U.S. Citizen Hoping for Advice Regarding Excrutiating Groin Pain

Bobbie,

Your concerns are understandable and the progress of your pains are understood/shared by many on this forum.  The questions you ask are best answered by an orthopedic surgeon you have vetted as successful, reliant and experienced and that you trust.  Get second and even third opinions and then make your decision based on your well informed research and instinct.  Best wishes.

JIm

I agree with Jimbone get professional advice. However, having had 3 full hip replacements I can advise you that I was off work for 3 months for each of the first 2 and 2 months for the third hip ( which was replacing one that had complications). I was always up and about using crutches as I too live on my own, after the first 3 ish weeks.  Driving after 8 weeks, but it is a personal thing. Good luck and if you go ahead visit us here as I am sure you will pick up tips and advice to help your recovery.

I too had bone on bone knees and pain with left hip and groin. After receiving a couple of steroid shots a year per knee,  I had the worst, right knee, replaced one year ago with no complications. And it helped my other knee by relieving it of stress.  An MRI done three years ago showed bursitis of the hip.    I am currently taking physical therapy for my hip concentrating on core exercises, taking a multi-vitamin, 5,000 units D3 plus tums 300 calcium.  After a month of PT, I have been able to walk without a cane for almost two days.  I too am an older person, 80 this year.

I too have many stairs.  I stayed with a friend the first week, bathroom next to the bedroom.  After that a nurse visited me at home twice a week for 1//2 hour.  Stairs I could handle with a cane. 

Hi Bobbie

Which one first?  This is a decision for the experts!  All I can say is I had my left hip done 16 months ago it took a while for me to get back to normal and the groin pain remained for some months making me think why did I go through this!  However now I am pain free and it’s wonderful.  Some have shorter recovery than others.  But I feel like I have my life back.

Good luck Julie 

I have had a half knee replacement and also a hip 10months later. From the practical point of view it is much quicker  and easier to get going after the knee op. In terms of movement you HAVE to keep bending the knee to keep it working  and this means  (disregarding the hip pain) that it is easier to manage quite soon on your own if you have prepared meals etc that you can heat up. I had someone staying with me for 4 days after hospital then managed with crutches- drove automatic at 3 weeks. WIth the hip your movement is much more restricted- bending, twisting,sitting and I needed help for over a week at home - you would need help with compression stockings anyway which you can do for yourself after a  knee op.. it was 6 weeks before driving.Still slow getting about with crutches as you need to be steady but I did walk up to 4 miles on holiday after the 7th week. However the long term recuperaion from hip was much longer than with a knee .If all that makes sense on balance I would get at least one knee going before you deal with hips.

My (physio) friend who had both hips done at once , a month ago, has made excellent progress and had to cope straight away at home with getting up 20 stairs to the living area where she does have a helping partner. She had country walk with me of a mile 2 days ago. Keeping crutches going outside is essential and sticks for the mostpart indoors or holding on to fruniture. SHe is now beginning to stand enough to to cook meals. As she already had a mobility scooter she has returned to that for short journeys and of course, being a ohysio/PT is good at exercises! Good luck

Hi Bobbie

Wow I know what you mean.  Can’t really give advice.  You’re going to need your knees for recooperation for hip.  I had THR in my right hip. My left knee wasn’t real good at the time and really got worse after hip surgery.  What  has your surgeon suggested?  I guess I would get the worst one done first. As far as how long to heal?  Everyone is different.   Hope everything works out. 

I can’t answer as to which surgery to do first, but I would recommend finding a surgeon that does the Anterior hip replacement method.  The recovery is much quicker and surgery is less invasive.  I was sent home the same afternoon from hospital, up doing at home physical therapy for about two weeks after surgery.  I graduated to walking  with a cane after about a week.  Was out walking a couple of miles unaided in about a month.  How long you need help depends on which side your surgery was on.  Mine was on the left side so I could drive after about two weeks.  At home care, plan on at least one week.  And then maybe have some one who can go out and do errands for you.  Plan on lots of frozen meals that you can just heat up.  

Everybody is different...... healing for some is remarkably easy.... for others not.  So.... do you need a total hip replacement AND knee replacements??...... I would do the Hip as if the hip is bad it will put more stress in both knees.  There is also a study with a doctor doing "Stem Cell Transplants" instead of knee replacements and it is working!! ... (  here praying they do all joints soon.... lol) ..... on your search engine type " Stem Cell Transplants instead of Replacements" it should get you to the hospital doing the study......  You may want to think about a chair lift for those stairs...... especially if your bedroom is on an upper floor.  Make good plans for support before you do anything as you will need some help...... if you have no friends or family look into support groups for Knee and or Hip replacements as they may have information for support in your area.   I will pray for you Bobbie!  And I hope to hear a good update soon.

Well, since you said you have two bad knees and two bad hips, perhaps this is the time to sell and get housing on one floor. All said and done that is 4 different surgeries each with a fairly long recovery time.

Hello Bobbie

You sound in so much pain and I feel for you.  Please see an orthopedic surgeon asap and discuss which is best for you - knees or hip. It sound like the knees need to be sorted out first due to bone on bone but you  need professional advice and fast. The recovery depends on the surgery. The stairs are a concern, do you have family that you can stay with for a while?

All the best.