Dilemma - should I delay THR?
Posted , 7 users are following.
I have been listed in January for a THR for the right hip. I have osteoarthritis in both hips with some bone on bone contact. I have had this flare up for about 14 months since I stupidly moved a heavy mattress.
I had a steroid injection in the right hip last December but it wore off very quickly.
On reading the forums here and other forums I am very doubtful that I am bad enough to go through major surgery yet. The pain and lack of mobility I had at first have lessened and now I do not have much pain and when I do it is not severe. I am uncomfortable a lot of the time and I have not been able to sit in an easy chair. I do not take pain killers during the day but at night I take two paracetamol and medication for sleep (Mirtazapine). I sleep well.
Walking was one of my greatest pleasures and I walked every day at least 7000 steps. I belonged to a walking group and did 5 miles regularly. I can walk but not very far and I can only go to places where there are seats so that I can rest. I can walk for about 10 minutes before I need to sit down. A lot of the pleasure has gone.
The hope that I could get back to normal walking is my major impetus for undergoing surgery. I have discussed it to some extent with the consultant surgeon but I suspect he thinks that I am worse than I am now. I am also uncertain and very fearful because of all the risks involved. For example the consultant said that the effect of the surgery would be similar to the best day after the steroid injection. I was a bit surprised and said that although there had been an improvement I still could not walk normally. His response was that the hip could be worse or it could be better.
I realise that the Covid epidemic might mean that the surgery could be cancelled anyway. I am also concerned that I do not leave it until I am really bad and in a lot of pain. I know this sounds rather pathetic but sometimes I feel that I cannot face having a hip replacement and I cannot face not having a hip replacement.
I would really appreciate your thoughts.
0 likes, 14 replies
dale94413 Cherry2603
Posted
Obviously, I don't know your circumstances but if you can only tolerate walking for 10 minutes I would say you should have it done. It's not going to get any better that's for sure.
Everyone has different pain thresholds, maybe you are able to tolerate pain better than others on the forum.
Good luck in whatever you decide.
Cherry2603 dale94413
Posted
Thanks very much Dale. No it's not going to get any better.
Best wishes
ptolemy Cherry2603
Posted
As Dale says sadly your hips will not improve and I found that mine got worse quite quickly once it got to bone on bone. I now have had two hip replacements, the first on the NHS and the second privately as I had to wait so long for the first op and I thought with Covid the waiting list would get even longer. I was due for the private op last March, but then the NHS took over the hospital for Covid, so I had the op just four weeks ago. The hospital was chaos and packed full of NHS patients.
The replacement hip operation is supposed to be one of the most successful operations in the world. In my opinion the important thing is to ensure you have a first class surgeon. Also get as fit as you can before hand to improve the time it takes to recuperate after. It is natural to feel nervous but once you have had the op you will be walking by the next day. You will be surprised the amazing difference. Quite frankly if you are on a waiting list I should hang in to it, as I heard yesterday elective surgery had been cancelled yet again. You can always postpone the date, but you do not want to lose it or you may never get back on the list under the present circumstances.
I have a friend who had his op in January. He now does walks lasting three hours again.
Cherry2603 ptolemy
Posted
Ptolemy, thank you very much for your response. What you have said is very helpful and positive, which helps!
Much appreciated
Best wishes
mightymilo ptolemy
Posted
Hi Ptolemy,
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Please would you share with us if you experienced any difference between the private and NHS procedure. I'd go private, but unfortunately have no funds to cover that.
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Thank you 😃
ptolemy mightymilo
Posted
The reason I went privately was because it took nearly a year and a half to get my first hip done and I was in a wheelchair in the end and it looked like the same thing would happen again so I raided my savings and organised an op for March this year. Then Covid took over and the private hospital was handed over to the NHS. So I was quite lucky actually getting the op done end of September. The hospital was packed and in total chaos with NHS patients filling up the spare beds. I suppose theoretically the main advantage of going privately is jumping the queue. I actually had the same surgeon for both ops. In the private hospital they seemed to use a lot of agency nurses. However they had more time to talk and joke with you. Also the surgeon came and visited me daily for quite a while, I saw him once for about thirty seconds with the NHS. I had longer physio privately but I think the NHS physio I had was better and more professional, although that hospital was well known for its high quality physio. The other advantage of going privately is you have your own room. You are normally in such a short time though it does not make much difference. Having said that I was in the NHS hospital for seven days and the private one for nine days not because of my hip but other things that happened. The private hospital was much more aware of health and safety I felt. I fainted in the shower and managed to dislocate my new hip. I also had a nasty laceration down to the bone on my other leg. After the xray etc they got me back to bed to wait to be taken down to the operating theatre and my room was full of accountants and people asking questions for their report forms! All in all the answer I think is how soon do you want the op done and how long can you stand the pain.
a great advantage.
mightymilo ptolemy
Posted
Thanks a million Ptolemy for your detailed reply. What I really wanted to know, just out of curiosity, was if there was a difference in the quality of the procedure itself, which you have perfectly answered. Thank you so much again for taking the time to go into so much detail. I honestly appreciate your effort you put into your reply 😃
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Good luck with your recovery. I hope all goes well. I'm having my first one done on 11 November after failing the pre-op twice and coronavirus delay 😃 😛 😃
ptolemy mightymilo
Posted
I think the op itself was pretty similar. Particularly as I had the same surgeon. I did manage to throw up over the anaesthetist this time though! I really had no pain last time, but I think the dislocation may have caused a bit of a problem this time.
jen86183 Cherry2603
Posted
Hi Cherry,
I had my hip op in April 2018, never had any pain at all after the op, had a shower the next day as they put a waterproof plaster over the staples. I started using my elliptical walker at about eight weeks, at five and a half months I started doing Step Aerobics and Pilates, then added Zumba.
It is nice to be out of pain when walking, I will not say it is perfect and yes I do know it is not my hip but, after doing a bad impression of a penguin for many years, walking straight is brilliant.
If you cancel the op, you never know when you will get the opportunity again especially in these times, as you cannot walk far, you know you need the op. I was terrified, I had never had any procedure before but, it was fine. The worst thing if, you are not a back sleeper, is having to lie on your back for a few weeks.
Cherry2603 jen86183
Posted
Hi Jen thank you very much for your reply. It's great to know that you didn't have any pain after your op and got back to such good fitness so soon.
I cannot walk far, I can do 10 minutes, then rest, then another 10 minutes and so on.
Yes I am terrified too!
Your reassurance is much appreciated.
mightymilo Cherry2603
Edited
Hi Cherry,
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I am under fifty & have been waiting for bilateral THR for almost two years now. I would suggest you get it seen to asap because it doesn't get any better, trust the people who know about it. If you are not going private, you will wait for a good few months to be properly assessed and only then will your wait for admission start.. The surgeon will not do a replacement unless it is really necessary. Early bird catches the worm. You really don't want to wait to get to the point of relying permanently on walking aids and then join the back of the queue.
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Good luck with making your decision. I'm petrified for my upcoming surgery next month, but am really looking forward to having my legs back, so to say!
Cherry2603 mightymilo
Posted
Thank you very much for your kind response and encouragement Milo. Sorry to read that you have been waiting for two years. It seems extra tough when you are so young. Yes it is really scary ! Best luck for your surgery next month and that you will soon have your legs back.
Best wishes
james56388 Cherry2603
Posted
I'm in a similar situation and have just posted a similar message to this forum. It is scary, but do remember that people tend not to post on forums like this when it goes straightforward and there are no problems. I have to remind myself that my mother had a double total hip replacement and she was okay. Hope it all goes well for you.
Cherry2603 james56388
Posted
Thank you very much James. It's good to know your mother was okay.
I will also reply to your message. Best wishes