) and have started pilates slowly which is helping. All I can say is good luck and I do hope that it all works out in the end. I am just keeping fingers crossed and being very careful.
I also feel for you but would like to offer a bit of hope. After 4 dislocations at the start of the year after a FHR, I am now able to drive and although am still under physio treatment, can reassure you that I seem to have full movement back. I also am terrified about more dislocations especially as I won't be given the all clear for another year, but am focussing on LOTS of exercise, swimming, gym etc to ensure i strengthen the few muscles i have left (lots have been cut away during previous ops) but seem to move well despite this. I wish you the very best and hope that I have given some positive light on a situation that I know is scary, painful and extremely traumatic.
I am so sorry to read about those who have experienced hip dislocation(s). Consequently, I am curious to know whether any of you had the anterior hip replacement procedure? I had surgery late August and have had a remarkable recovery. I walked over 400 feet within 24 hours and by Day 16 was walking unassisted. With the anterior approach no muscles or tendons are cut, and there are are no limitations, like bending more than 90-degrees. I went home 48 hours after surgery and did not require any physical therapy.
Feeling so fortunate,
Hermionie
WOW that sounds amazing, exactly what is anterior hip replacement as I haven't heard of it before. If I have to have my other hip done then this sounds the way to go as I am still terrified to dislocating the revised hip that was done 18 months after the hip was replaced.
Flossy.
Here is a brief description from an orthopaedic website:
"In the anterior approach, an orthopaedic surgeon accesses the hip joint by entering through the front of the body and going between the hip muscles that help hold the hip joint in place. Smaller incisions are possible with this procedure versus traditional hip surgery. …This approach is what you would call a less invasive surgery than a traditional total hip replacement. With smaller incisions and by going between the muscles rather than cutting them, the surgery is less painful. In addition, the minimal disturbance of the muscle also allows for a quicker recovery and rehabilitation. One other benefit of leaving the muscles intact is that the joint has more stability. This reduces the chance of hip dislocation, one of the risks of hip replacement surgery. Most total hip replacement patients whose surgeries were done with an anterior approach are able to bear full weight soon after this surgery which means they can move forward faster on their return to activities."
When I did an internet search for anterior hip replacement UK, I found an BBC story from 2012 about it: http://www.bbc.com/news/health-17244622
Before my surgery, I watched several videos of the surgery on YouTube and was convinced this was an optimal way to go. I hope that this procedure is gaining popularity in your part of the world and is available to you.