Gents I hope you are all well....
Long story short I’ve struggled with an arthritic hip for years but it literally cripples me some days now so I’m biting the bullet and getting myself a new one!!
Any experiences, pre or post op tips welcome please, thank you.
Last edited by spuds; 3rd May 2021 at 17:12.
Do your post op physio! The results depend on itOriginally Posted by spuds
In the same position as you. Finally had mine diagnosed last year as severe wear practically everywhere on the right side. Lots of pills help me sleep. Work is tiresome, but still plodding on.
In terms of pain, well, I know when one had a good day ;-/
Try to get yourself in the best possible shape beforehand - that's a dilemma as you have to pick exercise carefully or it hurts!
Then follow rehab carefully, they will want you up and active asap.
I can’t offer any advice on this subject, but when I saw the thread title I was hoping it was posted in SC .
My Dad had his done recently aged 70 and I couldn't believe how well and rather easily he recovered. Post Op physio always done and did as he was told. You'd never know he'd had it done now.
Good luck with yours.
My next door neighbour had both his done in his 70s and was right as rain. One of my friends had one done in his mid 40s and it was too loose in the femur implant and had to be redone 6 months later though is now fine. Though he has had to give up running. Another anecdote I know through another friend is of someone in his forties who was a mad keen cyclist and had it done and was able to ride the pre Tour Alpe D'Huez race a month later. So like anything it depends but seems an overwhelmingly positive op to have.
Im unable to offer any advice.
My brother though, has had both his hips replaced.
He has also had a "new" knee..Whilst the knee was quite painful, he said he was really surprised, at how good the hip recovery was. Quite quick and relatively painless was his verdict on the recovery for both hips.
Thanks for the posts Gents, when I saw the consultant my original plan was to book it for the til end of this year, maybe six months so I can shed some weight and get fitter beforehand but he said “I really wouldn’t worry too much, do it anyway by all means but just seeing you walk and looking at your x-rays it must be bloody hard work exercising with that hip, trust me you’ll be running round like a big kid afterwards so I wouldn’t kill yourself beforehand”.
Nevertheless I’m determined to shed a couple of stone and resume at least daily walks between now and August.
I honestly think I’ve forgotten how to walk normally though, it’s my left hip that’s bad and I’m aware that I don’t bend that knee as I walk (I literally swing my leg), I was out with my wife walking the dog the other day and deliberately tried to bend my knee as I walked and ended up looking like something out of Monty Python!!
Flow the rehab instructions to the letter, do not push it if it feels better there’s plenty of time for that when the hip is fully bedded in and the healing process is well under way.
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Flow the rehab instructions to the letter, do not push it if it feels better there’s plenty of time for that when the hip is fully bedded in and the healing process is well under way.
Had my right hip replaced five years ago at age 68. Recovery went fast and I was walking a few miles per day within a month. After about three months I rushed to get out of my recliner to answer the phone and hurt something down there. Ever since, I've had pain both at the joint site and at the outer Great Trochanter (hip bone), which my orthopedist says is bursitis. I'm pissed that my recovery was progressing splendidly until I jacked it up jumping out of my recliner!
I don't have first hand experience of the operation but do have a lot of experience since my Dad designed the most popular implant used in Europe, The Exeter Hip. He would tell you that the two most important things are the skill of the surgeon performing the operation and the implant you have. His implant designs been used for over 50 years and uses bone cement to form a Morse Taper with the polished stainless steel implant, which gives excellent longevity due to the way the implant can creep in the bone cement over time.
The best place to find out about the longevity of the implant you are having is to visit the National Joint Registry at https://www.njrcentre.org.uk/njrcentre/default.aspx. You can also find out about surgeon outcomes there.
Had both mine done at a relatively early age - buggered them up with football and running - arthritis.
Pain free and relatively straight forward recovery. Have much more flexibility now than I had for the previous 20+ years. I have never regretted getting them done.
I found yoga very useful after a period of recovery/physio.
Good luck.
Just had mine done 4 weeks ago.
I'm 59 pretty fit and strong but it's been hard going.
The op is pretty straightforward but the trauma to the leg is huge.
Managing to walk reasonably now without crutches but very limited distance.
Wound and hip site still sore and stiff but getting better by a miniscule amount each day
Do you prescribed exercises religiously both pre op and post but don't overdo it and rest is as important.
Elevate and ice leg if swollen oh and take your prescribed painkillers especially the first couple of weeks.
Any questions feel free to ask
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Noaksey thank you, and I hope yours improves daily mate....
had both of mine done,well in fact i have had 3 done but thats another story,it hurts for the first week,after that the pain starts to lessen then its plain sailing and after a year you dont even think about it.go for it.its made a huge difference to my life.
Last edited by greasemonkey; 4th May 2021 at 07:43. Reason: spelin
I don’t have any personal experience to add, but I’m curious about the plans for pre-op exercise. If you’re struggling to walk in a normal symmetrical way at the moment surely there’s a risk of putting a great deal of strain on your other side - hip, knee, ankle, spine etc? From my sporting background this would typically have been the case, where over compensating leads to further problems. Just curious from a medical/biomechanics perspective whether it’s better to have the operation early with a longer rehab, instead of trying to get fit for a few months first.
Hope all goes well with the op either way!
Hello Phil, you're quite right in that I do indeed put a great deal of strain on my 'good' knee etc, and every week for the last year or more I've seen either a chiropractor or a deep tissue masseur (who I also do my 'personal training' with)...
He's absolutely mustard and has given me general as well as isolation exercises which help strengthen and straighten, and he's very much of the opinion that the stronger/fitter and healthier I am going in, the better I'll be coming out.
(To be honest I think this is pretty much common sense and no-one would argue).
The surgeon agreed with the above but also said that it would be best to have the op' sooner rather than later as a) I'm "not that overweight" [his words not mine!] and b) it'll be far easier to exercise afterwards.
There's a six-eight week lead in even self-paying though so that realistically takes us to the end of June and I'm (hopefully) away with the family the beginning of July....
The next time I can get away from work is mid-August which is when I have the op' booked for, so I'll use the time between now and then to lose weight and get fitter anyway.
I was diagnosed December 2019 as needing a hip replacement. January 2020 the X-ray confirmed bone on bone wear on my left hip, with the right hip showing signs. I met with a consultant in May, then it went quiet. Then in September all systems go, operation due 7/9/2020. But a few days before, cancelled as the Consultant said he had found Haemochromatosis ? More tests later and a CT scan to rule out cancer. None found. January this Year, Mr Emmerson the consultant has talked to Mr Carluke who is eminently better suited to perform my hip replacement.
Now just waiting. All the time getting less mobile.
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Last edited by Yorkshiremadmick; 5th May 2021 at 07:10.
Quick update
In my 6th week post op now
Much less aware of the new joint now it's improved in the last 10 days
Walking well with no limp
New exercises from physio
Doing approximately 9,000 steps now over a day
Very happy
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Superb!!! Bloody well done Sir!!
Got both done within 8 weeks of each other in 2013/14.
Hadn’t been in pain beforehand just heat but post surgery constant pain afterwards.
Then 6 weeks ago I had to go to A&E as could hardly walk. Turns out I had a trapped nerve which has now ‘died.’ I’ve HAD NO PAIN AT ALL SINCE. UNREAL.
Good luck
My wife gets both knees done on 15 June!!!
Jim
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Got both done within 8 weeks of each other in 2013/14.
Hadn’t been in pain beforehand just heat but post surgery constant pain afterwards.
Then 6 weeks ago I had to go to A&E as could hardly walk. Turns out I had a trapped nerve which has now ‘died.’ I’ve HAD NO PAIN AT ALL SINCE. UNREAL.
Good luck
My wife gets both knees done on 15 June!!!
Jim
Interesting thread. My Mum's in for one in a coupe of weeks, privately as she's not prepared for the 18 month wait otherwise, can't blame her.
She's having an Exeter one so thanks Phil. Chap called Hall is doing it.
My impression is do as your told, don't over do it and don't dislocate it!
Sounds like you're doing well.
Keep up with the exercises.
The hard work pays off.
A key problem with a defective hip joint is the referred pain experienced and also tightness caused by other elements compensating. So for me the IT band has always been a problem.
Not saying it will help for everyone, but I have found using a massage gun on IT band, glutes, etc has had a positive impact. Only word of warning is like a good sports massage, it can be a bit uncomfortable to administer, but just wanted to throw it out there as something which can help manage the symptoms.
Absolutely agreed mate, I've been having (at least) fortnightly deep tissue massages on knotted glutes and seized quads/hamstrings for almost two years, the benefits have been literally life-changing.
Thanks Spuds & Thanks Noaksey, Great to read, Fantastic doing 9000 steps.
I was doing 10,000 then boom.
Can’t wait to get it done.
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Good evening all.
Had a visit to the physio at the GP today as i’ve been in pretty excruciating pain for months now with sciatica and a dodgy hip. I’ve previously had a telephone consultation with a GP and have had to wait weeks for the visit. We went through a few very light stretches and explained what the issues were, namely the inability to walk for more than 5 minutes without feeling my hip/leg/knee were about to implode, along with what’s been like a permanent groin strain for a number of years. I have to say the though that the ‘gentle’ exercises, prodding and pulling have left me eating the Gabapentin like sweets today. It’s been a relief that masks have to to be worn as most days i’m sure my grimace would frighten horses.
Anyway, he’s referred me to the hospital on Friday for a scan as he feels it’s almost certainly the hip that’s the issue, sciatica playing a small part.
I’m the same age as you Spuds, only slightly over weigh and can manage the gym ok as long as i do no impact exercises. I used to run, play badminton, have walks in the country and anything in between, things that have been chopped one by one.
If there’s an operation necessary it will be done on the NHS.
Would anyone have an idea about the likely wait i’ll have and of my relatively young age will have any bearing on this?
Good luck to all those going through the process and thanks for posts.
Regards, and thanks in advance for reading the somewhat long-winded post.
Davidd
Jim, David I hope your wife and Mum’s op’s go ok, please do keep us posted.
Fingers crossed for you Mick and Davidd ‘I feel your pain’ I really do, the ‘permanent groin strain’ literally being a fair description of my last four or five years!
It was actually that permanent feeling of a pulled groin that originally prompted my first visit to the doc’s over three years ago and that’s when I found out I had arthritis, I’d never even considered it until then!
Re: NHS waiting times I think it’s very much area-dependent, I read online somewhere that since Covid hip/knee replacements are now very much down the line and can be three to five years now but on a personal level here in Essex I was told at least eighteen months, maybe two years or so.
I do hope you get yours sooner mate....
Last edited by spuds; 12th May 2021 at 21:29.
Hi spuds et al
Wife got both knees done at same time 3weeks ago and is well into recovery phase.
Good days and not so good days.
Lot of pain, no pain. She complains more of a tightness in her knees areas which is her concern.
Into the physio. 3rd session now so fingers crossed!!
Jim
Blimey that IS encouraging, I can't remember the last time I walked five kilometres pain free!!!!
Hope the bad days get further and further part for your wife mate....
As an aside my physio/PT guy strongly advised me to watch a video of the operation so I understood the exercises, procedure, recovery-plan etc better.
I wish I hadn't.
It’s grim to say the least.
As a result I’ve got an old iTouch 2 loaded with chill out musicheadphones
And going to walk on cool wet grass feeling my toes in the grass. (In my mind that is)
Trying not to listen or smell what’s happening. I’m having the Exeter hip stem as recommended by Phil Lee and the Trident cup, apparently I’ve got AVN too.
Friday here we come
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Holy thread resurrection.
Well finally had my MRI a couple of weeks ago after being constantly fobbed off and kicking up a fuss and being told after the first xray that my hip wasn’t in a bad enough condition to warrant an operation. The consultant was absolutely scathing about the lack of treatment and explained the scan in great detail. The cup where the joint goes in is knackered and there’s a big space where bone is supposed to be, the space between both almost none existent, arthritis of the spine and 2 bulging discs!
The good news is that i’m down to have a replacement hip some time after i return from holiday in December. Would have preferred it before obviously but i’m not complaining!
Hi all
A wee update as requested:
Wife had surgery to replace both knees at once on 15th June.
Physio is happy with her and progress. She’s without crutches mostly now and getting mobile. She takes no painkillers or management any more.
She wishes she had done more to strengthen her legs esp the quad muscles. Too late now so the strength is taking time to build.
So far so good!!
Jim
Mine was private but chatting to the surgeon he said I'll gladly do your other one on the NHS when required but there's currently an 18 month waiting list that he expects to increase further.
That's Herts and Essex area
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I’m fearing the worst as we’ve a shockingly large backlog in the Greater Manchester area. I’ll find out soon enough. One of my greatest worries is having to neck so many painkillers for so long. I’m on the maximum now and the idea of having to keep it up is giving me huge anxiety problems.
I was on codeine for 6 months and now tramadol for over 12months Not Good.
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I had both knees replaced, Left one in 2015, Gives gyp occasionally now so I think it's wearing out!, Had the right one done in 2019, A week after returning to work, I went over on my left ankle on a hole in the concrete and landed fully on my new one, I damaged it in some way as I get pain quite often from it!
My right hip is now giving me problems and is becomming very stiff!
John
Hi Spuds, thanks for the quick reply and best wishes.
I just put the the groin strain down to over doing the badminton, the heavy wear of full on stops and starts etc and old age! Coupled with the sciatica it’s been pretty bad this year and I honestly don’t think waiting anything remotely like 18 months is a possibility to be honest though i’m not in a position to go private. I don’t fancy being on painkillers for that long either.
I’ll see what the people say when they’ve received the results of the scan and will take it from there and will report back.
Thanks again Spud and best wishes.
Good luck and please do keep us posted mate....
Thanks Spuds, will do!
Hi TGDW,
Just had a look at the list of exercises my physio has sent me, it’s very limited and they’re very much on the gentle side. Only 5 on it and they’re all something i’d have laughed at a few years ago as being too minimal if you know what i mean.
I’ve nly just looked at the list as the pain from yesterday’s examination is still very much there so I won’t be doing these today!
As the saying goes, you've got to listen to your body. Hopefully you had a skilful surgeon as aside from placement, it's actually how neat the "access" scarring is that impacts on recovery. Makes a difference long term if you are a side sleeper.
I’ve not had the surgery yet TGDW, apols as i think i may have misunderstood your post.
Superb info regarding placement and sleeping habits, thank you.
One thing to be aware of in total hip replacements and I don't think it has been mentioned so far, is the risk of Leg Length Discrepancy..
It is one of the stated risks on the consent form that you sign before the operation..
I have had 2 hip operations in 3 years on the same leg/hip.. 1st op was for a fractured acetabulum where I had an 'orif' procedure done; open reduction with internal fixation.. Basically a titanium plate put in with screws to secure a piece of the acetabulum that had been broken by the force of my rtc..
Recuperating from this op was v hard - could not put my leg on the floor for 5 weeks really, then a max of 7kg weight on it for 3 months I think before fully weight bearing.
After nearly a year where walking was still awkward it was determined that I would need a total hip replacement, which I had on 29/01/20..
Luckily this went well and I was discharged the next day after the operation. I was at home 24 hours when I realised that my undamaged leg was straight yet my damaged leg had a slight bend to it. Then it came back to me about the consent form, stated risks etc.. I never thought I would actually end up with a LLD .. I was pretty fed up for the whole week end till I realised that the main thing is I had a stable and pain free hip joint.
I ended up with the operated leg being approx. (not been properly measured so far), 9 - 12mm longer than the other leg. I wear an insert in the other shoe to even things up as I found it odd walking, as if I had one shoe on and the other off. Many (un-operated),people are walking around with a LLD without realising but if you never had one before it is quite obvious..
Good thing is now I'm back on my push bike, my leg strength has gone up massively although the muscles on the affected leg still look a bit skinnier than the other leg.
The surgeons make every effort to make the replacement hip the same length as the other leg/hip - but the risk of a LLD is increased I think if you have been walking around on a damaged hip for a long time. A colleagues MIL ended up with one leg 2 inches shorter than the other as her hip was very badly worn.
good luck OP but it's a great operation if all successful and the recovery is literally a walk in the park compared to the first procedure that I had..
Thread resurrection !!!
Going in for a left hip replacement on 2nd Oct.
Hoping it works out better than the aborted attempt in March 2022 when
I took a severe anaphylactic shock to apparently an antibiotic called
Cefuroxime which sent my heart into meltdown and i had to be shocked
back twice.
Needless to say i'm a teensy bit nervous. I'm going for sedation and a spinal
this time rather than the GA. Anyone done the same ? I'm wondering if headphones
and music is a good plan as i don't fancy hearing any sophisticated power tools at work.
cheers,
maseman
had both of mine done,10 years in on the left,3 years in on the right.rarely even think about them now.
Not hips Iain but broke my leg in 3 places. Had a spinal and sedation on all 3 occasions, 1st time was the main fix.
Second time 2 days later when they needed to add more metal work and 3rd time they removed the additional screws.
I also had mild sedation and they asked if I wanted to watch on a screen..... no thanks!
It's quite an out of body experience, there's no pain but a strange awareness of what's going on.
I'd say that headphones and music is a good idea.
Good luck
Paul
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I went in for a total left hip replacement back in January this year, and compared to your fisrt experience it went like a dream! I was absolutely terrified of just having a spinal and sedation, so much so that even when i was having the initial spinal injection i was making sure they were going to knock me out completely!
I’ve only seen very brief clips of someone having sedation/spunal and it wasn’t for me. It’s obviously a very physical operation and my right thigh, the one i was rolled on to whilst they did the replacement, still hasn’t fully recovered. Nothing too bad, numbness and the occasional spasm and shooting pain which i discussed with the consultant who said it can happen and take a while to return to normal. Have you had a chance to discuss with your consultant, i’m sure he’d be much better at advising you on the noise and discomfort?
Best wishes for a speedy recovery!
Update for me:- Ian Carluke has booked me in for 23/7/2021 at Wansbeck Hospital for my left hip, bone on bone wear. Now the right hip has started too.
Good luck to all those facing it. In terms of leg length issues, another possible problem can be drop foot. This has just happened to a friend of ours.
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