Posted , 15 users are following.
Is there
anyone out there that has very severe oa in their hip. I guess I'm afraid I will run into complications during surgery because of the severity.
0 likes, 49 replies
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linda38528 M1954
Posted
You'll find many of us that have gone through this with severe OA and also severe osteoporosis (like me). These are two big reasons for needing this surgery.
Most of us are pretty stunned and intimidated when we learn that we need a hip replaced. And like many others, I needed both done so it was quite the news.
I'm now 6 months post my first surgery and doing well but ... I will be even better after my second one next month.
Is there something particular worrying you?
Please let us know - this forum has the friendliest members, so you are already ahead of the game.
Good luck on this journey.
L
M1954 linda38528
Posted
Thank you Linda you made me feel better. I was reading previous comments and everyone sounded better than the next then I read about complications during the surgery because of the persons severity. You just feel so alone when you get "very severe" and what I have to realize I'm not alone. I' m glad I joined this forum. I've never joined one before. I'm trying physical therapy and maybe steroid injections to buy me some time. Thanks for writing me back
linda38528 M1954
Posted
No worries M! That is part of the beauty and the challenge of this forum as members range from very straightforward cases to more complex ones. And many smooth experiences never even participate. So don't let the recent complications screen you too much.
Exercise and physio will definitely serve you well - whether you have your surgery now or later. It helps strengthen muscles and manage pain. My own experience (confirmed by many others) is that working out in a pool or an aqua fitness centre really helps - by increasing resistance as you work out, but also minimizing impact on your hip. This helps reduce swelling. I am allergic to anti-inflammatory esp so this was a big help to me.
Wishing you well and don't be shy to come on to chat, vent or seek advice - everyone is really friendly and generous.
L
linda38528
Posted
It just occurred to me that you should start a new discussion asking about experiences with injections to delay surgery ...
L😊
jennifer86394 linda38528
Posted
Well my experience having an injection under scan conditions wasn't good. I found it extremely painful and it didn't make the slightest bit of difference to me. A few weeks later I had my hip replacement. I have to have my other hip replaced eventually and wouldn't even consider an injection. I would be interested to know if there is anyone else out there who has had the injection and found it helpful.
BusterBeans jennifer86394
Posted
Jennifer, my first injection bought me six months of relief. The second injection didn't do a thing. I didn't get a single day of relief from it so it was time to schedule my surgery -- September 27th.
patricia72715 linda38528
Posted
hi Linda. Is waiting 6 months before having the second one done the usual waiting time? I'm having my first replacement in October and the second one at a later date but the doctor didn't tell me how lond I would need to wait.
?Good luck on your second thr. I'll be looking foreward to your new post op entries.
linda38528 patricia72715
Posted
Hi Patricia,
Nice to meet you 😊.
One thing I have learned on this journey is that while medical science makes this all possible, there is a fine art to much of it. And we see that routinely in all the variations in practice and recommendations from our surgeons. All this to say that I doubt there is a gold standard recommended interval between THRS - some people have them done in the same surgery! Much of course depends on your overall health, the pace of recovery from the initial one and the urgency of doing the 2nd one (usually pain levels and impact on your activities will influence this).
I have bad osteoporosis so my surgeon was unwilling too do both at once as this increases risk of a fracture during the surgery and the risk of complications post surgery.
My surgeon saw me for a second follow-up at 5 months. He was pleased with my progress but concerned with increasing pain in my second hip and he asked me how soon I wanted to get the second one done. He asked me which one was hurting most - the pain from the recovering hip or the pain from the other one. The 2nd one was giving me the most pain and he had just received his schedule for OR time so he basically offered me to choose a date kwithin the three month period starting a month later! Talk about being put on the spot! We agreed to wait until September (so I could enjoy a bit more summer and take care of family business). So I go in on September 20th.
Some days I wish I had accepted an earlier date but it is coming up quickly and there are many things yet to take care of, so it is probably all for the best.
I am trying to do as much physio and exercise as possible to be as fit as possible - I sure have learned a lot my body on this journey and specifically to better appreciate the inter-connectedness of the connective tissues and joints on a completely different level than before.
I think the key thing is to balance the time for hip #1 to recover with the urgency of hip #2 - to avoid more wear and tear on that joint but also the others it is affecting. The longer the poor posture and gait the more other joints and muscles are compensating and need to readjust after.
If I mcould offer one piece of advice, it would be to get as much exercise, physio and massage in as possible before your surgery - to manage pain and swelling, to strengthen and keep muscles from seizing/cramping up too much. It will make recovery much easier. If you have access to hydrotherapy - even better as the weightlessness helps you exercise more with less pain while the added resistance makes the exercise even more effective.
Wishing you the best.
Keep in touch.
L
Rocketman_SG6UK linda38528
Posted
So right there Linda, there is nothing consistent about times between having hips done, but then as we know, we're all different and recover differently. Good advice on exercise, physio and massage.
Best wishes to you both.
sarah1996 M1954
Posted
Dont worry. Everything will hopefully go smoothly
patricia72715 sarah1996
Posted
Chloeparrot M1954
Posted
Hi there - As a number of responses have already said, you're not alone on having severe OA and no it doesn't necessarily mean that you will have complications.
Have you got a date for your op yet?
I was diagnosed with severe OA, and because of the severity I had the operation within 6 weeks of seeing the surgeon.
The operation, though quite lengthy (about 3 hours) went well and there were no complications.
I am now 9 weeks post-op and walk without a stick and no limp (most of the time - it does return if I'm tired) and am back at work. Best of all I have no OA pain - oh the relief. I'm not saying there is no pain but its not the bone-grinding, constant pain of OA, it's more pain in the muscles - varying between the thigh and the derriere.
I will have to have the other hip done next year and I have absolutely no qualms at all in having a second op.
This site is excellent for support and pretty much covers the spectrum of everything hip related. In fact it is often a lot more informative that you doctor, so if you have any queries then post as often as you like, someone will always respond.
leah35183 M1954
Posted
Hello,
here is a medical journal article that outlines the reasons for surgery and the causes of failures. Worst outcomes occur with avascular necrosis of femoral head (that's what I had) and femoral head fracture. I know that mine didn't work out so great, but many many procedures work out fine. When I am in the waiting room to see my surgeon, there are many folks that have done great.
http://ard.bmj.com/content/56/8/455.full
best of luck to you.
thanks,
Leah
M1954 leah35183
Posted
Thank you so much Leah. I do hear more good things than bad😊
Rocketman_SG6UK leah35183
Posted
Great find - thanks.
Shame the article is not recent, but it's so good I'll add it to my website.
linda38528 leah35183
Posted
Thanks Leah - this is an excellent overview of the indications for, and risks associated with this surgery. I have shared it with several people considering this surgery along with links to Graham's site and this forum.
Take care.
L
linda38528
Posted
PS - I still remember my surgeon's face when I asked it if would be rude to ask how many surgeries he had done. He smiled broadly and said: this month, this year or ever? He had done close to 150, over 30 this year (it was mid Feb) but was becoming more specialized in knee surgeries so doing more of them! His success rate after 4 years was 98%.
And he could almost have quoted from this article: good training of the surgeon in the surgical approach used is the single best indicator for success for this operation. I had super luck getting him based on the physiotherapist doing my initial physical assessment. I figured she was well poised to understand the surgeons and outcomes of those working in our area. And I have to say that he was great and a wonderful person as well - really breaks the standard caricature of a surgeon.
I will get my second hip done in a month.
😊