45 and osteoarthritis of the hip - total hip replacment...help!
Posted , 18 users are following.
Hi,
4 weeks ago I had an MRI scan of the hip (it's hurt for well over a year now) and it showed up a burstitis and suspect bits and pieces. I went to a great hip man at St John and Elizabeths in London who sent me off for an Xray who said my hip was 6/10 bad for osteoarthritis and at age 45 it would be invevitable for me to have to have a THR. (spurs either side, flattened bone and a nice big cyst -osteocyte?) He said MRIs are not as good as Xray for picking up osteoarthritis and the bursitis was wrongly read.
He said how soon it is done depends on how much pain I can take. All a bit of a shock.
Obviously I am in pain, some days worse than others to the point of being unbearable. I find paracetamol and nurofen dont really do that much (nurofen limited time you can take it, takes 4 hours to work anyway) and I would have to take paracetamol all day every day to dull the deep aching.
The specialist sent me off for the xray guided steroid injection saying that it could help me for 2 minutes or 2 years. I had it on tueday (6 days ago), it hurt like hell on the wednesday, I had about 5 hours of relief on the sunday, but today after a gentle gym session it hurts still, especially down the front of my leg. It's a different type of ache to the pre injection ache, but now my knee is hurting...I have about 10% more movement from my hip, but it has not been the success I wanted it to be.
What does this mean?
(My hip hurt all of last winter, didnt hurt in the summer for 3 months, and now is horrid again.)
If anyone can help me that would be great. I have MS (in remission) on top of this so am a bit annoyed with my body at the moment!!
Too much to take in, and I really would like to know other people's experience - am I off my rocker to be even entertaining a THR in the next 6 months.
2 likes, 60 replies
beth2509 lucy37622
Posted
" A bit annoyed with my body"? I love that. I have been right p****ed off with mine for three years or so! I assume you mean you don't want this done in winter? Well I don't think it's "personal", and I don't think you'll get a lot of choice. I was like you three years ago, although the injection did give me more time - about nine or ten months. I had the hip replacement a week ago. I am now kicking myself that I was an idiot not to just do it two years ago. If your consultant thinks this is what you need, do not put it off, don't hope for the best, and don't con yourself that it won't be so bad if you can get through the winter. Getting my hip replaced had been great. The other one twinges even a little bit, it is history... Gone... In an instant. I won't go through that idiocy again.
lucy37622 beth2509
Posted
Beth I feel like a granny who has been shoved on a roller coaster and I dont know what the hell is going on!!!! And yes the p****d off comment is correct!!!!
I have to be honest, I dont think I can deal with this pain for much longer, although it is just an ache (and not childbirth!) it is just endless. Im totally gutted I did not feel like Mary Poppins after the xray guided steroid injection ( I had visions of me skipping around!).
I am trying to ensure I am not being weak by running with my suitcase to the operating theatre!! Could almost get packing tonight!! Thank you so much for your answer as this seems to be the consensus. My consultant said 'you have great bone, you should have great results'.
Are there better makes of replacement than others??
Thanks X
beth2509 lucy37622
Posted
Believe me, by the time I had mine done the suitcase had been packed for months! I had a slightly less common issue in that I had a broken ankle in the summer and in the middle of this my hip collapsed because the OA had developed into something called osteonecrosis. The hip bone had died and was crumbling. They should have done an immediate replacement but couldn't because the broken ankle was on the opposidte side that I would need for weightbearing, plus at the time they had no idea why the ankle broke (another long story - look up my first post if you want to hear it!). So by the time they "guessed" my ankle would be strong enough, I could barely walk six steps with crutches and the hip would not move independantly. I would have bounded in if I could have!
?But like you I was told my bone is good for my age (59) as they had to check for bone denisty when my ankle inexplicably broke.
kaye26746 lucy37622
Posted
"although it is just an ache (and not childbirth!"
We'll, I did childbirth 4 times with no pain relief but couldn't stand the hip pain pre op! I'm 45 too and had LHR 3 1/2 months ago. I'm now pain free and so, so glad I had it done. Like someone else in the thread has said, I won't hesitate if/when the other one needs doing.
steve86482 lucy37622
Posted
lucy37622 steve86482
Posted
How's your mobility and ability to do sport?
steve86482 lucy37622
Posted
Can't say it is as good as the original hip. I walk a lot, bike, hunt, etc. only thing I don't do is run. Good flexibility and no pain. Forget I even have it
lucy37622 steve86482
Posted
Amanda1703 lucy37622
Posted
Hi Lucy ..
i was amae as you Ostioarthritis in the hip , pain unbearable in the winter and copeable in the summer , I have gradually got worse , had the injection you had ..horrid experience for two days relief ! ..ow I have no cartridge and have my pre op date 2nd Dec ,I am praying the op will be the following week as now I have days a can't walk three weeks solid so far due to back gong into spasm ....
this is what could possibly happen to you ..I hope you get it sorted ,. Ins has been 7 years I was 45 when it started ...
good luck Lucy
amanda x
lucy37622 Amanda1703
Posted
Thanks Mandy. Good luck in your operation. To be fair with the jab, I did say to the lady I would have another if it worked for 2 months or more as it never got to 'kill her' pain but for the millisecond of relief I've had, I wouldnt bother. I may be right behind you in that theatre! Bupa owes me!!
jenny03900 lucy37622
Posted
I waited 2 years in the mistaken belief that I should avoid a hip replacement - in constant pain and taking endless painkillers. Had my left hip replaced 16 days ago and couldn't be happier. No pain , free movement, already walking without even a cane in the house... it's an amazing operation. You won't regret it.
Amanda1703 jenny03900
Posted
Nice to hear that Jenny m I can't wait for mine , but may also a little nervous ....at least it will be over by Xmas ...can I ask how long will I need help at home , I live alone and that makes me a little nervous also lol
Amanda x
jenny03900 Amanda1703
Posted
Hi Amanda. My husband was around for most of the first week but went back to work after that and I was fine. You might want someone to pop in daily for the first couple of weeks and you'll definitely need someone around for the first few days as they're usually the worst, pain-wise.
m0rningangel1 Amanda1703
Posted
Amanda1703 jenny03900
Posted
thanks for that info , I feel a lot better now, did the district nurse have to visit to change dressings or do we do that ourselves ....
hope you are on the mend x
beth2509 Amanda1703
Posted
You probably won't need any change. They only change the dressings if there is leakage. Otherwise it goes on at the end of the op and you can take it off yourself after two weeks. Or, at least, that's what mine is. I got two spares to take home "just in case" and told that if there was a change needed, either do it myself or see the local practice nurse.