Re: Sassy THR

[Guest guest]

sassylou, may i ask your circumstances surrounding your hip replacement and the outcome. please. >>> Sure... not certain at what specifics you'd like~ so here's the long short of it. If there's any portion you'd like more details on or it's not understandable cuz it's kinda choppy... just let me know~ and I'll try to explain it better.

As to actual hip itself... CHD is my actual diagnosis~ which is merely congenital hip dislocation (*some go with disorder) AKA~ born with it. Basically some of my acetabulum & pubic tubercle were graphed along with small portions of ilium & iliac crest AKA~ lower portion of your pelvis. I had 11 reconstructive operations from 15 months to 13 yrs. of age... then a 20 yrs. break of obtaining college degree, having kids, working full time etc.

June 2003, at 33 I had ceramic on ceramic LTHR done. I opted to have nearly a full 3" leg discrepancy corrected during the surgery. Not that it bothered me... but because doc did ask saying medical field is limited to "natural discrepancy" in patients which can be followed but too because I also had the advantages of youth & health which translated to good balance & likely quicker recovery etc. First 2 yrs. I was followed monthly for progress now I'm at yearly baring notable complications.

For whatever reason my body wants to do it's own thing... and half my replacement worked fantastically while the other half was like it was in anothers body. After my THR things didn't get "better" per say as in "pain-free"... it did however lessen my hip pain but also created a whole new ball game of troubles due to my leg being lengthened. I spent approximately 9~10 months with severe leg spasms~ from hip to the tip of my toe, circulation issues etc...... I still had some pretty major hip pain too though... prior to surgery I was a 15 on scale of 1~10 in pain... while post-op still experiencing 8~10 depending on my days activities which weren't much other then therapy with gait training etc. Nothing was really showing on my x~rays (cept for a hair line lil gap~ which looked more like a pen mark) or with infection testing & the like... so I opted an exploratory surgery. Doc give me the run down on his thoughts prior to going in & what I wanted done or not done in each case. Such as socket loose= add additional mounts which might stablize or totally replace ? Big mess noticed= necessary for caging system or perfer implant removal ? There was a list of crap we went through~

Any hoots... the exploratory July 2004 "revision 1"..... and it was confirmed that my socket was shifting & had fragmented some of my bone which hadn't showed on the x~ray. Additional mounts were added to try to stablize it. That surgery got me to pain scale closer to 6~7 range. I was doing pretty good for the first couple of months... therapy is therapy it all stinks~ but I was making some progress. When I started seriously stepping up my activity level my hip just went hay-hickie for lack of better words.... and each day was getting worse then the one before it... which pushed me back to 10~15 on the pain scale. And no... for the record "taking it easy & going slower" didn't help~ that was tried. Between hip issues, the back & general leg issues that my being "leveled up" created it was pretty nasty. So by my follow-up in Jan 2005 I was up against revision 2.... which resulted in my actual socket being switched out & mounted higher~ now I'm combination implant ceramic/metal.

My pain fluctuates & somedays are just better then others... the more I do translates to the worse the pain will be. My hip is now at least "stablized"... but far from pain-free. My good days I slap on a smile & plan 2 hurt when crawling in bed because I certainly do make the MOST OF IT~ and my bad days.... I slap on a smile & plan what I'll be doing for the next good day~ but I make the most of that too. <giggling> Sides... if it's hurtin 1.) it's still attatched and 2.) you have 2 be alive 2 feel it.

My next appointment isn't until March with the specialist~ Last I seen him though... he knows my feelings on matters. He says "things aren't right, if your hurtin~ we could....." while I say... "no thank ya~ I'll wait & count my blessings". Got 2 kids at home that I don't want their teen yrs. spent by the side of my hospital bed or seeing to driving me back & forth to therapy!

The majority of THR patients don't have it done until their 50+ (*ages are getting much younger only due to obesity rates) of those.... MAYBE 3 of 10 will have to have A REVISION.... 2 revisions are rare.... and 3 or more in my view~ are pushing your luck. Each one takes its toll on your body.... bone density lessens.... patients health etc. At this point~ I'm kinda waiting it out~ kids 2 leave home... medical advancement in revision technology and counting my current blessings~ even with my misfortune.... I know somewhere someone would consider it a piece of cake and trade me anyday of the week for what they endure. Sooooooooo I wear my smile & as always make the most of it~

I still do pretty much whatever I want to do~ my life's just slowed way down and I've got a much greater appreciation for the simpler things in life. Once upon a time I could wake the kids for school~ leaving dad 2 finish breakfast & get them off, work 12 hr. shift, pick kids up & deliver 2 practices, help with homework while fixing dinner, straighten the house, fling 2 loads of laundry done, run the dog & shower before loving on hub~ cursing I had to drag out in snow & praying for a day off (*which I'd probably end up working if needed). During those days... I had something scheduled, planned, or to do for nearly EVERY moment in a 24 hr. day~ we worked for tomorrow & had no choice but to rush through the days. I think the good Lord slowed me down... because I refused to do it myself! I've still got a bad leg.... but I love being a stay at home mom, wife, fabulous cook & napping with the dog if I feel like it. Have 2 admit... it's nice having the day do 2 with as you choose and no boss is even better. <giggling>

[Guest guest]

well wow sassylou, you're sure been through the ringer. i'm sorry you've had so many problems with your leg/hip. you sure do have a positive attitude though and that's inspiring.

hugs,

lindy lou

right thr 1/22/2007

sassylou, may i ask your circumstances surrounding your hip replacement and the outcome. please. >>> Sure... not certain at what specifics you'd like~ so here's the long short of it. If there's any portion you'd like more details on or it's not understandable cuz it's kinda choppy... just let me know~ and I'll try to explain it better.

As to actual hip itself... CHD is my actual diagnosis~ which is merely congenital hip dislocation (*some go with disorder) AKA~ born with it. Basically some of my acetabulum & pubic tubercle were graphed along with small portions of ilium & iliac crest AKA~ lower portion of your pelvis. I had 11 reconstructive operations from 15 months to 13 yrs. of age... then a 20 yrs. break of obtaining college degree, having kids, working full time etc.

June 2003, at 33 I had ceramic on ceramic LTHR done. I opted to have nearly a full 3" leg discrepancy corrected during the surgery. Not that it bothered me... but because doc did ask saying medical field is limited to "natural discrepancy" in patients which can be followed but too because I also had the advantages of youth & health which translated to good balance & likely quicker recovery etc. First 2 yrs. I was followed monthly for progress now I'm at yearly baring notable complications.

For whatever reason my body wants to do it's own thing... and half my replacement worked fantastically while the other half was like it was in anothers body. After my THR things didn't get "better" per say as in "pain-free"... it did however lessen my hip pain but also created a whole new ball game of troubles due to my leg being lengthened. I spent approximately 9~10 months with severe leg spasms~ from hip to the tip of my toe, circulation issues etc...... I still had some pretty major hip pain too though... prior to surgery I was a 15 on scale of 1~10 in pain... while post-op still experiencing 8~10 depending on my days activities which weren't much other then therapy with gait training etc. Nothing was really showing on my x~rays (cept for a hair line lil gap~ which looked more like a pen mark) or with infection testing & the like... so I op! ted an exploratory surgery. Doc give me the run down on his thoughts prior to going in & what I wanted done or not done in each case. Such as socket loose= add additional mounts which might stablize or totally replace ? Big mess noticed= necessary for caging system or perfer implant removal ? There was a list of crap we went through~

Any hoots... the exploratory July 2004 "revision 1"..... and it was confirmed that my socket was shifting & had fragmented some of my bone which hadn't showed on the x~ray. Additional mounts were added to try to stablize it. That surgery got me to pain scale closer to 6~7 range. I was doing pretty good for the first couple of months... therapy is therapy it all stinks~ but I was making some progress. When I started seriously stepping up my activity level my hip just went hay-hickie for lack of better words.... and each day was getting worse then the one before it... which pushed me back to 10~15 on the pain scale. And no... for the record "taking it easy & going slower" didn't help~ that was tried. Between hip issues, the back & general leg issues that my being "leveled up" created it was pretty nasty. So by my follow-up in Jan 2005 I was up! against revision 2.... which resulted in my actual socket being switched out & mounted higher~ now I'm combination implant ceramic/metal.

My pain fluctuates & somedays are just better then others... the more I do translates to the worse the pain will be. My hip is now at least "stablized"... but far from pain-free. My good days I slap on a smile & plan 2 hurt when crawling in bed because I certainly do make the MOST OF IT~ and my bad days.... I slap on a smile & plan what I'll be doing for the next good day~ but I make the most of that too. <giggling> Sides... if it's hurtin 1.) it's still attatched and 2.) you have 2 be alive 2 feel it.

My next appointment isn't until March with the specialist~ Last I seen him though... he knows my feelings on matters. He says "things aren't right, if your hurtin~ we could....." while I say... "no thank ya~ I'll wait & count my blessings". Got 2 kids at home that I don't want their teen yrs. spent by the side of my hospital bed or seeing to driving me back & forth to therapy!

The majority of THR patients don't have it done until their 50+ (*ages are getting much younger only due to obesity rates) of those.... MAYBE 3 of 10 will have to have A REVISION.... 2 revisions are rare.... and 3 or more in my view~ are pushing your luck. Each one takes its toll on your body.... bone density lessens.... patients health etc. At this point~ I'm kinda waiting it out~ kids 2 leave home... medical advancement in revision technology and counting my current blessings~ even with my misfortune.... I know somewhere someone would consider it a piece of cake and trade me anyday of the week for what they endure. Sooooooooo I wear my smile & as always make the most of it~

I still do pretty much whatever I want to do~ my life's just slowed way down and I've got a much greater appreciation for the simpler things in life. Once upon a time I could wake the kids for school~ leaving dad 2 finish breakfast & get them off, work 12 hr. shift, pick kids up & deliver 2 practices, help with homework while fixing dinner, straighten the house, fling 2 loads of laundry done, run the dog & shower before loving on hub~ cursing I had to drag out in snow & praying for a day off (*which I'd probably end up working if needed). During those days... I had something scheduled, planned, or to do for nearly EVERY moment in a 24 hr. day~ we worked for tomorrow & had no choice but to rush through the days. I think the good Lord slowed me down... because I refused to do it myself! I've still got a bad leg.... but I love being a stay at home mom, wife, fabulous cook ! & napping with the dog if I feel like it. Have 2 admit... it's nice having the day do 2 with as you choose and no boss is even better. <giggling>