fracture after hip resurfacing

suzster

i am only popping on quick as i'm shattered after a long day at guys hospital yesterday.
anyway i'm feeling a bit annoyed because i had my hip resurfaxed about 5 yrs ago, i read up on the op beforehand, contacted the people who originally started doing this op and got loads of literature, so i was well prepared.
anyway, i get my hip checked once a year and never any problems until yesterday,
i saw a differebt specialist who asked if i'd had any pain in the joint, i explained that i didn't think so but due the meds and painkillers (morphine included!) i wasn't sure if i'd actually feel much pain! i thought it was just a general question.
then he said that there is an increased risk of fractures after the op.
something i'd never heard or read.
ge showed my x rays and said that the top of the femur (i think!) had got thinner, when i asked why he said that when the bone is under stress before the op, it gets thicker then after the op because the stress is less the extra bone is 'reabsorbed' and so the bone gets thinner, this is why the risk of fracture gets higher.
not what i wanted to hear!
he said i should go back as usual next year but if i get any shooting type pains or any bad pain i need to go back straight away.
so now i'm going to worry at every tiny ache!
i just looked it up online and there seems to be lots of medical paople talking about it!
so, yay!!! it would be just my luck to end up with a fracture!!
sorry, to type all that, but it has really upset me to think that the supposed perfect op was actually more risk than i thought!
sue

nearlybionic

Hi Sue
That must have been a massive shock to find out this can happen after resurfacing. Did he say how long after resurfacing, this usually happens? (if /when it does)
I hope you have a symptom free time until your next review, but totally understand you saying you will interpret all twinges as a possible fracture!!
Try not to think about it too much. You have had 5 good yrs post op and could still have many more good years to come!!
NB

mistywillow

Hi Sue
I think nowadays doctors seem to want to make patients totally aware of any risks of the procedures they undergo, maybe because they worry so much about litigation! You have done so well so far and not everyone who has a resurfacing suffers from a fracture. So fingers crossed (if we can manage that manoevre ) you are going to stay well. Are you able to take vitamin D and calcium to help keep your bones healthy?
Gillx

skezier

Hi Sue,

It must have been a shock to be told this and your bound to be worried with every twinge but I am also sure they now tell you every single known problem, how ever unlikely, cus of the litigation thing. That doesn't make it less worrying for you but there must be so many people it doesn't happen to. I think as Nearly (Hi Nearly) and Gill (Hi Gill) said try not to let it bother you too much and I hope you have a lot more years out of your resurface and no problems. Take care Cris

sharmaine

Hi Suzster

This happened to my aunt after her hip replacement. The top of her femur fractured. She is better now - it seems it happens to some people. My mum-in-law had both her hips replaced (one at a time) and she was fine - no problems.

It seems that we can put huge strains on other joints when one or two need replacing. I often wonder whether they should x ray above and below the area that is affected to ensure that nothing is damaged. We all rely on the medical experts to get it right but unfortunately they sometimes get it wrong.

Take care.
Sharmaine

suzster

thanks everyone, i think it was just a shock to find out that the supposed perfect op could have a down side!!
i actually googled it last night and it seems common, but from what i can gather it quite recently that they have happened.
before my appointment i had to fill in a form / questionnaire asking about how my hip had been, pain etc. so i guess they are now aware and keeping check, so thats good.
i'm just upset because i so thoroughly investigated before the op so i would be aware of all risks and the fracture thing was never mentioned at all.
i do get what feels like a clunking pain sometimes, it feels (i'm sure it's not!) like the ball part isn't in the socket and really hurts then it seems to clunk again and it's fine, but they didn't seem worried about that!!
i think i'm just more worried because it seems that you can have a fracture and not totally be aware of it, it's just the pain that alerts you, but because i take morphine would i actually feel any pain?!!
oh well, i'm going to try not to think about it, my only concern is my knee on my other legs is very painful sometimes so i know that when it is my resurfaced hip can hurt due to extra strain, oh it's just not fair!!!
moan over!
sue