This "hip thing" ain't hip...or hep if you prefer!

[John Schmidt]

I've been fighting a hip thing for some time and after a couple appts. the x-rays didn't exactly point to replacement...at least not initially. There didn't appear to be a lot of arthritis so the surgeon wanted to try physical therapy and an injection into the hip joint...left side. Been on the PT three weeks with little success to show for it. Then last Thursday I got the shot, only took a few seconds but definitely not a day at the beach. Got up Friday morning and had no pain, was good throughout the day so was hoping for some extended relief. Then yesterday morning, Saturday, got up and...oh brother. Back to 1st base! By day's end, the pain was back and near intolerable and in both hips even though the right side was replaced in 2016. I think that side is mostly muscle issues due to over-compensating for the left side, an action which also has my low back/sacrum injury fired up. An additional problem...my A1c hangs around 8.0 no matter what or how I eat. When I hit the gym the glucose takes a dive down to between 115-130, next morning brings anywhere from 160 & up. Basically, they won't operate with an A1c at/over 8.0. I'm at my wits end on this thing, the left side has some muscle pain but the deep groin pain is growing which is what you get when the joint itself is going bad. I had the same thing on the right side so I'm working from experience. Not sure my nest step but hope it's soon. 

[Jess from VA]

I'm very sorry for your troubles John.

Watching my 95yo mom gimp around on her walkers is hard to see.  But her daily (slow) walking has a good deal of her pain disappeared. 

I've come to realize that her will to continue living is the single most important thing.  More than any of her meds, doctors, treatments, etc.  Mental over physical.

[NewValker]

Sorry for all that you’re going thru, been there with that deep groin pain twice.  Left hip replaced in 2017, right one done in 2019.  Took care of the pain.
Now if I could get a back transplant lol….

Craig

[Valkorado]

Incessant pain is grueling and all consuming.  Hoping they can help you with that aspect first and foremost, and schedule your surgery ASAP.

[Rams]

John,
Similar issues with my knees.   The injections work for a short time but, the pain always returns.  Told the doc that I'm allergic to pain, that didn't help.

No advice here but, I'm told that eventually a joint replacement might happen.  Apparently, my warranty ran out a while back.  Best wishes, stay safe while you're out there in the wind.

Rams  

[TJ]

 Feeling for you old man...

[0leman]

John, had problems with left knee.   When finally went to Bone Doc he said he could give me a shot, but he recommended totally replacement.   I couldn't walk more than 200 yards without stopping to let the pain go away.  Also, every so often the knee wouldn't be there,  didn't fall but close.   Had the operation on 03/03 this year.  Best decision I have made in a long time.   Back to doing what I was doing before the Knee went south.  Only problem is that the right knee is starting to show signs of going South.   

[Farside]

  Bummer John, I know Several folks including family who have gotten new knees  & hips over the last few years. You still are a really healthy man with some inflamed joints. Sorry the for that pain and I hope you find something that helps other than surgery. 

[Jersey mike]

My wife had both her hips replaced but still struggles with hip flexor pain from time to time. She also has the low back pain L5/S1 that flairs up causing her pain.

It’s not fun being uncomfortable and in pain. Relief is relief however you can get it.

[da prez]

  John , VA did my last hip replacement. I have been very happy with the surgery and after care. They had therapist come to my home.  Another new technique and six days after the surgery , I saw the doctor and was walking with a cane.  He said he had patients using walkers at 6 months.  Do not give them walkers. It makes you dependent. I kept it by the bed for bathroom trips at night.

                                            da prez

[John Schmidt]

  John , VA did my last hip replacement. I have been very happy with the surgery and after care. They had therapist come to my home.  Another new technique and six days after the surgery , I saw the doctor and was walking with a cane.  He said he had patients using walkers at 6 months.  Do not give them walkers. It makes you dependent. I kept it by the bed for bathroom trips at night.

                                            da prez

The dr. used the anterior method on my right hip 9 yrs. ago, have a 4" scar on the front of my hip. A week later I was walking without using a cane but did carry it for a few days just in case. Never needed it. The doctor teased me when I walked in for my 2 week followup with nothing in my hand, said I was showing off. Told him it was free advertising for his expertise.   I was back on the bike within the first month. An even newer method called the SuperPath is apparently the way to go but I can't find anyone in the Green Bay area that does it. It has you laying on your side with the operable site facing up and I'm told they don't crank your leg off to the side as with other methods. They keep telling me my A1c is too high for them to operate so probably won't be done any time soon. 

[cookiedough]

ask dr. how to get the A1C down to operating level and get the hip replaced as soon as medically cleared.  Dr. told me new hips will last 25 years so u be safe getting new hip done ASAP.
living in pain is NO fun that I know the past 4+ years.  Right around age 50 is all I noticed standing or walking or pretty much anything excessive was unbearable.  1st surgeon dr. said I was too fat come back when under 250lbs will do surgery.  Well last October and December I found another surgeon who was willing to do both hip replacements back to back 8 weeks apart is all at around 292lbs. was REQD. I could not mow my grass or walk more than 200 yards without severe pain bone on bone both hips even standing for say 20 minutes at one time was impossible had to sit down and then ASAP pain was gone instantly, very odd, but true.  I was literally crying in pain sometimes last attempt to sit on a cycle or ATV legs spread that far apart was unbearable before surgeries last year.

How you after 1 week walked without a cane after 1st hip surgery is impressive.  1st week used an old man walker could barely walk, 2nd week used crutches, 3rd week was a cane and finally able 3rd week to go up/down steps VERY slow process.  after 4th week could BARELY drive a car no way riding a cycle, impossible for me.  Was both hips replacement surgeries a gruellilng 4 week process to function somewhat OK driving vehicle and going up/down steps very slowly. 

One thing hip surgeon told me will be 1 year or more before fully functional and do NOT cross my legs or go inward knee bend for over 6 months could POP hip out of place and that be VERY bad.  My flexibility still sucks some 8 months later now but no pain is a good thing to have and yet here I am weighed myself and over 300lbs. for 1st time in my life.  I thought able to walk and ride bicycle and mow yard, etc. etc. now would help me loose weight but gained 10lbs. since surgery done, am sure 50lb. weight loss would do me wonders am sure!!!

[John Schmidt]

Cookie, my neighbor, a VA doctor, also didn't believe I'd had a full replacement due to my mobility until I showed him the "after" xray. My weight wasn't an issue and the anterior method was used. That goes into the front of the hip and no tendons or muscles are cut, only moved out of the way, and left me with a 4" scar. Once home I never used anything but Tylenol. Even though my joint was bone on bone, I was still able to hit the gym 2-3 times a week, very painful at times but turned out to be very beneficial in my recovery. As for getting back on the bike(no trike at that time), I'd go out to the garage and test my leg strength by simple rocking the bike back/forth. Once the pain from the procedure was gone, riding was not a problem.

I forgot to mention...the dr. told me with the anterior method there were no restrictions on how I use or position my leg. He simply told me if a position was uncomfortable I probably shouldn't be doing it. I used that advice as a guide and never did cross my legs or any other odd angle simply cuz it was uncomfortable while the operation site was still healing. What bothered me most was I couldn't sleep on my right side for a few weeks, the pressure against the operation site was painful.

[cookiedough]

sure pays to be skinnier, bot surgeries due to excessive weight was in the rear near butt area cut into,  a good 8 inch scar both matching sides, cut thur a TON of muscle and tendons am sure.  Even if did weigh only 250lbs. the surgery would still be on each side in back of my hips. 

Dr. did say in back takes longer to recover vs. front incision, surely was a VERY slow process was hoping 2-3 weeks is all but took a good 4 weeks to be able to function and against my better judgment, went back to work with a cane start of 5th week but the few I talked to had hips replaced took off 6 weeks off work.  I could function, barely, but sitting at a desk all day long on a chair in office had to get up and move every 2-3 hours since got stiff and sore sitting in one spot for that long.  Even now some 8 months later, sitting in an office chair for more than 2-3 hours is very hard to do I get way stiff and walk gingerly to say the least first 20 steps since am so stiff from sitting that long.

Am sure the arthritis am sure I got does not help with flexibility and movement as well.

Those 1st 2-3 weeks I had to sleep in my recliner all night long could not lay down in bed, especially sleeping on my incision side was impossible hurt too much.  Every now and again certain movements when I work outside on stuff get a sharp PAIN like I should NOT be doing that movement in my hips.