This must be one of the most annoying situations I have been in
I had my x ray on my hips done on 27/11/2018 then was asked to attend the doctor to discuss the results.
The Radiologist had written that there was no hip joint left and basically it is bone on bone, The doctor kept telling me how bad it was and made an urgent referral, I phoned the hospital to chase things along but was told as mentioned in a previous post that it was not urgent and the wait would be 26 to 30 weeks.
I then had to go back to my surgery to give a routine blood test where the nurse questioned me about my hip and recommended i see a doctor.
I say the head of the practice who was shocked when he read the radiologist’s report and his words were “You have no hip joint left” read the report out to me and said " You need a hip replacement"
Later I phoned the hospital again and asked for an update, where the secretary told me the surgeon had seen the x ray and would see me in 30 weeks.
Can 2 doctors and a radiologist all be wrong ? I wonder if the surgeon has even seen the x ray and perhaps it was a registrar
I am now refusing to go to that hospital for treatment because if they cant see how bad my hip is there is no way they are going to operate on me.
I have written and asked for my x ray and radiologist’s report .
Any advice on what I should do now as things are not getting any easier as you know it just gets worse every day
Thanks in advance
If you are as I suspect you are in the UK and not in Scotland you can ask to have your surgery in the hospital of your choice and you can also ask for your choice of surgeon.
I understand that the Southampton. General hospital has a reasonable waiting time. I had my twenty year old hip revised there by their Mr Dunlop. It was not straight forward but he did an excellent job and I made a very good recovery. I can do a brisk walk of six miles without stopping and swim over half a mile on the. same day. Nobody would know that I've had a hip replacement and I do not feel it either! BTW I'm a very fit 78 yr old. Cheers Richard
I think most doctors will read what the radiologist writes. I was told by my rheumatologist that my hip was just not there anymore with bone on bone from an xray I had had and she arranged a CT Scan. I then had to get funding agreed. I was then seen by a surgeon who sad he would put me on the waiting list. That was followed by a pre op and then the op. Hurray! I was worried silly it would be cancelled. It took me ten months from seeing the rheumatologist.
Hi Richard I am afraid I am in Scotland and this seems to be a major drawback here
I am really feeling for some folk on here having such convoluted experiences and long waiting times. I am in Derbyshire, and mine went so: doctors late June, xray next day, two weeks wait for doc to call and tell me the news, no point seeing her she said, straight referral, saw consultant in early August, op on last Friday of September, 3 months appointment to op. Considering this was peak holiday period as well, I feel very fortunate, my age may help (early 50's, very early!!) I do hope you get fixed soon. Best wishes Helen
Hi get back to gp first thing in the morning and asked to be referred to another hospital surgeon as urgent for a second opinion. My hip was bone on bone and I found it extremely painful and could not do shoes especially laces even putting socks on. Walking was impossible at time too etc. I will look on my discharge form again in a while and tell you the exact terms the surgeon wrote. I have no more pain, but the brusing has now really began to come out but I can still the exercises to a point and managing to get around. You need it sorted you will feel the benefit. Good luck Ann
Hi Ann, hope you doing well. The unfortunate thing for Billy is, the different rules and regs in Scotland compared with England. Agree with what you say wholeheartedly but as much as we call out our NHS, it is not the same UK wide
It looks like i will have to wait a year before an op :(
Thanks Ann I have wrote and asked to see my x ray and the radiologists As for seeing the doctor again , getting an appointment here is like hen's teeth I will put on the report once I get it so that everyone can see the situation
Wow I thought Scotland had a better health service than we have in England given free prescriptions etc but clearly, clearly not. We in England often complain about the NHS here but given you can chose the hospital and the surgeon we are not too badly off. Being able to chose your surgeon was something you once could only do as a private patient.
Yes I understand what you are saying, I am doing ok, its good to be home just bruising coming out now x Ann
Hope you get it sorted soon. Good luck Ann
thanks but its going to be a long drawn out affair probably break before it gets repaired :(
So sorry to hear that. Keep. pushing. Cheers, Richard
Yes in this case you certainly have it better
hello i had my first hip replacement 3 years ago in england and was fobbed off for a year by gp etc telling me it was my back or sciatica etc . i chose to pay for a private consultation with a consultant of my choice . it cost £150 but worth every penny as he spoke to me and discussed my x rays and he said it was bone on bone and needed doing asap he then carried out my op,very successfully and 2 weeks ago did my other hip . if you can just pay for a proper consultation it will help your progress good luck
I went to see an orthopaedic surgeon privately as my GP said my hip was 100% and refused to let me have an xray. I was told by the surgeon if I did not have a new hip within six months I would be in a wheelchair. It cost £450. I went back to my GP who said I should see a rheumatologist first. I waited six months for an appointment! I was then sent for a CT and then got into the NHS system to apply for funding for my hip. I had my hip op about eighteen months after my private appointment with a different surgeon!
I read somewhere that NHS Scotland was on the edge of bankruptcy.
What a disgraceful and stressful experience for you. I hope the hip is doing well now.Cheers Richard
Thanks, I do get annoyed when I think how I was mucked about, but at least it is behind me now and I have a lovely new hip.