Just been told I need new hips!

lolly5648 · 20 April 2010 at 7:49PM

azureblue wrote: »

Well the doc today says my x-ray is fine so not arthritis and has referred me to the physiotherapist.
Perhaps it's hip bursitis? All I know is it hurts when I walk, dagnabit.

I also have hip bursitis in both hips. They are very painful. I was told to take pain killers or I could have a cortisone injection. I had to buy a memory foam mattress to enable me to get some sleep as it is very uncomfortable to lie on my sides as the bursas are very inflamed.

I have heard mixed reports about the cortisone injection, one friend swears by it, others say it has made it worse and the pain has spread down their legs.

For the moment I am taking large doses of ibuprofen. If you do have bursitis I would be interested to hear what a physio could do as I can't see how it would help.

azureblue_2 · 29 April 2010 at 4:48PM

ooooh both hips must be awful lolly5648, you have my real sympathy. Ibuprofen is also my friend but I try not to take it often.
The physios sent me a holding letter - we know you exist and it'll be around 2 months before we see you type thing. Having looked on the web about it there doesn't seem to be much they can do but I must be patient and see what occurrs!
I keep walking every day, start off okay then when it hurts get out my trusty walking stick to help take the pressure off and head back.
Must keep telling ourselves All Will Be Well.

lolly5648 · 29 April 2010 at 6:03PM

Do post again when you have had your appointment azureblue. I do most of my exercise in the water, aqua aerobics and swimming. It keeps me flexible and doesn't hurt.

Mr_Proctalgia · 7 August 2010 at 11:02PM

Thanks you for all your replies earlier - I now have a new right hip!

I eventually elected to go to the Nuffield Hospital, private room, TV and en-suite facilities. Everything went like clockwork, in hospital at 7am, in theatre at 9.30 and back in my room at 11.15. No pain killers needed at all. In fact if I had the use of my legs I could have walked from the theatre. I spent 2 days with those electric sock thingies on, oxygen and plugged into a machine that kept a check on me. (Oh!... and a Catheter) It was great fun mentally trying to reduce my heart rate, which you can do if you concentrate

At all times the staffing and care I received was exemplary. The food tasty and of a good choice, there was even morning newspapers. The nurses were always up for a giggle and a laugh - They even asked me if I had actually had the op at first. I was up in a zimmer frame the next day and on the second day the catheter was out (Not totally pleasant) and around on crutches.

The next day I went home!

I am now 5 weeks in and getting on well, driving again, the scar is healed (Had dissolving stitches) and I can walk fairly well but still on a crutch. To those that are wondering the op itself is the easy bit, the worst bit for me was about 2 weeks after when the bruising starts to come out, then your leg will start to ache a lot, but it is a "good ache" as it tells you when to stop doing whatever you are doing and take some rest. All I have now at this point is some low level deep down soreness that is literally around my femur - The big plus is that my knee doesn't hurt anymore now either :T

Was it worth it? So far definitely. Does it hurt? No not really, but it does ache sometimes. Has it enhanced my life, not yet but I believe it will in due course.

What has helped the most - A very positive outlook and a positive mental attitude, a can do, make do and manage attitude with the will to try one more thing every day. There were patients in there who refused to get out of bed "in case it hurt" For all I know they are still there, 3 days was enough hospital to me.

You do need to watch yourself, a fall would be VERY serious at this point, you have to watch the angle of your legs to your body, a raised toilet seat is a necessity, a helping hand grabber very very useful, and those clever things for putting your socks on are too. Crutches are essential, those boa constrictor stockings are sheer misery and they are impossible to put on and remove yourself (besides that it has been warm and you look a right pillock with those on and shorts!) The anti clotting drugs make you tired but I have finished them now. Lastly. Peeing after having a catheter is painful.

High points - I tied my own shoe laces yesterday - eventually. You can use the electric cart in Tescos!

Finally - Please do what I did and donate your bone, it is very useful for people in great need of it.