Hip Replacement v pain killers

Minnie11

Hello,

I'm new to the forum but would appreciate people's thoughts on something. I'm 62 and have been diagnosed with osteoarthritis in both hips, both knees, lower back and neck. After 2 years of managing with exercise etc, I have recently been really struggling for several months with terrible pain in my right hip. After pushing a bit I've been referred to orthopaedics and am now on the waiting list to be seen. The thing is that I have now found a combination of cocodamol (high strength) and Ibuprofen that enables me to function again albeit in a limited way. I have slept reasonably well for the first time in months. But it means I am taking 14 pain killers a day which I really don't like doing. My dilemma is would they offer a hip replacement if my pain is reasonably well controlled, and if they do, is it better to go ahead with it or put it off as long as I can. I'm a retired nurse and have never been a fan of invasive treatment, but 14 pain killers is such a lot. I have tried to reduce them but the agonising pain comes straight back. I'm healthy otherwise.

Sorry for the long post! Just wondering what people's thoughts/experiences are? Thank you 😊 xx

Naomi33

Morning @minnie11 and welcome to the online community.

Sorry to hear your concerns about pain relief and new hip replacement.

I am sure others with similar experience will connect with you soon.

keep posting and do not worry about length as you are not alone.

Best wishes @Naomi33

raching

@Minnie11 watching this post with interest as have similar question and also waiting orthopaedic appointment. I try to limit the pain killers, using heat and movement when it’s really sore but can see that the need for painkillers will increase as time goes on, I am late 40s so trying to understand how long i can delay getting THR.

alwayssewing

@Minnie11 I had both hips replaced last year and it was worth it. The terrible joint pain disappeared immediately after each operation (3 months apart). I just had the pain you would expect from a major surgery.

In 2022 I was prescribed naproxen 250mg for the joint pain and took one twice a day along with Lansoprazole for protecting my stomach. Later they added codeine as the pain got worse. I hope you are taking something to protect your stomach.

My surgeon went by the ex-rays and how I felt to decide whether to go ahead. I have a much better quality of life at 69 than I've had for many years.

Please read some of the diaries on here . There is @Janlyn , @JPT , @Trish9556 , @alwayssewing . I know there are others too. Reading others diaries really helped me.

I'm waiting for my knees to be done now, first one is in May.

Bryony

Hip replacements have a very high success rate. As you are on a lot of pain-killers, if it were me I'd be thinking hard about hip replacement. Remember that waiting lists are very long, on the NHS, for surgery, so it could be over a year wait once you get put on the list. If, when the surgery date comes up, and you decide then that you are still managing a reasonable quality of life with the pain killers, you can always ask to postpone it!

If you are thinking of going private then the waiting times are not an issue, so you can hold back on surgery if you feel you are not quite ready for it, knowing that when you decide you need it, the wait won't be that long.

Knee surgery has a lower success-rate / satisfaction rate than hip replacement, but to be honest, because of the NHS waiting times I'd still opt to go on the waiting list for surgery at your level of need for painkillers, and then play it by ear when a date for surgery finally arrives.

jen_1709

I am also 62 and a nurse but still working .I was diagnosed with bilateral osteoarthritis and on waiting list for right hip replacement. I struggle day to day and pain relief is still not helping me sleep . Probably 6 months since slept well .December I was still playing tennis but had to stop as now struggling to weight bear and gave a limp for a long time . I’m just nagging the referral team to get me in asap .

Minnie11

Thank you everyone for your very helpful advice and comments. After reading them I think I will go on the waiting list and then see how I am when my date comes up. I did think that if I'm only just managing now with all these pain killers it might not be long before they don't control my pain adequately so better to start the ball rolling re surgery due to the long waiting times. @jen_1709 The not sleeping is absolutely horrible, isn't it? I do also wonder if my 40 plus years of nursing have played a part in my osteoarthritis - seems very likely I think due to all the lifting we used to do. Thanks again everyone, much appreciate you taking the time to reply xx

Minnie11

@alwayssewing Thank you, that's very helpful. I'm at the stage where I can't sleep, walk or do much at all without the painkillers. Xrays showed severe arthritis in right hip with bone cysts etc I can't take naproxen as it makes me feel really sick, I do take omeprazole to protect my stomach from the Ibuprofen. I guess it sounds like just getting on with the hip replacement is a good idea and probably a safer option than continuing with all these tablets. I was walking 9 miles a day prior to my diagnosis 2 years ago so would really like to be able to get back to proper walking. Even with all the painkillers I can now only manage a slow 20 mins with a limp. It's very encouraging that you have done well following having both hips done 😊 Good luck with your knees and thanks for taking the trouble to reply. I will also look at those diaries xx