2 years 9 months after my first THR I have been given a revision by another consultant at a different hospital. I cannot say whether or not all of the problems have been sorted - but so far so good.
I chose to go to the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre - NHS hosptial - in Oxford under the care of Roger Gundle, after numerous bungles at my local hospital.
I cannot speak highly enough of the care I received - the staff are brilliant and have time to care, the food is the best NHS food ever and the consultant team were excellent.
Such a different outcome from the first second opinion I got which was "I bow to the greater knowledge of your consultant. You will have to put up with the constant pain - as if we operate you will probably end up in a wheelchair". Harsh words to hear at 52 after being active and healthy all my life.
They have sorted out the leg length difference and also the offset - that made my hip stick out and up - by 7mm. For the first time since Dec 2013 I stand equally upright on both legs and my hips are level. All good. There was scar tissue and inflamed tendons and everything has been stretched by 7mm. As my consultant said - I have gone from being wonky to slack and have to be v careful due to high risk of dislocation as everything stretched needs to tighten up again.
Due to the length of time I have been left my body is going to take a while to readjust to being right ways up again. My other hip and back continue to grumble. I cant wait to get back to my physio. I have also had my other hip replaced in the meantime.
So my life has been on hold as I have been unable to drive more than 5 miles or sit and work since Dec 13. Scared of how much improvement I will get as this was probably my last shot.
With the post operative blues I could do with some words of encouragement - any other revisions out there? All they did was swap the ball for a bigger one and put in a new liner and reduce the offset - so nothing bony.
Also I wanted to share this story for people who are putting up with a poor outcome - I found 2 consultants who agreed within 5 minutes of reviewing me of the need to revise. This was after I had seen the first "wheelchair" second opinion. So I wanted to let you all know - its worth perservering if your hip replacement outcome has been poor.
Hi Christine I haven't had a revision, but just wanted to wish you continued healing and health and a wonderful outcome. I can feel your happiness at being able to get some qualified help and finally being able to function more normal. I can related to that feeling! Wishing you quick healing...Barb
Happy safe healing hun xx I'm 6 weeks post op I had mine done by Dr, Toth at
Barlborough NHS tretment centre. they were awesome. I had my 6 week check yeaterday and thankfully im fine, I'm 51 so can understand how you've felt, I withdrew from family and normal life before my surgery. We'er not OLD!!!! 50's the new 20 I've just decided!!!
No you have gotten your revision done you can start to live again, but leave the disco dancing alone for a day or two Take really really good care of yourself, but of course you've been ther before. This forum has been a lifeline to me too.
Hi Christine. I am six weeks post op right hip replacement and left hip replacement was done in 2014. Both of my hips were carried out by Roger Gundle the man you have seen and he is the best. I am so pleased for you and he has a good reputation in Oxford. The last 2 years with my first hip have been great and my recovery this time is good. It really does pay to get a good surgeon! It is not very often on this forum that people can say they have had the same surgeon! Good luck for the future.
I think I will start with ball room dancing by Christmas and take it gently from there.
My first consultant is so careful he could not believe he had made a mistake - he normally sorts out other people's mistakes. I stuck with him far too long and lost a lot of useful life. Its a lesson for life
Its hard to remember normal - being able to bend and walk distances and run after buses. Even just to be able to sit and work. Exciting and yet quite daunting - I have had my confidence shaken badly and become socially isolated, very different from the person I used to be - so got to be brave and forward looking. Chris
It sounds like you've finally found what you needed all along---someone who took the time to see the whole picture. And you now have found someone who can look at the whole picture and know exactly what you need to have done to fix it once and for all and also has the skills to do it right. Isn't it a shame that so often the very people that you trust to give you an honest opinion will just brush you off after just a few minutes of reviewing your files.
Sounds like you're definitely on the right track. It probably won't be easily to get back after being in your situation for so long but at least you finally know that it's really doable thanks to some very intelligent and caring doctors and an orthopedic center that has probably seen and treated every kind of situation r/t bones. And from your post it sounds like you do have the strength and the determination to get back everything that you lost and maybe more.
Stay with it girl. The life that you want to return to is right in front of you. And those great doctors that you finally found are going to get you there!!!
Hope to hear of your progress regularly. Stay in touch. Best wishes.
Hi Christine! I too had a hip revision. I had my first ever right hip replacement July 18, 3 weeks later found out it was dislocated. Dr was going to do what is called a closed reduction and pop hip back without surgery but he could not as the ball was hooked up on the cup. Cut me open again my first incision was front of hip this second was on the side. When he went in there he saw cup was loose and I had some stress fractures of some sort on thigh bone. So he decided it was best to redo the whole thing. This was Aug 11. I was then put on strict restrictions of non weight bearing, no hip movement and no hip flexion past 80 for 6 weeks. Yesterday I saw him and I am now weight bearing and will be starting physical therapy! I'm still nervous about putting full weight. My foot bothers me some and the thigh is getting achy and feels weird. My right bum feels like I'm sitting on a rock! But dr says all will resolve but it will take time because of the amount of time I have been without doing anything with this leg. Muscles are weak, stiff, foot was swollen and got cold and dark in color. Now I have another long haul in getting back strength. I'm happy I can do this because it was no fun hopping around on my walker, or being in wheelchair or bed! My hands and shoulders have paid the price too!! Wishing you all the best in your revision. Prayers for continued healing! 🙏🏽🙏🏽. Hugs, 🤗🤗 LD
Snap - Roger Gundle is brilliant. He was kind and a supreme professional. After meeting him, my only wobble was he had not used the manufacturer of the parts that I had in me. He ordered a selection of parts so that he had the best choice. He also had the supplier rep come in to theatre - travelling up from Essex to help advise him. They were in theatre over 2 hours sorting me out. I think he really wanted to give me the best possible outcome, especially after the rough treatment I had at the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital in Birmingham.
The other second opinion had boasted that he would sort it out in theatre 15 minutes. I am glad I did not go with him as I dont think he would have been as conscientious. Mr Gundle got rid of scar tissue, trimmed stuff up to increase my range. He gave me no bruises and neatened up my original scar. He also uses dissolvable stiches rather than brutal staples (38 last time).
Oh I am absolutely delighted for you. I saw him yesterday fro my 6 week check up and though he is not a man of many words he is a very skilful surgeon. Even one of the nurses in hospital when she changed my dressing said "Oh you can tell you have had Roger Gundle surgery" I have a very neat scar and yes all disolvable stitches. Please keep me posted how you are getting on, but this is so wrong that you have had to go through so much pain for so long. Did someone recommend him to you or just the Hospital.
It all sounds very familiar -the practice nurse could not believe how neat the scar was.
My original consultant moved quickly once I burst into tears with him - the day after the "wheelchair" second opinion. I did this on a Friday and by 8am Monday morning he had sorted out 2 more second opinions - one local and Roger Gundle - deliberately chosen as he did not know know my consultant at all so would have fresh eyes. My consultant did try his best in the end - but was far too slow - he kept on saying "it will get better".
The efficeint ways in which the clinics are run at NOC meant that it was quicker door to door to go 70 miles to the NOC for an appointment than go 6 miles up the road to the ROH where clinics can run 2-3 hours over and xray is even worse.
Even the crutches they use are more comfortable with rounded soft handles that fit your hand!
The stockings fit better and dont have your toes poking out. I also dont have to wear them now I am mobile - instead of wearing them for weeks afterwards.
The anti-coagulant uses a smaller needle and lower volume of fluid - so I dont get bruises on my belly. Its all just sunshine compared to rain!
Noone got left on a bed pan for half an hour. I never saw a patient call ignored or anyone being rude - the whole culture was friendly, professional and you sensed people were proud to work there. Lots of team working too.
As its supposed to be a National Health Service - well its about time the rest was able to catch up with the NOC standard.
He caught me using my hot brush to dolly myself up after a shower which reduced him to giggles - I am actually looking forward to my 6 week review!
How is your mobility now? What restrictions do you have? Do you expect to get back to the old normal?
What a nightmare, I had been fighting for 5 yrs re my hips, no one would listen to me, not even xrayed in my local hospital. Went out of area, I cannot believe how many xrays were taken both of my hips and knees.... Bilateral THR on 11th August now have to recover and him will do my knees...
I know I will not regain full mobility due to the years of suffering but hopefully will be pain free.
Sounds like they got onto you quite quickly - which is a relief. One of the oddest pains I have had on all 3 replacements as I have got more mobile is my knee - it feels really wrong, as if someone is twisting it. As its happened 3 times over I think its just part of the recovery process - but something to watch out for- so dont be disheartened if this comes along as the other problems to do with being inactive get resolved.
Bum feeling like sitting on a rock - it might be worth getting this looked at if it does not resolve. This was one of my early problems - I felt as if I was sitting on a blade and it was to do with the underlying problem.
The best friends I ever had throughout the process was a physiotherapist who just kept on plugging away and also an osteopath who was the first one to spot the underlying problem and also help get a lot of secondary problems resolved.
This is worth bearing in mind because surgeons only really see problems if there are surgical solutions and you might need a bit more help from different professionsals with your recovery.
That sounds like a total nightmare. Its great that you have found someone to take you on - and I hope you will get a great recovery over time. Its probably hard to second guess - but given my story of wheel chair at worst and gentle dog walking at best - I am determined to beat the predictions. So hopefully you can do that too. Its still early days with your recovery too - I found every month gave me more relief with the second hip
Take care and keep positive - your consultant believes in you which is the best thing ever.
All of my six week restrictions now lifted and more intense exercises. I went privately to have my op even though my insurers refuse to pay £600 of Roger's cost and the anaesetist costs but hey ho. I had the socks with toes poking poking out. Injections left my belly looking like a flower garden said hubby - well more like weeds!! I had flowery knickers on that day as well! What a site to see. I think we are lucky with our hospitals in Oxford as they are so good for NHS. I am still taking it steady like I did last time and will go back to work when I am ready. I only work 3 day week luckily and I am not rushing back. I feel really good and lucky!! It will be worth getting a good physio afterwards because that is really helpful.
I am also an NOC patient. Different consultant, but excellent outcome and care. Am also on a trial for a new type of implant, so have to go back several times for follow up checks. So far results are good.