My experience with hip replacement started in about 1970 when my grandmother had her first THR. My mother had the surgery three times between about 1980 and 2000. I saw my mother suffer from hip dislocations before having revision surgery to an implant. My father broke a hip and ended up with an unplanned replacement. I have suspected for most of my life that I would end up here too, although to be honest I wasn't expecting to be juggling hip replacement surgery and starting a child into kindergarten at the same time. But a combination of late child bearing and early loss of cartilage have put me in exactly that situation.

I had bunion surgery one year ago. I was very hopeful that when I got my "foot fixed" my hip pain would go away. The bunion surgery was great, a total relief for that situation, but as I started walking more, my hips seemed to get worse. The physical therapist noted that I seemed to have very limited range of motion in my left leg and considerable muscle weakness. In June 2009 I asked the surgeon who operated on my foot to take a look at my left hip, the one that hurt the most at the time. I was really taken aback when he said I had advanced arthritis in that hip that would likely be relieved only by replacement.

Talking to my husband on my cell phone in the parking lot of the doctors office that day, too shaken to drive, I first found out about the minimally invasive anterior approach surgery. On the other end of the phone call, my husband was goggling hip surgery and quickly found out there are surgeons performing this type of procedure in the Dallas Fort Worth area. Up to this point, my view of hip replacement surgery was still fixed on the ordeal I saw my grandmother go through with that hip in 1970.

My goal became to deal with the arthritis through physical therapy and pain management for two years when I will have two teen drivers in the household to cover for me during rehabilitation. I spent some very useful time with a health care provider who is trained both as a chiropractor and as a physical therapist doing stretching and strengthening exercises. I tried Celebrex but found that ibuprofen was the most effective pain killer for me. Still as 2009 progressed, my right hip became more and more of an issue. Occasionally it locks up and I am stuck in whatever position I happen to be in for anywhere from 2 minutes to 45 on one occasion. When this happens, there is just no relief - can't sit, can't walk,can't lie down. Fortunately, this has thus far only happened at home. My mother spent an afternoon on the floor of my nephew's grade school once when she had this problem!

In November I made the first appointment to see a doctor who performs anterior MIS. I wanted to really understand what the surgery would be so I could make my plan for it in 2011. His first question to me was "Which hip hurts you?" . I responded that it was my left hip that had given me the longest trouble but that it really didn't hurt any more. It was now the right hip that was in actual pain. As it turns out, he had asked the question because the x-rays indicated advanced arthritis in both hips. The doctor's recommendation was to have MIS THR on both hips on the same day as soon as I felt "ready".

BOTH IN ONE DAY? Once again I was taken aback. Here is his reasoning: This surgical practice performs upwards of 1000 hip replacements a year. In patients like me, who have no other medical conditions and are in generally good health, it is his experience that rehabilitation does not complete until both hips are replaced. I don't have a leg to stand on so to speak so recovery from staged surgeries would be delayed until the second surgery. He performs the surgeries as two separate operations under one anesthetic. That is to say they will put me under, completely replace the hip on one side and then, if all went well, do the other. If there is anything unexpected after the first hip, the surgeon will call off the second part of the operation.

After researching and adjusting to the diagnosis, I scheduled the bilateral surgery for the first day of my children's spring break. My worsening condition along with the encouragement of those closest to me, my husband and my sister, made it clear to me that sooner is better than later. The bunion surgeon said wisely to me "Don't wait until this has deteriorated your health in other areas." I can see that happening. At first, it was hard to tell folks I am planning hip replacements. I thought I must be the youngest person on earth to have arthritic hips! I now know that's not true of course. I note that when I do tell a casual acquaintance that I am having a hip replacement no one seems all that surprised. I guess the limp in my walk is more noticeable that I have let myself admit. I do function pretty well. I have a busy, full household that counts on me. Even with the older children doing their own laundry, I do at least 25 loads a week. It takes 26 round trips every week just to get everyone to school. I go to my childrens' football games, basketball games, band concerts and choir performances. I cook breakfast for six or seven everyday and lunch and dinner almost everyday. We have more pets than I am going to admit to here and a large yard. I kept all this up, at least to the extent I would whether I had good hips or not. I help serve food at the church youth dinners and I help out with three school's PTA's. Yet when I honestly access the situation, I see that I have given this thing way more of me than I realize. I don't walk the children to school anymore. Shopping for anything but groceries is an online proposition. I look for ways to avoid moving. I ask my eight year old to tie my shoes, which I never take off during the day because its just too hard to get them off and on. I start wearing flip flops as soon as the temperature hits 60 so I don't have to bend over to put on socks. I lay my ibuprofen out in the morning and never miss a dose. I know to never get down on the floor when anyone is around because the process of getting up is way far from graceful! I wake up in the night, every night, with shooting pains in my hips. There is no comfortable position for me, never a true break from feeling what's not there anymore in my hip joints.

I have been continuing to research what to expect and how to prepare myself and my family. I am so very grateful that we found out about the MIS THR and that a surgeon who is well practiced in performing it is nearby and on my insurance plan. I would say I have a great deal of both anticipation and anxiety about what lies ahead. It is somewhat akin to a pregnancy - I have time to plan and prepare for the big event, I am physically reminded of its imminence every time I take a step and I have plans and hopes for a wonderful life when I get through it. I don't get the gift of a baby but I do hope to have the gift of being able to do things with and for my children once again when its over.

I would very much like to hear your story too. Please write and I will write back as time allows.

Hi, Calico...welcome to BoneSmart. Boy, it sounds like you are REALLY readiy to have those hips replaced so you can get back to a pain free life. Are you planning surgery soon?

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RTKR - February 29, 2008

LEGAL DISCLAIMER - Moderator comments on this web site are provided for informational purposes only and are not a substitute for advice from your personal physician or surgeon.

Wow Calico,
Do I have a story for you......I'll check in again tomorrow or tonight and write my blurb...about to go out to dinner....
If you do all that with dodgey hips then you wait until 6 months after your surgery ( if not much earlier).....I just painted my lounge room (complete with climbing a ladder- something I would have been too timid to do previously!)

And by the way....you are definately not the youngest member here.....I'm 43 .....and there are a good handful who are younger
I'll be back ....sounds like an "Arnie" quote

Rachel

You don't get a baby....but you do get to sleep through the night....at least after a few weeks or so (sleeping on your back is a drag!)

You have an excellent surgeon (1,000 hips a year is really good) and he is happy you are suitable for MIS THRs and he's willing to do bilaterals! I say go for it!

However, I do urge you to ask him the questions in this thread How to choose a surgeon and a prosthesis and be doubly sure you are really well informed about everything.

With MIS you will be ambulant again really quickly, like in days, but may be required to observe the restrictions of no bending past 90 degrees which is pretty common. This is to lessen the risk of dislocation. If he uses an uncemented prosthesis, you may also be required to be non-weight bearing for a period whilst the bone grows into the special surface of the implant. All these things you need to find out about to be prepared.

There's also a thread about different approaches for THR here THR approaches or incisions and a forum about MIS here MIS/Robotics Hip Procedures and though it's not well used, there's still some good information in there including some videos of the procedure if you're strong enough to watch!

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Left arthroscopic menisectomy 4th October 09
RTKR 17th March 09
Right arthroscopy June 06

Please post in forums; PMs and emails for personalized help are not community oriented and will not be answered. Also search the Library and other threads for information. Thanks.

LEGAL DISCLAIMER - Moderator comments on this web site are provided for informational purposes only and are not a substitute for advice from your personal physician or surgeon.

Administrator is an orthopaedic nurse of 50+ years experience in joint replacement.

So Calico,
I promised a blurb and here it is.
When I was born I had a dislocated hip, (which wasn't detected for 2 months) and then i got avascular necrosis (in short bone death) ....at 16 a reconstruction.....and then 5 kids later and as predicted I had thr (anterior /minimally invasive) at 43.....actually my brothers friends who are doctors were surprised that I lasted that long....
So April of 2009 I had the olde faithful chopped out and a brand new shining ceramic joint put in. ....everyone told me that I should have done it earlier.....and whilst I don't know that is correct I'm certainly believe that it was the right time. One os sid to me that I would know when the time was right....he was correct. i got to a point where I was simply sick of being disabled, restricted, unable.....I wasn't always in masses of pain, but there were things I couldn't do......I'd send the kids to the park rather than go with them, I'd stopped doing housework....(and believe me I "Get" the 25 loads of washing a week!) exercise (like watching the kids soccer or netball) I couldn't sit with the little one to play games on the floor ....I'd buy slip on shoes, I'd stopped living life and I was a spectator.....and with 5 kids I was missing out on lots and not giving them what they needed......I was trading in life for my attatchment to the defective joint....anyway if the truth be known, I just got sick of it.....
So 9 months or so on, and I've got life back......I can walk anywhere, ride bikes, kick a ball, run (although I don't really do that much), and the 25 loads of washing are happening, painted the lounge room, tidy up, etc....life is happening again....its superb.

Now as for all your kids activities.....you will be curtailed for a while (but you will be in little pain compared to what it sounds like you are in now)......Your kids have friends.....in their sports teams etc.....now is the time to pull a few car pooling favours, or ditch some of the activities for a couple of months. ......time that they learnt how to cook breakfast, make lunches etc. They CAN do it but they have had the luxury of a generous mother who willingly gives of herself. Its time that they took over the reigns and let you be waited on......its actually an opportunity for them to learn to be generous and give of themselves, to make sacrifices and think of others.....a lesson that all of our children need to learn....now its likely that they won't do it as well as you would....but that is ok ......they need to learn all about the work that you do......if only so that they can do it for themselves when they leave home.....and when they make a home with their future spouses. You are not a slave and its time for you to take it easy for a while.....and before you know it you will be up and running and go, go, go. But think of the life lessons that the kids will have learnt....How many children are there???? Can you afford a nanny/housekeeper for a few days a week, just to keep up the workload??

Please be kind to yourself and allow your family to nurture you....if we don't nurture the nurturer then who will be there when the nurturer runs out of steam

You are right to say that you have given to much of yourself to the hip already.....just the fact that you are in pain means that it is dominating your life......and from another perspective, it takes up all of your thinking time....until you have the surgery it will always be something on the 'to do" list. Mine is off the "to do" list....I'm busy getting on with living the rest of my list.

I had anterior MI thr ....i was astonished at how little pain I had.....If i was really honest I'd now ask what the big deal about thr is! I was on only paracetemol 3 or 4 days post surgery, and I'd ditched all pain killers by about the 2 week....I just didn't need them. Having said that.....if you need them......USE THEM.....I found the whole process easy, but I would certainly recommend in hospital rehab....(I was out of home for 3 whole weeks) if you are not at home then you don't worry about the dust and dirt or grime......just make sure they know that you need it clean and tidy when you get home.....and if its not, don't worry....so long as the floor is clear so that you don't trip....rehab was important as there was no way I could have coped if I had gone straight home to the 2 year old and everyone else immediately after surgery....being in hospital that long also emphasises to the family that this IS major surgery....even if I coped really well with it.

Once you have this surgery you will get your life back. It will take a few months, but you'll do just fine....but you do have to get the troupes to take over.....thr is a family affair......its not just me that had a thr ......the whole family did......and i think it is more about the brain than it is about the hip!

Keep in touch
Rachel

Rachel, once again you have provided a wonderfully written personal experience that should be of benefit to LOTS of people who are undecided about their hip surgery. Thank you so much!

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RTKR - February 29, 2008

LEGAL DISCLAIMER - Moderator comments on this web site are provided for informational purposes only and are not a substitute for advice from your personal physician or surgeon.

Jo, I think this thread should be put into regular pre surgery section.....as you rightly said, it doesn't get a lot of views in the MIS section.....and I think it is more about coping with surgery than in MIS surgery itself.....?
R