Not my knee but my hips!
Well I went along for my Referral appointment for what I thought was my knee but it turns out I need both hips done! I knew that I had osteoarthritis in both hips but was told that my right knee pain was radiating down from my right hip and that my right hip needed to be replaced a.s.a.p. Also my gait when walking told him it was my hip. After recovering from the shock I asked him how long the waiting list was and was told approximately 3 months. I must admit that I feel relieved something will now be done as I realised over this last year that my day to day life was being severely impacted. Looks like I will be joining the "hippie brigade" soon.😊
P.S. Apparently my right knee is not too bad with arthritis, so I suppose that is a positive thing.
Comments
-
@Fran54 Welcome to the Hippies! Three months will be here before you know it. It's amazing how quickly after a replacement you realise you are on the way to a much better quality of life. There are a few of us here who have had THR recently so ask away if you have any questions or read our diaries. Take care.
0 -
@Janlyn
Thank you for your comment. I actually feel more positive today as I have something to aim for now. I have been reading all of the different "Hippies" posts with great interest and there are some really helpful tips. I may be showing my age but mentioning the word "Hippies" reminds me of an old 60's hit called "Hippy Hippy Shakes" by the Swinging Blue Jeans. Hey ho!😏
0 -
@Fran54 Haha, you've got me singing to myself now😳 But, yes, once we name it we can plan for it. I found it really helpful to exercise as much as I could, which wasn't a lot at all, and to organise everything at home to make it as easy as possible to manage afterwards. Easy to prepare and store food. Cooking equipment close to hand so I didn't have to bend down or reach up. Easy to put on and take off clothes and so on…
0 -
@Fran54 great song! I've had one hip replaced just over two weeks ago and looking forward th having the second done at some future point. I also have OA in both knees but not too bad at this time but the pain radiating from my hips makes them feel really painful. What l can say is that since having my first hip done the pain in my knee below has all but gone apart from the occasional twinge, l hope you find the same.
0 -
@Janlyny Yes I have started doing a few different exercises for the hips and found them on this site. I need to keep doing them if only once a day ( try and do twice a day if no busy schedule ) just to keep everything as supple as possible. I have started to organise a small case for the hospital and was wondering what clothes/shoes I should wear. I have a skirt ( usually only wear trousers ) and some slip-ins shoes ( well known brand ). I don't do a lot of cooking but usually do an extra portion for the freezer, so will start doing that. If not will get in some easy to microwave meals. Trying to keep up to date with housework so I don't come back to a pigsty! I already have a few aids like picker-upper, sock puller up ( probably won't need that for a while though ) long handled brush/pan, so feel I am getting organised alright.🙂
0 -
@john62 yes a great song, maybe one day will be able to jig along to it again😊 I am glad that you are making such good progress and hopefully like you once my right hip is done the pain in my knee will also go. Registrar said it was radiating from the hip, so keeping fingers crossed. 😊
0 -
Three months only! It's amazing. My hip was radiating to the lower back. I thought I had OA in my vertebrae but it was the hip. I hope your knee pain disappears with your hip replacement. I had my surgery three months ago and I'll be waiting at least year for the next one.
0 -
@Nurina I was really surprised that it is was my hip that was causing all the knee problems. When I got the result of my pelvic x-ray all I was told was there was narrowing of space in both hips nothing else. This was March 2023 when the x-ray was done and this was the one that the Registrar was looking at when he told me about having a THR. Since then I did realise that my mobility and lack of movement range in that area had got a lot worse. Still now I know and I feel more positive about the future. I am not sure how long you have to wait in between hip replacements but I hope you are feeling the benefits of having had one done. Take care.🙂
1 -
@fran54 it’s interesting about knowing if it is knee or hip 1st. I had right THR nearly 2 weeks ago, having had lower back and knee issues, with a baker’s cyst that developed in Jan 24 in opposite knee. My hip deteriorated all of a sudden with a back and hip ‘event’ last Sep 23 where I went from being really active, walking 5-12 miles to 100 yds, if that. Once I had the THR op the baker’s cyst has disappeared and both knees less puffy. Realised that such compensation in gait from hip causes this great strain and effect on all other joints. Good that you know it is hip and that can be treated for you soon I hope. All the best.
1 -
Hello @julesd and welcome to the Community. We are a friendly and supportive group and I hope that will be your experience as well.
We have a lot of information on our website and I have put a link in below which you might find useful.
Please keep posting and let us know how you are getting on.
Best wishes
Peter
Need more help? - call our Helpline on0800 5200 520Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm
0 -
Well had a telephone call this afternoon and my pre-assessment appointment is on 28th May. Feeling excited and a little apprehensive but as they say "onwards and upwards"😊
1 -
@Fran54 Good to hear you're able to do some exercises - anything you can do is beneficial.
It was mid-December when I had my surgery so I dug out a couple of long skirts with elasticated waists - I had a nicer one with a zip but was told to avoid zips so I was always okay for an x-ray once in hospital. Long dresses were good too until I could get trousers back on which was surprisingly quick. Slip on shoes, but with enough support were essential and my long-handled shoe horn got some use. I actually managed to get zipped boots on my putting a key ring through the zip and a long piece of string to pull the zip up. Unfortunately I hadn't thought ahead to taking them off and that was a bigger problem!
Once you get your case packed you'll feel prepared and better. My sock-helper was really useful but hopefully it'll be warm enough for you to not need socks. My grabber was helpful to get dressed too. It is amazing looking back though that as soon as I seemed to get used to all the gadgets I started to be able to manage without them. Just bear in mind when the going seems tough that it won't be for a long time in the grand scheme of things.
Easy meals, fruit, yogurt, cheese and healthy things to pick at are good. I had enormous cravings for oranges and orange juice. And try not to worry about housework - I did the absolute essentials or got my son to come and do them, and now I'm finding I'm slowly getting back to normal - it was all too much to start with. Any effort and I had to have a rest😂
0 -
@Janlyn thank you for your useful tips. I have been out today getting a few more bits for the hospital stay. I had not thought of taking my grabber with me. Yes I must learn to turn a blind eye to the housework and just do the basics, also my garden is gradually rewilding itself! I am getting better at resting/pacing myself as well.😉
0 -
This thought was niggling me last night and it is regarding my pre-assessment appointment next Tuesday 28th. I am wondering if I have to self isolate and keep clear of crowded spaces. I am hoping that one of the recent "hippies" on here can help me out. I have tried contacting the hospital where my op. will be done but have had no luck there. Thank you in anticipation of a reply.🙂
0 -
@Fran54 l didn't take any particular precautions prior to my pre-assessment, however l did keep myself to myself somewhat during the week leading up to my op, l was more concerned about catching a cold more than anything else. If you are concerned it might be prudent to avoid crowded indoor spaces but l wouldn't think you need to totally self isolate. Good luck.
0 -
@john62 thank you for your reply. I didn't think I had to isolate before my pre-assessment but just wanted to ease my mind. I shall definitely try and keep away from crowded/indoor spaces nearer the time to my op. I hope that you are going from strength to strength with your new hip and will soon be out and about enjoying life again. Take care.🙂
0 -
@Janlyn thank you for your reply. I think that I just needed confirmation to keep my mind at rest. I shall definitely try and keep away from crowded/indoor spaces nearer the time to my op. I expect that you are getting better in leaps and bounds now and enjoying life. Take care.🙂
0 -
I didn’t self isolate before my pre assessment, but the week before my op I wore a mask to work ( I work in a pharmacy) I didn’t want to catch anything that would postpone my op, thankfully the mask worked 😊
1 -
@Bevdav123 Had my pre-assessment on Tuesday and was given a " goodie bag". Have got an appt. next Wednesday for hip class where I should be shown some relevant exercises to do and to take along measurements of my furniture - bed, toilet and armchair. No date as yet for my op. Once I get the date I am to have another blood test done 7 days before surgery, no less than 3 days before, so once that is done I will then self-isolate. I am lucky as being retired means I am able to self-isolate when needed and at the moment I stay in quite a bit anyway. I hope that my hubby will do the same! Take care.
2 -
Having been given a booklet showing me the exercises to do before and after my hip operation I can do most of them quite well, but there is one ( lying on back legs straight, bring operated leg out to the side then back ) that I am finding difficult to do and is quite painful to do as I cannot move my leg very far. I am doing them twice a day at the moment, except yesterday as I tried 3 times ( the booklet says 3-4 times per day ). I know it is important to do these exercises as much as possible, but 3 times felt too much and afterwards I felt worse stiffness and mobility wise. I also know to pace myself which is sometimes easier said than done. I am wondering if anybody who has experienced these exercises ( especially our hippy group ) could enlighten me with their thoughts on this. Also, I am doing these exercises on both legs as my other hip will need replacing some time. By the way my hip op. is Tuesday 25th June.
Many thanks.
0 -
@Fran54 Ooh not long now! And yes, I remember feeling much of what you feel about exercise. The one you mention you are finding difficult was difficult for me not only before surgery but for a few weeks afterwards as my bad leg wouldn't lie straight. I didn't push it but did the exercise stood-up. Actually after my surgery I really found most of my lying on my back exercises difficult and changed most of them to standing-up ones, until my leg straightened, which it did a few weeks after surgery. I also varied the times and repetitions to fit in with how I felt. Eventually I realised that it was the difficult ones that were improving my recovery but only when I was ready and not by forcing it too early.
Regarding both sides - I was told it was important always to exercise both sides.
Wishing you all the very best for next Tuesday and please let us know how you go on.
0
Categories
- All Categories
- 12.1K Our Community
- 9.6K Living with arthritis
- 774 Chat to our Helpline Team
- 390 Coffee Lounge
- 20 Food and Diet
- 223 Work and financial support
- 6 Want to Get Involved?
- 169 Hints and Tips
- 398 Young people's community
- 12 Parents of Child with Arthritis
- 38 My Triumphs
- 127 Let's Move
- 33 Sports and Hobbies
- 244 Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- 21 How to use your online community
- 35 Community Feedback and ideas