Hip Replacement Needed but no pain only stiffness - doc suggests not replacing yet
Posted , 13 users are following.
Hi all
Newbie here. My sis gave me link to this forum - she's had both hips replaced now and is flying 😃
I have been diagnosed with osteoarthritis in both hips and both feet. My right hip is the worse. But because I don't suffer much pain, the consultant says he will just monitor me. My job is sit down and I'm currently studying so anything from 10 to 14 hours in front of a computer a day - sitting on my posterior!
The only problem I have is incredible stiffness which has got worse over the last year. It takes me a few minutes of hobbling to get straight. I'm 52. Its becoming embarrassing now at work!! Once I get straightened I'm ok - can walk around normally. I would walk at lunch time most days just to keep some level of fitness.
Just wondering if any of you had no pain but this incredible stiffness and if you have any solutions. I'm also beginning to get very tired but that could be work and study.
Thanks for any info.
0 likes, 40 replies
teri13771 AnnR52
Posted
I had no pain just stiffness went for x ray and my doctor said I had osteo arthritis but he wouldn't let me see a consultant. so two weeks later I went to see another doctor explained I was a chef and my leg kept giving way he said ill refer you to hip specialist.He looked at xray and had me in within 4 months he said the ball was completely gone on one hip and the other one is just wearing out.Im 54 and it's taken 8 months to get fit again as I had infection so slow process but fine now .Just see another doc and make it out tobe worse than it is x
AnnR52 teri13771
Posted
Teri
I had been going to a GP and I had mentioned stiffness several times to her and she kept telling me it was old age - I was in my mid 40s !! So, like you I did change doctors. She referred me to the doc I'm seeing now - he is the surgeon who replaced my sis hips so I'm definitely ok with him. Its the stiffness that really bugs me. He has told me when I get pain, he will operate immediately. Its amazing how many of you guys are as young as me. And great to hear your stories.
teri13771 AnnR52
Posted
ahh ok hun well I never had any pain but eventually it used to give way when I went upstairs x I'll leave the other one as long as pos take cod liver oil and bone vitamins good luck xx
Guest AnnR52
Posted
hi
I am waiting for a hip replacement and have been on holiday for the last 3 weeks and due to very little walking My hip has been uncomfortable but not really painful.
I am now thinking of going to the doctor and asking to be referred to a pain management clinic instead of the endless wait for the operation.
AnnR52 Guest
Posted
Billy
My consultant told me two things:
Good luck with the pain management clinic.
ptolemy Guest
Posted
Hi Billy, don't back out now after all you have been through. In the end you will need the op. You may as well stay on the waiting list and meanwhile see if the pain clinic works.
Guest ptolemy
Posted
Not been to see the doc yet.One thing is I am wasting my life waiting for an op to give me a live So I am actually missing out on life.
I have not been out for a drink this year, no social life at all
So come Friday if I dont have an op date i am going for a few beers
ptolemy Guest
Posted
Going for a few beers sounds like a good idea. Haven't you already had your pre op? That means your actual op should be pretty close.
AnnR52 Guest
Posted
Hope you get your op soon and enjoy the beers.
leah01615 AnnR52
Posted
i had hip replacement in march . i had been suffering with pain and stiff ness for couple of years . GP made me try exercise physio and medication before i saw a consultant. had to wait 4 months for apt then 4 months for op .its not an operation to take lightly . exercise and stretching can help stretch out the time before you need an op .sitting for that length of time will make most people stiff. i am office bound but get up and do stretches every 30 mins whilst filing or being on hold
AnnR52 leah01615
Posted
I have great intentions of getting up every 30 mins but get stuck into something and realise two hours have passed. what kind of stretches do you do?
Lilylou1 AnnR52
Posted
HI
In 45 and got told to wait they would keep an eye on the technical side and if i was managing great, well my hip was without me knowing mechanically pretty bad and i got recalled by another specialist through public who said we need to operate. i felt really let down by my original specialist. Thankfully good outcome 8 months pots op doing amazing.
AnnR52 Lilylou1
Posted
Great to hear you are doing well. Its hard to know what to do. I certainly want to hold off the op as long as I can because I feel a fraud with little to no pain !!
Lilylou1 AnnR52
Posted
i hear ya if mechanically its still ok to wait as in no adverse outcomes if you wait and your in little to no pain i know what i would do i would wait. All the best.
Dorset-Bob AnnR52
Posted
My hip problems started about 7 years ago also just with stiffness. The problem is that the deterioration was quite gradual as was the start and increase in pain. this meant that overtime i just stopped doing things i enjoyed because they became to uncomfortable like golf or going for walks. I eventually had a full left hip replacement 13 weeks back and am already back doing all the things i used to enjoy. in retrospect i wish i had taken the plunge a few years back so my only advice would be don't wait until it is negatively impacting your life.
AnnR52 Dorset-Bob
Posted
Bob
I am defintely not doing everything I used to do. I love gardening but find I have to take a good few breaks. Good advice to deal with it when it does stop you doing things. Great to hear your success story.
This is a great forum - its nice to hear from fellow hippys !!
Dorset-Bob AnnR52
Posted
Hi Ann,
I fully agree about the benefit of this forum which has been a massively useful resource of hints, tips and info.
One other thing you might want to ask your consultant about is whether the speed / extent of recuperation is affected by the age at which you have the op. I'm 57 so possibly at the younger end of the typical age range. I was able to get out of bed by myself on the following day, walk with a single crutch in a week, abandon crutches entirely within 4 weeks and was even back cycling soon after. I also always tried to do a little more of the exercises than was suggested by the physio.
I never really had much pain after the first week, and other than occasional stiffness if sat in the same position for too long, would now say I have as much mobility in the joint as I ever had. I do not know whether this was a combination or luck, age and pushing things a little but if the speed and extent of recuperation is influenced by age then it might be a factor in not putting off the op for too long.
My other top tip (to prove you are dealing with a idiot), is don't going skiing when you need a hip replacement. I went in March this year before the op and was in agony for the whole week. I had the X-ray when I got back and found the hip was bone on bone! Indeed it was the thought of me having to give up one more of life's little pleasures (i.e. skiing) which finally persuaded me to get the hip done. The consultant did assure me that I would be able to ski afterwards, although his comment that if I hit a tree my leg would break before my hip dislocated was hardly comforting 😃
Anyway, best of luck whatever you decide.
ptolemy Dorset-Bob
Posted
I think the main things for good healing is age, your health, good post operative care and an excellent surgeon. Someone of 80 who is fit could probably get better faster than someone of 50 who is a couch potato.
AnnR52 Dorset-Bob
Posted
Bob
no chance of me skiing - tried it once - nearly killed myself 😃
But great to hear about your speedy recovery. Your recovery sounds like my sis - she was back working well before the recommended 3 month recovery period and her job is mostly on her feet! I think a positive mental attitude helps too.
Dorset-Bob ptolemy
Posted
I would not disagree and would probably throw in positive mental attitude for good measure. For me I have seen the op as something which had given me back my previous life and am massively grateful for that fact. Of course the doctors and nurses can only do so much, the rest is up to the patient to ensure they make the most of it!
ptolemy Dorset-Bob
Posted
I forgot about mental attitude!! Doctors say that is incredibly important and I reckon often makes a difference when they are deciding whether to operate or not.
judith12644 Dorset-Bob
Posted
Hey Bob, I'm with you on the skiing! That definitely got me focused on having my op, because it was getting so uncomfortable... All fine now!