Scared-i Need Hips Replaced

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GINGER

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HI EVERYONE--This is the first time I have ever did anything like this so please understand if I am not doing this right. I am 46 years old and started having trouble with my back and legs about 5 years ago and it is now at the point that I am totally bed-ridden because of hip pain. I have O\A in both knees and hips. I also have spinal stenosis. I use to weigh 490 pounds but I am down to almost 300 lbs. now. The O/S wants me as far under 300 lbs. as I can be by my next appointment in October and we will schedule the surgery for the right hip which hurts the most right now. The right hip is bone on bone and feels like it slips in and out of joint when I try and stand on it, sit certain ways, or try and walk. I am on strong pain meds now which has helped as long as I watch how I move. I know there is no way I can avoid surgery but I am so worried about it. I have never had major surgery before and cannot imagine being in anymore pain than I am right now. ANY SUGGESTIONS---MUCH THANKS Ginger
 
Hi Ginger!
Welcome to the forum.
The pain of surgery and recovery is much less than what you have now. The surgeon is right, although you have done very well losing weight, you need to lose more weight, recovery requires lots of activity and using the leg and any weight you can lose before will be mean faster recovery due to more likihood of activity.
For a few weeks you might need pain medication according to posts on this forum, I never had any but that seems to be an exception. But other than needing help with controlling pain, healing is steady and improves daily. The very first thoughts after the operation, and your first assisted steps will be "why did I wait so long?". I put it off for years and had pain for years with no medical intervention...my HMO just did not care. It was only after moving to another country did I try to resolve the problem that was steadily reducing my mobility. I had it done 5,000 miles from home and alone, but despite anxiety about having an operation and long possible recovery period, I had it done and from the moment I woke up after the operation, I realized I went through years of pain for NOTHING!
Lose more weight, have it done, and thank us for encouraging you to get your life back when it is all done;>). You WILL be kicking yourself for not doing it sooner. The best part is being able to kick yourself;>)
 
Hi Ginger

Poor you. I know its scary but please believe me it will be the best thing you've ever done. I am 35 yrs old female who had a left THR almost six weeks ago. I had OA in my left hip (i think its begining in my right hip to) however i don't have trouble with knees or spine like you do so you have my every sympathy. Everyone's experience of surgery is different as we are all individual and our circumstances/surgeon's technique are different but on the whole if you go through the threads the bottom line is everyone is pleased they had it done. The symptoms you describe were very similar to how i felt when i tried to stand up and move but the difference now is incredible. For me the after sugery pain was not a patch on the pain before hand and although the first 2/3 weeks were very tiring and at times a bit over whelming things do get better. It will probalby be another couple of months before i get out of bed and go about my day without thinking about it however i can feel the benefit already and am so pleased i had it done. There are loads of lovely people on this sight who will no doubt be posting their advice soon and any questions you have there is always someone to help. I will be thinking of you
Take Care Tracey
 
Hi Ginger,
You have heard the great advice already. I feel for you in your situation. I have not been bedridden or overweight , but do have spine problems. I had my right hip replaced 3 months ago. I found there were only 2 days in the hospital that were really bad pain wise. Actually i had a lot of vomiting at the time, so that may have contributed to being miserable too.
I also have knee arthritis and this week wil have an MRI on the right knee. Shoulder problems too.
Your recovery will be individual as Tracey said, we are all different and you have your other joints to deal with. It is a start. We were all scared. I feel if I need any other joint replaced I will not be the least bit scared. It really is not as bad as you may imagine.
Keep us updated on your weight loss . We can encourage you!!!
Judy in socal
 
Can't add much to all that - pretty much got it covered, they have.
 
Ginger, I'm glad you've joined us. I had never had major surgery either until I had my right hip replaced on June 16. I had my left replaced on Aug. 18. But unlike many others, I wasn't afraid of the surgery. I was in so much pain before surgery and almost bed-ridden because I could barely get myself to work. I could do nothing around the house so I was excited about surgery. I couldn't wait for those days and any surgical pain I had was nothing compared to the OA pain. They will give you pain meds and ice as you need it. And the pain gets less as the days go by. I am almost two weeks post-op and don't need the percocet anymore, but I have switched to just one Vicodin every six hours. I still use the ice bag as I need it. I will pray for you, your surgery and recovery. Let us know how everything is going.
 
Welcome, Ginger. You're in the right place. The people in this forum are awesome. Can't think of a better place to find your answers than here where we've all been through it. Then, of course, there's the wonderful Josephine who's been in the business for years and serves as our resident expert.

Best of luck to you in losing more pounds. I know the struggle well. I lost 59 pounds prior to my surgery and still have more to lose. As those have said it before me, whatever you can lose will be helpful. Just take it one day at a time.

~Carol
 
Ginger-
Welcome. Road to recovery is going to be interesting as well as challenging. Your going to find a terrific collection of people who will relate their experiences to you. Yes, we were all scarred. But the healing pain after replacements are short lived compared to the never ending day to day chronic pain that wont go away. In October you could be a month or two away from your surgery date. In respect for being in better shape prior to surgery; that will go a long ways in the healing process. The more weight you loose the more stress that is taken away from your bad joints. (By the way it isn't just on a pound for pound basis, it is amplified, it will feel like even more weight is taken off your joints).

{Sorry had to take a break. Started this Saturday when I came home from work, got side tracked and now back to this on Sunday noonish}.

The human body is indeed a miracle and one of Gods gifts to us. It can fix many of the things that can happen to it. In my case I realized the Osteoarthritis in my left hip and lower spine were not going to fix itself. When I found an OS (Good bone Dr) who made me realize that the quality of my life would not improve on its own, I set the nervousness aside and agreed that it had to be done.
Now at about 15 weeks after surgery Life is indeed good again. (Getting better every day I should add).
I don't want to drag on and on but check this website out further and you will find the two great things that it has interwoven in it are Josephine and the rest of us posters.
 
Ginger,
Welcome to the forum! I had never had major surgery before my THR this summer, & I'm 47. I was scared, too, & had a rough (for me) 24 hrs. post-surgery, but have increasingly felt soooooo much better since then that it was worth it!

There are so many people here that understand, & will listen to your fears & frustrations - we've all had them. Josephine is awesome, & a great help to us.

Keep coming back, Ginger.

Joyce
 
Ginger. I see my surgeon tomorrow to decide what need to be done regarding my hip. I am 58 years old 167 pound male and it seems like this shouldn't happen. I just adopted a 10 year old last year and for the first time he is playing organized baseball...something I did growing up but in the past few months have become dibilitated.....I will not give up...In the few weeks I have been associated with this group I have found hope and ANSWERS... I am scared beyond belief!!!!!! I go to my surgeon tomorrow so he can answers my questions based upon this fantastic groups input....I have also recently developed a problem with my other hip....But with friends like this in this forum and their experiences and lots of tears (yes I am a male who crys) I WILL make it and SO WILL YOU....MY prayers, thoughts, and angels will be over you!!!!
 
Nice posts, all!
[Bonesmart.org] Scared-i Need Hips Replaced

 
Thank you all for your encouragement and support. I am at the point right now that I can't wait to have the THR. I am in so much pain when I try and stand or walk any that I am almost totally bed-ridden. I can actually feel my one hip that is bone on bone slip in and out of joint.

I hope when I see the OS on October 14, that he will set a date for me. Once the decision is made to have the surgery how long does it usually take to schedule.

Thank you all.
Ginger
 
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