I started having shooting and "clicking noises" in my leg in JulyAugust last year but only saw my doctor in November (just incase the pain wasn't really as bad as I thought) X--rays were taken and I was told by my doctor that the cartilege was so worn away that he couldn't even get a needle in between for an injection for pain. I got an appointment to see the Consultant on 23 March. The pain has got so bad that I struggle to walk and today I couldn't even manage the stairs. I have become completely "couchbound". I am just concerned that my operation will be scheduled for a long time ahead. Am I worrying (panicking) unnecessarily? Is this the normal kind of pain felt? Any advice would be very much appreciated
Push the consultant and his secretary for a quick operation appointment that's wat I had to do because like Yu I was in so much pain I even said I will go anywere to get it done and said I would go on the cancellation list. I have had some problems since I had op last nov and had some nerve damage when I was stitched so today I had to have three injections top of hip am hoping it works and can get back walking etc and get back to work because of health and safety work would not let me back.
Hi Carole , sorry to hear you are in so much pain and hope you don't have long to wait .
It's amazing how different we all are , I wasn't in constant pain before op yet surgeon said it was in a really bad way with no cartilage left . My x rays didn't show that .
good luck
mary
South Wales
Hi Carole, I completely understand where you are at I have kind of the same experience. Started hurting late last year in mind onlyI completely understand where you are at I have kind of the same experience. Started hurting late last year in my right hip only. I had one x ray it didn't show any damage I was sent home with a referal to the surgeon and a cane. I
have gone down hill and am now am house bound. I saw the surgeon
a few weeks ago and she ordered new xrays. Turns out, I have a
congenital defect called hip dysplasia. My hip ball is almost out of the
socket. But she is concerned about some other meds I take. So I am
waiting for it all to get straight before I have surgery booked for sure. Right now it is tentatively in May. Meanwhile, I am really scared and
anxious to get it done.
I am gently pushing the surgeon to make things happen quickly since
the pain is awful.
I'm sorry to ramble on, I guess I had a lot to say. I do hope you get taken care of soon, Carole. My name is Glenna and I am in Portland Oregon . USA. Any time you need to talk, I am here. I do know how to listen as well as yap
Keep on yapping, helps big time. Best wishes to you.
Hi Carole,
I was fortunate that having the same issues as yourself I wasn't always in constant pain, but when it did, boy did it hurt.
Push hard with the consultant to set the operation date as soon as possible as you are clearly in such discomfort and quality of life near zero. I had to arrange my n operation date as promised replies from my hospital with proposed dates never arrived or even sent. Chase them up, good luck and very best wishes to you from Gravesend Kent.
I agree with seeing if you can get an earlier surgery than expected. You might want to call the doctor and let them know the extent of your pain. It sounds like you are "bone on bone" and that's extremely painful. If they couldn't get a needle in there, that means there is no cartilage. I had similar pain like you are having.
Have you had a slip or a fall recently? The reason I'm asking is because even though I had a painful hip for years, I tripped over a stump in my yard and things went downhill after that. After having a MRI, I learned that I had a torn labrum, and that was causing intense pain, as well as the pain I had been developing for years. Sounds like you may have injured it in a similar way, creating more pain, or just the fact that you are bone on bone, things have gotten worse.
Let the doctor know that the struggles you are now having are much worse, and that you cannot walk up stairs. They could possibly set an earlier date for your surgery. They can't fix what they don't know, so informing them can only help you get out of pain sooner. I wish you the best, and if it means anything....I know what that pain feels like, and it's no fun to experience. The beauty of surgery is that you get instant relief! Be sure to tell them about the clicking and shooting pains!
Thank you everybody for your responses. My doctor did say he would contact the Consultant and explain my situation to him. When I tried to get an earlier apt they said I'd go on to the cancellation list but nothing came of that. Anyway, there are 6 days to go till my apt.
It's so good to be in touch with people who understand one another's situation and can offer good advice.
Hi Carole
I was bone on bone with no cartilage left, had to wait from that xray 4 months, even though I was on cancellation list as ops kept being cancelled as orthopaedics not considered a priority as not life threatening.
I was in a wheelchair for 1 month before op, couldn't work, walk or stand and in a lot of pain all the time on loads of painkillers.
I had to wait 4 months from when my gp referred me to consultant appointment.
Depends where you live (postcode lottery it seems) and on your consultant and how long the waiting list is.
Hi,Christine , I was on waiting list as urgent for 15 months !
live in South Wales . Where are you ?
Hi Mary I'm in Norwich.
Hi Christine, out lives seem to be running parallel to each other. I've also had to wait 4 months for an initial consultation. The bones clicking is so bad that everybody around me can hear it. It's the first time in my life that I can't wait to see a doctor. I broke my ankle in 2008 and due to botched surgery I have been left with a swollen, stiff ankle and constant pain. This didn't happen in the UK though. The Consultant here wants to do an ankle fusion which I have been stalling. Now I've got to have the hip replacement and am very very scared although I've had nothing but encouragement on this forum.
Hi Carole
Yes my bones used to crack and then finally give way so I just couldn't weight bear on my right leg but now its marvellous after not being able to do anything, I'm not in pain now, I can walk and do things, its marvellous even though I have problems with my other leg which prevent me from standing for long periods or walking too far at least half of me is alright.
We were all worried pre op but the op itself is fine no problems at all or pain, I stayed awake all through mine. It is a major op however and although they get you out of hospital quickly now, you have to allow yourself time to recover a) from the trauma to your body of the op which is not painful, but your body is very very tired and b) give your new prothesis time to bed in properly, so don't expect too much too soon. It seems a long time 6 weeks but the time fly's and you can see your improvements week by week, as I've said before 5-6 weeks is a turning point and suddenly you find you can do things and have more stamina to do things than before. However getting your stamina back as it wad before can take a while, I'm 7 weeks post op and wore myself out yesterday (going out for day, but not doing that much) so today I'm resting.
Being summer you shouldn't have your op date put back and surgeon won't put you forward for it if he doesn't think your ready, so hopefully you won't have too long a wait. Meanwhile you have to do what you can and leave what you can't.
Good luck Carole.