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How Long Did you wait for THR?

Posted , 11 users are following.

ptolemy
ptolemy

How long did people have to wait for their hip replacements? This is a potted version of where I am at the moment, I hope I am not too boring. 

- Two years ago I was in the supermarket and felt faint, the next thing I knew I was flat on the floor surrounded by staff. I then discovered I could not stand by myself, but two burly shop assistants pulled me up and dumped me in a wheelchair. Came home and had terrible pain in top of right thigh.

- Went to an osteopath with GP approval, who worked on my right thigh. She said I might have a vascular problem as I had a heavy leg and it was painful to lift it up, so went to vascular surgeon with GP approval.

- A year ago Vascular surgeon said I had phlebitis in my right thigh and if I did not do something it would get much worse, so I had the main vein in my right leg removed and some little ones. Paid privately for VNUS Closure procedure and sclerotherapy, rather than vein stripping. It did not make a blind bit of difference to the heavy leg and pain, if anything it was worse. 

- Went to physio to try and relief the pain. She said it could be a nicked femoral artery and bursitis.

- Went to GP who referred me to another GP who can do steroid injections. He said it was not bursitis but could be a torn muscle. Suggested I had blood tests.

- GP said there was nothing he could do, but gave me paracetamol. I asked if I could have a scan, he said it would not help. I then said could I see a consultant privately. He gave me a phone number and said phone him.

- Made an appointment with consultant, GP gave consultant a letter saying I was fully mobile, and weight bearing. Minor muscle pain and it was my request to see the consultant! In fact the letter was rubbish. By this time I was in agony and pretty well housebound. 

- This week I saw the consultant, lay on the bed and in five seconds he sad "It's your hip". This was the first time anyone had mentioned the word HIP. 

- Had an x-ray, went back to consultant who said you need a hip replacement NOW or you will be in a wheelchair by Christmas as the whole hip joint is clobbered, he actually used medical terms to say that! I was gobsmacked. 

- I have discovered going privately is very pricey. How long will I have to wait for an operation on the NHS? The consultant is supposed to be writing to my GP. I am not sure what I should say to my GP apart I am not a happy bunny! 

2 likes, 53 replies

53 Replies

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  • Lorna020247
    Lorna020247 ptolemy

    Posted

    You really have been through it poor you.

    I waited from referral  with consultant to op 6 months this was Nhs I thought was not bad. I live in Kent UK  

    I wish you luck and a speedy recovery.

    Regards Lorna 

     

  • Lorna020247
    Lorna020247 ptolemy

    Posted

    You really have been through it poor you.

    I waited from referral  with consultant to op 6 months this was Nhs I thought was not bad. I live in Kent UK  

    I wish you luck and a speedy recovery.

    Regards Lorna 

     

  • Lorna020247
    Lorna020247 ptolemy

    Posted

    You really have been through it poor you.

    I waited from referral  with consultant to op 6 months this was Nhs I thought was not bad. I live in Kent UK  

    I wish you luck and a speedy recovery.

    Regards Lorna 

     

  • Guest
    Guest ptolemy

    Posted

    IHi and welcome to the forum. Sorry you have had so much discomfort and been pushed from pillar to post with your hip. It depends where you are in the Country, and also your Consultant as to the length of time you will have to wait.. If possible tell them you will accept a cancellation. I did, and had my hip replacement 4 weeks after seeing my Consultant, instead of waiting the 18 weeks he had told me.

    I live in Norfolk by the way where are you?

    • ptolemy
      ptolemy Guest

      Posted

      I live in Berkshire. A friend said that she paid fourteen thousand pounds to go privately in London all in, op, nursing food etc. 
  • Guest
    Guest ptolemy

    Posted

    IHi and welcome to the forum. Sorry you have had so much discomfort and been pushed from pillar to post with your hip. It depends where you are in the Country, and also your Consultant as to the length of time you will have to wait.. If possible tell them you will accept a cancellation. I did, and had my hip replacement 4 weeks after seeing my Consultant, instead of waiting the 18 weeks he had told me.

    I live in Norfolk by the way where are you?

  • linda38528
    linda38528 ptolemy

    Posted

    Not a happy bunny! Wow ... so many words come to mind and they are not polite!

    I waited too long ... several years of what I thought (and GP and chiropractic confirmed) was back pain. Although ... my chiropractic was finally the one to suggest a set of x-rays when I told him I could no longer do a side step when doing Scottish dances or moving between rows of chairs. These (which he did and we're not accepted by the 'system') identified significant hip joint issues (both were completely done in).

    I was lucky from the point on however. Appointment w my GP two weeks later, x-rays 1 week later, follow-up w GP and referral to coordinating centre for hip and knee replacements immediately. The centre ordered other test and confirmed need for surgery and I saw my surgeon two weeks later. He was surprised that I had this long to come to them! He promised surgery within two months but I ended up getting a cancellation slot less than three weeks later.

    I am now 17 weeks and doing fairly well although it is clear that skipping exercises for even one day has negative consequences (pain, stiffness and reduced mobility). I walk reasonably well without a limp when rested and/ or concentrating one walking heel-toe and clenching buttocks if struggling that day. I am able to bend over well, deal with my own socks and shoes and garden for short stints. I can walk 3-4 km but find it tough to sit or stand for extended periods.

    However ... no more bone on bone pain in that hip and I look forward to the same with my second hip which is tentativelt scheduled to be replaced at the end of the summer. So ... I am a happy client even if I wish recovery could be faster. And I do expect a more complete recovery over time.

  • Guest
    Guest ptolemy

    Posted

    IHi and welcome to the forum. Sorry you have had so much discomfort and been pushed from pillar to post with your hip. It depends where you are in the Country, and also your Consultant as to the length of time you will have to wait.. If possible tell them you will accept a cancellation. I did, and had my hip replacement 4 weeks after seeing my Consultant, instead of waiting the 18 weeks he had told me.

    I live in Norfolk by the way where are you?

  • Guest
    Guest ptolemy

    Posted

    IHi and welcome to the forum. Sorry you have had so much discomfort and been pushed from pillar to post with your hip. It depends where you are in the Country, and also your Consultant as to the length of time you will have to wait.. If possible tell them you will accept a cancellation. I did, and had my hip replacement 4 weeks after seeing my Consultant, instead of waiting the 18 weeks he had told me.

    I live in Norfolk by the way where are you?

  • Guest
    Guest ptolemy

    Posted

    IHi and welcome to the forum. Sorry you have had so much discomfort and been pushed from pillar to post with your hip. It depends where you are in the Country, and also your Consultant as to the length of time you will have to wait.. If possible tell them you will accept a cancellation. I did, and had my hip replacement 4 weeks after seeing my Consultant, instead of waiting the 18 weeks he had told me.

    I live in Norfolk by the way where are you?

  • Guest
    Guest ptolemy

    Posted

    IHi and welcome to the forum. Sorry you have had so much discomfort and been pushed from pillar to post with your hip. It depends where you are in the Country, and also your Consultant as to the length of time you will have to wait.. If possible tell them you will accept a cancellation. I did, and had my hip replacement 4 weeks after seeing my Consultant, instead of waiting the 18 weeks he had told me.

    I live in Norfolk by the way where are you?

  • dalmation
    dalmation ptolemy

    Posted

    I think it may vary between different Health Authorities. I had mine done in Staffordshire and from going on waiting list to having operation was 18 weeks
  • dalmation
    dalmation ptolemy

    Posted

    Approximately 18 weeks in Staffordshire I had my first replacement October last year
  • linda38528
    linda38528 ptolemy

    Posted

    Sorry - the system had an error and my reply was lost.

    I did not have a direct route to THR either. I suffered lower back pain for two decades before sideways motion became very painful and my posture altered badly (leaning forward and great pain with selected motions). It took concerted complaints about this to get x-rays done (by my chiropractor who confirmed hip problems) and then as the system would not accept these, another set of x-rays which confirmed the likelihood that I needed surgery. From this point on though, I had very good luck. The route for referral to the coordinating centre evaluation, referral to a surgeon (the best) and actual surgery was stunningly short (< 5 weeks).

    i am now 17 weeks post surgery and although i wish it could have happened more quickly, i am feel good about my recovery. i am fairly mobile, no longer need aids (unless out for more than 4 hour stints). i can bend and walk well, can do my own socks and shoes (but not a pedicure)! and i can do short stints of gardening and like chores. however, no skipping my regular exercises or pain, stiffness and reduced mobility occur. so ... all in all, i feel good and optimistic about complete recovery and prospects for my second hip tentatively scheduled for late summer. i feel very lucky esp compared to some of the stories here. i am glad to have had the surgery and the opportunity of the second one. 😆

    l 5="" weeks).="" i="" am="" now="" 17="" weeks="" post="" surgery="" and="" although="" i="" wish="" it="" could="" have="" happened="" more="" quickly,="" i="" am="" feel="" good="" about="" my="" recovery.="" i="" am="" fairly="" mobile,="" no="" longer="" need="" aids="" (unless="" out="" for="" more="" than="" 4="" hour="" stints).="" i="" can="" bend="" and="" walk="" well,="" can="" do="" my="" own="" socks="" and="" shoes="" (but="" not="" a="" pedicure)!="" and="" i="" can="" do="" short="" stints="" of="" gardening="" and="" like="" chores.="" however,="" no="" skipping="" my="" regular="" exercises="" or="" pain,="" stiffness="" and="" reduced="" mobility="" occur.="" so="" ...="" all="" in="" all,="" i="" feel="" good="" and="" optimistic="" about="" complete="" recovery="" and="" prospects="" for="" my="" second="" hip="" tentatively="" scheduled="" for="" late="" summer.="" i="" feel="" very="" lucky="" esp="" compared="" to="" some="" of="" the="" stories="" here.="" i="" am="" glad="" to="" have="" had="" the="" surgery="" and="" the="" opportunity="" of="" the="" second="" one.="" 😆="" l="">

    i am now 17 weeks post surgery and although i wish it could have happened more quickly, i am feel good about my recovery. i am fairly mobile, no longer need aids (unless out for more than 4 hour stints). i can bend and walk well, can do my own socks and shoes (but not a pedicure)! and i can do short stints of gardening and like chores. however, no skipping my regular exercises or pain, stiffness and reduced mobility occur. so ... all in all, i feel good and optimistic about complete recovery and prospects for my second hip tentatively scheduled for late summer. i feel very lucky esp compared to some of the stories here. i am glad to have had the surgery and the opportunity of the second one. 😆

    l >

  • Lorna020247
    Lorna020247 ptolemy

    Posted

    I waied 6 months for my hip operation and referral appointment this was on NHS I live in Kent.

    i wish you well and hope you get yours ASASP.

    REGARDS Lorna

    • ptolemy
      ptolemy Lorna020247

      Posted

      I was hoping for an NHS op too. Perhaps next week I will get some more information. 
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