Blooming hip replacement!

I can tell you when you leave it as I have done for personal reasons , the pain is dreadful and I don't overplay that. We have no car and I am housebound, I can't even walk round a store even if I am taken. Get these things done now. I am concerned that my age may hinder my recovery but I am a bit of an awkward biddy and very determined so am hoping for the best.

Thank you for your replies, I will look into getting it sorted. I think the fear of ending up worse off than I am now has been putting me off.

I'm semi retired, I have a couple of companies that I have worked for in the past who call me back for "a few weeks" that usually turn into a few months each time. I think they appreciate the fact that they don't have to police my timekeeping and mobile phone use like they do the younger ones and I like the flexibility!

grannyqueenie We love Runrig, they come to Sheffield City Hall every so often and we always try to see them.

Lyndylou Yes you're spot on it was Runrig! I had my hip done when I was 62. I was flabbergasted when I was told that's what I needed as I didn't have any daytime pain to speak off but when it began to be painful when lying down an xray showed terrible wear and tear. For years I'd I felt I was walking awkwardly, no wonder! I didn't regain the lost movement in the joint but having the op meant I never had to experience awful pain. My walking became so much easier and as GandTea says the younger you are the better you recover. It does take some motivation, stamina and perseverance to get yourself going afterwards but it's definitely worth it!

Sarah - thanks!
Ann-sixty - were not in same hospital, are we?? I promise nothing scary!!
Anno domini - thanks, I hadn't thought about the stick, I've had mine almost 10 years since I pulled a tendon.

My first one was done at age 49 I still have it age 71. The other side was done about 18/12 months later and replaced after 15 years. Still going strong. My immobility is due to the arthritis in my ankles and feet.
Strangely enough my knees are fine.

I would have a hip replaced sooner than later. The fitter you are and the stronger your muscles, the quicker you will be up and about. I left my hip too long, put up with the pain, then the cartilage split and it was bone/bone and very painful, could not walk. I then had to wait 8 weeks before they could fit me in. My knee started getting painful, my Dr, said it would not improve and was happy for me to have it replaced before it got by worse.

Lyndylou....I was 58 when I had mine done.

Lyndylou how soon until you retire? Could you possibly wait until you have retired and then you can devote your time to getting better and you would not have to worry about getting back to work.

Have you tried getting to sleep with a pillow between your legs?

Do your homework and if possible go to your GP with the name of an orthopaedic consultant who specialises in hip replacements.

I have been debating whether to revisit my GP and ask if I am now old enough for a hip replacement. Apparently 61 was too young but I have now reached the advanced age of 64. However reading the comments have put me off a bit!!

Maybe I am not yet ready for one as I manage all right during the day at work, providing I walk around for a few minutes every hour or so, and I don't need a stick but I really struggle to get comfortable to sleep at night. I rely on my paracetamol/codeine mix tablets but I don't like taking this many painkillers.

grannyqueenie Scottish Rock - not the incredible Runrig by any chance?

No need to worry I have had a thr and tkr, hip was like falling of a bus, no problem, walking next day. TKR felt like I had fallen off a bus, took a while to get back walking comfortably, but all fine now. I can dance now and I couldn't do that before.

Good luck, Elrel. It's natural to fell apprehensive. But think of the pain you will leave behind. My best day was when I finally got rid of the walking stick that was my constant companion for a year before the op.

Hi Elrel I had my pre-op on the day I went on the list. My provisional date is Aug 15th so we must compare notes but no scare stories please .
Like you I just want it over now I am in a lot of pain most days now.

Hi Elrel. Not read all the posts, just dashing out, but just wanted to say that my very elderly mil had a hip replacement a few weeks ago and she has been absolutely fine. She has no pain and is skipping about like a spring lamb. She is very glad she had the op. Best of luck.

Ann sixty - I have a TKR date now, August 12th. Pre op assessment next week. Feeling both resigned and apprehensive.
All the best to everyone with health issues. ?

The "sedative|" for my hip replacement basically knocked me out completely - the surgeon said he preferred people to be asleep so they would not move at all. When I came round I was freezing and shivering and they had to wrap me in an inflatable blanket through which they pumped hot air to get my temp back to normal. I was surprised that they were not monitoring my temp throughout to be honest.

My 'new' hip is eleven years old and still doing well. I wish I could say I was walking miles every day but now have osteo arthritis in my foot which is more than uncomfortable. The epidural was wonderful and the sedative meant that I heard very little of the procedure. When I had the shoulder partially replaced, I had to have a GA which, as usual, made me very sick, but on the plus side, a nerve block meant that I didn't have any immediate post-op pain for at least 24 hours. I'm all for nerve block - had one for a hand op too.

I do not think mine is one of the known faulty ones. It is ceramic and titanium, uncemented - I have an allergy to nickel and they thought this would be a safer bet.

I was a bit anxious about the uncemented aspect as I have known osteoporosis, but the surgeon looked at the bone and declared it sound.

I just hope it proves to be bursitis and can be cleared up fairly speedily.

I'm sorry that you're suffering so much Luckygirl particularly as the pain is getting worse.

I've read recently about manufacturing problems with certain types of devices resulting in them being incorrectly sized and bits breaking off, but can't find the article. But have a look at this one from The Telegraph

hips

Details of the device that was used will be in your surgical notes including a sticker with the serial number. You should ask your surgeon to investigate further.

Cutting toenails, putting on tights without the lassoo method? More than 3 years on, I wish! But on the plus side I can walk a good 5/6 miles with no problem, some aches and it's definitely stiffer in cold damp weather but generally a good result. Sorry you're having such a struggle, lucky, haven't seen anyone since a a few months after it was done but it sounds like yours maybe hasn't been quite right from the start. Hope you can get something sorted.
elrel I had mine done with an epidural. They gave me medazalan and I drifted off nicely to some music. I did surface of at one point but felt quite detached from the banging and thought to myself "oh well that'll be my hip"! Somehow in my befuddled state I managed to up the tempo from light classics to Scottish rock on the iPod and like granJ did a bit of a sing along, much to the medics amusement! The difference in recovery afterwards was a big advantage. Try not to worry about it, it will be much easier than you fear....I'm a self confessed coward!

I'm seven months on from that op. Due to see the surgeon in August. I still have aches and pains,sore buttock and when tired I know it's there. I've been on my feet five hours non stop today and I do know about it now but I know I'm making progress slowly. I long to be able to cut my toe nails on that foot and I'm still getting tights on by lassoing my foot. Do you still do your exercises ? You don't sound as though it's right.

I had an epidural with femoral block. Really really wanted a GA as i couldn't bear th thought of all the noise- but the anesthetist persuaded me it would be so much better for me, and that the femoral block would also help with the pain for the first 2 days post op. OH also persuaded me it was best- but I made the anesthetist promise me he would give my a GA if I got distressed. They have me traxilium as a pre-med, and I had earphones with music on. 3.5 hrs of op and the noise was incredible, a mix of carpentry and butchery but I was totally fine and didn't panic at all. OH had prepared the music compilation for me of stuff I liked, and the surgeon and team laughed and said it was liek kareoke in there, as I was humming along all the time. No sickness, and no having to come round from GA- I would advise it- ans as said, I truly dreaded it.

Any experience of knee op with local anaesthetic (epidural) please? I am being such a wuzz about this knee.

Wishing Lucky girl and others in pain or discomfort an improvement, soon! ?

My poor cousin was given a wrong size component, recently had her knee operated on 3 times over a few weeks. She's bounced back though, had a successful hip op years ago.
I am so apprehensive about the knee replacement which I guess I really need. Thought I could manage with weight loss (what weight loss??), paracetemol and physio//exercise. I don't like having so many painkillers. As for the physio, if I feel ok I just go out, if I don't feel ok I don't want to do it., or much else. And they've just closed the swimming baths permanently for rebuilding sometime, somewhere.
Jalima- 50-60 miles??!! I want that consultant!!

The time scale is about the same as mine....although I am somewhat shocked that you have an annual check . I haven't seen the surgeon since the six week check. My problems are no way near as bad as yours sound but I do still have pain and it isn't comfortable to lie on that side. I get horrible clunking and clicking noises in certain positions which I used to find a bit frightening but now just expect if I get into those positions. I also feel that the leg of the replaced hip side is shorter but may well be imagining that! I do aqua aerobics regularly as I find the water support helps but any walking more that 20 minutes will result in increased pain. There is no way I can run and getting up from kneeling or sitting on the floor is a bit of a mission and results in rather a lot of unladylike moves and huffing and puffing!! I have been sent for an X Ray which seems to show nothing wrong and I am currently waiting for physio which is what the rather uninterested GP suggested. I had a cortisol injection into the hip for bursitis about 6 months ago which helped for a while. I guess I am constantly cautious as it has never felt right although I accept that a replacement joint will never feel the same. (Not helped by getting knocked over with the full force into my hip by a dog after about 6 months.) You have my total sympathy. Let me know what your consultant says as it may give me ammunition. When I emailed the surgeon about the clunking and clicking he replied saying 'don't put your hip into that position'. Grrrrr...not helpful!