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PaulG
05-07-2013, 11:46 PM
Well it seems I can't take a trick. Surgery for varicose veins, benign thyroid cyst, bowel surgery and Crohn's disease/Ulcerative Colitis/Anaemia since I was 15 and now I'm resigned to the fact that I'm going to have to have a hip replacement. I'm only 40. Specialists are saying that it's because of some of the medications over the years for the Crohn's disease and that it's affected my bone density and strength.

Niggling pain in my left hip & groin has been getting worse for over two years. I had been hoping it was nerve or muscular problems but no, it's has to be the worst scenario.

Has anyone on the forum had a hip replacement? How did you go coming back to work post surgery? What adjustments did you have to make or what things, if any, can't you do now?

It's really starting to do my head in as to how I'm going to cope, financially, emotionally and physically.

fairdinkum
06-07-2013, 05:04 AM
Mate I have not had a hip replacement myself. But my mum did about 5 years ago, after years of pain and hardly being able to walk. After the replacement she was a new person. She's now 75 and living pain free (in the areas with spare parts anyway ie hip, 2 knees, 2 shoulders). The recovery time is not that bad as long as you do the physio religiously. They get you up on your feet straight away. But was probably 3 or 4 months, maybe more, before mum was fully recovered. You probably wouldn't want to jump into hard labour too early and cause problems down the track. But I reckon with proper management, you will lead a normal life post-op. Your quality of life will even improve. Just taking some of the pain away has a massive effect on your mental state. Try to focus on the positives mate. Anything that improves your quality of life in the long run is a good thing!

great nature
06-07-2013, 08:06 AM
Thats some pretty major surgery. Have you gotten second and/or third opinions. Doctors aren't gods, they stuff up all the time, jump the gun, misdiagnose, bugger up surgeries, etc. Plus I would think the crohns would make healing after surgery take much longer. Make sure you 100% need it.
If you haven't already, Id get checked out by the best physiotherapist in your area. Check that it can't be corrected by strengthening different muscles.
Sorry to be a downer. Best o luck fella.

BSD
06-07-2013, 09:03 AM
One of my mechanical fitter buddies had one done at the age of 66, off work for about 6-9 weeks and returned on light duties for awhile and was very glad he had it done, he retired at 69, due to a motorcycle prang one Sunday, at his age i believe it was a good outcome, the bike prang stuffed things up.

imoww
06-07-2013, 11:54 AM
my father 72, had the hip replacement and was back riding a
pushbike within 4-5 weeks.
now 74 and
hes never looked back.
i think hip replacements are common for footballers too.
and some continue playing

NLALM
06-07-2013, 03:53 PM
Mate I know how you feel , At least you know it is your bones , Do you have bone on bone ? Heaps of my customers have had a hip replacement and most say it is worth it, then you get the odd one say don't ever have it done because theirs didn't work. The thing is if you have one now at 40 you will have to have another within 15 years that's the life of the implant.Im 46 and have 2 specialists telling me my hips are ok ,I have looked at the xrays and mri's with them and yes I don't have bone on bone and I can see and understand what they tell me but I still have constant pain.
This is why I am looking into all these other things, Monday week I am having PRP injections in both hips, I have been told that if I get a result from this there is a very good chance that stem cells may work. I am trying to avoid a hip replacement because I feel that if I have one it will be the end of me working in this industry, and I don't think my customers will wait 3 months for me to come back to work.So I am willing to spend 9 grand on stem cells if it works, I spent over 20 last year on operations.
What do you take for pain? Each night I take one lyrica, in the morning it depends how bad the pain is if its bad I take a naprosin 1000mg if its not to bad I take a panadol and one panadol osteo plus red krill oil I try to take the panadol 4 hourly and the naprosin is one a day. None of it gets me out of pain but it helps. I also use a scenar on my hip daily
its on my hip as I type this it gives me the best relief.
Last year some guys won a nobel peace prize for stem cell work, theirs is the one that will one day replace hip and knee replacements, so maybe if they pull their finger out they may be able to fix us before we croak it. This is very different from the stem cells I am looking at.Mate I feel for you I know what its like to be in pain 24/7 it grinds you down, if you ever want a chat Im free anytime