Has anyone had any experience with delaying hip surgery for osteo (BHR, not arthroscopic surgery which I wouldn't even consider based on generally marginal results) by the use of intra-articular cortisone injections? I was hoping that the osteo in my right hip that started in earnest following my LBHR in March would settle down once the LBHR hip started to heal and do its fair share of work, but it's only gotten worse, especially after biking, hiking or even swimming in my pool (it doesn't like rapid rotation at all, even non-weight bearing). I wake up in agony numerous times during the sleeping hours if I've exercised after work (the most serious pain abates once up and around). At 58, I consider exercise to be crucial in maintaining my good bone density relative to my age and the new hip seems to thrive with it as long as I don't overdo, so not exercising is not an option in my view, not to mention that regular exercise is crucial for so many other reasons including, for me, the "happiness" factor. That's assuming I don't tear the labrum, of course, as exercising then is absolutely out of the question.
I have an appt. next Thursday with a generalist at the same sports clinic where I had my LBHR for a cortisone injection (since her asst. told me it's done right there in the office I assume it's ultrasound-guided; only a radiologist can do the fluroscopically-guided injections). A cursory review of online literature shows that deep infection of the hip being injected is rare (so I assume a cross-infection of the BHR hip would also be negligible?). I am tentatively planning on having this hip resurfaced next August when I will have so much vacation and sick time built back up I can "double-dip" between short-term disability and paid time off which will not only pay for my annual $2400 medical deductible but net me some significant $ as well.
In my experience, cortisone injections have never worked for anything. It didn't help with the resurfaced hip but then I also had a substantial labral tear. But I guess I won't know until I try. I would think that this orthopeidic generalist (whom I've seen numerous times) should certainly know if an injection would put my relatively new BHR of the other hip at risk. I would rather endure the pain until I can get it resurfaced next year if it's in any way going to put my LBHR at risk.