Posted , 13 users are following.
has anyone had a revision for a slightly loose stem? My surgeon is pretty sure my stem is a tad loose. He is sending me for a second opinion. He does not want to jump to surgery unless he is positive it is loosening. I go tomorrow for my second opinion. Anyone have any experience with this ? If so was the outcome good? Bad?
3 likes, 12 replies
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.
AnnieK jeannette_20091
Posted
I have read posts of a number of people on this and another forum who have had revisions because of loose stems. "Slightly" loose is just as bad as very loose - it needs to be redone. Glad you are going for that second opinion, Jeannette, since you do not need them going back in unless the stem really IS loose!
hope4cure jeannette_20091
Posted
Loose femeral stem is a good reason to have revision. 👍It needs to be tight and secure. Or it could cause many issues down the road with femur bone and muscles tendon and nerves.
Why does the surgeon need second opinion, it could be verified thru a MRI.
How old is the hip replacement? . I need revision coming up next month.
Keep posting. 😊
linda81469 jeannette_20091
Posted
Good morning welcome to the forum I had to have a revision mainly because I dislocated my hip from first rhr and was walking on it for over a week and a half!! my doctor thought he would be able to do a closed reduction meaning to be able to pop the hip back in place but couldn't and had to reopen me again just to find that the ball had been hooked up on the cup. the cup was loose and the stem was loose so he had to redo the whole thing. He did say he saw some stress fractures on the thighbone where the stem goes into and put a couple of bands around the thigh bone to secure it I had to go six weeks nonweightbearing. it's been almost 4 months now since that second surgery I'm able to walk with no pain doing really well except I'm still limping due to very weak hip muscles. my doctor said the six weeks nonweightbearing was so that the bone could get a chance to grow around the new hip joint. Now my only real complaint is you the muscles along the side of the thigh, the butt muscles that had to be cut but nothing that I can't really tolerate and of course the groin pain or more of a discomfort and icing has really been a good thing for that! so I give thanks to God for where I'm at now I thought I would never get here!! Wishing you all the best!! 🤓LD
jeannette_20091 linda81469
Posted
Jeannette
Hilbilly linda81469
Posted
I had LTHR in June 2020 and still can't walk long and a lot of pain down the leg and groin. Come to find out because of arthritis was so bad in the joint it made my bone weak. Beside the cup the bone broke and the cup has a shadow between it and the bone so bone hasn't growled together. Next month doctor is going to go in and redo it. I am ready for relief.
cjinca jeannette_20091
Posted
Hi Jeanette. We've recently learned that husband needs revision due to loosening of the femur implant. His initial THR was in 2011. What did you learn in second opinion consult? We are looking to do the same. So far, I've just gathered that finding a specialist who performs regular revisions is key.
I have not yet learned which implant was used. And doctor said that the cup/ball were fine.
Hope you are finding answers as well and soon feeling better.
jeannette_20091 cjinca
Posted
Hello there! So sorry to hear about your husband. I had my second opinion and both surgeons are 99% sure nothing is loose! While that is great news I still have thigh pain. The second surgeon said it sounds like I am having end of stem pain. He thinks that I am healing really slow in that area. Not many people gets this and it's hard to treat. Today I started physical therapy where they use an ultrasound and hydrocortisone gel in hopes to reach all the sore tissue in my thigh. I go three times a week.
They are hoping this gives me some relief! I don't have pain all the time. Just when I move the wrong way. So I walk very cautiously! Both surgeons do not want to even give surgery a thought til I'm 2 yrs post op. They are hoping in time this will get better and no surgery will be necessary! My husband and I are both praying it goes away soon!!!
Best of luck to your husband and you!! I hope things get better for husband!!
cjinca jeannette_20091
Posted
Thanks for taking the time to reply. Sorry that you don't have any concrete answers. Two years is a long time to not know. Have you read the radiology report? Our's said, 'lucency', implant loose.
Best wishes that PT will have you at your best soon!
iriam58024 jeannette_20091
Posted
Hi Jeanette,
I hope you are better and that the revision was not necessary after all. I ust learned that the bone pet scan indicated loose hip implant, however, I have not seen my orthopaeic surgeon as yet. I found out from someone at imaging. Did you have the 3 phase bone scan?
Cant' tell you how scared I am of a revision. I am 71 and had the original replacement 8 months ago. I appreciate everybody's input on this forum. Also, does anyone know if there are alternative treatments or is the only solution revision surgery? Wish you all wel.
gil76343 jeannette_20091
Posted
Hi Jeanette.
I have had two revisions for loosening following my 2008 THR.
Oct 2014- Disaster, but stem replaced.
Dec 2016- To correct the disaster of 2014.
Unless the loosening to significant,
x-ray and MRI are useless. Only a three phase bone scan can pinpoint the area and extent of loosening if any.
I probably should have waited a bit longer with my first revision, but figured let's do it now than later. The 2nd I had no choice.
Good Luck. Hope this helps.
jamie77984 jeannette_20091
Posted
goodness, i see this blog is a few years old now but i find it helpful for me now.
i had my thr in 1999 @ age 36. revision in 2008. now 2020 i suspect a loose femoral stem. i have all the pain related symptoms. i just do not know if i want to go down this road again. i was told that with my age that i would expect to have repeat surgeries. i was okay with 2 but 3??? opinions please on how long i can put off "next surgery" . i have not gone to see my doctor yet to confirm....afraid to. i guess as long as i can stand the pain.....
lisa78178 jeannette_20091
Posted
hoping there are a few people following this thread still. my dad is 73 and had a THR last July. He was great the first few weeks but began feeling pain again shortly after. Now, his doctor finally, a year into this agony, sees that the pain is caused by a loose stem. The only option they are giving him is a stem replacement: 3x as long of a surgery, 3x as long for recovery. incision must be done from posterior? anyone have any insight on this? I've read a few articles about cement injection into the site, which seems so much less invasive. Not to mention, i'm worried about another, more difficult surgery for him at 73. any recommendations would be much appreciated! thank you!