pain control

gemmapetken

hi
i have ra in my hands and a deformed hip which causes me lots of pain.
they think there is oa in that aswell. i have now been dicharged from the orthopeadics as they dont want to do a hip replacement as i am too young, i am so upset as i am now faced with this pain for a long time.

i am seeing gp on friday about pain control but i am so depressed at the moment.

any help or advice>

posted this on the help line this morning but no reply

gx

dreamdaisy

Youth is not in your favour for this. New joints are expensive, both in the making and replacing and they do wear out. I must admit I don't understand why - they're made of metal aren't they?!

What pain meds are you on at the moment? How often do you take them? If we know that then we can be more helpful. I do feel for you, I've been in constant pain for 14 years now and it's wearing. Dreamdaisy

frogmorton

Hi Gemma

Can't remember what you've already got??

Sorry

Love

Toni xx

dorcas

Hi Gemma,

so sorry you're feeling low today. what other advice were you given from ortho about your hip?
I haven't had a THR but lots of other peeps here have and I'm sure will offer you advice from their own experience of managing the pain and how long it took for them to be considered 'eligible' for surgery.

From what I've read it seems that surgeons have a different threshold for 'doing' surgery and age alone shouldn't be the deciding factor. :roll:
Would it be worth speaking to your rheummy about this?

Sorry I'm not much help but hope you can get answers to your questions soon.

Meantime try to keep your chin up....you are not alone and we are always here to help if we can

Iris x

carolanivey

gemmapetken wrote:

hi
i have ra in my hands and a deformed hip which causes me lots of pain.
they think there is oa in that aswell. i have now been dicharged from the orthopeadics as they dont want to do a hip replacement as i am too young, i am so upset as i am now faced with this pain for a long time.

No one is too young for a joint replacement, especially if the pain is ruining your quality of life. I was 37 when I had the left hip done in 1997; age 40 with the right, but I know of people much younger who've had it done.

I had a revision done on the left hip last year - the socket liner, which is made of a type of plastic, wore out. All the surgeon had to do was go in, pop out the old liner, pop a new one in, and done. The ball part of the implant, which is made of titanium and coated with a type of ceramic, was perfectly fine, but just to be safe she replaced that, too. (She let me keep the parts! lol)

Compared to the original surgery, in which they had to implant the rod in the thigh bone and the metal socket piece in the pelvis, the revision was EASY.

The left hip socket liner lasted about 12 years, and the jury is out as to whether it wore out because of my activity (I'm not THAT active!) or if it was faulty manufacturing of the plastic. The right hip is ten years on and x-rays show it is in perfect condition; it could very well last me the rest of my life.

If you're careful, a hip that is replaced today may well last you several decades before it wears out, if at all. And even if it does, revision surgery (while it IS surgery) can be done and recovery time tends to be quicker.

Don't give up. You shouldn't have to live years and years in pain when the technology is available to improve your life. IMO it's stupid to deny a patient surgery simply because of age. Would they rather the patient become disabled and dependent on others, or return to being a productive, tax-paying citizen? Pain and inactivity leads to all sorts of OTHER health problems that in the long run, add to health care costs. But I guess that 's a subject for another thread.

annebr

I managed to get referred to a 'young hip' consultant. This is his area of interest and he takes on the cases that others dismiss because of age. He has been fantastic I have had 2 ops on my left hip so far still need a THR and the same on the left.

I would ask GP for a referral to someone a bit more understanding.

Anne

cheshirefay

Hi Gemma,
Sorry you are so down, it can be devastating to have an appointment where you feel you have not been listened to or understood.
I see some have left you good advice about seeing someone else about your hip .
In the mean time you need your pain sorting. I had an app yesterday and the ortho I saw said the reason I am able to function is because I Hhave the right pain relief . I am on Fentanyl patches which are a slow release opiate like morphine. Anti infams and cocodamol for breakthrough pain. I am not completely without pain but I am coping and managing to have a life which is not dominated by pain like it was prior to the fentanyl. Ask to go to a pain clinic if the Gp is not happy about prescibing strong pain meds.
Fay x

gemmapetken

hi
thanks for all the positive comments

i am on tramadol and take it every 3 hours

i am seeing the gp on friday and want to be refered to a speciallist ortho (one of my friends mentioned it i think its called stanmore)
or maybe the youth hip man! :P
its just getting me down.

thanks

gxxx

suzster

i had my hip resurfaced at the age of 29, i was refused a hip replacement because i was 'to young'
my surgeon is at guys hospital in london. not really that near to where i live but they provide transport for me and the surgeon has always been fantastic. it is worth getting a 2nd opinion.
sue

gemmapetken

thanks
i was seeing Mr bassily at medway and monday i saw a different consultant (was within fracture clinic, it was an emergency appointment) i think it may be because i was seeing someone different
g
x

frogmorton

Hi gemma

Maybe worth asking about pain patches?? some of those can be quite effective then you just take your regular pain releif if you get any 'breakthrough' pain

If you look on the A/C site they have a leaflet you cn download about it.

Hope you do get some help

Love

Toni xx

gemmapetken

thank you
you are all so lovely!
i am feeling much more positive and have written a list to ask gp with all your comments

thanks
g
x