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Getting a total hip replacement.

Posted , 9 users are following.

Meg1216
Meg1216

Hi all! I am having my THR surgery 3/18. I cant wait. I have been in pain with steady increse for 10 years. The last 1 1/2 years excruciating -to the point I could only work PT and lost my health insurance. I dont know why doctors make you wait so long and suffer! My Dr tried shots in the spine saying it could be lumbar pain radiating,even though it hurt so bad at the groin area where they say is a telling sign of hip replacement .Finally so he could be sure he gives me a hip shot and HEAVEN immediately NO PAIN heaven for 10 days. Now the pain is back so severe I fear my leg is going to give out on standing up.My question is this my knees are shot especially the other side /the left side which had to bear all the wait for so long while limping shuffling.My question is this -with such bad knees will this hinder my hip surgery recovery? My dr wont even discuss it-says the knee pain could get better w the hip -Im like on both sides? Thank you. And I look forward to reading sharing stories while I await this surgery-not long now! 

 

2 likes, 8 replies

8 Replies

  • lyn1951
    lyn1951 Meg1216

    Posted

    Meg - i too thought my knees were giving it away.

    I asked, and Dr showed me on X-ray the nice big gap between my bones.

    You can see it clearly, its soft tissue or cartledge, so it doesn't show up on x-rays, but if that gap is there its occupied by that cartledge.

    Bet you anything your hips don't have any gap, between bones on x-ray, the pain is being caused by bone rubbing on bone.

    That pain can travel, I know it did in my case, my knee felt alot better after surgery, but for the swelling and dirty great big hand print just above my knee, that was a little bit surprising, so I showed my Dr, and we both laughed that he must have held on too tight during the surgery.

    He agreed with my diagnoses of holding on too tight.

    That also the knee with the handprint has always been the perfect hip replacement and has caused me no problems at all, after the recovery period.

  • Loral
    Loral Meg1216

    Posted

    Did you have your knees xrayed???? My knee hurt so bad I was sure I needed a knee replacement, turns out all the knee pain was caused by my bad hip. No knee pain after THR in May...
    • Meg1216
      Meg1216 Loral

      Posted

      By my chiro yes,he said they dont look too bad -they are not bone on bone yet like my hip,theres still a little space. By my othopedic,no, I kept asking to do it but he just kept saying its either from the spine or the hip-we ll knnow more after the hip surgery.My concern is if my knees are always clik clacking and i cant bend w ith those knees for years will it impede my hip recovery?

      Thanks for your response!.

    • Loral
      Loral Meg1216

      Posted

      My knee clicked and cracked and would give out...I was bone to bone on left hip for 2 years, I limped and was afraid of falling...It was not my knee it was all the hip. I have absolutely no knee pain now.
  • AnnieK
    AnnieK Meg1216

    Posted

    I think it is unconscionable how long you have been made to wait while in such terrible pain. There is no way of knowing without proper diagnostic tests just what shape your knees are in. It may very well be that they, on their own, are in bad shape. Or, your surgeon may be right, that the pain could get better after the hip surgery. Whatever the problem is, there is nothing he can do about it before the hip surgery. If they are weak and you have trouble supporting yourself with them post-op, then you may have to get knee supports or use walking aids longer than normal, or whatever else your surgeon might recommend.

    You haven't said if you are using walking aids or not. If not, then you might consider using one now, before surgery, to both relieve your pain and keep you from possibly falling. Using just one crutch or trekking poles or a cane might make you feel safer and, since you would be putting less pressure on your knees, maybe less pain.

    It wouldn't hurt your orthopedist to just take a darn x-ray, would it, and it would help give you the info you need to feel calmer. The money isn't coming out of his pocket, is it? Why is he so resistant? It blows my mind.

  • renee01952
    renee01952 Meg1216

    Posted

    hi meg, 

    warm welcome to this wonderful forum of hippies in all stages of THr - pre-op, op, post-op, in between op , sitting on the fence, you name it , we have been through it or are going through it ..

    I had forgotten about this horrible pain in my knee pre-op my 1st R THR -- it also clicked and didn't support me anymore - I  blamed the physical therapist at that time and went to see another one - asked her to tape it or get me a brace or something - no brace, but she did tape it - it didn;t help -

    Well, it was hip related and gone after surgery - to be honest, your knees well be sore and eachy while getting back to normal walking though ...

    I have lived in Los Angeles for 34 years and returned to Holland June 2014 - In L.A., I was told I had severe OA in right hip but "not at the end of the rope yet"

    Physical therapy, then cortisone shot had to be done first before THR could be authorized - no one human will have you suffer except insurance rules and regulations - 

    I am so sorry that you lost your job and with that your medical insurance ... 

    what are your options ?  So incredibly unfair and cruel ...

    Please come back here okay - you are not alone

    big warm hug

    renee

     

  • shirley17649
    shirley17649 Meg1216

    Posted

    The doctor could be right Meg, once the hip is sorted then there won't be as much weight on that knee and it may recover. Only time will tell.

    Yes, the pain is awful and no-one else knows how bad it gets - only those of us on this website have any idea how grim the waiting game is.

    Look forward to being on the other side soon.

     

  • DawnDedee
    DawnDedee Meg1216

    Posted

    HI Meg,

    Your knee could go either way.  It could straighten itself out after you can walk well again, or prove to need its own replacement.  It is well to tackle the hip first. 

    Welcome to this forum!  And the best of luck on the 18th.  Coincidently, I go for my one year post op check up on the 18th.  

    Dawn, USA

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