1. Community
  2. Operations and surgical procedures
  3. Hip Replacement

Xray/ arthritis in both hips.

Posted , 6 users are following.

holly_12500
holly_12500

AnyOne any ideals on how to go forward and cope with chronic pain.

I have osteoarthritis in back, had surgery 3 times now fitted with spinal nerve stinulator ..great it really helps with chronic pain.unfortunately I have had hip pain for the last 6 months xray last week show a arthritis.... had injection in one hip didn't work...sorry it worked for 4 weeks.

I can't sleep difficult walking and bending.

Taking 20gm Amitriptyline at night (shake badly if I take more) dhidrocodine /co-proximal painkillers really help with pain but my life is on hold can't go shopping on my own or stand for long to make meals.

Hope to visit dr again should I ask to see specialist.

0 likes, 14 replies

14 Replies

  • lyn1951
    lyn1951 holly_12500

    Posted

    Holly - I had totally trashed hips, family history of arthritis, pain finally intollerable, GP never even fowarded my file to the hospital for an opinion, See a specialist, even privately, I did, it jumped me up the waiting list in the public hospital, to a category One. It helped some, see further down, End result was saw my regular GP's locum when he went on holiday, and he made comment about hips having been replaced, I replied that if that was the case it was news to me. He picked up the phone and spoke to senior otheo registrar at hospital they saw me as an urgent appt 10 days later. When Specialist finally saw me at that Appt, he told me in no uncertain terms that my old GP was a idiot, he should have seen me 5 years previous, and tryed to get me admitted then and there but no beds. Surgery booked 10 days later. That stopped because of DVT. but thats another story.  Painkillers I was on Panadol Osteo, thats a slow release Panadol, but you can only take 6 a day or they will kill you. Once the pain became totally impossible, the last 3 months or so they put me on Norspan. its a clear patch that sticks to the back of your hip, and that you change weekly, that knocked the pain for a six. If like Australia, the rules in the hospital is lack of function gets you the surgery, amount of pain you are in has no value. If I had known that, I would not have been brave and continued to put up with pain, but would have got myself in a wheelchair to visit my GP, not taken my painkillers on the morning of my visits to GP, and done all I could to get him to take notice, if I had to move out of my wheelchair, I would be crying out in pain. Angry for you.
    • CelsB
      CelsB lyn1951

      Posted

      I too had problems with initial GP referring me to physio rather than consultant.  After several months and two x-rays I heard nothing from the hospital and went back to my GP.  Turned out the hospital had lost my x-rays.  I saw a different GP, a new one to the practise and he was wonderful.  

      So to Holly, I would advise you to go back and see a  different GP.  It might kick-start your case again as it did mine.  Good luck xxx  

    • holly_12500
      holly_12500 lyn1951

      Posted

      Thank you, I'm going to go to see my gp without pain killers so he sees how difficult life is.I am asking to see a specialist private to I don't after wait long to see if I need surgery.
    • lyn1951
      lyn1951 CelsB

      Posted

      It was my physio that wrote a really nasty letter to my GP. GP had sent me to physio, that then got me a refferal to the private specialist, I remember when specilaist examined me he said my hips felt like a bucket of bolts, he then ordered a MRI, that had never happened previously. The results of the MRI were a disaster area, not clear on x-rays. From that specialist appt I was suddenly upgraded to a Cat 1 at the hospital, not that it helped alot, so when my GP's locum contacted the hospital at least I was on the list to be seen. I believe it may have helped when locum rang hospital, and ask why I was still waiting after 20 weeks even as a Cat 1. Total of 32 weeks between disasterous MRI and surgery. Comment made somewhere in recovery that I remember, confirmed by specilaist a follow-up appt, was hip was dust, lucky if she had ten days left.
  • renee01952
    renee01952 holly_12500

    Posted

    Dear Holly, 

    I am sorry that you are in so much pain - it is not getting better, is it? 

    Who requested the xray and what were you told? 

    My GP ordered my xray and when it showed severe OA he referred me to Orthopedic surgeon right away ... 

    do you have someone who can come with you? I am easily intimidated, so it helped me that I had my girlfriend with me ...  

    first make the appointment with your GP and asked for referral as soon as possible, sweetheart - this is no life ... I have been there, done that, twice ...

    big warm hug

    renee

     

    • holly_12500
      holly_12500 renee01952

      Posted

      Thank you my husband is going to go with me to see my gp.

      I think pains running me down and I have lost confidence.

      Thank you for your support

    • renee01952
      renee01952 holly_12500

      Posted

      hi Holly,

      that is great! !!

      when is your appointment?

      please let us know how you're getting on, okay.

      angel blessings and healing ,

      renee ❤

    • Kikeena
      Kikeena holly_12500

      Posted

      Hi Holly

      Pain is really awful. It ruins your life, robs you of activities and confidence and then becomes the only thing in your life. It takes over and life just becomes about getting out of pain. I've been there a couple of times and it's very very depressing. It affects more than just my body but my mood and relationships with others.

      This is no way to live. Tell the GP what you can't do, and how badly it's affecting you.

      We're with you all the way, cheering behind you. Let us know how you go.

    • holly_12500
      holly_12500 Kikeena

      Posted

      I've been to see Dr and he wants me to to have an assessment by physio. I asked if he would send me to see a specialist private.but he said it was normal procedure to see to physio.

      I'm not happy and hoping to see another dr on the practice.

      Can you see a specialist without a letter from you're gp.?

      He did say he would send me for injection, he had forgotten I'd already had injections.

    • lyn1951
      lyn1951 holly_12500

      Posted

      Holly - i went to see Physio as suggested by GP, compling with his instructions, you should have seen the physio's letter back to him, he was nice enough to show me as he was so shocked at the condition of my hips, I only had x-rays and report, severe arthritis, to show him.. I then attended the GP couple of weeks later and told him I was in so much pain I could not cope, and reminded him I had seen the physio already, and demanded to see a specilaist. That got me a referral to a private specialist, he wanted to operate on me at the end of the week. I told him not possible, I did consider using small amount of savings for surgery, you had better put me on the public list. I still find it interesting as I was walking out the door, that he said "see you at clinic in a couple fo weeks", yes he does do public patients. That then got me a position on the public list at Category One patient, even that didn't speed up my admittance much, but better than not being on the list at all. That Cat One when locum Dr phoned hospital asking why I was still waiting,  I do believe made a difference, and the MRI the specilaist had ordered, that I also believe the locum fowarded to the hospital, finally got me an appt within 2 weeks, considered most urgent at that point.
    • Kikeena
      Kikeena holly_12500

      Posted

      Hi Holly

      Bummer that he'd forgotten about the injections. I find my gp is forgetting lots of big stuff that has happened to me too and I've made a mental note to remind her if I think it's relevant. And in Australia you always need a referral to go to a specialist, and the referrals run out after 12 months and have to be renewed. Grrrrrrrr. I just have to jump through those hoops and play the game.

      I have very much appreciated assessments by physios. They are much more highly trained in musculoskeletal problems than doctors and the training is more practical.

      My daughter had a bilateral tarsal coalition when she was 8 and the physio diagnosed it just by watching her walk. It's a rare condition and she needed surgery on both feet.

      I know you're in pain and desperate to get out of it. A physio may be able to help. I guess my thought is it won't hurt to give it a try. You have to know when to play the game and when to resist. I think I would play the game on this one.

      Kikeena

    • Kikeena
      Kikeena

      Posted

      Also I had an injection and it was totally painless. They gave me a local first. It helped a lot for about 4 weeks.
  • cathie38426
    cathie38426 holly_12500

    Posted

    Even with xrays showing my hips bone on bone

    they insisted that my back was my problem and

    I had very painful spinal injections. Only a casual remark

    by a physio that hip replacements can help back pain led me

    to seeing an orthopaedic surgeon. Hip operations are often

    patient driven, because only they know their pain. Go to an

    orthopaedic consultant. I was bone on bone and have had both THR.

    good luck, Cathie

    • holly_12500
      holly_12500 cathie38426

      Posted

      I had one injection in my hip and it was very painful.

      After my back surgery I had injections in my back I was put to sleep.

      The injection only last red 3 weeks.

      Hoping to get appointment with my gp this week .

Back to top

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.