OA in Hips and Knees

Hello @Ben

I am sorry to read you are in so much pain.

I am 7 weeks today post total hip replacement. My hip went in November 2022 during the really cold spell that we suffered. I saw a Nurse Practitioner at our surgery and she agreed that my hip was bad said I should see the practice physio who I refused to see (she's as much use as a chocolate tea pot). In December 2022 I spoke to a GP who prescribed some painkillers, and sent me for an x-ray. In January 2023 my X-Ray was eventually seen by my own GP who referred me to the local MSK team. In March 2023 I had surgery for an unrelated neck issue and the lovely physio there, when seeing how much pain I was in, gave me 2 sets of crutches and said I must use them all the time.

In April 2023 I was eventually given an appointment with an MSK physio in May 2023 and she was amazing. I had an injection at this point and she referred me for MRI and CT scans once we knew the injection didn't have any meaningful effect..

In August 2023 when all the scans and MRIs had been completed (I spent an hour in the MRI machine having different scans done and the pain of this was horrendous) she told me she was referring me to the hospital with the shortest waiting list. Luckily this was a private hospital under NHS Choices.

I had my initial appointment with the hip team in Mid September 2023 and after injections and more xrays agreed to operate and I had my surgery 20th May.

I was in hospital for 2 nights, had two physio appointments in outpatients, a 24 hour helpline for both them and the ward.

I didn't have a home assessment, I didn't need one. I knew a toilet seat was useless as I am only 5'. We had installed a second handrail back in February to make my life safer and had put handrails where I needed them in the bathroom and my husband made a dressing stick/picker upper and other gadgets with his 3d printer. If we didn't have this we woud've bought them. We also bought steps for the front and back door from an online sellling site.

I knew there was no way on earth I was going to have a commode. Personal choice and not an option. We only have an upstairs toilet so would've, and did, stay upstairs when necessary. I soon learnt to do everything I needed to while I was upstairs.

I knew I wouldn't be able to get into our bath to shower so didn't even contemplate trying. We have a shower over bath so this was impossible to use as well. I strip washed the old fashioned way using a long handled back brush to get to the bits I couldn't with wet wipes wrapped around them.

Overall I would go this route again and my surgeon has already told me my other hip is on the way out and will see me via NHS choices when it needs doing.

Today, 7 weeks on I am 99% fully recovered, no great pain, a bit of swelling and that's the only bit of pain I have, almost full mobility and walking virtually unaided (one stick and walking poles for walks) and using an exercise bike.

Apologies this is so long but wanted to let you know the projected timeline unless you go directly to a private surgeon and what you can expect.

With the waiting lists as they are on the NHS I will always go for NHS choices and the quickest option for my arthritis.

I hope you get your surgery as soon as possible.

Love n hugs

Trish xx