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My x-ray shows moderate to severe osteoarthritis in my left hip, not quite bone on bone though. I can function fine during the day. There's often some soreness and often, I'm told, a very slight limp in my walk but I can still walk relatively long distances and even ride my bike. It's at night when I'm sleeping that the pain, which often goes down to my knee and sometimes lower leg often wakes me up. I find that two arthritic tylenols doesn't do anything for me, and I am reluctant to use Aleve and prescription naproxen very often given the damage that NSAIDs can cause with long-term use and because I'm also on a statin and aspirin. I'm scheduled to go back to the surgeon that I've seen to discuss my case and possibly re-schedule the replacement surgery that I previously postponed. But I am having a lot of second thoughts when I read about the complications some people have post surgery. I question whether I'm really debillitated enough for the surgery since as mentioned above I function fine during waking hours. I think surgery should always be a last resort. I've tried acupuncture, take supplements, work out and do hip-related stretches and exercises and I'm a fit 72 year old. Maybe I'm just postponing the inevitable but as time marches on surgical methods improve. It's cathartic writing this. Thanks for reading through it.
Replies to "My x-ray shows moderate to severe osteoarthritis in my left hip, not quite bone on bone..."
Elliott,
Yes, ponder carefully.
Regarding NSAIDS, you might talk with your primary or orthopedic MD about occasionally using celecoxib (once a month perhaps for a day or two). Using the aspirin probably increases risk of NSAIDS however, so it's another risk benefit decision. You might also ease up on exercise occasionally, I have noticed some of my various joint pains get better if I take a few days off.
My situation was similar to yours, except not on aspirin, statin, or any Rx before deciding on surgery. Everything went well until dislocations at 10 and 15 weeks. If you do have the surgery I suggest to be very careful, take it slow, follow hip movement precaution* for at least 3 months, and what ever else is recommended. Currently I have zero pain unless I do approximately 7000 steps, relieved by acetaminophen. Hoping time will allow me to avoid revision surgery, may get a second opinion, right now dislocation is probably a risk bending at the waist or putting on socks.
*precautions vary with the surgeon and some apparently don't recommend precautions, from what I read research is conflicting but if you follow patients out a year or more complications occur (1-2%) regardless of anterior versus posterior etc. If I had it to again I would follow the precautions for both anterior and posterior for six to 12 months and never do ambitious bending ( I am flexible).
If I had it to do again I would avoid surgery if at all possible, but pain interfering with sleep might convince me to do surgery. Would have tried less exercise (less than 10000 steps and heavy lifting), monthly celecoxib or similar, and maintained a healthy weight (healthy diet to maintain weight).
Best wishes
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elliott1953 I have always heard that if the pain goes below the knee it is your back causing the pain and not your hip. That is what my hip ortho said and sent me for mri of my back.