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I was told I needed a hip replacement last year. I was shocked because I have had no pain. I have had both knees replaced and got along fine. My right knee had caused horrible pain and the Dr said I needed a replacement. Once it was replaced, no more pain. About 7 yrs later, routeen check up for the replaced knee, the Dr said my left knee needed to be replaced. I was surprised because there was absolutely no pain. He showed the xray to me and I coud see it was bone on bone. Still, I said I wasn't having any pain and as long as there was no pain, I didn't want surgery. By the next year checkup, I still had no pain, however, I could feel the knee bones knocking as I used the knee. By this time, I was 80 yrs old and in great health, so I told the Dr. Ok for the surgery, which went even better than the right knee. Now I am 84 and at the next knee checkup, I was having some issues with sharp pain in my left side, so they xrayed the hip along with the knee's. That is when I was told I needed hip replacement even though the Dr. didn't think the sharp pain I was having was caused from the hip. It was a shock to me because there was no pain at all in the hip area, just the sharp pain in the side. So I again said no to the surgery. After several months, I decided to go ahead with it, except my Dr now has second thoughts & is reluctant to do the surgery due to my age. I decided to get a 2nd opinion and the new Dr. said he is not concerned about my age that he has had 90 yr olds have it and no problems as long as my health is good which mine is. However, he says "if there is no pain, don't have surgery". He compared my old xray (which I had gotten from the first Dr.) to the new xray and it showed very little difference. It is bone on bone and full of arthritis. It is hard to believe it isn't causing me great pain, but it isn't. So----no surgery. My regular Dr. is concerned about the hip because she is afraid the hip could cause the leg to "give way" and cause a fall which also concerns me as there have been at least twice where it did, but I was able to keep from falling. I am at a cross road. Do I have the surgery or do I continue the way I am? I really don't know what I should do. Sorry this is so long.
Replies to "I was told I needed a hip replacement last year. I was shocked because I have..."
You've been very fortunate to have had surgeries with no complications, but in my opinion, I wouldn't get surgery unless you are having pain. If your PCP is concerned about fall prevention, I would recommend balance and strengthening exercises to help prevent a fall. I'm 70 years old, retired nurse and I no longer have a hip joint at all due to an infection in my metal hip from 2007. Everything was removed (Girdlestone Resection) including part of my Quad muscle and IT band in 2022 in order to save my leg and life. I'm getting around OK with a walker and crutches, but this is my life now. I don't really have pain though. Wishing you the best and continued good health....Cindy
My neighbor was about 88 years old when she had her hip replacement. She is an active busy woman. She is very intelligent. She had a great surgeon who I also used after getting her recommendation and doing my own research. She is doing great with the hip but she fell down the stairs and hurt her back and had to have minor surgery. She is 92 now and swims every day.
Before I had my hip done I couldn’t walk up the stairs without taking one step at a time because I could feel myself collapsing on my left side. I have also fallen twice and broke my wrist and years later broke my arm. I’m sure these falls were the result of being unstable on my left side. After surgery and now six months later I feel like my left side has been shored up. What a difference. My surgeon thought I was young at 74 years of age which leads me to believe that he is doing surgery on people more ch older than me. This is a tough choice for you. Recovery might take years. Only you can determine the quality of the life you want to live.
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Don't be sorry about the length of your post - you gave us a great description.
When an Auntie in my family "fell and broke her hip" at 85, the surgeon who replaced it said "No, her hip broke and she fell." She was a firecracker like you, he replaced it, it took about a year to heal, and she hummed right along well into her 90's, when her heart just gave out.
Last week, I was with another awesome Auntie, who will be 96 in a few days and lives in her own apartment with a little help from her son. Her only concession to age it that she now uses a walker, just to make sure she doesn't fall, because as she said to us "If you fall at my age, it's a one-way ticket to the nursing home."
So here is my question to you, since you have already experienced your leg giving out. Are you willing to use a walker or cane to be sure you won't fall if your leg gives way? Every day, all the time? If not, can you talk to your doc about some PT to strengthen your muscles and make sure your balance stays as good as it is?
There's a few things to ponder today!
Sue