Hi everyone. Its been ages since Ive been on online as computer decided to die on me. After all my concerns I had my replacement hip on 31st December and its been terrific. For all those of you who are awaiting this let me set your mind at rest the epidural worked fine and it didnt put my steroid intake out at all. 6 months on Im able to walk distances swim dance and keep up with my grandchildren . Nice to be back look forward to hearing from some of you.
You are the 8th person I know who has had a hip op with an epidural.
All successful and all happy. Enjoy everything.
Great to hear - and have you been able to reduce your pred dose any further now?
Lovely to hear from you again with the good news that your hip replacement has been so successful - so reassuring for those awaiting this surgery to hear this. Sounds as though you're doing well PMR-wise as well with the activities you're enjoying. Well done.
Hello mousemum, I'm really pleased for you and join the others in wishing you all the very best for the future. However, a hip replacement with just an epidural, crikey how brave were you! regards, christina
Epidurals are the best way to go.
GA's take ages to recover from (and the older you are the longer it takes) and the best way forward, particularly for hips and knees is 'Epidurals'.
Depending on the surgeon you get a little something to help you sleep through it! But as lodger says - far the best way for any orthopaedic work below waist level. No cerebral side-effects which you can have with a GA. And recovery post-op is far easier.
Yes lodger and Eileen, I know you are both right, I'm just being weak queasy. Christina
Yes Eileen was on 10 in Jan and now down to 71/2 but its a very slow process. Nice to see you are still on forum you gave me a lot of encouragement
Slowly does it - but you are going in the right direction!
Believe me I wasnt I practically begged for a general anaesetic but they wouldnt give it to me. However they do give you a very powerful sedative and some music through headphones. I seem to remember grooving along with Stevie Wonder
Hi Mrs O you were also very supportive. As for PMR and GA coming up to my fourth year on steroids altho doc told me it would be a year but I am a lot better and I am very slowly cutting steroids down and very careful not to overdo it. Hows you.
Hello mousemum, Bob, my husband's just walked in and after retiring from being head of engineering in various hospitals I asked him if he knew that hip operations can now be performed under an epidural? He raised his eyebrows and said that he hoped they had a sterio playing music nice and loud what with all the hammering, sawing and drilling!!!
i've now just read your reply and you've spoke of headphones, phew! It does sound brilliant though and I just wonder what will be next, open heart surgery? Regards and best wishes, Christina
I had my broken leg screwed back together under a spinal anaesthetic. No sedative. I was given headphones but never got to use them as the FOUR Italian anaesthetists who turned up were far too keen on practising their English. That was 21 years ago.
Hi Eileen, I live in Cornwall, and most things are pretty backward here. I'm sure the practice will take years to catch on here! Christina
You said engineering - was that part of Med Physics?
I am so glad things went well Mousemum. What a break through. Mind you I saw some guy on TV having a new hip using hypnotherapy!! I don't know if I would be that brave.
Hi Eileen, no or yes I'm not sure what that means, all I know is he ran all engineering and facilities. That included all medical gases, training, renewal and provision of all equipment servicing and calibration. Fire safety and training, He project managed million plus refurbishments including new Ivf centre, lamina flow theatres, hd units, oncology pods, radiology units x Ray and imaging unit, blood banks, cssd units. Then there was the installation of new hospital lifts, refurbishing new wards, lead researcher on obesity suite plus equipment. Then there was general hospital maintenance and grounds maintenance and because he was a "proper" engineer not just an engineer on paper there was many a time when he had to roll up his sleeves, gown up and get stuck in to repair something that went wrong in theatre.
he actually loved his job but the responsibility darn near killed him. The only other hospital workers that actually appreciated his work were the consultants, many who are still friends. As for the others, the more he did the more they got him to do whether it was engineering and facilities related. I was and am very proud of what he achieved. Now he walks Katie our dog twice a day and often is wiring one neighbour or others new lounge ceiling light. He is so chilled out now, and boy he really deserves it. Regards, christina
Was he a member of IPEM?
hi Eileen, no he was a member of IHEEM. Regards, christina