Revision THR An Incredible Journey

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Name changed as requested - as can be seen in your posts!
 
Wow, nice new name!! I wondered if it was you... (TiredHippy/HappyHippy)

Glad that you are feeling better!! :thumb:

Take care,
Cardie
 
Hi HappyHippy! So glad things are going better this time. Love the name change! You should be fine not doing PT for the first month. My OS doesn't typically recommend formal PT until after the first 12 weeks, and then just if you need it/want it. Before that just walking, swimming (flutter kick only), or mild stationary bike (low resistance). He says he really wants the cup and stem to "set" before stressing it. It has worked out well for me. Just yesterday I did about 3 miles of urban hiking with the dog in a couple of the larger parks/greenbelt areas. I also have a longer stem, and it did ache at first, but now is fine.
 
Thank you Bonesmart for the nick change and for showing how a bad hip could have a happy ending! I just couldn't see myself wearing the TiredHippy label anymore.

Cardie, I made the change simple, so people would know it's me - glad it worked!

LuluOhio, I did want the subtitle "Now I Can Sit on my Bum" but that's a given. As it got worse and worse, it was difficult to do much of anything. I remember those chairs you're talking about and thinking they were torture devices. Towards the end, when I was working, I know some of my co-workers didn't really accept I was in the kind of pain I was in, and wondered about all the medical and PT appointments.

I've been back to see my brother in OH, and it's a little hard to adjust when you're used to our mountains. I was in Denver about
2 months ago, and loved it, except it didn't help the arthritis. I'm newly retired, and would love to spend about 3 months a year in warm weather someday. I purchased and renovated a cute little single story house 6 months ago, and will keep this as home in Portlandia.

Nerdgirl, I think you're right about not being in any rush for PT. I want help when transitioning to biking and other more challenging exercises, but not now, as I think doing everyday things will keep me progressing. In fact, I noticed a difference in feeling the leg length problem, if I changed how I walked and walked more heel/toe. There's many lax muscles after so long of doing nothing.

And a very big Thank You! to all the other Bonesmarties who helped me move from being a TiredHippy to a HappyHippy. An extra special thanks to Jo, for diagnosing the problem first, and for making me a HappyHippy today. :happydance:
 
So pleased to see you are Happy Hippy now because everything went well. :yay:
 
HappyHippy, how good to hear you doing so well! Congrats on the name change; it's perfect! Now it's just a matter of time and you'll be on your way to your new painfree life!! I'm so happy for you and your future! :happydance:
 
Happy Hippy, it makes me happy to hear you're doing so well! Please keep coming with the updates. Yours is an inspiring story that things can still turn out well after a terrible time.
 
I saw the Dr. yesterday and got those nasty staples taken out. Yeah! He said everything looks good, and even released me for driving short distances if I don't have any painkillers for at least 4 hours beforehand. I'll feel much better if I don't have to ask my friends for everything, and it will be nice to get out of the house. All the HGTV shows are reruns now, and TV is getting a little old.

Also said my stem was VERY loose before the surgery except the tip of the stem. He could grasp it and move it back and forth, and it accounted for all the pain I was having. I don't think that's micro, but macromotion . That's why my recovery has been so fast. This revision can't be compared to a full hip replacement since I didn't have any work done to the Acetabulum, so don't compare my timeline to yours! I'm just as fast, if not faster than my Anterior, now.

I'm so happy that I'll be returning to a somewhat normal life this Spring. And every time I see Sissy's kayak, I get jealous. I may have to fly to someplace warmer in a few months and go. It's too cold here until July without some kind of wet suit.

And I'm gonna stick around, like gum to the bottom of a shoe to remind others not to accept bad answers for sub-standard results. Once in awhile things don't go right the first time, or you get hurt and damage the parts after surgery. Insurance co.'s don't love paying for re-dos, and there are protocols out there that say you have to try all the non-surgical choices and wait for 1-2 years, before a revision. But it's your life that's ticking away, and if you have unrelenting pain, something is wrong. Keep pushing until they do something.

All the support and help have meant a great deal to me, from Jo's first observation that my pain wasn't all in my head, but in my stem ( and possibly my acetabulum too), to the increasing pains and fears as my surgery date moved closer and closer. And now, being on the other side and finding out there was something mechanical wrong all along, but ready to put all that, er, behind me and start living a fuller life again.

Glad to be here.

HH
 
You have indeed been on an incredible journey. So glad to hear you're on the road to "living a fuller life again".

Looks like revision surgery may be in my future. Reading your posts has been helpful. It's been awhile since I've posted but I have attended the New Years Eve Party's for several years. Glad I checked back in today.
I had a RTHR in March 2007 and a LTHR in January 2008. I've had 5 great years up to 9/11/12, I had a flu shot in the morning and was volunteer ushering for the SF Symphony that evening. On getting up from my seat after the performance I experienced severe pain as I put weight on my left foot. After standing for awhile and then walking to my car the pain subsided. That was the beginning. In November I had shingles on my left hip. I went to my PCP immediately and the anti-viral shot worked to make my case very mild but sometime after I was still experiencing pain in my left thigh and knee when initially putting weight on them when rising.
It took awhile to get an appointment as a new patient with an orthopedic surgeon. My surgeon had left the area.
X-rays were taken. I was referred for nuclear imaging and now waiting for an authorization for a joint aspiration to rule out and infection. Apparently loosening has occurred.
The intermittent pain is tolerable without pain medication. Revision surgery is described as more difficult and often less successful than the original THR. In ER after an episode of a fast irregular heart beat, light headedness etc. I was diagnosed with Atrial Fibrillation. I'm on Warfarin, a blood thinner but no other meds.
This adds a new dimension to revision surgery. WHAT TO DO?
Jo and Bonesmart members have been very helpful to me in the past.

Annette
 
Hi Annette I looked for your thread but couldn't find it.
Is your new OS recommending revision? Let's tag Josephine in case she might have missed your post.
 
Revision surgery is described as more difficult and often less successful than the original THR
I don't agree with that. With a loosening, it's unnecessary for the surgeon to spend to much time removing the old cement (assuming you have that) and can put the new cement on top. Recovery should be perfectly 'normal' with a good outcome. Are you seeing a revision surgeon or just a regular hip surgeon? There is a difference as the latter might not be up to all the latest wrinkles of revision arthroplasty which is a specialism in itself.
I was diagnosed with Atrial Fibrillation. This adds a new dimension to revision surgery. WHAT TO DO?
Trust me, half the population of the western world has some degree of AF. Generally it's not a serious condition and needs little or no treatment. Depending upon the degree of the problem, many cardiologists don't bother to medicate and often don't do much in the way of follow-ups either. I was one such patient. I have periods when I notice it but my cardiologist said it was much like tinnitus in that sometimes you're aware of it but mostly you're not. I doubt it will cause any problems for your surgery though the warfarin might! I think they will want you to come off that for at least a couple of weeks prior to surgery after which they will, of course, put you back on it!
 
Hi Jo,
Thanks so much for your reassuring, positive , prompt reply to my post.
The LTHR is cemented. The surgeon I believe is a regular hip surgeon. In our discussion I did ask him if there was an OS who specialized in revisions. He mentioned an OS at UCSF and stated he also does revisions. UCSF is not covered by my insurance but CPMC is. If a revision is recommended I would seek out Revision OS.
AF is not particularly bothersome. I go for blood tests once a month. I've had no problem keeping INR in an acceptable range the past 2 1/2 years. In AF my heart rate is between 60-90. With asymptomatic bradycardia my normal rate is in the 40-50's range. My cardiologist says to see him once a year. In AF I am aware of an irregular heart beat, dehydration and fatigue until I self-convert.
Re: surgery I would have to come off warfarin for some time before.
Hope all is well with you. It's been awhile.

Questions: Why am I a junior member? Should my post be on a separate thread?
 
Annette, you are a junior member based on your post count.
Number of Posts User Title
0-19 New Member
20-99 Junior Member
100-249 Member
250-499 Senior
500-999 Graduate
1000-1999 Post-graduate
2000-2999 Supremo
3000-4999 Don
5000-9999 Alpha
10,000 + Omega

Your post is fine just where it is.
 
Happy Hippy, are you a paddler too? If anyone deserves a vacation in the sunshine with a nice kayak, it's you. I'm glad you're going to stick around to share your knowledge with other bonesmarties. I believe you kept me from pushing my recovery too hard.
 
Annette,

Revisions can be successful, but you need to make sure you have a very experienced and highly rated revision specialist. I did, and have had good results overall. I'm just at 3 weeks, and having higher than average pain the last couple of days, but I've been overdoing it. I don't know if it's easier or harder to remove cemented loose stems or cups as opposed to ones with bony ingrowth. I'd guess that cement are, as removing the little amount of bone ingrowth I had was the hardest part. Jo should know. I only had the stem removed too, which makes mine even easier. I'd say to get the best surgeon you can, but I'm not very knowledgeable about the particulars in your circumstance.

Sissy, I LOVE kayaking, and used to do it quite a bit. I don't know if I can take a vacation earlier than summer this year, but kayaking will be on the top of my list of things to do again. I used to do class 3 - 4 rivers, but will probably stay in calmer water. Your pic helps bring me hope! I'm not sure anymore about how slow to go, as my current Dr. hasn't gone into detail about why my stem failed. He did change the offset, angle, and length of my stem, which makes sense with what I was seeing in my CT scan. My stem wasn't positioned properly for my anatomy. There's a higher risk of that with Anteriors because it's harder to access the femur, so malpositioning happens more often, especially when you pick someone who hasn't done that many. But that's been said over and over in the forum. Get a surgeon who's well experienced with a history of successful results.

My Dr. has wanted me to do full weight bearing from the beginning, and I start outside PT this week. I have to watch myself because I want to overdo, but this hip is fussier. More scar tissue and muscles to contend with.

And I'm having soreness, likely from overdoing. It's a little over 3 weeks post-op today and the first days in the last 10 where I've felt I need to lie down. The soreness and pain are muscular; I tried to do a little unaided walking, and my leg doesn't like that yet. Something tells me it's going to take work and time to adjust, as my old stem had sunk into the femur, and I think muscles go slack. I'm trying to not be a TiredHippy, as we all have these days while healing. The hip will adjust, and I'll be better after rest and ice.

Good luck Annette. I'm sure you'll be fine, and let me know if I can be of help.
 
Happy lady, you know the drill. A warning shot has been fired....do not overdo it. I am the poster person for a setback once freed from restrictions. I was scared and miserable and thought I'd blown it. But it was just enthusiasm unfettered. You lie back and relax while you can.
 
Hi HappyHippie,
Thanks for responding. You already have been of help.

I'm checking out OS's who specialize in Revisions. Two have been recommended. Today I got copies of my x-rays and nuclear imaging exam. I'll post the results and ask Jo and others for opinions,
I'm not experiencing too much discomfort and am able to carryon with my regular activities, including volunteer ushering at the SF Ballet, Opera, Symphony and at the new SFJAZZ Center. Standing and/walking is not a problem. It's painful when I get up from sitting and begin to walk. I used to walk a lot. SF is great for walking. Now I'm driving or taking the cable car or buses to appointments etc. Should I cut out dancing? I don't want to exacerbate the situation. What exercises are good? What can I do to slow the loosening. Could my body heal itself?

Hope you're taking it "Nice and Easy". Take good care,
 
Good job, Annette!

You may not be quite ready for surgery yet, if it's just start up pain, but those are classic loose hip symptoms. Finding out how much bone destruction has occurred will show you the urgency of your surgery.

And SF is a great walking city. When I visit I get a Bart/Muni pass and strike out fearlessly, as in the past I knew I could hop a bus and ride or walk to another stop and always get to transit. One time about 15-20 years ago I'd flown in for a week long business convention, so I got a week pass and after dropping off my luggage, since my flight arrived late Sunday morning. I took a long tour around the Bay Area and ended up at the Convention area not long before sundown. I think it was Feb. I remember walking through the plaza, preoccupied with my meeting info, then I looked up and realized I crossed the tenderloin in semi-darkness, and was so oblivious that no one even asked me for any change. It never dawned on me to not feel safe.

And I've always been able to walk whenever I visited before. We have a great transit system up here, but we still have more holes than Muni, and until the last few years, too much rain.

As to your questions, as to your body healing itself, I think you know the answer. Cartilage is a limited resource. You should be able to find outstanding revision specialists in your area, and I'm not sure you're there yet. As for exercises, I kept up water exercise when I couldn't do anything else. It keeps your movements fluid and muscles strong without lifting. I kept up occasional PT so I had exercises for maintaining my strength without hurting me more. I'm glad I kept working out, as I have the upper body strength I need. I'd tell anyone to keep working on upper body, even when the lower joint are problems, as you'll be getting up with your arm muscles. Practice getting in and out of chairs multiple times if you have any arm weakness.

And I'm taking it easy, but still a bit sore. I haven't been babying as much as I should, and this is what I get. It will get better with a little time and a lot of lounging.

Let me know what they say.
 
HH,
I hope this finds you taking it easy, lounging, and not so sore. Slowing down is difficult when you're young and active. At 78 for me it's not a problem.
I love the "City". Monthly I buy $22 Senior Muni Pass. I mostly ride the cable cars currently costing $6 one way.I live on Nob Hill right across from Grace Cathedral. Seven blocks down hill is the Tenderloin. My condo has a gym and a pool. I've thought about going down and exercising now I WILL. I'll definitely use the pool and maybe the bicycle and tread mill?
I'm not ready for surgery yet. I do have the time to find a OS who specializes in hip replacement revisions.
I'm planning to contact the OS who did both of my replacements for his recommendations both re:what to do and a referral. He's now practicing out of the immediate area. He can access my X-rays etc. since it's now computerized at least since 2005.
Your right. I do know the answer to my question but still cling to my "magical" thinking re: both my hip and the AFib.
I'm off to a meeting now but will add the result of my hip exams for JO later today.

.
 
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