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Very, very scared to have knee surgery and hip surgery
I am in constant pain, usually when I walk or stand, knee and hip. Of course, when I am on my recliner I'm not in much pain so I stay there a lot. I used to swim until about 5 years ago, but I notice the hip pain was even worse after I swam.
When I was much younger (I'm 77) I had a torn cartilage (basketball game where some kind soul [yes, sarcasm] pushed me down), and subsequently the cartilage was removed. That's what I remember the doctor told me. I was young (16) and healthy, I recovered quickly enough, but had swelling and trouble for years until finally it became unbearable. I would get cortisone shots lbut eventually stopped doing that. (They were painful anyway.) But about 5 years ago, pain extended to my right hip, excrutiating, more so than the knee. (Don't know why.) I've seen several doctors and they all tell me to get hip and knee replacement. I am scared. But the problem I'm having now is that the doctors (I've seen quite a few) all tell me that I need to have a replacement, that I have arthritis. One doctor got upset when I asked him for more detailed information. And I didn't know how to ask the surgeon for detailed info, like what would he do and could he please explain what the x-rays showed. (Also, why do I have pain?) But the pain really impedes me from living a normal life, that is, cleaning, organizing, straightening up, etc. I made an appointment with a surgeon near enough who has a reputation of being very kind and compassionate. So I hope he'll bear with my questions.
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Any GOOD doctor will patiently answer your questions. I am a retired doctor and tried to stay away from doctors for the most part, but eventually my hip pain was overwhelming. I had no choice but to have it replaced. Check out your surgeon for reliability etc. Although I got an infection and now have a revised hip, I believe hip replacement in the majority of cases will be successful including relieving your pain. You can do it but proceed with caution. Best of luck.
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2 ReactionsI think it will depend on your individual situation. I really wanted to do my knee first but I think he thought even though my knee was bad it would help in rehab the hip faster. All in all, I have high pain tolerance so not much memory of any terrible pain. It is more the rehab time and having patience with getting back to your old self. Ask questions for sure. My doctor was great.
So, what actually causes the pain in hips and joints?
In particular, I have a 'bad' knee and hip, giving me much pain, especially for the hip. The knee is bad enough, but doesn't give me sharp pain like the hip does. So I wonder -- what actually gives me the pain? The pain is usually in the front part of my thigh, a little lower than the hip joint. Yeah -- next doctor I see I will ask why. But I though maybe some of you dear ones can offer some possibilities as to WHY...
When I am sitting I have no big pain. Especially on my recliner. But when I stand up, that's when the hip pain is bad....Why do you think that is?
My pain started in my groin area - specifically the crease in my leg between my abdomen and thigh. Sometimes it would feel like a small "pop" in that area too. I was also very stiff after sitting. I would get up and "hobble around" for a few minutes until everything loosened up. I eneded up having a total hip replacement which resolved that pain. Your knee could also be part of the problem. Knee or hip pain and can refer to other parts of the body.
Finally decided to go ahead with hip surgery. Can't stand the pain anymore. I think I hope I found a good surgeon, but... here's my question: do most surgeons (hip implant) take an MRI? This surgeon only ordered x-rays so I'm wondering about this, meaning would it be better if he did take an MRI of my hip?
I live with seniors, lots of them. Amongst us we have had at least 30 hip replacements and revisions, and only one had an MRI, but her femur was shattered in an accident prior to surgery.
So I would say the standard of car does not include an MRI. The problems with my hips were very clear on x-rays.
Sue
I have had hip surgery on both my hips. I had MRI's on both. You can't tell what is going on with the muscles if you don't have an MRI. I would never accept a doctor that wouldn't do an MRI first. One hip was done in 2019 and the other in 2020.
I have had both RTS and TKR had all kinds of MRI S with and without contrast for regular surgery and in my experience even with mris you never get the full picture until a surgeon opens u up for surgery. Same true had mri from primary care doc first as pt sent me back when not making progress then had a total RTS. For my knee I asked surgeon if he needed to do an mri for the TKR. He said no he could see everything he needed to see on the X-ray to know I needed a new knee. Hope that helps.
I am assuming your doc sees what he needs to see on X-ray my new knee is awesome had it done 11 months ago. Surgeon told me RTS was most difficult the TKR is second with Hip being easiest to get through. Good luck most importantly find a good physical therapist that is just as important as finding a good surgeon! It’s work on our part too! Lots! Good luck
OK, that helps to clear my mind, thanks. Evidently the pictures were clear. He told me that I had cysts(?) which needed to be filled with bone cadaver. Sounds gross but I will go through with it. So I guess he knows what he's looking at, and since I respect him as a person and surgeon I will try to figure this about about the MRI. I think I would have felt more comfortable with him taking an MRI, but the operation hasn't been scheduled yet. Thanks for answer. (I can take a small breath of relief...) 🙂