👯‍♀️ 👯‍♀️ Hips and knees Part 5 👯‍♀️ 👯‍♀️

I'll add my voice to those urging you to ho ahead with the hip replacement, marymary. I soldiered on far too long and I very much wish I hadn't.

I had the op at the beginning of August this year. I'm 74. I was back driving after 3 weeks, doing pilates at 6 weeks and I've taken up horse riding again. I have my life back, completely pain free, apart, of course, from the inevitable post op pain (which didn't last for long) and muscles complaining about being used again😆 I really regret the time I wasted being stoical.

My 'bad' leg was noticeably shorter than the 'good' one. The surgeon corrected that and there is now no difference between them.

I had the op at a private hospital as an NHS patient, mostly because other people I know said it was good, but I understand that any of the 3 NHS centres I was offered are also very good.

69 is by no means 'young' for having a hip replacement. My OH had both of his done in his early 50s.

Nannytopsy

I have a date for my TKR! Since mid September I have lost 1st 11lbs and now can go to the orthopaedic hub.
The bad news? It’s on Christmas Eve. You couldn’t make it up!

It could be your best Christmas present ever😆

I agree. Also, you will not be cooking Christmas lunch- it will be delivered, unfortunately, minus the alcohol. The food will be somebody else's responsibility, not yours!

A fantastic Christmas gift to yourself. You'll be so happy you went ahead and can move into 2025 confidently

That’s really good news Nannytopsy . Very happy for you.

I’m curious about your comment Charliegirl5 that most hip replacements are done with robotic assistance given it’s a fairly new procedure. It certainly isn’t the norm around here . How many of you have had a hip replacement with robotic assistance please ? I’m worried that I should ask to be re referred to somewhere that does it …

I don't know how common it is. It's just that's what the surgeon I went to does. Maybe it's not suitable for everyone. I had holes drilled in my pelvis for guide probes to be inserted. The surgeon offered to show me what would happen but I just didn't want to know!

Sounds wonderful 😱 not surprised you didn’t want to know . Did you get any choice about type of op Aveline or any information about why this was a better option ? It’s hard when different surgeons do different things - mine is very experienced and has done many thousands of ops but not robotic assisted ones . I gather they can be more accurate but at the end of the day the skill of the surgeon is also important . Glad it went so well for you .

I live in London, so robotic-assisted surgery is almost the norm. I have no idea if it is the surgeon's preference or if the hospitals found the money to supply them.

I would have it if it were available.

I did not have robotic assisted surgery. I also had the choice of spinal block or GA and chose the block. I could not hear or feel anything. I recovered from it quickly and was completely with it 2 hours later and eating supper!

That sounds brilliant Granny’sbuttons .It’s what I am hoping for.

For my second knee replacement, I also had a spinal block, I was in the land of nod and was fine when I woke up in the recovery area. I would certainly have it again.

I had spinal with sedation all three times. Very good method. I left the type of op to the surgeon.

I had spinal block with sedation (that's what sends you to the land of nod😁) Like others have said, I woke up fine, none of the grogginess you can get with a GA.

The block takes a few hours to go off but it's not a problem.

I have no idea if robots were involved in my op, I was asleep...but I'm completely satisfied with the result.

I didn’t have. Robotic assistance, just a spinal block which worked a treat. Woke up immediately, After the process while still in the the theatre, no pain at all.

Spinal blocks sound wonderful ! Plus sedation … Thanks everyone for being so encouraging . I’m just worried I’m not really ‘bad’ enough to have the surgery. My consultant was so laid back about it - I had an x ray and it’s ‘mild to moderate’ not much change in 2 years and I’m fairly flexible which masks a lot of the problems. He says I won’t be as flexible but will be pain free and there are no long term restrictions ..
On another note - the best of luck (hopefully it’s not luck …) to everyone on their own journey especially nannytopsy with her early Xmas present …. I’m certain that if that date is wrong for you you could have it changed . My admission's team rang me up with a date I really couldn’t do so I just discussed it with them and found one that was best for me . I know we don’t like to make a fuss especially if it’s been a long wait and obviously in pain but it might be worth asking if it can be changed if you really can’t face it then - there will always be someone else who will take it I imagine .

Just grab the first date going. It's really worth it.

My sister in law is having her first hip replacement on the 27th and she cannot wait.

I had my first hip replacement a year ago today & the second one 5 weeks ago today. I had a spinal block and sedation both times, despite one of the nurses being doubtful that the anaesthetist would be able to find a gap in my badly damaged spine to actually put the needle in! He managed to find gaps both times.
I don’t think robots are used generally here in Essex.

marymary62

I’m curious about your comment Charliegirl5 that most hip replacements are done with robotic assistance given it’s a fairly new procedure. It certainly isn’t the norm around here . How many of you have had a hip replacement with robotic assistance please ? I’m worried that I should ask to be re referred to somewhere that does it …

I had robotic assistance on the 1st.,of September last year. I had my new hip at the Spire Bristol as a private patient. I got fed up being told I would have to wait another 18 months so went ahead with it. I didn’t have a lot of pain but my MRI scans showed bone on bone and I asked my consultant straight out if he were me would he have it done and he said yes.

Have it done as everything you read say that the sooner you have it done the better the outcome. You can leave it too late,

I had a GA , no choice. I was fine when I woke up.

I’m fairly flexible which masks a lot of the problems. He says I won’t be as flexible but will be pain free and there are no long term restrictions

I'm a bit puzzled by this, marymary. How flexible do you need to be? Are you an advanced yoga practitioner, perhaps? 🤔

Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to sound snippy. I'm more puzzled by what your consultant said. The hip replacement is a mechanical joint which should be able to do whatever the 'natural' joint could do.

As far as I'd understand it 'flexibility' is a product of muscle action/usage and tome. Obviously some of this has to be recovered post op, but I can't see that that would be impossible.

My new hip is certainly as flexible as it ever was. It's more flexible than my unoperated hip.

My left knee is undoubtedly back to normal. My right knee has never been right since the day of surgery, but I am hoping it will "see me out."

I never wanted much from my joint replacements, pain-free and being able to do my shopping.