REVISION OF A TOTAL HIP REPLACEMENT

Dear Candice

Thank you for responding to my thread. So they took out the entire stem and put in a new one together with a replacement cup.

Yes I've seen what they put into me and the amazing thing is that I never felt that I had a hip joint that was not mine.....amazing! My recovery twenty years was so easy and painless so whilst I'm 75 and not 65 I hope that it will be an easy journey again. I'm trying to stay positive especially as my ankle revision depends on getting the hip done first.

I understand that the surgeon is putting in a replacement poly and because it will have been abraided by the prosthesis having been metal on metal for a couple of months the ball also.

Thanks for your good wishes, mine, to you too.

Cheers Richard

Hello Richard,

I hope by now you are doing OK.  I have been referred by Yeovil to Bristol for a Revision THR after a resurfacing Op in 2006 has now failed, ie. psedo tumour on hip and metal on metal (metal in my blood).  Having read on lot on line about nerve damage and pain afterwards just wondered how you are doing.  Looks like I will have to wait months though.  Hope you are OK.

Sue

Dear Sue

Good to hear from you. I'm just over four weeks since my revision surgery and feel that slowly my muscles are more capable though my hip still feels quite tender.

I'm now able to sleep on either side but usually use a pillow between my legs but I do get uncomfortable and wake up.

I'm suffering from dry skin on my legs and my surgery has provided me with a 500g pump container of E45 cream which seems to be helping.

I'm considering installing a stair lift as I'm facing a very difficult ankle revision to my ankle on the other side once I've recovered from my hip surgery.

I'm sorry that you are facing metal in your blood. This is what is lurking in the shadows for me so I fully understand some of your concerns.

My best wishes to you.

Cheers Richard

Hi Richard, glad you are steadily improving. Wishing you well, Judith

Dear Judith

Many thanks for your good wishes.

All the best Richard

Dear Richard,

So pleased to hear you are recovering slowing.  Re the dry skin, I had lots of problems and although I tried E45 it didn't resolve it, but Doublebase Dayleave Gel in pump (on prescription) was/is wonderful.  I have recommended it to another friend and she said the same.  Just though this may help you.  Best wishes for a speedy recovery.  Take care. Sue

Sue

Dear Sue

Thanks for that information which I've noted down in case it is needed. I have only been applying it a maximum of twice a day and the results have been reasonable but still an amount of flacky skin on some areas of my legs. Perhaps this is from before starting to use the E45 ointment.

Best wishes Richard

Dear Michael

It seems from the X rays that the stem is still well positioned so the plan is to just tap off the ball and pop on a new one and put on a now poly cup. All sounds easy but the proof if the pudding etc!

I think the poly is fixed to the pelvis by a metal shell and if so that may present the biggest challenge.

Cheers Richard

Dear Renee

Thanks for that. I cannot say that I'm looking forward to the next six months!

Where I now live is not a simple taxi journey from hospital to home but a couple of trains and a sea crossing.

For the ankle replacement it is an even longer journey involving the London underground system with the added problem of somehow keeping my leg elevated for the entire journey time of about four plus hours.

Cheers Richard

That is a long trip home! Beats my 15 minute car trip! Although my husband seems to hit pretty much every pothole. Will you be able to stay in the hospital or close by for a bit before you leave for home?

Dear Candice

Thanks for your post. The problem is as I see it the need to keep my ankle elevated during the journey.

With ankle replacement surgery this elevation is essential and has to be kept up for the first couple of weeks. After that it is something that can be progressively reduced. That's what I found four years ago when I had my original ankle replacement surgery done.

The best solution I can come up with at the moment is to hire a taxi with the facility of my sitting with my leg stretched out. An expensive eighty mile trip. Then I have to make it onto the ferry for the twenty minute journey...still have to gave my foot elevated.finally a ten minute taxi home.

Phew what a stressful epic!

When I had the original surgery the hospital organised an ambulance for the twenty minute journey but that was when I lived in a very different part of the country.

Cheers Richard

Guys

Just been rethinking this difficult journey in the light of a £300 plus taxi charge!

I've got an iwalk 2.0 that I have been practicing with successfully and it should be possible to use it as a support for my leg whilst on the underground and later on the rest of the journey provided that I do this part of the journey when it is less busy!

Getting up the stairs and escalators from the deep Jubilee line at Waterloo station is likely to be a bit of a challenge! Once there I'm sure the staff at the station will be able to assist me to the right platform even if it involves the indignity of using a wheelchair!

Then an hour and a half on the train, a walk to the ferry then a short walk to the taxi for the final few minutes journey and into my house...Phew!!

I think it is doable - just.

Cheers

Richard

Richard

You might want to investigate using an Uber taxi in London. It's a lot cheaper than a black cab and though you probably can't have your leg up the journey time will be much less.

Mike

Dear Michael

Thanks for that. I've got the Uber app on my phone but have been surprised to find that when I've thought about using the service in Southampton that there was not much difference and put it down to the taxis responding to the new market conditions!

I did a home comparison on journey times between car and underground a few weeks ago and they were similar I think.

Cheers Richard

Richard

I gather from young people in London that they are cheaper but I'm not enough of a user to have done a comparison.

Though one advantage of a black cab is that if you sit on a backward facing seat it must be easy to get in and you can stretch your leg out, possibly putting it on the seat if the driver doesn't object.

Mike

Dear Michael thanks for that useful reminder about the seating.

Cheers Richard