Yet another question, but quite an important one this time!

efleure

Hello to all again...bit worried if i'm doing this right....i had a ceramic hip which was uncemented...i was told on the first day by my physio that i should weight bear straight away on the operated leg..but now everyone i've spoken to, and everything i've read say you shouldn't put weight on the operated leg until about 8 weeks, which makes sense as if it's not cemented, won't the prosthesis become loose until the bone starts to grow around it??? Have i been doing it all wrong??? I'm really worried i've messed it up now....any help would be great...x

denpen

Hi
I have a uncemented one as well and you are supposed to weight bear straight away as long as you are on your crutches all the time you should be fine.
Its difficult what to think isnt it you spend most of your time wondering if you should be doing this or not doing that, but as long as your physio says its ok then do it.
Denise

caravancollie

Hi I think it probably depends on your consultants view. I have a uncemented ceramic hip 15 months old and was weightbearing almost immediately with support of crutches and progressed without problems returning to full time work 16 weeks later pain free. Hope all goes well, I would expect your physio to know what is right for you. Elaine

cazaline

Hey there,

I have uncemented ceramic hips too, and was told that they are fully weight bearing (my surgeon came round to tell me this the morning after surgery), so what your physio says is absolutely right as far as I'm concerned . But if you are still worried maybe you could contact your surgeon just to be on the safe side?

All the best!

Caroline xXx

efleure

Phew...thanks for the replies...feel reassured now...will continue doing as before, but maybe making sure i'm fully using the crutches rather than just half heartedly using them...thanks again...x

barbara12

Hi efleure
can I just ask you a question, if the hip is unsemented what holds it in place.
I have never heard of this.
Barbarax

efleure

I think the uncemented implant is made of a more porous ceramic that has tiny holes that the bone eventually grows through, holding it in place. My new hip has a metal basket that has a ceramic covering, for the socket, and a ceramic ball thing. Think the metal basket has a sticky covering to hold it in place until the bone grows around it. I think the metal shaft put into the thigh bone is also put in slightly differently to give it more of a grip. I know the consultant used this type as i'm only 49 and he expects i'll need a revision when i'm older, and the uncemented ones are easier to do this with. Hope i've got that right!

chris7

Hi Efleure

I hope the post op peeps have reassured you there. Sorry it has been a worry to you but just calling in to thank you for the question, and to Barbara for hers.
I think we are both on a learning curve with all this for the future and your explaination is really helpful thanks. I am only 50 and my consultant would have my old hip tomorrow if I let him so will store this information away for my next appointment. Hope you are feeling a bit brighter and getting plenty of rest there aswell as trying to get a bit more mobile.
take care, keep us updated when you can.
Chris x

frogmorton

Hi effluere

Glad they reassured you and dont be worrying that we will get sick of you ('.....quite imprtant this time....')

Anything that worries you is important and we really dont mind - I'm not much help , but do care if any of us is worried/upset or in pain.

Glad you are doing ok

Love

Toni xx

efleure

chris7 wrote:

Hi Efleure

I hope the post op peeps have reassured you there. Sorry it has been a worry to you but just calling in to thank you for the question, and to Barbara for hers.
I think we are both on a learning curve with all this for the future and your explaination is really helpful thanks. I am only 50 and my consultant would have my old hip tomorrow if I let him so will store this information away for my next appointment. Hope you are feeling a bit brighter and getting plenty of rest there aswell as trying to get a bit more mobile.
take care, keep us updated when you can.
Chris x

Hi Chris, thanks for your reply. I'm trying to stay more positive, but to be honest the old depression has come back, but i've been told it's normal after surgery, so that helps...i hope my posts haven't put you off your surgery...i 'm sure that as i feel better, i'll be very pleased that i had this done...thanks again for the good wishes.
x

efleure

frogmorton wrote:

Hi effluere

Glad they reassured you and dont be worrying that we will get sick of you ('.....quite imprtant this time....')

Anything that worries you is important and we really dont mind - I'm not much help , but do care if any of us is worried/upset or in pain.

Glad you are doing ok

Love

Toni xx

Hi Toni, you are a great help.. your replies really help....and thanks...i do feel a bit silly asking questions when so many on here are worse off than me...x

tkachev

Hello Efleure,

Its difficult to remember all you are told after having an operation as there is so much to take on board. To tell you the truth I cant remember what sort of hip replacement I have even though I have been told on several occassions.


Elizabeth

chris7

Hi Efleure

Just calling in to say I hope today is an okish one. Please do keep posting the good and not so good when you need too. You are not putting me off an op. I am now finally! out of the denial stage and having been stalking all the helpful hip peeps in a nice way (I hope! ) I feel so much more prepared. Have only seen my consultant once and was too stunned to ask anything when he shocked me by saying both hips need replacing asap. He is one of a few in this Country doing a new kind of hip replacement, which is designed to make any needed future revisions so much easier :shock: As if the thought of one wasn't bad enough!! :? Anyway I am now ready with lots of relevant questions when I see him again in Nov. so thanks to you and everyone else for the questions, tips and advise.
Sorry you are struggling with depression too, I hope you do start to feel more comfortable soon and that the nights get easier. Must be so hard to sleep on your back. You do have my sympathy. Take your time, I will be thinking of you and wishing you well.
take care
Chris

speedalong

Hi Effluere, sorry only just seen this, I'm not getting on the forum as much as I'd like at the moment.

It used to be the thinking that you shouldn't weight bear on uncemented THR, and orthos used to recommend minimal and partial weight bearing (that was my experience 13 years ago) however the designs of the implants are constantly changing and research continues and it is now current thinking that it is no longer necessary. I can't find my original research reference, that I looked at before my latest op - but here is another one;

2. Cemented or non-cemented stem?
The prosthesis has a metal stem inserted into the femur. This can be held in place by cement or, more recently, simply "tight fitted" into the bone. In the past, if cement was not used, full weight bearing on the operated hip was delayed until some growth of bone around the stem could occur. Now with the "tight fit," even uncemented stems can be fully weighted immediately. http://www.dancerhips.com/thr.html

I also discussed this with my physio and she said that by using crutches, you will only bear as much weight as you can manage and that pain is your guide - how much weight you take off the leg on the crutches will be guided by your pain levels.

Speedy

efleure

tkachev wrote:

Hello Efleure,

Its difficult to remember all you are told after having an operation as there is so much to take on board. To tell you the truth I cant remember what sort of hip replacement I have even though I have been told on several occassions.


Elizabeth

Hi Elizabeth,
yeah, that's very true...i only remember as i kept thinking, what the heck is holding it all in place then???
Anyhow, thanks for the reply...x

efleure

chris7 wrote:

Hi Efleure

Just calling in to say I hope today is an okish one. Please do keep posting the good and not so good when you need too. You are not putting me off an op. I am now finally! out of the denial stage and having been stalking all the helpful hip peeps in a nice way (I hope! ) I feel so much more prepared. Have only seen my consultant once and was too stunned to ask anything when he shocked me by saying both hips need replacing asap. He is one of a few in this Country doing a new kind of hip replacement, which is designed to make any needed future revisions so much easier :shock: As if the thought of one wasn't bad enough!! :? Anyway I am now ready with lots of relevant questions when I see him again in Nov. so thanks to you and everyone else for the questions, tips and advise.
Sorry you are struggling with depression too, I hope you do start to feel more comfortable soon and that the nights get easier. Must be so hard to sleep on your back. You do have my sympathy. Take your time, I will be thinking of you and wishing you well.
take care
Chris

Hi Chris,
Thanks very much for your reply and kind words...helps a lot...i'm sorry you need to have both hips done...that must be scary...but i guess at least you get it all over and done with in one hit, and your consultant seems to be right up to date with what's new in the field and hopefully that'll make the op easier..that would inspire confidence in me...my consultant was very cold and didn't discuss anything with me, which i think contributed to my whole negative( so far!) experience...like you , i was a bit shell shocked to hear i needed then op, and then it was too late to ask once i got home..like you say, the help and tips on this forum help more than anything else.....anyhow, thanks again...xx

efleure

speedalong wrote:

Hi Effluere, sorry only just seen this, I'm not getting on the forum as much as I'd like at the moment.

It used to be the thinking that you shouldn't weight bear on uncemented THR, and orthos used to recommend minimal and partial weight bearing (that was my experience 13 years ago) however the designs of the implants are constantly changing and research continues and it is now current thinking that it is no longer necessary. I can't find my original research reference, that I looked at before my latest op - but here is another one;

2. Cemented or non-cemented stem?
The prosthesis has a metal stem inserted into the femur. This can be held in place by cement or, more recently, simply "tight fitted" into the bone. In the past, if cement was not used, full weight bearing on the operated hip was delayed until some growth of bone around the stem could occur. Now with the "tight fit," even uncemented stems can be fully weighted immediately. http://www.dancerhips.com/thr.html

I also discussed this with my physio and she said that by using crutches, you will only bear as much weight as you can manage and that pain is your guide - how much weight you take off the leg on the crutches will be guided by your pain levels.

Speedy

Thanks Speedy,

very helpful info....as ever.....x