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Can you need a THR with just moderate discomfort

Posted , 10 users are following.

morriewynn
morriewynn

Hi everyone,

I am making this enquiry on behalf of my life long school friend, with whom, yesterday I had lunch .

During the early part of last year, after experiencing a dull ache in her groin , her GP sent her for an X Ray. This revealed that she had advanced OA and required a total hip replacement . At this time, I was struggling with inexorable pain and having to limit my activities . She , on the other hand, was still able to walk long distances; dance and wear high heels . Clearly she made a comparison and decided against surgery. One year later and , for her, nothing has changed. All I can advise is for her to have a further X Ray and a second opinion . She is terrified that her OA will suddenly worsen and, like me, she would be unable to function. She cares for her elderly mother .

I said I would ask my fellow hippies.

"Is it possible to have little to no discomfort with advanced OA that requires THR"?

Many thanks

Morrie

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2 likes, 21 replies

21 Replies

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  • AnnieK
    AnnieK morriewynn

    Posted

    I had bone on bone OA and didn't know it. I had limitations in movement, used trekking poles often, had some pain on walking too far, and one awful grinding incidence of pain before I had my THR. That was enough to scare me into having it done. That being said, I have a complication post surgery that gives me more pain and limits my movements much more now post-op than before, I hope to get it fixed, but there is no guarantee.

    If I were your friend, I would wait until I were in worse shape before doing it. Chances are she won't go from no problems to incapacitated overnight.

    • morriewynn
      morriewynn AnnieK

      Posted

      Thanks Annie

      I will share this with her .

      Morrie

  • MichaelTN1UK
    MichaelTN1UK morriewynn

    Posted

    Unless she is paying privately, I doubt if she will be able to.

    My understanding is that the medics will only operate when necessary. Afterall, it is a major operation. 

    But do urge her to have another X-Ray. I was bone on bone for over a year before I got an opinion. Her idea of moderate pain may be different to yours or mine.

    Michael

    • morriewynn
      morriewynn MichaelTN1UK

      Posted

      Me too Michael. In fact I was sent away and discharged by a rheumatologist. Took a full year to get back into the system.

      It is her NHS GP who is saying she needs a THR but she has not given the go ahead for referral .

      I personally think it is because of her elderly mother and the fact that , at the mo, she can cope.

      Thanks for responding

      Morrie

  • Scarylibrarian
    Scarylibrarian morriewynn

    Posted

    Hi Morrie

    Your friend's situation sound a a lot like mine's was. Hill walking, playing, badminton, doing Zumba and dancing (not very high heels though!) Not a great deal of pain except when getting up from a chair after sitting for a while but this eased off after a couple of steps. However after 2nd x-Ray surgeon recommended I get it done as had arthritic cysts and bone spurs on my hip which would have ultimately affected my back and given me lots of pain. Hummed and hawed about it and if it wasn't for my family nagging me to get it done, probably wouldn't have. But boy am I happy I did. 4 weeks post op and feeling great. Walking much straighter (never realised I was tilting to the right and limping when tired before the op). Hope your friend gets another x-Ray to reasses her situation. I was 4 years between x-Ray's. Best wishes Jan

  • annie.conway
    annie.conway morriewynn

    Posted

    I decided to have my THR because walking any distance left me with throbbing pain in my right hip. Both hips had bad bone spurs which also inhibited movement badly. If your friend experiences no pain then it is purely a personal choice. I made the choice because I was tired of living such a limited life as a result of pain. Pain is usually what drives the decision. She'll know when it's time
  • lynn66084
    lynn66084 morriewynn

    Posted

    I suppose if she is coping with it, might be best to leave it, but it will get worse. Eventually she will need it done.  I think they prefer doing it if there is pain and mobility problems. Only way to find out is to be referred.

      I worked through my pain and limited mobility, no tablets (I didn't know then I had severe osteoarthritis) But things got worse, still went to work, walked the dog on an afternoon, usually about 5 mile, Started having to get hubby pick me up from a walk when it locked and I couldn't walk. Struggled at work.

    I am pleased I have had it done,

    • Rocketman_SG6UK
      Rocketman_SG6UK lynn66084

      Posted

      The only way Icould get referred was to see my GP who did the Oxford Hip Score test - to see just how bad it is.  If you 'score' more than the threshold (whatever it is), you get reffered, otherwise you just get painkillers.

      Graham - 🚀💃

    • morriewynn
      morriewynn Rocketman_SG6UK

      Posted

      Hi Graham,

      Thanks for that and glad you "popped up again"!

      Graham in a recent post when we were discussing sleeping on op side. You stated that you had a posterial scar which was not along your thigh .

      I also had the posterial approach and have an eight inch scar that starts three inches below my hip and carries on to the top of my thigh and then turns (like a plough).

      When I lay on my op side I am actually laying upon the entire scar.

      Oh again, this morning, I tried your stair approach for putting on socks and, thank you, I succeeded. Another leap forward!

      Morrie 🌂

    • lynn66084
      lynn66084 Rocketman_SG6UK

      Posted

      I got referred by my doc, she tried to move my legs about then arranged an x-ray.. She said at the time it was possibly arthritis, the x-ray later confirmed it.

       

    • Rocketman_SG6UK
      Rocketman_SG6UK morriewynn

      Posted

      Morrie,

      Being posterior, the scar is difficult if not impossible to see without a mirror, but I have noticed it changes shape as I move. In certain positions it is straight, so probably the position I was in on the Op Table.  

      I think it's about 9 inches, i had 30 cm dressings to cover it.  I don't remember saying it wasn't along the thigh, it goes more or less straight down the thigh

      It depends on how far I roll as to whether i am actually laying on it, if I go right over (almost on my front), the scar then comes out the other side so I am not actually 'on' it.

      Stairs are useful for tying shoelaces too - another milestone.

      Graham - 🚀💃

    • morriewynn
      morriewynn Rocketman_SG6UK

      Posted

      I can see all of my scar. It is right in the middle of my thigh but then I am pretty bandy. I meant bendy !!!😱
    • Rocketman_SG6UK
      Rocketman_SG6UK morriewynn

      Posted

      Isn't autocorrect wonderful.

      So was yours lateral then?  

       or was mine 'super duper posterior' ?

      Mine is so far back, I can barely see any of it without using a mirror.

      Graham - 🚀💃

      I loved CelsB's post some time ago ...

      "The man who invented predictive text died last week.  His funfair will be held next monkey"

    • MichaelTN1UK
      MichaelTN1UK Rocketman_SG6UK

      Posted

      I read that he had been: Restaurant in Peace cheesygrin

      Regarding scars, mine is a lateral and when I stand it has a curve at the top and when I sit, it is straight. 

      Funny old world.

      Michael

    • morriewynn
      morriewynn Rocketman_SG6UK

      Posted

      Guess who, after reading Michael's post, has been sitting, standing to check scar ? Yep me, Bandy !!!!

      My surgeon , just prior to op, asked me to stand and then marked the area of incision. It is bang in the middle of my thigh and then, at the hip joint, bends slightly.

      It's definitely posterior as I asked him to verify and questioned why he chose that approach.

      So Rocketman, yours must be super duper posterial.

      Enjoy your day

      Morrie

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