hip joint injections

mareith

hello four weeks ago i had an injection in my hip to relieve pain from said hip
this was done because doctor was not sure pain was coming from hip and said if injection relieved pain this would show hip was indeed the cause of pain
the relief is great can now sleep all night walk without pain am told it could last up to 6 months
doctor said next step is hip replacement. i said can i not just have hip injections .was told this was not possible
has anybody had just injections for hip pain and if so where did you go for them and how many could you have as i really do not fancy a hip replacement

dreamdaisy

I guess it was a steroid injection and steroids are not good for one long-term, despite being so helpful. I do not have trouble with my hips but I have had injections into my knees and ankles that have sadly achieved nothing. I am now waiting to hear about possible knee replacements and unlike you I cannot wait for that to happen. The whole point about a new joint is that pain decreases (if not goes altogether) and mobility increases. You could feel like you feel now but for considerably longer. OK, achieving that takes some time and some effort but the reward makes that worthwhile. I wish you the very best, I hope the good effects of the injection lasts a while longer yet and that you are able to consider the idea of a replacement joint. DD

barbara12

Hi mareith
I had the injection a couple of months ago, plus they had a look in my hip with a camera, like you they arent sure if most of the pain is from my back, but I got no relief from it, I said to him does this mean that it is coming from my back, he just said well we still cant tell has they dont work for everyone :roll:
I am really glad you have had relief from it, but they can only give so many of them, so long term he is saying that a THR will be best for you.
Good luck with it all.

stickywicket

Mareith, as DD says, steroids are not good for one (although many of us here love them for the relief they give us) so are not a long term solution just a quick fix. Sometimes it happens that a quick fix will enable things to kick permanently into gear agin but it's not very likely.

As for hip replacements - why not? They're a very common, safe operation with an excellent success rate. I've got 2 and wouldn't hesitate to recommend them.

mareith

thank you for all your replys.i was hoping i could have more than one injection as the relief and increased mobility is great.
i know lots of hip replacements are fine but i have a twisted pelvis and the surgeon said there is slightly more chance it could dislocate because of this.
my sister was a nurse on an orthopedic ward for many years before retirement and when i asked her honest opinion she said i would never have one because she saw many come back because new joint had dislocated and she had seen the worst of it all .people who had to wear a brace for the rest of their lives
but there again over 90% are successful i will have to think again when injection wears off
she also said funnily enough she would have replacement knee that would not worry her
i am a worrier by nature and the risk being increased makes me a coward but on the other hand if the pain comes back as bad i do not know what i will do.i had forgotton what a good nights sleep was untill this injection
it helps to talk to people who have the same condition so once again thanks to all Mareith x

stickywicket

One thing to bear in mind, Mareith, is that techniques improve all the time and may well have done so since your sister retired. Also, just because you are more prone to dislocatiion doesn't mean to say it would happen, especially as, being aware of it, you could be extra careful. Some hips dislocate because people expect too much too soon. Also, as a nurse, your sister would presumably only see the failures not the successes.

I hope you don't need one but, if you do, and the surgeon recommends it despite your pelvis, go for it.

dreamdaisy

As I understand it, from what I have read on here, a new hip comes with some warnings about what movements can be or should not be carried out. An artificial hip is not quite the same as the one nature provides: I wonder how many people dislocated theirs because they did summat they shouldn't? sticky has a valid point, the techiniques etc are always being refined and improved, although I do not fully understand the implications of your pelvic situation surely the idea of a new joint is worth exploring with those who do know. Far less pain and much-enhanced mobility - what's not to like? I wish you well. DD

mareith

sticky .thanks for your post i never thought of the obvious my sister would not of course seen the ones that had no problems as they would not have come back.
dd thanks my situation is my pelvis is twisted as is the bottom of my spine .this was why i had the injection to see where the pain was coming from as the pain was relieved the surgeon said this proves the pain is from your hip.
a hip replacement is your only option but you must be aware it is at more risk of dislocation because your pelvis/bottom of spine twisted
i walk lobsided and apparently with hip replacement will still continue to do so
what it adds up to is hip replacement is only option but i am at more risk than if pelvis and spine were straight
it certainly helps to have people to talk to and who do not judge .
i guess i can only make my mind up when pain returns. as pain is a sensation you know you felt but the actual pain feeling diminishes when it is not there (hope this makes sense)
hope i am brave enough to have one done but as i said i am a coward
thanks all Mareith x

stickywicket

mareith wrote:

i guess i can only make my mind up when pain returns. as pain is a sensation you know you felt but the actual pain feeling diminishes when it is not there (hope this makes sense)
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Absolutely, Mareith. That's why women keep having kids. We forget the pain.

Oh, and we're all cowards at heart. We just put up a front to try to convince ourselves we're not.

Might it help to ask if you could see a physiotherapist? (S)he might be able to look at your X-rays, check what movement you have and suggest how you could minimise the risk of dislocation, even by just building up muscle strength in advance. You'd then have more info on which to base your decision of whether to go for it or not.

I have to say (2 THRs down the line) I've seen people try to do crazy things with theirs and much too early for the muscles to be able to support the new joint. Common sense is not all that common and lack of it is probably the cause of many failures.

speedalong

Hi Mareith,
I have never had steriod jabs, but have noticed on the forum, that the people who they work for, notice that over time they last for shorter periods of time ie the effects wear off quicker. I would use this painfree time to start researching operation options, for the future.

If your pelvis is twisted and more likely to dislocate then it maybe that a perieacetabular octomy would be more suitable - where they can correct the pelvis; or perhaps a resurface-replacement, which has lower incidences of dislocation. Alternatively an experienced surgeon will be able to position the cup of the prosethis (Sp?) in such a way to ensure that although your pelvis is twisted the socket is in a "normal" position. Don't rule out surgery - but do your homework.

Speedy

mareith

thanks speedy. i really do not know much about hip replacement apart from what sister told me and the clinic at the hospital gave me several booklets to read.
to be honest they scared me to death reading them. the clinic i go to is very busy and the surgeon really doesnt have time to talk for long and i dont feel i can waste his time by asking questions
all he has really told me is injection proves it is my hip giving pain and it needs replacing extra risk as i said before
put me on the register the waiting time is 18/22 weeks.
i can change my mind at any time if i wish and to read the booklets
i feel lost and really scared i will probably change my mind and ask to come off register before they send for me.
there again if pain comes back worse than before and it was bad enough then i really dont know
there are lots of people who say they know somebody who had it done and regretted it so am glad i found this site and some have said they had no problems with it
mareith x

stickywicket

It's interesting what Speedy said about the injections as I was told, many, many years ago, that the more you have the less they work. I've had very few & they have worked for me.

Mareith, it doesn't matter if the clinic is busy or the surgeon - you are as much entitled to your time with him as anyone else. Try to make a list of your questions and concerns and take them with you next time. Also take someone with you for support as it will make you feel stronger.

Only you can decide what is best for you but you want as much info as possible before you make it. Perhaps your GP would be helpful. Mine are great. As for successful ops - I've got one 8(ish) year old hip, one 16(ish) year old one, a 30 year old knee joint and a 2 year old replacement of a replacement knee. The 30 yr old knee's a bit dodgy now. Everything else is great.

madwestie

Mareith, I have a friend who had her first hip replacement when she was 78 and the second when she was 80 she walks for hours each day and says she only wished she could have had it done earlier.
For every horror story there are many more good news ones that we never hear about.

Don't worry about taking up the consultants time that is what he is there for to answer your questions.

I would stay on the list (you can always change you mind at the last minute) as you don't know how long the injection will last I have steriod injections and they last for about 3 weeks ( a different sort) so give yourself as long as possible to decide.
Although your sister says she would never have it done you don't know what you will do until you are in that situation with constant pain and limited mobility If a hip replacement would cure my hip problem i would have it done tomorrow but it won't help me.

Just remember whatever decision you make is the right one for you at that time.

Tracey

mareith

a big thank you for all your info. it is really nice of people to take the time to reply and give me their opinions
at the moment the injection is still working so i am still mobile (its great)
as i said before i am really a coward it is not as if it can be reversed if it doesnt work (the HR) i mean
is there nobody on this site who has had it done and regreted it after
i would like to hear both sides of the pros and cons
there are people who say they know someone who wishes they had not bothered but i know nobody personally
i only know one person who had it done last December and she is great but she says she gets a lot of pain in her back now.
result of op she doesnt know
i will wait as suggested to make my mind up as to what to do
it is lovely to get peoples opinions without them trying to judge eg calling me a coward(even though i am)
if i decide yes have it done i will be on this site every two minutes for reassurance
thanks to all
Mareith x

stickywicket

mareith wrote:

it is lovely to get peoples opinions without them trying to judge eg calling me a coward(even though i am)

That's because we're all cowards at heart, Mareith and we know if we call someone a coward it'll all come back to haunt us one day.

We all have different areas and times of bravery and cowardice. That's why we can end up supporting each other so well.