CONSECUTIVE THRs - TIMELINE
Posted , 11 users are following.
Hi Everyone
I am sceduled for THR No,1 on 24th Feb, My consultant has told me the second one will be 8 weeks later, Reading about the experiences of others and their recovery rates I am a bit sceptical. I would love to hear from anyone who has had two THRs and how long they waited between operations ( and why ).
It would also bw interesting to hear the views of anyone who has had a THR about whether their physical or mental state would be good enough to go through the operation again after only 8 weeks
Many thanks Paul
0 likes, 51 replies
renee01952 paul170864
Posted
hi paul,
I had right hip replacement surgery in March 2016 - at 6 weeks follow up appointment, x ray showed rapid decline of left hip joint from mild to bone on bone cartilage in 6 months ...My surgeon wanted to wait 6 months to do 2nd THR .. no reason given and I did not asked ... I was just in shock ... the 6 months in between were miserable and took a toll on the new hip ...
I was so ready by that time to get it done and have 2 new hips so that healing could begin ...
Did your surgeon explain to you why he wants to get the 2nd one 8 weeks later?
To be honest, my old new hip took a beating - I developed trochanteric bursitis, limped and still is "behind" -
PLease come back and let us know how you are getting on ...
big warm hug
renee
paul170864 renee01952
Posted
My hips are both severely mis-shapen following Perthes so I guess they both fit the criteria for immediate replacement. Perthes happens when very young so how I managed pain free till 52 is quite a mystery but a blessing. The treatment 40 yrs ago was brutal and would have spent a couple of years bedbounfd in traction and lots of ops to try and reshape the bones so I will just be very grateful how things have turned out for me.
renee01952 paul170864
Posted
that makes sense ...
I think you can handle this and are ready to take it on ...
healing will almost be simultaneously which is an advantage sometimes .. in my case, the hip getting worse was really hampering my recovery from 1st THR ...
angel blessing and please keep in touch
paul170864 renee01952
Posted
Hi Renee
Thank you - he chose 8 weeks as the shortest reasonable gap between the two I think. He wasnt keen on doing two together as it doubles the risk of complications during surgery and thinks separate ops improves overall recovery time - I can imagine though that recovery would be hampered if mobility is restricted by pain from the 2nd hip. Hopefully the surgeon will let me choose when to "press go" like he did with the first one.
thanks again Renee
Paul
beth2509 paul170864
Posted
To be honest I would be skeptical about being skeptical! If you take to reading about other people's experiences on their internet you are narrowing your experience pool. When I first signed up to this forum I wasn't worried, but reading the posts left me wondering what on earth I was facing!
The thing is, people being people, there aren't many who sign up to forums saying "i had a fabulous surgery, it was all really easy, and nothing at all went wrong or was unexpected". As it happens, I'm one of them that did! But in the main, people take to the internet to find their "problem" because they want to check out if the doctor is telling them the truth, if other people have had the same thing, or some other similar reason. The fact is that for most people, they accept whatever the doctor says and it's not so bad that they feel any need to go off and find out any more. Given the number of hip replacements done every day around the world, this site would fall over if everyone posted!
My other hip has severe OA but for some reason has not yet been a problem, but the left hip was replaced in November last year. All pain gone. No surgical pain even. And yes, I could have easily managed another surgery 8 weeks later on the other hip. As it happens, my problem is that I need non weight bearing surgery on the right ankle, and can't have that because it's the weight bearing issue that is a problem. But hips are immediately weight bearing, so ok.
paul170864 beth2509
Posted
I am a bit of a worrier though. I was encouraged to go to a cancer sufferers meeting in November following a wider excision for melanoma and it literally scared me silly - lots of people at stage 4 telling stories of how it all started with a simple mole removal. Not helpful for me as I hadnt even realized my kind of melanoma can return anywhere in the body. I think your own journey will be unique to you. I have learned lots of good things on here though and it is lovely to speak to lots of nice people
Paul
jmonroe608 paul170864
Posted
Hello Paul. I had my first THR on 11/2/16 and I ended up with a revision on 11/18/16 due to the stem settling. However it was just a minor setback and now I'm 3 months out and doing wonderful on the operated side. I am scheduled for my next THR on the opposite side on the 15th of this month. It would have been scheduled earlier if it wasn't for the dislocation ofy other hip. My doctor has left things completely up to me, he said I know my body best. I told him let's do it ASAP because I'm in serious pain, my hips were bone on bone due to severe hip dysphasia and osteoarthritis and I'm only 38! I've always been healthy and in shape but this totally set me back at least a year!
But I have a personal trainer that is going to work with me after surgery and I have a vacation planned already for June, white water rafting the Grand Canyon!
My advice is positive thinking, this is a good thing... you will be back to normal soon and better than ever! If you can try not to wait too long on the second hip!
Sending positive vibes your way!
Jennifer
paul170864 jmonroe608
Posted
Positive vibes recieved and much appreciated - and if I am fit to come rafting in the Grand Canyon with you in June I might just come over there !! It sounds fantastic - I used to be a keen white water kayaker and have done lots of alpine stuff but those big rivers look just amazing.
Good luck on the 15th - I will be thinking of you
michael11283 paul170864
Posted
Paul
I agree with Beth a forum is not a reprentative group. I had a very successful left hip 8 years ago (until it became infected that is) and know several others who also had successful ops. When I found I had the infection I wanted to find out what the treatment would be like so I joined this forum. Not many of us get an infected hip (I think it's 2% or so) so I am definitely not representative of hip patients now when I'm on the forum though I probably was 8 years ago when I wasn't .
Mike
Rocketman_SG6UK michael11283
Posted
Absolutely right Michael, you find that forums are skewed with more 'problem' repacements, just because if you have a problem, you need more post-op help and advice. Thankfully not many of us do get a problem, which doesn't help those of us who do have a problem very much. That said, I would NOT want to go back to my pre-op state.
paul170864 michael11283
Posted
I found the forum by accident whilst hunting for information - I do agree about people probably not bothering to join if everything goes totally to plan. I have found it really helpfull both as a source of information and just to touch base with folk going through similar things so plan to keep going on here post op whatever happens
Paul
ps how does an infection get in there after 8 yrs ? - it sound sore and I hope you recover soon mate
lyn1951 paul170864
Posted
Paul - I would never have come to this forum unless i had problems, and Dr's fobbing me off with excuses.
My first hip, my Right, totally worn out, bone on bone, eaten away with cystic action and even drilling a hole in my pelvis, although not serious enough for a bone graft, although was warned that I might wake up with a bone graft, and explained very carfully where it would come from, and that patch may be more sore than the hip.
Perfect - first time I was stood up 12 hours after my surgery, found I could weight bear on new hip, physio's encourged me to do so, and walking the ward later that same afternoon.
Only problem I had with that right hip was they gave me morphine, I am horribly sick on morphine and was really not very well, sick bag constantly at hand, even after I warned them not to give me morphine.
2nd hip left, recognised problem as soon as I stood up, had a lot more leg on left side post surgery, dismissed by physios and Dr's as swelling and my imagination, also could not balance on leg, just gave way, soooo different to right side, really scary.
End result with my own research and investigations, with Gp's help, sometimes begging for that help, 22mm or 3/4 inch difference.
Surgeons still considered not their problem and I would adjust, no I didn't ruptered discs in my back, just to complicate the issue, never having had a back problem previously, thought the pain in leg was coming from hip, just didn't make sense to me, pain from hip replacemnt just never went away, soooo different to other side.
After 12 months, the Dr's were right I did adjust, sort of, with a shoe lift, I have worked it out, and even back has come right, but I really feel the surgeons let me down badly, did not explain carefully enough for me to understand, ''it will come right is not good enough''.
paul170864 lyn1951
Posted
that does sound like a shocker - surely surgeons can read a tape measure !! Its not just a few mm either. Glad you have found some sort of solution and hope you are finally getting some relief - was it the same surgeon/type of joint both times. Also how long was the gap between replacements ?
Paul
lyn1951 paul170864
Posted
Same surgivcal team, senior registrar did first one and professor himslef did second. I was soo disappointed that the proffesor mucked it up, as he introduced himself to me just before being operated on, i was delighted it was him, our did he let one of his juniors under supervision at me, but shouldn;t matter should it, he said he was doing my surgery.
15 months apart, and differnt stem length and different ball size on x-rays pretty obvious, told they had changed the prothesis they were using in the meantime. Or did he not read notes from previous surgery, told me they had to make sure it was a tight fit. Did they not take into acct that I can and have always been able to fold myself up at the hips like a rag doll, even with completly worn out hips, head on knees, always freaked people out when I did it in standing postition, showed first surgeon so it must have been in my notes, but can't do that now on left or long side, just to tight, but fine on right side, after some months.
paul170864 lyn1951
Posted
These stories make me pretty mad - they should have taken more care with you.
To some extent I think there are complications after any operation - I have recently had two operations to remove malignant melanoma and got an infection due to a reaction to the internal stiches on the first op and the next op on my lower hamstring caused me to have lots of pain in my shin and top of my foot making walking difficult - much better than keeping the cancer though !!!! Time has improved this as the body gradually gets over the shock it has had and repairs itself. My dodgy hips (Perthes) have always given me back problems and groin pains due to the lack of range of movement and because I didnt know the root cause I invented muscle execises which largely kept the problems at bay. This is also true now that the hips are down to the bone - I keep the muscles strong with resistance band execises and avoid building up inflamation ( which causes the pain) by reducing the length of time spent walking and being on my feet to a minimum. Sadly my big mental health thing was cycling and running and although swimming is helping it just doesnt quite do it for me - any ideas ?
I think you may have to give up on the rag doll thing Lyn but pilates and yoga might be fun. Though I do sense that things are gradually going to improve for you and its great that you are exploring ways to fix things yourself
Paul
lyn1951 paul170864
Posted
I get in the local heated pool, and tread water, I do not try swimming, as my underlying systemic arthirits, supported by a noodle in the deep end, most joints in my body affected, I picked the wrong parents, brother has just had a double knee, uncle had double hips, so the idea of hip replacement was just a fact of life in my family. Dr's amazed that I wasn;t terrified witless, I just wanted it done and had a very long wait.
Swimming or not, has kept me sane and resonably fit, even when I could not walk due to pain levels and hip joint on right side, the good one, boring a hole through my pelvis.
Actually deveolped a blood clot in my leg as I was not walking, they had to put me on blood thinners for a few weeks, and then that casued my surgery to be cancelled. But thats another story.
paul170864 lyn1951
Posted
lyn1951 paul170864
Posted
Paul - you too are stronger than you know.
I have had a horror time with cancer, womens business, Dr's were not looking for cancer so came as a shock to them and me, went through urgent surgery, pelvic clearance, got the cancer in one go thank goodness.
And six years ago my husband collapsed at home with what was found to be heart failure, or dialated cardiomyopthy, he is very lucky to have survived as they think is was an infection or virus that attacked his heart. Last easter his electrical activity of his heart closed down at dawn,at home again, back to the heart hospital and three lead pacemaker installed he is very well for somebady so generally unwell.
I have become a bit of an expert on his condition, I have read books, from the library, the internet, university dr to Dr sites, even his consultant last easter growled at the junior staff at the hospital and said don't you dare dismiss Mrs R's opinions, she has been right the last four times she has brought him to the hospital, and she right this time as well, smiled at me and said good girl, you just saved his life once more. Then turned to the jnr staff and said my office with Mr R's file, would loved to have been a fly on that wall.
Nurses afterwards said how do you manage to talk to him like that, I treat him as just another person, not a god, although I do think he is a very clever cardiologist, but thats private, staff at the hospital are obosultey terrified of the man, and its nice to have him on our side of the arguement.
paul170864 lyn1951
Posted
Paul
judith12644 paul170864
Posted
Hi Paul, you mentioned cycling, I was cleared to cycle at my 7 week appointment, and I bike to work. It feels very comfortable, so hopefully you might get back to cycling again. I used to run, but my surgeon doesn't recommend it.
paul170864 judith12644
Posted
Wow that's brilliant - well done. I know running is not going to be wise so I wont do that post-op. Swimming .cycling and hopefully walking wont be too much impact on the new joints. How often are you seen post op - they mentioned a 6 week with the consultant yesterday - it seems a long time
judith12644 paul170864
Posted
Hi Paul, yes 6 weeks, and they do another xray. Then I'm going to be seen and x-rayed again in March, that will be 7 months post op,, and probably discharged if it all looks ok.
paul170864 judith12644
Posted