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Hip Replacement - Having second thoughts.

Posted , 11 users are following.

PTBCAL
PTBCAL

Hello, I'm new to this site/forum and was just seeking some advice if possible?

I am 48 and due to get a left hip resurfacing (Birmingham) op in 3 weeks.

However I am having second thoughts about having this at this stage of of my life. I definatey need the op but right now I can walk pretty much pain free, cycle 60 km a week and play football to a decent standard. I am not on any medication at all and although I experience pain in my knee and shins daily, it's not agony and it doesn't keep me awake at night at all.

Question is, should I wait until the daily pain become more unbearable and making activities impossible. I did get an cortisone injection into my hip in Oct  2016 and I wondering if I am still feeling the benefits of this.

I no doubt will need the op but I was wondering if it's worth delaying a little longer? I get it through my Employers health insurance so rescheduling not an issue.

Appreciate your thoughts and thanks in advance.

 

0 likes, 16 replies

16 Replies

  • herse
    herse PTBCAL

    Posted

    Hi. I had a hip replacement in November and I too wondered whether I should have it done as only 53. However I could not walk any distance and was in a lit if pain. From what you have said your lifestyle is not being compromised too much at the moment and therefore id suggest you seriously think about benefits of delaying given your age. I decided to have it done because the pain was really limiting my lifestyle to point I could barely walk. I wanted to enjoy the hill walking that I live to do .

    It's such a major op so if you barely have pain and continue to be active delay it .

    Only my own view but hope it helps !

  • janie33718
    janie33718 PTBCAL

    Posted

    Hi.. I had hip replacement Dec 2015.  I decided to go through with the surgery because the pain had severly interrupted my life.  I wasn't able to do the things I had always done before.   It was  a major feat just to go to the grocery store and afterwards,  I was completely exhausted from the pain when I got home.

    I am so glad I had my surgery.  It has given me my life back.  But believe me, it was not a breeze.  Hip replacement is a major thing to get through, but the end result is totally worth it.  It sounds like you're still getting along pretty well right now.  I wouldn't rush it, but I totally wouldn't hesitate when it gets to the point that you know you need it.  smile    

  • graham6764
    graham6764 PTBCAL

    Posted

    Hi

    I had RTHR July 2016 at the age of 52.

    In the 3-4 yrs preceding the op I had several hip injections the first 2-3 worked very well and each gave me 6-8 months pain free but eventually the no longer had any affect, once they stopped working it became worse quite quickly I ended up on crutches from Jan to July last year.

    So if the injections work use them until they no longer have affect then opt for surgery.

    Good luck

    Graham

  • kel40
    kel40 PTBCAL

    Posted

    Hi i had my thr at 41.i was the same as you not in much pain but more of a twinge every now and again.i was def in two minds as to what to do.

    I decided to go ahead with it as i knew with being younger the recovery would be easier,im glad i did go ahead as i now realise how much pain i was actually in each day now that i am pain free.sounds weird huh?

    • PTBCAL
      PTBCAL kel40

      Posted

      Firstly can I thank everyone for taking the time to respond. It is geniunely appreciated and it's amazing how many similarities I see people had that I am going through right now. 

      There red is a bit of me that thinks life will be so much better after this op - better than I realise.  But I do also realise that I will no doubt need a revision of sorts 10 years or so down the line so obviously I am wary of this also.

      i am waiting on the consultant getting back to me.... so based on our conversation it will determine whether I go ahead right now.

  • graham6764
    graham6764 PTBCAL

    Posted

    Just seen 3kel40s reply. This is a good point about faster recovery at a younger age I found the first 2-3 weeks quite tough although not pain so much as just recovering from pretty major surgery, but after about 3 weeks recovery was easier than I had expected, having said that if the injections give you another 2-3 yrs before surgery you will still be young and if all goes well should recover well. Also the replacements are expected to be ok for about 15 yrs so the sooner you opt for first surgery the greater the likelihood of needing multiple operations.

    All the best

    Graham.

  • maureen44782
    maureen44782 PTBCAL

    Posted

    I'm  not sure what resurfacing means.  I'm 64 and started having problems with my hips 7 years ago.  I was fit, a walker.  Walking staves off problems seemingly, but the excutiating wait of 5 years with my hips in such a state was awful.  I think if they had done them 5 years ago I would have been in a much fitter state.  I'm absolutely fine, had double hip replacement 6 months ago.  Very difficult decision for you...beware of waiting lists!

  • lucy37622
    lucy37622 PTBCAL

    Posted

    Wait!! I'm in the same boat as you. I have been told by my dr to wait until the pain is unbearable. I've had the injection and it's really helped. I have used this opportunity to:

    1 visit podiatrist for pronation which has affected my hip. I now have special insoles - these are really helping and I do special exercises. It's that old motto ankle bone connected to the knee bone etc.

    2 intense one to one yoga to sort out all ligaments etc by hip causing problems

    3 Polatis to compliment yoga

    4 gym - suspended cross trainer (nb these are different to normal) and intense walking for 45 mins

    5 stretches on power plate

    6 excellent physiotherapist

    7 weight loss

    These are all making real inroads after 8 weeks (injection 4 months ago) and have exceeded my expectations. I am amazed.

    I have no doubt I'll need a new hip but my dr has massively advised me to wait until the last moment (I too have the health insurance) but obviously to keep my body in shape and not allow intense pain to go on.

    I honestly don't think you sound bad enough and I have friends who have had complications 5-7 years down the line so don't surrender just yet! If you were downing pain killers to exist or otherwise clenching your fists with pain, well that's a different story.

    And yes the two lovely hip surgeons I saw would have been happy to operate before Christmas!!

    Get the rest of your body ship shape (alignment) before your op if the pain is not hindering you from doing this and you are not severely bone on bone.

    • PTBCAL
      PTBCAL lucy37622

      Posted

      Lucy - one thing that struck me with your post.

      i also saw a very good podiatrist and now wear orthotics that I geniunely believe have helped me on a daily basis espically my posture and walking. Is it helping my hip? I don't know tbh.

    • lucy37622
      lucy37622 PTBCAL

      Posted

      Ive been told by my physio that feet to hips are connected and orthotics will help, and are already (they have helped some of their patients last up to another 5-7 years before surgery believe it or not!). But I am having physio sessions to move the hip and they are working. I will defo need a hip replacement at some point but what worried me was two eminent private London surgeons were recommending completely different types of hip, and my friend had one of the Birminghams that sadly went wrong and had to be redone... I would give your body some time to adjust to the orthotics, check your pain levels and then decide what to do. I feel there are a lot of medical advancements on their way so really feel comfortable with the time you decide to concede. (I know the results are amazing.)
  • beth2509
    beth2509 PTBCAL

    Posted

    I assume you had a cortisone injection because the pain was bad though? Right now it probably still is working. They can last a year or possibly even more (or less or not at all!) My first one lasted a year - the second one worked not at all!

    ?Knowing what I know now, I should have had the hip done immediately the second shot failed. I dithered like you. That was the worst decision I have ever made.

    ?It's only my opinion, but if it hurt enough to need the shot, get it done.

  • wendy75910
    wendy75910 PTBCAL

    Posted

    I sure would wait! There are other treatments being developed that don't involve surgery using stem cells to get your body to replace the cartelage!! 

    If I'd have felt better and been able to walk or stand without the hip giving way and me landing on the floor, I'd have never let them cut my bone!

    Look into some reflexology and other natural ways to del with whatever pain you do have. I'd avoid the cortisone...that can cause some big problems.

    Let us know how it goes.

    All the best!

    Wendy 

    • PTBCAL
      PTBCAL wendy75910

      Posted

      I agree re cortisone - I am not planning to have anymore.

      i am fortunate that I do not have to wait too long should I decide to reschedule. 

      Decisions decisions

  • ray14428
    ray14428 PTBCAL

    Posted

    Hi.  I'm 64 years of age & had my hip replacement surgery in October.  The result is amazing.  The only person who can make the decision is you.  But as you are asking for advice, here's mine.  No 2 people are the same.  For some the pain worsens gradually & for others it's rapid.  Don't wait.  if you can have it done now, go for it.  Young age or not, if the surgeon feels you need the op now then his/her advice really is best.  They are the professionals.  You seem to have supportive employers as do I.  I wouldn't wait a minute longer for the op & I didn't when it was my turn.  Injections can of course be helpful, but that hip will continue to worsen.  Best wishes to you.

    • beth2509
      beth2509 ray14428

      Posted

      I agree with you - whatever you decide the pain worsens. As I said, I did dither, thinking I could manage to wait a bit longer. Just a matter of weeks after I decided to tell the consultant I was having it my ankle broke (nothing to do with the hip, something else entirely), and then only a few weeks after that I was rushed into hospital in excruciating hip pain. Turned out that the arthritis had caused the blood vessels in the femur to block and the hip bone had died. It needed replacing immediately but couldn't be due to the broken ankle. I had to wait another three months until the ankle bone was stronger, and in the end was taking a level of morphine normally reserved for terminal patients just to be able to dull the pain a bit. 

      Now I know that that doesn't happen to everyone! But the thing is that if I had gone ahead when the consultant first said that he thought it was time to seriously consider the op, then when my ankle broke I would have been 18 months out of the hip surgery. The necrosis would never have happened. And as it happens, I now need major surgery on the ankle which I cannot have for several months due to the fact that my hip bone needs to recover first to manage total weight bearing for several weeks safely. 

      None of us knows what the future will bring. You could put off the surgery until you can't wait any longer and it'll all be fine. Or you could, like me, have some kind of cascade where other aspects of your health get bad and you aren't as able to cope. Or you could lose your job and not have the same options. 

      So yes, it's a big decision and one everyone has to make for themselves. But remember that there a big picture. Right now you are young, fit and healthy, with good employer. But that may not be the case next year, or in five years. I may not have been quite so young. But I also have a great employer, and I was incredibly fit and healthy. So I didn't see any of what happened to me coming. It never even occurred to me. I thought I was just fighting osteoarthritis in the hips. That was bad luck, but I was going to manage. Not for one second did I consider any of the curve balls life throws at you!

    • lucy37622
      lucy37622 beth2509

      Posted

      Always important to know this can happen - thank you for sharing X
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