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Decision to have THR

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pilot1

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Hello Group,
I am new to the group and am scheduled to have THR Nov 23rd.
I did not know I had a bad hip until we had a boat accident last summer and since then have had problems. The DR said it would not get better but wanted to give it time. Seems I had advanced arthritis of the hip and the accident loosened it up. Amazing that I did not have issues until the accident. He said I would eventually need a THR.
I chickened out once already. I have pain when I move my leg in any direction. Sometimes severe pain and cant stand for long.
Wonder if I should just take pain meds and live with some pain and wait until I am older. I am 50 and young to have this done. An even bigger problem is that my right knee is bone on bone so DR advises since I need left hip done to do the knee so I dont wear out the new hip faster with such a bad knee.
I know I am rambling on and on.
I am getting a zimmer with 38 head.. can I expect good movement from a new hip?
 
Welcome, Pilot! In answer to your question,,,,YES YES YES!! Not only will you get your movement restored but you'll get the quality of life back without taking all those painkillers! Fly high and Good luck!!!And post again so we know how you are doing!!! ((:0)
 
Pilot--I am a 52 and had BTHR at 51. I waited too long. Immediately after the operation, and I mean in the recovery room, and later in my hospital bed, I felt improved flexibility. That has been improving every week. So yes, you can expect an improvement.
 
Thanks for the replies. I misunderstood my DR first time I asked about movement.. He thought I meant right after surgery and told me I could wear slip on shoes or get an extended shoe horn.. Thats when I canceled the operation.
I have ok movement now but pain is the biggest issue and it goes down the front of my leg.. kind of a numb feeling and then just uncomfortable to stand. Then at times can be very very painful. Strange how it works. At times I just about jump out of my skin with pain. Must be the loose bodies in the hip.
I will keep you posted and thanks again.
 
I am a knee not a hippie but for sure if you are in pain, then why wait? You are 50 and there are several in the 20's on here that have had a new hip and they are doing great.

Get back to a pain free life and most of all get back to living a life. You will be so happy you had that hip done and the knee.
I know I am enjoying life again.
 
Hi, pilot - and welcome to the BoneSmart family!

You're not too young. You're the perfect age! There was a time (when I was young! :hehe:) that anyone under the age of 70 was considered "too young" to have a THR but no longer. In fact, we have members on here who are 20 have had THRs! Think on that!

As for movement, I've known people assume that they will be half cripples after the op. Again, not so. The whole objective of the surgery is to give you back your life and to give you back you! You want that, don't you?

Read in RECURRING INFORMATION - I think you'll find a great deal of useful information in there. But also read the old threads both in this section and the After Hip Replacement - Recovery Discussions
 
Hi, Pilot...welcome to the forum!

You will be so glad you had this surgery! After all, your life NOW is important. You need it back. After the recovery period, you will be amazed at how much better you feel. There are very few restrictions (actually, more cautions than actual restrictions). Of course, your career as a professional bungee jumper will be over...:hehe::hehe:

But...that aside....go for it and be happy. You are about to get the real YOU back.
 
Thank you all for the encouragement. Sometimes I feel I should just tough it out a few more years but the hip has really made it almost impossible.
I have been without cartledge in my right knee for 37 years now from a motorcylce accident when I was a kid.
I am looking forward to this.. I just found out we have rescheduled for Jan 7th.. The original hospital is not on my insurance network and was going to cost an extra 10800 out of pocket... yikes..
So I told them I could wait.
I really appreciate the support and hope I can return the help
 
I am 53 and have had my right hip done almost one year ago - so much for the age thing... Best decision i ever made.

if you can function now without taking pain meds, then you may not be as bad off as most of us were. A big factor for me was a concern about what years of taking pain meds would do to my overall heath. Being in my early 50's and faced with taking Vicodin or very high doses of Ibuprofen or Naproxen products.

When the arthritis stops you from doing what you "need" to do and/or what you "want" to do, it is time to seriously consider it. If you are already taking large doses of pain meds to allow you to function, it will NOT get any better, so what does 20+ years of that look like? these were the factors that influenced me.

BTW - why a Zimmer hip? Jo, wasn't that the company that had a lot of problems with the acetabulum (sp?) cup?
 
That's DEFINITELY what it's ALL about! At least you'll be able to enjoy the holidays with your family! Jan 7th will be here before you know it!!! ((:0)
 
Mudpro,
Zimmer is what my doc uses.... He is old school I must admit. Great Doc and I know him personally. I wanted to do metal on metal mary lou hip and he did not recommend it.. He said its all marketing to make a buck and he likes to use what works and is proven. I have a friend that did the Mary Lou hip, cant remember what brand and its worked great for her. She is doing yoga and totally healed.
Seems when I search different brands they have all been sued one time or other..
 
Mudpro,
Zimmer is what my doc uses.... He is old school I must admit. Great Doc and I know him personally. I wanted to do metal on metal mary lou hip and he did not recommend it.. He said its all marketing to make a buck and he likes to use what works and is proven. I have a friend that did the Mary Lou hip, cant remember what brand and its worked great for her. She is doing yoga and totally healed.
Seems when I search different brands they have all been sued one time or other..

I did a little research and apparently the FDA removed the Zimmer "Durom" style cup, so whatever he is using isn't the device that made all the bad news.

Your doc may be your friend, but if he is only recommending a hip with a polyetherline liner instead of metal on metal or metal on ceramic, you really should think about getting a second opinion. You were concerned about your age, one of the big factors with soft liner style hips vs. the other harder surfaces is wear...
 
I was about to say that, Mud. I really wouldn't have a small headed metal on plastic at your age. Plus, nice as this guy is, if he's old school, then he's probably working 'old protocols' too and that's not good when you're looking to have a life expectancy of some 40+ years.

Therefore
~ You need a second opinion
~ You need to find a surgeon who does at least 500 (preferably more) hips a year
~ You also need one that has a proactive and up to date take on this.

Think of this - most hip replacements have a life expectancy of around 15+ years. This means that you could be looking at a revision at 65 and another at 80. Some products manage to last a lot longer, those being the more modern and technically advanced products. Why settle for something that 'might' only last 15-20 years when you could get something that lasts twice as long?

Look at it this way - you're going to have a new extension on your home (cost roughly in the same ball park, at a guess). Do you go with the builder you've known for a while and let him do what he will? Or do you hunt around, ask for estimates and references and choose one that's got lots of experience and is bang up to date in technique? Of course you do!

Another little warning:
This is something people unwisely do, going with a person (for whatever) they've known for years and who they really like as a person, etc., etc. But there is a wise and very true saying: never get your extension done by a friend or relative! It's great if everything goes well but if there's any hiccups - well, you get the picture
 
When my first doctor made the recommendation I get a new hip, I said "thank you, I think I will think on it for a while..." I spent a year thinking about it, suffering, and learning what I could. After I was mentally ready to go through with it, I went back to the same surgeon and asked him about various options I had learned about on the Internet, specifically something called "Hip Resurfacing". Much to his credit he said he only knew a little about the procedure and that the did not perform it and suggested I consult with a doctor who did.

Now I'm not trying to hype hip resurfacing, but after visiting two other dotors who both did traditional THR and resurfacing procedures, I learned a lot more about my options and I got reimforcement that I was a good candidate for the process (requires good bone density). Which, BTW if I were you I would definately give a look.

Regardless if the procedure is a THR or a Resurfacing, a large ball hip (metal on metal or ceramic) is preferrable for an active person over the small ball and liner version. There is less likelyhood of a dislocation, and unless subjected to accidental trama, will last longer.

Traditional THR

[Bonesmart.org] Decision to have THR

Metal on Metal (Zimmer)

[Bonesmart.org] Decision to have THR


This is from the Zimmer website: https://www.zimmerindia.com/z/ctl/op/global/action/1/id/7888/template/MP

The Strength of Metal-on-Metal

Developed and refined in Europe for over 40 years, Metasul has helped over 140,000 patients worldwide. In 1988, after rigorous testing at 15 independent clinical sites in the United States, Metasul was cleared for use in the United States.

In the Metasul implant, the conventional plastic polyethylene insert has a cobalt chrome metal inlay. This helps minimize wear over time, potentially increasing the longevity of the implant.

Patients are placing more demands than ever before on their hip implants. Like any piece of equipment, a conventional polyethylene hip insert can wear down over time.
The motion of a hip implant relies on the articulation of a metal head within a plastic polyethylene cup in the hip socket. The problem with polyethylene is that it can wear over time. Microscopic particles may break off and settle around the implant and surrounding tissue. The body’s immune system rejects this polyethylene debris, often causing osteolysis or "eating away" of the bone.
 
Large head metal on metal or ceramic immitate your natural hip and cup much better than the liner version.

The reason that the linear version caught on was that the early version of metal on metal failed due to the metalurgy and machining capability in the early days of hip replacements weren't up to the challenge. Today's components are space-age in design and if installed properly virtually eliminate any of the issues that caused those early failures.
 
Yay, Mud! Good exposition about HR and about the THR/HR technology!

See, pilot, that's why I was urging caution about a surgeon with old school info. Things have change so much in the last 5-10 years. I know that as a practitioner it's very tough keeping up with it all.
 
Yay, Mud! Good exposition about HR and about the THR/HR technology!

See, pilot, that's why I was urging caution about a surgeon with old school info. Things have change so much in the last 5-10 years. I know that as a practitioner it's very tough keeping up with it all.

Thanks, Jo - I consider that HIGH PRAISE coming from you! :D
 
Hi Pilot,
Hi and welcome!
It's good (in a perverse way) to find people with the same symptoms. I have things 'floating' in my right hip joint. Also, it catches and causes great sudden pain down the front of my thigh bone. The catching can happen at the worst possible times...like when rising from a sitting position...making it almost impossible to get up until I can 'uncatch' it. I feel like I'm trying to work a puzzle when trying to get it free again.

I've been getting shots for about 1 and 1/2 years now, but the cartilage in my hip joint is almost gone. I don't care to wait and live in the constant pain...I'm scheduled for a replacement on January 12th.

My DR also suggested I do some research and during one of our pre-op meetings we will discuss what type of implant I should get.

I can't wait to get active again, and I'm leaning to the metal-metal with the large ball. Not sure yet.

However...good luck!
 
Pilot
I am also new to this forum. My right THR is scheduled for Dec. 8th at Norton's Hosp. Louisville, KY with Dr. Lawrence Shraper. Since setting the date for the surgery I have worried if I should wait longer. I guess I had a few good days at home with less pain. A few hectic days at work brought me back to reality...pain and not able to do what I want...walk the dog, sit without leg going numb, drive without pain, etc. This site has really encouraged me and its where i go when my family is tired of hearing me talk about my hip. I'll be cheering you on! I think the worry and uncertainity must be normal. But I can't wait to feel good again!!!
 
Hi, Tweedy....welcome to BoneSmart! So glad you found the forum and decided to join in. You might want to start your own thread so that people can respond to you directly. It would give you a place to post any specific questions or concerns you have.
 
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