Hip revision surgery - scared spouse!

I had a total hip replacement and then 7 years later it needed replaced because it was a DePuy and my blood levels were showing cobalt and chromium increasing. The second surgery was a revision. I was in my 60’s for the second one. My local surgeon did his internship at the Mayo Clinic. Everything went great. I never needed any physical therapy except in the hospital and I did fine. I was driving after 4 weeks and carefully golfing after 4 weeks-just using a 7 iron and putter at first. The only limitations after 8 weeks was “Don’t hop on that leg and don’t fall down when riding your bike”
I am a person that doesn’t like a lot of fussing when I am healing. I needed help at first to shower-we have the shower chair that you can sit on and slide into the shower. I needed the toilet riser,
I appreciated my hubby bringing me cold drinks, hot soup, and keeping the house clean. I never felt like an invalid and didn’t want to be treated as one.
It is nerve-wracking before surgery because of all the things you imagine. 2 consult surgeons told me that they could not do the revision through the front-they would have to go through my long original incision. But my local surgeon said he was sure he could do the less invasive incision through the front. He had done about 5 of them. It all went well. Focus on the outcome of having it fixed and being a relief from pain. Best wishes.

Hello, all the comments above are spot on - I will ask tho' what is the scarcest/ worst thing that worry's you? Then write it down and put in god s hands. Chances are those worries will never happen. I have had over 10 surgery's at Mayo Rochester. My surgery is on Dec 15 with Dr Trousdale. I trust Mayo's to do their dammest and so far it is working - My revision is to replace the poly liner in a 29 year old hip . hugs

Thank you. I've had both knees replaced this year. Both very successful and I feel great.

Your last point on recovery is so important. Yes surgeries are painful afterwards. But for joint replacements, you'll find that the pain starts to decrease each day and as long as you stick with therapy aggressively. And that's what I found - each day was better than the last until the pain was gone.

Without surgery, the pain gets worse every day. Which would you like?

Wow 29 years! I had no idea polyethylene could last that long. I have it on both knees after TKRs this year.

So I have polyethylene where there used to be cartilage and menisci. And I have no pain. just amazing.

And you're right. Imagine the worst outcome and then let it go. Focus on recovery.

So good for you and good luck!

I am 81 years old and had a DePuy hip that was recalled back in 2006. I still have it. Just had X-rays and my orthopedic surgeon said it all looked good, BUT….. MY COBALT LEVEL IS 20.2 and my chromium is like two points above normal.
I was one of the people that had to go have my blood drawn twice a year to have that checked. I kept the reports and they were always high, as high once as 19.5. I asked about my levels and was told they were still trying to find out a new normal as they had never had this many people getting these tests before.
I have some skin issues, but have had sensitive skin my whole life and my kidneys are great.
I’m wondering which will get me first the cobalt or old age . I don’t want surgery again. I have both hips replaced, but only one DePuy.
I’m wondering if anyone else has numbers this high. It was my idea to have it checked after I had a flare up of my eczema. I have the blister type. I got to reading the triggers and Cobalt and chromium salts were one.

When I had my DePuy hips, and my chromium and cobalt levels were elevated, my orthopedist said exactly the same thing "It all looks good." Then my thyroid went crazy, my hair started to fall out, I was fatigued... I had the revision surgery, and they had to clean out a lot of damaged tissue in my leg near the implant that was described as looking like "lumpy gray oatmeal" that didn't show on the x-ray. The revision surgeon was amazed at how badly damaged the muscle was. That was over 10 years ago, and I still have a depressed area and a little nerve pain where they removed tissue. My hair grew back, my thyroid normalized, the "new" hips are great, but I was left with a lifelong tremor and rapid heartbeat.
So, if your symptoms worsen, or your heart "gets into the act" you may want to think about revision...

Thanks for your information. Can I ask how high your levels were and at what age did you have your revision?
Thank you again for your valuable information.

My Cobalt topped out around 55 or 60 I think - the original records are lost in time.
I was 62, but in my opinion, if you are in good shape otherwise 81 is just a number. My 80 yo neighbor had 2 shoulder replacements last year and is doing fine. My 79 you friend had her knee replaced this summer, and aside from taking longer to recover than her last one (at 72) she's also doing great - ready to start line dancing again

I guess you’re right. My last regular blood work came back all good. I’ve always been concerned with my kidney function and it’s always been fine. I take a low blood pressure pill, Celebrex, for arthritis and gabapentin for my feet which have numbness but no pain, but maybe that’s because of the meds. Lol I spent 35 years doing hair and a neurologist told me I had nerve damage, never saying neuropathy. Thanks again for your kind response it’s been very helpful.