TO DO OR NOT TO DO

Boasey, 

 Surgery should always be a last resort. Spare parts are never as good as the originals and it will change your life.There are specific exercizes and cold lazer therapy that can help with the pain you have now, possibly. You can find the exercizes on the internet under (trying to avoid hip surgery)  

  After surgery Rehab does take awhile but since you sound like you're in good shape it should go smoothly. The days of high impact sports will be a thing of the past. I did get my life back after my THR but I was barely able to walk before, my joint hurt so bad. I went for several months of trying everything possible to avoid surgery and it was a last resort for me. I also made sure I had a great doctor, was in good physical shape (as much as possible) hit the whey protein and just prepared myself. The pain from the surgery is just about what you're having now except for the groin pain, but it gets better the more you walk instead of worse. It's a good pain, if that's possible, because you know it's recovery pain.

Good luck with your decision. Your body will tell you when the time is right.

Kathee

Thanks Kathee

I am concerned that it has gone downhill the last 2 months and I dont want to get in a sitaution where I wish I had it done earlier

Hi Boasey, I need a THR to, and trying to hold out as long as I can..

Hi Boasey, I was first diagnosed with Osteo arthritis in both hips 3 years ago and just thought that will take years before it gets really bad and said I didn't want an op at that point. However my hips deteriorated rapidly, with the worse hip impacting on the better hip, so much that for the last 2 mths before my op I was in a wheelchair and not able to walk at all. Due to probs with NHS etc my op should have been Dec but after 2 cancellations due to black alert finally had THR in my right hip

13 days ago. It is a very major op, but due to age (I'm 58) better than if older. I felt I had no option as I could no longer do what I wanted to. The only way forward for me was to take a chance and have the op to hopefully be able to live my "life" as I wanted to even if it didn't turn out as successful as it could have been. However the op went brilliantly, I was up and walking well with crutches the next day and although I have issues because of my unoperated leg being painful, I am now walking more upright on crutches than I was on 2 sticks and have less pain. I anticipate at this rate of recovery I will be well able to live the life I want to again in 6 wks time. I know there is a possibility at this stage that I will have to have another the in 10-15 yrs time, but anything can happen in that time and medicine is advancing all the time but I have to live for now. The ultimate decision of course is yours but I would recommend if you have been offered the surgery now (and they don't do that lightly) then take it before your hips get a lot worse. If you have to have a further THR you will still be young enough for it to be easier to come through. All the best with your decision.

I left it as long as I could, but now wish I had had it done earlier.  I had pain in my bum which spread to my groin and down my leg to my knee.  It was difficult walking anywhere.  After the op, 9 weeks ago now, I was pain free right from the start.  I can walk much better, now without any crutches or sticks and the bliss of being able to walk without pain.  If you follow all the doctor's advice and the physio's advice and do as instructed, you will feel great again and you will have a quick recovery. 

I am in a mess too and can hardly walk at all without 500mg Naproxins twice a day and CoCodamils ...up to 4 a day...I just want my life back and want to take my cameras out without pain and limping...Will watch you discussion for a few weeks to see how it goes.  Kind regards Ian.

Thank you everybody,

kathee - i really struggle getting socks on especially right foot. I am waititng for consultant to ring me back on Monday ( he is on hols at the moment);

Thanks Christine, I definately do not want to be in the position you found yourself in. If I can get it sorted know I think I will, I realise that any impact sports will be a thing of the past, but I cant keep up with the youngsters anyway !!

Barbara - Thanks I will follow what the consultant says.

One bonus for me in the UK, is that he says he will do it in the Nuffield (private) for me on the NHS.

Ian - Good luck

Hi boasey.

I had OA of the hip which started around age 45.

I played squash to a fairly high level,but my hip pain ended that age 47.

I then took up mountain biking,which I loved and I think it helped to put off a replacement by keeping the leg muscles strong...but eventually my hip pain forced me to give that up as well..I put off THR for another 2yrs,but last year age 65 had a replacement..

I am having my other hip replaced tomorrow a year on from my 1st.

To answer your Qst although it's true your recovery will be better the younger you are,it's also true that they have a life of 10-20 yrs,so you could need a revision in your sixties..The main consideration is how it's affecting your quality of life,eg if you struggled to walk then it needs doing.

If it's not impacting too much on your life then I would leave it a few more years,but when to go for it is a tough decision only you can make.

Good luck..Paul UK.

 

If you wait the disease will continue to destroy your hip and socket. In turn can make surgery more involved and recovery longer.Best of luck

Dear Boasey,

I do hope you make the right decision for yourself.  I was interested to see you'r finding it hard to make it.  I have never tried to join in discussions, possibly because I am so much older than most . I am 82 and had a right THR just over a year ago.  I am sure it is right that the earlier you have it, the better. I can't really complain though as I never had pain at your age and have always been a very active mother and grandmother (I hope) until the pain seemed unbearable a few years ago.  Before I had the op, the people I spoke to of about your age seemed to have got over it extremely well and found their hospital experience good and anyway I didn't feel I had any choice as I am my husband's carer.  My daughters were marvelous and I think I tried a little too much to prove I  could cope and wish I had taken it slower andleft the gardening alone!  Most of all, I wish I had been better at doing the exercises which I now find as I do them really helpful. Best wishes and I am sure everythinbg will go very well.

Hi Boasey

Just read your comments and it appears to mirror my problems - too much sport although mine was football, squash and running (not marathons !) !!!

Basically it will not go away and the longer you leave it the worse it gets 

Good luck with your decision and I trust that this forum which was brilliant for me is as good for you

Cheers

 

Thank you all for your comments, I will let you know how it goes when I speak to the consultant on Monday. One other point I forgot to mention, I do not get sick pay normally with work, but they have given me a special 8 week dispensation to have it done and be paid. I know its not the be all and end all but it is a majore factor that I wont have to worry about the money, which I was