What else....Hip Replacement

[Jackie10]

 :-\OK a new girl...and I have sooooooooooooo many questions....
My problem started a year or so ago and of cause has not improved.....I have Osteoarthritis in my left hip and to boot some cysts...I have also had a back problem for many years and at first I thought that this WAS the cause of my pain, but of cause it was not it was down to be the hip.....

To say I am sooooooooo depressed and upset over this ....well ...
I have been recommended to have a hip replacement....when I suggested to my Consultant about Hip-Resurfacing he was not enthusiastic to put it mildly.....I also got the impression that he was taken-a-back that I would even know about another procedure [how wonderful is the computer  ]
Any his colleague who had a much better 'bed-side manner' has taken my case over....and though I realy did get on better with him and he was so patient and kind I am so scared to have the surgery......
The consultant gave me some pamphlets on what the procedure is etc, etc,.....and it has done NOTHING to elay my fear.....

What will be right for me...?
Will I be able to ride a bike...?
Will I be able to dance....?
How painful is the surgery...?
Could I have an epidural....?
Will I need to under go surgery again....?

Oh I realise most of these questions and the others I have swimming around in my head are for the surgeon/consultant......and every one is different and recouperates differently....

Any way for now whilst I am able to 'bear' most of the pain I will soldier on.....I suppose when the pain does become to much that's when I will submit myself to the ordeal

That's another question....does the pain REALY stop....?

Thank you for listening ..............Jackie

[Todd]

Jackie,

As you will soon hear from me and others, there is a great amount of information on this site, and you are best served by visiting a surgeon who does both THR and resurfacings.  He/she will give you a clear view of what is best for you.  Last fall I was in the same situation as you, ready to do anything to relieve the pain.  My doctor was adament that a THR was what I needed and was also a bit surprised that I would know to ask about resurfacing (which he didn't do).  I was at the scheduling desk looking for a date for my THR when in my heart I knew that wasn't my best choice.  I soon found Dr. Palmer 3 hours from me who is highly regarded and does both THR and resurfacings.  He made it very clear that I was a perfect candidate for resurfacing--I knew then and there that I not only found the right surgeon, but the right procedure for my osteoarthritic hip.  I'm 22 days post op today, and I couldn't be more happy with how my recovery is going--I'm exercising again with no joint pain as I recover.  Keep your chin up and don't be content to setttle for anything less than what is best for you.

[obxpelican]

:-\OK a new girl...and I have sooooooooooooo many questions....
My problem started a year or so ago and of cause has not improved.....I have Osteoarthritis in my left hip and to boot some cysts...I have also had a back problem for many years and at first I thought that this WAS the cause of my pain, but of cause it was not it was down to be the hip.....

Welcome to one of the best supports sites on the net Jackie.

To say I am sooooooooo depressed and upset over this ....well ...


It's normal to be upset, even shocked by the whole situation, but, Jackie, this is not cancer, you will not die from this and the surgery is not as bad as you would think, most of us were up and walking on crutches the morning of surgery.


I have been recommended to have a hip replacement....when I suggested to my Consultant about Hip-Resurfacing he was not enthusiastic to put it mildly.....I also got the impression that he was taken-a-back that I would even know about another procedure

Your statements are one of the most common on this forum.  Patient goes to X doctor, X doctor talks down HR because they don't do the surgery, a lot of it is because of MONEY. 


[how wonderful is the computer  ]
Any his colleague who had a much better 'bed-side manner' has taken my case over....and though I realy did get on better with him and he was so patient and kind I am so scared to have the surgery......
The consultant gave me some pamphlets on what the procedure is etc, etc,.....and it has done NOTHING to elay my fear.....

A very high percentage of patients of HR surgery make out really well, read some of the stories on this forum.

What will be right for me...?

If you're a good candidate for HR surgery, do it!


Will I be able to ride a bike...?

Yep!

Will I be able to dance....?

For Joy once you're rehabbed


How painful is the surgery...?

All people are different, most have some discomfort, I was never in more pain than what I was on my worst day.

Could I have an epidural....?

Many patients go that route, I did it and it was wonderful, I woke up like like waking up from a good nap.

Will I need to under go surgery again....?

It's more like sleep than going under if you get a spinal.

Oh I realise most of these questions and the others I have swimming around in my head are for the surgeon/consultant......and every one is different and recouperates differently....

PLEASE!  If you can find a surgeon who is experienced, preferably one who has done 150 or more surgeries, HR surgery is not THR surgery, it's much more involved.  Surgeries done by inexperienced doctors are at a higher risk for complications.  Yes, some patients can do well with a surgeon that is not as experienced, but, this is your hip and your life.  I cannot stress this more.

Any way for now whilst I am able to 'bear' most of the pain I will soldier on.....I suppose when the pain does become to much that's when I will submit myself to the ordeal

It's not as much of an ordeal as it's the first step to walking straight lines without pain.

That's another question....does the pain REALY stop....?

When I woke up from surgery, I could lay both legs flat and pain free.  Yes, I had some discomfort in my hip, like a big old monkey fist, but it was never screaming pain, more like a bad cramp.

Thank you for listening ..............Jackie

Ask any questions you like.

color=navy]Good luck with the hip and again, welcome to Surfacehippy.info.[[/color]

[Tekka]

Hi Jackie,

I am six days post op from a LBHR, the most important advice i can offer is find the SURGEON you feel is right. I to was offered a THR which shocked me, my ROM is already much improved and my bone on bone pain has gone completely, obviously i'm stiff and sore from my surgery..thats all.

Do not feel pressured into any procedure you do not feel 100% happy with, research as much as you can and read every article on this site...i did and i'm glad i did.

Keep smiling

Terry

[stevel]

Hi Jackie,

My local Dr. of Internal Medicine, directly said in July 2007 that I needed a hip replacement and believed I was stoic and tolerating pain more than most.  I looked at the x-rays and could understand why I needed a THR, e.g. no cartilage and lots of bone spurs.  He referred me to a local OS.  When I mentioned hip resurfacings, the local OS talked it down e.g. I wasn't a candidate since bone spurs extended into to femoral neck and into the socket.  Neither applied and he did not do hip resurfacings.  He said he didn't open a practice to just remove staples or stitches from a patient's hip resurfacing surgery from somewhere else.  He did THR's but not full size metal head THR'S.  In other words his advice was driven by his interests not mine.

So I researched hip resurfacings, mostly on this website.  After reading about all the complications that occur due to inexperienced doctors, I decided to go the most experienced doctor who installs FDA approved devices (so my insurance will pay).  Remember the FDA?  They are currently investigating tainted peanut butter for salmonella.

So I recommend going to the best doctor that your insurance will participate.

[Gavin]

Jackie

My situation was very similar to yours with the added complication of both hips being shot.Back pain was unbearable etc.Movement restricted through loss of ROM and pain.
13 months ago I had a simultaneous bilateral hip resurfacing procedure.Recovery went unbelievably well with pain being almost non existent apart from a little incisional discomfort in the first weeks. I am now back to a level of fitness which allows me to back pack in rough terrain for hours at a time carrying a heavy backpack,mountain bike anywhere I like,scuba dive and basically take part in whatever I want to totally pain free.
Don't get me wrong,things don't improve by sitting around,you have to get out and exercise as your body allows.I found swimming incredibly beneficial as soon as the incisions had healed.
As you will find out throughout this website the key is finding an experienced HR surgeon and getting the job done so you can forget about that horrible back pain and osteoarthritis pain you have been experiencing.
This website has a mountain of valuable information to help you get your life back.
Good luck

Gavin

[Mudpro]

Just my two-cents:

What will be right for me...?

Only you and your doctor can decide that based upon your age, the quaity of the femoral head bone.  You mentioned you had cysts, if located in the femoral head and of significant size, these alone may disqualify you from the resurfacing procedure because it relies heavily on the strength of the bone to support the weight at the femoral head and neck.  My surgeon even said, "just in case" he got in there and saw something he didn't like (cyst) he would abort the resurfacing and install a total hip replacmeent device.

Will I be able to ride a bike...?

Unless you have some other physcial limitation that would prevent it, there should be no reason you couldn't ride a bike with either the resurfacing or total hip procedure.

Will I be able to dance....? 

I can't dance, but then I have no rythem...  Just kidding.  Of course you will be able to dance.

How painful is the surgery...?

You won't feel a thing during surgery, at least I didn't.  It's the first week or two of recovery that is a challenge.  But everyone here has gone through it and 99% will tell you it was worth it.  Having some good support at home, take your pain meds as directed, get involved in physical therapy right away will all make it easier.

Could I have an epidural....?

Yes you can with a resurfacing, and I would think a total hip would be an OK also, its a little easier procedure (matter of opinion).  I chose to have them knock me out becasue I'm a wimp and the idea of listening to drills and saws just didn't work for me.

Will I need to under go surgery again....?

Depends on many different factors, i.e., will you out live the device, how active do you plan to be (just like to work in the garden and go for romantic walks with your significant other or do you want to play professional hockey?), will there be a failure of your bone or the device - even though the statistics are way better than 98% success there are some failures, will you fall or be involved in an auto accident.  All of these could cause you to have what we call a "revision" but as i said, 98% or so don't need to have it revised prematurely.  Statistic show about 96% are still working after 10 years.

That's another question....does the pain REALY stop....?

It did for me and everyone else I've spoken to.  That does not mean you will be pain free, the pain from the surgery will replace the hip pain.  It is an entirely different kind of pain, and after 7+ weeks I can say that pain gets less almost every day.  The cross over point for me where the surgery pain was less than the hip pain was about week 3 but that varies depending on how bad your hip pain is, some say they were better off the minute they woke up.  At week 7 my surgery pain is only 20% of the level of my former arthritis pain and deminishing.

[wayne-0]

Jackie,
I had bi-lateral hip resurfacing 11 weeks ago and couldn't be happier. I too had alot of back pain but that is gone after surgery. For me I woke up from surgery pain free although the first three days I felt like I had a charlie horse on the top of my posterior. I have been pain free since surgery . I have done things I could not do in years. Dance, ride a bike, run, bending down, getting up from a bending position, no problem. I'll be surfing, windsurfing and snowboarding when my doc gives me the green light. This surgery really worked for me and I would recommend it to you and any one else ( it's a life changer for sure for the better ). It really matters to find a doctor who is totally pro hip resurfacing and go for it. Pat has a great list of doctors on this site, check them out and good luck.

Wayne

[obxpelican]

Cysts, unless they are really bad do not stop you from getting an HR.  Of course it does depend on the doctor, and like mud said, how big they are.  Many times the surgeon will bone graft in and it works out real well.  Dr. Gross told me I had some cysts, but all he had to do was bone graft.  More often than not cysts will not prevent you from getting an HR.

If your doctor tells you that you're not a qualified HR patient, DON'T stop there, get your X-Rays to another surgeon.  

And by all means, don't listen to mud, he's a great dancer, I've seen videos of him doing the 2 step on youtube.


Chuck

[wayne-0]

Was that the video he showed off his proud incision?

Wayne

[obxpelican]

That was at the very end of the video, youtube may have already removed that part though.

 

[Mudpro]

Not only was the video removed, it was banned in 48 Countries... 

[nwugrad]

Your surgeon must have used the posterior approach!

[cindy26]

I was to that point too.  I have always had hip problems due to a childhood hip disorder that left me with pins in each hip and then removal of the pins.  I am scared too.  I have seen 4 different orthos.  All of them at this point say I can't have a resurfacing.  One because my bones are extremely too small, two with the pin placement leaves me high risk for fracture because the bone isn't stable, three my head and neck is twisted which will not be corrected.  I am scheduled for a hip replacement on March 13th.  I am 27  yrs old and have a 2 yrs old son.  This is very scary.  I have already went through hip surgery 4 times and back surgery 3 times, but you just can't stop thinking about the what ifs?.  I am on countdown to surgery I am traveling to a hip specialist at Duke Medical Center.  He said he does about 500-1000 hips and knees each year.  Those are the only joints he operates on.  When I went in to see him he went over my condition.  He seemed to know alot about it.  That makes me feel better.  I have had drs tell me everything.  Each on of them said I need a hip replacement but none of them would do it because of my age and my condition.  I am hoping after my hip surgery my back pain will go away.  I will be walking almost normal for the first time in 15 years, my right hip will be.  It was always the worst.  I know I will have to have surgery again.  I was told that up front mainly because of my age, but my condition may affect it too.  If it gets me 15-20 yrs thats 15-20yrs I will have my life back and not be in horrible pain.  I wish you the best of luck and I hope they can resurface it to save you from having to have a total hip and if you have a total hip, I hope its wonderful and will last you forever. 

Cindy

[karenj_m]

Wow Cindy....only 27 and having a THR?

Are they going to do a large Metal on Metal head so there's less chance of dislocation and its similar to the head and socket of a resurfacing? (this way it lasts longer than a small head poly-plastic THR).

Just wondering .... did you already have your xrays evaluated by some of the big kahuna resurfacing doctors (they do it for FREE)....?

[cindy26]

Hey,

Yes they are doing a Metal on Metal.  They are using a Biomet implant.  I have talked to multiple orthos.  One that specialized in resurfacing and THR.  Thats why he uses Biomet great implant and used on both.  He said resurfacing was totally out of the question being my hip.  It is similar in way.  ONly thing is I need a new neck so its being done too.  My neck is very thin and being the prior pins its not safe to resurface the joint and place another pin in there.  I was at first very disappointed with that but if thats what is best then thats what I want.  That is what was told to me by 4 different orthos.   I want this to last me many years and he said with the resurfacing that it wouldn't because it would fracture of displace with the neck isssue.   

Cindy

[Bionic]

Hi Cindy,

An uncemented MOM THR is probably the best solution for you.  It may last you an astonishingly long period of time.  No one knows.  Dr. Gross told me that hip simulator tests showed the Biomet implants lasting about 1000 years before they wear out.  Assuming no early failures from tissue rejection or other things, do you think that will be long enough for you and me?

[Bionic]

Cindy,

One thing to check with your doctor is how he plans to place your acetabular component.  Cup placement in MOM THRs is just as important as it is in resurfacings.  It is important to avoid a steep angle on the cup.

Steep cup angles are associated with high ions and early wear, which could be a particular problem for you since you are still in your childbearing years.  Be sure to ask.  If you don't like the answer you get, consider looking for another surgeon.

[cindy26]

I had to make an agreement with him that I would not have anymore children before he choose the Biomet MOM THR.  I don't think with my back problems and my hip problems I should go that route anyways.  The neurosurgeon that did my last 2 back surgeries last year told me that he highly recommended that I don't because I still have 2 more tears on my disc that are already herniated but not touching anything right now.  I have one healthy child and I don't see having another one if it means that I will not be able to take care of either of them.  I would rather have one healthy child and a half way healthy mom than put at risk.  I didn't ask him about how the cup would be implanted.  Thats not something I am very familar with.  I know my cup itself is very small and very shallow.  Its not deep at all.  I know he pointed that out to me.  What ever it takes to feel better, i will do.  I am so tired of hurting.  Even with all of the narcotics I take a day there is somedays I barely can walk. 

Thanks bionic

[obxpelican]

We're all sending you positive thoughts and prayers Cindy.... I have a good feeling that things are going to work out for you.

Keep thinking positive and pushing towards the day when you walk straight lines without pain.


Hopefully we'll all die really old with our implants still in place.

Chuck