Osteoarthritis Community

Hello arbob5,
I, too, am in need of a new hip as my left hip has been bone-on-bone for some time now. I have what is known as fibrous dysplasia of my left femur & this has indirectly caused the Osteoarthritis in the left hip. I can relate to the pain being throughout the leg.

Because of my complication, I have seen a few surgeons & one of them simply can't understand how I've been dealing with the pain. I haven't yet resorted to a cane. I visit a warm pool every morning where I spend about an hour of swimming & walking. I am slim yet I still remain in pain.

Last year I scheduled surgery but cancelled it due to my fears. I did visit a specialist at the Cleveland Clinic who is experienced with fibrous dysplasia & he told me to hold off surgery until I can't walk a block. I believe he has my age in mind - I am 56, relatively young for such replacement. Because of my complication, I will need a cemented implant & that can be more problematic down the road.

I completely understand your fears however, you must get some reassurance from your former experience of successful surgeries. With regard to your UC, I must believe that there are medical precautions taken to avoid such accidents. Did you discuss this with your doctor?

Do not worry about embarrassments - the medical staff have seen it all & it just doesn't matter to them.

There are risks involved with any surgery. Most such risks are uncommon & very often the benefits of joint replacement far outweigh the possibility of these risks. Did you experience these same reservations before undergoing your other surgeries? Are you experiencing any negative gut feelings about surgery?

It sounds as though your pain is considerably reducing your quality of life. The fact that your over-all health is good is real plus for undergoing the surgery.

I hope this was helpful. I look forward to more correspondence.

georgia

Thank you so much Georgia. Your comments have been a great help to me. I see my gastro doctor next Tuesday and will go over all of these questions I have. I have great confidence in both my ortho and gastro md's. They are well known in my area and are the best as far as I'm concerned.

I will more than likely decide to have the surgery. I know that my qualify of life is just getting worse and more restrictive, and even tho I'm 74, I have always been quite active. I didn't have hesitations with my other two surgeries but I was younger then. Actually, the hip replacement was much easier than the knee replacement. Within 3 weeks of the hip surgery, I was walking without a cane or walker.

Again, thanks for your comments. I will let you know what I decide (probably the surgery) and keep you posted. God bless you...you have helped me tremendously.

I'm so glad to be of help. Another plus for the surgery is that I've heard & read from many sources that recovery from hip replacement is much quicker & easier than that from knee replacement.

Please keep us posted. You have been an inspiration to me as I think I will soon be making plans to proceed with mine as well.

Good luck to us both!

Your bowels shut down when you're under anesthesia so it's not likely anything is going to "let go" during surgery. Even if it did they would clean you up long before you woke up and you would never be the wiser. Surgical teams have seen all this before, it's no big deal to them. Just tell your doctor and/or anesthesiologist before surgery and they will help ease your fears.

I never thought of it that way. Thanks. I do know that the pain meds after the surgery will more than likely constipate me. That will be a somewhat welcome change for my body!

Again, thanks. I am getting closer to "setting the date".

I will have the surgery. I have to call and set it up. That will be a big step for me and I'll let you know when it is.

Thanks again.

think you better discus this matter with your doc. UC wouldnt be a big deal. your bowel can be controlled during surgery

Hip surgery scheduled for July 16. I'm concerned, but isn't everyone who has major surgery scheduled? I just am in so much pain that if the Dr. called me today and said we can do it sooner, I would go ahead with it.

So, I will communicate with my friends here as soon as I can.

Thanks for all the support.

Good afternoon, Have been their a time or two myself, I wish you good luck with the surgery, waiting is never a good thing. Having put off surgery my self, I wish now after my surgery that I would have done it two years ago. Two hours after surgery I was walking the hall ways, granted, I had a walker, but it was pain free. I was still on medication, but I knew that it was better than ever, since even on medication I still used two canes to arrive the day of my surgery. Now five weeks later, 38 lbs lighter, I am doing PT three times a week and walking two miles or more for the other three days a week. Have total faith, prayer and prepare your mind for an awesome surgery and recovery with full restoration. Keep me posted, God Bless. Be Safe Always Jr.

Thank you so much for your thoughts. I am pretty much well prepared for the surgery. Again, I would jump at the chance to have it sooner than the 16th if I got that call, but I'm expecting to have to wait until the 16th.

I'm sure all will go well, but I'm also positive that everyone who has major surgery in their future, is having the same worries that I'm having. It is never easy to prepare yourself for it.

Because I had never had any major surgeries before my knee and hip replacements, I just took it in stride, because I didn't know anyone else who had similar surgeries. So, no comments etc. about what to expect. Now I know, and because I'm 9 years older, that also worries me.

Again, thanks for your comments. I appreciate it very much. I will keep in touch.

Hi,I had my right hip and left knee done, before my hip was replaced I was in so much pain. The Drs had an xray done in Oct of 2009 and it showed as a slight narrowing of the joint space, I was limping and still working but within a few weeks was on a walking frame and then the pain became so unbearable I was on morphine patches and bed ridden, the Drs said it couldn't be my hip as that was not too bad in the xray,it must be refered pain from my knee,I argued with them...you know where the pain is... they didn't want to do my hip because they said at 49 too young. I suffered till Dec 2010 and finally saw a specialist who re xrayed my hip and I had a hip replacment 6 days later. The specialist said it was on the verge of fracturing, it had deteriorated that much in 14 months. Instant relief...I havn't looked back....My advice is don't suffer, get it done if you need it because it is not going to get any better ,only worse....I used to sit in bed crying day in and out with the pain.....Good luck xxx

My surgery was/is scheduled for Monday 7/16, but my pre-op tests, blood work, urine work, etc., showed I have a bladder infection. So, it appears my surgery will have to be delayed because of the infection. Figures. I wasn't even aware I had a bladder infection...no symptoms whatsoever, which I understand is quite unusual.

So, I shall try to put on a happy face until the surgery actually takes place.

Thanks for your comments. I appreciate it very much. I really have a big-time limp and the only relief I get is when I sit down. Getting up is quite horrendous tho.

Again, thanks. I'll keep you posted.

Update: My hip surgery will be Monday 7/16 as scheduled. Latest test indicates my bladder infection is under control and poses no problem for my surgery.

So, I am looking forward to the pain relief after the surgery. My hip pain has accelerated so much in the past coupe of weeks that certain ways I move are unbearable and almost brings me to tears. I'm not normally "teary", but let me tell you, the pain is excruciating.

Relief in sight! Yeah!!!!!

Good to hear the infection has cleared and it's a go for the surgery, Arbob. Thanks for keeping us updated.