Hip replacement after having had kidney transplant

@scottb32, Hi Scott. I am sorry to hear about your need for the hip replacement surgery.
I want to introduce you to @contentandwell. She is a liver transplant recipient who had a knee replacement after transplant surgery.

Rosemary

@scottb32 Hi Scott. I was supposed to have the knee replacement a few years ago but my platelets were too low on the scheduled surgery day so the surgeon came to me and broke the bad knees. The low platelets were from what turned out to be NASH cirrhosis, so after the liver transplant they wanted me wait a for 6 months but I decided I just was not ready for another surgery so I waited a year and then had it done.
I was on sirolimus which apparently can interfere with healing so they switched me back to tacrolimus for three months. This was the second knee and I was in pain for a few more weeks than I was after the first, but whether that was related to my transplant or medications, I don’t know. It suddenly improved dramatically, almost overnight.
Other than that it was smooth sailing. I had my transplant at Mass General, and coincidentally the orthopedic surgeon was at Brigham and Womens which is a “partner hospital” with MGH so there was communication between the two which I found reassuring.
Good luck with this, it really is not significantly different than it would be without having had a transplant. The biggest difference is being confined to Tylenol, no NSAIDs, and of course these days they prescribe narcotics very sparingly.
JK

That was supposed to be that he broke the bad NEWS, he did not break my knees! I am writing this and it’s cracking me up.
To elaborate a bit more, my platelet count had been bad for a while so the surgeon would not do the surgery unless we could get the count up to @100. My hematologist worked with me on it but for some reason they plummeted on the morning of surgery.
Of course when my NASH cirrhosis was finally diagnosed about two years later we realized that was what caused the low platelet count.
JK

Thanks for sharing your experience. Helps me kind of relax about moving forward with the process. My plan is to schedule the procedure for early December. Sounds like you're doing well and I hope this continues. I'm glad your knees are good and I had to read it several times while laughing! Thanks again for your insight.

I had a L total hip replacement, then before my R hip got bad enough for replacement, I was given the shocking diagnosis of cirrhosis! I am now 7 weeks POST Liver Transplant and my hip is the source of my only pain. I can't wait until I can have it replaced. Feeling so healthy and yet having to use a walker or wheelchair to get around is not right. How I miss my NSAIDs and Cymbalta! Those medications kept me mobile. sigh. I hope I can get a new hip at six months. I think I am ready for it now!

I'm thinking of you, Scott. I hope all is going well for you. Any updates on the surgery?

Jeanene Headlee, I want to drop by and check in in you. How are you doing with your liver transplant? Is there anything that I might help you with?
And any update about getting a new hip?
Rosemary

@jeanene you are at or close to the 6 month point now, are they allowing you to move forward on your hip replacement? I, as I have mentioned, had the same situation but when the six month mark came I was just not ready for another hospital stay and recuperation so I didn't have the knee replacement until a year after my transplant.
Looking forward to an update.
JK

Thanks, for checking in with me. Had hip replacement at Mayo Jacksonville on Tuesday after having kidney replacement in 16. Was discharged late last night and meeting today with the nurse and PT folks at home. I will be heading back to Mayo for blood work tomorrow. I love how the orthopedics and kidney teams have communicated throughout the process and continue to do so. Now my PT therapist has arrived for my first session, should be interesting.

This is wonderful news! I had no idea that the surgery already occurred. I know that you are looking forward to being active once again. It sounds as if you are definitely receiving the best of care. Mayo is the best. (My granddaughter who is 5 says me and grandpa are the best!)
Scott, are the labs tomorrow for hip or kidney, or both? Do you know what/if any extra precautions were needed due to your transplanted kidney? Will you have any extra precautions for yourself as you heal dure to the kidney?
I hope the PT went well today.
Enjoy the rest of your day!