Hi all. I have had seriously painful OA of my right hip for over a year. Finally got to my operation date... 13th March. My Consultant doesn't know yet if he'll do a resurfacing or replacement - He'll decide when he sees the state of my bone. I'll find out when I wake up.
I've been provided with all sorts of aids at home by occupational therapy ready for my recovery. Also have been doing physiotherapy exercises for the past 3 weeks. I've got alsorts of books to read, music on my mp3 player, and a couple of puzzles - all to help me pass the time and take my attention off the pain.
So I have a rather strange question......... Which anaesthesia would you all recommend? Aparently I have a choice of:
1] general anaesthetic. Possible side effects nausea?
2] epidural with sedative and music. Can I stand the idea of being awake? Possible side effects spinal headache?
3] epidural with mild general anaesthetic so I sleep. Possible side effects spinal headache?
How on earth do I decide? I'm getting mega nervous and my brain just doesn't want to know.
Pathetic of me really. Please advise???
RE: Hip replacement or resurfacing next Tuesday
Hi vixen59, sorry a bit late coming back to you. I hope your operation went ok. Get back to me on how it went.
Here is my story,whichI hope willmake you and otherpeople feel positive that resurfacing is the answer to painful hip joints.
I'm 45 years old and been a competitive track athlete and marathon runner since my school days. I developed Osteoarthritis of the right hip about ten years ago, but saying that doctors believed that it was my back at first. A scan about 4 years ago proved it was my hip. The cartilage was gone that muchI had bone rubbing on bone.Despite pain I carried on runninguntil two years ago I had to pullup in two separate half marathons. And the most annoying thing was not being able to put my sock on!!! Anyway,I went and had my hip resurfaced this year 2nd January 2007 at Chapel Allerton hospital, Leeds, UK, by Mr. Emerton. I went for epidural and a date rape drug to knock me out! Yes a date rape drug! I woke up and couldnt remember a thing. I didnt have a hang over or feel sick it was great.
As for pain I have no osteo pain that was gone after the operation. I do ache from day to day, but thats muscle just repairing all the time.
I do get twinges of pain within the scar area and down in my leg. This is not severe and will go away as things heal.
Before you read the rest of this, please listen to your doctor and physio's. Read whattextthey give you on, what you can do and what you cant do after your operation especially for the first six weeks. You will see below I break their rules! And this is only because Im an athlete. And I only weigh 65kg at 5 foot 8 inches high. Your post op progress depends on how fit you are when you go in for the op.
Oh and positive thinking too!
Here is my progress report from 2nd Jan till now 16th March 2007 (10 WEEKS)
Tue 2nd Jan: Operation / Wed 3rd out of bed and on two crutches walking on the ward. / Friday 5th Out of hospital, go home Monday 8th Jan drove my car (automatic) / Friday 12th Jan walked on two crutches 1.5 miles. / Sunday 14th walking with one crutch.
Monday 15th walking indoors without crutches. / Tue 16th Jan wentto my localGym, health club and did exercises and swimming!
Wednesday 17th had my first bath at home. /Monday 22nd Jan off crutches for good, not using a stick. /Saturday 3rd Feb went into the countryside and walked 2.5 miles./ Monday 12th Feb started running on the treadmill at gym! / Friday 16th Feb put my sock on myselffor the first time in a year or two. / Tue 20th Feb ran 3 miles on the treadmill. /
Thursday 15th March: Ran 2 miles on the indoor track with split times per mile at, 7min: 58secs &7min: 26secs
Next week I'm running outside on grass and hopefully we should be running between 4 and 6 miles.
Just remember I have been an athlete for many years and I obeythe main rule, 'listen to your body'.
I expect to be racing a 10k race this year so stay tuned. I dont expect to race as fast as I did but just to be able to run again is fantastic!
Two years back I thought my running days where over.
Hip resurfacing has given me my life back.
Dave
RE: Hip replacement or resurfacing next Tuesday
Hi, thanks for replying. mine so far:
Tue 13th hip replacement, uncemented. Wed 14th up for first 6 steps, Thur 15th on crutches and no stopping me, Fri 16th home,Mon 19th dressing change and now doing PT exercises fairly easy,Wed 21st walked 400 yrd, thur 22nd 5 mins min-cycle, Fri 23rd walked 600yrd, Sat 24th 10 mins mini-cycle and 1.63km walk( 1 mile?)
All on crutches as told to stay on them until Orthopaedic appointment 17th May. Was only given 3 physio exercises to do. Discharged from their care. Trying to work out what to do for best result from surfing for the info.. mostly hospital websites. Frustrating to see how many other exercises can be set and see how few I've been given. Told to walk 'a bit further each day' but no guidelines how far when? Advised ok to use mini-cycle while reclining in armchair, again no guidelines how much when, just No tension. I'm 48 and well overweight.