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Is Total Hip Replacement worth it?

Posted , 10 users are following.

dallasjody
dallasjody

I have advanced AVN in left hip.  All orthopedic surgeons say I will need a THR right now or eventually.  I have some pain, use a cane sometimes, but drive, do everything, just a little more slowly.  Cannot believe this happened - I've been a hot yoga devotee in a very hard class for over 8 years, will lose that.  What should I do?  Do cortisone shots, electrical stimulation, exercise, diet, physical therapy buy you months or years or forever before you cannot walk and have excruciating pain?  Doctors say THR is easy and wonderful, real people sound like the pain after surgery is worse.  Is there anyone out there that wishes they didn't do it?  THR surgery is irreversible, you can't get your live bone back.  What to do? 

0 likes, 29 replies

29 Replies

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  • edarlingb
    edarlingb dallasjody

    Posted

    V difficult to answer and am sure you will get a very mixed response. 

    In my case - one disastrous experience with one side: brilliant experience on the other (7 yrs apart and different surgeon). 

    Wish I could help further but there are just so many variables to this. 

    Best of luck. 

    Elaine

  • jackie56101
    jackie56101 dallasjody

    Posted

    Hi Dallasjody,  I would try physical therapy and electric stimulation ,diet is very important I been on diet for couple months now lost 12 pounds it does make difference alot foods cause inflamation . after you try these things then make your mind up about surgery . I have been in physical therpy for months its finally starting to work, before you decide to get injections read about side effects

    Hope you feel better soon

    Jackie

    • dallasjody
      dallasjody jackie56101

      Posted

      Hi Jackie,

      Yes, I think diet is pretty important and I haven eaten so much fatty, unhealthy food for years.  My chiropractor suggested the Paleo Diet - no dairy, sugar, red meat, mostly eggs and veggies.  I don't smoke and weigh only 95 lbs, at 5 1'', (usually 110 lbs) so I need to gain weight to be stronger.  But then an orthopedic said if I was overweight I would be in "excruciating pain" - they love that phrase, so now I'm afraid to eat too much.  Are injections bad?  I'm scheduled for one next week.  My ex said you can only have them 3 times a year but they feel good for a few months.  But then, of course, another orthopedic said it softens your bone and is bad.  Maybe I'm suffering from TMI (too much information).  I wish my bone would jjust grow back, then I could race down the stairs and run to the mailbox like 2 months ago.  With a THR they said I could NEVER runsad Is that true?

       

    • jackie56101
      jackie56101 dallasjody

      Posted

      Hi Dallas Jody, your just tiny little womansmile there's alot I can't do any more the less impact the better. I do exercise bike only liptical is painful. I just do physical therapy and exercise bike the one that supports my back  Jackie
  • julie73914
    julie73914 dallasjody

    Posted

    I had AVN right hip. Had decompression . It worked for a while then had THR. My advice don't do it until your in so much pain you can't walk far even with cane. I had THR wish I'd have waited as it wasn't a success and am waiting a revision. Still don't know wether to go for that! My advice wait, I wish I had.
  • ginger47520
    ginger47520 dallasjody

    Posted

    THR is not easy.healing takes nine months before u feel normal again.It's painful too and three are some risks, that can set u back. 

    Read this site then make ur decision.best off luck ginger

  • eileen64__UK
    eileen64__UK dallasjody

    Posted

    Hi

    Sorry this isnt much help but you have to make your own decision.....you can possibly do it after readling all the various posts to do with it on this sitesmile

    I had a great first THR not so good 2nd one....still on crutches 9 months later and like to be for a long time....but still manage to drive, go to yoga {not a hard one} seated zumba, volunteer for arthritis care etc etc

    So its your decision

    Good Luck

    Love

    Eileen UK

  • beachbum1957
    beachbum1957 dallasjody

    Posted

    Well I am glad and happy I have done my THA. That's a good thing.

    if your doctor says you need THA then listen and go for it.

    there is a rule you need to practice religiously.

    especially the first 4 weeks post-op.

  • alexis_a_5
    alexis_a_5 dallasjody

    Posted

    I was diagnosed with AVN at the age of 9, I had 5 surgeries to try to get it fixed. At 17 years old I just had a hip replacement 7 weeks ago, and I love it! 

    I will be honest the pain is horrible for the first 2 weeks, depending on the person. But it doesn't or shouldn't last forever. Mine is now gone. Once I hit 4 weeks post op, I hit a turning point, I wasn't limping as much, I wasn't on any medication, I was pain free. 

    It does vary by person. 

    Yes a THR is irreversible but I think it's better than having a hip bone with AVN. The hip replacement is in perfect shape and has absolutely nothing wrong with it because it is not a live bone. In the end this hip replacement was so much better for me. Hope this helps!

    alexis

    • dallasjody
      dallasjody alexis_a_5

      Posted

      Does the THR fake part have all the flexibility of a real leg with AVN? Everyone here was in a lot of pain and are just happy to walk. You are so young and your condition sounds so complex. I can walk, but I want to jump, run, climb and do hot power yoga like old moms in their fifties do (me).  Does a THR let you do all that?  My doctors said no, you can only walk. (for the rest of my life)sad
    • jilliboss123
      jilliboss123 dallasjody

      Posted

      I'm 49 just had my second surgery on the same hip 4 weeks ago, orIginla surgery was 4 months ago.  Because I'm young,  like you, my surgeon opted for the larger ball because they don't dis locate and he knew I wanted to get back to hiking.  My labrum/ cartilage was ton originally about ten yrs prior and slowly wore away from working on cement walking 8 miles a day etc.

      Mine hurt so bad some days my leg would just drag behind me and I couldn't bend to tie my shoe or put my sock on.

      Now I still can't bend but will get there although many surgeons say to never go past 90 degrees.   Many people stay like that, but you're young you will probably be able to get there I will for sure.  

      As far as running- that's a tough one... you'll have to think low impact.  The implant is like having a peg leg stuck down inside your thigh bone.  You don't want to crack that open, maybe after a yr or two of healing I'll feel like doing that but I kinda doubt it.

      The thing is right before I had my surgery I had good days that my hip felt great because I had rested and I really didn't want to slow down, I thought of this surgery as something that would keep me in the game.  Boy was I wrong.  I might have been better off had I just opted to work less and rest my hip more.  I wanted to hike and enjoy my life outside of work when all I could do was work 8 hrs and come home and take Advil or something stronger so I could sleep because I'd be in so much pain.

      I'm still in pain and limping.  The scar tissue on the side of my hip from being cut in the same area for two surgeries is causing me problems now so I'm having a little set back.  Icing and rest when all I want to do is get up and get back to life. It's a bit depressing but I'll get there.  I enjoy food unfortunately too much so have gained 20 is pounds. .. so there's that.  Hey maybe you'll gain some weight :D.

      I hope the best for you, just know this surgery doesn't make us bionic women, it actually knocks you in the dirt for a bit most times :D 

    • beachbum1957
      beachbum1957 dallasjody

      Posted

      It all depend on your health condition, bone density, age how bad of osteonecrosis you suffered any chip on your hip bone, etc. That condition is to replace your hip. I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis very painful bone on bone lost cartilage required total hip replacement. Heard plenty of stories, people with AVN are doing pilates, yoga even dancing. But we all are different and how we take care of ourselves.

      how healthy we eat.

    • alexis_a_5
      alexis_a_5 dallasjody

      Posted

      Yes the hip is just as flexible as a normal hip. You can run and climb and jump. You can pretty much do anything, you just want to keep in mind that you have hardware in your body and it can ware out. So you don't want to pound on it a lot. But I am back to dancing and going to the gym. 
    • beachbum1957
      beachbum1957 alexis_a_5

      Posted

      ok good keep it up your recovery will be a speedy one.

      Exercise, eat right foods for protein intake.

      Best 

      Desi NYC

    • beachbum1957
      beachbum1957 alexis_a_5

      Posted

      ok good keep it up your recovery will be a speedy one.

      Exercise, eat right foods for protein intake.

      Best 

      Desi NYC

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