How long before your other hip went?

[Miguelito]

Merry Christmas!

Eight months out from having my right hip done and all is going well. However, my left hip has been getting more and more painful. Dr. Gross ballparked "five years" for that one (and that was almost a year ago) but I don't think it is going to be more than another year or so. I am sure I will pull the trigger quicker than with the first. I have been more active post-surgery, but I haven't really done that much and am surprised at the rapidly increasing pain in the other hip. It really hadn't hurt noticeably before I had the right hip fixed, nor did it hurt for five or six months after.

Just wanted to toss out the question in my subject line and see what others experienced.

Thank you!

Mike

[Ross]

For me after hip scope, my left started to hurt about 6 months later.  I did bilat with Dr Gross 4 weeks ago and the pain after resurfacing was nothing compared to that scope.  I am working through my issues and about to get my 6 week check up with Lee.  Hopefully everything will look perfect and I can start stretching a little.  If it were me, I would schedule now if he thought he could help.

[hernanu]

Hard to say, since both went before I had surgery. I scheduled both to be done three months apart, doing the worst (left) first.

I did notice though, that almost as soon as I was mobile and in outpatient PT, the left was doing really well, but my right went downhill fast. At three months I was definitely ready for the second to be done.

I do feel (non-medical opinion) that my right was pushed because my left was doing so well in PT.

[fenceman]

My second started to bother me 4 years later.  I just had it fixed 6 months after it began to stop me from doing the things I enjoy.

[John C]

At the time that I had my first one done, Dr Gross commented that the x-rays of my other hip did not look that good, but since I had never had any symptoms on that side, we decided to leave it alone.
About two years later, the non-operated hip started bothering me.

[lyn]

For those that had the second hip done. How did u decide when to have the 2cnd hip done?  My right hip is just now starting to bother a bit. I still have a decent range of motion, not limping. Im 4mnths post op on my left hip. Im thinking i should get the right hip done so i can get on with my life, but then i think if its not bothering me to much, just enjoy what I can until I cant do it anymore. What to do?

[hernanu]

Like I mentioned above, Lyn - I scheduled both at the same time, since all of the surgeons that looked at it said they both needed to be done now.

At first, I thought to schedule my second for a year after, but realized that I was just putting off the inevitable since all of the surgeons' eyebrows escalated when they looked at my hips. It might have been different if they said that my right could be deferred (there was no question about the left - it was popping out regularly).

Being a big believer in chaos theory, I don't think things happen gradually; they will maintain and then change quickly. I don't think I could have held out more than three months on my right, things went downhill fast once my left was feeling its oats.

I think you'll know when it's due. You're starting to feel some pain now, and you remember when you made the decision to go on the other. There's no going back on this, but it can be delayed if you and your surgeon agree that it's ok.

There is a relief that's a kindness to yourself from getting both done when it's needed. It's done with and you can just fully recover. Just my opinion, but unless a delay puts getting an HR in doubt, it really is your call ...  what does your surgeon think?

[fenceman]

Lyn, I waited until it started to affect my quality of life.  I began to limp, it hurt to exercise or run on it, and it started to bother my back and knee because my gate had changed due to the limp.  We were also looking at dropping the Cleveland Clinic option (they would become an out of network provider) at my work health insurance which was were I was going to have it done.   All these factors help push me to have it done sooner than later.
Bill

[Dee Dee]

I was already hurting on both sides, but the right was much worse than the left. At my 6 week check up after the right, I scheduled my left for 6 months apart because I was buckling on the left from a labral tear.  I waited for closer to Christmas break when my husband and kids would be off to help around the house.  Dr. Gross was honest and said I still had some joint space and could have arthroscopic repair to hold me off replacement. But with the dysplasia I would be back to see him eventually. It was my choice.  So I chose sooner rather than later  after talking to people  here.  I decided that since I am still recovering from the first one with some ROM issues that getting the second one would mean all my recovery would be over about the same time. 
Dee

[phillwad]

I spent a year trying to improve my range of motion before getting an X-Ray.  Once the X-Ray came back my primary doctor realized I needed to see a specialist.  Then it was explained I needed both done.  My operations were 5 months apart - with the worst one done first

[lyn]

Thanks for feedback, Dr. Gross just said my right hip didn't look so good. We never discussed when to go back for  the other hip. But your all right when you say you will know, due to various factors. Im feeling more like it will be sometime this year for sure. I hope this is a better year for everyone!

[PattyM]

I had my rt hip done 8/20/12. once I started exercising and going for long walks again about 6wks out , my left hip could not keep up! I hadn't realized it was bad. I had been getting therapy and you name it I tried everything ! For 10 years I suffered. That's how long it has been since I have run, played tennis ,gone skiiing etc. Suddenly I felt like running! I had my life back! I don't want to spend the next 10 years like the last, so I am scheduled for left hip 2/25. But I am also nervous!! If I wait, I would not be a candidate anymore, I am 50.?? Any thoughts??    

[Miguelito]

Hi Patty! Thanks for checking in. Our situations sound somewhat similar in terms of the other hip really starting to have issues only as we became more active post-surgery on the "bad" hip. Being female and a little older than me you have less flexibility in waiting, unfortunately.

My thoughts? You had the other one done, so if these devices have a limited life the clock is already ticking; having the other one done won't change that equation. You're far too young to accept the limitations that come with having an arthritic hip.

 I almost wish my unoperated hip was much worse than it is so I could go get it done ASAP and get on with it. If I was in your position and concerned that I might not be able to have the surgery if I waited I think I would push to have it done. You seem pretty definitive in your statement of, "If I wait, I would not be a candidate anymore"; that alone would decide me.

I do have to add the caveat that this is coming from a male and as you are undoubtedly aware females have a somewhat elevated (though still small) risk of problems.

Good luck!

Mike

 

[hernanu]

Patty, Mike put it really well. You are too young not to improve your life, the way you've already seen with the other. It is a relief to be fully done, so I would encourage it.

Who is your surgeon?

[PattyM]

Hi!
My surgeon is the amazing Craig Della Valle in Chicago.
 
He told me it was a tricky operation and that there was zero room for error.
he was very happy with the result.
Since I made my next surgery date I don't have the pain I had . But I have also not been
very active. Working sitting at a desk.
With the first surgery I was unable to walk from my car to get a grocery cart without crying.
 
Now I am at the beginning stages , rewind maybe 5 yrs.
I am really not sure what to do. I do know the next several years will be a decline in activity
if I don't go ahead. And that my new awesome hip will have been a waste!
Imagine I have been sitting on the sidelines for 10 years. I have a 10 year old who would love to play tennis and go skiing with his mom.
I guess the last part just answered my own hesitation!
The part that scares me is what if the operation doesn't go right and I end up with a
THR?? That would kill me..
Sorry I am babbling now......

[hernanu]

Patty, we all faced the possibility of a THR (some of us got one), but the whole idea is to get the pain fixed.

Even with a THR, you can still be very active within boundaries. I understand the nervousness, I definitely had it before my second (what if it's not as good as the one I got?), but the odds are very good that you'll have a good result.

[Miguelito]

Hi Patty,

Though most of us here have had HR and believe that it was a better option than THR for us at the time we had the surgery, most would also agree that there have been significant advances in THR (larger ball, better materials) over the last several years. Dr. Gross does THR's too (I imagine all the big surgeons do) and I'm sure he does a wonderful job. That being said I understand that if you go under for HR with him you wake up with HR. I forget but I first heard that maybe twice he had gone in to do HR and wound up doing THR (could have been once or even zero) out of 3,000+ mind you, but I believe there are people here who have been told by him that he essentially guarantees it now. To your concern, I have heard about at least one other surgeon (not one of the big names) who seems to have had a number of people go under for HR and wind up with something else (a mini-hip? whatever that is). Not your surgeon, though, a guy in Massachusetts.

As far as something going wrong with an implanted HR and needing reversion to THR (if that's your concern)? You have an HR in you already, so you already face that risk. If you wait too long on the other hip you increase the chances of getting a THR anyway (because of age, sex).

Mike

[PattyM]

My worries are not having a revision, it's that I am moving forward to have the other hip done
before I should only because my time is running out.
I am already going to 51 in April. My thought was if I am going to need it anyway, get a HR to match the other one instead of suffering for the next several years and then getting  a THR.

Do I sound like an idiot?
Patty

[Miguelito]

Of course not.

It's a big decision to make, made tougher by your gender and age. I probably shouldn't be giving you advice as I have just had the one hip and my other isn't ready to go yet.

It's a big decision and you should collect all the relevant information you can before making it (again).

Mike

[PattyM]

MIKE,
If you knew you were headed for another hip operation but were not quite
limping around yet. Would you get it resurfaced now or just get a total hip
replacement in a year or two?
I think the freedom the resurfacing gives you would be better.
I'm not making my decision from your opinion just wondering what others would do?
Patty