Help - hip pain!

Health practitioners of all varieties do have an obsession with age. I am always hearing stories of people being told that they are too young to have a problem, so they are not sent for tests or too old for another medical treatment.

Galen you were very unfortunate to need a hip replacement so early.

I do think it is important to accept that the ways we care for our DGC have to be adapted to our health. I too do a lot of child care - but not just at the moment as I am convalescing from hip replacement - and as I have said, adapt my ways of doing things - the children are not upset by it at all and plenty of cuddles and hugs continue. In some ways it is nice that they do quieter things with us, and rumbustious things with their parents - it creates a balance for them.

It may be GrandmaRoo that the level of care you are providing may become too much for you - I know myself how hard it is to admit that as it is lovely to be a central lynchpin in the functioning of one's wider family - but we do also have to be realistic, and I know that my DDs would not want me to harm myself in the process of helping them.

As to age for replacement of hips - my GP was wary of referring me to start with, saying I was too young (I am 66) and that the x-rays showed only "moderate changes." However when I saw the consultant he wanted to know how it impinged on my chosen lifestyle and that was what he based his decision on. He said the x-rays are not always useful. When he opened me up he said I was down to bone on bone with multiple osteophytes that were locking my hip. I am hoping very much that this hip will see me out; but fear that the other one may need doing in time. Having the replacement has not been a walk in the park, but things are improving bit by bit - it is certainly a lesson in patience!

My first one I was 48

We seem lucky in North Essex, they are very open about their policy and it is available for all to see. This document covers all procedures, not just joint replacement, and it is in plain English.

We also have (IMO) very reasonable wait times for joint replacement < 8 weeks, and for straightforward ops, private care is available, although as this is very popular the wait can exceed the 8 weeks. Both my hip and knee were done at my local private hospital, I had to wait 12 weeks for my knee, could have been 6 weeks if I had chosen the NHS hospital.

Pompa hospital trust will fob people of with the 'you are too young' because of the cost of the surgery they hope you will go away and save them the many thousands of pounds
It costs. Its only if you have a sympathetic surgeon or you stamp your feet loudly enough it seems that you are given the surgery.
I had my hip replaced at 57 my surgeon said it should last me 15+ years hopefully he will be accurate with his prediction as I'm at 9yrs post surgery now.

Thanks everyone, without your advice I think I would have just kept taking ibuprofen. I will see my GP asap.
New babies arriving at steady rate from my four so really need to take care of myself, and see what can be done.
Thanks again.

I find it very odd when I hear people say that their Doctor says they are too young for joint replacement. In North Essex the clinical criteria are published on the internet and age is NOT mentioned. The main criteria are the level of pain/disability, previous treatment and BMI.

My hip replacement was done when I was 62, at that time I did have to show that I was actively trying to reduce my BMI.

The BMI restriction has now been raised to >40, over that you are required to undergo a weight management course first. But age is still not mentioned.

I suspect surgeons prefer not to replace joints any sooner than required as you can only have a limited number in your lifetime. The procedure for my hip was a little different from the norm as the surgeon said I would almost certainly need another. This did mean that I was on crutches for 6 weeks, but otherwise no different.

Perhaps other health service areas have different criteria, not fair if they do.

I went to see my GP about hip pain some years ago. It was off and on sort of pain and seemingly unconnected to what I had been doing. He gave me a good prod and poke, and said that I would be a candidate for a hip replacement when I reached my seventies.

I continue to walk every day, the dog has been useful for getting me out of the house. If I think that sleep will be difficult, I take Ibuprofen before bed.

Get your hip pain checked out by your Doc. He will probably get an xray to see what is going on. If he says you need it replacing, don't put it off, better to get it done whilst you are still walking and the muscles are strong. It may be something less major that will respond to drugs or Physio.
Whilst joint replacement is painful and debilitating for a short while, the results outweigh the discomfort 100 fold.

I used to lie in bed on one side reading, until my hip started aching a lot. Once I moved to sitting straight the pain went away. I also stopped cycling about 15 years ago because one hip was aching. Once I started walking instead the problem resolved itself. I analyse the cause of each ache and stop or adjust the activity that causes it and the problem goes.
I also do exercises to maintain my strength and flexibility, which, I think helps.

In this case I think the answer is 'Its your age'

I've struggled with hip pain for many years, had x rays which are clear apart from the usual minor degenerative changes. Gp now feels it's a bursa (as well as my fibromyalgia) and I'm getting a steroid injection next week.
Brufen does help but not good for the tummy with continuous use.
Anything that abuses a joint can cause inflammation I.e. swelling and pain.

Go see your doctor even if it is in a couple of weeks and even if you are pain free at the time. Just tell him how it is when it is present.
Hopefully it is only aggravated by certain actions and therefore can be managed, and hopefully is a temporary situation.

Thanks, tanith, that's a sensible idea. It takes at least 2 weeks to get an appointment so I guess if I'm careful I'll be able to give a clear picture of cause and effect.
Going to be so hard to refuse DGD a carry - it comes with a big hug so it will have to be up, cuddle and down again.....

Thanks for that, Mishap, I know I'm going to have to take more care.
What worries me is that I look after various grandchildren all week, and more on the way, the 2yo being the eldest. Because of their parents' work commitments I also often do baths and bedtime, and of course there are days like today, constant cuddles and toting around a poorly 1yo.
So far these haven't caused a problem, it's just carrying DGD No 1 for an extended time that sets the pain off.
I suppose what I'm really worried about is that this could be the start of chronic hip problems which will affect how much I can help out. I so hope I'm just being pessimistic.
I spend a lot of time sitting on trains to get to them all, don't suppose that helps either!

Carrying a weight on one hip is unbalancing and putting pressure not only on the hip but the spine.. it may just cause the short term pain and then recover but repeated movements can cause damage to joints and connective tissues.
To find out whats really going on I'd see your GP if I were you, it might just be that not carrying you grandchild this way would stop it happening and your hip will recover fully but see your GP anyway to put your mind at rest.

I don't know what is happening, but I do know that lifting little ones takes a big toll on your body as you get older. I do not lift my dear little ones, and they cotton on very quickly that if they come to me to be lifted up, I lead them to a chair and sit them on my lap. They just accept it as the way of the world. Funny things grandmas!

We have to take care of our bodies as they start to wear out; but that does not mean we cannot enjoy our dear GC in different ways.