Hello to my new hip. Great to see our community promoted

Teresapescado

Good morning everyone, just woke up in my own bed for first time since receiving my new hip, last Thursday 6th July, a date not to be forgot.  After 8 years of excruciating leg pain, I've eventually got my new friend.  This is to be a positive post.  The whole experience from going in to coming out has been incredible.  Yes, there's pain, yes there's different emotions but now there's hope.  I had chosen spinal injection, in itself a weird experience but now a grateful choice.  The theatre experience bizzare to say the least but what a team.  Post op new friends have been made on the ward, some were hip some were knee.  Sounds silly but we had a good mindset and cheered each other on.  Progressing from zimmer to crutches what achievements were made.  Oooing at bruising etc.  We quickly came together as we were all in the wobbly boat together.  My experience took place at Princess Alexandra Hospital Harlow.  Clearly I'm full of praise, only let down, I was ready for release real early, stairs achieved and approved by physio, release for whatever mixture of reasons wasn't flowing but as for the rest, you're held in high asteem.  I am also pleased to report that our lovely community here Versus Arthritis is advertised as a great go to home for patients, how good is that?  I know the journey is just beginning, there'll be bumps and wallops but just wanted to share my positive surgery experience for anyone dubious of going in x

Shazznay

Good post. Am in the same boat having had my new hip on Saturday 8th July in hospital in Devon. Waited a very long time, never thought the day would come. The whole experience was very positive. Had a tricky surgery as my hip had seriously deteriorated during the waiting time but at last, I am on the other side. There is a lot of pain but it is manageable with pain relief. The one thing I was not prepared for was the completely different type of pain to what I had been suffering. But, this is surgery pain and will improve as each day goes by. I am really looking forward to being able to walk comfortably again. The exercises are difficult as I need a TKR on the opposite side to my operated hip but I will persevere. Good luck to both of us! x

Whiskey26

Hello to you both @Teresapescado and @Shazznay. Interesting to read your positive posts. In short, I was diagnosed with severe OA in both hips in 2020 (worse on the right). Since then, after relying on it for too long, my left hip is now worse, with the right side rarely bothering me. The pain is severe and my knee too, is now so painful I find walking even with two sticks difficult at times. I'm waiting for x-ray results on my knee to see if it's just referred pain, or the arthritis is now there too. I have my very first appointment with the orthopaedic surgeon in August and I am terrified. Not so much of the appointment, but the thought of an operation, the risks attached and the painful aftermath as you describe. I don't 'do' hospitals or needles and I am so nervous. Sounds so silly, especially from a woman of 59, but the whole procedure of spinal blocks or general anaesthetic makes me feel quite queasy. Then there's the walking about/moving afterwards. Am I over reacting?

Teresapescado

Great to hear you too have a new hip Shazznay. It's early days, I've had a few good a few not so good. Brilliantly I have no bruising but knee swelling a bit. Trying hard to do exercises, leg feels very heavy so am aided by the dressing gown belt technique lol. I wish you well with your journey, please update on here so we can applaud our achievements.

Whiskey26, I was you. I'm an absolute medical phobic and avoid everything and anything if I can. I even tremble at having blood pressure taken. The surgery was really worrying me and knocking me sick. The mere thought of a canula made my toes curl. That's why I wanted to post about my experience and how it really wasn't that bad. I chose spinal injection and for me that was a great choice. I had two anesthetists in room and a trainee for whom I was a guinea pig. Every movement was explained with precision, my nerves turned to interest! There was no pain attached, a minor prick which was nothing compared to the pain of OA. Wheeled into theatre, again I was more interested than scared. A few puffs of sedation and suddenly it was all over and I was in recovery euphoric. Alert, still pain free and couldn't believe it was over and I'd done it. Fear could easily have held me back, I'm so glad it didn't. As I say I ended up being more interested than frightened. Even though I chose spinal I have no knowledge of what went on once sedated. I wish you well on your journey. Mine was a good experience, you must tell us about yours.

Whiskey26

Thank you @Teresa@Teresapescado for your kind words. It's good to know I'm not alone in my being terrified! I can't believe that just with sedation, you can be so oblivious to everything going on. I imagined that I would hear things and feel pulling or tugging?? Can I ask, what was your experience like of your first meeting with your consultant? I have mine on August 4th and I'm very nervous about attending.

Teresapescado

Now that is an interesting question. I first saw consultant Feb 2021. It was fine he was polite enough etc said hip replacement only option. I was scared stiff at the thought of being put under as I am 64 and have smoked for approx 47 of them 64 years. I did not try to hide this, there was no point. It was he who suggested spinal injection. He had noted I smoked but no massive lecture. Then out of the blue I was offered the chance to see a new consultant as they were trying to clear backlog. I was in total agreement with this and went to see him. At first he was pleasant, helpful etc. I then mentioned again being a smoker and other consultant suggested spinal injection. New consultant was not impressed by this at all plus I mentioned minor incontinence issues. Now I was loaded with problems ! Telling me about smoking risks and go urology etc. I came out deflated, didn't like him, all those feelings. What I didn't like was him telling me what I didn't want to hear. These feelings stayed with me until surgery day, I was as good as I could be and made a great effort to stop smoking prior to surgery. I met him again a bit before surgery and he was absolutely lovely. As I was awake whilst being wheeled in I saw him again before procedure, he gave me a lovely smile. Post surgery he was great. My whole opinion of him has changed and indeed bought him a gift for being outstanding and life changing. He was not nasty, or anything like it, my habit was to blame. Anaesthetists were beyond amazing too

Shazznay

https://community.versusarthritis.org/discussion/comment/710099#Comment_710099

I felt exactly like you. When the anaesthetist came to see me before the surgery and told me it would be done under a spinal I was a bit stunned as on my confirmation letter it said it would be done under a general anaesthetic. My husband had his hip done 4 years ago and he was awake throughout. That scared the daylights out of me so I told her that I didn’t want to be able to hear anything going on and she assured me I wouldn’t as I would have a sedation pre med. she was true to her word. I was wheeled to theatre, she sprayed my back with something that was freezing cold (like the sea going up your back). Then I felt her thumbs pressing on my back and slight pressure when the needle went in but no pain just discomfort for a few seconds. She then asked me to lay down on my side and pull my legs up onto the trolley. The very next thing was hearing my name and being woken up. All over. I felt nothing and heard nothing. There really is absolutely nothing to be afraid of. The staff do their best to put you at ease and they are good at it. For us it may be a first but for them it is an everyday thing. Don’t worry about your first consultant meet. They come across as a bit distant and a bit offhand but on the day they are a different person. They want you at ease as well. I hope this has calmed your fears a little.