Hip Resurfacing? 38 Years Old, Feel Too Young But No Other Options?

Bones, joints and muscles
1

Hi,

First post here, great forum, just found it tonight!!

Ok, so I'm a 38 year old male from the UK, married with two kids.

All my life I have always been very athletic......sprinted for my county, played football since I was seven etc.

Around seven years ago........I started to notice after football that I was starting to get very stiff the day after............then it started to extend into two days after......three days after and so on and so on. But I was finding that it had eased by the next game so I carried on playing and just dealing with the midweek pain.......then I started to notice that I was becoming noticebly slower, could lift my left knee high enough to sprint properly or quickly. I just put it down to age and the opposition getting younger.......until I started to notice that I was struggling in comparison to all my peers!!

After a few years I went to the doctor, had a few xrays and physio sessions...to be told I had severe hip arthritis of the hip!! Proper shocked......felt that was what "old" people got......I thought I'd just need an operation or some physio and be back to normal!!

I then got referred to Doctor Treacy at the Orthopeadic Hospital in Birmingham....he said it was pretty bad and that "You will need that resurfacing in the next 12 months"........that was four years ago and he's been saying the same every year. All this time I had an attitude of "I'll prove you wrong" and have continued to play football, even through the pain, but now feel that I'm at the end of the road and need to do something about this.

Dr treacy said that I'm a prime patient for Hip Resurfacing as I'm youn, male and active and want to remain active. I know this is a hip replacement forum but can anyone give any insight into their own experiences of Hip Resurfacing;

- How was the surgery?

- How was the recovery?

- How has it been since the surgery?

- Do you regret it? Or wish you did it earlier?

I've resisted it for years but feel now is the time........I've always been active but this has decreased severely over the last 9 months to the point that I've put on weight because I'm less active........my flexibility is ridiculous, I can't even get anywhere near putting my own left sock on!!

I've got friends still running marathons, Triathlons and Iron Mans etc and I can barely run the length of a tennis court without my left leg dragged behind like some lame animal........it's starting to make me depressed thinking about the active things I can no longer do and will never do again currently.........

Any help, advice or personal experience of similar would be great appreciated!!

2

Just make sure you have a great surgeon. I am 66 and had a total replacement. I no longer run but do everything else. Can walk for mikes and workout. So happy to be pain free.

3

I wanted resurfacing at 52 but after I was in surgery they determined my sockets were not the right size as there would be too much metal on metal so I woke with a THR.

Sounds like your body is already compensating for the lack of mobility therefore the longer you go the more recovery time you may need.

It's important to get to the point where you know it's the best thing to do, sounds like you're close good luck

4

Thanks for your reply!

I personally don't think Iam ready but my hip has got to the point that I can no longer do the things I want......

Previously, I would play football an deal with the pain afterwards and then during......but it never affected my ability to play, it just hurt, if that makes sense?

No, it's getting embarrassing.............I physically can't run more than a light trot..............my seven year old son leaves me standing in a race.........

I've put up with the pain and limitations for so long it's now starting to sink in that resurfacing may now be the only option.......

5

I look back to the days of playing tennis and then walking 18 holes, never crossed my mind that I was a candidate for surgery, but I was sore.

Years later, when laying in bed hurt, when jumping felt like a bone on bone landing and when I could not easily tie my right shoe..... I was ready.

Sounds like It is not going to get better unless some serious stretching is needed.

Ten year olds run faster and need dad at their side .

6

Hi, I'm only 46 and UK and just had total hip replacement and my symptoms weren't as bad as yours but still impacted in my life. I know you feel like you're too young but to be straight with you it's not going to get better. Arthritis doesn't. It gets worse. What are you putting off exactly? More pain and feeling down? I'd go for it, I'd be pushing for it to be done asap really as for a few weeks of discomfort (and it's really not forever - I'm 5 weeks post op and totally back to normal - but without pain) you are getting your life back and can be active with your kids again. Don't let it get to point where actual depression takes over as that's harder to deal with for you and your family. Wish you all the luck in the world xx

7

Yep, I pretty much can't tie my left shoe either, not without getting my leg into some funny positions!

I think what has blurred the lines for me, is that I'm self employed and work from home at a desk.......so I don't even have to go through trying to get shoes on everyday!! And because I sit down all day, it means that it's not a massive issue for me.

The bigger issue is that I need to be active to maintain my weight. As my activity has dropped my weight has gone up and its depressing me as I physically cannot do the exercise that I am used to doing......

8

hi sarnie, 

warm welcome to the hippies forum ... 

the severe OA diagnosis must have come as a shock to you --- it was one for me and I am soooo much older than you ... after a long 12 hours flight, I though I just had pulled a muscle ... I walked arond with it (while pain was getting worse) for years  ... 

I understand that the surgery will involve preserving the hip joint instead of removing it ... recovery will probably be shorter but this is an individual process ...

Your surgeon recommended this approach and I am sure that he is very experience in hip resurfacing surgery -

I would say: Go for it

as for regretting to have it done sooner, well ..... you did not, so I believe that anyt time is the right time !!!!

please come back here and keep us posted, okay ?

big warm hug

renee

9

I think what I'd be putting off was the operation as up until recently, I was still very active, albeit with increasing pain, but I just dealt with the pain and carried on.

Now, it's that bad that I can't actually exercise at all............my questions here were about hip resurfacing really, as thats what my Doctor is proposing.................just wondering exactly how active people are after this procedure...........can I expect to be 100% back to normal or not?

10

It was indeed a shock........I too thought it was a muscular injury perhaps........or at worst there would be a fairly simple keyhole type surgery to debride the joint or clean it out etc etc..............but when he started talking about having the end of my femur resurfaced and it being a big operation, it scared the life out of me........hence me thinking that I'll just crack on with it as it's not affecting my life so much, I could still play sport (with pain) and didn't affect my work so why go through an unneccessary operations?

Well, that was the thinking until just recently............my annual appointment with the Dr is in September and I think this time round I might be telling him "I'm ready now"............instead of the previous years delighting in telling him that I'm still playing football and wasn't ready for resurfacing......

 

11

Aah good luck. I don't think that was an option for me as I'd gone to bone on bone but sounds less invasive than thr. Sorry can't be much help only to say it's worth getting done whatever procedure whilst you're still fairly fit as I was still going to gym etc and think that's really made a difference to recovery speed and effectiveness. Hope all goes well.

12

I was in a similar position, tho a bit older! Assumed it was muscular until Chiro xrayed and found gap round femoral head half good one! Hence lack of flexibility which coupled with a labral tear caused running to become difficult. Also tear caused impingement which started to jam and started getting stuck coupled with severe pain. Surgeon said arthrospy not poss and needed THR. I was also in shock and it took another 4 years before I gave in and had THR in December 2016. I'm now back doing the activities I love after 4 months and am gradually improving strength and fitness. I occasionally get pain which I am assured will decrease and is due to the muscular disruption of the procedure. Overall a good result as associated back pain and general grumpiness has gone!!!!😇😇😇Good luck when you eventually take the plunge. 

13

do you think you can see  surgeon earlier than September if you want to?

There are no guarantees, Sarnie - there never are .. but you will be a lot better than now ... You must have strong bones to get the resurfacing approach ... I am sure your surgeon can answer you better than we can here ... 

I am sure you can keep on doing your exercises, but perhaps modified as range of motion is decreasing ...

 

14

Sarnie

not many comments about resurfacing v replacement. I wondered about resurfacing when I had mine done. I was also active but older than you. But my surgeon recommended a replacement. I think opinions vary and some surgeons only do replacements, but in theory you should have better mobility with resurfacing, and the option of a replacement if it wears out. Have you looked at Derek McMinn's website. He pioneered resurfacing and has done it on a number of athletes.

Mike

15

Many thanks for that, I will take a look at that!

I expected most replies to be aboout replacement but was also hoping that there may be a few people in here that had the resurfacing and could help impart their experience.......

I think if someone could tell me that they's had it done and was able to go back to running/football/the gym then I'd be convinced............

My concern is going through the trauma of the operation and for some reason still not being able to be active whether it be through continued pain or lack of mobility etc etc........

16

Hopefully there is someone who had the same kind of procedure - 

But Sarnie, even then it is no guarantee ... what is a guarantee is that your pain will get worse, less mobility and total hip replacement surgery in the near future ---

do you like and trust your surgeon ?

It is a tough decision, we all know that here - especially when you still have "good" days ...

I know you wil make the right one when you are ready ...

17

Sarnie

I suspect McMinn only does private work but you never know, he might be on choose and book.

He's got testamonials from sports people  eg

Sian Williams life became increasingly difficult when her painful hip affected her walking. Playing badminton regularly at international tournaments and working as a fitness instructor meant Sian was faced with giving it all up. In 2009 she had a right BHR from Mr McMinn and just four years later won gold at the 2013 Badminton World Masters Championships in Turkey

Expect to see you at Wembly

Mike

18

Thats the sort of hope I was looking for!!

I don't expect to become a gold medalist, I just want to be able to run about pain free and play a bit of football with my son and go the gym etc!

19

Just as an update guys, saw my consultant in September, we agreed to get this done now..........having a Birmingham Hip Resurfacing a week on Thursday........fingers crossed!!

20

Hi,i was due to have a resurface in july at the same hospital as you (not mr treacy)after doing loads of research i was really excited about it after being in pain for years but cut a long story short i could not have it done and had to have thr but did not know until i came around.

I am now 3 months post op and really pleased with the results they gave me a low wear hip for active and younish people(49) what i will say to you is it is really good hospital for joints and that mr tracey is one of the top surgeons in the country who along with mr mcmin produced the bhr you are lucky to have him mate .

all the best.