Well, I just found out both hips

[turd]

need to be replaced. I knew the right one was bad, was just trying to make it until fall, but I decided to go in to see if I could get a steroid injection. Xrays showed the right was bone on bone, the left was bad, but not quite as bad. This was on Tuesday. Steroid injection in right hip for now. Seems to be working OK.

What is the deal with this stuff? Neither my brother or sister have issues, so how does this come about? I had my left knee replaced 4 years ago. Seems I am wearing out.

 

[nrobe50]

It's called getting old. Arthritis slaps us around a bit. I told my Doctor everything on me hurts except the stuff that no longer works.

 

[Threespears]

I’m not too far behind you.
I had MRI’s yesterday, and will see what the Doc says tomorrow
Good luck with that

 

[Richard76]

I know a few people that have had them replaced. It seems the procedure is getting much better and I don't think any of them had complaints after. good luck to you

 

[turd]

Well, I am still going to try to wait until late fall or winter. Right now I'm mowing the lawn every three days or so. Hopefully the snow will hold off for a while. If not, we have freezers and such so we can hold out for a while then. Wifey has back and hip problems, so not a lot of help there, even tho I don't let her do much outdoors.

 

[bedfordboy]

FWIW everyone says that hips are an easier recovery than knees. My wife had a hip replacement several years ago and recovery went well, if I remember correctly she had about eight weeks of PT rehab. I had the new (less invasive) “Jiffy Knee” replacement a year ago and it went well too, I had more like twelve weeks of PT. Neither of us have any regrets other than wishing we had done it sooner. Here in central Virginia they will not do double replacement surgery anymore (hips or knees). I wish you well with whatever you decide to do.

 

[bobski]

may be easier, but the recovery is painful.
i was in hospital for a jog....and the guys getting replacements were next to me. their screams kept me awake and trying to go to the toilet was a death sentence for them. i thanked God for my injuries and was glad i wasnt them. they may have gone home early, but they went out struggling with orders to rehab to learn to walk again.

 

[Mobuck]

Everyone has a different response to joint replacement. Apparently, I believed too much of what I was told about hip replacement by other patients and the Doctor. I was told that nearly full recovery could be as soon as 6 weeks up to 3 months. Mine took 3 YEARS to become reasonably trustworthy. In fact, I fired my surgeon about 3 months post surgery when he refused to accept that he'd mislead me.
One bit of advice I'll pass along: If you're even the slightest amount overweight, LOSE IT. I was marginally under weight for age/height and had far more strength than expected for my age. Even then, it was difficult to continue my life with the new hip. Two full years post surgery, walking through tall grass, deep snow, or sidehilling was troublesome. I spent 3 hours putting new belts on my baler yesterday--mostly up/down ladders. Legs are a bit sore but hip isn't aching like it did for 2-3 years after replacement. Still have very little confidence and lead with my other leg most of the time. I'll guarantee you'll NEVER jump off a pickup tailgate again.

 

[s4s4u]

My hips were giving me fits. I couldn't lay on my side more than a few minutes without both hips hurting. I started taking these sup's about a year ago and my what a difference. I went from thinking about surgery to not even thinking about it at all.

 

[XUSNORDIE]

I had the new (less invasive) "Jiffy Knee" replacement a year ago

What is that? I had my right knee replaced a couple years ago. I have a 14 inch scar with my knee smack dab in the center. 3 sections of titanium. Still isn't 100% but I did put it off far too long.

Everyone has a different response to joint replacement.

Agreed. I have two (02) fusions right now. Anterior Cervical (my melon is held on by a titanium plate and six screws) and minimally invasive lower fusion. Plus my knee replacement. Some folks snap right back into things....but those who waited too long don't. I'm a couple weeks away from left side SI Joint fusion. Basically rebuilding the left side of my sacrum and fusing with titanium strips. My issues were between high school football/lacrosse injuries and some nasty events in the Navy while playing with EOD (knee) and and a not so fun joy ride in the Persian Gulf on a crappy helo (Cervical/T12 Fracture/Sacrum). Not to mention all the weapons loads (lumbar issues). The body repairs itself the best it can from what we put it through but not fully. Folks who took care of themselves also wear out naturally over time, sometimes if only genetically. They seem to be the ones who snap back after joint replacements. I will never be even close to 100% again. I'm ok with it....be nice if the titanium market shot up.....my kids can collect all the titanium parts in me from the ashes and split it 4 ways ....Seabee Son already joked he is going to find a way to melt his share down and make 45 ACP rounds

 

[bobski]

practice using a bed pan if you get a replacement boys. get the thin kind, not the tall kind....so you can jam it under you and not have to lift up too far.
or.....pay a home nurse to change your diapers and do it free willie.
i hate the hospital experience but have the highest respect for the aids and nurses.

sorry for not sugar coating my experiences guys. im pretty up front when it comes to pain.
call me a hospital bed christian if you must, but man o man i never prayed so much as i did as in a hospital.
fentonal thru a drip IV and gabapentin was my friend.

 

[MaxMan]

Should have had both ankles done a year ago. Plenty of BC powder Extra strength and a Bee venom spray helps a lot. I have to eat with the BC Powder to keep it from tearing up my stomach, so the loose weight thing is a little hard. Two months recovery. The arthritis and other associated aches and pains mean your still here. Best of luck Turd. whatever you decide.

 

[bedfordboy]

What is that? I had my right knee replaced a couple years ago. I have a 14 inch scar with my knee smack dab in the center. 3 sections of titanium. Still isn't 100% but I did put it off far too long.

With the Jiffy Knee they make the incision on the inside of the knee and retract the ligaments without cutting them so that muscle healing is eliminated, otherwise the joint replacement process is about the same. I was off the opioids in three days taking Tylenol only and off the walker and cane in about two weeks and back to driving. I know not everyone is the same and I have two friends that recently had the same procedure and they did not have it nearly as easy as I did. Google Jiffy Knee it is much less invasive and much quicker recovery.

 

[WendyZXZ]

Sad news to hear it has to be done. Best wishes and prayers for the surgery and recovery and to be up and about soon afterwards.

 

[wproct]

Part of getting older I guess. My wife has both knees replaced, a shoulder replacement and two major back surgeries. Still having back issues and pain but they don't want to do more surgery because they can't determine one thing that is causing the problems. So now she is getting injections, she has had two and one more on the way. The injections are helping, not a cure, but helping. I had my left knee replaced in 2019 and the right one needs it but I just don't want to take the down time to get it done yet. Wife and I are both in our 80's and everything starts to go south. I try to stay active and walk as much as possible.

 

[Cholo]

Sorry to hear they both have to be done Maybe you can get by with just having the worst one done for now

 

[ArizonaTea123]

I was told by an orthopedic surgeon that the cartilage in our jounts does not repair itself and what you are born with is supposed to last your lifetime. Of course if you were a professional runner or basketball player, your results may vary.

Now, I've researched stem cell (cord blood, not PRP) injections and results have shown cartilage regeneration, which, is impossible?

A full treatment is around $15,000. So if you're a politician or celebrity you can afford to get these injections all the time.

Middle class folks? Sorry, you can't afford it

 

[NC FNS]

Hope you find relief, OP. I count my blessings, been relatively pain free over the years, but it’s starting to get worse. I think I got the good genes. Sister had fusion surgery this morning, tailbone to pelvis I think. Daughter, 31, ironically is a physical therapy assistant, will need a 3rd back surgery, and likely hip surgery soon. I think many of us can really appreciate being brought into the world in the 20th and 21st centuries rather than earlier ones that had limited options.

 

[Jim Walsh]

My femur was ripped out of my pelvis in an auto accident. Instant candidate for a hip replacement. I had several other more pressing surgeries due to that same accident (I was hit head on) so it had to wait it’s turn.
The eventual hip replacement went well but you never regain a full range of motion. The nice thing is that once it heals and you complete the physical therapy you should never have pain in that hip again.

 

[Don Lovel]

My Doc told me " too many rough miles without proper matenance"

 

[turd]

Mine said "you're starting to need replacement parts".

 

[lineman61]

Had both hips replaced. First one at 59 second at 60 thirty + years of line work probably contributed to it.
Both went extremely well had the anterior incision (front) no pain since
Hope it goes well for you

 

[s4s4u]

My Doc told me " too many rough miles without proper matenance"

Did he happen to mention what proper "maintenance" would be?

 

[peachhead]

My hips were giving me fits. I couldn't lay on my side more than a few minutes without both hips hurting. I started taking these sup's about a year ago and my what a difference. I went from thinking about surgery to not even thinking about it at all.

View attachment 79128

I have tried glucosamine for my knees and I swear it made it worse.

Sorry to hear about all that, turd. Hope you can come to a good resolution.

 

[epags]

OTOH, A more positive review than some of the others.

When I was a young 72 years old my left hip was bone on bone. I had a major titanium replacement installed. Couple of days in the hospital, lots of bed rest and use of a walker, self administered blood thinner injections daily for several weeks and weeks of outpatient physical therapy. Once I accepted the fact that titanium was stronger than any bone in my body I quit pampering myself, and have been fine for 13 years.

Now the right hip is bone on bone and I go under the knife on Sept 3rd. The new technique is a much smaller incision, some kind of ceramic and plastic ball and cap and it is an outpatient operation...you go in and get the operation in the morning and you are at home the same day. You are supposed to walk 10 minutes every hour during the day and use an ice pack for 15-20 minutes every daytime hour to minimize any soreness. No injections. A 'heck' of a different procedure than 13 years ago.

Fact: I shoot with a guy who had it done about 1-1/2 months ago. Eight days after the operation he drove to the shooting range (we helped set up his targets). His only complaint was the need to ice the joint daily to manage the swelling/pain. This week he flew to Finland to compete in an international airgun competition.

I may not be as aggressive as hew was in driving in the first two weeks but plan to be shooting in 30 to 40 days.

Thank heaven for Medicare and Tricare for Life (military) taking care of the costs.

 

[Robb Barnes]

Hip replacement was the easiest of all my ortho surgeries. Follow doctors orders and PT and recovery is a breeze. Much easier than a knee or shoulder replacement or rebuild. Order a hip kit from Amazon and it helps with stuff like putting socks on, picking stuff up until you are cleared for those movements.

 

[Mobuck]

I checked in for my hip surgery around 6AM, surgery was completed around 11-12 (according to Son who headed for Texas immediately after I was awake), Daughter was scheduled to pick me up mid-morning next day. Before I could be discharged, I had to show I could walk using a walker to the bathroom, sit on the stool, stand up, and return-get back in bed on my own power. I also suffered through a series of 'tests' to prove I could get in/out of a mock up car, climb up/down 4 steps, sit down/get up from a soft chair, and lift my leg 45* while lying on my back. Some of this was pretty painful but I wasn't going to jeopardize my escape by showing pain or failing to accomplish the tasks.
At the time, I'd been working on my upper body strength and could easily lift myself with hands/arms so getting in/out of bed or moving with some sort of support was easy. This made a big difference in my mobility post surgery.
Just a bit of warning: if your surgeon tells you things like you'll be back to 'normal' within a few weeks or his patients have returned to some strenuous, active job within XX time frame, consider that bluster and bull. You'll be climbing stairs/ladders one step at a time for months or maybe FOREVER. One wrong step/twist and you'll be back in surgery because your new hip is dislocated/damaged.

 

[Johnnu2]

God Speed Turd

J.

 

[tazbigdog]

need to be replaced. I knew the right one was bad, was just trying to make it until fall, but I decided to go in to see if I could get a steroid injection. Xrays showed the right was bone on bone, the left was bad, but not quite as bad. This was on Tuesday. Steroid injection in right hip for now. Seems to be working OK.

What is the deal with this stuff? Neither my brother or sister have issues, so how does this come about? I had my left knee replaced 4 years ago. Seems I am wearing out.

Try stem cells?

 

[WV338]

My wife had her hip replaced and it was the best surgery ever. They did it anterior which is from the front. She was up and walking after the anesthesia wore off. Do not have it posterior which is from the back side. Recovery is much longer and more painful. Just find the right doctor. Her doctor did it with full robotics. Good luck!