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Total hip replacement with chronic pain - please help!

Posted , 7 users are following.

liamfahy7
liamfahy7

Hi All,

I am a 34 year old male who's suffered with hip pain for approximately two years. I've had two arthroscopies but neither have worked long term. I am now likely to need a hip replacement. However...

I recently had a hip steroid injection which had no effect on my pain (suggesting my pain isn't coming from within the hip). And a recent MRI doesn't show any issues in the tissues and tendons surrounding the hip. This could suggest that the pain I'm experiencing is chronic (I have a long term chronic pain issue with my wrist also, so this could make sense).

Here's my question:

1. Is anyone in a similar position to me? (i.e. needing hip replacement but with a chronic pain issue?)

2. Does anyone know, if I have the THR will it cure my hip pain completely? Or could it make things worse as the chronic pain may get worse?

I know it's a unique case and difficult question but I appreciate any advice that can be offered,

Thanks a million,

​Liam

1 like, 14 replies

14 Replies

  • sandra33613
    sandra33613 liamfahy7

    Posted

    Hello Liamfahy7, I feel for you and at such a young age. But, I also went through the hip injections that had absolutely no effect but it did still turn out to be my hip. The X-rays also showed nothing. When I signed for the operation, it was arranged as a possible replacement only as a last resort as the surgeon , looking at the x-rays did not feel that I would need it. When he opened me up, he didn't know how I had been walking at all as the ball for the socket had collapsed and ulcerated the entire joint. After the op, within hours of waking up, I was pain free. Because of this I don't trust x-rays etc. I cannot say that this will be the same as your case but it can give you an alternative view.

    Hope you get sorted and that the pain will go. Take care.

    • liamfahy7
      liamfahy7 sandra33613

      Posted

      Hi Sandra,

      Thanks for replying!

      Do you have any idea why your injection didn't help at all? I thought it was the best indicator to confirm that pain is coming from within the hip joint.

      I also thought that if an injection doesn't work then it's best not to perform a THR as this isn't where the pain is coming from.

      It's such a minefield!

      Thanks again,

      Liam

  • tashipenny
    tashipenny liamfahy7

    Posted

    Hi Liam

    nobody will know for sure via internet chat- but my hip pain cause was

    arthritis after motorcycle RTA in 1979 dislocated hip.

    THR success surgeon Sarah Muirhead-Allwood London hip clinicrecommend have consultation .

    my pain was subdued for 2 years with Acupuncture but cause still there so THR was needed.now NO pain

  • Mikey123
    Mikey123 liamfahy7

    Posted

    Hi Liamfahy:

    Do not get a hip replacement without informing yourself of the issues.  For example, the type of prosthesis and the problems associated with it.  See my latest posts for reasons.  A hip replacement is the absolute last resort.

    If your pain isn't coming from your hip, don't replace the hip!  I too have that pain.  Try a hot water bottle on the pain area at night in bed.  Also try a natural anti inflamatory like tumeric and black pepper in a pill.  All my doctor says is that the pain comes from the osteoarthritis but I think that there is a different reason for the pain and I haven't found the cause yet.  

    You are better off to go to a Naturopath to see what it may suggest as cause.  Sometimes you can get blood tests that will Identify problems with the balances in your body.  If those are corrected, perhaps the pain will disappear.  I hope so.  Let me know if you find a solution.

    Finally, there are many people on this site that still have the pain after THR and also many that do well after the operation and have problems a few years down the road.  There are also some that do well for 20 years and then need a revision.  Between you and me, I think Murphy's Law applies: If anything can go wrong, it will.

    Mikey  

     

    • liamfahy7
      liamfahy7 Mikey123

      Posted

      Hi Mikey,

      Thanks so much for the reply.

      Here's my problem... Although the steroid injection didn't work, I still know my hip has issues from MRI imaging (very thin cartilage and full thickness loss in places). So, although it's true some of my hip pain may be chronic, it's also very likely that some is from the hip (s a bit of both!)... So I think it will be very hard for me to overcome the chronic pain while I know that the hip itself isn't in great shape. At least is if I get a THR I know it's a brand new and perfect hip so it should make it easier to get over any remaining and lasting pain. Not sure what you think about this? That's my theory anyway!

      Thanks again, you're a star,

      Liam

    • Mikey123
      Mikey123 liamfahy7

      Posted

      Liam Fahy:

      It might be brand new, but it won't be perfect.  The maufacturers aren't even close to perfect.  If they built airplanes that way, nobody would fly.  Please click on Mikey123 and review the latest posts.  The problems with 3 types of corrosion in the prosthesis is that they cause pain and other things.  The other things are frightening to do to yourself.  I think that you need to educate yourself on these 'other  things' so that you can make an informed decision.

      Ultimately, nobody else will take responsibility for your decisions.   Not the doctor, not the hospital, just you.  In my part of the world, the government sent me a document to sign saying that I agree that their standard is medically suitable, (most people sign it without knowledge of what it means.)  I think that they are doing that to avoid a possible class action suit in the future when the public finds out the problems with the prosthesis.  And the government already knows the problems even though they want people to sign any way.

      Mikey

       

    • markm49uk
      markm49uk Mikey123

      Posted

      I'm sorry but what evidence do you have or are you just spreading fear without justification?  Many hip replacements now frequently last longer than 20 years beofre needing revision - advising people to look into 'alternative' therapy always sets off alarm beels for me - if there is one industry that is unregulated, uncontrolled and unproven its the field of 'alternative' medicine.
    • Mikey123
      Mikey123 markm49uk

      Posted

      Hi Mark:

      You can start with the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery- Does Corrosion Matter.  bjj.boneandjoint.org.uk  Also look up taper fretting, crevice corrosion and galvanic corrosion.

      What I am doing is spreading open eyes and educate self.  The reason for doing so is because I educated myself and am still learning about these hip joints.   And if I keep quiet, thousands of people every year, will make uninformed choices that will be harmful to them in the future.  Should I be silent and only care about myself.  If everybody knows what the problems are and how it could affect them at least they could make a knowledgeable choice.  And even better, they could puh the health providers to push for better prosthesis design and materials.  Or even better a method that will regrow the bone and cartilage.  Check Regenexx, it is also an alternative.  My doctor/surgeon educated me on persons with 20+ year implants.  Do you know why they get revised then?  The x-rays showed bone loss on femur and pelvis at the cup.  Loosening of the prosthesis.  Pain.

      Some people are okay with the other problems as long as they get 20 years.  Other people don't get 20 years.  Which one are you, which one am I? A surgeon who is open and up front says that the person who gets a joint in his 60's will only live till he is 70 or 80 any way.  So the joint only has to last 10 -20 years and the older person is less active any way.  They just put them on pain medication until they die.  I don't accept this kind of thinking.  I want to see a better solution than what we have now.    

      I just read on this site about a man who received a ceramic/plastic joint and 6 months later had much pain and elevated levels of cobalt/ chromium (probably causing the pain) since the X-ray looked good.  Check metallosis from hip joints.  His doctor is not doing anything about this.  So, how does one get rid of the metal ions in the blood?  I don't know.  Its not my problem, but they can't just leave these things to increase.  Cobalt and chromium can be dangerous in the body.  This man has it, what do you suggest that will help him?  When the medical profession doesn't help, one has to look elsewhere.

      In 2011 my surgeon was offering a metal on metal joint.  I was considering the Birmingham reurfacing.  I researched the metal on metal and decided against it and searched for another solution.  Now, if you check the Australian Joint Registry, they are doing 5000 revisions of metal on metal and some people only lasted 18 months after the first surgery.  Pain and other problems.  They are in dire straits.

      Don't you think that it would be better for those who already have the implant  to know what the problems can be so that they can proceed now to mitigate the outcome, or at least be diligent to have their blood checked for elevations of metal ions, instead of waiting til the problem is irreversible?

      Mikey 

       

  • angela16057
    angela16057 liamfahy7

    Posted

    Hi Liam

    my steroid injection done nothing for the pain I was experiencing , my x-Rays didn't reflect the true state of my hip. MRI did shed more light the extent of my OA.

    My THR has been marvellous in resolving my hip pain

    i wish you well

    kind regards Angela 

    • liamfahy7
      liamfahy7 angela16057

      Posted

      Hi Angela,

      Thanks so much for replying - I'm interested in hearing more from people who have had the injection but with no success, but who have then still gone on to have a THR.

      Do you know why your injection didn't work in any way for you? I thought that the steroid injection was the best way of diagnosing if pain is coming from within a hip. I also thought that if an injection doesn't work then it's not a good idea to replace the hip as it suggests the pain is elsewhere.

      Do you know much about this?

      Thanks very much indeed,

      Liam

  • angela16057
    angela16057 liamfahy7

    Posted

    Hi Liam,

    i don't know why my injection didn't work, the surgeon never suggested that the injection was an indication of hip pain but a way of trying to resolve it.

    they think some of the bone structure within the femur head had given way. Apart from having severe pain when trying to walk I was unable to to lift a full kettle, 4 litres of milk ect.

    i have abnormal shaped femur heads and OA as a result. 

    My hip could feel unstable when I moved. So may be it was more clear with me, they where clear that a THR was the only why to resolve the pain once injection had no effect.

    Thr means right hip is pain free.

    i hope this helps 

    kind regards Angela 

  • helen248
    helen248 liamfahy7

    Posted

    Hi Liam, Ive have complex regional pain syndrome since i had knee surgery 13 years ago. Ive just had my hip replaced on my CRPS affected right leg so i know how worried you are about this. Everyone facing major surgery is scared but when you know you have a strong chance of coming out of hospital in a worse state than when you went in, its bloody terrifying. I talked to everyone i could about it. GP, pain consultant, surgeon, husband. My GP summed things up really well. CRPS will exacerbate the pain from a damaged joint and more pain means a greater chance of a flare up and permanent spread. So do nothing and you might end up with your worse case scenario anyway. My pain consultant said much the same. You cant not have your hip replaced if its bone on bone because the pain from that is more destructive than the surgery. Plus the pain restricts your activity and less activity means the chronic pain gets worse....Use it or lose it.

    I talked with my surgeon who was wonderful and understanding and most importantly knew what CRPS was!! hooray! He said he would make sure my pain was controlled using a spinal and adequate meds and that i would be mobilised as soon as possible. He made sure i was as informed as i possibly could be and told the ward staff that i would need more pain relief than usual. The op went perfectly, my aftercare was first class and ive not had a flare up thankfully. I do have nerve damage that ive yet to speak to my surgeon about but its not crps so im relieved. My hip pain is totally gone now. NO hip so no pain. The wound is still sore and the muscles are sore as id expect at 5 weeks post op but otherwise its fine. 

    I would recommend finding a surgeon who deals with young and difficult hips if possible. My initial consult was with another chap who referred me on to Mr Patel as he specialises in people like me. Make sure everyone knows you want a spinal with as much post op pain relief as you need and get mobilising asap. Ultimately its your decision but i think the pain in your hip will eventually win out. You cant just leave it sadly or i would have done just that. 

    Good luck with it Liam and keep us posted. Give me a shout if you have any questions etc. ill help if i can

    helen

     

    • helen248
      helen248

      Posted

      Oh and interestingly, the injection didnt work with me either. I suspect i suffered a pain response to that which eclipsed any positive results.
    • liamfahy7
      liamfahy7 helen248

      Posted

      Hi there Helen,

      Goodness I can't believe how similar your situation sounds to mine - thanks SO much for replying.

      Would you mind at all if I ask you a couple more questions?

      I might send you a PM with my email address if you don't mind?

      I'm so rieves to have found someone suffering with a pan condition who's gone on to have a successful THR!

      I'll send you a private message in a mo,

      Thanks again!

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