How long before your other hip went?

Dessay · July 09, 2016, 03:19:50 PM

Hi all!

For those with dysplasia or two bad hips, how long until your other hip went? I have dysplasia, so I was expecting the other hip to go eventually. But after 2 months on crutches, the "good hip" is starting to complain a bit.

I would love to get both resurfaced, and to have that be the end of it!

Best,
Cara

blinky · July 09, 2016, 05:57:22 PM

Yes!

I thought just my left hip was bad until I had an injection into it about a year ago. Left hip felt great! But right hip felt terrible. I learned they both were shot.

Here is hoping you get a period of respite.

jd · July 09, 2016, 06:30:50 PM

I didn't have dysplasia, but I had FAI on both hips. I had bilateral arthroscopy to correct the impingement on both in 2009 -- both were good for several years, and then the right flared up again. My left had been much better when the FAI was corrected though, the right had major cartilage damage and needed microfracture.

So, I'm hoping the left *is* actually OK now and will last a couple more decades at least, but who knows? I've decided I need to get on with my life and the left goes bad if/when it goes bad. I'm not going to baby it, especially now that I know how good the resurfacing is on my right side!

catfriend · July 09, 2016, 07:49:43 PM

I have dysplasia. In December 2012 I was told by a hip specialist (big set of xrays) that I had no sign of arthritis in my hips, but due to the dysplasia I would "probably" get arthritis is my right hip in about 10 years and need a hip replacement. Ha! By the middle of 2015 it was completely shot. So much for the ten years bs. I had it resurfaced in January. According to my last x-rays in March my left hip is already about 50% worn. I already feel twinges. While it doesn't have an expiration date stamped on it (at least not that Dr. P mentioned) it's only a matter of time. Guessing by the way it feels my best guess is that I will be having it resurfaced in the fall of either 2017 or 2018.

hernanu · July 10, 2016, 11:26:39 AM

Both were gone by the time I was diagnosed - so I scheduled both for surgery three months apart (left first).

Best decision I ever made.

Dessay · July 10, 2016, 07:09:17 PM

Thanks for the replies. Funny, the left hip has never given me much trouble, though I have dysplasia in both. It started twinging when I started using the cane. The resurfaced hip feels better than the left now, which was always my "good" one. But I pretty much knew both would wear out eventually.

When I saw Dr. Millis at Boston for the possibility of bilateral PAOs, he told me it was a "mathematical certainty" both hips would wear out, and that the deterioration of the left one might be sped up by the time on crutches. Because I had a long resurfacing recovery anyway, that seems to be the case.

Looks like I'll be seeing Dr Gross again in the future- maybe even before my 1 year follow up!

Blinky- how long did your injection help you?

blinky · July 10, 2016, 08:08:08 PM

About six weeks. I tried it on the right side once I knew that side was also bad, but it gave me no relief.

LMS · July 10, 2016, 09:02:13 PM

I have mild hip dysplasia in both hips. I was diagnosed at 37. I had moderate OA in the left hip but a lot of damage on the femoral head & a cyst in the acetabulum. The right hip had no OA but after getting a debridement & microperf done, I used my right side more.

I just had a THR done 3 weeks ago the MRI & x- rays had shown severe OA in the left hip (bone on bone) & mild to moderate OA in the right hip. The clicking is now very prominent & several times during the day as well as sharp pain.

I'm now 47. When I asked my surgeon when he thought I'd be needing surgery on the right hip, he mentioned that it would be difficult to predict when I'll need a THR. Could be within a year or up to another 10 years.

Dessay · July 13, 2016, 12:56:06 PM

LMS- seems we have a lot in common. I had 2 large cysts on my acetabulum- Dr. Gross bone grafted them when he did my resurfacing. Funny though, he expected some bone on bone spots, and didn't find any when he finally went in. There was one spot of delaminated cartilage that had flipped over on itself, and that was it. I hope the lack of bone on bone "florid" arthritis doesn't affect my outcome.

A dGEMRIC MRI showed that the cartilage was actually not in horrible shape, but bad enough that a positive outcome wouldn't be guaranteed if I went with a PAO. Difficult spot to be in for sure.