How bad is the pain

Thanks for all the info....I don't know where you had your proceedure done, but here in Toronto I'm having it done at Mt. Siani, and I've waited a year just to see the doctor and am only getting in so fast because someone cancelled at the last moment.....believe me this doctor does not WANT my input, during the initial visit (where I saw him for literally 45 seconds) I did manage to ask something and he rolled his eyes at me and said that "we know what we are doing"...so with him there is no choice - his way or the highway...and since I've been waiting over 3 years I can't afford to try to find someone else and then have to go on their waitlist for another year....I agree with what you are saying that I should educate myself, but my experiences with Doctors here in Toronto, it is pretty much how they want things done i.e. no sedation (whereas I want sedation)...and now I'm worrying as I know he said it was going to be metal, and like I said you are out and on your own in 2 days, so I will take another persons' advice and be prepared at home for daily living....thanks again...

Wow we r spoiled here in the US. THR surgery is taken on as a production line fine tuned down to brochures videos pre op consultations with a group of patients where all the  before and after procedures are explained and followed thru to the last detail. Phamplets on preparing the home for safety to animals in the home. A family visiting nurse checked on me once a week for 3 weeks. 

In this area Pacific NW there r many THR surgeons . It's the revision surgeons that we have a shortage. Now that the baby boomers r involved there will be a huge need for THR surgeons. I have notices that orthepedic hip surgeons are not very good with aligning well with their patients. They are more like the engineer the designer ready to get to work. Pull out the tools and replace parts period....LOL

A revision is the hip prothesis previously implanted must be removed totally from the bone.  In some cases the femur bone has to be a control break to remove the device. Then larger replacements of a different design for motion is inserted. Casts or braces r worn for months after revision surgery. Ask Arnold Sweshinagger ok spelling the Terminator had revision in a full hip legs cast. Of course he has the $$ to hire help for recovery. 

Revisions take 2 - 3 hours longer in surgery typically. And many more months in recovery.

I had to wait for this surgeon for a few weeks to do a normal THR and that was due to a size I needed was on back order.. LOL GOT TO GET THE right parts.. I cannot believe u waited 3 years. I have no understanding of that making someone suffer so long....Unfortunately the THR I had waited on the smaller size was recalled a few months later after my surgery hence the revision issue that has turned my life upside down. Be sure there r no METAL ON METAL  parts in UR hip prothesis. Know the type look it up on line.. Take the time because u can't trust UR surgeons . They do what they are trained to use from the manufacturer. There r a wide rage of models & types.sergical steel which is made of a blend of chromium, cobalt and other metals the selling point is the mixture of metals makes the implant stronger...

then the poly cup liners in the sergical steel so metals don't rub...then ya got the ceramic. Then there's the newer model has a bearing in the ball joint made of ceramic... Just in case u plan on running a marathon any time soon...

i wanted sedation also. So if I may make a suggestion if it is a choice then u can specify that to the anesthesiologist the day of surgery.  He will visit u the same day right before the surgery. Generally THR surgery is done usining a epidural and I expierenced that was sound asleep never heard or saw a thing. In the pre op room they give a sedative in a IV so UR out way before u hit the door headed to surgery..Tell UR the anesthesiologist UR experiences with  anesthesia and why u want it. ..it's safer and u will have a quicker recovery with a epidural. I addressed the reasons in another post here on

"I want anesthesia.".

many blessings sent UR way.

(( hugs))

 

Thanks for all the great info and the hugs...I go for my pre-op this Wednesday and will be begging for sedation....my surgery is July 24th....I'm such a chicken but reading this site has calmed me somewhat..in some ways it is good to hear other experiences but other times the people who have had a hard time scares me....I think I should just think of my previous bunion surgery (I had both done at the same time) and I heard such horror stories and I breezed through mine...so hopefully the hip will be the same.....

You will be fine, even if you go without sedation.  I only had spinal for the right hip and yes you can hear a little noise but you are in lah lah land and cannot do a thing about it.  It honestly did not bother me.

I'm sorry to show my ignorance but doesn't a spinal just freeze you from the waist down...without any sedation would I not be able to hear everything...and if I could I would go nuts and if I tried to sit up, or shake uncontrollably would that not compromise the surgery....I know just waiting to be put out, before hand on the operating table I'm so nervous I shake on the table and they have to get me a warm blanket and calm me down...no way can I do this long a surgery awake and aware...I'm just hoping my doctor will listen to me...but already he has implied it is his way or the "highway"...from reading these comments it seems that most everyone's doctor has a much better bedside manner than mine!!!

And the trouble is you can't afford to shop around as all specialist here in Toronto have a one year wait list just to get in for a consult, so whomever you go with you are pretty much stuck with them.

I will try to explain the difference they r very similar. The both have the same result & faster recovery time & less complications.

A epidural ...first in both cases a IV is inserted in UR arm with meds to relax u and put u to sleep.. Propofal is used in many cases. The doctor will inject medicine just outside of the sac of fluid around your spinal cord. This is called the epidural space. The medicine numbs, or blocks feeling in a certain part of your body so that you cannot feel pain. The medicine begins to take effect in about 10 to 20 minutes. It works well for longer procedures. Women often have epidurals during childbirth. Childbirth the amount is monitored because u need to be awake. THR surgery the patient must be unconscious sleep thru the entire proceedure. The anesthesiologist will keep u comfortably out . No worries. He visits u before u go in the OR. DISCUSS 

any fears or questions u have then.. No doc want a patient during this proceedure awake listening to all the commotion.. U would be surprised how well epidurals work . I have had them many times not one problem during surgery..u will be fine too!

A small tube (catheter) is often left in place. You can receive more medicine through the catheter to help control your pain during or after your procedure.

The anesthesiologist will inject medicine into the fluid in your spinal cord. U should not hear anything .. The nurse places tape over the eyes to keep the eye lids closed to protect the eyes during surgery. 

A spinal...This is usually done only once, so you will not need to have a catheter placed.The medicine begins to take effect right away. It works well for shorter and simpler procedures.

I prefer a epidural because I have difficulty emptying my bladder with major anesthesia. Then a catheter needs to be placed in order to relieve a painfully full bladder. With a epidural I have no bladder issue therefore no risk for urinary infections and a quicker recovery. I go home in 2-3 days after THR .

With major anesthesia I take longer to recover and hospital time was 5-6 days.

the importance for THR patients to have epidurals or spinals is to be active awake to prevent blood clots. Even though leg pump device is on the operated leg directly after surgery, the quicker u r up awake next day walking the less chance u have for getting a blood clot. Exercise movement encourage blood flow with oxygen to the operated area has a higher rate of healing faster. That means less down time and home....

I never heard anything in the op room. I think there is a thread where some one was awake didn't feel anything just hear talking etc.. That is very rare. 

The anesthesiologist should have taken the levels to a unconscious sleep. 

I had proposal for a colonoscopy...heard all about the docs fishing trip chimed in a few times and never felt a thing. I asked later about that and they said that it's safer to be awake yet no pain or no movement is the key. I could not move or feel pain so there r different levels of alertness for different proceedures and people. For instance my partner never heard a word. He was sooo hard to wake up and unable to function the whole day. My experience for the same proceedure same propofal and dr was totally different. Meds are estimated according to weight and the experience of the I was wide awake a few hours later no drowseyness.

Yikes sorry got a bit to chatty...

((hugs))

HOPE.  

Hi there - I had a spinal block and GA and was walking 2 hours after my return from theatre. Having pee can take longer but I was home after 2 nights in. Make sure the surgeon and anaesthetist are aligned....

I was offered a spinal block only by anaesthetist and told I could take my iPod in to listen during keyhole to my hip. In the prep room just outside theatre when they were about to administer the block the surgeon popped his head round the door. In my typical check back way I smiled and waved mt iPod at him, suggesting Bueno Vista Social club might be a good listen. His eyebrows disappeared up beneath his cap and he glared at the anaesthetist - "Mrs Walton needs a spinal block and GA as I have never performed this 2 hour operation without a GA and there is considerable traction involved." I smiled sweetly at the anaesthetist, popped my iPod away and suggested "let's go with what MrX normally does?" To the anaesthetist.

So there you go - at No Point it's safe to assume the left and right hand are coordinated and you will feel more in control if you do check backs - keep them friendly and light hearted and to the point. It will help.

 

Thanks for explaining.  I was not totally clear on that either.  

 

It's kinda tricky and depends on the patients reaction.

have a good evening.