Hello - I understand your fear! I was in my early '50's and expecting to be told I needed a cortisone shot in my hip when a very brusque Ortho walked in and said "Wow, I didn't expect to see you. You have the hips of an 85 year old. Which one should we replace first?" Being inexperienced with surgeons, I didn't get up and walk out looking for someone else, but I did get new hips. The lesson I learned was to find a doctor you are comfortable with, who will answer your questions to your satisfaction. Please, do not just suffer pain that could be relieved!

All that said, it sounds like you need a surgery and recovery plan, to be able to calmly approach the coming surgery and recuperation. Here are a few questions to think about and ask the doc:
Which one first, hip or knee? Why?
Which hip, which knee and why? (So you can go home & do research)
Which surgical technique for each surgery & why? (Again -research)
Will I be able to go home, with help, or will I need transitional care?
Any way to estimate time between surgeries?
Do you have someone I can call as I think of more questions, or can I send them through a patient portal or email?

Do you have someone you can bring along to your appointment to be your scribe, and write down what the doc says so you can review it later?
Good luck with your appointment, let me know how it goes!
Sue

Jump to this post