Hi all my hips decided to really deteriorate in 6 months I do have a genetic bone problem occording to a Dr when I got prolapsed disks, anyway my GP told me that i had an oxfoed score of 4? what ever that is, I just had my first visit with the surgeon, he told that I had terrible hips. he even asked me which one I would like done first. I am in terrible pain I am on morphine and can only walk a few yards with the help of crutch's.
I was a bit taken back so I forgot to ask much about what was going to be involved, so I am wondering what I am in for, I have a date for my first op mid 16th April so any advice etc will be most welcome.
Although still classed as a major operation it is done so frequently that the specialist Dr's/Surgeons have got it fairly sorted out!
They are very good at getting rid of pain, but it will take a while and you need to exercise daily with longer walks, several weeks of not bending over 90 degrees, etc.
Commonplace operation, so look through others experiences on the forum and please note, most that are perfect, never visit a forum...so sometimes the people on the forums show the minor problems and speak as if they are expected!!! Just how forums tend to work. The Dr would not advise unless it was necessary.
i think if your surgery goes well, which it should by all means, you will get a new life without pain. My grandfather's hips were replaced about 30 years ago and after that he went to see the Chinese Wall and Caribbean Cruise after that and enjoyed life. I guess in 30 years the techniques and materials have evolved quite a bit.
I guess what happens is that now you have an awful lot of damaged tissue in your hips and that tissue have nerves. That gives you the pain. When you get the new hips it has been cemented to part of bone that does not have so many nerves. So I would predict that although you need to take it easy to have it healed, there will be a lot less pain in the operated hip. Just take it easy then and no too sun fun but to follow the restriction guidelines.
If you are in the UK....in theory it tends to be a 3 day stay in hospital. In on Friday and out on Monday is my example. So not long
Each surgeon has their own preference for anaesthetic.....some like a general anaesthetic, others and epidural and yet others a spinal block.
I had a spinal block.....Sit on the theatre table, bend over, injection in your back and that numbs you.....I also had a light sedative....I wasnt out.....for a better way of putting it Some people are scared they will hear noises etc.
I didnt.....Although I wasnt "out" I was aware of a lot of things going on around me, people talking etc but didnt know what they were saying or what was happening and certainly didnt hear any noises
If you have any specific questions just ask and I'm sure someone will be able to answer
You will have a pre-op assessment before the actual surgery and all will be explained to you then. You can ask about anaesthesia and which they prefer to do, either a general, or an epidural, which is what I had. Some anaesthetists prefer a general, others an epidural. They should go through everything with you as well as doing blood tests, an ECG and listen to your lungs, ask you what medication you are taking and also the measurements of the height of your toilet, chairs and bed etc. and then will sort out what aids you will require when you get home. They will give you pain relief every 4 hours while you are in hospital and supply you with some to take home with you. I had the operation on a Friday and came home on the Sunday afternoon, so the fitter you are the sooner you come home. Don't worry, they are experienced and know what they are doing, just relax and go with the flow. Best wishes.
Thank you all for your responces they give me a few things to think about, I am in the UK Surrey area I really like some of the aids you have mentioned, my wife normally has to put my socks on, I will be very interested when both hips are done if this changes, as i do have prolapsed disk which besides pain control for that really restricks my mobility etc, but with my hips pain has left me stuck watching the TV. thank you for your best wishes I will let you all know how I get on
well had my first THR to right side was in and out in 3 days good job I had my bottle of Morphine i was recovering quite well getting further a long with my exercises when come post 7 days i thought i would have a game of football lol no i had a fall on the landing comming bck from the loo, ment a trip to A & E the pain was on the 0 to 10 scale 102 thankfully the X-Ray showed that I had not damaged my replacement just done the ligiments etc so back to bed for me.thankfully I manged to wangle anothr bottle of Morphine and glad to report that today the swelling has reduced by half and pain back to reasonable level hopefully I can stay on my feet in future
Sorry you had a fall, but glad that your replacement wasn't damaged and that the swelling has gone down now. Good job you didn't fall down the stairs as well, that would certainly have brightened your day! Hope all goes well from now on.