Have finally had a first consultation which confirmed bone on bone and need for a THR.
However I was hoping to find out if Anterior approach would be suitable,available or best for me.
To get that answer I have to wait for another consultation with a different team.
Because Anterior is less common in UK it is important to find a surgeon with enough experience and the special training needed.
Please has anyone had a THR performed by Mr.Witt.????
Lots of members post on this forum that they had the best surgeon in their area,but seem shy of mentioning the name of the surgeon or hospital where they had the good experience.
Please help me to find the answers I am seeking.
Thank you all for so much that I have learned from following the forum so far. Knowledge as they say is power.
Now I am at the crucial stage,time to make my mind up.
Best wishes to everyone,whatever stage you are at.
Good luck with the surgery. I am 16 days post thr. My surgeon was fab but did the normal lateral approach - apparently in the uk very few surgeons do the anterior approach due to risks and complications to the nerves. My mum has anterior approach and she was lucky - the scar is so much smaller. However - it really doesn't matter what approach is done - it has the same outcome - a brand new hip joint with no arthritis pain. My scar seems huge to me - I will get a tattoo over it - but I'm hoping that regardless of the scar it will be all worth it in the end - too early to say yet tho - the recovery is very hard work. Good luck x
I had my surgery done by MR Green and Sunderland Royal. Apparently he is the surgeon who does a huge protion of the THRs at that hospital, i found his numbers for the last 36 months and they were very good.
I didnt have a standard surgery, took 7 hours and was completely different so dont know a lot about the approaches but he says my surgery went very well.
But my experiance on the ward was totally different xx
I'm not secretive haha - I've not long joined this forum so haven't looked at doing profile.
I'm in Bedfordshire and my surgeon is mr kalarajah- he is a hip expert and has fantastic results .
If it helps I live in a small flat with bath and under counter freezer and fridge. I don't live alone but my hubby has gone back to work.. It's not that bad to be honest - the only thing I've not managed to do is bath - but can strip wash on my own very well - I have long handled sponge. Having one of them grabbing sticks has been a saviour as I use it all the time. Getting stuff from the fridge is ok - I put the stuff I need in easy accessible places. You can bend a little - and it's enough to grab stuff. I also use uht milk so I can leave it on the top for tea coffee etc.
Buy a sock aid to help put ur socks on and a long handled shoe horn. I also put elastic shoe laces in my trainers so don't need to fasten them - so I can put my shoes on without any hassle.
The first week at home was the hardest for me - but you learn to adapt and adjust - and this week I've been able to do so much more on my own.
Congratulations girl, with the first step towards freedom from OA pain -
Joy, I don't think it is that people in UK or anywhere are secretive about their surgeon or hospital care -
It also might be considered a "promotion" or, when bad "defamation" and removed by Alan, our moderator -
Maybe it will be better if members here send a Personal Message to you with the name of their surgeon etc .....
As you might remember I live alone and had 2 THR surgeries, both posterior-
post-op 1st one I lived in a cabin like space - bunkbed, could barely turn around - I was advised to get a rollator (4 wheeled walker) because it was too small/narrow to move about with crutches -
post-op 2nd, another bungalow but wider -
I understand that you would prefer the anterior approach and I hope you make the cut, so to speak -
I can't help you 'cause I don't live in UK - if it was me, here in Holland, I would check out major University State Hospitals - regional hospital was great for the old fashioned posterior !!!
You have got to have faith too, sweetheart -- and trust your intuition ...
I am in Bedfordshire too- Dunstable- and interested in experience of patients local to me.
At which hospital did you have your op? Your positive experience is very encouraging,glad you are doing well.
Being totally alone is another matter. Knowing someone will be there in the morning when you get up and again when going to bed must be a comfort.
Being alone all day is not the problem but knowing that there is no-one to help if accidents or mis-haps occur is scary.
One thing that worries me is the dreaded TED stockings,getting them on and off.
I got elastic shoe laces too but find they are good for getting trainers off but for getting them on I have to bend quite hard with my hip as it is even now because the tongues get in the way.
I had it done at the l+d. I also work there - it is a fab hospital. Mr kalarajah is a fab surgeon and I did my research before as I'm only 41 so am quite young for surgery. I cannot fault the experience at all from start to finish- the staff from theatres to the ward were outstanding and on discharge the aftercare from hospital at home team- who visit you at home to make sure you are coping well.
Don't worry about the ted stockings - the hospital at home team took them off within a day of going home and said I didn't need them. They discharge you on a months supply of blood thinning tablets so the risks of a clot are very minimal so ted stockings are not necessary.
If u get a grabbing stick - use that to hold the tongues of ur trainers up so ease getting trainers on - I have it down to fine art now.
Do your research but as I've said the l+d and my surgeon have been amazing and don't let being on your own worry you too much - as they give u so much aftercare and support and are available at the end of a phone if your worried too. I never expected the care I got to be as fab as it was xx
i had mine done at Royal National Orthopaedic hospital in Stanmore so not that far from you. I live close by. My surgeon was a mr Carrington he was an excellent surgeon (though bed side manner was a little lacking shall we say) but I wasn't seeing him for that really. I had the posterior approach and was told that here are few surgeons doing anterior in UK.. It needs a special operating table which is very expensive and as few are trained to do it the experience level is not as with posterior. I wanted anterior but in the end had to give in and get the posterior as I was in pain. I had a text book recovery- bar a few blips but I don't live alone although looking back I would have coped if I did. Do you have family/friends who can pop in to help during the day? Hope this helps.
Yes of course you are right about personal experience and everyone has a different set of reasons for needing surgery.
Nonetheless definite opinions are reassuring.Already the response from Gillly makes me think if I had seen that sort of encouragement before I would not have waited so long to make a move.
After all I would not get work done on my house without seeking recommendations.
How much more important when getting work done on my precious body.!!!
I would hope to find a rehab centre,I think that would make all the difference.
I have been advised of one which looks superb and has a hydrotherapy pool.Just don't know if it will be available as and when I need it.
It is certainly a good idea,as I believe the first two weeks are the most difficult.
Actually I requested a referral to Stanmore in the beginning but was refused.
I requested Stanmore because a neighbour had her op done there and kindly reported her experience to me in detail including the rehab home and assistance she received afterwards.
However I was told Stanmore only accepts referrals from other hospitals as it deals with extreme and difficult cases.
It turns out my neighbour had worked for the family of Stanmore's senior consultant so strings were pulled in her favour.
This experience set me on a course of researching my own condition and I decided to try physio therapy and went away to Cyprus,did lots of swimming and followed the physio exercises religously for a few months.
My GP had said OA is not life threatening and no need to do anything unless in severe pain.Since the pain was bearable I carried on like that but my problem is I cannot stand upright or walk very far and have a severe limp which my pt told me will cause harm to my back.
In fact my back pain is getting worse and pain in general including at night.
So it is time to do something about it.
My PT would not see me any more but said I need to see a specialist,but I believe the exercises have been useful in strengthening the muscles.
As for bedside manner they say that about most surgeons,but that is not where their expertise matters.Skill on the operating table what matters.
Thanks for your reply. I am aware that if I choose Anterior fewer surgeons have the experience and info on the NJR doesn't differentiate between one approach or the other, so no way to be sure that the surgeon has appropriate training in that special skill.
Many thanks for your reply and good luck with your ongoing recovery
Hi I am now just over 3 weeks posst op , I had Posterior THR, My scar healed really quickly as apposed to my friend who had the anterior last year and is now suffering with severe muscle pain.. I have just returned from a two mile walk withh no sticks ( hubby to hold onto if needed) and although stiff I have no other pain. I am not a heavy person so am quite agile any way but so is my friend who continues to be astounded at my progress and recvery. my surgery was carried out at Cheltenham General .
I had 2 elastic stockings on whilst in hospital for a week. I am also on blood thinners. To be honest they gave me a terrible burning sensation in the heel area of the affected leg so much so that I woke my hubby up during the night to take them off. The physio told me it is due to fluid retention during the night. My husband battled to get them on and I have not worn them since. Just make sure that you take your blood thinners. Surgeon told me the 3rd week is the most dangerous as that is when a blood clot can for (if it is going to happen).
Joy, that is what I was also initially told about Stanmore BUT I went on their website and it says clearly on here that they accept GP referrals so I went to my GP and pointed this out - referral!!! You could try that. I didn't want the operation but I was 53 and could hardly walk so eventually went for it. This was last year and I'm so glad I did. I'm normal again it's a different normal but I can walk and do what I want.