New here and about to get a new hip

[tahoe1009]

Hello everyone, my name is Bobby and I am a 32 y.o man. On 4/21/09 I am having my right hip replaced. I had suffered with AVN and OA pain for a long time now. Had lots of hip surgery to this point so I am only a little nervous. I am beyond ready not to hurt, get back to normal motion and sleep!! I am really happy to have found this forum!! Lots of good information here! I look forward to relating my experience soon.

 

[Karen54]

Welcome to the forum, Bobby! We're happy you found us, too. This is a great place to ask questions, vent, relate experiences, or just chat. I had RTHR 10 weeks ago today - best thing I've ever done for myself!

Karen

 

[YoungM]

Welcome Bobby! I am am 27 female who just had a RTHR on 3/17/09. I am just 4 weeks out. I also had AVN. Was your AVN due to a specific reason or you just developed it with an unknown cause, like me? Also, you mention you have had lots of hip surgeries prior -what kinds?

Please keep posting as you continue your journey!

Melissa

 

[Laurie]

Just curious, how did those of you who have AVN find out and how was it diagnosed? I wonder if that is what I had though was just told that my right hip had wear and tear due to osteoarthritis. But this was such a slow process that started after my first born, in 1977. Don't really know what AVN is , perhaps you can enlighten me?

Laurie

 

[Josephine]

AVN is AVascular Necrosis meaning death of the bone (in this case the femoral head or ball of the ball and socket joint) caused by an inadequate blood supply somtime in the patient's life, usually as a child. I would be most surprised if you had true "wear and tear" arthritis at your age. Therefore the likelihood is that you had some kind of problem as a child like Perthes disease or a congenitally dislocated hip.

The other option is that there was some trauma like a fractured pelvis or hip that started off the arthritic changes.

 

[Troweltalk]

Welcome aboard, Bobby. Is the the handle refer to your location "Lake Tahoe" or your ride "Chevy Tahoe"?

Lots of good info here, reading others experiences is no guaranteee your experience will be the same. But odds are, it will be very similar.

Good luck, kid!

 

[nickji]

Welcome to the forum Bobby,

You've definitely come to the right place; lots of info, as you've seen. . . and very nice people. Finding this site really changed my whole healing process, and greatly for the better.

I had RTHR 7 weeks ago and am really pleased with the results - post operative pains come and go, but nothing too much; and the joint pain . . . totally gone. Fabulous.

Enjoy it all,

Nick

 

[Laurie]

Thanks Josephine. I too think that my hip problem started long ago. I may never know the exact origin. Just wonder if Dr should have known via the xray.
Does it matter, really, at this point?

Laurie

 

[tahoe1009]

My AVN was a result of a hip fracture (Motorcycle accident), 14 years ago. I broke my right hip in 27 pieces and the left in 17. So i know a bit about hip surgery. I HURT now... all the time and with no relief from anything, so I am totally ready!!! Thanks for the warm welcome. Oh and the handle refers to Lake Tahoe, my home.

 

[Judles]

Hi Bobby! Another hippie here! I had RTHR in Nov and I've never felt better! Same story! AVN.....- freaked when my OS read me the MRI diagnosis! Like many have told you, the surgery is one of the best things you can do for yourself! Good Luck, keep posting & of course, welcome!!!

 

[YoungM]

Hey Judles -did your AVN come on for a specific reason?

As for me, my OS and all the others that I've seen said mine can be AVN or osteoarthritis. I danced very extensively and went through a Pilates certification prior to my pain and diagnosis. However, I didn't have any specific trauma to the hip -didn't have a fracture or anything like that. Perhaps just years of overuse on the hip? My left hip is fine -right now.

 

[Peta]

Hi Bobby - I'm another happy "hippie"! (49 yrs and female) Had LTHR end of October last year and will have my right one done in the near future! As everyone has already said........it's absolutely wonderful surgery and I have no regrets whatsoever!
My story is a little different - my joint arthritis is a secondary problem caused by a long-standing inflammatory bowel disease. The end result is the same however - no cartilage and never ending pain! All of which has gone!

Peta

 

[Judles]

Hey Melissa! I had never even heard of AAVN before I got diagnosed with it! I mean, bone death is scarey no matter how old you are! Although I was always active, I can't recall anything specific that would have caused it! The osteo just came on gradually and I just kinda thought it was a normal part of life! Boy am I glad I was proactive and had the surgery!
Today's my daughters birthday! We walked all over Manhattan this morning! Felt GREAT!!!

 

[YoungM]

I see Judles. Wow!! How great. I can't wait to be at your stage of progress. Happy bday to your daughter.

 

[Judles]

Thanks so much, M! I will definitely tell her! She was blown away when I told her that YOU are recovering from THR surgery! I told her you really are the poster girl for youn patients! You are doing so beautifully in your recup! Keep up the great work.....it's soooo worth it!

 

[JudyS]

Welcome Bobby
I AM 51 and had my right hip replaced last June. It is just awesome. You sound very ready to have this done.
I am in socal but have been to Tahoe and fell in love with it. You are lucky to live there.
judy

 

[creblue]

if i have RHR on june 11, what can i expect for my summer? can I sit outside and sip a margarita or beer? how soon?

 

[JudyS]

Creblue
Just as long as you invite me . All depends on how much pain meds you are taking. Now after my back surgery, if I want to have a glass of wine or 2 , i just skip the pain meds.
judy

 

[HopAlong]

Thanks Josephine. I too think that my hip problem started long ago. I may never know the exact origin. Just wonder if Dr should have known via the xray.
Does it matter, really, at this point?

Laurie

Laurie,

The first two OS's I went to that I didn't use, (Dr rosa and Dr Goodkin) looked at my x-rays and never told me that I had dysplasia. Either they didn't think it was important for me to know, or they didn't really know themselves. I'm not sure which one.

The third doctor told me on first look of the x-ray, while pointing to the evidence on the x-ray. That's how I knew he was the one---I never saw such confidence in a doctor! Not only that but, he gave me a prognosis on my good hip too, so I would be prepared to possibly do this again in 1 to 10 years.

I think you should ask your OS and ask what he thinks the origin is, because if you have dysplasia, your other hip might be at risk years from now. Maybe it is already written in your chart, but he never told to you?

Hop

 

[Josephine]

Thanks Josephine. I too think that my hip problem started long ago. I may never know the exact origin. Just wonder if Dr should have known via the xray.
Does it matter, really, at this point?

Laurie

Should he have known from the xray? Not necessarily. Things aren't always fully revealed in an xray nor even in a scan. And I would have said it probably doesn't matter except Hop's made a very good point that if it's dysplasia - meaning an abnormaly developed femoral head and acetabulum sometimes referred to as Perthes disease (see below) - then that is generally bilateral and the indications for the future are pretty obvious. He should be able to that see in the xray unless it's very mild.