Limited hip movement, but no pain.
Posted , 10 users are following.
In 2010 I was diagnosed with osteophytes on my hip joint (the cup of the joint was showing bone growth around the rim). Although by X-Ray it looks the same on both hips, it is only my left hip that is obstructed. I can still kiss my right knee, but can't get within 12 inches (30 cm's) of kissing my left knee. Apparently the bone growth is getting in the way, so I have a restricted hip joint.
My doctor and surgeon have told me as the hip gets worse I will need pain relief and then will need a hip replacement. I initially looked into having the bone shaved, but this service is not provided on the NHS in my area and costs about £8000, a bit much seeing as I'm in no pain!
I still ski every year, hill walk, went up Scafell Pike, Ben Nevis and Snowdon in the last year. If it does get a bit painful I have 30mg Co-codemol tablets to take; but have probably taken less than 4 in the last 12 months.
So little pain but a restricted left hip. I "wobble" when I walk, a limp I don't notice until I see myself on video. Occasionally I get a day of back pain, maybe once every two years.
My physio gave me hip exercises which I do about 2 or 3 times a week, I walk dogs twice a day and occasionally cycle, all pain free. I can't run at all, can't play tennis or football, anything that means I have to take a long stride is out.
How long does this go on for? I have expected for the last 8 years that it would get worse and need operating on. I am pain free, but it's a substantial negative impact on my life. Anyone else in a similar position?
I still paraglide and took my power conversion course last year, but running at launch to take off was particularly bad on my hip, in flight and landings, no problems.
Currently aged 53 but feeling like 83, and I know a lot of 83 year olds in better shape than me!!!!
1 like, 8 replies
AlexandriaGizmo mark26805
Posted
Hi Mark, I'm not sure that there's a lot of options with osteoarthritis but its possible that if you keep active you may not need to go down the surgery route, there may come a time when you might need injection but that's in the future, osteoarthritis is age related and keeping active and healthy and keeping your weight right there should be no reason to worry.
You sound like your doing OK though
Ally01381 mark26805
Posted
steve_30629 mark26805
Posted
Enjoy life now unrestricted don’t get by just for the sake of it!!
Steve.
thomas14224 steve_30629
Posted
mark26805 thomas14224
Posted
You say "...do not wait like I did til it was unbearable..."; this IS the problem, I'm in NO PAIN, absolutely none, taking no medication. It is easily bearable, I just have a slightly restricted hip rotation. I can swing my leg in any direction, pain free. It's just it does not swing as far as my right hip anymore. Not due to pain, it just won't move any further !
I can still cycle and use cross trainer pain free. The restricted left hip is maybe restricted 15% in every direction, but it does not cause pain in normal use.
My doctor says it will get worse and when I need pain relief, that is the time to have the operation, which is free in the UK. I do not have private cover, so having the bone shaved would cost £7000 minimum, this is not available on the NHS in my area. Prof. Griffin has a list so long that he is not adding any more names to it, but if I pay, then I can have it next week! My Doctor says that if I pay, lot's of surgeons will attempt to help, but in his opinion my hip can't be repaired this way. My joint is very good, nice regular gap between my bones except near the edges when the hip is on maximum bend....
jimbone mark26805
Posted
Hello Mark,
It's a hard call to make. It is often the case in this elective surgery for a patients pain level to determine the timing for surgery. Like yourself the onset of my difficulties [osteoarthritis] were a long time developing. I'm 63 this year and 10 years ago at about your age my condition was similar. Occasional pain but manageable with stretching and exercise but a continuing restriction of range of motion. I chalked it up soft tissue and just carried on. About 3 years ago, Jan. 2015 during a long grueling project I was contracting things just basically fell apart. Limped constantly, a small grade I had to walk several times a day kicked my butt and I began to develop a deep muscular spasmodic clenching in my affected leg. Did various treatments- massage, chiropractic, lots of stretching but when the x rays came back to the chiropractor the diagnosis was advanced severe OA and it wasn't going to get better. I struggled through the next two years, 1st out of denial and secondly because I had no health insurance. It was only in 2017 I understood the THR was an inevitability and started to prepare for it. One thing that concerns me now is how much weaker my lower body muscles have become and how that will effect surgical outcome. I'm a few months away from surgery and will be consulting a PT for an assessment and exercise plan but waiting didn't really do me any good. You very well might have a way to go, and a second opinion from a good orthopedic doctor might provide an alternative diagnosis for what ails you, but I can tell you from my own experience and from what I've read from others here things can go downhill very quickly and then you're stuck with pain. Best of luck.
Jim
t3chiman mark26805
Posted
It’s tough to justify major surgery, in the absence of a major health problem. It doesn’t hurt, and you’re climbing mountains. Lots can go wrong with THR surgery—just read the postings on this site. You have some excess bone, and that’s frustrating. But THR patients commonly get a touch of heterotopic ossification, a fancy term for “excess bone”. And you have a history, it would be no surprise for you to come down with a nasty case of HO post-op. Out of the frying pan...
In your shoes, I’d put off the date with the bone surgeons. Might be a good idea to cut back on the paragliding, get inside a glider rather than over stressing your hips and knees.
Good luck whatever your decision.
HTH
mark26805 t3chiman
Posted
My sentiments exactly. Also what my doctor tells me but you are always worried their motive is money saving for the NHS!
As for paragliding, I really can't see how it would harm my (extra strong) hip. My Grandfather, Uncle, Dad all had the same hip problem and they never went paragliding; so think it is just hereditary.
Tried inside a glider, I'm only 2 miles away from a glider school, but it's like being a pilot in an enclosed cabin, none of the thrill of free flight with the wind in your face!