What turned needing a hip replaced onto wasting my life

Posted , 14 users are following.

Well l have the story that started at a hip replacement and has just took over my life and had nothing but bad luck since it started.

Before l had my 1st hip replacement and just thought l had pulled a muscle in my groin. I drove 4hrs to get to York from Scotland only for my hip to go really bad. I felt like l was being stabbed inside my leg, the pain was unbearable. I arrived there at night time and hardly slept because of the pain. I am allergic to asprin so could not take any NSAIDs. I had the choice of paracetamol. But when l got up in the morning l was in tears on the floor trying to put my jeans on. My husband seen how much pain l was in and said right this can't go on. Do you want to go to a hospital or what do you want me to do. At this point l just wanted home and my husband does not drive, but all l wanted was to get home to my own house. So we checked out after 1 night even though we had paid for the 4 nights. I was just determined l could drive the journey home and did. I was at the doctors the next day, they sent me to the hospital for xrays. Four days later l got a call from the doctors to go see them.

Thats when l found out l needed both hips replaced as they were both totally bone to bone and fragment of bone were broken. It was a total shock ! Me and my husband were outdoor folk and walked everynight about 7 miles. We loved to walk. That was in December 2015 and l had my 1st hip replaced. Next one done in Feb 2016. Since then Ostioarthritis has took over my life. I have it in both knee's so far l have had 1 replaced in Aug 2016 then when recovering from that my ankle got it and the pain was worse than my knee that still needed done. So had an ankle fusion in April this year which was a simple operation but had the worse recovery as l had to wear a cast non weight bearing for 3 weeks. Then l was changed to a moonboot which l thought would be better.......l was wrong it was so heavy and l had to wear a really thick sock underneath it again being non weight bearing for 6 weeks and had to wear it in bed. Then another 5 weeks weight bearing with moonboot. I was really low for that recovery. I got it off and my foot has not felt great since.

I wonder to myself why have l had such bad luck since l turned 42....l am now 44 and in desperate need for the knee replacement but my mum got cancer and l had to delay it as she was going through treatment. Sadly my mum died last Thursday after being told she was cured, but never really got over the hard radio and chemothearapy. She suffered from anxiety and the fear she still had it. We all tried our hardest to convince her she was imagining it she had a year of wasted life as she was never the same again for the full year. She kept saying she had lumps in her kneck and a sore sholder. The doctor said she was fine. But it turns out she was right all along and the cancer had just spread everywear. I am now grieving the loss of my mum and in severe pain in my knee. I am taking the strongest painkillers you can get as l had to get past my mums funeral. I am now having a break before l start again with the knee.

I think why me my life has been awful since the end of 2015 and its just got worse. I hate OA its wasted me having any sort of normal life. I have even had to give up my position in the job l had and go part time even though l have hardly been at work the last few years. I just wonder if l will ever be in no pain.

Right now l am grieving and l am so mixed up and feel heartbroken.

But life has to go on and my OA will go on as well. Even though there is no link to why l have it in nearly ever joint in my bottom half. I just think what happened to me to end up like this at 44.

Sorry for the long doom and gloom post l just felt l had to get it out as this forum was a godsend for me when l 1st had my hip replacement.

Laura

0 likes, 23 replies

23 Replies

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  • Posted

    Oh my goodness!! I am so very sorry to read your sad news.Our thoughts are with you.I just hope that after next week,you will have more brighter days ahead.I won't bore you but I am 60 and a carer for my Disabled Husband, & we both have OA.Also my Hubby is severely sighted in both eyes and deaf. So life isn't easy. Anyway just to say I am so sorry for your loss.Regards Amanda h

  • Posted

    Sorry to hear your story, but it's good at times to get things of your chest on sites like this to people who you do not no. You have to try and keep positive for you and your family. I know people who take cannabis oils for pain and it works wonders. Do some research online. Keep your chin up.

  • Posted

    Dear Lors

    What a terrible catalogue of horrible bad luck for you. What can I say but I'm thinking of you and really hope life will start to get better for you. Heaven knows you need a break!

    Very best wishes. Richard

  • Posted

    So very sorry to hear about your all your problems and realise that it is not just my wife's life that has gone down the tubes since her THR two years ago when they damaged her nerves leaving her in pain 24hrs a day. She also lost her mother 7 weeks ago and is waiting on the results of tests to find out if she has cancer...what a life!

    • Posted

      You both have been thru horrendous times and I feel terrible for you.  Hang in there and know it will get better.
  • Posted

    I am so sorry to hear about your story!  Don't give up on trying to find relief.  I wish you a pain free happy life.

  • Posted

    Sincere condolences on the death of your mother Laura. Grief can make the pain you are going through even harder to bear. I hope you get the help you need to get you pain free very soon. 

    Best Wishes

    Ann

  • Posted

    Sorry for the loss of your mum! Many prayers and blessings sent your Way.
  • Posted

    Lors

    What a terrible story. I hope things get better for you. As I approach 70 I know there are things I used to do that I no longer can but you are still young and it sounds like your life has been turned upside down. I just hope you manage to find a way of enjoying life again.

    Mike

  • Posted

    Thanks so much for everyones kind words. And there is so many of you going through just as bad. Crushed l am so sorry abt your wife. It's sounds like l am looking for sympathy but l can assure you l know each and every one of you have your own problems as bad as mine or worse. I just felt writing it out would help me say how l feel. I am so sorry for all your terrible things that your going through to. I am just filled with grief at the moment and don't know if l am thinking straight. I have been so brave up to my mum died now l feel helpless as she was such a rock along with my husband that got me through it. In just over a year she was such a healthy strong woman then gets the worst disease ever l hate even the word cancer. And it took another good person. I so hope there are survivors and people who beat it. When l think l only have OA l will still hopefully have parts of life that are good and a so supportive husband so l am lucky in a way.

    Thanks Again Everyone

    Laura x

    • Posted

      Dear Lors

      A little under three years ago it was found that I had prostrate cancer and it felt as if the world had stopped.

      Thankfully it seemed to have been found early and after a course of hormone treatment and radio therapy I have been clear for nearly eighteen months so I'm thankfully a survivor so far but at each psa test the concerns surface.

      All the very best to you Lors.

      Richard

    • Posted

      Dear Lors, I'm so sorry to hear about your mum. I know how I felt when my own mum died of cancer, and at that time I was in good health, and not suffering as you are with OA. You are still so young. I hope that you can get your knee sorted, and that gradually you will have some happy times ahead of you.

      Best wishes, Judith

  • Posted

    Manu of the good folks here have said what I'm thinking. With all the marvels in medical treatment, they still have a long way to go. I'm 86 and was offered a THR but said I'd think it over. My research, mostly here in this group tells me that I'm better off on my cane with pain killers, than chancing what I have read has happened to others. I wish you some relief and my thoughts are with you.

    Paul Linder

    • Posted

      If I had read stories on here before my op I too would of been concerned. However I can tell you that I had a completely successful THR. Yes it was uncomfortable for a short while but I'm so glad I had it as I love walking now instead of dreading taking every single step. In reality I am in the majority thankfully. There are times that things go wrong but these are a very small % of the number of operations done.

      Yes you have to make your own decision in conjunation with what your surgeon says but do not let the stories on here alone put you off. This is a place where the minority of people who have problems can air their thoughts. As with most things in life people who have success just move on don't often think about adding anything to the site.

      This site is great and even though my op went fine it has been great to discuss the niggle things like not sleeping etc and get others views.

    • Posted

      Thank you Sandra. There is another factor in my reasoning. Life expectancy. I am some what restricted in present situation but I would be a good deal worse during recovery with heart disease, kidney disease and of course O A. That recovery could last for the total time I have left, and I have a wife to take care of who no longer drives. Thank God I still can. I don't know how much worse I will get, so it will weigh all developments.

    • Posted

      Yes Paul we do all have our own personal factors to take into account and everybody is different. I am so sorry to hear about your heart and kidney disease. Caring for a loved one is so important. If you were to go ahead with the op you could be up and about in just a few weeks or as some on here have found be in a worse situation.

      Life is a gamble. We never know what's ahead. I hope that you come to a final decision that you are happy and at peace about.

    • Posted

      Dear Paul

      It is a very personal decision and I respect your choice. I'm 76 in December and have always been very active so when my twenty year old hip failed a few months ago it was a no brainer.

      Seven weeks after starting to weight bear I hardly give my revision a second thought but I've been very fortunate.

      Good luck Richard

    • Posted

      Hi Paul

      I'm a lot younger (69) so like Richard it was a bit of a no brainer, But don't judge the hip replacement success rate from this forum. People who have issues or unusual cases tend to join the forum and ask questions. Many more people sail through surgery and recovery and see a huge improvement in their lives.

      But any operation represents a risk and everyone has to assess their own situation. I hope you have many more years of life ahead of you than you seem to be thinking.

      regards

      Mike

    • Posted

      Thank s for the encouragement Michael. I'll hang in there until the last dog is hung.

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