Think I may have an issue with hip replacement of 11 years
Posted , 5 users are following.
I have had two hip replacements one a year ago and the other 11 years ago. I am concerned the one of 11 years may be developing problems .About 2-3 weeks ago it started with a niggle in the groin and has now changed to a deep discomfort over the old surgical site and the very top of back of the thigh.This is particularly bad on weight bearing especially after sitting
while and also a lot of discomfort over the hip on walking . Its quite different from the original pre op pain which was mainly in the groin .
This hip is still reviewed every 3 years and the last x ray 1 year ago was deemed satisfactory by the orthopaedics . They stated on that review they would see me in clinic if I had any problems before next review . I am a bit reticent about going along that route just at the moment but would much appreciate the symptoms and experiences of people who have needed revision surgery after a few years ie pain etc and was it different from the primary pain before the initial surgery. Many Thanks
0 likes, 19 replies
ptolemy Nat666
Edited
I would get an xray done if you can, when I had mine done the hospital was like the Marie Celeste. They seem to be keeping people away from each other. I am not sure if that was true March time but things are supposed to have improved. I must admit I did take the attitude I am not going near a hospital at the moment before my xray.
Nat666 ptolemy
Edited
Thank you for your reply.I realise I probably do need to get an xray was just trying to delay for the moment.
At first I thought it might be some kind of sciatic pain but as its considerably more apparent on mobilising I am thinking that theory is unlikely
Take care
ptolemy Nat666
Posted
Good luck getting an xray.
jen86183 Nat666
Edited
Nat,
If they are still reviewing your hip, take advantage, ring up and have it looked at, it will put you mind at rest.
After my hip op in April 2018, I had a follow up in May 2019, in August 2019, my May 2020 appointment was cancelled, said it would be re-arranged but, have never heard anything since!
Hospitals are very quite, best time to go.
Nat666 jen86183
Edited
Thanks Jen. Yep I need to get on that and do it ! Just dreading something is failing, I know it happens but 11 years seems a bit soon .
I have had routine reviews since it was done in 2009, annually at first and 3 yearly now .I have often wondered if all hospitals do this ?
dale94413 Nat666
Posted
I had a 6 week post op chat on the telephone with my surgeon and as far as I'm aware that's it. He did say he'd see me if I have any problems.
No mention of yearly check ups.
Nat666 dale94413
Posted
Hi Dale
It seems to vary very much.The hip done 11 years ago was seen at 6 weeks,1 year , and then every 3 years .The last review in 2019 was 'virtual' so I had an xray locally and then filled in questionnaire which was all assessed by the orthopaedics without seeing them.
I had a my other hip replaced a year ago at a different hospital,was seen at 6 weeks post op being told i would have one more follow up a year later.That's never happened because of Covid. As its all NHS you would think it would be the same across the board
Nat666 jen86183
Posted
Hi Jen I am going to ring tomorrow. It is an advantage with the ongoing reviews so I may 🤞 not have to wait too long
I suppose your May appt was cancelled because of Covid. I had hand surgery in Feb and and my 10 week follow up was in May too.Like yours it was cancelled and nothing since.
jen86183 Nat666
Posted
Fingers crossed Nat you get seen fairly quickly, and get sorted. I think we all hope our hips will last for at least 20 years.
My cancellation had nothing to do with covid, it was not heard of in August 2019, I expect it is forgotten now, I volunteer at the same hospital in 'normal' times although, that was stopped in March.
Nat666 jen86183
Posted
Oh I see I slightly misread your post. How is your hip , have you made a good recovery?
In spite of reviews I couldn't self refer back so GP has referred me for an x ray. He thinks it unlikely to be my hip so will have to wait and see 😏
jen86183 Nat666
Posted
I do a lot of exercise Nat, Pilates, Zumba, Step Aerobics, at the leisure centre, at home, use my elliptical walker, a DVD and walk. Obviously, not all together nor on the same day. I try to do two different things everyday.
I think someday's I do too much and the hip does start feeling uncomfortable or get a pain in the groin. It has never felt like my own hip as some people say theirs is, it is also heavier than my own hip, I feel that when doing Pilates.
Overall, I can not complain, the strangest thing is, standing still, when out walking, if I stop and talk to someone, my hip gets really uncomfortable after about fifteen minutes, I need to move.
Nat666 jen86183
Edited
Hi Jen, Oh dear you get a few issues then. I did find that it took some time before i felt I really 'owned' this hip and until recently its been great .
My other hip is only a year in , again it is fine but just occasionally it reminds me its still quite new particularly when I bend over !
sylvie123 Nat666
Edited
Hi Nat
I would agree with all those saying have a hip x-ray now. The hospital I had mine in was also like the Marie Celeste in September. We had to stand outside until they took pity on us when it rained. So warm clothes may be needed!
My hip has never been pain free, with pain inside of hip, groin and down thigh, since it was done 3 1/2 years ago and I have spent a lot of money on physios and been to NHS physios as well. GP was reluctant to refer me back to the hospital but I did get there and have been surprised at how quickly they are now moving on my case. After a face to face appointment at our deserted hospital in September I have had blood tests, MRI and finally bone scans in the nuclear medicine department of another hospital. This led to a phone consultation last week with a doctor who said I would have to come in for another appointment, there is inflammation in the hip joint area whatever that means, but yesterday I was told I would have a phone consultation again next week.
So if you can start the ball rolling you may find like me that hospitals are quiet and appointments seem to happen much quicker. It could at least set your mind at rest. I'm jealous that you have had check ups since you had your hip, my consultant told me at 6 weeks he never wanted to see me again! I have felt very much on my own since.
Nat666
Posted
Hi Sylvie
Sorry to read about the problems with your hip.It must be worrying and very disappointing as we (rightfully) have such high hopes from our surgery .I am pleased for you that they ' are on it ' now and you hopefully will get some answers
I will take the advice from everyone here and ask to be seen again in the clinic. I also had my left hip replaced 14 months ago and that hip has been great
As i said to Dale in my reply, its seems odd that one hospital does these regular reviews and others don't . My hip replacement last year was done also in Plymouth but at a different hospital, I had the statuatory 6 week review and that's been that .
Good luck with your consultation next week .I'll be interested to know how you get on
Take care !
dale94413 Nat666
Posted
I should have mentioned that I had my operation done privately, although the surgeon also works for the NHS.
I don't think follow up (or not )will be any different under the NHS.
sylvie123 Nat666
Posted
Hi Nat
As you expressed an interest in my second telephone consultation, couldn't think why I should be having another, this is what happened. As I explained the doctor in the first phone consultation told me the scans showed no infection or movement of the hip but inflammation and I was to be seen in the hospital. The second phone consultation was with yet another doctor who went over the same old ground, where does it hurt etc. He also referred to my scan results but was a bit more specific, telling me I had a large trochanteric bursa and needed to be seen in the hospital.
I told him this was a waste of his time as the last doctor had covered this ground. He agreed with me and afterwards I decided to email the consultant's lovely secretary and tell her about it. She almost immediately emailed me back with an appointment with, hopefully the consultant, for mid December.
I have done some reading about trochanteric bursitis and apparently having a leg length difference makes it more likely. Before my operation I told the consultant, not the one I am hopefully seeing, (the one I had barely spoke to me), that he was operating on my naturally longer leg. He made it even longer and then put in his notes and wrote to my GP saying my leg length was good. I made him measure me at the 6 week check up and he agreed I needed to have the height of my left shoes increased which is what I do now. Cuts down on the shoes I can wear!
You have mentioned reviews and now I think that instead of my consultant saying at 6 weeks, I never want to see you again, we should be seen at say 1 year when if things are going well there will be no issues. In my case there were. The fact that I had a longer leg should act as another reason to make sure the patient is happy and coping. Although my GP just told me that plenty of people are like me and manage.