Thank you, Layla and Jamie!
It took me forever to just get a copy of the MRI report because when I called my PCP to ask them to send me a copy they said they didn't have it, they had sent it to the last Ortho Dr I saw here in Florida - the one who said he didn't know what was wrong so let's just replace it again. So I guess they didn't keep a copy, which surprised me as well! So I called the Ortho Dr's office to ask for a copy but they said they didn't have it either! Of course the place I had the MRI done won't send it to anyone but a doctor, but said with photo ID I could pick up a copy in person. Took a long time for me to get there because we were not leaving the house unless we HAD to, but finally on one outing I was able to stop by there and got a disc w/the MRI photos as well as a copy of the report - which is great, except I don't understand most of it!
I had my THR done at the Orthopaedic Institute in Kansas City. My daughter lives in KS and was able to go with me, take me to PT and appts, and help me while I stayed with her for a few months.
The report talks about the problems with my left hip and lower back as well, but this is what it says about my right hip:
Susceptibly artifact related to right hip arthroplasty, with surgical scarring from posterior approach. No periprosthetic fracture or stress related edema. No periprosthetic osseous resorption. Small nonspecific postoperative effusion, without significant synovitis. There is a small perforation in the posterior capsule with resultant mild fluid accumulation within the right greater trochanteric bursa. There is hypertrophic scarring of the anterior capsule, with questionable increased acetabular anteversion.
Status post right hip arthroplasty, with nonspecific postoperative effusion, but no evidence of osteolysis or periprosthetic fracture. There is a small amount of fluid in the greater trochanteric bursa,
probably due to an occult perforation in the posterior capsule. There is borderline excessive anteversion of the right acetabular component, and hypertrophic scarring of the anterior capsule, which can be seen with instability.
This mention of a perforation of the capsule concerns me, but the "anteversion of the right acetabular component" and the "hypertrophic scarring" worry me more! I just don't know if any of these things would cause the pain I still have or if there's anything I could (or should) do about them..
The pain I still have is often hit-or-miss. I'll be doing all right, walking along, and all of a sudden BAM a sharp pain that almost takes me down! But there are times I can guarantee it's going to hurt too, like when I'm bent over to do something (getting pans from a low cupboard, cleaning the litter box, etc) it's going to HURT when I stand back upright. And when I get up from sitting for a while, like getting out of the car, I have to stand still and "get my leg under me" before I'm able to walk, even with my cane.
I hope you can give me some insight and/or advice. As my left hip keeps getting worse I worry it will need replacing too, and I don't dare to have that done if my right leg is still hurting! I don't know, I just turned 60 so maybe I should just deal with the pain as part of old age. lol Anyway, thanks for listening.