Failed hip replacement

Posted by montanatom @montanatom, Apr 22 10:15am

Two and a half years ago I had a total right hip replacement. It has never been right and hurts tremendously at times. Two months ago I had a total hip replacement on my left hip, it still has occasional pain but is improving each week. This operation was performed in a different city and after the operation the doctor informed me that the insert in the bone he used was two sizes larger than what the previous doctor had used. The newest insert is touching upper bone in five locations and has no movement, while the older insert is basically lose in the upper bone and is not touching anywhere. It is obvious that the first doctor did not use the proper insert, has anyone else had this problem. I will be having a revision in December to fix this, hopefully then I can start enjoying my outdoor hobbies again.

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Hello Montanatom. I hope you get your right hip replacement problem resolved. It seems that your left one is progressing well. I had a total hip replacement in 2017 which was never right. Mine ultimately was diagnosed as being "aseptic loosening", meaning it had not integrated with my bone. It's been so painful and very limiting. In 2019 I was scheduled for a revision by a different surgeon in whom I had more faith, but the pandemic hit and put an end to that. This second surgeon has implied that the type of implant the first surgeon chose was maybe not the most appropriate for me. Not sure if it was a size issue or a design issue.
Since then I have been too nervous to go for a revision surgery. I just make do but it's definitely not ideal. I'm in reasonable health at age 74, but I haven't had the courage despite my pain and my limitations. I'm a worrier I guess. I'm now trying to work up the courage to have this revision done as I think I've suffered enough and I'm not getting any younger.
I'm sorry I don't have any helpful suggestions. I just wanted you to know you are not the only one to have this type of problem. Good luck with your revision and all the best to you.

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@katrine

Hello Montanatom. I hope you get your right hip replacement problem resolved. It seems that your left one is progressing well. I had a total hip replacement in 2017 which was never right. Mine ultimately was diagnosed as being "aseptic loosening", meaning it had not integrated with my bone. It's been so painful and very limiting. In 2019 I was scheduled for a revision by a different surgeon in whom I had more faith, but the pandemic hit and put an end to that. This second surgeon has implied that the type of implant the first surgeon chose was maybe not the most appropriate for me. Not sure if it was a size issue or a design issue.
Since then I have been too nervous to go for a revision surgery. I just make do but it's definitely not ideal. I'm in reasonable health at age 74, but I haven't had the courage despite my pain and my limitations. I'm a worrier I guess. I'm now trying to work up the courage to have this revision done as I think I've suffered enough and I'm not getting any younger.
I'm sorry I don't have any helpful suggestions. I just wanted you to know you are not the only one to have this type of problem. Good luck with your revision and all the best to you.

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I don't know what mine is I've seen 4 different Dr's this new one thinks now it's just bursitis I don't I really think it's something with the implant it self or infection I just got a cortisone shot in it and started prednisone hoping it helps my surgery was in aug of 22 has hurt ever since now my other hip needs replaced but he don't want to do anything until we fix the 1st one and back is bad from favoring hips I'm so sick of Dr's I've had over 50 appts test they can't find out why good luck to you all

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@robinb504

I don't know what mine is I've seen 4 different Dr's this new one thinks now it's just bursitis I don't I really think it's something with the implant it self or infection I just got a cortisone shot in it and started prednisone hoping it helps my surgery was in aug of 22 has hurt ever since now my other hip needs replaced but he don't want to do anything until we fix the 1st one and back is bad from favoring hips I'm so sick of Dr's I've had over 50 appts test they can't find out why good luck to you all

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Yeah the original doctor treated me for bursitis, said I had a twisted pelvis, said I have arthritis in my back, said the left hip was causing undue pressure on my replaced hip, blamed it on my weight, I am 6'4' and weight 230, gave me multiple cortisone shots, and several other issues. I finally went to another clinic in a major city not connected to the first one and as soon as the doctor looked at the Xray he said the stem implant was lose in the bone and that it never attached. Ended up at another surgical center, and the doctor there said the same exact thing. By this time my left hip had reached a point where it needed to be replaced as soon as possible,2 months in and almost pain free. the first doctor screwed up and everyone knows it, but getting them to testify to it will be impossible.

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I am going to have my right hip replaced next month but I am not sure if I should because of my metastatic prostate cancer has spread to my ishium, I am on lupron and xtandi for only a month now my oncologist said it is fine don't worry go ahead and get the surgery .But I am still concerned that it might spread?? Has anyone out there that has had a hip replacement with the cancer in the pelvis??Any advice would be appreiciated

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@katrine

Hello Montanatom. I hope you get your right hip replacement problem resolved. It seems that your left one is progressing well. I had a total hip replacement in 2017 which was never right. Mine ultimately was diagnosed as being "aseptic loosening", meaning it had not integrated with my bone. It's been so painful and very limiting. In 2019 I was scheduled for a revision by a different surgeon in whom I had more faith, but the pandemic hit and put an end to that. This second surgeon has implied that the type of implant the first surgeon chose was maybe not the most appropriate for me. Not sure if it was a size issue or a design issue.
Since then I have been too nervous to go for a revision surgery. I just make do but it's definitely not ideal. I'm in reasonable health at age 74, but I haven't had the courage despite my pain and my limitations. I'm a worrier I guess. I'm now trying to work up the courage to have this revision done as I think I've suffered enough and I'm not getting any younger.
I'm sorry I don't have any helpful suggestions. I just wanted you to know you are not the only one to have this type of problem. Good luck with your revision and all the best to you.

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I had a LHR that dislocated 3 times. It was awful. I had a revision which has corrected the problem. I had no choice but my experience is that if you go through the effort of getting the replacement you should get a better outcome so I advise a revision. Research the surgeon to do the revision. Best wishes.

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Thank you so much for sharing your experience and for you encouragement.
I appreciate it greatly. I'm curious if dislocation is any different from loosening, where no osseointegration occurs. Did you get a new hip socket (correct terminology ?) and new titanium stem also ?

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@katrine

Thank you so much for sharing your experience and for you encouragement.
I appreciate it greatly. I'm curious if dislocation is any different from loosening, where no osseointegration occurs. Did you get a new hip socket (correct terminology ?) and new titanium stem also ?

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I had a complete replacement socket and stem. After undergoing the replacement of my other hip it I have found out that the stem used in my left hip is two sizes larger in the shaft than the one in my right hip. I am ten weeks out with my left hip and almost pain free, the xrays show the shaft is touching bone in five different locations on the upper part whereas the right hip which is approaching three years is not touching bone anywhere in the upper stem. This cannot be referred to as loosening as it has never seated correctly. The surgeon that performed the second surgery commented that it must hurt like hell when I stand up to walk until the shaft is pushed back down, he said he is surprised I am able to walk as good as I do. The only good news is that he feels that as loose as the shaft is that he should be able to do a revision without splitting the bone to remove it. I am planning on the revision in December.

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@montanatom

I had a complete replacement socket and stem. After undergoing the replacement of my other hip it I have found out that the stem used in my left hip is two sizes larger in the shaft than the one in my right hip. I am ten weeks out with my left hip and almost pain free, the xrays show the shaft is touching bone in five different locations on the upper part whereas the right hip which is approaching three years is not touching bone anywhere in the upper stem. This cannot be referred to as loosening as it has never seated correctly. The surgeon that performed the second surgery commented that it must hurt like hell when I stand up to walk until the shaft is pushed back down, he said he is surprised I am able to walk as good as I do. The only good news is that he feels that as loose as the shaft is that he should be able to do a revision without splitting the bone to remove it. I am planning on the revision in December.

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That is good that your surgeon is confident about your right hip revision and wonderful that you are almost pain free in the left hip revision. Perhaps mine shouldn't really be described as "aseptic loosening" either because it never adhered to bone, it was loose from the very beginning. That's what the nuclear scan detects so that's what they are calling it. I honestly don't know how I have tolerated this pain for almost seven years. It helps to read others' experiences and it gives me courage to prepare for a revision.

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I’ve had a hip replacement that was doing great until it got infected. I just had a wash and I’m in more pain than ever and it feels like a very deep pain. Can anyone give advice on the next step?

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