Second surgery soon

Limpingandinpain

Hello

I was diagnosed a year ago next week with end stage osteoarthritis in both hips - it had all happened so fast and I was shocked at the diagnosis. I had my left hip replaced in January, and I found the surgery and recovery a lot less terrifying than I'd expected, but I'm due to get my right one done soon - I have a date for the pre op, but no surgery date, which is making me slightly uneasy. That probably sounds ridiculous, but I like to be prepared and know what to expect. My pre op is on August 22nd, and I'm just praying that they don't spring a surgery date on me for a week later or something - I'd love to be able to enjoy the end of the school holidays (as much as I can when I'm in pain anyway!)

Anyway....I'm apprehensive about the second surgery. I'm scared in case it's harder than the first one and there were bits of the first one that I hated that I'm dreading happening again- like I was horribly constipated, and the laxative tablets that the hospital gave me when I was discharged were far too strong and made me feel horrific. Also they wanted me to try a bed pan for the first pee, and I couldn't do it, not sure if it was the angle or the fact that the nurse was waiting on the other side of the curtains! I asked at that point if I could try walking to the toilet and they let me, and it took ages for me to actually pee even though I was desperate. At least, it felt ages, it can't have been that long! I'm scared in case I don't manage to pee this time and they put a catheter in - that happened to my mum.

I remember the last time, getting in and out of the car on the first night, and in and out of bed the first 3 or 4 nights was horrific. I couldn't lift either leg onto the bed and my husband had to lift them up for me for the first 3 nights. After that I managed with the lifter thing that the hospital gave me. I suppose I need to remember that when I had my first one done, my other one was completely knackered whereas I have a mobile one on the other side this time.

My biggest worry of all is the fact that I've not walked unaided for over a year. I had a walking stick from last July (and should probably have been using one before that). Since abiut 6 weeks after having my first hip replaced I've been on 2 crutches because my other one is so very bad. I can't walk even a step unaided now. I'm scared in case I can't walk unaided again, in case the muscles are too weak. I can't imagine ever having the strength in my legs to climb a flight of stairs. I'd be interested to hear from others who have had both hips replaced, what it was like afterwards for getting your mobility back. I assume physio would help? My mum had hers done in the January and October of the same year and was walking unaided after her 6 week check up - the consultant took the stick away at that and said she didn't need it any more. Hers wasn't as bad as mine though, she had some cartilage left, hers never locked up like mine does and she was able to walk with one stick right up to the 2nd operation.

Sorry this is so long, I have all these worries going round in my head at night and figured here was probably the place to find people who might have been through the same. I desperately want my life back, I'm only 46 and have a 12 year old daughter and I'm so aware of not having been able to do things with her these last 2 summers.

Bic1982

Hi there @Limpingandinpain

I've just read your post, and although I've only had the one hip replaced, I have had both knees done. I was particularly taken with you saying that you have been worrying about the second op and one of those things is whether you will be able to walk unaided again.

I understand this, as it was a worry for me when I had my second knee replaced. I found that by doing the exercises though helped to build up my muscle strength. Also, I live in a house with a lot of stairs so that was also good exercise to build up the muscles again.

Its safe to say I think that we all have worries when it comes to surgery. I think that's only natural but Im sure after a little time and some hard work with the exercises you will come on leaps and bounds.

Good luck with it all and I really hope it makes a massive difference for you!

Anne

stickywicket

I feel you're massively overthinking this. Worry really constrains us, even more than arthritis. Restrict your worrying to the stuff you can control eg the constipation / diarrhoea. Just try to restrict the strong pain relief, drink lots (water is best but anything, really), eat lots of fruit and veg. Figs and dates are good. If you don't like them consider them better medicine than the strong laxatives.

If you're worried about walking strengthen your muscles now with exercises. I'm sure you'll be able to walk. It might take longer but does it matter if you get there in the end? And you will.

Bedpans...catheters...I've done both. I was miffed the first time I woke up with a catheter as I'd always, previously, impressed with my ability to get on and off a bedpan. (How sad can one get😁) But catheters have their uses too. No more hanging on while the visitors have gone. Or wondering where all the nurses have gone. Every cloud etc etc.

It's pointless to compare our experiences with those of other people. It doesn't work. We're all individuals coming from different physical backgrounds. Just run with it (pardon the pun!) and prepare to enjoy the outcome.

Limpingandinpain

https://community.versusarthritis.org/discussion/comment/698052#Comment_698052

Thank you so much for your reply and your understanding, it's good to know I'm not alone in my feelings! X

Limpingandinpain

https://community.versusarthritis.org/discussion/comment/698059#Comment_698059

You're probably right, I probably am over thinking it - I'm exhausted through not being able to sleep due to the pain, and being in constant relentless pain is dragging me down and everything seems so much worse when you're tired.

I actually had a call today with a date of 26th September and I feel a lot better knowing I have a definite date, I know I have the sort of brain that needs to know what to expect and I need to be able to mentally prepare for things.

pmas

Dear @Limpingandinpain, I had right hip replaced in February and left hip replaced 11 weeks later in April. Before both ops I could only walk with a wheeled walker. After the first op I was only allowed to walk with a Zimmer frame. After the second op I was up and on crutches the next day.

Both my femoral heads had collapsed so there was no way I could do any exercise or physio before the first op. I could only do lying down or sitting exercises after the first op as I didn’t have a ‘good’ leg to weight bear on.

After the second op physio was hard, and still is. Obviously there is no bone pain, but I had a lot of muscle wastage. The physio dept have been amazing and so supportive. They seemed genuinely surprised that I had both hips replaced within 11 weeks and have been able to adapt some exercises to my ability. Now, nearly four months after the second op, I’m able to walk without crutches, but outside in the big wide world I take one crutch with me as I’m still a bit unsteady on rough, uneven ground. It also deters people from getting to close or bumping into me!

I had a catheter fitted for both ops which made things easier. After first op I suffered dreadful constipation, but I declined morphine-based pain relief after second op to avoid constipation. First op I was in hospital for 6 days, second op in for 2 days.

I don’t know if I’ve been able to answer your fears, but it really is easier second time round. The hard bit is the physio. I wish you all the best for your op. Pat x

Sunnyside_12

Hi I'm in bed 22.17 reading though people's lives living with osteoarthritis. I have osteoarthritis in both hips and in horrible pain both sides and legs, started beginning of the pandemic. I have appointment at last 28th September see specialist, I'm so scared because of the way this crazy world is going, I have been forgotten about until I kicked up a fuss, I now have a physio visit on a Monday, I have exercises to do. but its so painful even when the doctor saw XRAY I had last year, said it was bad, I make knocking noises if I move, my appetite has gone, because when I get into my kitchen the pain puts me off eating, I feel so strange as if I don't recognize myself anymore, have a few walking aids, but trying to do just simple things, are very difficult. dread trying to sleep because I know pain will wake me up. worse in the morning. even just having cup of coffee I no longer able to enjoy, all the fun of life has been taken away, while I have osteoarthritis in both hips.

Sorry I just needed to write this down.

Ruth

Limpingandinpain

https://community.versusarthritis.org/discussion/comment/698199#Comment_698199

Hello Pat and thank you, this has definitely made me feel better.

I was on 2 crutches before my first one, I managed to get to 2 sticks for a few short weeks before the right one became so bad I had to go back onto the crutches. I was on a zimmer frame for my first walk to the toilet last time but they had me try crutches on the way back. I was on the zimmer in the house for the first few days. Like you, I struggled with the exercises because of not being able to weight bear on the other leg.

I'm already on morphine for my hip pain, and was for the last one too, and don't tend to suffer from constipation with it - they gave me oxycodone for the one day I was in hospital last time - I think I had 3 doses. So I'm not sure what made me so constipated but I am scared of that happening again. I didn't have a catheter at all. I was awake but sedated for the surgery and they told me most people wet the bed but they'd rather do it that way.

Are you in the UK? I'm in a hip replacement group on Facebook and most people are from America and get a lot of physio after. I was told they were referring me for physio because I'm young (ish!) and they knew I was desperate to get back to full mobility, but I only had one session where he showed me how to use the crutches so I put more pressure on the new hip and less on the painful one, and that was it.

Thank you for your kind wishes, Katherine

Limpingandinpain

https://community.versusarthritis.org/discussion/comment/698201#Comment_698201

Hi Ruth, you sound exactly like me a year ago. Mine started Sept 2019 and got rapidly worse through the pandemic but I didn't see a Dr until a year ago today. At first the receptionist refused to give me an appointment, and referred me to physio. I had a phone appointment with physio where he said it could be arthritis or it could be like the hip equivalent of a frozen shoulder and put me down for another phone appointment. I was in such severe pain. I did a e-consult with the GP but had an email back saying she could see from my notes that I had a physio phone appointment coming up in a month and that I already had medium strength opiates on repeat - yes, codeine for period pain! They weren't touching the hip pain. Later that day, my husband contacted our local councillor who somehow managed to get a GP to call me. He wanted to see me, prescribed tramadol and arranged blood tests and xrays and they came back as end stage osteoarthritis. He referred me for surgery and I had my first one in January.

I've been so down so much of the time in the last year too, not able to see any joy in anything or able to imagine myself feeling truly happy ever again. I can't do the most basic of tasks, can't sleep because of the pain yet exhausted with the pain. It really does suck the joy out of everything. I hate not being able to keep the house like I used to and it's driving me crazy. My husband does loads in the house but he works long hours as well. We have a 12 year old daughter and I hate the fact that I've not been able to do things with her these last 3 summers when time is passing so quickly. I can't believe she was only 9 when this started.

I hope you'll get somewhere with your appointment on the 28th of Sept. Will you keep us posted?

Katherine

pmas

Katherine, yes I’m in UK. I follow a Facebook group too which is mostly US based - Avascular Necrosis Support Group. They seem to do both hips at the same time with lots of physio, but only if they have health insurance.

I was ‘lucky’ because both hips were equally bad, no cartilage, and both femoral heads had collapsed due to AVN (Avascular Necrosis) I was diagnosed July/September 2021 and had first surgery Feb 2022 when my local NHS hospital were allowed to start elective surgery after COVID. I have physio at the same hospital. I only had one appointment after first surgery as, like you, there was very little I could do. But after the second surgery I had a lot of catching up to do and have had three appointments so far, with another booked next month. If your hospital don’t offer physio, maybe your GP can make a referral?

Ruth, I really feel for you but at least you’re in the system now. When you see your consultant let him know how your condition has affected your quality of life and your ability to look after yourself and attend to your personal care and wellbeing. Unfortunately we have to wait for surgery - even if you pay privately there is now a 3 month waiting list, but I can promise you that if they decide you need replacements you will feel like a new person afterwards. It’s not a quick fix and you have to be patient, initially accept your limitations, do the physio and feel the gradual improvements.

Good luck both of you. Patx