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Hip Replacement.....What should I do?

Posted , 7 users are following.

gerald76841
gerald76841

65 years old. Summary of my story:

- April 2007-  Bicycle crash resulted in successful acetabular fracture surgery using internal fixation device. Full recovery in 6 months and returned to aggressive cycling pain free for the next 5 years. (22,000 miles) 

- October 2012 - On a hike with granddaughter sustained a minor upper thigh muscle pull that resulted in chronically stiff muscles around repaired hip.  Continued cycling on and off the next for 2 years living with varying levels of stiffness in the muscles around the hip, upper thigh, groin, TFL, glutes etc.

- July 2014 - severe stiffness episode (upper thigh into groin area) rendered me unable to continue a bike ride or walk without limping. (wife came and rescued me) Laid off hiking and biking for 4 months. The stiffness diminished to previous levels and continue non-aggressive hiking and cycling.

- November 2014 - Diagnosed with Hip Arthritis. Diagnosis based on stiffness symptom, previous trauma to hip and xray with mild degree of arthritis evident.  (took 2 years of visits to three different Ortho's to get a diagnosis)

- December 2014 - Steroid injection directly into hip had little to no affect on stiffness sensation. Ortho recommended a wait a see approach as the injection had no affect. He feels the stiffness may be from something else and may not be relieved by hip replacement.

- January 2015 - Second opinion visit to a highly regarded Ortho in the area. He is absolutely certain the hip joint is the source of my problems and feels a replacement will need to done sooner or later and at my age why not make it sooner. He recommends a MDM type replacement which best suits my level of physical fitness and activity. He gave me a numbing drug injection into the hip joint that also had little to no affect on the stiffness.

I have tired every imaginable type of medication, supplements, physical and mental (DeuroNeuroModulation) therapy in the past two years to no avail.

What should I do?

0 likes, 15 replies

15 Replies

  • Lynn195013
    Lynn195013 gerald76841

    Posted

    All I can say is its the best thing i have done, I am back in the gym and my lufe is back to normal can ski and do anything, Had op in July Anterior aporoach, just do your research. all the best
  • julie_lusc79848
    julie_lusc79848 gerald76841

    Posted

    Whatever you do don`t have a metal on metal hip. Good luck. Ex Professional champ Colin Lewis has just had a THR!
  • DawnDedee
    DawnDedee gerald76841

    Posted

    Hi Gerald,

    My untrained eye can see the difference between the two x-rays. If I were you I would go for the replacement and get back into your active life.

    Regards,

    Dawn

  • DawnDedee
    DawnDedee gerald76841

    Posted

    Hi Gerald,

    My untrained eye can see the difference between the two x-rays. If I were you I would go for the replacement and get back into your active life.

    Regards,

    Dawn

  • lee47625
    lee47625 gerald76841

    Posted

    It bothers me that an injection into the hip joint gave you no relief. Did you have an MRI or a CAT scan done. One test, ie X-ray is not enough to give adequate information , in my opinion, unless it showed cysts or bone spurs suggicient to cause your degree of pain. Soft tissues injuries, knee, back or SI joint problems can all cause severe pain that makes the hip hurt.  So, you have to make the decision based on what the doctors have said. Personally I would like at least a second surgeon agreeing with diagnosis. Good luck with whatever you decide. If it is the hip then go for it.
    • Lynn195013
      Lynn195013 lee47625

      Posted

      Lee i had injections into my hip and my kne and spine and they didnt work for me
    • lee47625
      lee47625 Lynn195013

      Posted

      Wow, that's a bummer. I had injections at a pain clinic for over a year, but they didn't help me either. After 4 joint replacements I'm hoping soon they'll get rid of all the troublemakers.
    • gerald76841
      gerald76841 lee47625

      Posted

      Hello Lee,

      First thanks for commenting.

      I had an MRI a couple of months after the stiffness began in 2012 and it did not show any issues with the muscles themselves. Unfortunately the fixation device obsures the MRI imaging of the hip itself. I have not had a CT scan as none of the Orthos have recommened it.  My understanding is the xray is the best imaging technique to diagnose arthritis.

    • lee47625
      lee47625 gerald76841

      Posted

      an X-ray by itself can definitely spot an obvious abnormality. When my knee hurt the doc ended up xraying my hip, which showed a large bone cyst and bone spurs . At this point no other tests were required because the cause was obvious. But if the cause is in doubt it is not rare to use other diagnosisiic test, often something not seen on one test or X-ray will show up on another. Also it makes a difference if dye is used in the MRI or CT scan.

      Anyway, I just mentioned the tests because your earlier docs did not seem to see what the last surgeon saw, although things can change greatly in two years for sure. If you completely trust this surgeon you might ask him if you can see the latest xrays and show you where the damage is - just out of curiosity. Then if you feel he is right and you don't need another opinion get the surgery asap. Delay just means more potential for damage to other structures such as knee, ankle, SI joint and back. That is just my opinion of course. I wish I had the last knee replacement sooner because it ended up breaking and forcing a new replacement in a badly injured/inflamed area.

      So best of luck & God speed.

       

  • debbie04463
    debbie04463 gerald76841

    Posted

    Hi Gerald I fractured my acetabulum in 1992 and had it repaired with plates and screws. Unfortunately I was left with chronic pain and spent the rest of my life using crutches when outside to aid walking without increasing pain. In 2013 I had injection in hip joint which did not relieve pain. However my surgeon said I needed a THR. I was 55 and decided I would be better having it while I am more likely to recover quicker at that age. I would ask your surgeon if you decide to go ahead how many replacements he had done and has he done any on a patient with your type of injury. I unfortunately am worse since replacement though the hip replacement is fine I sustained femoral nerve damage during the op. It's been 14 months since and not recovered yet. If I am going to I don't know. Since I had the THR I have read that having had previous surgery nerve damage is an increasing possibility and needs a specialist who has dealt with these before. So I would discuss this with your surgeon. What decision you make has to be right for you.

    .

    • gerald76841
      gerald76841 debbie04463

      Posted

      Hello Debbie,

      Thank you for your input. I am very sorry to hear about your nerve issues. After my first surgery I started having numbness in my feet and was diagnosed with Peripheral Neuropathy. According to the surgeons it has nothing to do with the surgery as it would not make sense that it would effect both feet at the same time if it came from surgery on the right hip.

      Is your nerve issue pain and numbness related or have you lost mobility?

    • debbie04463
      debbie04463 gerald76841

      Posted

      Hi Gerald did you recover from your numbness? I have had mobility difficulties since my car accident. These have not gone despite THR, have a little relief from intense groin pain. Having nerve damage has made me worse. I can no longer go up or down stairs normally despite physio my muscle is not strong enough to lift me up the stairs. Very unpleasant pains and sensations in my leg makes walking not a pleasure. Thigh Muscle has improved slightly since the op as for 4 months my lower leg would not lift. It is fine now. I am however adjusted to living with it and cope well. I have spoken to my surgeon about how it happened. He said the nerve was stretched during surgery. I do not bear grudges but I am angry he did not look at my X ray and scans that my original surgeon told me to keep and show a surgeon when I would eventually need a replacement. This would have given him a better understanding of how my pelvis was before and after repair. I did some research on THR with existing fracture repair prior to op. I did not come across possibility of nerve damage until I looked on the net after the op, finding out why my leg was so numb. It also mentioned that patients like us should have a scan prior to THR I only had X ray. There apparently aren't many surgeons who have the skills to repair a pelvic fracture or THR later. So just for your sake ask these questions. I am not saying the same would happen to you but the odds are higher. It is difficult approaching the surgeon as you feel that you are being critical. It would be devastating for you as you were fortunate to recover fully from your accident. I was 34 and used to love biking walking dancing and fun runs. I have had many years to accept it and move on but it took me a long time of tears and frustration. I only went to doctors for an update as I was told there was nothing they could do for my chronic pain. Ironically I had no stiffness at all I could move my leg freely so was shocked when surgeon said I needed THR.
    • lee47625
      lee47625 debbie04463

      Posted

      I think quite a few of us were actually shocked to hear that we needed a THR. I sure was! But most have it to  relieve chronic severe hip pain. I just hope this THR next week will fix that bad knee pain I have. I will be so excited if it does : )
  • Genesis1
    Genesis1 gerald76841

    Posted

    Good morning Gerald, 

    i'm so sorry for all you're going through.I think a lot of us are asking what do we do next? We here you should talk to your dr.We should be able to. They won't call you back on the phone anymore. By the time you get an appointment, all they say is give it tim See you back in a month.  while there about their business we r at home feeling the pain.

    after THR I'm left with nerve pain in my leg. Now I am waiting till the end of next month do you have a nerve conduction test, then another round of PT. I am five months in from the surgery. My hip is fine is fine, it's the nerve pain and numbness in my leg Doc says it's from stretching the nerves during surgery. Evidently I'm in a small percentage of people that end up with nerve pain. I have hope that this will go away, because I had shoulder replacement within two years ago and was left with nerve pain in my arm and hand. I don't remember, thank God how long I had the pain but it was very painful. But that pain is gone and I have very good results with my arm. I've been waiting three days for a callback from my surgeon. I guess that's not in their job description anymore. I could be a doctor if all I had to say was, let's give it some time and I'll see you in a month!

    hang in there, we all have to hang in there. My friend and I say to each other, tie A knot in a  rope and hang on. I always add if you are not able to tie a knot, call a friend. That's what this forum is all about.  

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