Humbleservant
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THR THR @ 33
- Thread starter Donny.T
- Start date
I am not sure what really caused my issues but here I am as well. I am 56 and have struggled with this hip/back pain for about 13 years. I have done physical therapy for months, had injections, and just plain “pushed through”. I have lost half of the muscle mass on my left leg and can no longer leg press about 50 pounds at the gym. Bending down has become extremely difficult even just to load the washer/dryer. My doctor says the hip is bone on bone and can’t really get much worse without breaking or necrosis. I guess it’s time. My surgery is scheduled for Thursday, and my pre-op (last Friday). I also got the swab in my nose for MRSA, and wipes for the day before and morning of surgery. I had right ankle fusion(which was horrible) and am afraid as a result. Everyone tells me this is a walk in the park comparatively, and I hope they are right.thanks for your posts here.
SCee
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@BigDon I was also one of those people who was told to wait and in retrospect I waited unnecessarily while enduring quite a bit of discomfort. I had a very senior doctor who told me to wait until I was 60 when I was 50. At 57, I couldn’t take it any longer. By then my original doctor retired and I switched to a doctor at a teaching hospital who told me that he felt fairly confident that my hip would last the rest of my life and if not, it I was still treatable and not to worry. I am four weeks post-surgery and out and about - and I have over 20 years on you. You will be great! For me the third week after surgery is when the improvement in getting around really took off.
Btw - the before surgery drug will make all of your worries wash away. ;)
Btw - the before surgery drug will make all of your worries wash away. ;)
Lester.Frea
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Hey, I'm 30 YO, long time osteoarthritis sufferer and took the plunge a couple of weeks back and did my bilateral thr.
The fear was primarily longevity and the thought of having to go through a revision. But my doc convinced me that a. I'll get years of active life, which is important and b. putting up with the bad leg would not only affect my quality of life, but also could potentially make the surgery trickier later. Of course, my case might not be the same as yours, but IMHO it's not worth putting up with while you could have ideally a near to normal life with your new hips! It's a surgery with high success rate and the fellow hippies here really made me take the plunge. I've just begun my Recovery and am in the worst part of it, but I'm still glad that I made the call OA pain was immediately gone post surgery!
The fear was primarily longevity and the thought of having to go through a revision. But my doc convinced me that a. I'll get years of active life, which is important and b. putting up with the bad leg would not only affect my quality of life, but also could potentially make the surgery trickier later. Of course, my case might not be the same as yours, but IMHO it's not worth putting up with while you could have ideally a near to normal life with your new hips! It's a surgery with high success rate and the fellow hippies here really made me take the plunge. I've just begun my Recovery and am in the worst part of it, but I'm still glad that I made the call OA pain was immediately gone post surgery!
@Lester.Frea @SCee @Jewelz
Thanks for your replies, the more information, background and stories i come across the more convincing it all becomes.
The only downside i discussed with my surgeon is the likelihood of revision, which did not really bother me strangely enough. By the time revision comes who knows what options will be available to us.
Acceptance was the biggest issue i have faced, outweighing committing to the surgery. As a life long sportsman accepting that the hip has failed was only initially deflating. Perhaps in my circumstance this was exacerbated as i have been a part of two clinical trials for cartilage regrowth which clearly failed.
Moving forward, the surgery is just over 3 weeks away and i am 100% committed and ready, although that does not mean its something I'm excited for. Past surgeries you wake up with the same joint / part, this one is different, so entering the unknown is not a only a physical preparation but most certainly more so a mental one.
Thanks for your replies, the more information, background and stories i come across the more convincing it all becomes.
The only downside i discussed with my surgeon is the likelihood of revision, which did not really bother me strangely enough. By the time revision comes who knows what options will be available to us.
Acceptance was the biggest issue i have faced, outweighing committing to the surgery. As a life long sportsman accepting that the hip has failed was only initially deflating. Perhaps in my circumstance this was exacerbated as i have been a part of two clinical trials for cartilage regrowth which clearly failed.
Moving forward, the surgery is just over 3 weeks away and i am 100% committed and ready, although that does not mean its something I'm excited for. Past surgeries you wake up with the same joint / part, this one is different, so entering the unknown is not a only a physical preparation but most certainly more so a mental one.
Thank you for that, @Big Don. I've added "Right" to your signature.
FCBayern
Former BoneSmart Staff Member
Considering you can expect 25-30 years before needing a replacement, and how far joint replacement has come in the last 25-30 years I would expect a huge improvement with both the physical implant and the surgical approach @BigDon. And living life in the mean time means so much.
Update.
1 week to go. I am finding my thoughts are becoming more constant about the surgery / recovery and some unfamiliar anxiety creeping in. The anxiety / second guessing the decision is a new one. Every surgery I have had I have gone in with no issues. I suppose entering a surgery knowing you will wake up with the same parts is a different mental preparation to have a part replaced. The unknown is unsettling.
So my plan for the week is to stay busy. Work. 3 games of golf scheduled, gym and an overall approach to remove as much idle time as possible.
I look forward to the wait being over and being on the other side.
1 week to go. I am finding my thoughts are becoming more constant about the surgery / recovery and some unfamiliar anxiety creeping in. The anxiety / second guessing the decision is a new one. Every surgery I have had I have gone in with no issues. I suppose entering a surgery knowing you will wake up with the same parts is a different mental preparation to have a part replaced. The unknown is unsettling.
So my plan for the week is to stay busy. Work. 3 games of golf scheduled, gym and an overall approach to remove as much idle time as possible.
I look forward to the wait being over and being on the other side.
Waiting for surgery is actually the worst part of this process. Your plan to stay busy is a good one. Keeps the imagination from running wild.
Keep your eye on the prize - no more pain and getting back to all the activities you love.
Keep your eye on the prize - no more pain and getting back to all the activities you love.
Rhiannon89
member
You're going in the day before me so we can recover together 
I had my first hip done at 29 and am having my second one done at 31. My age just meant I wanted it done sooner rather than later so I could live life to the fullest!
I hope this brings you the painfree life you've been yearning for. I find once you know the hip has to go it just becomes even more of a burden and you just want it gone!! You will soon forget you've got a replacement, it feels no different in the long term, just doesn't hurt
I had my first hip done at 29 and am having my second one done at 31. My age just meant I wanted it done sooner rather than later so I could live life to the fullest!I hope this brings you the painfree life you've been yearning for. I find once you know the hip has to go it just becomes even more of a burden and you just want it gone!! You will soon forget you've got a replacement, it feels no different in the long term, just doesn't hurt
heisenberg
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I am 31 and just had mine done in December. My arthritis developed over the years after I had a traumatic posterior dislocation when I was playing football at age 12.
I remember feeling all the things you are feeling. In the weeks leading up, I wanted moments of clarity when I would do an activity, and just think, "man, I just can't do that anymore because of the pain" or "wow, I am just not the person I used to be". These moments were what pushed me through the doubts. I knew if I had a successful surgery, my life would be better. I would be able to be more active with my 4 young kids. I would enjoy the next 20-30 years of my life without pain.
I am almost 5 months out, and I am so glad I did it. I am not back to where I want to be. I still have muscle weakness in my quads and hip that are getting stronger, but no joint pain. Good luck, I look forward to hearing about your post-op journey.
I remember feeling all the things you are feeling. In the weeks leading up, I wanted moments of clarity when I would do an activity, and just think, "man, I just can't do that anymore because of the pain" or "wow, I am just not the person I used to be". These moments were what pushed me through the doubts. I knew if I had a successful surgery, my life would be better. I would be able to be more active with my 4 young kids. I would enjoy the next 20-30 years of my life without pain.
I am almost 5 months out, and I am so glad I did it. I am not back to where I want to be. I still have muscle weakness in my quads and hip that are getting stronger, but no joint pain. Good luck, I look forward to hearing about your post-op journey.
Anaesthetist called last night. I am having a General anaesthetic ( no drama ) & a spinal block.
The spinal will be a new experience for me. If anyone has had a spinal, i would love to know how you felt along with what the procedure entailed.
The spinal will be a new experience for me. If anyone has had a spinal, i would love to know how you felt along with what the procedure entailed.
Eman85
big-cheese
The spinal is interesting. It's just a little sting in your back when they give the injection. As it takes you slowly lose all sensation of your lower body and you cannot move anything. When you come to in recovery it reverses and you slowly gain sensation and control. Worked great for me and I likes it so much I chose it the second time.
Instant pain relief! You are flat on your back anyway just post-op. In about 2-3 hours all the feeling will be back in your legs.
Is there a reason for not just doing spinal with sedation?
Mojo333
Former BoneSmart Staff Member
Hi @BigDon
I am quickly coming up ony 4 year May hipversary.
My bionic hips feel perfectly natural minus the pain and stiffness and carry me through long work days and enable me to return to some fun hobbies and good sleep!
Those were my goals.
I still remember the anxiousness before my first big surgery (hopefully first and only) and even though my recovery was a trial in patience, I'm still ever so grateful.
This forum was a great recovery tool so stick with the advice from "those who know" .
All the best to you next week.
I am quickly coming up ony 4 year May hipversary.
My bionic hips feel perfectly natural minus the pain and stiffness and carry me through long work days and enable me to return to some fun hobbies and good sleep!
Those were my goals.
I still remember the anxiousness before my first big surgery (hopefully first and only) and even though my recovery was a trial in patience, I'm still ever so grateful.
This forum was a great recovery tool so stick with the advice from "those who know" .
All the best to you next week.
@Jaycey
I did not ask the anaesthetist why not sedation compared to GA. I suppose i will when i see him, although I don't mind using a GA as well. I am lucky because my OS uses a small handful of anaesthetists, so after 9 previous surgeries i know the anaesthetist that is looking after me on Monday.
Further to that, we discussed the foreign pre op nervousness / anxiety i am going through. All common and he has suggested that when i am in the waiting bay he will give me a cocktail of things through my IV that will remedy all of that. The more questions asked, the better prepared. All helps to ease the mind.
I did not ask the anaesthetist why not sedation compared to GA. I suppose i will when i see him, although I don't mind using a GA as well. I am lucky because my OS uses a small handful of anaesthetists, so after 9 previous surgeries i know the anaesthetist that is looking after me on Monday.
Further to that, we discussed the foreign pre op nervousness / anxiety i am going through. All common and he has suggested that when i am in the waiting bay he will give me a cocktail of things through my IV that will remedy all of that. The more questions asked, the better prepared. All helps to ease the mind.
