Who was really scared to have surgery - but was relieved to have gone through with it? In my reasoning mind I believe that, as long as I ask questions and choose a surgeon with a good amount of experience, the surgery will be very sucessful. But whenever I think about it I become very anxious and just want to put it off.
Probably most of us were scared to some degree....I know I was! I found quite a few people on this site who were very helpful, and took time to explain what they went through....which helped me prepare.
I was nervous and worried. Nowmthat I'm through it, I think imworried more,than I should have. Do your homework, research the doctors, the procedure.......and make sure that you are ready to do it. Once you know it's time to do it, it gets easier to deslvwith it.
I was thinking id be freaking out inpreop, but wasn't. I knew what I had to do,and a big part of me wanted the surgery....i was just nervous about it.
It's normal to worry, have questions, and anxiety. But in the end, if your pain is and enough, it will worth it. You will know when its time to fix your hip!
I started off that way and have put off surgery for years. I hadn't actually spoken to a surgeon though and kept the idea of replacement as something that I would just have to do 'down the track'. In January of this year, I finally went and met one that my rheumatologist recommended and for the first time following this meeting, I actually was seriously considering it. I was re-assured by the surgeon and a lot of questions were answered which actually helped a lot in coming to the decision to have it done. I am booked in for a bilateral birmingham mid head resections on the 8 April and haven't had any freak out moments yet - maybe I will the day before - as my team of health professionals is working hard with me now to prepare me physically and mentally for the whole process. (Mostly physios who I have been working with for some time - if they hadn't of been supportive, I wouldn't have considered it). I'm not sure how it worked out for other people, but it seems for me that when the time is right you'll know - for me, the timing is right, my attitude is right and I am positive that it will be a success and doing everything possible to put me in the best type of recovery. I am looking forward to being able to actually being physically able to do some of the rehab exercises as with my current range of movement in my hips, I can't do them now. That side of things is a little overwhelming now, wondering what it might be like to do some of the things that I don't remember ever being able to do :)
Good luck with whatever you decide - it needs to be right for you :)
Quote from: shubhasgirl on March 14, 2011, 01:04:20 AM
Who was really scared to have surgery - but was relieved to have gone through with it? In my reasoning mind I believe that, as long as I ask questions and choose a surgeon with a good amount of experience, the surgery will be very sucessful. But whenever I think about it I become very anxious and just want to put it off.
Thats exactly how I felt. I just wanted all the pain to end, but then the thought of "having metal put into my body" just felt weird. It took nearly a year of debate with myself before I gave in and realised that I had to do something. Also I`d had my appendix removed at my local hospital about 6 years ago, and the whole hospital experience was terrible. Their baby unit is superb,but the rest of the hospital is awful.....and the surgeons/consultants that I have met there are rude,arrogant and clueless. ( I went there first regarding my hip...and ended up walking out...and telling the consultant what he could do with his full hip replacement >:( )
In the end the pain won and I went to Addenbrooke`s. A totally different experience (apart from the hospital food which is YUK!!! ;) :o ...but then all NHS food is horrible ;D )
So do ask questions..and find a surgeon that you like and trust....it will be worth it in the end :)
I had a previous experience with a surgery in 2008 that didn't go very well at all. So, I was very anxious about the BHR surgery going well. One meeting with Dr. David Palmer and 90% of that went away. I still had the "normal" amount of pre-surgical anxiety that everyone has however.
But, in the end... it all went so smoothly and recovery has gone so well that I don't know why I was worried at all. I guess it's the fear of the unknown that everyone goes through. :)
Unless you have had the hip surgery you will be scared, now that I've been through it and I know it's no big deal I would not worry in the least. My left hip is starting to give me twinges and I know in a couple of years I will need the other done.
And you are correct, if you do not pick an experienced surgeon you should be worried. I now would NEVER have a surgeon with < 500 work on me, just too many things can go wrong.
Chuck
Quote from: shubhasgirl on March 14, 2011, 01:04:20 AM
Who was really scared to have surgery - but was relieved to have gone through with it? In my reasoning mind I believe that, as long as I ask questions and choose a surgeon with a good amount of experience, the surgery will be very sucessful. But whenever I think about it I become very anxious and just want to put it off.
I was so ready to have the surgery and excited about the prospect of being able to run again, that I was not that anxious. I wanted my life back! The little anxiety I had was not knowing if I could end up with a THR...that is always an outside possibility. Luckily I ended up with a BHR and am so pleased!
No I was not worried about the surgery either. I even had a good night's sleep the night before. Don't know why, I am not particularly brave.
QuoteUnless you have had the hip surgery you will be scared
Sorry Chuck I do not agree. There is no reason to be scared. You choose a good device, you choose a good surgeon, you commit to it and have the opportunity to get better.
D.
Actually my comment was based on most people's experience, it's natural to fear the unknown and if you've never been put in that position and never had the operation it's quite normal to fear, read some of the other patients who posted recently. We told them over and over not to worry and yet they did, of course post-op they laughed and agreed that it was no big deal.
That's all I was inferring, if it was taken wrong I apologize.
Chuck
Quote from: lopsided on March 14, 2011, 09:11:54 AM
No I was not worried about the surgery either. I even had a good night's sleep the night before. Don't know why, I am not particularly brave.
QuoteUnless you have had the hip surgery you will be scared
Sorry Chuck I do not agree. There is no reason to be scared. You choose a good device, you choose a good surgeon, you commit to it and have the opportunity to get better.
D.
Chuck, you do not have to apologize.
I do want everyone who has not had resurfacing yet to look forward to it and enjoy it.
D.
I had a bi-lat by Dr.Gross in feb. I researched til I was blue in the face and I was still nervous. But once I got to the hospital (Providence in Columbia, S.C.) my fears began to subside. The hospital and staff had good energy which was kinda weird for a hospital.
Another concern was the "spinal" before the (first) surgery, but whatever coctail or, happy juice they gave me before that, it did its job! I had no memory of either surgery. It was like - "Lights out, lights on!" That quick! Very strange.
The bi-lat's have been tough, but each day gets better. I am so glad I did it!
Shane in Arizona
I think that I fit your question pretty well. Yes, I was very nervous, and considering that I have been known as an "extreme sports" kind of guy (parachuting, hang-gliding, downhill racing, cliff jumping on skis, 30'+ big wave surfing, etc), it was surprising how much this one had me scared. In fact I canceled my first surgery appointment, even though I had been in pain and limping for 10 years. It was not until a failed alternative treatment left me on crutches and a cane full time, that I finally went through with it. It did make it easier that I settled on a surgeon that I really trusted, even though it meant 9 hours of flight time to get there from Hawaii. As someone else here mentioned, the staff at the hospital that Dr. Gross uses are fantastic, and as soon as I was in their caring hands, I started feeling better.
Just as you asked, the moment that I woke up in recovery, got the report that the surgery had gone perfectly, and felt that the long standing arthritis pain was gone, I felt relieved and confident that I had done the right thing.
As others have said, I think that the key is choosing the surgeon that gives you absolute confidence; not the one that is most convenient, but the one that you truly believe is the absolute best one for you.
One thing that my surgeon said to me: There are no guarantees in life. In this case, you just have to look at the per-centages offered by your surgeon, and decide when the risk to reward balance is justified for you. I am certainly glad that I finally did it.
I was scared to death! With my RBHR on 2-25-08 I had sciatic nerve damage and foot drop. The hip is great but what a struggle I had with pain and limitations for a while. That's all resolved now and even through all that I would have done the same over and did do it again with a LBHR on 2-28-11!!! My left hip was so bad that if I had waited 2 more months I probably would have had to have a total hip. I am 52 years young and extremely active. I live to exercise and teach karate. I guess my fear of inactivity overcame my fear of the surgery. Now I feel like I have a second chance to live my life the way I want to - hiking, camping, dancing, kicking and sweating!!!
We only have one life to live, don't let fear hold you back from living it to the fullest!
I would say that I had more anxiety than fear and went so far as to cancel surgery last august. I was aware that this was something that I was going to have to figure out and spent some time talking to a shrink. It was very helpful.
I completely underestimated the mental aspect of the decision process. I saw it as a physical problem that I needed to have fixed, but in the end... I got a some good coaching on the mental side to help with the decision and following through with it.
On both occasions I don't remember feeling scared. It was something I had decided I had to have done and being scared wasn't going to help things in any way. On way to my second oop, I can remember being on the trolley waiting for the anasthetic whilst the surgical team bustled around chatting about their way into work and this and that. I can remember being strangely relaxed.
As previously posted I was "interested" to be on the other side of the op to find out whether I'd go a BHR or not (I had) - closely followed by whether my legs were both the same length. ;D (they were)
I suppose it affects people in different ways but, for me, it was something I really wanted to have done and was ready for the ops.
Best wishes to anyone thinking about having the op or actually getting ready for it.
Ed
If I thought about what was to happen to me, I got a little scared. I never got really terrified or anything like that. I worried that the day before or the day of surgery I would totally "freak out" especially when being wheeled into the OR. In other words I was afraid I would be afraid. (Gee, where have we all heard that before?)
It turned out that none of this imagined fear ever happened to me. I was a little anxious I guess and wanted to get on and get it over with the day of surgery, but the hospital personnel, nurses, Doctor, etc. made me feel very calm. What you imagine and the way it will really be are completely different.
Don't put it off. Every person on this site who was really scared will tell you they would do it again if they had to and the surgery is no big deal. I had both done the same week and after I went through the first one, I didn't even think about the coming second one.
I'm 9 weeks post op this week and am I glad I had it done! Best wishes and keep us posted. Don't be afraid to bring this subject up again, that's what this site is for. Look at all the replies already!
Steve (newdog)
Shane,
Good to hear from you!! I guess I could say "Been there, done that". Yes, I agree, each day does get better. The "happy juice", cocktail or whatever it is before surgery is amazing the way it works. After that stuff, you just don't care what they do!!
Steve (newdog)
I'm so grateful to all of you for your comments. If anyone else has experiences they'd like to share, please keep them coming! :)
Here's another one, (being on the west coast of the US, I'm always coming in late) :).
I was totally freaked out. I researched my problem for about a year and really got into the HR piece of it about 4 months prior to surgery. I spent a lot of time here researching and posting. I think what made my finally decide was all the positive info folks provided here. Regardless, though, once I scheduled surgery I got really anxious. For about 2 weeks prior to surgery I drank a few more beers than I should have each night. It was almost like alcohol could eat up the anxiety. Actually that's an obvious reaction and the kind that could easilly drive one to drink too much. Not good. Anyway, I didn't heed the advice of my comrades here and should have gotten more exercise and better diet.
Part of the anxiety was due to me not being sure I needed this quite yet, another was the worry that something would go wrong with the procedure, another was the implant in my body, another was worrying about changes in my architecture, another was,......you get the picture. That's what anxiety does to you.
I recommend doing your research as everyone says here, then when you have a particularly bad day you take note and realize that it could be better. Schedule surgery and keep reminding yourself that you are tired of pain and other problems, and then have confidence in your decision and then try not to think about it.
I have an entry in my blog about my anxiety. It was by far the worst part of this whole experience.
http://onehipdude.blogspot.com/ (http://onehipdude.blogspot.com/)
Good luck Shubgirl and don't worry :)
@Tin Soldier - Your cane is wicked. Checked out your blog.
@ shub: I am also scared. Not so much about the procedure but because I am using these yahoos at Kaiser to do the surgery. I am gunshy after they misdiagnosed me after a Cortisone shot, searched for an infection for three months to no avail, and then wanted a surgeon with no HR experience to do my surgery. All the time I am in extreme pain and can't walk without crutches. I went from a day of training for an Ironamna to the next day of being bed ridden in incredible pain. It has been alost six months and they are just getting around to surgery.
I paid for a second opinion with Dr. Mont (over 2000 Hr and $467) and he diagnosed it by just looking at an xray - The cortisone caused synovitis (rare) which resulted in high SED blood rates and advanced AVN. Who would of thought all of that from a Cortisone shot? I would prefer to use Dr. Mont but Kaiser doesn't allow me to go out of network and I am almost broke from being unable to work for 3 months after the shot.
I finally got Kasier to agree to allow Dr Thomas of Rankin Orthopedics in DC to assit the Kaiser surgeon. I am not comfotrtale with this but I have no other options. Dr Thomas has trained under Dr Mont and has done over 200 HRs so I guess it's the best I am going to get. Plus, he is basically donating his time. He has been great with my stepson and empathizes with my situation. I am lucky this man has stepped in to help me in my situation. He even got Kaiser to allow their surgeon to do the procedure at his hospital. He feels that it will be a better outcome if he uses his team who is familiar with the HR surgery procedure, Kaiser team is just familiar with THRs.
I am hoping for the best but scared out of my wits. Surgery is in two days.
Here's what I learned: get the best Health Insurance you can - something with options for out of network options. I can't recommend Kaiser Mid Atlantic to any person in need of HR at all.
hipnhop
Very best wishes for your surgery. I hope everything goes well for you.
Ed
Good Luck HipnHop! Hopefully we will both be back to training for Ironmans soon! I used Dr. Andy Engh of Anderson Orthopedics in Virginia for my surgery. First class all the way! Sounds like you now have a better situation with an experienced surgeon assisting.
I was scared the first time, but hopeful. The worst part was driving up to the hospital, but another part of me was really excited to get rid of the pain and lack of activity in my life. I relaxed as the staff got a hold of me; they were so patient and friendly. I started cracking bad jokes, hitting rock bottom when the poor guy who came in to shave my leg for the procedure got asked (by me) if it was going to be a Brazilian cut. Suffice it to say my family members in with me were seriously embarrassed. I blame it on the IV drugs I was getting, but all agree that I would have done it anyways.
The second time around, the only thing I was really worried about is that it wouldn't go as well as the first. It did, and both times were excellent. The first time, I was out as soon as they started to wheel me to the operating room, the second time I actually saw the operating room and then passed out. Both times, I woke up in good shape and good humor, no pain and the staff making sure I knew everything went well.
Hipnhop - sounds like you got the best situation out of the circumstances, a well experience surgeon, in his hospital with his staff. Good luck, it sounds like you're well covered.
Quote from: hernanu on March 15, 2011, 03:46:22 PM
the poor guy who came in to shave my leg for the procedure
Ive got virtually no hair on that part of my leg...and Im a hairy person....what are you??...a gorilla?? ;) ;D
Ha! ;D I have almost no hair there either, I didn't get shaved the second time around, just thought it was typical. I've got native american blood in me, so a lot less hairy than most.
Im in trouble. I'm like a Wooly Mammoth. Think I will shave with clippers tonight. Dont want the razor itch.
I had my right BHR end of June '10 and the left end of October '10. I knew I had to go thru with it, the pain was very bad and my ability to move was very restricted, but having never had surgery before I was very apprehensive about it, espeically the spinal part. The idea of someone jabbing a needle into my back (I have bum discs L4-5) gave me the heebie-jeebies. Plus when I get really emotionally torqued I get atrial fibrulation (they're not going to operate if you're in a-fib), so my doc subscribed some Xanax to take the night before to lessen my anxiety and sleep. Worked like a charm. As the time to go into the OR and get the spinal came, I just resigned myself internally to the reality and just went with it. They gave me something just before wheeling me in, probably Versed, and I barely remember bending over on the table to get the spinal. Lights out. Seemed like only moments later, lights back on, all done. The recovery, from everything I've read here, was textbook. Swelling was the most uncomfortable part. When the second one came along, it was much easier. Still took a Xanax though!! ;) Second recovery, same as the first, maybe a bit easier.
Now, almost 9 and 5 months out respectively I almost forget I've had them done. ZERO pain. Range of motion and activity improving daily. It's life changing.
Some fear is normal. But don't let it stop you - do it!!!!
A spinal!?!!?! ...screw that :o ...I was given the option to have one but I turned it down.
I think it's natural to be concerned when you have to rely on someone else for your survival and well being, especially if you are used to taking care of yourself. You need to pick personell you trust, surgeon and aneasthetist.
Quote from: chris finn on March 17, 2011, 04:55:27 PM
A spinal!?!!?! ...screw that :o ...I was given the option to have one but I turned it down.
Different strokes for different folks.
I had an epidural for both surgeries, which numbed me from the waist down, but is not a spinal per se. I also had general anesthesia, which means a breathing tube down the throat.
I wasn't given a choice in this but was the surgeon's and anesthesiologist's call, which is fine with me because they know a lot more about it than I do.
The epidural was left in for about 24 hours post op because it was also the entry point for the PCA. This was a baseline plus patient controlled level of dilaudid, a narcotic pain reliever.
I didn't have any problems with the epidural, except that it also required me to have a foley catheter until 4 hours after it was removed. Also the dilaudid caused some very annoying itching around the "private parts". I found out "after the fact" that they could administer benadryl to help with the itching and never had any. I also had a slight throat irritation (not enough to really complain about) from the breathing tube for a day or two.
I was very anxious about my first BHR, but the pain I was experiencing, along with the impact it was having on my life, far outweighed my fear of surgery. I would also say that the process at the Inova Joint Replacement Center, where my BHR's were done, was well organized and very reassuring. The first one went so well that I actually looked forward to having the second done 3-1/2 months later.
With regard to anaesthesia, I am with Chris, at least for those who don't have problems with general anaesthesia, which I don't. Before my first BHR, the anaesthesiologist tried to convince me to go with a spinal, because my head would be so much clearer when I came to in recovery. Quite honestly, I didn't really want to be "alert" after the surgery.
It took a lot of effort on both my and the wife's part to get me past the anxiety of having general anesthesia. 22 years ago was the last time I had surgery and they miscalculated the dose and I stopped breathing for 4.5 minutes while they had to do all sorts of emergency things to bring me back. Once I got over that I am so happy that I did it and wished I had done it several years ago.
Obviously alot changes in 22 years. Glad you had your resurfacing and are happy. My BHR's have been life-changing for me and I couldn't be happier. Four years later, I remain very grateful for the talents of Dr. Engh and the excellent care I received from the folks at Inova's Joint Replacement Center.
I was also terrified to have the surgery but more terrified not to! My pain was so bad and my quality of life was going down - I really had no choice! It's been so worth it. When you wake up after surgery and no longer have that deep debilitating pain - it's awesome!