Lounge Doctor

Don't have an OS yet

Status
Not open for further replies.
N

NanaPat

junior member
Joined
Feb 12, 2009
Messages
64
Location
United States-So. Calif.
Having read quite a few postings, I now realize my right hip has been deteriorating for several years. I took the hip test mentioned by MVO in the December 2008 thread....ugh!...my score was 49.

I asked my reg. Dr. several months ago if I needed ortho doctor or rheum. doctor because my pain had progressed to the point of limping all the time....he said ortho so I asked if it was lower back or hip and he said hip. I went to a local guy, he looked at x-rays from several months earlier, pushed on my hip a bit and said 'it's not your hip, you need an MRI and see the lower back ortho doc.' After the MRI and waiting for an open appointment....another month later, the lower back doctor said it's not your back....it's your hip....guess that's why they're all referred to as 'practicing' medicine. He took one x-ray of my pelvis...guess it included right hip...and showed me the bone-on-bone portion of my hip. He then said the good news is that it's fixable (surgery) and did I want to see the other doctor again.....no thanks.

My husband and I left the next day for 6 weeks in the RV (trip that had been planned for a long time) where I remained in denial (and constant pain). Now that we're home I still prefer denial, but I found this site and have been reading for several hours today...it's been very helpful and I really appreciate discovering questions that I'll need to ask when I do find and OS I feel I can trust.

I don't know anyone who's had hip surgery, so I have no personal referrals. But I've been looking online for names of doctors nearby to call....since I now know they specialize in certain portions of the body, I guess it's going to take phone calls to find those who deal in hips. I've called to get my pelvic xray and will pick that up soon.

Does anyone have suggestions to help me find a terrific doctor? Also, what's the average hospital stay? And any other helpful hints you might have are greatly appreciated.

NanaPat
 
Welcome to the forum, NanaPat! So glad you found us. You are doing the right thing by coming out of denial and gathering information on hips. Here is a link to a thread on this forum that should help you in your search for a doctor to discuss your particular situation with: https://bonesmart.org/forum/showthread.php?t=714

I wish you the best of luck in your search....are you near a large city? Please post any time you have a question or concern. There are lots of folks here who have been through hip replacement surgery and they are more than willing to provide support for you. I am from the knee side, but I believe the average hospital stay is relatively short - only a few days.
 
NanaPat
Welcome to the greatest place. I had my hip replaced on June 6th. It is awesome a wonderful fix to some annoying pain.

Josephine, our wonderful nurse, has a thread on how to pick a surgeon. Look for that one first. Then in your area find a physical therapist and ask for their recommendations. They work with the patients after surgery and see who recovers without problems related to surgery.

It think you asked how long in the hospital. I was in for 4 days. Went home able to get upstairs, using crutches. At 4 weeks I was using a cane, walking 1/2 mile to the local pool and swimming , then walking home. At 3 months I was back to hiking and pretty much anything else.

Good Luck finding a surgeon
Judy
 
Thank you for the positive reinforcement. It's good to hear that if all goes well I may be up on my feet and recovering in a reasonable amount of time. I'm 61 and have a couple other health issues, but in reading one of Jo's posts, she said doctors are trained for these things.

I'll be watching for other replies. Thank you again.

NanaPat
 
Choices/decisions ... life's tough sometimes!
 
Thanks for everyone's input....am still looking for doctor names online...am having difficulty finding any 'review information', most sites ask for money for their review reporting. I've asked a couple friends who have other friends with hip surgery experience...am hoping to hear back from them this week. I have 2 names right now, but no one I know who's seen them. I may try to get appointment with at least one of them.

My husband bought me a scooter so I'm able to get around at Disneyland with my grand daughter....not the way I want to spend the rest of my life, but certainly a plus for right now!

Am having pain in the other hip/leg...guess it's from the way I've been walking and limping for so long now. Anyone else go through this?
 
I had an appointment this afternoon with an OS (we'll call him Dr. A)...someone recommended another OS (Dr. B) in this particular medical group, but turns out Dr. B didn't do hips, so I ended up seeing Dr. A. I asked him how many hips he does in a year and he said he did about 10-15 hips last year (guess I'll have to ask THAT question BEFORE I set up an appointment in the future). Anyway, Dr. A recommended waiting as long as possible since the metal/plastic only last 15-20 yrs. That would put me in my late 70s or early 80s and in need of more surgery or perhaps opt for a wheelchair...just depends on how active I might be at that age??????? In the meantime I have all this pain.....hello!!!!! I can't take Celebrex (allergic to sulfa), Ibuprofin in large doses rips up my stomach and Napersin (Alleve?) makes me feel extremely weird....what else is there? He said perhaps a rheumatologist would have other pain suggestions, but I'd love suggestions from all of you...since you've had the experiences that make you qualified in my book!! One more question I have for you guys...in the list of questions that are suggested (to ask your OS) on this Forum, it was mentioned that if a doctor has done "anything over 500 hip surgeries", that's good....does that apply for doctors here in the U.S. too?
 
nanaPat

You do not want a surgeon who only did 15 or 20 hip replacements last year. Aim for 500 per year.
You just need to search for more docs. Sounds like you are ready to have the replacement.
Call a physical therapist office who rehabs people after hip replacements and see who they recommend. Do not wait, you are already in too much pain.
Good Luck
Judy
 
NanaPat said:
I ended up seeing Dr. A. I asked him how many hips he does in a year and he said he did about 10-15 hips last year (guess I'll have to ask THAT question BEFORE I set up an appointment in the future).
Click to expand...
10-15 a year?! Sheesh - why does he even bother? That's one a month - not even worthy of being called a hobby.

NanaPat said:
Anyway, Dr. A recommended waiting as long as possible since the metal/plastic only last 15-20 yrs.
Click to expand...
Rubbish! Poppycock! 'Official' line is 10-15 years, professionals reckon it to be 15-20. Statistics show it to be approaching 20-25 and even more.

NanaPat said:
That would put me in my late 70s or early 80s and in need of more surgery or perhaps opt for a wheelchair...just depends on how active I might be at that age???????
Click to expand...
Wrong attitude, hun. There are many, many people walking around now, living good, productive and happy lives who had their replacements done in the 60s and 70s! There is a news report at the head of the hip forum, a lady who had hers done in 1966! See 42 years life span for a hip replacement!!

NanaPat said:
He said perhaps a rheumatologist would have other pain suggestions
Click to expand...
Don't waste your time with rheumatologists. I've never heard of one yet that even factors joint replacement into the equasion and they have a vested interest in keeping you out of those guys' hands!

NanaPat said:
One more question I have for you guys...in the list of questions that are suggested (to ask your OS) on this Forum, it was mentioned that if a doctor has done "anything over 500 hip surgeries", that's good....does that apply for doctors here in the U.S. too?
Click to expand...
It applies to surgeons everywhere!
 
Thank you for the encouragement...Jo, especially appreciate each individualized reply!

Judy....appreciate the suggestion to ask a phys. therapist....I think a friend of mine knows one...I'll call.
 
Nana Pat
You don't happen to live in southern california do you? I just re read and you mentioned getting around Disneyland with your granddaughter so I was wondering. I llive in socal so that is why I asked.
Keep up the search
Judy
 
No I am afraid not, but I could maybe ask my doc when I see him next week. If I ever get to making my list of questions, I'll add it.
Do you know where Pasadena is? I live next to it in an awesome small town. Sierra Madre

Hey we could actually meet when I start driving longer distances!
Judy
 
Yep, I know where Sierra Madre is....we'll have to keep in touch....I think that's only 45 min. to 1 hr. drive from here. What surgery did you have and when?
 
Well I've kind of had a surgery marathon.

July 07 cervical spinal fusion , diskectomy with instrumentation (plates and screws)

Feb 08 hip arthroscopy/microfracture

June 08 right hip replacement

Dec. 08 right knee arthroscopy/microfracture/synovectomy

Jan 09 thoracic spinal fusion 7 levels 16 screws/rods

I need more but don't think I could handle it right now

I am only driving in my local area for now.
it would be fun to meet a bonesmarty
Judy
 
Nana Pat
Have you found anyone in your area? Any luck from physical therapy offices. You can just call even if you don't know anyone there, that is how I originally found my spine doc and I love him.
I am off to florida to visit family next week, but when I get back we should try to meet half way for lunch.
judy
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Active Antibacterial

BoneSmart #1 Best Blog

The Best Total Knee Replacement Blogs of 2020

Staff online

  • Layla
    Layla
    Staff member since November 20, 2017
  • Jockette
    Jockette
    Staff member since March 18, 2018
  • CricketHip
    CricketHip
    Staff member since June 5, 2019
  • djklaugh
    djklaugh
    Staff member since December 30, 2020

Members online

Total: 145 (members: 14, guests: 131)

Latest posts

Back
Top Bottom