Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Anyone with hip replacements got tips?

Hi Pea,

My pain levels had been worsening for over a year but I had put it down to an injury when I had a very bad fall in March 2012. I have RA but I believed I had it under control with methotrexate. I had a CT scan in February and MRI in May. The MRI showed a labral tear and a 2 inch cyst caused by joint fluid leaking through the tear. It also showed joint narrowing, bone spurs, and bone erosion. My GP and I assumed the labral tear was caused by the fall.

When I finally saw the orthopedic surgeon last week, he told me that the fall might have made the problem worse but the damage was caused by the RA and that the CT scan had shown him that both hips had been severely damaged by RA and needed to be replaced. He gave me a steroid injection into the worst hip using a fluoroscope. When the image came up, he pointed out that they were much worse than in the February CT scan - in fact all cartilage had gone and I was down to bone on bone and he didn't know how I was walking.

I have been using a cane again for over a year and the pain levels are very bad as the day progresses and I have to use my hips to walk and get up from a chair. However, I appear to have a high pain tolerance so had not realized that they were as damaged as they turned out to be. My GP has learned that he can't assess the level of damage to my joints from my mobility as I have a tendency to keep going.

When my RA was at its worst my joint pain would wake me through the night. It's not as bad as that right now. The pain is more from the mechanical damage than from the inflammation of RA.

Hope that helps.

research has shown me that the UNCEMENTED THR is somewhat easier for revision, they say.... but as I have already stated, recovery is that little bit longer with a cementlesss THR

I was walking with the aid of one cane on my 2nd week and sitting comfortably at my PC desk for some hours within a few days.
I you MUST return to work early make sure you get up from the desk every 20 mins or so for a little walk (very important)

I can't stress the importance of the following advice enough....the success of the op depends on your commitment to the pre op and post op exercises and your natural level of fitness/age. Get started on the pre op exercises NOW and you could be back at your desk job in a matter of weeks.

one final piece of advice Wendy, when you have finished with all your research and you have decided on which of the many options you would prefer, listen to what your surgeon says and accept his decisions, he knows what is best for YOU

I managed to put my socks on by myself the other day....yee ha. totally independent again every day I notice a little improvement, and Dear God that awful pain has gone

the clock is ticking, get going on those pre op exercises

John

http://www.wmt.com/hipsite/patients/preopex.asp

http://www.wmt.com/hipsite/patients/postopex.asp

these are the two I have used

PS have a look around the site, many of your answers are there

How long will I be off of work?
It depends on the type of work that you do. If you have a sedentary job, you can usually return once you feel strong enough. If your job requires you to be on your feet for extended periods of time, though, you may be off longer. Your doctor will also advise you of any restrictions to follow once returning to work.





this is a very informative, useful site
http://www.arthritisselfmanagement.com/h...ement/?page=all


all the best

Thank's Wendy. I will see my Rheumatologist and hopefully he will order some new tests from my orthopedist. It's nice to hear what everyone is written about their operations. Gives me some insight into the future and doesn't make it seem as scary. Sorry you have to suffer a lot longer until they get you in.

These links are great, John. Thank you SO much.

(((Wendy))) I am thinking of you. I think of you often and wonder how you are doing. My family members who have had both knee and hip replacements say the hip surgeries are much easier .
I hope it goes well for you with quick and total recovery.

Hugs and Blessings.

Joyce

I got both done a year apart.
Love my new hips.. I would not do them at the same time.. but that is me.......... every one must decide with their Dr what is good for them
I as very shocked when I saw my x rays , because of pain. The Dr said, "I don't know how you can even walk"

Sorry to say, but now I need new knees as well. So I have that to look forward to.

Ask a lot of questions and get a great Dr.

Hi Wendy,

Yeah, I had three years between hip surgeries, but only because the second hip didn't hurt until the months leading up to its surgery. Right up until just about 2-3 months beforehand, it basically felt fine, then all of a sudden, BAM, the pain hit like a hammer and that was that. Of course, between the two hip surgeries, I did have that minor little procedure called a spinal osteotomy that kept me occupied for several months (counting therapy afterward and wearing the body armor until the spine had re-fused and the pedicle screws and rods had fully taken hold). I did the worst hip in June 1994 so it would make it easier to do the osteotomy (mission accomplished), did the osteotomy in November 1994, then did the second hip in July 1996.

Brad

lot of talk here Wendy about the possibility of getting two hips done at once, if I were you I wouldn't even consider it.

it's mostly reserved for very special cases/reasons.

believe me, one at a time is more than enough for anyone

I read that you are keen to get back to work ASAP....with both hips done at same time you will be off work for some time

Wendy, a very good THR forum site with loads of pro tips and help/advice from folk who have "been there and done that"

you should be well clued up by now Wendy, best o' luck

http://bonesmart.org/hip/recovering-from-hip-replacement-surgery/