1. Community
  2. Operations and surgical procedures
  3. Hip Replacement

trying to decide...

Posted , 14 users are following.

dustin_06208
dustin_06208

I’m a 46-year-old male and started having right knee pain three years ago. Up until six months ago I thought it was my knee but it was actually my right hip. I have been in complete denial but it has gotten to the point now where I am walking with a limp, in pain while sleeping,  and can barely put on my socks and shoes on my right side. I’ve also gained twenty pounds in the last two years because I’m so inactive and depressed. Been a humbling experience because I played sports growing up and continued to play basketball and jogged a couple  of miles a day 3-4 days a week up until a few years ago. The pain has really accelerated the past 6-8 months and I was told I basically am bone-on-bone at this point and that’s it’s not if but when. I went to see two orthopaedic specialists and they both mentioned resurfacing and said because of my age I would be an ideal candidate. They also of course mentioned a THR.  I live in NC and I know Duke has a wonderful reputation but I also know there’s a resurfacing specialist in SC that also has a solid reputation. I need to do something sooner rather than later and was hoping folks could give me some insight. I’ve heard about the MoM concerns with resurfacing but there also seems to be a lot of success stories. Thank you for any advice you can offer! 

1 like, 20 replies

20 Replies

Next
  • RichardKen
    RichardKen dustin_06208

    Posted

    Dear Dustbin

    Sorry to hear your hip is shot. If that is the case it would seem pointless to go for resurfacing as that seems to be a short term solution with the same sort of surgery! Best to just get a new hip which will work and last you at least twenty years and perhaps longer. Just make sure the surgeon really is experienced and has a high level of success.

    Good luck,

    Richard

  • karl91014
    karl91014 dustin_06208

    Posted

    Hi,

    I’m 46 and had a THR early 2017. Similar to yourself I played a lot of basketball when younger. I spent about 4 years putting up with discomfort after my first diagnosis . Re-surfacing wasn’t an option for me so went for THR . That hip is great. I’m not back running as other hip isn’t great but I’m back cycling so thats a plus and no pain in the THR hip :-)

     Best of luck ! 

  • joyce50464
    joyce50464 dustin_06208

    Posted

    I was also 46 two years ago, when I was told my hip was bone on bone, I always worked out and was fit,, so I was surprised cause till I had a MRI they were trying to tell me it was bursites,well even though it was bad news I was happy to know the problem and that there was a solution cause I was limping and it was getting in the way I live,, I was told because of my age that I would be a good candidate for resurfacing so that doctor sent me to another orthopedic surgeon who is use to doing those kind of surgeries,, so that doctor told me after seeing my x-ray and mri that I would be better off just doing the THR, so I did

    And don’t regret itsmile good luck in your desition and your recoverysmile!

  • RichardKen
    RichardKen dustin_06208

    Posted

    Dear Dustbin

    I've just refreshed my memory of this so calked resurfacing surgery and looked at the web site of a Birmingham hospital in the Uk that does and promotes this surgery. I'm very concerned to read that their method uses metal on metal for the ball and cup.

    Metal on metal was found to be unsatisfactory for total hip replacements in recent years leading to withdrawal of this type of prosthesis and revisions to replace many along with legal action against the manufactures.

    Metal on metal has the increased danger of metal particles entering the blood stream with bad results. I would give surgeries using any metal on metal prosthesis a very wide birth and just have the real thing and be done with it.

    Cheers, Richard

  • serafin51612
    serafin51612 dustin_06208

    Posted

    Hi Dustin 

    I was in a very similar situation as yours. Very active, then came a point where I couldn’t put socks  on or tie my shoes for over a year. Was in constant pain. Tried everything acupuncture, PT , injections, pain meds nothing worked Bone on bone, I  was considering resurfacing but when the orthopedic saw my hip it was too far gone. It’s been 5 months since my RTHR and I feel great. No more pain , I’m putting on socks and shoes. Going to the gym . Best thing I’ve ever done. Take your time on rehab and coming back , good luck. 

  • dustin_06208
    dustin_06208

    Posted

    Thank you all for the very insightful feedback. I’m certainly leaning towards the total hip replacement, but I am a bit curious... for those of you around my age who commented that you were not candidates for resurfacing- would you have considered resurfacing had you been a candidate? Or would you still have opted for the THR? Again, thank you! 
    • joyce50464
      joyce50464 dustin_06208

      Posted

      I never in a million would have thought of having any kind of hip surgery,, so I put my trust in my surgeon so if he told me I was a candidate for resurfacing, yes sir I would have done it because one of the reasons was I was told by my first orthopedic surgeon that sent me to a second opinion orthopedic surgeon said that being younger that chances are that with a THR it could wear out within my life span and would have to go through it again and if I were to have a resurfacing it would leave more bone to work with and there for better to have a second surgery.
    • RichardKen
      RichardKen dustin_06208

      Posted

      Dear Dustbin

      We'll I'm considerably older than you but in my mind am in my early fifties. I have the advantage of having had a THR twenty years ago and having had it replaced last year so perhaps my thought have some value.

      No I would not go for resurfacing even if the procedure did not rely on both bearing surfaces being metal.

      It is a serious surgery with an uncertain life span or success. A THR is a tried and tested procedure and you should expect at least twenty years pain free use provided that you do not subject the hip to a lot of impact such as running. When it wears out it is usually just a matter of replacing the poly cup.

  • lyn1951
    lyn1951 dustin_06208

    Posted

    Full Hip replacement. I have read many articles about re-surfacing, once you are bone on bone, the chances of re-surfacing are I believe reduced although the Dr's will been keen to take your money, for the re-surfacing and then six months later another surgery for full THR, you really don't want to go through the recovery process twice if you can avoid it. 

    Having been there twice over THR on both hips fifteen months apart I know where you are coming from with the pain and disability, not fun having a hip replacement, but the pain your are in now with the bone on bone is gone, and as I liked to refer to healing pain, and getting over the wrenching or muscles and tendons to be able to do the surgery.

    ?There are videos online about hip replacement, but you have to have a very strong stomach to even watch them, be careful and maybe leave them to after the surgery for your piece of mind.

  • m05
    m05 dustin_06208

    Posted

    Hi Dustin

    My history of hip problems has many parallels to yours other than I am now 62 Sorry you are having this at such a young age , I managed to run the London marathon when I was 47 so it does seem unfair for you. Anyway I am hopefully having my first THR on 31st Jan followed by next 6 weeks later I was originally booked for 14th Dec but was postponed due to heavy cold. Prior to that I was booked fora bilateral resurfacing in November however due to strange circumstances my surgeon cancelled the op for an indefinite period of time this gave me a chance to rethink if I was doing the best thing by going for resurfacing I came to the conclusion that whilst resurfacing can make sense for some reasons and for some people ie less chance of dislocation and mechanically the setup is closer to a natural hip in action and with more natural weight bearing I couldn't come to terms with the metal on metal situation. I am now having a ceramic on ceramic THRs via the superpath procedure an innovative form of the posterior approach that has less soft tissue damage due to the joint not being dislocated during surgery this can lead to quicker recovery and a more stable prosthesis however it is most important to ensure the surgeon is experienced in doing this procedure having said that a traditional posterior procedure nowadays seems to give excellent results again it is the surgeons experience that is important. Good luck but my overriding advice would be avoid metal on metal I hope my last minute changes have made me make the best decision.

  • BusterBeans
    BusterBeans dustin_06208

    Posted

    I had a bilateral TKR but still had terrible pain in both knees so ended up having a left THR that ended pain in that knee.  I’m getting ready now for a right THR to relieve the pain in my right knee. Both knees were bone on bone but the hips were causing the continuing pain. I played basketball earlier in life and later was a jogger. I had arthroscopic surgery to delay my TKR but all it did was delay it. It was painful on its own and only delayed it. If I were you, I would research it more. Best of luck.
  • hope4cure
    hope4cure dustin_06208

    Posted

    Hip resurfacing and thr are two different types of surgery for two completely different reasons.

    Hip resurfacing involves the replacement of the joints anticular surface only. Not many surgeons recommend this proceedure in today's medicine for various reasons. It is not a permant fix. Total hip replacement, involves surgical removal of the neck of the femur (thighbone) and insertion of a stem deep inside the bone to connect with the pelvic socket and liner. Lasts for many years.

    Since you are bone on bone in much pain from OA ? ...then THR should be the best long term option.  After thr surgery in just a few months after a hip specialist had replaced a diseased hip you will be on your way to a stress free , pain free life and by summer out doing all the things that Life can give you with ur mobility back and many good years ahead. 

    Ps : I had revision in 2017 and back out enjoying life. Three thr and still going!

    • ptolemy
      ptolemy hope4cure

      Posted

      A male friend of mine had the Birmingham Hip Resurfacing System seven or eight years ago. He is very athletic and is still a keen runner, usually doing twenty five kilometres at weekends often in the pouring rain. It seems to have been very successful. I believe they have virtually stopped giving hip resurfacing for women nowadays and it is only for men who are pretty athletic and not to thin and not too fat and not too tall!
    • RichardKen
      RichardKen ptolemy

      Posted

      Dear Ptolemy

      Interesting feedback.   I came across an interesting study that can be found by putting the following line into Google.   Outcomes of Birmingham Hip Resurfacing: A Systematic Review

      The system seems to largely be aimed at the active younger market yet on reading the report i what I took from it was that many of those who had this surgery did not continue with their previous sports activities.   Seems not to be any really conclusive evidence to suggest that this system replaces the THR.

      And Googling this line produces a interesting piece in the Daily Mail newspaper.   Revolutionary hip operation that's left patients crippled for life.

      Cheers, Richard

       

    • ptolemy
      ptolemy RichardKen

      Posted

      Dear Richard

      Good old Daily Mail. Interesting that a lot of people do not continue with their previous sports activities, although my friend did and does not seem to have looked back.

    • dustin_06208
      dustin_06208 RichardKen

      Posted

      I agree- lots of interesting feedback. I have a colleague who had both hips replaced at the age of 51 (he’s now in his 60s) and said he has no regrets- changed his life. He said he was considering resurfacing but had a close friend who had the resurfacing procedure and passed away a few months later from pancreatic cancer. I know the information is all over the map in terms of what metal on metal can do but when I hear stories like that it is a bit concerning. I think there’s some part of me that thinks with resurfacing I would somehow revert back to my 20s and 30s but in reality I am at a different point in life and I wouldn’t be able to do a lot of those activities even with healthy hips.  

      The information on this forum has been invaluable! 

    • RichardKen
      RichardKen dustin_06208

      Posted

      Dear Dustbin

      From an engineering stand point I feel uncomfortable with anything that uses like metals for bearing surfaces of one against the other.  Thinking of engine crankshafts and white metal bearing shells for example. 

      As I'm waiting for an ankle replacement revision that is due to osteolysis thought to have been caused by the wear debris from the poly causing bone cysts I'm very wary of how the body reacts to outside materials.   In my case the prosthesis was put in badly offset to one side and tilted so the amount of friction would have been increased thereby causing more wear debris that it seems my body could not handle.

      It is interesting that I suffered no such problems with my hip joint and that was twenty years ago, whilst the ankle is now just five years old and displayed cyst indications from about the six month post op.  Then some time later it was thought that the situation was stable but then the bombshell at my four year check up.   I've been sorting out surgeons etc for well over a year now.

      Cheers, Richard 

       

    • brian_49816
      brian_49816 ptolemy

      Posted

      Think it's like everything else, I ran marathons yearly till I was about 45, cut it down 

      I had a billeteral hip replacement 5 weeks ago, doctor did say I probably would be able to run again but an Average new hip can last up till 22 years, if I did  running fairly serious it would probably have a life span of 10-15 years at most 

      So thought I'll stick to fast walking, cycling swimming and some golf 

    • RichardKen
      RichardKen brian_49816

      Posted

      Dear Brian

      I think that is a very sensible and responsible decision. We'll done.

      A new hip is a fantastic gift that gives us back our mobility and independence so IMO it is putting all that at risk for short term satisfaction!

      Enjoy. Cheers, Richard

Back to top
Next

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.