I posted some time back about physio for hip arthritis. I started a few weeks ago and now I've been moved into the hip class. I was horrified that they expected me to use an exercise bike - I could barely get on and certainly couldn't turn the pedals all the way round. I found all the exercises very painful and now I'm back home my hip is aching like billy-o! I have to attend this class for 6 weeks and then report back to my GP. I really can't see that it os going to work. It may strengthen my muscles but I can't understand how it will help bones. Most of the other people there were post-hip replacement and they could do far more than me. I'm embarrassed to say I ended up in tears.
As well as telling my GP about the pain and the things I am unable to do, does ayone have ay advice on convincing her that I can't go on like this and need a new hip? I can't drive, can only walk short distances and my hip keeps gettig 'stuck'. I have to click it back into position and it's so painful. I'm 67 in August but they keep telling me I'm too young.
I had my new hip last April at the age of 55, so you are not too young. I had to be admitted to the acute assessment ward at my local hopsital before I was taken seriously about my pain and that was after I had seen two orthopeadic specialists who did not pick up the severe damage in my hip. So keep going back and making a nuisance of yourself it is worth it in the end
That is utter rubbish Cels. I've just had mine done at age 61 and was nowhere near as bad as you report. Go to your GP as soon as possible and just tell her you can no longer cope and you want to be referred to an orthopaedic surgeon UGENTLY. If she continues to say you're too young say you want to be referred anyway as you want and are entitled to an expert opinion. If she still refuses either go to another gp even if its in the same practice or immediately complain to your nhs trust. She has no right to deny you treatment and as you'll see from this forum, there are many many people getting new hips who are far younger than you.
Good luck and let us know how you get on xxxx
would it be worth you aasking for private consultation with the consultant yet still having it done on the nhs? this has happened in loads of cases before.
Hiya Cels,
The reason of being too young is sheer bollocks. I'm 43 and have had the first of both hip replacements done in May, the other to follow around September.
If you are in this much pain, have your GP get you to a hospital to have an Orthopedic surgeon decide whether or not you need the hip. At first my GP thought of bursitis of the hip. After my third visit (and PT to use with bursitis) I said I wanted the hospital to have a look. One X-ray was followed by an MRI and then I was told I had osteonecrosis going on.
Please do yourself a favour, and demand to have pictures taken and evaluated by an orthopedic professional.
Hi CelsB,
I don't know where you are, but here in the UK 'you are too young' is their favorite cop out!!! trying to save the NHS money!! I was told the same thing, in 2011 i was diagnosed with cronic OA in both hips I saw and took photo's of my xrays, the left was far worse at the time, as I was living a very active life at the time i was in shock that this was happening ti me, I was 60 at the time, anyway I kept on going with the help of painkillers and herbal remedies, eventually the pain was too much to bear, so back I went to the gp this time I saw a different dr, he put on the list for a LHTR staight away.
Three months later I was invited to the hospital to be ascessed and was given a date for a pre op. long story short, I got my new hip in nov. last yar after deferring 3 times because they said the longer I could keep my own hip the better, I'm not a dr or surgeon so I was lead by them, all I can say now is, go back to your gp, insist you get reffered asap, you have rights, and take photos of everything you can, this is your proof of your hip condition,
good luck, let us know how you get on,
Lynne x
I really feel for you. I can only speak for myself, 4 months post op. I was the same as you, often ended up in tears when I couldn't get my leg into the car and had to lift it manually, let alone get on an exercise bike.
Not sure GP should be making decisions on your behalf. Surely a specialist is needed to advice? I'm 63 by the way and because I can now exercise I am managing to strengthen all the muscles that have been wasting away.
I can see the point of strengthening muscles pre op as it does help recovery, bone can be replaced but muscle can't. But it shouldn't cause you that amount of distress.
Good luck, hope you get what you need
Barbara
X
Hi Cels ... I agree with all the comments ... I had Physical Therapy prior to surgery and it made it worse for me - Now I had not been active for a while though, so I assume that the muscles went in to some kind of shock and gave me so much pain -
I was the one in denial and it was up to me to ask for a surgery date ... so different, right?
can you take someone with you to your GP - they can be so initmidating ...
good luck - don;t go to PT anymore if it causes you so much pain ....
be gentle with your self -
renee
I had my first at 45!
When was the last time you had an xray on your hip? They can get worse quite quickly.
Physio can be good for the hip but if the class causes too much pain I would tell the physio people you can't cope with it. I had physio before my recent hip op. I was in a class and some of the exercises were ok but others hurt a lot. I had an individual appointment with a physio and explained the difficulty. She wrote a supportive letter to my GP and I got a referral. The hip had got a lot worse since the previous xray over a year ago and the surgeon arranged to do it within 12 weeks.
At the least it sounds like you need an xray to see what is going on now and then maybe you will get a referral.
Last November I went to GP with pain in groin. Was given X-ray on the day. I asked which of our GPs has a 'special interest' in orthopaedics so that I could go to them for X-ray results. The recommended GP took one look at X-rays and said 'you need 2 new hips'. I was very taken aback as I hadn't expected this at all (I was 62). They referred me straight away to consultant who re did the X-rays and explained the concern (protrusio on both hips). I am fortunate that could have op privately so chose to have first one done at the beginning of June. So my journey began with a GP who was once an orthopaedic consultant for 8 years before going into general practice. Have you even had X-rays done yet?
Laura
You are lucky to have a GP with those interests. One thing CelsB could do though before going to the GP is to check what NHS surgeons are available and look at their record to see which might be suitable. I requested a particular surgeon for my recent hip op.
Hi CelsB,
I am 65 and Ihad it done four weeks ago...Go back to your GB and ask her to refer you to a consultant orthopedic surgeon. Don't leave her surgery until she has done it. If she refuses on grounds of your age complain to the NHS; she is about 25 years behind and she needs to be retrained.
Alternatively go the to consultant privately, just once to speed the process...
Where do you live? I cannot believe that this is happening in the UK.
Best wishes
Ella
67 I am told is the average age for a hip replacement, there must therefore be some much older and some much younger
I was sent to physio preop, they described it as it would strengthen the muscles tendons and ligaments for post op and also ease matters a little. I could not do all the exercises and was told not to persevere with those.
you do have a right to a second opinion and to demand a referral to a hospital consultant. As others have said if you have a private consultation you can then revert to the NHS
Absolute rubbish about age. I am 60 have been getting worse over the years. Dr told me it was my back and that he suffered back pain like many. Told to get on with it,
i had enough. Got myself a private consultation with back consultant who wanted to know why I was seeing him because the pain obviously came from the hip!!
long story short I am 10 days post op. Whilst the pain is quite bad at times, I know it will get better instead of getting worse
i am so glad I stumbled upon this site
good luck, don't let them fob you off
carol
My doctor arranged for me to do physio, saw a lovely guy who looked at my X-ray and said it wasn't worth the pain, on
one thing to cure it, and thanks to to the lovely people here I am going to tell the doctor next week the answer is yes. My hip is bone to bone, I also have displacement of the hips which has made one leg Lot shorter I hope the replacement will cure this. Go back to your doctor tell him how be it is.
sue
I had my last xray about 18 months ago and was told it was moderate wear and tear. I am in loads more pain than I was then. They also picked up wear and tear on my lower spine but I wasn't aware of back pain and I'm still not really apart from a bit of stiffness in th morning. I do have good days and bad days but my good days are gettng fewer and fewer. I think I need another xray. I will go to the hip class next week and tell them again how much it hurts - maybe they will help me with a referral. Thanks for your reply x
I'm in Northamptonshire Lynne. I will go back to my GP but I will see if I can get a supportive letter from the physio dept. They knew how much it was hurting me. Thanks for replyng x
I have to lift my leg into the car too but I daren't drive. Moving my foot from the accelerator to the brake is painful and I know I couldn't do an emergency stop so I don't feel safe. Thanks x
Hi Laura, I had xrays about 18 months ago - moderate wear and tear on right hip .I don't even know if my GP actually saw the xrays. He just told me the results.
I live in Northamptonshire Ella. All these replies are making me realise I need to be more assertive with my GP. The trouble with me is that I'm a bit shy and find it difficult to be firm, but I know I'm just going to be overlooked if I don't push for surgery. Thanks for your reply x