[OT] Mixed results on hip pain

I finally had enough of the pain in my left hip, which causes me to awaken after about three hours, so I'm always exhausted. Had an appointment today with an orthopedist. I wanted to talk about having the bursa surgically removed (I've had several cortisone injections which have not given me relief), and was informed in no uncertain terms that my HMO does *not* do surgical removal of a hip bursa.

However, she did a very thorough exam, talked to me for a good long while about my symptoms, and sent me for X-Rays...of my knees. Turns out I have very well advanced arthritis in both knees, (bone-on-bone in both) and her opinion is that the way I have been guarding against knee pain while walking has exacerbated the hip bursa inflammation. She injected both knees with Cortisone, gave me some printed instructions for exercises to alleviate the problem with my hip, suggested I start a regimen of water aerobics, and made a follow-up appointment in 5 weeks. She says I am definitely going to have to have bilateral complete knee replacement surgery in the not-too-distant future.

So, maybe I can finally get enough sleep to be capable of getting all the things done I'd like to do. I loath the idea of knee replacement surgery, although I have been hearing many people who have had good results recently.

Beverly, amazed at how *easy* walking was right after this appointment....

Reply to
BEI Design
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Beverly, my DH had a knee replacement done 3 years ago, The surgery was painful, but and this is the big but, he came home 2 days after surgery, started rehab therapy 6 days after surgery and has been going ever since. He usually walks a minimum of 6 miles a day in about 1:30 min. Before the surgery he had reached the point where he could do little more than walk from one room to another with the aid of a cane. He had therapy for 3 months prior to surgery to build up muscle and 5 weeks after. He was playing golf after 5 weeks, walking the course and carrying his clubs. You can't believe his improvement. I never thought I'd see him get around like that again. I encourage you to have the surgery as soon as you can even though it's not a fun procedure. Juno

Reply to
Juno

Just as your doc went from your hip to your knees, I would suggest that you also look at your feet, especially the shoes you wear. My DH has two bad knees and has irritated his hip by favoring a sore knee. He has gotten relief by taking glucosamine sulphate (no condroitin) and by wearing New Balance running and walking shoes, which support his feet much better than what he was wearing.

I am a Birk wearer, not because of knees or hips, but because of a Morton's Neuroma. However, I have found that if I don't wear the right type, I have hip trouble. It's quite possible that I will have hip problems, but I am distrustful of men in masks holding sharp objects.

Anyway, wishing you the best, and hoping that your knees improve, and therefore your hip, and that you can get a good night's sleep.

Reply to
Pogonip

Beverly--

i'm a horse person...and we always look at "what else can be the cause of this pain/discomfort in the horse"...such as if it looks like lame on the right hind..is it really the hock, or could it be a back problem or a shoulder problem or...you get the picture.

i really like your orthopod's approach. I hope this all works well for you!

betsey

Reply to
betsey

I'm going to chime in on the same note. ;) Dad had knee replacement surgery a few years ago. He only had one knee done, and I know you are looking at both. But what else I can tell you is Dad was in the same boat as you, bone on bone in that knee. Also his knee was so bad his leg was starting to twist. Instead of his leg being straight, or reasonably so, it was like his knee had become a hinge that allowed the calf to start bending in towards his opposite leg. He was in a lot of pain, and Dad isn't a complainer, but we all knew he was in pain. After the surgery, he did GREAT!!! Mom was of course there being a drill sargeant about his PT exercises at home. The therapist worked with him a while, but eventually stopped coming out to the house well ahead of schedule because Dad was doing so well. And Dad also didn't have very much pain to deal with after the surgery. He said he was in so much pain beforehand, tylenol was enough afterwards. This past summer, they went to the Grand Canyon and other points west. They walked all over. He never had a bit of trouble. They have gone on several trips like that since his surgery. He never has any pain at all even if they walk all day long. The only problem he's had is he has to have extra screening at the airport. The knee sets off the alarms so they always have to "wand" him. ;)

I know it's scary. I would be worried too if it were me. But I also know you have the girls close by and they will take care of you when you need them. (or we could all take shifts. ;) ) You might not be totally pain free immediately afterwards, but the long term benefit of being pain free, and the knees not ever getting arthritis again is really a heck of a carrot dangling out there.

((((HUGS))))

Sharon

Reply to
mamahays

With your new knees, you'll be Bionic Bev! ;)

The op's a right ole pain, but they get you walking the next day, and it's amazing how soon you are on the mend. They may well opt to do one and get it properly healed before doing the other. FiL Joe had his one done a couple of years back, aged 85, and walks a mile every day on it without pain.

As he says: the heart's been mended, the knee replaced - it's the rest that's wearing out! ;)

You'll be dancing after the op!

Reply to
Kate XXXXXX

Beverley

I have a similar problem. I too had injections in my knees, but the effect doesn't last too long. A few months?? Sometimes too, there is an anaesthetic in the injection that wears off after a few days. :-))

I have had the best relief by investing in a top quality sheepskin underlay for my bed. It regulates the temperature in the bed naturally ( in summer I can turn it over fleece side down). It just covers the mattress under the bottom sheet. I used to be in agony every morning at dawn, and sometimes half the night as well. The pain extends from the hip to past the knee because my bursitis is trochantreric, and the contracting tendon squishes my bursa (so they tell me). If this is your problem stretches during the day can help. But I really found the underlay keeps my temp constant so my tendon isn't contracting up.

I hope that you find some relief

ChrisW

Reply to
ChrisW

I appreciate your information, Juno. I have heard such horror stories about knee-replacement that I've just avoided even talking to the docs about it. I have had one knee (the right) which has given me fits ever since I took a bad spill skiing years ago. I was surprised to learn that my left knee was in such bad shape, and since that's the leg which has the hip bursitis problem, I suspect I've been compensating somehow for the knee damage, and that led to the hip problem.

I was walking about 1.5 hours 5 times a week two summers ago, perhaps I overdid it. I will be eager to find out what the doctors say in 5 weeks. I would prefer to postpone surgery until after the planned trip with my younger DD and son-in-law to the Grand Canyon area next April/May.

Beverly

Reply to
BEI Design

I have no idea whether the HMO will want to do both together, but my preference will be one-at-a-time, since I don't have anyone here in the house to assist me.

I almost collapsed while they were taking the X-Ray, because they had me bend my right knee, and move my left knee to the rear, out of the way, and my left knee started to feel like it was coming apart. Literally. It made some nasty noises and sort of crumbled outward. Ugh!

I usually have quite a high pain threshold, but in this case that may have been a contributing factor, as I continued to move on the knees even though they hurt a lot. I haven't really made a big deal of the pain, but I finally reached my limit on the lack of sound sleep. I took Ambien this summer while I was traveling, but the side-effects were devastating, I had to quit.

That's really good to know. I cannot take strong pain meds, they work oddly on me.

How long before the trip to the Grand Canyon did your DF have surgery? Maybe I'll be able to squeeze it in in January if things will be healed well for the trip in late April.

I'll be sure to keep your offer in mind. ;-) Older DD has her hands full ATM with her in-laws, but younger DD is a lovely and tender caretaker.

For sure.

Thanks!

Beverly

Reply to
BEI Design

My younger DD suggested much the same thing. She told me to check into whether the HMO would cover orthotic shoe inserts.

Gee, thanks for that visual image... ;-}

Thanks!

Beverly

Reply to
BEI Design

Which seems to be the case here.

Thanks!

Beverly

Reply to
BEI Design

Maybe I'll embroider that on a throw pillow! ;-}

I sure understand that!

Old joke: "Doctor, doctor, will I be able to dance after surgery...???" I'd settle for a good walking pace. And a decent night's sleep. ;-)

Beverly

Reply to
BEI Design

I have had two injections in the hip bursa, first one the relief lasted about two months, the second was a disaster, he hit a nerve and caused the entire front and outer part of my thigh to be numb. Sounds like a contradiction that it would also hurt, but it does. I don't expect the relief I feel today in my knees to last long, but it sure feels good today.

I invested in a high quality foam mattress and adjustable bed five years ago. It helps, because I can adjust the head and foot of the mattress so that for short periods I can sleep on my back, getting the weight off the hip helps. I also have a soft 4" foam mattress topper. I'll have to look into a sheepskin topper, thanks for that information.

I have some printed instructions from the orthopedic department about stretching and exercises designed to alleviate this pain.

Thanks!

Beverly

Reply to
BEI Design

The last time I went to a shoe shop, I happened to be waited on by the proprietor himself -- he fitted me with shoes radically different from the size I'd been wearing, and fine-tuned the fit with a pair of extra insoles. Walking is so much easier that I sometimes feel that I'm being pushed!

Joy Beeson

Reply to
Joy Beeson

Bugger! (Used in an Australian sense to express support/sympathy/empathy)

Great that you will have some relief - long may it last.

Reply to
FarmI

I'm really glad to hear you stopped taking Ambien. Their ads say they cause bad taste. There must be an awful lot of people taking it.

Reply to
Pogonip

My taste has always been of the highest order.

I had to stop taking it when I realized I was constantly in tears over extremely minor happenings. I figured I didn't need a drug making me sad. My grandchildren had asked DD why I was crying all the time on our trip. That's not my style, I'm usually upbeat and happy. Plus, it was giving me a horrendous bellyache. As soon as I finally made the connection I quit the drug.

Beverly

Reply to
BEI Design

;-) Thanks.

I don't expect it to last, but it will be interesting to see if the temporary lack of knee pain helps alleviate the hip bursitis. That will motivate me to have the knee surgery like nothing else would.

Beverly

Reply to
BEI Design

You did better than the people who find out they were out driving or gambling or carrying on in bars while they were actually asleep!

Reply to
Pogonip

I have had a lot of pain in the last few months (which I think stemmed from surgery which I had nearly 2 years ago) so I can really understand what you are experiencing. I had an appointment to see my quack to ask for Morphine as it was so bad but had to wait about a week till I got through the door. Because I was such a mess, I made an appointment to have a massage prior to seeing the quack and suddenly I didn't need drugs at all. But boy, did that first massage HURT!

Reply to
FarmI

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