I am 38 years old and had a hip replacement last year. After 4 hip arthroscopies on both hips I still had to persuade the surgeon that a hip replacement was essential. One year on and although I still have pain in the replaced hip, it is better.
I am know hoping to have the left replaced in early September but my surgeon is now saying that it is very unusual and he wants me to see his colleague for a 'second opinion' as he is so reluctant. The MRI that I had hasn't shown anything significant but the pain is excruciating and is restricting my life with, my daughter, as a single parent. My surgeon want to go down the route of further ultra sound guided steroid injections, but I have had so many since 2010 without any success and I know feel that I should be strong and say 'no' to everything but a replacement. I am on anti TNF'S as well as a cocktail of analgesia and also have to contend with Addison's disease too. I do believe that there is an obvious need for a replacement after trying everything else.
I wondered if anyone else had an experience with hip replacements or the difficulty in being believed when blood test and scans seem to be negative?
I am nurse and lucky to have a little insight into the medical world and why Dr's are hesitant but I do believe that I need to have a say in what happens to my body and how the pain and disability has an impact on my life, and more important my daughter's life.
I would be so grateful for any advice or comment please.
My father had both hips replaced thirty years ago, before PsA. He suffered with his hips the rest of his life. I believe that PsA had some thing to do with his death. Before he died he told me, he shouldn’t have gotten his hips replaced. Replacement helps a lot of people. It’s difficult when you havePsA, unless you are diagnost with it at a young age. I myself have it in both hips. To late for me. I will eventually be wheelchair bound.
Hi Rachael. Firstly, I am so sorry you are suffering such pain. Secondly, I have no medical knowledge nor personal experience of severe hip pain or hip replacements. But what puzzles me is why damage sufficiently severe to merit replacing a large joint doesn't show up on MRIs. I guess my assumption about joint replacement is that the damage would be very evident. Perhaps others know more.
There are at least two centres of excellence for PsA in the UK, one in Bath, one in Leeds. Given how extreme the pain is and the difference of opinion between you and your surgeon, perhaps a referral to one of these might shed some light and, possibly, offer a third option other than surgery and steroid injections.
I just had a total hip replacement 2 months ago, and also have PsA (diagnosed ten years ago). Since, the new hip, however, I have had severe knee pain on the same side. Dr. says it is because I am walking differently now. For years I was walking a certain way to compensate for the damaged hip, but now I walk in a different way. I am wondering if the pain in your other hip is a result of the changed way that you are now walking?
I am having r hip replacement on Septemeber 3 of his year. My QOL is basically zilch and I have to do it to have stability for my knee. The hip and knee are totally bone on bone with bone spurs. It is somethings to be done. I will let you know how it goes and I hope it does.