Hip Replacement

Good to hear that Hummerbear I had hip replacement seven years ago in Mexico (http://www.placidway.com/package/2395/Best-Destinations-for-Hip-Surgery-in-Mexico) and the outcome was pretty nice too! I was able to return to the physical pursuits that I love.
Hoping for your full recovery as soon as possible.

Just followed your story, Mishap, and hope your op. goes well next month.
I believe that compared to eg knee and ankle replacement, hip replacement is a relatively simple operation.
I had my right hip replaced 8 years ago, and TG the op. was a success.
I walk every day and have built up the muscles around the new joint so am hoping it will last more than 10 years.
Does anyone know what these time limits are based on? Does it depend on the material that the prothese is made of?
I don't think mine is metal.

My 93 year old aunt is having her second hip done on the 29 September. She's an ex chief nursing officer and doesn't approve of the modern way of calling the patient by their Christian name!
She's going privately as well as the pain is interfering with her active life style.

Well done Mishap. Although I have some private health insurance it is not enough to cover a hip replacement so I shall have mine done on the NHS. When I see the Consultant again in October I shall give it the go ahead and I think the waiting list is about 8 weeks long.

I've been putting it off but I think the time has come!

I've done it! - just booked in for 23rd September - wish me luck!

Thanks Maryjane for your reassuring post. I am hoping to ring the hospital today and book a date. I need to talk to the surgeon beforehand about my nickel allergy and how this might affect things. Presumably I could have titanium or ceramic.

Mishap I hope you get your problems sorted out soon and you have a successful hip replacement. Make sure you get a good surgeon.

I am just recovering from my 3rd hip replacement! The first was 19 years ago, at a young age, and still going strong. I then had the other hip done 8 years later but have recently had problems with very high levels of chromium/cobalt in my blood from this hip. This was a metal on metal hip which has now proved to be problematic. I am now 3 weeks in to having had a revision which has been replaced with a new hip. All going well and looking forward to a good recovery. I too had the spinal block and sedation which was very good and I was not aware of anything.

I have had my appointment and he was extremely helpful. He took an overview of my hip and my foot, which is what is needed.

He said that, although the changes on my hp x-ray might be described as "moderate", the position of the osteo-arthritis (inner side) is one that causes more symptoms than the x-rays might suggest. He says that a hip op would have a 95% chance of relieving my symptoms. He would do it under spinal plus "light general anaesthetic." He said that spinal anaesthesia has transformed hip surgery.

He looked at the blessed foot and at the last letter from the specialist hospital. He thinks the foot has deteriorated in the meantime, and that if I get re-referred there with my foot I should ask for a re-assessment rather than just to be put on the waiting list for the previously planned surgery. He was clear that the foot surgery has nothing liken the same certainty of outcome as the hip, and that my limp and pain and need for a stick could be permanent, with or without surgery.

But he did not think that my limp due to my foot would compromise a hip replacement.

I now have to decide what to do. I am tempted to use the money my Dad left me to go private for my hip surgery - I would be able to have it done sooner and I could be sure it would be done by this chap in whom I have some faith. It would also mean it would all be done with before some major musical commitments that I have.

With my hips x3 I don't remember a thing until the sedative wore off. It was just an injection in my hand. Then 'hello Galen. We are taking you back to the ward now'.
The surgeon (a fellow Brummie graduate) came round after he'd finished his list, to tell me it had all gone fine. We discussed a couple of clues in the crossword and the deficiencies in modern medical education.
Ot was that easy

petallus I was a bit thrown when the anaesthetist came round and told me he was going to do my second knee replacement with an epidural. However he was rather gorgeous so I went along with it. No problems at all! I had a moment's misgiving when they said they were going to begin and I was wondering if they were sure my leg was really dead, but it was fine. They would keep waking me up to taker my blood pressure though. When it was over I spent a pleasant half hour chatting to a nurse in the recovery room and then the pain started to kick in and we started on the morphine. Not a good move for me because morphine makes me sick, but I was onto paracetamol after a couple of days.

Mishap yes it gives post op relief.

A close friend age 72 had his hip replaced with an epidural for pain relief. He was up and about very quickly, and 2 years on enjoys walking his dog, and cycling. Great, isn't it - good luck to one and all (Tiny Tim a bit of a hero of mine)

Galen - dos the epidural provide some measure of post-operative pain relief, or does it get "switched off" straight away?

If I have any concern about it at all, it is the post-op pain.

I'd rather have epidural and sedative any time. No risk of chest problems, quicker recovery time (I was sitting up and doing the DT crossword half an hour later.
Usually no sickness unless like me you have it as a side effect of the painkiller.

I am approaching a hip replacement; had my opposite knee done in April and it was a very positive experience, so I am in an odd sort of way, looking forward to getting the hip sorted out. DH had a hip replacement in February last year, and rode the cycle lap of the local triathlon in July! But he is very fit (in the older sense of the word at least..)

If I am offered the op I will go for the spinal + sedative. I am hopeless with GAs - days of puking, which impedes recovery and rehab.

I have had a painful hip for a couple of years and it is steadily worsening. Recently I was offered a hip replacement but decided to put it off (I was going through a good patch).

When I see the Consultant again in October I think I'll go ahead and get myself put on the waiting list, which is only about 8 weeks long (at least I might get out of cooking the Christmas dinner!)

Mishap I too am apprehensive about having the op, especially as some people I know have had it done with an epidural block and sedative instead of a full general anaesthetic. Not sure if I'm that brave though I can see it would be a good thing to avoid a g.a.

Galen, sorry to read about the extent of your pain, and its causes. I didn't read your posts as moaning by the way, more as part of this conversation about the joys of joints that cause so many of us pain and frustration.

"one" not "none"!

Update here: my GP is referring me to an orthopaedic surgeon to assess my hip and what should be done, given my foot problem. The chap I am to see was the none who originally made the right diagnosis about my second foot fracture, so (although I was eventually referred to a specialist hospital for that) he is on a position to take an overview and think through how the two problems might best be tackled.

I will wait and see what he says - I am seeing him on Monday week.

What has finally pushed me into trying to sort this out is that I sang in a concert for the first time since I broke my foot (22 months) and (even after two paracetamol and 100mg of Volatarol) my hip locked after standing to sing one movement and I was in a lot of pain trying to unlock it to sit down. It effectively stops me doing what I do best and what has been my life.

I had a RTHR at the age of 57. Best thing I ever decided to do. Wish I had had it done 3 or 4 years earlier rather than putting up with the awful pain. I'm able to do most activities without a problem. I'm even back into my high heels!

I agree about getting as fit as possible, xrouler.Also important to do prescribed exercises post op. I too have one leg shorter and have to have a raise put on one shoe, a nuisance but worth it. I dimly remember stiletto heels from college days! I took it all for granted then but have learnt to appreciate what I can still do and make the most of it.
However, it's difficult to be positive while coping with constant pain and I was a very grumpy old woman before my ops.I dread the day when it all finally gives up and I have to be dependent on others for everyday things.

As a result of an RTA at age 50, subsequently a hip replacement became necessary at age 60.This was done via BUPA and lasted for 15 yrs.(using an Exeter joint).During these 15 years I was able to carry on cycling and competing in veterans races. inevitably it wore out (it took quite a bashing believe me) and another replacement was advised(NHS this time) in a different part of the country where sport is not frowned upon.
The day duly arrived op performed. Awoke to be told that the joint was septic and the new joint could not be completed until the area was clear of all infection. Sent home minus joint and a course of powerful antibiotics. Eventually re admitted to Hospital and new joint fitted. My left leg is now 11mm shorter than it was.( This has presented a shoe problem which is easily sorted). I am now at 78 back cycling(not competitive). Ok cutting my left toe nails and putting on socks is sometimes awkward but so what. I can still do what I have done since the age of 13 which has kept me fitter than most people of my age and enabled me to have a full life. As a PS. can I offer a small piece of advice, try and be as fit as you can before going through a hip or knee op. If you can have the use of a stationary bicycle post op you will recover much quicker. Do not be afraid go for it.

Sorry to hear about all your pain galen - it is so very tiring I know - and the lack of mobility can be so frustrating. Pain at rest is the real b****r - sorry that this is part of your life.

An additional problem for me is that the fractured foot and subsequent immobility has altered my balance and I am very insecure when out and about.

Your comment about pain from ankle fusion galen makes me even more determined to try and avoid the foot fusion if possible. It's a much bigger op and has no guarantee that it would improve my current situation.

I agree about finding a good surgeon - a friend of mine has had a hip replacement that keeps slipping out and she has to go back and have it put back in. She's pretty fed up with it and who can blame her.

Thanks, they had me non weight bearing for 3/12 with my ankle fusion (even more painful now than before)