Hip replacement

[Marspup]

Hi i am new here, 57 yrs old, active and fit. Ihave just been told that I need a hip replacment. Would a steroid injection work? Does anyone know what the % likelihood is of steroids working instead? Or what the recovery from such an operation is like?

Help!

[Hidden]

Hi there

I had a total hip replacement 5 years ago due to osteoarthritis. You didn't mention why you need a new hip so if it's osteoarthritis then a replacement is definately the best thing. The operation itself is very standard now although it's classed as a major operation. They use a spinal instead of general anaesthetic as they say it's safer. The recovery time is approx 12 weeks until you feel confident to walk short distances or drive. The exercises are gently and easy and as long as you do them all every day your recovery will be fine .

[suzy1959]

I had hip replacement 8 weeks ago and, despite also having 2 bad knees and Polymyalgia Rheumatica and being on steroids, I am hardly using crutches at all now. I started back driving 2 weeks ago.I have done the exercises religiously and been careful.

I am so glad I had it done despite being told a year ago that no-one would operate on me as I was too fat and on steroids. I was miserable because of the pain, and virtually immobile.

Over a year ago, I did have a steroid injection into my hip joint using ultrasound. It worked, but only for 6 weeks.

Hip replacements are very common and techniques are so much better now that it is very much worth having done.

[carolen]

Hi, I'm just about to have a new knee but had several steroid injections before it got so bad which worked very well. Hyaluronic acid injection worked even better and relieved the pain and stiffness for 4/5 months. This injection needs to wear off, though, before you have a replacement operation as the surgeon told me he wouldn't operate within six months of the injection due to increased risk of infection.

[helixhelix]

If your hip has got to the point where it needs to be replaced then waiting won't necessarily help things. Getting it replaced when you are younger and fitter helps recovery. And if you follow the post op instructions fully then recovery is pretty quick.