"Keep the Hip" exercises are now producing pain for the day.
Posted , 6 users are following.
Eight years ago I thought I had a trapped nerve in my left buttock, but after X-Rays found I had osteophytes, bone growths, on my hip. They were restricting my hip joint movement. But very little to no pain.
For all these years my limp has got worse, but still no pain. I can still kiss my right knee, can't get within 15" of kissing my left knee, just rotation is not there.
Physio gave me hip muscle exercises, so that I could strengthen the hip joint and compensate for the bone restrictions.
Initially I did the exercises every day and added to them, but after a couple of years I was always in a bit of (after exercise) pain, so I started exercising every second day. Much better but after two more years the gnawing pain came back, not during the exercises, but afterwards whilst walking the dogs.
So I cut back again to just twice a week, generally Monday and Friday. This week, I've noticed how much more painful it has become walking the dogs. I walk slowly and sometimes have to put a fist in my left back pocket; the pressure gives me some relief.
If I don't exercise, I'm much better. Do I now stop exercising the hip. When this happens I can dog walk almost pain free.
My surgeon, over the years, has told me they can cure the pain, but maybe not the limp, through surgery. When I'm on painkillers every day....that's the time to have the operation. Is this just the NHS saving money? The pain has definitely got worse over the 8 years, I was being X-Rayed every year and the Dr's told me it was getting worse every year. So it is all expected, but I still don't require pain killers. I have then just in case, co-codemol 30mg, but only take them if I climb a mountain or go skiing. Not taken one in the last year, but took four a day climbing Snowden, Ben Nevis and Scarfell Pike the year before. Took 8 in total for a weeks skiing, I'm allowed 8 a day maximum.
Anyone else been here?
1 like, 14 replies
jen86183 mark26805
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jimbone mark26805
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Hello Mark,
The progression of your hip doesn't exactly match mine but is similar. You don't mention your age but by 46 I was beginning to notice symptoms, gradual restrictions of movements, buttock pain left size, knee to chest restrictions and a growing increase in pain, sometimes with and sometimes without exercise. At 59 1/2 while finishing a project I just suddenly and very rapidly had a quantum degradation of my condition. Walking became very difficult, many mornings on crutches for a few hours because I couldn't bear any weight, badly reduced range of motion and very debilitating pain in my leg/thigh muscles. Osteoarthritis was the diagnosis after x-ray imaging. 3 1/2 years later I've realized a hip replacement is inevitable and I've had two consultations with surgeons to confirm that. My concern now is that I have lost a great deal of leg/lower body strength over the last 3 years due to an inability to walk/hike much at all. Swimming has been my go to exercise- it relieves symptoms occasionally but that doesn't last long. I take tramadol, usually one dose, just about every day and ibeprofun/aspirin/tylenol once or twice every day. As others will tell you, symptoms can come on quickly including the pain. If your surgeon/consultant is telling you, you will need the operation eventually, you might discuss the scenario of rapid degeneration with them and see if you can be proactive in having the surgery sooner than later. It's a hard decision to go forward with elective surgery this invasive but getting ahead of the inevitable might save you some recovery time in the end before your muscles degenerate from a lack of exercise. Best wishes.
Jim
mark26805 jimbone
Posted
Cheers Jim, I'm currently 53 but had symptoms since 45 years old. I did expect it to deteriate much quicker than this, but being in the UK, the NHS is very good at dealing with the problem, but not good at proactive stuff that costs money!
I have looked into Arthroscopy, the cutting away of surplus bone, but in my area the NHS won't pay for this as it costs as much as total hip replacement but does not last as long, they claim! Just to see the surgeon costs £1000, but then the operation is £7000. For the same outlay the NHS would rather change the joint not repair it.
At one time, if I paid for the consultation and it was deemed appropriate to operate, the NHS would fund the operation. But the waiting list in central UK has got so long for this on the NHS, that they have stopped taking dates.
I'm really rather partial to my own hip and don't want to lose it just yet. But if I start taking pain killers daily, I will book the operation immediately...
jen86183 mark26805
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When people kept on and on at me to have an operation I always said "I like my own bones" sadly, I have had to give in. 2 weeks and 2 days post op I have to say it is nice not to have pain. I was lucky I guess from seeing the consultant to op was 6 weeks.
mark26805 jen86183
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jen86183 mark26805
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ptolemy mark26805
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mark26805
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I'm approaching that position now, not taking any painkillers yet....but feel as if I should start. Discomfort, not exactly pain. I've just started a new hobby or paramotoring, like paragliding but with an engine for foot launch. Feel I need to get a summer of flying in before it's banned for me, obviously parachuting is not ideal for a new hip!
jen86183 mark26805
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judith12644 mark26805
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I think I first had pain when I was about 52, but I saw a physio and got some good exercises. X-rays showed osteoarthritis, and I was told that I would need a replacement eventually, which surprised me! I hung on until I was almost 58, when the pain was becoming more unmanageable. I thought that if I could postpone it for a while maybe I would avoid having a revision.... (Also I really like skiing, and I was worried that I wouldn’t be allowed to ski post op. Actually my surgeon is fine about it, and it’s been great.)
My op was v successful, and my surgeon said it was likely that my hip would last as long as me. Here’s hoping!
I wish you all the best.
mark26805
Posted
Trouble is now the exercises bring the pain on, not the doing of the exercises, that is fine, but for the next couple of days my whole leg hurts, even my foot feels like a cramp is setting in. The only slight relief I get is putting my fist into my jeans back pocket, pressure on the hip joint.
Yesterday evening I took pain killers to go to sleep, first time in over a year. I slept better than ever until 5am, then wide awake for next 3 hours, not in pain though. I am stopping doing the exercises for a week or two and see if it is that bringing it on.
jen86183 mark26805
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mark26805
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The saying goes...
If you drop a frog into hot water it will immediately hop out and be saved. But if you put the same frog into cool water and slowly bring it to the boil, he will stay in and die.
Do we get used to living with pain?
What one person rates as 9 out of 10 painful....another will say is 4 out of 10 painful.
Is there not a better test???
margot50 mark26805
Posted
Pain is a real mystery, especially chronic pain.