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Bilateral THR Tony2hips Recovery

This Thursday I'm getting my staples out of my hip and see what my Dr. has to said about my X ray of my hip.
I'm still doing good and I can tell my hip and leg are getting stronger.
 
@Healer01 I don't know if you are in the UK but having done a bit of digging it appears that the NJR (National Joint Register) do not log or have access to failure figures which seems to make it pointless. If figures for failed THR'S are not collated it obviously means that the figures are misleading. I was told by the hospital that I am probably the only person to have a revision operation 7 days after a bilateral THR but as these cases are not recorded they couldn't say for certain. It all seems very strange to me!

My experience seems to be extremely unusual. My right hip feels as if I have never had a problem with it. My left (revision) has grinding if I lift my knee upto 90 degrees. The hospital diagnosed it over the phone as bursitis. When I asked the physio on her final visit she did not even look or try to feel the grinding. I was told plenty of times before my THR's that I was suffering with bursitis. The pain then went from my lower back across my hip and down my leg - almost like sciatica and had a number of steroid injections in both hips to try and control the pain. The 'bursitis' they have diagnosed now has none of those symptoms and is purely a grinding in the hip. I am seriously thinking of asking for a second opinion as I have totally lost trust in the hospital and am starting to think that they are trying to protect themselves rather than actually treat me and investigate the grinding. All they want to do is give me another steroid injection, which I thought I had seen the last of after having the THR's.
According to info on various websites, burstitis causes swelling and pain, neither of which I have, just the grinding which is not listed as a symptom. If anyone has knowledge of burstitis please comment. I just do not understand how after a bilateral THR, followed by revision 7 days later due to dissociation of acetabular liner, then the painful popping sensation I experienced on the one occasion on the revised, which surgeon dismissed as 'a stitch popping' even though my stitches had dissolved 2 weeks earlier, without examining me, the hospital could then do a diagnosis over the phone. It just all seems very unprofessional to me.
 
I'm sorry for what you have been through and the less than successful outcome. I had my hip replaced 4 months after a failed attempt to pin it with screws. It's no where as bad as what you have gone through but I can relate to the frustration.
I can tell you that the recovery process is hard enough on its own and the anger that I had towards the 1st surgeon was very counterproductive.
In some ways I'm still not totally over it but it's minimal.
It will be hard but be on guard and try to not let it control you.
Best of luck.
 
I agree with you, @tony2hips, that it sounds very unprofessional. I would get a second opinion, if I were you. I had to get one, and it was so wonderful to be listened to, to be carefully examined and tested, and to be given a diagnosis and treatment plan, which happens to involve another surgery. It was such a relief to not have to be my own diagnostician and physician anymore, and to have a solid plan for recovery.
 
Feeling extremely frustrated. I tried to get an appointment with my GP to discuss the grinding in my revised (left) hip. Doctor has said he will not see me until after my appointment with the specialist in 11 days time. So now I am left in limbo for nearly two more weeks. Doctor advised I should do nothing other than walking until my hospital appointment. Brilliant! I now have a hospital that diagnosed it as burstitis over a phone with no examination, been discharged by physio who didn't examine or feel for the grinding and now a GP who won't see me until the day after going to the specialist. My frustration and anger is increasing by the hour. Never dreamt that the whole process would be so hit and miss!
 
It seems that living in limbo is often a part of post-op THR for many of us, and it is frustrating! Hope you get some resolution when you do see your doctors. I am assuming you saw this, but in case not, here is a link, Noise Issues, also attached to the top of the page where the threads are listed. In it there are three videos and one article describing different noises from implants, including a grinding sound.
 
Thursday I got my staples out and my wound looks good .The Dr. put strips over my wound .My X ray of my hips looks even and the replacement of my right hip looks good. My Dr. wants me to finish all my Blood thinner shots .
Since I had both hips replaced my life is looking great.I'm walking better (not dragging my legs behind me ).My anger do to pain has gone .I'm a happier person now.Walking is becoming fun and not tiresome .
I'm THANKFUL I have a good bone Dr. and he knows how to fix me. I feel so wonderful and so happy that I'm able to walk again.
I'm going fishing once my wound completely heals. This might be the last time you will hear from me ,TAKE CARE EVERYONE AND ENJOY YOUR LIFE AND GET WELL (I'LL BE PRAYING FOR YOU ALL)
 
I am now waiting for the hospital to let me know exactly why I needed the revision surgery 7 days after my bilateral THR. They seem to be confused. My notes put the cause as dissociation of acetabular liner but a recent letter stated it was mal alignment of liner which they appear to claim is an acceptable risk/complication of surgery, which seems strange to me. I signed disclaimers prior to my operation for various risks, the surgeon not aligning the liner correctly certainly wasn't one that appeared on the list. I don't think many would sign a disclaimer for surgeon not performing operation correctly. So disappointed with the whole experience.
 
Went to the hospital yesterday when I was supposed to be discharged from their care but now have another appointment in 3 months. Surgeon has said that grinding in the revised hip is NOT burstitis and the grinding and popping could be scar tissue but if still happening in 3 months he's going to get a 2nd opinion and xrays. Not sure why leaving 3 months before 2nd opinion. Has said because of 2 surgery's on same hip in 7 days it could take a year for left hip to catch up with right. Being a self employed fireplace installer that is not want to hear. He also said operation failed due to mal alignment not dissociation. All very frustrating and starting to hit financially as although right hip is good, left is nowhere near what I need it to be to try and resume work
 
@tony2hips, it doesn't sound as though you will be getting any satisfaction (or honesty) from the hospital. I don't know how it works in the U.K., but in the U.S. this would be a case worth talking over with an attorney (perhaps called a solicitor in U.K.?) who specializes in personal injury. In the U.S., personal injury lawyers generally take cases "on contingency," meaning that they receive a certain percentage of whatever compensation money you win, and that is their sole means of payment; you do not pay anything if you lose. Given the gross negligence of the physician and the hospital and the interference with your livelihood (which the lawyer/solicitor can quantify in monetary terms), you may have a strong case. Best of luck.
 
It doesn't make sense to me (a non-medical person) that just because the surgeries were 7 days apart that it would take a year longer for that hip to catch up in recovery. Sounds like a bunch of hooey to me. What is the difference between mal-alignment and disassociation? I hope your problems resolve quickly and you can go back to work. Wish you didn't have to wait 3 months for the next assessment, and possible second opinion.
 
@Krista Dissociation is where the acetabular liner loosens and slips whereas malalignment is where the surgeon doesn't fit the acetabular liner into the cup properly. Like you I do not understand why having surgery twice in 7 days on same hip would add a year to recovery. Also why if he thinks there could be a problem other than scar tissue he would wait 3 months to get the second opinion
 
Thanks for the explanation, Tony. There is some urgency here, since you need to make a living and cannot do your job with your current level of disability. Does he have to do the referral for the second opinion? Can you get it from someone else, or can he be prodded to hurry things up, considering your financial situation?
 
@Krista I am sending an email to the hospital asking why I have to wait 3 months before my surgeon will get a 2nd opinion. Last time he told me he was getting a 2nd opinion he came back and told me I needed the revision surgery so slightly worrying!
 
I'm sorry you went through this, but I think you are expecting too much, too soon from your body. I would not be lifting that knee up the way you are describing. It takes a long time to heal from this surgery. and you've had three surgeries. Many of us are not able to return to our original careers, especially if they were very physical. You sound in a big hurry to get back to work, and I'm afraid that is unrealistic, due to your circumstances.

I cannot return to professional dancing and that has been hard to swallow. I did a lot of crying and was grief stricken. But, it's the reality. As we get older, we have to make changes. I believe you can heal and make new plans, if you just give it some time.
 
@Hip Hip Hooray! I fully understood that I would have to change the way I worked and would probably only go back to surveying and servicing rather than installation but obviously with the left hip feeling so far behind the right due to the revision 7 days after the bi lateral THR it has set me back considerably. If I had the confidence in the left that I have in the right it wouldn't be a problem but the thought of getting onto the floor in a customers house just isn't realistic. Intrestingly the surgeon asked me if I was back working and he knows what my work involves. It is also worth noting that I'm am off all restrictions and was discharged by the physio weeks ago. I have been using the exercise bike at the gym as recommended by the physio in her discharge letter but don't know if that is going to make the grinding in the left hip worse. The surgeon didn't offer an opinion
 
Well, it's way to soon to be down on the floor, in my opinion. (even if the surgery had gone perfectly.) My hip was grinding before the surgery, and I didn't do the bike because of it. (including the recumbent bike.)

Even though you are off all restrictions, you still have to heal. I think sometimes people interpret no restrictions as being able to do anything.

I think in several months you will probably be much better. (I hope.) It's a waiting game, and you've had a revision.
 
Having thought about it for a week and discussions with family and friends I have contacted the hospital and requested that I have a 2nd opinion as soon as possible. I am getting two totally different sensations in the revised hip. The first is the feeling that muscle may be catching as it moves over bone towards the top of the posterior scar and I assume that this is scar tissue. The second is a grinding sensation lower in what feels like the new hip joint. It is this one that worries me more. I do not want to do three months in the gym building up the left hip if there is any possibility it may need further surgery. Whilst I appreciate that I am only 15 weeks from bilateral THR and 14 weeks from left hip revision, the left hip feels completely different to my right hip which feels as if I have never had a problem with it. Also worryingly my daughter and my sister have both commented in the last few days that my walking has got worse and that I am hobbling again. All I want is a straight answer, if it is scar tissue causing both problems then fine, I can carry on at the gym safe in the knowledge I am not making it worse, but if there is a problem with the new joint then let's get it sorted!
 
tony2hips I really think that the Dr. you had messed you up.I would look for someone that are known might well on doing might fine hip replacements. I had both of my hips done and I'm doing great. Able to walk to the store (2 block with out stopping or getting tired ).That popping could be your aliment was not done right (but I 'm no Dr.) I'm guess from what other people have said.
 
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