How do I hurt thee, let me count the ways.

Fitzroy

I hurt thee to the depth and breadth of each joint, tendon and muscle...

So I have a simple, good old fashioned case of hip OA. Moderate in severity. I still have reasonable joint spacing but have osteophytes and cysts. I have limited ROM (tying my shoes is difficult) and I have very little endurance. I can't walk or cycle much more than 45 minutes before it lights up and starts ringing my pain center with a ball peen hammer. I work at it from every conceivable angle. I take my meds, I eat well, I keep my weight down, I sleep enough, I even talk nicely to it. But I can't get it to settle down. I get pain from several different locations. My butt, my groin, the upper quad, the gluteus medius, from what seems every quadrant of my upper leg. Not all at the same time -- the pain moves around. One day here, the next day there. The groin pain is the worst. It seems to bore right into my soul. Turns me into a Mr. Hyde. I don't like Mr. Hyde and no one else does either. My question is, is this normal, if there is such a thing as normal? The reason I ask is I am getting close to having enough of this fun. I want to kick my GP into possibly entertaining the thought of THR. I've seen an orthopedic surgeon and he tells me that it's up to me. That this is the nature of the beast and that only I can say when the pain is enough. I don't know if all this is just OA or some other problem. I hurt my hip during a stretch after a bike ride 3 years ago and have never gotten it back.

elnafinn

I am sorry to hear that you are hurting all over. As your consultant is willing to perform a THR and you feel that you are more than ready, why not go for it? It is not up to your gp. He presumably referred you to the specialist in the first instance so you need to liaise with the specialist's secretary for a further appointment to let him know that you would like to be put on the THR waiting list.

As you mention aches and pains in your leg and so on, it sounds like your spine is not too happy either but I hasten to add, I am not medic.

I wish you well, there are many on the forum that have had very successful hip replacements.

Elna x

stickywicket

I guess it can be tough when the decision is entirely in your own hands. Over here, on the NHS, the decision usually rests with our GP or consultant.

Mine's RA, I have THRs and TKRs and every one has been a no-brainer. They had to be done. However, because of the RA, I was never going to put my prostheses under enormous strain.

It seems to me, Fitzroy, that you have been doing everything right to keep your hip in the best possible health and now you can either choose to have the operation, and hope to be able to resume your sporting life afterwards, or wait and keep taking the paindullers. Most things can be done after a THR though I think anything involving twisty movements (eg dancing) is discouraged. And high impact exercising will wear the prosthesis out quicker. Have you read AC's booklet on surgery? (Top of the page. Publications and resources) It might help you decide.

Helenbothknees

Hi Fitzroy,

I just had a bilateral TKR, and after just under 3 months, I wish I'd had it done earlier...though I'm quite sure my GP wouldn't have let me. Walk 45 minutes! No way could I have done that before the op. But I can now, and I'm not even fully recovered.

So on that level, you could be worse. But you sound as though you're in a lot of pain, and to me that means go for the op - and THRs are far less risky and far more often successful that TKRs. Of course, you might be able to take stronger painkillers, or get steroid injections; you don't say what you're doing now. But in my experience those things are only temporary, if they work at all. If your surgeon says OK, why not get it done.

However, what you really need is to do first is as much research as possible. Coming here is good. There are also websites which will tell you loads about the op; I think you can even watch one on Utube; you can for knees. There are other forums, some specifically about joint replacements. There may be books; I got a brilliant one from Amazon about TKRs some weeks after my op, and I wish I'd had it in advance. Read, research, and make an informed choice. And good luck!

barbara12

Hi Fitzroy,
I am still not sure what is normal, both my hips show bone on bone on xrays yet one of the consultants says that with the movement I have the pain could be from my back..all I know is its blinking agony..like Elna says if they all agree and you are ready..it could be the start of a new life for you.
I do wish you well with it, and let us know what you decide .

Fitzroy

Hi folks,

It's nice (I think) when the decision is a no brainer. It's nicer when that decision involves no intervention. I'm sure I have other joints, which are affected as well but the right hip is 80% of my discomfort right now. If I get it fixed I'll likely speed up and find the next weak link in the system. I'm not sure why but they tend no to give steroid shots in the hips here. At least that's what I gather from most people I've talked to. I have had a Durolane shot 6 months ago that helped and I am on the waiting list to get another one soon. I'll see if I can schedule one of these every six months. I do know that the THRs are very successful, and have spoken with many people younger and older than I who say they have changed their lives but they are operations and can ruin your day as well. One physio in particular that I see gets a lot of people in who have had slightly botched procedures and it doesn't sound pretty. I know I'll go get one, it's just a matter of convincing myself first that it is the right route and then convincing the system that it is what I need. I got a couple of idiopathic frozen shoulder a couple of years ago and this kept me from seeking any operation. They are mostly resolved now. Everything seemed to happen all at once. I bet you never heard that before.

knuckleduster

Hello Fitzroy

I had a right THR in December 2010 and was so glad when it was done. I too had pain in the groin which is common when the hip goes to pot and also knee pain which thankfully disappeared after the hip op. I took a long time to recover because my muscle tone was practically nil. But as my surgeon kept reminding me "it takes about 12 months to recover."

For me, having my hip replaced was the right decision.

Janet x