johnas
Ontario, Canada
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Joined: 08/15/2001
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I posted to this forum about 3 years ago that my mother broke her hip in a fall. She fell off the bed trying to repair a ceiling fan. She has osteoporosis but her hips were fine before the fall. She got a parial hip replacement. The recovery was slow and painful. Note: this was as a result of a breakage so there was also a lot of damaged tendons and muscles.
My mother has occassional pain (severe) in her femur. When it's painful it's so bad that she can't walk. She had it the entire trip to Florida she could hardly walk. We went to the zoo one day in June and again the pain appears. The doc said that the unit has become unstable (as seen on x-ray and other bone scans). In the last month my mother has had no pain and is starting to reconsider the surgery. I believe she should get it as I don't believe it's ever been right.
Does anyone here with a hip replacement feel that they are sitting on metal when sitting down. My mother says that she feels herself sitting on the device when sitting down. I believe she will go through with it as she's afraid the unit will get worse.
Has anyone had positive experiences with re-dos, this time a full/complete replacement? It's supposed to be pretty major. What if she has another episode where she can't walk. She needs assistance when she has these episodes and it's usually while walking on inclines. She's 71 years old and in good health. Her surgery will be Sept. 12.
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almckin
lancaster ,texas
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I had my first hip replacement in 1998 at 48yrs.old.I had to have it redone again in 2005 due to socket malfunction which caused other problems.They had to completly remove my femur,split it open to remove the shaft.They also cut 4 inches off the top of my femur befor reinstalling.I had to have cadaver bone grafts installed.One 18 inches long to support the femur and is held in place with zip ties.After a lengthy recovery I feel nothing abnormal.I am extreemly active and am an avid hunter however it does get a little fatiged climbing up and down mountains. Hope this info helps.
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Polishnurse
Schodack, NY
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My mother in law went thru the same deal, only replacing the hip not the socket. They do it as a cost saving deal (Medicare). They figure they won't live long enough to need the joint. I believe they should be held criminally libel for that but who am I. She ended up having the joint replace about six months later and can now walk again. She was in her 80's at the time and is still doing great. She was about six or seven days before she could get up and around with out to much difficulty the second time around. It wasn't as drastic a surgery since the hip was already done. Not saying it's easy, but not as muscle damage or trauma. Good Luck and Gods Speed in her recovery. Bill, Note I am not the nurse my wife is.
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avan
Sioux Falls, SD & Livingston,TX
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Joined: 11/02/2002
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If xrays etc show it unstable, she should get it 'redone' - it's called a revision. DW has had both L & R total hip replacements and due to her bones they do become unstable. She has had 9 dislocations each of which has had to be 're-set' without surgery (called a closed reduction) but in OR under general anesthetic. She has also had 4 revisions, 2L & 2R, the last being last November. All have taken place in the past 10 yrs and in that time she's probably spent 3+ full years in abductor braces. When xrays show instability/bone crumbling or socket flaking or wear, DW listens.
Recuperation from a revision that involves only ball and socket replacement isn't too tough.
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canope
Hanover Twp, Pennsylvania
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I had THR Aug 4, three weeks ago +-.
I can not tell I have metal, plastic and whatever else is in there. (I try not to think about what they did)
I spent 3 days in the hospital followed by a 110 mile drive home. The drive went well being narcotic induced for the trip. My first week home I used a walker, the second week I used forearm crutches that I have been on for the past 5-6 years. This past week I have been on a cane. I am 43 years of age and between the crutches and cane I did feel handicapped in public. That was one reason for me getting the operation. I went to LEKI.COM and ordered a Wanderfreund SAS walking cane. It has lifted my spirits because I went from 'handicapped' looking to 'game on'.
For a long time I had myself convinced it was getting better or would get better. It never did. If it means walking without pain, it is worth it. My hip pain was instantly gone. The pain from day one was more of a headache type pain, now it is muscle stiffness that eases every day.
The absolute worst part of my ordeal, in order was: Dealing with the insurance idiots and, believe it or not, having my blood tested. I truly hate needles.
Good luck and Godspeed with your decision.
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johnas
Ontario, Canada
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Thanks for all your responses. My mom breaking her hip was a huge ordeal because unlike some of you, she didn't have hip pain until she got the partial replacement because of the broken hip. She will go ahead with the surgery.
I'm glad to see you doing better canope, I think by reading your post that you're coming along quite well. You're only 43 years old, that's quite young to have so much hip pain. I'm glad you went ahead with it if it meant that you'll be able to walk from here on in. Luckily for us the insurance isn't a headache because we live in Canada. The only thing we have is a larger waiting time.
We counted on having to wait a year to a year and a half, which is normal for this specific surgeon as he's really in demand. I told my mom to put herself on the list because it would likely take that long. Wouldn't you know it, she gets a call after only 5 months.
Avan, thanks for the advice as well. I don't think it's only a ball socket that's being replaced. I think the part that goes into the bone is also being replaced and cemented. So it's going to be major.
I think one factor for my mother agreeing to this surgery is because she's afraid it'll be more unstable in the future and that the complications from surgery will increase as she gets older.
Almcin, your post makes me squeemish but at least it did have descent results.
I'll let you know what happens from here on in. We still have an appointment with the surgeon Sept. 2.
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