bilateral hip replacement
Posted , 8 users are following.
I started with a 'clicking' sound in my hip, this went on for a few years. I was pinned down by my leg by one of the clients I supported and this aggravated my leg and it became quite uncomfortable and it made it difficult for me to work due to the pain I was beginning to experience. I was seen by the departments Occupational Health and they insisted that I would be well in 6-8 weeks, I saw another Occupational Health and they insisted also that I would be well in 6-8 weeks, I saw physio and the hospitals pain clinic who said I had bursitus, eventually I was 'terminated from my job' but not under ill health in late 2017 as they felt that they had nothing they could offer me work wise.
I was informed in 2018 that I have a lot of wear and tare to my hips and lower back i was told I would need a bilateral hip replacement, in December 2018 I had a fall in the garden and in mid January 2019 I had still got a lot of pain and discomfort in my leg where it came into contact with the concrete. I took myself up to A&E as it was late, I was seen by the department who sent me for x rays on my hip area, I left the hospital on 2 crutches and I was refereed to the GP who discovered I had been discharged last year after seeing the consultant (was not aware I had been discharged I thought I had gone on the waiting list for a hip replacement) the GP refereed me to the hospital again where I was seen and informed that I was to loose some more weight and then I would have the operation. I had to go to 'hip school' and to see a Orthopedics a week later;
I have now been waiting since March and I was told recently that it is a 40 week wait now for the operation, I am now struggling to walk, I stumble frequently (even more when I am tired) I am in constant agony even though I take 400mg of Gabapentin 3 times a day with night time top up of 500mg of Naproxin and 10 mg of Baclofen, I also have Oramorph PRN I am exhausted 90% of the time, I can't sit, stand or lay for long due to the pain, I get very little respite from this I can't sleep even though I am tired as the pain wakes me constantly I rarely go to bed before 3am so not to wake hubby as I am so restless. The pain in my leg is not just hip pain my whole leg hurts, at night my knee often locks and I then get excruciating pain trying to straighten it. I feel like I am sitting on a bunch of keys all the time, I have explained this to the different doctors that I have seen over the past few years and I just get an increase in the medication.
My weight is now increasing and I fear that I won't get the replacement due to this, does anyone have any suggestions ??
0 likes, 10 replies
angela90119 linda68877
Posted
you poor thing
You need to really push to get done , push that mentally you can no longer handle the pain and fear of falling to being so sore ..... just keep pushing be that annoying person ( you have nothing to lose) Ifeel your pain . Hope things get going for you , don,t give up
julie1717 linda68877
Posted
hi sorry you are in so much pain. reading your script reminded me how bad I was pre OP which altho at the minute I'm sore I'm nothing like I was.
anyway theres a few things - increase your pain killers during the day ie the naproxen dont just take it at bedtime. add in paracetamol if you can as well.
see your GP re worsening pain and insist he writes a letter to your consultant saying you're much worse and it is badly affecting your life.
ring the consultant sec to see where you are on the list and keep ringing. I had my gall bladder out lat yr and I rang them every month.
problem with this is everyones in the same / similar boat but its shouting at them ' me next please" if they dont hear from you in some way theyll assume you can keep waiting .
best wishes and good luck
janee62 linda68877
Posted
Hi Linda, i spent two years getting absolutely nowhere with finding out the cause of my hip pain. My local hospital said they couldn't understand why i was in pain and at 56, my consultant said i was too young for a hip replacement! Eventually i took a look on the Internet to find help and came across the Orthopaedic and Spine hospital in Peterborough. I told my GP i wanted to have a referral there and was seen within a month. The consultant (there is only one) was wonderful..said i had severe arthritis, opened his diary and booked me in for the op 6 weeks later!
It is a very small private hospital but i was seen as an NHS patient.
So it is worth looking around to see what is available and then ask for it! We are not as powerless as the system can make us feel.
Wishing you all the best
john43580 janee62
Posted
A neighbor in Antigua was in that bad position of being told by NHS to get worse before she could get an appointment. She was on two sticks and in severe pain. She finally gave up and paid to have it done privately back home in UK. I know this isn't an option for everyone.
I'm British but have not lived there for ages. I don't qualify for NHS unless I move back and set up a residence. It looks like I might be better as I am ,going to Florida 1400 miles southwest from here and paying , as you can be in and out within a week anytime , they are pleased to see you and the cash price less than expected. Also you can pick your surgeon and see his full track record on that particular procedure. They vary a lot.
ptolemy linda68877
Posted
If you put on weight they are now saying round us that you need to have a BMI of 30 it used to be 35 for a hip op. They do seem to e cutting back like mad. I cannot even get a steroid injection on the NHS. Last week said you will have to go privately.
julie1717 ptolemy
Posted
that's interesting re steroid injections . can I ask how much theyve quoted??
ptolemy julie1717
Posted
I have had been told it is around £1,400 by someone locally. My GP says I need ultra sound. I had one in my shoulder which cost around £250. It didn't work on the other hand.
julie1717 ptolemy
Posted
hi. thx for that . yes I've heard before they dont always work probably why some places arent still offering it on the nhs 😦
ptolemy julie1717
Posted
Being cynical, I think it is because the NHS are trying to reduce costs!!
julie1717 ptolemy
Posted
yes there us that too theyve looked at which they consider to be cost effective to them - not us may I add.