NRAS Logo
Logged in as: pedro-pmc Search | Moderate | Active Topics | My Profile | Members | Logout

New Topic Post Reply
Hip Resurfacing vs Replacement (Aged 21!) Options
Previous Topic · Next Topic
FrancescaK
#1 Posted : Tuesday, January 04, 2011 12:25:07 PM Quote
Rank: Member


Groups: Registered

Joined: 1/4/2011
Posts: 14
Location: London
Hi All,

I am new to this site, and was advised to join by my consultant. I was diagnosed with RA at 14, believed to be a result of stress due to my father dying only a few months before. Although it took a good few years to get it under control, I now live the life I once had before being diagnosed, apart from my hip.

When I was 15 I started struggling to walk, and had severe pain in my hip. Apparently, in young females RA attacks the hip - which has left me with (at the age of 21) a hip which is moderately damaged and is starting to interefere with daily activities - putting on socks, shoes, longer walks etc.

I was originally told that I could have either resurfacing or replacement, and my obvious choice was resurfacing (as it was less extreme). However, after visiting my surgeon, he has informed me that there are two things I need to consider.

1. Resurfacing is not as effective in women
2. Due to an increase in metal ions, should I decide to have children (which I definitely want to) that an increase in ions could lead to genetic changes. Although there is no research he said I need to consider this.

The first I would not mind risking, I'm sturggling as it is, and it is worth a shot in my eyes. The second, I'm not so sure that I could live with if I did have a child with something wrong I think I would blame myself.

I was wondering if any other young people have had a hip replacement or resurfacing? When you see a surgeon who tells you the youngest they have operated on is 25 and most surgeons would not go near me, it can be quite isolating.

Thank you.

Francesca Smile x
Francesca x
Back to top
 Report Abusive | Report SPAM
Laura-C
#2 Posted : Friday, January 07, 2011 10:12:44 AM Quote
Rank: Advanced Member


Groups: Registered

Joined: 6/16/2010
Posts: 39
Location: Edinburgh
Hiya Francesca,

I saw my surgeon for the first time back in October and he says he has done loads of hip replacements on younger people - his youngest was 14 so i recon your surgeon just needs to broaden their horizons! maybe you could be a surgery tourist (i forget what they call it, you know when people go on holiday and get cheap plastic surgery) and just come up to Edinburgh for your op!

They all get a bit scared about operating on younger patients because if everything went really really bad you could be left in a bit of a sticky situation by the time you are retiring, but realistically just think how quickly modern science and medicine are evolving - we will probably all have bionic super hips by the time you are due for retirement anyway Tongue

I wasn't offered resurfacing - I don't know if this is because my surgeon isn't so keen on doing those, or because resurfacing won't do it, or because he knows that i plan to have kids in the next few years... who knows

Maybe we could form a Hip-Op club?ThumpUp

Laura
Back to top
 Report Abusive | Report SPAM
Julia17
#3 Posted : Friday, January 07, 2011 11:47:52 AM Quote
Rank: Advanced Member


Groups: Registered

Joined: 2/18/2010
Posts: 1,098
Location: farningham kent
Hi Francesca

I ve been having a look on Google and saw this web site which may be a some interest - http://www.wessexhipunit.co.uk/hipguides.html

Best wishes Julia x ThumpUp
Back to top
 Report Abusive | Report SPAM
Paula-C
#4 Posted : Sunday, January 09, 2011 10:31:52 AM Quote
Rank: Advanced Member


Groups: Registered

Joined: 12/3/2009
Posts: 838
Location: Nottinghamshire
Morning Ladies

I did put up a new thread on the Discussions of RA Only board titled For The Attention of Laura-C. There is two links there to another forum where young people are discussing hip replacement.

Hope it helps.

Paula
Back to top
 Report Abusive | Report SPAM
FrancescaK
#5 Posted : Monday, January 10, 2011 12:39:46 PM Quote
Rank: Member


Groups: Registered

Joined: 1/4/2011
Posts: 14
Location: London
The links are fantastic, thank you for that!

Laura-C - I think some surgeons don't offer resurfacing in women due to it being less sucessful, now they are getting to the point where they won't even suggest it, so I think replacement is definitely the way forward. If you don't mind me asking, how old are you? And how much does your hip affect you now? I get scared that my hip isnt bad enough to have a replacement. My life is different in terms of, if I go out to a club the next day I hobble around in pain and if I go for a half hour walk and then sit down I limp when I start walking again, but is that bad enough??

Half of me says that I have become accustomed to this way of life and the other half says as long as I have my own hip I should keep trying on it?!

Scary times ahead :( x
Francesca x
Back to top
 Report Abusive | Report SPAM
Laura-C
#6 Posted : Wednesday, February 09, 2011 7:55:19 PM Quote
Rank: Advanced Member


Groups: Registered

Joined: 6/16/2010
Posts: 39
Location: Edinburgh
Francesca, I'm sorry i have been so slow in replying to you - Ive had my head in the clouds because i got the date for my op and all i can think about is what i need to get sorted (at work and home) before my surgery!

I'm 26, and i started using a walking stick back in august because i thought (after hand surgery) it would help when i got tired when i was out and about (you know when you are in a queue in primark or somewhere and all you want to do it sit down, well the stick helps me a bit with that). i also thought the stick would help me get the priority seats on rush hour buses (it doesn't, but then i know im not assertive enough). i have been having exactly the same thoughts as you as to whether i needed the replacement or not - i think its because when you have a good day, it puts the bad times out of your mind and nobody really wants surgery do they?

the way i got over it was to keep a hip diary for a fortnight, i quickly wrote down if i had used the stick that day, if i was in pain and if my hip stopped me from doing anything. within the week i realised that i was struggling to put my socks on and that trying to paint my toenails was an absolute nightmare, i often have to go for a lay down for a bit when i get home from work and i wouldn't even dream of trying to dance on a night out. this is when i knew i needed to get the op done. fingers crossed in a couple of months i'll be able to go back to walking to work when its sunny, and sitting on the top deck of the bus (I can't get up the stairs nowadays), I'll go back to the gym and try and get buff! (thought don't tell my surgeon) and i'm going to go out for the night and dance.

the docs really try and put you off from having the surgery, but my friend has had both hips and a knee done and she says its the best thing she has ever done.

you pobably have become accustomed to how your hip is now, my view on it is that its like a boyfriend - it was ok in the beginning, but its got a bit rubbish now so it is getting dumped and replaced by a newer model Razz
Back to top
 Report Abusive | Report SPAM
Laura-C
#7 Posted : Wednesday, February 09, 2011 7:55:19 PM Quote
Rank: Advanced Member


Groups: Registered

Joined: 6/16/2010
Posts: 39
Location: Edinburgh
Francesca, I'm sorry i have been so slow in replying to you - Ive had my head in the clouds because i got the date for my op and all i can think about is what i need to get sorted (at work and home) before my surgery!

I'm 26, and i started using a walking stick back in august because i thought (after hand surgery) it would help when i got tired when i was out and about (you know when you are in a queue in primark or somewhere and all you want to do it sit down, well the stick helps me a bit with that). i also thought the stick would help me get the priority seats on rush hour buses (it doesn't, but then i know im not assertive enough). i have been having exactly the same thoughts as you as to whether i needed the replacement or not - i think its because when you have a good day, it puts the bad times out of your mind and nobody really wants surgery do they?

the way i got over it was to keep a hip diary for a fortnight, i quickly wrote down if i had used the stick that day, if i was in pain and if my hip stopped me from doing anything. within the week i realised that i was struggling to put my socks on and that trying to paint my toenails was an absolute nightmare, i often have to go for a lay down for a bit when i get home from work and i wouldn't even dream of trying to dance on a night out. this is when i knew i needed to get the op done. fingers crossed in a couple of months i'll be able to go back to walking to work when its sunny, and sitting on the top deck of the bus (I can't get up the stairs nowadays), I'll go back to the gym and try and get buff! (thought don't tell my surgeon) and i'm going to go out for the night and dance.

the docs really try and put you off from having the surgery, but my friend has had both hips and a knee done and she says its the best thing she has ever done.

you pobably have become accustomed to how your hip is now, my view on it is that its like a boyfriend - it was ok in the beginning, but its got a bit rubbish now so it is getting dumped and replaced by a newer model Razz
Back to top
 Report Abusive | Report SPAM
HellyC
#8 Posted : Thursday, February 10, 2011 8:41:41 AM Quote
Rank: Advanced Member


Groups: Registered

Joined: 12/8/2009
Posts: 230
Location: Leicester
Hi Francesca

Definitely think your surgeon needs to broaden his horizons. I had my first hip replacement at 21 but prior to that I had finger joint replacements at 16.

Its true that surgeons don't like to perform replacements on younger people, particularly women because of various factors. The main one being that due to the loss of bone, there may be a limit on the number of revisions that can be done. For me, they have factored 2/3 revisions in my lifetime. If you think that on average a hip replacement at present will last 15-20yrs then that could potentially give me 30-45 years minimum.

There is no set maximum number of the number of procedures and revision depends upon a number of factors including your well-being, bone stock and the quality of the soft tissues around the hip. It also depends on your level of activity.

I'm still a pretty active person (go to the gym, abseil etc) and I had my first hip revision in 2007 (11yrs after 1st replacement).. When I had the first replacement done, the time scale for revisions was 10yrs so going 11yrs was pretty good. My first replacement was also a mixture of plastic socket and titanium ball.

Evidence has since shown that plastic particles can settle in the bone, causing friction and can bring forward a revision. I also had my first hip put in using cement which caused quite a few problems, esp as I also have osteoporosis so bone quality was like cottage cheese.

During my revision I have had a ceramic socket put in and had a cementless hip put in which has longer durability. I've also since gone on and had both knees replaced (2000 & 2001)

In regards to having children, I was told by my surgeon and rheumatologist that with one hip replacement, I could still potentially give birth naturally but with both hips, it would need to be via caesarean (I had my 2nd hip done in 2008)

Carrying with hip replacements just requires closer monitoring because of the extra weight and you'll just need to take things easier. I've not had children yet but I have been put in touch with a fantastic obstetrician who has experience with RA

I've not heard much about hip resurfacing experiences but it does carry less risk during revision as you're less likely to lose bone in the process.

Delaying primary surgery leads to poorer outcomes. Hip replacement/resurfacing should be undertaken when quality of life begins to deteriorate, rather than waiting until it is severe. Quality of life is paramount...

Hope this helps.. and if you want to know anything else then just shout Smile


Helly x

Celebrating 10yrs of National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society

Doing a Tandem Skydive - May 2011 - All Sponsorship Welcome - www.justgiving.com/helencopeland






Read my blog - Helly Copeland
Back to top
BLOG MSN  Report Abusive | Report SPAM | Edit by user: Thursday, February 10, 2011 8:44 AM | Reason: Not specified
HellyC
#9 Posted : Thursday, February 10, 2011 9:27:28 AM Quote
Rank: Advanced Member


Groups: Registered

Joined: 12/8/2009
Posts: 230
Location: Leicester
I've copied the blog piece I did when I had my first hip replacement done - You'll find it under Members Blogs - Windows to the Soul
Helly x

Celebrating 10yrs of National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society

Doing a Tandem Skydive - May 2011 - All Sponsorship Welcome - www.justgiving.com/helencopeland






Read my blog - Helly Copeland
Back to top
BLOG MSN  Report Abusive | Report SPAM
Laura-C
#10 Posted : Saturday, March 05, 2011 7:09:30 PM Quote
Rank: Advanced Member


Groups: Registered

Joined: 6/16/2010
Posts: 39
Location: Edinburgh
I've had it done - and it really isn't too badBigGrin
Back to top
 Report Abusive | Report SPAM
Users browsing this topic
New Topic Post Reply
Forum Jump  
You can post new topics in this forum.
You can reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You can edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.

SoClean Theme By Jaben Cargman (Tiny Gecko)
Powered by YAF 1.9.3 | YAF © 2003-2009, Yet Another Forum.NET
This page was generated in 0.179 seconds.