So many negatives on here
Posted , 28 users are following.
Hi, my op date has finally been given as November 16. hip (hip hooray). Still can't get my head round it. All this time and all this agony.
But....and a big but....I'm now reading up about people who've already had their THR as opposed to people waiting. And I'm getting quite depressed to be honest. So many of you on here are experiencing great pain again after your ops. It seems so many of you are terribly unhappy/worried about new symptoms. I read of one member who actually wrote he/she wished they had never had the op and had kept their old hip. I know there are no guarantees of success but so many negative comments from so many of you on here are starting to worry me considerably. What is the ratio of pain being no better after an THR? Hand on heart I couldn't cope if after my THR my pain continued at the intensity it has been..
0 likes, 86 replies
monkeypearl sarah22500
Posted
Hi Sarah,
I know what ya mean, I'm waiting for my THR early next year all things going well. There does seam to be a lot of folk with some bad experiences, I like to stay positive and pick up on the posts where people have done real well. All the best Sarah with the OP, stay safe and stay positive yep, 😀
Pete
tony_88888 sarah22500
Posted
Sarah,
Everyone is different. Everyone has a different pain level tolerance. If your hip need replacing, it will not get any better, just worse. I hate it when people sugar coat it. Face facts and you will get better much quicker.
Yes there is pain but it will go away. It is a very invasive operation and the first few days are the worst. After that, provided you follow the physios advice, take you medication (even those horrible anti coagulant tablets and TED stockings) you will improve. Some people need to take pain relief medication for a long time, others prefer to stop them as soon as possible and live through the pain. I found the sleeping issues worse than the pain but now (4 weeks) I am able to sleep on either side as well as my back.
Mine was the most invasive, the posterior approach which entails a 12" or so cut, separating the muscle to get at the joint and a sore backside/side for a few weeks. I went for this one as it gives the surgeon the greatest access to the hip and more room to work.
Read these threads again, there are more happy people than unhappy. This forum is great and although everyone can only speak from personal experience, it helps to talk about it. We are all in this together and support is everywhere.
Tony
RichardKen tony_88888
Posted
Agreed. The OP should search for a good surgeon with an excellent track record, keep in good condition and stay positive. A good surgeon should be expected to use an appropriate prosthesis and approach for you.
I would be very wary of surgeons who promise to make everything easy...web site can be the give away. Promises such as no dislocation. All hips need to be dislocated at some stage in the replacement hip business otherwise no replacement hip is possible!
With every hip replacement patients are encouraged to get out of bed and moving as soon as possible regardless of approach.
Some people recover more quickly than others regardless of method used.
I had the posterior method twenty years ago and basically walked out of hospital with just one stick, almost no pain, back to work full time in a couple of weeks, and driving a manual car in three. That was at age 55.
At age 76 revision of same hip as I had worn through the poly cup through years of heavy work. Posterior approach again. Quick recovery, limited pain, In both cases an excellent surgeon, being in good condition and a positive attitude.
Cheers
Richard
sarah22500 tony_88888
Posted
Hi, I'm due to have the posterior approach too. My surgeon prefers this method.
RichardKen sarah22500
Posted
Best wishes for everything.
Cheers Richard
sjhips sarah22500
Posted
Hi Sarah
I think you should bear in mind that most people who post on this forum do so because they have ended up with questions or problems they are seeking to resolve, so it's naturally skewed towards describing less than optimal experiences. The vast majority of successful and happy post THR patients have no need to post on this forum, or even know it exists. There are thousands and thousands of THRs performed every year, mostly without causing any problems for their recipients, and in fact giving them all a vastly improved quality of life. So my advice is chin up, keep positive, and don't go looking for problems before they arise!
Good luck,
sjhips
erin1956 sarah22500
Posted
Sarah:
What I think is that the vast majority of thr recipients have no or minor issues. They all do not respond in these forums and that the ones that do are seeking feedback because of problems. I also think that there are other health issues in play that complicate the positive outcome of thr.
I've had both hips replaced within a year and can say wo reservation that were both really non eventful and very pain-free. I listen closely to my doctor and follow the pt instructions. When I m not sure I call them and ask questions.
If you are in good health ( other than your hip of course), you should do very well and have a much better quality of life than prior to the replacement.
Not to worry. Maintain a positive mental outlook. Have confidence in your doc.
Hope this helps. Take care.
renee01952 erin1956
Posted
You are right you know ...
Like you I also had 2 THR surgeries 6 months apart - non eventful and mostly pain free - however ... major side effects from medication have wreaked havoc with the process - dizziness, insecurities, prevented me from walking, exercises etc ... living alone did not help my situation either ...
Of course it had an effect on my body and muscles and everything but not the hips !!!
Thanks
angel blessings
renee
Rocketman_SG6UK sarah22500
Posted
Most of us who post here do so because we have problems and we seek help and reassurance.
People who don't have a problem generally don't stay around to post on forums.
The reason I am still here is due to my botched operations two years ago. Having been through that, and coming out the other side, I have picked up a lot of information on certain areas of THR, and I want to help others through their problems as I was helped all that time ago.
Generally this operation is one of the most successful, especially when you consider it normally takes a skilled surgeon about an hour to complete.
Best wishes
Graham
RichardKen Rocketman_SG6UK
Posted
Dear Graham
I joined simply because I was facing a failed total ankle replacement and as revisions are very demanding wanted to find put how others were doing.
Whilst waiting for my surgery my twenty year hip failed and so I joined this forum to learn more about hip revisions. That is y story of why I'm here.
Cheers
Richard
Rocketman_SG6UK RichardKen
Posted
Richard,
Like you, I like to know what's going on and what they're doing to my body, which is why I elected to be awake for both my operations despite the noise.
Graham
Guest Rocketman_SG6UK
Posted
Wow Graham you are very brave. I couldn't hasve done that at all.
Gill xx
ptolemy Rocketman_SG6UK
Posted
Rocketman_SG6UK Guest
Posted
Gill,
We're all different - that was easy for me, but I cannot climb ladders or go up tall buildings as I have the most terrible vertigo.
Graham xx
RichardKen Rocketman_SG6UK
Posted
My interest or curiosity has certain limits and being awake during surgery is certainly one!
I will certainly be awake when my ankle is repaired/revised. Surgery which was due in ten days time has been delayed until January.
Cheers
Richard
RichardKen
Posted
judith12644 RichardKen
Posted
RichardKen judith12644
Posted
Dear Judith
Thank you for that. Although it is hugely unwelcome as the longer the delay the further the osteolysis continues to destroy my bones there is a good reason for the delay.
My surgeon who is very well known and respected has just come back from a conference in Switzerland where he and other ankle surgeons were gathered.
My case was discussed in the conference and as a direct result he wants to use a new imaging technique that will allow him to accurately plan and map my ankle so that a custom approach can be used and this is the important part, with my bad prosthesis still in place.
I gather that I'm going to be the first person to have this done. My surgeon has been using a similar method for his primary ankle replacements for some time which has meant that the cutting etc is computer controlled which I understand reduces placement inaccuracies.
This is the really critical part of all ankle replacements and even more critical in a difficult case such as mine where because of suspect original work this has resulted in the premature failure of the surgery.
I am to have several additional CT scans and will be fitted with a special ankle brace to protect my ankle because of the delay.
All fun and games but I need to give my surgeon the best chance of success with what is a very chancy revision job and he is according to his surgery list planner all fired up with using this cutting edge technology on me.
I never am that keen to be at what in the techology world is know as bleeding edge technology, but I can see the potential benefits here. At the very least my surgeon will have a very personal reason for making a success of it and that will follow me through the recovery and into the future.
Cheers, Richard
Rocketman_SG6UK RichardKen
Posted
Perhaps missing the "NOT" was wishful thinking
We're all so different, my father was a butcher and I was used to helping him in the shop, removing bones and preparing various cuts of meat. Surgery is not so far removed from all that - at least with the surgeon I suffered
.
judith12644 RichardKen
Posted
RichardKen judith12644
Posted
Dear Judith
I'm glad that you feel this is a positive thing to go ahead with.Have you any idea what your new bit is?
Cheers, Richard
judith12644 RichardKen
Posted
RichardKen judith12644
Posted
Dear Judith
Never mind, I'm a curious but if you do find out it would be good to know
Cheers Richard
RichardKen Rocketman_SG6UK
Posted
Dear Graham
It's horrible when one feels damaged as the result of this surgery. So disappointing.
All the best
Richard
Rocketman_SG6UK RichardKen
Posted
RichardKen Rocketman_SG6UK
Posted
Dear Graham
Me too twice with twenty years gap so I consider myself to be fortunate. I'm. Hoping that fortune will be at my side for my problematical ankle revision surgery!
Cheers Richard