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Initial referral for hip replacement

Posted , 9 users are following.

CelsB
CelsB

I have been fighting for so long for this, now I'm wondering what to expect from the initial referral.  My GP has said I fit the criteria for hip replacement and the funding for the operation has been agreed.  Can anyone tell me what happened at their initial referral?

Thanks xxx

0 likes, 44 replies

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  • lyn1951
    lyn1951 CelsB

    Posted

    Cels - I'm in australia, here its getting to the hospital to see the specialist, well his registrar, never saw the named consultant before or after my first replacement, found out afterwards senior registrar did my surgery, and he did a faublous job, 2nd THR consultant introduced himself to me on the operating table and than never saw him again. have only ever seen his registrars since. Your GP sounds as though he is up to date in what is happening, mine hadn't a clue.
  • alice85142
    alice85142 CelsB

    Posted

    Dear CelsB,

    ​After the xray I was seen in orthopeadics.  Watched me walk and lie down and after a few minutes said you need a full hip replacement..I was taken aback as hardly on any pain killers maybe once a month!  i thought i would be sent away and asked to return in 2 years!. I  cancelled first op but soon realised when my leg gave way whilst trying to cross a road that i had to bite the bullitt and go ahead.  I was so scared until I found this forum and from then on ( I was still very nervous as live on my own) but had continous support from various nice people at all times of day and night. I was then sent to a 'joint school' where what to expect before after and during was explained.  Ask as many questions as yuo can think of and alos on this site and some of us hippies will have the answer.

    Ali 2 

    • CelsB
      CelsB alice85142

      Posted

      Hi Alice,

      I'm on my own too.  I'll get help during the day (some days) but none during the night.  Hopefully I'll have everything on place - toilet seat, chair/bed raisers etc - before I go in.  I'm fairly confident I'll manage, I have little practice runs which obviously won't be like the real thing, but trying to get into bed, get up and do things without bending my hip more than 90 degrees. 

      The GP said I meet all the criteria for a replacement hence the funding being agreed, so hopefully the consultant will agree too.

  • alice85142
    alice85142 CelsB

    Posted

    Hi Celsb,  It is no fun being unwell on your own BUT what an achievemnet when you have gone through this and, as me now, on no crutches after 11 weeks though..but the weeks have gone fast but the first few are a bit difficult getting to know how to cope with grabbers etc...but the inward smiles when you do something that you couldn't he day before!  My neighbours have been great..the first night on my own was fine though I was worried at first..phone nearby and I left a light on as well.

    You will be fine....I was told that on this site before my op..and they were right.

    ​Ali 2

  • marilyn_92910
    marilyn_92910 CelsB

    Posted

    I have just my 2nd hip done and both times I didn'thave a ccatheter I had a drain from the op
    • Rocketman_SG6UK
      Rocketman_SG6UK marilyn_92910

      Posted

      I had a spinal, no catheter, and a drain.

      The drain accumulated about a pint of blood, which they then recycled back into me - they explained that as it was mine, there were no blood matching issues and it was good for me.

      I guess that as we had some marrow removed to enable the new femoral stem to sit in the femur, our ability to produce more red blood cells is lowered?

      Graham

    • lyn1951
      lyn1951 Rocketman_SG6UK

      Posted

      Graham - I think thats part of the reason we get sooo tired after the surgery, loss of blood during the surgery, at least some, and if it isn't serious I don't think they would top you up, also the loss of marrow, it would take your body a couple of weeks to adjust the other marrow supply sites and up production of all those nice red blood cells that carry your oxygen.
    • Rocketman_SG6UK
      Rocketman_SG6UK lyn1951

      Posted

      Lyn

      I'm sure you are right about this affecting our tiredness.  I have no idea how much blood I might have lost in the operation, but the pint or so that drained out is fairly significant, so popping it back into me has to be a good idea.

      Best

      Graham

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