Previous hip condition

Did they remove the ball of the hip or just put antibiotics into the hip, if they removed it it will be a revision now

I had thr I'm sure your doc did x Ray's previous I don't blame you being worried after what you went through I had right thr operation and it is ok hurts a bit but I have a limp due to dislocating it twice and two false knees at 61 so good luck everybody worries

I think it is important that you have a good surgeon who knows about revision hips etc and will not be phased by yours. You can choose the surgeon you want on the NHS. I assume that xrays should show up something.

It sounds like you've had quite a journey and despite the difficulties you seemed to have fared well and overcome the odds. From December 2017 to December 2018, I, a once very active women, became very limited in all activities, due to the excruciating pain from my groin, buttocks, back and shooting pains down to my knee. In that 1 year I met with various surgeons at Hospital for Special Surgery, a neurologist and a pain doctor. I received 4 spinal injections in my back and 3 cortisone injections in my hip and bursar. I received multiple opinions . . . back, hip, sacroiliac joint, etc. I had hoped to be a candidate for Stem Cell and Platelet Rich Plasma. Another year from a prior MRI now showed severe hip deterioration as well as AVN. I was no longer a candidate for Stem cell and went back to the first surgeon I had met with. We did not have a good rapport, and the only reason I chose him is because he studied under the surgeon who replaced both knees on 9/2/11. That surgeon was no longer at HSS. I had postponed hip surgery due to fear and vulnerability. When I had my knees replaced, I lived alone with my 2 German Shepherds, my husband had passed away the year before. I didn't feel vulnerable, no fear, I was looking for relief and never doubted that I would receive it. I had no pain when I woke from surgery and was numb from the waste down. I knew that I would not feel anything because I had received education about having both knees replaced.

I had RTHP on 12/26/2018 and when I woke from surgery I felt as though my hip had been ripped apart by a shark. When I had my knees done, there was no pain and I was out of bed the following day. It took too long to get my pain under control and I believe that was a huge emotional set back for me. Because I lived alone with my now 2 Portuguese Water dogs, the surgeon decided to keep me in the hospital for 2 nights and then he was going to send me home. I did get out of bed and did PT in the hospital, but emotionally I was a mess. I had a panic attack, was in pain and could not stop crying. They gave me more dilaudid and that helped a bit. Next they tried oxycontin, and I had tremors. I had taken vicodin prior to surgery and while it helped before the surgery, I was still in pain. Back to dilaudid and I experienced some pain relief. Thank God my son spoke to the surgeon, the social worker and the PA, and insisted that I be sent to rehab. I didn't want to go to rehab, but I knew he was right, because I was a total emotional mess. My surgeon may have done a good job, it's not yet been a month so the jury is still out, but he was a cold fish. On Friday my son drove me to Kessler, a world renowned rehab and I was admitted. He also took my 2 dogs back to Philadelphia with him which was a huge relief.

Upon my admission to Kessler, I stared at the wall, could not eat and had not slept for 24 hours, nor did I sleep at Kessler that first night. I had to ask for help to go to the bathroom, to dress and undress and was not able to weight bare on my right leg. The following morning I was wheeled into rehab. I looked around and saw amputees, a 17 year old boy who was now a paraplegic due to a game he was playing with friends and fell, and I saw patients with brain injuries. As I looked around, I began to feel as though my pain and my hip were a luxury problem. With the help of the PT's, the aids, the nurses, the volunteer who brought a newspaper daily, I was able to become the woman I knew I was. I made a huge turn around and could not wait to get my green card which meant I could leave my room with a walker or a wheelchair. Bt the 3rd or 4th day I received that green card and continued to become aware of my surroundings and my gratitude continued to grow. I took pain meds before therapy and received nothing less than encouragement. They had therapy dogs and my main PT arranged a 20 minute session with a Golden Retriever who fell asleep with his head on my stomach and lightly began to snore. She told me that she knew I would move forward swiftly and the meeting with my wonderful doctors, nurses and PTs determined that after my stay of 8 days that I could go home. They arranged for an OT, a PT, and a nurse to visit me at home. After observing my movement, my OT advised that I did not need her. I had already made my home ready for recovery, ie, I had 2 raised toilet seats with handle bars, I purchased a hip replacement kit from Amazon, as well as a wonder wrap that could be used to ice my hip or alternatively it could be heated in the microwave.

After being home for 10 days, my son asked if I was ready for Randall, my 11 month old dog. I missed them terribly and had made many advancements at home, and readily agreed that I was ready for Randall to come home. We both agreed that it was a better idea for me to do 1 dog at a time. Randall has been like a therapy dog. Always at my side, and always looking at me as if to say "are you okay?" As I walked Randall, I was amazed at how light the leash was. I live in a 3-story townhouse, and taught him to heal as we descended the stairs and I always had my cane inside and out. I always had my cane and he gently came down the stairs when I gave the go ahead. They had been gone since December 25th and as I grew healthier, I longed to have Stella, my soon-to-be 3 year old to come home. My son brought Stella home two days ago and it was a wonderful reunion. I walk both dogs separately, and despite Stella's uncertainty with the cane, I continue to use it.

My follow-up is February 3rd. I don't expect my surgeon to apologize, but I want to know why I had to wake in so much pain. He is against pain meds, however his PA did give me a script for viicodin. I find the morning to be most difficult and have pain that begins at the groin and goes to my knee. I wait until after I've walked Stella and Randall to take a vicodin and the pain is gone. It allows me to walk, walk, walk, which is excellent for hip replacement.

Were I to ever have to do this again, I would make sure that I never wake up again in pain. I'm home with my 2 dogs, have had wonderful support, and my hope is that I will be able to again hike and walk 3-5 miles daily. But a little common sense goes a long way and I listen to my body. When I get tired, I rest.

I hope all goes well with you. If possible, bring someone with you when you meet the surgeon - I was flying solo and that is a regret that I now have. Make sure to have questions written down, it is overwhelming and you may forget to ask. Find out if you are having the anterior or posterior surgery and before you go, read up on both and also read this board. There is a lot of information here. Good luck and keep us updated.

Georgette

VIctoria....you have been coping with the effects of hip disease for many years. i am surprised that you did get so many more years from hip first repair. you were so young. from what i understand damaged bone was dead bone required removing. then for thr it would be considered a revision and a good revision specialist is a good option. not sure where the primary bone was effected. but revision surgery the socket bone( ball ) is removed a new ball and cup is applied to the hip to replace the socket and a femoral implant is installed that will help stabalize the hip and maintain mobility for many more years to come.

hope that the new shinny hip can be a new way to give you stability and a gate with no limp. something to look foreword to as many of us hippies have suffered severe pain before surgery and after surgery all the healing follows and many of us always wonder why we worried so much . i think we all worry about the unknown until healing sets in. its so amazing how thr gives so many of us a new lease on life. i wish you the very best and a successful surgery in the months that follow you will be back to life as usual.

If you've got a good surgeon, there's a good chance you'll feel and walk better than you have in 30 years.

Did you research your doctor? Feel confident about them? As for what they did to your hip 30 years ago ... or 40-some years ago ... joint knowledge has come a long way since then.