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Having a THR on the 2nd sept. Feeling worried about outcome and possible dislocation

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sally15384
sally15384

Can anyone advise me. I am having a total hip replacement (cementless) on the 2nd sept. I am 44yrs old. I was born with hip dysplacia and I know have severe arthritis in the hip joint. I am really worried about the outcome and the possibility of dislocation. Also having to sleep on your back for six weeks seems total torture. Can anyone calm my nerves and let me feel I am at least making the right decision in having this operation at such a young age. It is a real worry :-(

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  • EmmaP
    EmmaP sally15384

    Posted

    Hi Sally, I'm 48 and had cement less hip replacement in the UK 5 weeks ago.  The op itself was pretty straightforward and the surgeon, anaesthetist (I had spinal) and nurses were all fab. Total truth, the first 2 weeks afterwards were horrible. I didn't want to speak to anyone, I couldn't get comfortable anywhere, and I woke at least every 2 hours.  Sleeping on my back was becoming increasingly painful. In hindsight I probably didn't have sufficient painkillers (just paracetamol and ibuprofen) but as being fairly fit and healthy prior to this I had no experience of anything else, apart from what they gave me in the hospital, which didn't Agree with me (severe nausea, constipation ). I saw my consultant after 2 weeks (was feeling pretty tearful and non-chatty); he told me he'd fitted a larger ball/socket joint (apparently more common in 'younger' patients) and the risk of dislocation was less than in more traditional replacements. So he said I could sleep on my side with a pillow brown my legs (avoid crossing legs) and I used extra pillows either side to stop any inadvertent rolling. Consultant thought getting some decent sleep was more important for me and my risk of dislocating was  relatively low.  wow - what a relief to lie on my side, even if only for 30 mins at a time.  Now I still sleep on my back most of the time, but can now roll over to my side every now And then. Just starting to get back some better sleep patterns, with help from a meditation series on sleep (highly recommend headspace dot com if this is something that appeals.) 

    My consultant told me last week that 6 weeks was the magic point at which the risk of dislocation falls right off - so although it seems like forever when you're in it, it's nothing in the scheme of things and being able to get back to several years of active life ahead of you. 

    • carol63610
      carol63610 EmmaP

      Posted

      Hi can I ask you Emma how bad was you before eg pain and movement as I am 46 and have poor movement bad limp and in pain most of the time and been told no cartilage left and bone on bone not sure what to do I can still do most things but it pain and limp gets worst 
    • EmmaP
      EmmaP carol63610

      Posted

      It all happened quite suddenly for me - last Oct I had a pain in my groin/hip flexor area and was convinced I'd pulled a muscle. No pain or indication of a hip problem prior to that. Muddled through until Xmas, when it wasn't getting any better, so went to an osteo (still thinking it was a muscle strain). Within few weeks osteo decided it wasn't healing as it should be and started talking about possible hip impingement problems. Took a turn for the worse in mid-march, when couldn't walk beyond 10 mins, had increasingly less hip rotation movement, and it started to interrupt sleep, which is when I got referred for scans.  Only excercise I could tolerate was cycling and some yoga.  Scans immediately showed virtually no cartilage, bone on bone, and even a cyst developing because of the wear. So THR only option and I booked myself in there and then - no way I was going to waste more time getting increasingly less mobile and in more pain, which was the only alternative.  Seems THR in our age group is increasingly common - I just made sure I saw a consultant who understood my expectations of getting back to sport and exercise, and pushing the physio to help me beyond the one-size fits all/lowest common denominator exercises they traditionally use for older patients who are only looking for pain relief.
    • carol63610
      carol63610 EmmaP

      Posted

      Hi 

      your story sounds like mine started at Xmas had X-rays in March told early signs of oa been having phisyo but from end of May worst then see a surgeon in July had X-ray and got told no cartilage bone on bone . But told me to carry on with what I was doing to see if pain calmed down again if not see him again in October or before if I need but I will need a thr 18 week wait or £12000 private I am no better now walk with foot turned in nearly every step there is some pain watch gets worst more I do just can not believe how quick all happing 

    • EmmaP
      EmmaP carol63610

      Posted

      Oh dear - I agree, it all seemed so sudden, and it took me a few weeks to get my head around it. For me, probably not over-thinking it was the way to go. Forums have been fantastically helpful post op, but difficult to comprehend what everyone was saying beforehand ( so many different experiences); if you have 18 week wait, then I would think about pushing to get the dAte scheduled now - you can always duck out later if you decide it's too soon, but in thAt time you could deteriorate a lot too.
    • carol63610
      carol63610 EmmaP

      Posted

      How long was the wait for u or did u go private 
    • patricis
      patricis EmmaP

      Posted

      Emma, I just had my right hip done and somewhat same issues as you, dread night time as I know I'mnot going to sleep and end up getting a migraine every morning...however, what I wanted to ask was about the spinal, I had general and next year when I do the left, I'm wondering about the spinal, but am sooooooooo terrified that I will walke up and here them or feel pain...how was it for you..did you get a sedation before you went to the or, or did you have to go in fulll awake and then get spinal and sedation...thanks Patricia from Toronto
    • carmen56984
      carmen56984 carol63610

      Posted

      Everything happen in 3 months. from the 1st apointment to when i had the op. It was on the NHS
    • EmmaP
      EmmaP carol63610

      Posted

      Carol, I was lucky enough to have private insurance through work, so no wait for me - just scheduled it to suit my personal/work diary
    • EmmaP
      EmmaP patricis

      Posted

      Hi Patricia, the spinal was def the way to go for me. Right up to about an hour before I was convinced I would have full anaesthetic ( consultant said I was eligible candidate for either - although I keep saying both LOL cheesygrin

      However, very lovely anaesthetist changed my mind - said spinal made for a much quicker recovery, far less side effects, and they'd give me as much sedative as necessary. The set up was a little longer than a general, but then I was fairly quickly 'having a nap' according to theatre nurse, and knew nothing about it until I started to come round just towards the end. I felt nothing apart from sensation of my leg being moved, and talking and noise that sounded like it was in another room. I felt much less disorientated than the one time I had a general. The recovery has been more difficult than the actual operation experience for me.  

      I wouldn't worry about trying a spinal - your anaesthetist will make sure you know nothing about it if you let them know your concerns.

    • sally15384
      sally15384 carol63610

      Posted

      carol , my pain has been on going for a good few years. About a year ago I had a steroid injection in hip, which helped but only for about six months. I have good days and then bad days. Some days the hip even gives way. Saw my specialist who said no other solution other than a total hip op needed.  Only had to wait 10 weeks for op date too
  • vikki19024
    vikki19024 sally15384

    Posted

    Hey Sally,

    I too am 44 and I'm having THR 27/8/14. Ortho consultant says Osteo athritis, Derms say Psoriatic. Whichever - the outcome is the same.

    • hally1
      hally1 vikki19024

      Posted

      Good lucky Viki you will fine,

      There is one thing that plays very important role in our recovery, that's the will to wake up and be pain free. Of course like everything in life In Order to receive we should give which is not always, but with time we get over it with time. I remember waking up with a big smile and asking my consultant can I see the part of my body which give so much trouble. He replay yes you can, but are you sure you want to see it I said yes. After that he tell me is good to see you happy and smiling I tell him, it is first in 19 yes I wake without pain without having to stay in bed for hours before I manage to get out of bed.

    • sally15384
      sally15384 hally1

      Posted

      That's fantastic. Glad your doing well. Hope mine will be a success also
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