Hi - my name is James, I am a 44 year old from Ireland. I have been in trouble for about twelve years with both hips. My big problem was the pain in the lower back. Over time a curve developed in my back, which caused me a lot of pain. I used to play a lot of golf, but I had to give this up, as the pain I had afterwards was unbelievable. Basically if I played golf, I would be in pain for five to six days afterwards, which really meant that it wasn’t worth it anymore! In the end I could barely walk, everybody was commenting on my limp, in both hips!
I tried everything, cortisone injections into the back, physio, chiropractors, you name it I tried it. Everyone kept telling me that the problem was in my back, and that my hips were ok! I did have an MRI done on my hips, but it didn’t show up anything, that MRi was about ten years ago.
Eventually in July 2010 I had another MRI done on my hips and lower back in the Sports Surgery Clinic in Santry! This time the MRI showed that my lower back was ok, but that both hips were totally gone, destroyed by Avascular Necrosis . I was gone beyond resurfacing, so I needed two new hips. I chatted with my surgeon, and we decided on Ceramic on Ceramic, because of my age!
I had my first hip done on 20th September 2010, and the second one on the 10th of January 2011, just over four weeks ago. Both operations went well, I was dreading them, but they went ok. I had an epidural for both, with a light sedative as well, which ensured that I didn’t wake up during the operations.
Its now been just over four weeks since my second operation and I am recovering well. Actually I seemed to recover quicker after the second operation, no bruising or swelling like the first time, and also the pain afterwards was ok.
I have a few questions though!
(1) I would like to know about this curve in the back, did anyone here experience that, and if so, did they recover afterwards! I am hoping that when I get back walking that the muscles in my back should get stronger, and this pain should go away. Or do I need a lot of physio to sort out this problem???
(2)After my first operation my right hip recovered really well, I was walking about three miles a day, there was no pain in the hip at all. I felt really good, looking forward to doing my second hip ( the left one). My question is...now that I have done the second hip ( left hip), I seem to be getting a slight pain in my right hip again. Is this normal? I am walking about a mile a day, but I find a slight pain in my right hip both during and after the walk! Is this from the fact that there is probably more weight on my right hip now that the left one is done! Any ideas??
If anyone wants to ask me any questions about my experience, I have no problem in sharing my experience of both operations and the recovery period afterwards! Its been four weeks now since my second operation, I never thought I would be at this stage, I hope to make a full recovery and get back to my golf, walking and cycling real soon. I am just hoping that my back will recover as well!
James