Just been diagnosed with severe arthritis in my left hip!

[Hiphop52]

Hi everyone

im 52 and just been told I have severe arthritis in my left hip. Its my knee that hurts not my hip. I need a hip replacement as soon as possible.

I'm in shock as I wasn't expecting it. I feel totally lost as to what to do. I go to the gym regularly and don't know what will help or make it worse. My job entails sitting and standing.

I just need some advice from someone who has been there or going through it.

Thanks

Helen

[Cat33]

Hello Hiphop

I suffered from excruciating pain it was all down my thigh to my knee and in my groin I could barely move

After lots of tests I was eventually referred to a hip specialist and after an x-ray they found I had no cartridge at all and it was bone rubbing bone

I was put on his list straight away to have a hip replacement That was at the end of March 2017 and my son was getting married in July that year My surgeon promised he would make me well enough to be up on the dancefloor at the wedding and he did It's was amazing I forget now I have a new hip no pain at all

I hope you can get a referral like I did and get relief from the horrible pain you are suffering xx

[Hiphop52 in reply to Cat33]

Thank you for your reply. I cant tell you how much better that makes me feel. My hip doesn't hurt at all. My knee and left side is painful. I am hoping to have the hip replacement just after Christmas, They wanted to do it before but I have important exams in Dec!!

[Cat33 in reply to Hiphop52]

Oh that's great if you know you are having it done and the way the months fly by it won't be long

I know I had mine done end of March and it was Easter about the 12th April that year and I had all my family here so I know I was feeling a lot better

I had to go to hospital for some injections into my back this year and the nurse was taking all my details and my husband had to prompt me to tell them I had a new hip I said oh yes I'd forgotten !!

They gave me an epidural and some sedation to put me to sleep but not a general so when I came round I felt fine

Please message me if you need any support I'm more than happy to help

Good luck with your exams xx 😊

[Hiphop52 in reply to Cat33]

Thank you for your reply. I am still I shock that I need a major op. I thought I was only going to have an injection when I went to the hospital. Im also worried about money. I will need to apply for universal credit so I have been told today. It just feels a nightmare at the moment.

Im also trying medication as my knee hurts but everything spaces me out!! Im only taking ibroprofen and codine!!

Helen

[Cat33 in reply to Hiphop52]

Hello Helen

Oh poor you you have a lot going on I know it must have been a shock it was for me too

Try to take it one day at a time and I'm sure everything you are worrying about will all come right

I remember it wasn't that long before I was up and about and to be pain free is just amazing

I had problems with painkillers they tried me on all sorts and I was really poorly on some My surgeon said that morphine patches would help me as I waited for the op Oh my goodness they made me feel so ill !

I hope that you get sorted money wise as that's an extra pressure you don't need Have you tried the Citizens Advice they are very good sorry I don't know your circumstances

All the best 😊

[Hiphop52 in reply to Cat33]

Thank you im feeling much better now. Its so good being able to talk to people who are in the same situation as me.

I am just taking the pain killers when I need them and have halved the dose. It doesn't take the knee pain away but makes it bearable.

I have also started swimming (which im not very good at and not very keen on) But it does make my hip feel better - it feels stretched out. I find my hip gets stiff very quickly and feels uncomfortable.

Looking forward to having the hip replacement although still nervous about it especially the recovery.

Kind regards

Helen

[Cat33 in reply to Hiphop52]

Hello Helen

Dont worry about the recovery Im the biggest wimp ever and if I can go through it then anyone can It's the unknown isn't it No operation is a nice thing to go through but you will be fine I promise and I'm so looking forward to saying "I told you so "

That's great that you are swimming it's a brilliant exercise I wish I could swim my mum instilled the fear into me about water that I just can't get over I had swimming lessons a few years ago but it was no good 😱

Take good care and I know it's easy for me to say but please don't worry xx