👯‍♀️👯‍♀️Hips and Knees part 4 👯‍♀️👯‍♀️

Well my appointment with my GP went well and he has agreed to refer me to the consultant and hospital I asked for he also gave me a long exercise sheet to do to try to keep everything as strong as possible while I wait for the first consult then another wait for the surgery.
If anyone else is just starting this journey of hip-surgery/revision it would be interesting to compare notes as to times and experiences.
Now I wait 🥱

Put not out

Whe I went for a private consultation re my knee (as I didn't know what was going on with it) the consultant said that it was end stage osteoarthritis and said I'd be out at the top of the NHS waiting list. I declined this as it didn't seem right or fair.

That’s interesting Charleygirl5 I will give it all some consideration. Thanks.

tanith that sounds good- you just need to get on the waiting list now and the first step to seeing your GP is very soon.

I am not holding my breath that the junior doctors will not be on strike again which is more than a pain. At our age, we do not have years to wait.

The fastest method I know is to be seen privately for your first appointment. The problem there is you would have to pay for any xrays etc and then go on the NHS list for surgery.

If you live in London the cost of a private appointment I believe is around £350 without xrays or blood tests. I am unsure of the cost outside London.

Charleygirl5 I’ve already checked and he is still working at the same hospitals. He did my last hip replacement 7 years ago and I was very happy with him a lovely man who did a good job. I reckon he’s early 50’s now.

Redcar glad all has gone well,
I was discharged after 36 hours and as soon as I got home I
managed to go up the stairs on my own. It was a good start.

I had my hip done on the nhs in a private hospital and waited about 18 weeks from going on the waiting list until the operation. Consultant was very nice. I had a wedge between my knees the first night on,y. I had to sleep on my back, and will have to do so for 6 weeks minimum. I’m in a double bed (on my own) and have pillows down the middle of the bed to stop me rolling over onto my side. I do find it hard to sleep on my back but am getting used to it. The hospital does a lot of nhs work and the care was good. Good luck tanith.

tanith if you google the hospital where you had your previous hip done you will see if he is still working. How old do you think he may be now?

Thanks Charlegirl5 I’m doing my research and have the surgeon in mind who did my last hip-replacement if it’s possible. The wait at his trust for initial app is 17wks but I’ve yet to actually see my GP which is next week. I’m hoping things don’t deteriorate quickly 🤞

That’s interesting Charleygirl. I havnt really had any operations but will bear that in mind if I need a new knee or the kother hip.

Fancy that, yes it’s best to get used to sleeping on your back, use cushions as Charleygirl says, sorry to say but I think it was 6 long weeks not two.

Some good ideas Charleygirl5. Thank you very much.

fancythat my only suggestion is she sleeps partly sitting up the bed with 2-3 pillows to help her. Now is the time pre-op to try and find a comfortable position when she can fidget and it will not matter. Post operatively she will have a pillow between her legs which also takes some getting used to. In hospital it used to be a hard triangular wedge, I do not know what happens now.

silverlining I have always gone to my GP with a named surgeon before my knee surgery on NHS. It cannot be guaranteed he will do the surgery, it may be one of his registrars but he is ultimately in charge of you.

I havent read the entire thread.

The person I talked about a few months ago, not sure if this thread or a previous one, she is due the op in a few weeks.

She has been told to sleep on her back for 2 weeks afterwards. She doesnt fall asleep when on her back.

Any tips please?

Do you mean research the surgeon Charleygirl?
Trouble is unless you are paying and choose who you want to see beforehand, you don’t get to choose when you go to the Nhs appointment, or am I missing something. ?
It’s a minefield I know. My hip op was done in a private hospital via nhs. I didn’t choose him, he was ok but quite rude so with that experience would not recommend him but too late for me.

Please be careful everybody and choose your surgeon carefully, just because you can be seen quicker as an NHS patient at a private hospital does not mean you will receive expert surgical care.

tanith the doctors' strikes have not helped. I waited 11 months before being seen at my local for an ENT appointment. I have had tests and scans and I have no idea when I will be seen again.

Once you are seen and surgery is suggested try to be available for a cancellation.

Have you checked wait dates from the hospital?
It may be a while I suppose. I have mine in spring 22 .
There are places which just do hips and knees. Privately anf nhs. They seem to have less waits, it’s called Horder centre and come well recommended.

Is there anyone who is either waiting for or just had hip surgery in the London area I’m about to embark on this journey again for a revision of my 19yr R/hip and I’m interested to how long the process is taking nowadays as I’m assuming it’s going be a long wait. Thanks.

Well that’s good news Redcar. Four weeks isn’t long so take things gently but keep moving too. A walk every day is a good idea, wear grippy shoes or trainers if it’s slippery of course.

Just had a physio session, 4 weeks after my hip operation & now feel like a puppet whose strings have been cut! But the physiotherapist is pleased with progress so far which is encouraging. Looking forward to some slightly warmer weather so I can go out for walks without worrying about slipping over on the icy pavements. Keep warm everyone.

Soft not side food, though am eating on one side …..it really is a buggeration.

I was prescribed diazepam some years ago which are a relaxant and have always worked but not this time. I have taken them daily since Thursday but can’t eat much other than side food - with a tea spoon.
Will be careful with volterol. Thanks fir the warning, ⛔️

Mine happened when I was trying to stop smoking and was chewing gum a lot. I remember walking through town and my jaw locked. I was terrified. My dentist said it was the constant chewing and I thought well, now you tell me. I’d never heard or read about the dangers of chewing gum before ( bad for indigestion, too). Eventually my partner paid for me to see someone privately. Just be careful with having Voltarol on skin that’s exposed to sun ( not that we get much of that these days!). It certainly helped me but it might have been a case of something suddenly clearing up because you’ve paid a lot of mine at a time when it was going to clear up anyway. I must start doing the exercise again though. It’s such a simple thing to do but strengthens the muscles round the jaw.

Thank you Maybe. Interesting because that is what my dentist told me yesterday, to use voltarol on t he area and by good luck I have some at home, so will do this when I have supped my cuppa.
I have had this happen many times over the last 40 odd years but it’s never lasted as long as this.
Still not right today 6 days on, and the dentist will refer me to the hospital if it doesn’t clear by the end of the week.
Hope there won’t be an 18 month delay because I can’t stick to this soft diet - am going through mash pots and chocolate buttons very fast.