Hip replacements

Bones, joints and muscles
1

Hi ive had perthes diesease since being 9 year's old im now 43 was told when I was a child that id be looking at a hip replacement in my 40's , Ive been on crutches throughout my life as my condition was server and only diagnosed when I was 9ish 

Anyway been to the hospital today as it is unbearable at time's to be told I need both Hip's replaced as theyre really deteriated , my worry is im 43 and hear that the replacement's only last for so long then they have to be replaced again maybe in about 10ish year's time and that then is a bigger operation and the more you have them replaced the more risk's there are ! Im trying to prolong it for as long as i can , but im wondering if youve had both hip's replaced morethan once and how's it been for you after having them done multiple time's ? quite petrified about having both done within 3 months of each other ! 

2

Oh you poor man. You must not worry about the 10 years time. If you are in agony now then you have to believe that THR will alleviate all that pain..  We only have the present all of us. As my mother used to say 5years happiness is better than 25 years misery. Think positive. Sometimes we just get fearful of fear itself. Sometimes anything is better than what we have now. I am sure with your presentation you will be well looked after and supported.   Once you have the first one in place you can think about the other one. Wait and see. You won't be forced to have the second one but I am sure your result will be bliss after your suffering. There is usually a huge progress made within 10 weeks minimum. I am sure you will sail through despite having to put your fate in another's hands. You will have many many people asking after you. Stick with the site and let us know how things go. Give in to it, don't fight it and tell yourself that it will improve your quality of life. It must 

3

I completely agree with holofernes. Grasp the nettle, bite the bullet etc. Who knows what life will bring. Enjoy as much as you can while you are young. I live in the present with two hip replacements. Thinking about how long they might last would send me crazy. Life as a cripple in constant pain is no life when there is the chance of an alternative.

4

I worried about that too (I had just turned 45 when I had my thr 11 weeks ago) but when I woke up with no more hip pain, those worries about a revision years later were completely gone. I have other issues from the car accident that caused the hip damage but my quality of life has improved drastically. I had only been on crutches for a year and a half before surgery and it took about 6 weeks after surgery before I could walk without them but that was a GREAT day. I wanted to burn my crutches but my husband said that wouldn't be nearly as rewarding as I had hoped because they are aluminum and the most that would happen is that they might melt a tiny bit. I buried them in the back yard instead. 😁

Good luck to you! Don't worry about the future. Live now!

5

Hi Lukw,

Both my hips are Bionic. Most of us are lucky to have THR system as a option compared to the alternative. 

I am sorry to hear of UR suffering. THR will give u a better quality of life.

Education is the key to a good recovery. The Surgeon experience and type of hip implant is a major part of success.

Be sure u know the type of prothesis.. Metal with polyurethane cups & ceramic are generally the basics in hip prothesis design. 

Go online see a pics of the prothesis ask the dr for surgery videos be informed and stay informed..

I have a THR for 14 years on the right hip...Hoping to have a lot more mileage left.

The left hip is 2 years in and failed due to MOM DESIGN. SEE STRYKER ABGll on line for more info.Good Luck ! 

confused

 

6

Hi thankyou for your reply's :-) 

I new the left one was in need of replacing but was abit of a kick in the teeth to be told today the right one is just as bad and because of the main pain in the left one apparently im not realising about the right one and blocking that i have a problem with it ! so after the left hip replaced thats when il notice the severity of the right one thus will be in need off both doing ! it was only today really that I realised the severity of what is about to happen in the near future ! I must have blocked out in my mind the severity of the right hip , abit thick like that lol ! im gonna have some Jab's in july/august for inflamation/pain and my medication's have been changed mainly for pain relief and comfort , but have been told to think about it and the surgeon is willing and wants to do them both when im ready ... The xrays today were quite bad and they said why are you leaving it so long then showed me xrays from patients they do it on whom have alot less deteriation but im one of these that think's well ive put up with it since a kid surely abit more time wont hurt ! Think ive got issue's with operations due to the amount ive had and the last operation 6ish years ago was just for my tonsil's out and the simplist of operations turned out to be my worst one yet ! were a full theatre staff were called back in at 4am after the initial operation on em because it had caused problem's thus in the second opp just on the tonsil's turned out to be a life saving operation so sinvce then i think ive got a few issues with opp's if you get me ! up until then ive had loads of opp's and it was nothing to me but due to the simpliest opp turning bad im now abit reluctant to go under the knife lol ... im soft really ha :-/ 

I keep weighing up the bonus's of having it done and gonna give myself a few week's to mull upon it before I decide ! 

You are all right really ! live for today and a better quality of life and i thankyou for your feedback and this forum i think will help me in the desision I need to make within the very near future :-) 

Oh ps - As anyone had the jab's/injections and did they help with pain relief and mobility and does it prolong the inevitable :-) x

7

Im new to this site and im still working out how to reply / and use it sorry :-) ha x

8

Hi Luke 

I can really sympathize with u. It's a lot to take in...I have had docs show me other patients X-rays with far greater deterioration shown. I was really put off, & I felt like it was a form of scare tactics to push me into hip surgery before I was ready. I really think that is unethical .

I changed surgeons because of it. I don't trust dr. That expound the judgmental decisions they make of patients who they have no idea who there patients really are. 

Many surgeons mean well and truly want to help their patients. There is a fine line there. 

Perhaps getting background on the surgeon for instance info on the % of THR he has performed are successful. The type of implant is important. Knowing the sucess rate talking to patients he can refer u to will help. Knowing all the details can liberate some of the fears.

Do u have family support? That is a big issue for many. I am luck to have a sis and hubby that have been there for me. The whole process is scary under any circumstances I will not infer otherwise. U will ind the whole process will be a little easier when u r ready...

Everyone is different. This is all sinking for u right now & it takes time to process. There is no hurry... 

I have to have a revision done on my left hip. It's very painful. My rt. THR is 14 yrs old now & going well. I take no pain meds due to allergies. I will do the surgery in the fall. For now as long as it does not dislocate or I am at no risk of serious health issues then in my situation its safe to wait until I am ready. Recovery takes a few months and winter is a good time to do it. I been thru this rodeo a few times.LOL 

I want to enjoy the next 8-12 weeks of summer. Plan to have the surgery in the fall.

We r fortunate to have THR available to us considering the alternative....U will find resolution when u r ready ..... Time to do UR research  be strong...and be smart..

once UR hips are repaired as long as u follow the docs restrictions, Exercises , PT U will be dancing UR way out of the hospital. With proper care u will have many miles & years ahead.I wish I was younger with UR energy...

Doctors and staff advise on UR activity level after THR. The lifetime of a joint replacement is not infinite and varies with each individual. Your doctor will help counsel you about how to best maintain your activities in order to potentially prolong the lifetime of the device. Such strategies include not engaging in high-impact activities, such as running, or weight bearing exercises as well as maintaining a healthy weight and lifestyle.

It's all relevant. I am finding as I age my constitution is not as determined.  By putting the things that I am thankful for first  & by taking one day at a time,I know that my life is blessed with so much more than most. . Life is a gift!

take care...

peace luv & laughter.

((( hugs )))

Hope smile

 

9

Having researched yr childhood disease I can see what you have been through. THR is a natural progression as all the previous procedures have been to try to keep the femur head well situated in the socket. If they are telling you now is the time I'm sure you ought to proceed. The tonsillectomy was such hell that this one may bring you relief.  With all that you've come through don't delay as a replacement is going to give you a better outcome than what you have. I understand the blood supply is faulty and the femur head softens over the years. It can only get better. But what hell  to have endured all your life's surgeries. It makes me feel bad about complaining these last 9 months but I've played tennis so what's my problem compared to yrs. go for it. Don't leave it any longer. Explain yr bad experience with the last disaster. Better to have surgery than go on with cortisone jabs etc. That thins the bones for a start. God you are brave and uncomplaining.

10

Holofernes...

excellent and encouraging advice.. Successful THR surgery must have good bones tissue and a great surgeon. Pain is a few weeks after surgery. Then life goes on... Support for Luke ... Team Luke...

(( hugs))

11

Hi Luke..

Key points to remember

Most people can manage pain with medicine, exercise, physical therapy, and weight loss (if they are overweight). If these treatments do not help your pain, you may try joint injections, arthroscopic surgery, or osteotomy. If these things don't work, then surgery to replace the hip is an option.

Most people have hip replacement only when they can no longer control pain with medicine and other treatments and when the pain prevents them from doing daily activities.

People who have had hip replacement usually:1

Have much less pain than before surgery.

Are able to return to their daily activities.

Have a better quality of life.

HOPE

12

Thankyou all above :-) nice to get the information your sending me ,cant thank you all enough for your calming influences !

I think i have a bit of a phobia with operation's so I think my first approach to it all will be to get some kind of therapy to get over my issue's I have with having operation's while still thinking my best option's , I go to see my own doctor at the end of July to discuss the finding's so ive got plenty of time to come to a conclussion ! 

The surgeon has given me his direct phone number and has said whenever im ready , a week , a month a year 6year's just ring him and he will get me in to do them so thats reasurring :-) 

I was overweight several years ago went from 15stone down to 11 stone and thankfully kept around that weight since that does help load's with the pain , I do control the pain in abit of a way by medication's and rest , itll just feel weird if it did work not being dependent on crutches anymore from being on em since a young age ... itll feel weird wondering what to do with my arm's when walking lol ! it's just a life ive been used to lol ! 

Well thankyou for the support and advice im taking it all in and it is helping me come to term's with what i should do in the future ....THANKYOU X

13

Luke therapy sounds like a great idea before surgery.

ur surgeon sounds understanding.. 

Many of us a freightened to have the surgery but it's  better than the alternative.

believe me once u get  bionic hips u will know what to do with UR arms..

Take care..smile

14

I was weeping pitifully as the epidural was being done. Not because of pain but terror. I didn't think I would get out of there alive. I had put it off for years until my life had come to a standstill. I too have had bad experiences of hospital and anaesthesia. I am an anaesthetists nightmare. It's made me very brave. Bravery is feeling the fear and doing it anyway. But the feeling of sheer delight only weeks after surgery because I could walk swinging my hips. I felt like a million dollars. For years the first thing people would say to me was, "why are you limping"? I hated that. I actually said to the surgeon that whatever he was paid, it wasn't enough because I had gotten my life back. It's a common operation but the results are often fantastic. However it pays to ask lots of questions and to be assertive. 

15

Great story.. Thanks for sharing..

16

Really glad I found this web page and the encouragement from you kind people , im loving your stories your sharing and the positivity your all giving :-) 

Your really putting things into perspective ! thankyou to each of you for all your reassurance - BIG HUG'S :-) x

17

Luke u have a positive life journey ahead... UR story inspired me.

thanks for sharing..

{{ gentle Hugs }}