Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion Helpful Tips Re: Need Advice on Total Hip Replacement Please

Hi All

Can Any one with Knoledge or expierience of total hip replacement tell me as it worth going for.
I am having more and more problems with my hips every day.
I was at a function last night, and was in a pretty bad flare, a friend of mine wich is a retired spinal surgean, noticed me walking with difficulty, and very kindly offered helping me with a totally free hip replacement.
He has left the decision wiyh me to do it or not.
(Interesting fact is also that he was one of the doctors that pioneered hip replacements years ago.)

Your Advice will be greatly appreciated in this regard.

Regards

Jacques

Hi Jacques,

I won't tell you to go for it, or tell you to hold off, because only you can make that decision. However, I can tell you that when I got my hips replaced, I was able to go from bedridden and not walking, to back to work (part time though because of my back), back to dating, and having fun. I would do it again if I ever needed it again.

Also consider that his bill for the surgery would be free, but not necessarily the other expenses, such as the drugs needed, the hospital stay, therapy etc etc. If you have health insurance than that would not be such a problem. You might need 2 weeks or more off of work too, unless you have a sit down job. Lots of things to think about.

To give you an idea on how much you would be saving, my final bill was close to $90,000 (USD) for two full hip replacements (if I can remember that far back). http://www.costhelper.com/cost/health/hip-replacement.html

If it were me, I would go for it (if I needed it of course), but that's me... I'm insured and out of work, and I have been through it before.

Good luck on your decision. Maybe more people here have been through it too, and will chime in soon with some good advice.
Take care,
James.

Connors, the tennis star, has a total hip replacement. There are many prothesis available, the one used on Connors was most interesting - he was back playing tennis in no time! Check out < or-live.com > for details. A facinating all-things medical website, where you can see live webcasts AND see the prothesis used on Connors in the archives section.

THR are well grounded in success. The original work was pionerred by Prof Sir John Charnley at the Wrightington Hospital way back in the ealy 60s:
http://www.wwl.nhs.uk/Internet/Home/Hospitals/wrightington.asp and work had been springing forward ever since. (The Wrightington is an amazing hospital, a centre of total excellence. Terrif surgeons and team effort. They ONLY do orthopaedic surgery and rheumatism/arthritic problems. Nothing else.)

IF you need a THR then I'd surely consider going ahead. You will need rehab afterwards. Rehab is vital to the complete success of this surgery. Will also need to be careful on many areas, like sitting at the correct angle, loo seats, have to get a raised seat section etc etc. It's the angle of the hip that is soooo important in the sitting. Lot of tissue and muscle and tendons etc that have to heal. So vital to address all of this correctly.

But your surgeon will tell you all about it and you can find out a heck of a lot on the internet.

Go well and the best of luck in your decision.

Molly C (France)

Forgot to say - a snippet that might interest you Jacques. Wrightington Hospital. One of the several Upper Limb surgeons is from Sth Africa. Prof Lennard Funk - *terrific surgeon. One of the best upper limb surgeons in the UK... He lectures world wide. Good bloke. (To be 'invited' by the Wrightington you have to be creme-de-la-creme, or you don't get even looked at!) Good clean hospital of total excellence.

Hey Jacques,

I had a hip replacement nine years ago and haven't had any problems with it since. I was told I needed a hip replacement and put it off for probably a couple of years before I psyched myself up for it - I could get around short distances alright but I would find myself in pain and limping if I did too much. The recovery is a little slower than I would have liked and ended up reducing my workload at uni but don't regret my decision at all.

There are probably even more advances in techniques since I had my op done.

What does your rheumy suggest? You will probably know when you are ready for it.

Happy to answer any other questions you have.

Lee

have you looked into getting a BHR instead? You have more flexability and you get to be as close to normal as you can be. I have my Left BHR and you would never guess I have a hip replacement. I bike,swim, rollerblade, have have all most all my flexibility back, plus the BHR lasts much longer and is less invasive- bonewise.

Hi

What is BHR?
I'm not so hot with all of these abbreviations

Regards Jacques

Ok
I've just googled it, seems better but I cant really be picky about this whole thing, becuase I'm getting it done
totally free.
I will try to work up the nerve to ask them about this
thanks for mentioning this tome, it is greatly appreciated.

Regards

Jacques