Anyone have second thought/doubts before surgery
Posted , 22 users are following.
I see my surgeon on March 7th to likely set up for right hip replacement surgery in late March. Has anyone had second thoughts/doubt as the surgery date nears? Several thoughts are going through my head. I have been told the right hip has severe arthritis and needs to be replaced and to wait as long as possible if pain manageable. However, I have struggled with pain at night. I have some success using ibupropen, tylenol and a muscle relaxant...but still get some pain at night. So my primary care doctor thinks I should go ahead with the surgery based on quality of life issue. He said most people are glad they did the surgery. My second thoughts are will this really be successful and eliminate the pain? how long out of work and will the new hip be somehow disabling? maybe I can hang in there a few more years with the pain meds? Despite all the second thoughts I am leaning towards the surgery as I know two co-workers that are glad they did it. Anyone go through this and what made you finally take the leap to surgery?
3 likes, 62 replies
lyn1951 sandyscamper
Posted
Dr's shocked with me when my reaction was bring it on, I had been in pain for too long, and just knew it was my hips, having had other family members with hip replacements.
Finally after a very long wait, GP's letter did not give hospital enough info so was rated non-urgent, specialist at hospital 2 years later, could not walk by that point without wheelie walker, saw my MRI, and wanted to admit me then and there, no beds available.
Booked for surgery 10 days later, deveolped blood clot in leg, surgery cancelled, and re-booked six weeks later when surgery finally done.
If my GP had written a strongly enough worded letter I would not have had probably about 5 years, thats how much the specialist said he should have seen me stolen from me.
Now 2 years on from double hip replacement I am alot better than I have been in the last 10 years.
DO NOT CANCEL, specialists i believe would not have suggested you have a hip replacement unless you really need it, expecially if you are in the public system, only people who really need hip replacements get them, espically in australia they are not easy to come by.
emanuel_ma37639 sandyscamper
Posted
i am waiting for the 23/2. This happens to be my 14th hip op, hoping this is the last one for ever and the reason I am having this is because I contracted staphylococcus Capitis infection from hospital during my lad told op 6/14, I feel extremely stressed but it is pretty normal to feel that way, good luck and I wish you all the best
renee01952 sandyscamper
Posted
hi sandy,
well, you are definitely not alone ... the thing is that you are the only one who can make this decision, no matter what others are telling you .... and you will ..
The pain will get worse, and nothing will help ease it any longer ..
good luck sweetheart, you are ready when you are ready ...
we are here for you so come back any time
'
big warm hug
renee
paul170864 sandyscamper
Posted
I go in for my first THR in 12 days. I too have had this conversation with myself. I actually have managed pain really well which has made me question THR at this time . Managing the pain however has meant significant changes to my way of life - no cycling, no hill walking etc. The dilemma is the longevity of hip replacements ( ie. I will need revisions within my lifetime)
The way I have reconciled things is as follows.
1. The hip replacement is coming
2. It will last 20 years if I look after it
3. Do I want pain free active years at 52 or 72 ?
4. Surgery techniques will improve in the next 20 years
5. Delay just shifts those painfull years to the period before the THR rather than after the new joints have worn out
I am having THR now. I might get hit by a bus at 71 . Having two operations for cancer this year kind of made me think about living today to the full too.
I do understand your worries though - it is a worrying time
Good luck
Paul
nick88041 paul170864
Posted
Well put Paul.
There's lots of things that go into the balance, and as with you, the likelihood of needing a replacement replacement in later life has weighed heavily alongside work issues and the need to 'live' rather than to simply exist, which is not good for wider physical or mental health.
We all have different things piled in our scales and the tipping point is a very individual, personal and instinctive thing.
beth2509 paul170864
Posted
You'd have got on with my mum! She taught me exactly the same - grab every experience you can, never miss out on anything, because "you are a long time dead"! Last year was a pretty bad year, and this year isn't shaping up as I'd have hoped (more major surgery to face). I can't walk very far, and can't do very much. And it is grating! Alot!
?But I recall a conversation with my best friend where she asked, since all my problems are "wear and tear" ones, if I would have done things differently if I'd known. I'm 59. I have travelled the world, going to places few other people have. I worked in two war zones and through one famine, and in West Africa and the USA. I've always had work I love and that makes me want to make a difference - and known that what I do does make a difference. I've had 40+ years of judo. If I am never able to do anything again (and that isn't really likely) I have memories (and photographs) that are more than an average dozen people have!!! So I don't regret one second of the life I grabbed. And if I can have more of it, then I'm ready whenever life is! If that wore me out, then fine. There are plenty of people who got "wore out" sitting on the sofa all their life. I wouldn't have ever made a different choice. And I wouldn't ever worry about what might happen in the future, because nobody knows how much of it there is left.
paul170864 beth2509
Posted
Hi Beth - yes I always got on with the Mums whilst my mates went off with the gorgeous daughter - Haha.
You sound like you have had a fantastic life. Not only is there no point worrying about things you cant know in the future there is no point regretting the consequence of things you couldnt have known about in the past either.
Nearly everyone I meet gives me a knowing nod and says I bet wore your hips out doing all those extreme sports didnt you ? I cant be bothered telling them it was Perthes disease I had as a child and feel so lucky it wasnt diagnosed as I wouldnt have led this exciting active life. Perthes was treated in those days with a couple of years traction and operations to reshape the femur ( no thanks ) and of course a sedentary life.
Heres to the future
Paul
lisa31002 sandyscamper
Posted
If it's affecting your sleep, things will get worse quite quickly. And in the meantime your other leg, back and muscles will be compensating and taking all the strain. I'd advise to get it done ASAP - why wait to be pain free ? 😨
madla39168 sandyscamper
Posted
Hi , I'm glad I have done it. I went see specialists when pain wake me
during the night and I was put on waiting list and 6 months later I had hip replacement done. In March opsite hip will be done as well. I wasn't sure
If I'm doing right thing or not but when I got call from hospital on Tuesday
for operation on Monday I did not hesitate at all.Now I can't not wait for second hip to be done and be pain free and not sufer with pain. The oposite hip getting worse . I went back to work after 14 weeks but I'm working in Nursing home and on feet all day. Now I'm doing only 4 hours for a
while. If you working in office you will be able to return work earlier it's dipend on your recovery. Good luck.
Hug Madla💗
beth2509 madla39168
Posted
Can I be really nosy, because curiosity about people is my downfall! I know your are in Australia, but your name, and the way you write, suggests a different ethnic origin. I had a translator once who was also a Madla. That was in Eastern Europe. Would you or your family originate from there by any chance?
madla39168 beth2509
Posted
Czech Republic. English is my second langue and I learn English
mostly here in Australia. I study in Prague and my compulsory
langue was Russian and I learned also Italian. That way is my
English writing funny. Plus English langue is hard.
Hug Madla
beth2509 madla39168
Posted
Chloeparrot sandyscamper
Posted
Hi Sandy
As you can see from all the replies - the answer to your question is - you can delay but if you're in pain why would you.
Like a lot of people of this forum, I saw my GP for knee pain, which was referred pain due to severe osteoarthritis of the hip joint. At my first meeting with my surgeon he asked me whether I wanted the op to which I replied with a very firm 'No' (because I was absolutely terrified) and then asked for other options. He quite bluntly told me that I had 2 choices - either have the operation or be in a wheelchair within a year! As I was already suffering from pain at night as well as during the day, it was obvious even to my terrified self that I really needed the op, so I reluctantly agreed.
The surgeon decided that my OA was so severe that I had the op done within 6 weeks of the first meeting.
I came round in the recovery room and.... there was no pain and no grinding noises when I moved! I could have cried with relief.
I am now 8 months post op and very pleased that I had the op last year, so pleased in fact that I will be having the other hip done this year.
So, my advice is - go for it, you will kick yourself for not having it done sooner.
Good luck and let us know how you get on.
anna87839 sandyscamper
Posted
Hi Sandy I'm 6 months post tlhr although still having funny twinges and can feel new joint at times it's the best thing I could have done.
I cancelled my appointment twice to go in for op was so frightened,pain got that bad o/a bone on bone couldn't sleep with pain walked like ape woman had bad limp also.
I knew pain was only going to continue to get worse ,and had waited a long time just to get to see consultant after being told to young for hip replacement for years.
Straight away after op pain had gone ,I remember going to loo and walking
Back to my bed in tears the nurses asked if I'd hurt myself ,I said no I've just
Realised I have no pain they are happy tears wonderful, you'll have good
And bad day you'll get there it's Soooooo worth it all that pain gone,I no longer limp and I walk upright and straight that ape woman's gone.
SO GO FOR IT big hug and thinking of you.🙋😁
paul170864 anna87839
Posted