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My doctor recommended hip replacement for a labral/labrum repair due to my age?

Posted , 9 users are following.

Sewingjunkie
Sewingjunkie

I have labral tears in my hips, right hip being the worst.  I also have had a bursectomy in same hip which helped with the initial pain and I have confirmed SI joint pain.  Doctor recommended replacement rather than labral repair due to age.  1:  should I do the replacment? 2. If I do, will that SI joint pain disappear?

3 likes, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • AnnieK
    AnnieK Sewingjunkie

    Posted

    Hi, Sewingjunkie! I think that if you have any question about whether the THR is the way to go for you, you might consider getting a second opinion from an orthopedist in a different practice. A professional opinion would be much better informed than mine, for instance!

    You didn't mention your age. Sounds like you have had quite a bit of trouble with your hip joints!

    • ACU_ONE
      ACU_ONE AnnieK

      Posted

      Well put! I concur on the 2nd opinion. 
    • Sewingjunkie
      Sewingjunkie AnnieK

      Posted

      I am 54.  So the history basically is that I was having pain in the right hip, outside at the very point of the bone (I am a side sleeper and it was waking me up).  I also had deep sharp pain deep in the right butt cheek.  I had cortizone shots several times in the bursa sack with minimal success.  I also tried SI joint injections, which kind of helped but not completely.  My doctor recommended THR.  I was shocked.  I questioned why I needed to replace the joint when it was the labral that had the tears.  She said her surgeon would not do labral repair on any woman over 45 because ultimately it would result in a THR.  So I sought a second opinion.  

      During that consult, the doctor examined me and recommended that I have a bursectomy/IT band release and said he agreed basically with my previous doctor but reported that he did not necessarily agree with the age restriction.  He felt that the repair would be helpful but did agree that at some point in time I would need THR.  The bursectomy was such a relief immediately out of surgery I was amazed.  That was two years ago.

       As for repair vs replacement?  The recovery time is similar and does it make sense to repair only to replace a few years later?  Then what about the SI joint pain.  If someone would guarantee that the SI joint pain would stop if I had either surgery I would jump on the table.  

      I want to know on this forum if there is anyone who has been placed with a similar dilemna and what was there course of action.

       

      Or should I look at a third opinion?

      That second opinion was helpful but confused me even more.

      The pain started around 2009 and I have been in denial since.  I just simply feel that I am too young to replace bones that appear to be perfectly normal, its the joint that's the problem.  I will start SI joint physical therapy soon and see if I can stop some of the pain I am in.  It is debilating and making me feel like I am older than I am.

    • suep67
      suep67 Sewingjunkie

      Posted

      Hi Sewingjunkie, I'm only new to the forum but i can say I've had a TLHR 2-1/2yrs ago and I'm still suffering in chronic pain i have a small fracture in my SI joint I've had the cortisone injections into the joint with no relief and there was talk at one point of fusion of the joint.

      So if your thinking of having a THR hoping the SI joint pain will go it won't as it's totally separate to the hip. Do the physical therapy that does help but i won't happen over night you need to keep it up.

  • AnnieK
    AnnieK Sewingjunkie

    Posted

    That IS a dilemma, Sewingjunkie. I have not had your problems, so I can't help you with personal experience. If I were you, I'd get that third opinion from someone who is experienced in doing labral repairs. I don't think that anyone could guarantee that the SI problem would go away with either repair or replacement. Is there such a thing as an SI expert? Perhaps you could search for one and get an opinion there, too. 
  • stacy24956
    stacy24956 Sewingjunkie

    Posted

    Did you ever go through with  it? I had the the repair, and I'm almost three years out and I'm starting to have pain again. I was like you and the first person told me I should have the replacement rather than the repair, only I was 38 at the time. I just thought I would have gotten more life out of the repair.

  • Section8
    Section8 Sewingjunkie

    Posted

    I’ve had experience in this area.  I’m 68 and had a labrum tear repaired on my right hip five years ago, and it is still doing well today.  I have a labrum tear of my left hip and they are scheduling repair surgery for later this month.  I believe the age issue is a factor if the hip cartilage has deteriorated and the space narrowed considerably.  In my case, my cartilage looks Thinned with age and use, but still a viable barrier.  The recovery time is not the same.  I was walking with partial weight bearing the first two weeks after the labrum repair, and without aids thereafter.  No daily shots of blood thinners and the rehab is damn easy.  A THR is not early as challenging as total knee or shoulder implant rehabbing, etc... but considerably more difficult than rehabbing  from arthroscopic labrum repair surgery

    As For SI pain, I’ve had both SI joints fused and realized significant improvement as a result.  I will say that the SI joint injection should produce a near pain free liberating result to conclude that SI joint fusion will be beneficial.  Hope this is helpful.

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