Hip Replacement

That's wonderful. So glad it is a complete success. My knee replacement
6 years ago was also successful and has transformed my life.
You will soon be dancing !

Wishing you a speedy recovery. I had my hip replacement similarly to yours 7yrs ago with a very good outcome I'm now contemplating having my second hip done. I too would recommend the epidural with sedative.

Brilliant news Humbertbear, so glad things have gone so well for you. I`m due to have my knee replacement op on Monday, I`m glad I`m having it done, but a little nervous nonetheless. I`ve been told though that I will be having a general anaesthetic, they only do spinals for people with heart problems.

That's a shame number please as the spinal recovery was much easier for me, it must be different in other places as I certainly don't have a heart problem.

Good news, Humbertbear. My experience was just the same and eight years later the hip is still going strong. I'm sure yours will also be fine. number, what a strange attitude your hospital has - I had the epidural and sedative and, like tanith, I don't have a heart problem. The epidural was simply routine in our hospital which was perfect for me because a general anaesthetic invariably has me throwing up for the better part of 24 hours.

I had an epidural for my second knee replacement because that was what the anaethetist preferred. I thought it was much better, although they would keep waking me up to take my BP every time I dozed off. It is amazing how quickly we recover from these things. I couldn't believe how quickly they got me climbing stairs!

Absolutely - when I was a teenager I had my appendix out and was kept in bed for a week. I'm sure it is much better to be up and active

I've had 3 the oldest (still functioning) one was 20years ago.
I always have spinals rather than general anaesthetics.

Glad your hip replacement went well, Humbertbear, all the best for the future.
I was offered s hip replacement but in my case it seemed I would end up with less independent mobility than I have now.
I found it very difficult to get straight answers from the medics about what you can and can't do after a hip op. Perhaps you can help me:
Here is a list of things I want to be able to do:
1 fasten my shoelaces
2 put my socks on
3 cut my toenails
4 bend over at the waist
5 reach things from a kitchen cupboard at floor level
6 use a normal toilet seat rather than a specially raised one
7 sit on a low-ish seat and raise my knees
The last is because i ride a recumbent trike as my main means of getting around and because of where I live - country area, no buses, don't drive. I would be virtually housebound without my trike.
I'd be very grateful if you could could just say what you are able/will be able to do. If you could answer Yes, Yes after some time, or no, never again to all these except the last - even the consultant wasn't prepared to commit himself on that one. (I promise not to sue if in 10 years time I have the op and can't cut my toenails!)
All the best for a speedy recovery.

I was once on the list for a hip replacement, but took myself off as my DD became ill and I had to help care for her wee son for nearly a year.

When I went back to my GP recently and asked to start again, he said that I was too you, the replacement would only last 10 years, and I should get on and grin and bear it as the changes on x-ray show "moderate" osteoarthritis.

What he is not taking into account is the clinical picture: I cannot go for a walk (also exacerbated by after-effects of broken foot); I cannot sleep with the pain or get at all comfortable in bed; I am not able to stand for more than about 5 minutes without my hip locking and as a consequence cannot sing or conduct concerts as I would normally do; I cannot swim because of the pain; I cannot cut my toenails or wash my feet in the shower - I could go on. The knock-on effect on my general fitness of not being able to go for a walk or be at all active is not good. Even if a hip only lasted 10 years (and I think he is wrong about that), I would at least have 10 more years of remaining reasonably fit through increased activity.

Mishap you have a right to ask for a referral to an orthopaedic consultant. Try and do some research and find a named person to be your consultant rather than the letter being sent to "dear doctor" and you could end up with anybody.

Hips nowadays last 15 -20 years on average. Some less, others longer. I would prefer it if an orthopaedic consultant made the decision that the xray shows "moderate" arthritis. It is affecting your life a lot and any reasonable orthopod would operate. I hope that you live in a part of the country where you have "choice".

GrannyGear I have a hip replacement thats 7yrs old and going strong I expect it to last 15yrs at least and I do all of the things you list plus many more.. most of the time I forget I've even got it and I cycle a normal bike. The other hip is going the same way too maybe a second op will be sooner rather than later.
But it all depends on you and how you recover, also what type of hip and incision you have, everyone is different and your surgeon isn't going to make you promises that may not come true. My quality of life is much better than before the op and my hip is painfree (the other one isn't though ) I'm guessing no one will be able to predict you cycling a recumbent cycle or not could you not use a normal bike?
Its not an easy decision and of course some people don't get a good outcome but I certainly wouldn't hesitate once this second hip is affecting my life badly. Good luck whatever you decide to do.

Mishap your range of movement sounds severely limited to me , I'd go back and tell your GP how much this is affecting your life especially emphasise how it affects you at night.. they can give you very low dose of anti-depressant for that type of pain (the dose is tiny but it works). I would ask to be referred to the hospital Orthopods to see what they say don't let him put you off I had my first hip done at 57 .

I can't understand why, if you were on the list when you were younger, you should now be too young for a replacement. I was 64 when I had mine 8 years ago. It seems to be still working and I hope it continues to do so. My GP asked a physio to assess how bad mine was before she referred me to a consultant. Both physio and GP then ordered me to use a walking stick and the consultant agreed. Your symptoms sound like more than 'moderate' arthritis.

That was to Mishap. I could reassure GrannyGear on most counts. But the fact that one person can do things doesn't necessarily mean another can. I can certainly tie shoelaces; put socks on; cut toenails; ride a recumbent static bike in the gym; bending at the waist is not recommended and I try not to do it; and I got rid of the raised toilet seat as soon as I possibly could!

GrannyGear Theseus (DH) had a hip replacement in February. He is 69. In July, he rode the cycle event in the local trialthlon. I'm not saying that anyone could, or would even want to do that, but it's a measure of the success of the operation. (He is very fit, in the old fashioned sense of the word!)

And he says "yes" to all your questions. Apart from the last which he hasn't tried Also, he suggests his magic "sock putter onner" which was invaluable while he was waiting for the op. I can send you the link.

Mishap I have a similar situation to yours. My left hip aches all the time but two weeks out of four it is so bad I can hardly walk at all, just hobble around the house.

I saw a Consultant six months ago who did an X-ray and an MRI scan which he did not seem to think showed very much, certainly not enough to warrant a hip replacement though he said, rather diffidently, that I could have a steroid injection into the hip if I felt like it. So far I've avoided doing that.

So it's hard to know where to go from here. I am currently doing daily hip exercises in the hope that will help. Pain killers don't seem to do much.

In my case I think the situation is complicated by the fact that I have polymyalgia rheumatica for which I take Prednisolone but the hip is definitely something else.

The previous referral was via another doctor who is now retired.

I have had the steroid injection twice - once a failure and a success the second time. Effect lasted about 4 months. Can't have another.

I had a hip replacement two years ago and some very sensible GN members told me not to rush into things too quickly. I wish I had listened because I still have problems which may necessitate a further operation. I also have spine problems and will be seeing a specialist soon. Have to say though on balance my hip is greatly improved but I am sorry to say GrannyGear that I should still have trouble with most of your list.

Mishap that is rubbish.
I had my first hip replaced at 49, the other one a year later. I had the second one replaced about 3 years ago. The original one is still fine! I shall be 69 in December so you can do the maths!
10 years! Poppycock!

Trust her, she's a doctor!

So's her GP I hope

I know it is rubbish galen - but it is difficult to know how to tackle it as the GP taking this view is an ex-professional-partner of my GP husband - so it feels a bit awkward.

I am terrified of having the op, so it is a measure of what a problem the pain is for me that I am wanting to get it done!

I am already non a minute dose of Dosulepin to try and help mwith the night pain (and as a migraine prevention strategy) - without it I am sure I would not sleep at all for the pain.

I think that they should look at the impact on a person's lifestyle and general fitness when making decisions rather than simply looking at the pics.

A physiotherapist I saw made exactly that point?

My consultant did.
He said people need their mobility most when they're younger!
You have right to be referred to a surgeon for his opinion
Use it!

I did after my GP told me the same!