Hip and steroids

[Margaret1951]

Hi everyone long time I have not been on, sorry. I had a complete hip replacement 4 weeks ago ( regretting it 😭😭😭 ) The consultant upped my preds same day to 5mg, before this I had done really well in getting down to 2.5mg after 7 years with no flares on 2.5mg. Has anyone else had this and when did you start cutting down please ?? I am still in pain and on crutches and tired most of the time, perhaps because I am 70 after big operation ??? Would love advice please x

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

So are you saying you have been on 5mg since the operation?…and presumably you weren’t given further advice by Rheumy?

Normally we would say increase for just a few days to get you through the post op, and then back down to previous dose.

If you’ve been on 5mg for 4 weeks, then you need to be a bit more careful…..almost treating it as a normal taper….especially if you aren’t feeling too good from operation.

On that subject, bit surprised you are still in pain and on crutches….was it a particularly difficult operation…..I didn’t have crutches at all, just 2 walking sticks, which quickly became one….have you spoken to anyone about that?

Age is not so much a factor as general health, I was 71, albeit no longer with GCA so no steroids either.

Hope you soon feel better.

[Margaret1951 in reply to DorsetLady]

Wow no one has advised the preds, starting Monday I will cut half mg off for couple weeks. Yes still in pain and Doctor given me strong pills same as I had in hospital but only take one when I get in bed as fast acting. The scar is 6.5” long and I had 30 metal clips in it plus under skin stitches also. Surgeon had to go further round my bum to keep away from the damage caused by my motorcycle accident 50+ years ago when I had a head on with a car and the handlebar went straight through my groin and did a lot of damage, hence couldn’t do a normal cut. I am on one crutch in the home but 2 outside, you did well on two sticks !!! Fingers crossed I will eventually not take no more preds. Thank you again x

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Margaret1951]

Ouch, no wonder you are finding things difficult….fortunately mine was just a straightforward replacement op.

Had my other knee replaced six months before, and had crutches for that, didn’t really get on with them, so after hip when I was asked if I wanted crutches or sticks…I went for the sticks.

Good luck with your continued rehab, and your Pred reductions, but take it all in your time.

[Mystik in reply to DorsetLady]

M worried about the knees replaced

[Margaret1951 in reply to DorsetLady]

Ps my other leg is shorter now !

[piglette]

I had a hip replaced recently. I was on 5mg and went up to 10mg. One reason being I managed to dislocate my brand new hip a day or so after I had the op!! I dropped back to 5mg about a week later. I never actually used crutches as I am rubbish with them, but did have two hefty sticks in hospital. I must admit I did not use them in the house when I got home, but used one when I went outside. I found that the hip leg ached for quite a while after particularly in bed.

[Margaret1951 in reply to piglette]

Wow how did you disclocate it ?? yes in bed fatal to me as I toss and turn then pain comes 😭😭 perhaps because I now have one leg longer than other plus my bad leg I am not doing so good. See the surgeon in 3 months time and hope preds back down again.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Margaret1951]

That will cause problems - have you had your shoe adjusted so you walk straight?

[Margaret1951 in reply to PMRpro]

Hi, no, how do I go about that please ?? as this could be why I am not getting far x

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Margaret1951]

Not sure who you have to contact. The podiatry department at the local hospital? The physio department should be able to advise - I assume you are having physio?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Margaret1951]

Try Orthotics staff, maybe co-located with orthopaedics or physio department- ….

What is orthotics?

Orthotics is specialist field which is involved with the design, production and use of orthoses.

Orthoses are devices which are applied externally to any part of the body to prevent or correct deformity and promote or improve function of the affected area. We commonly prescribe corrective insoles, shoe adaptations, footwear and bracing for the lower limb (legs and feet), upper limb (arms and hands) and the spine.

If they cannot help, sure they will direct you to right department…

[Margaret1951 in reply to DorsetLady]

Many thanks x

[Rugger in reply to Margaret1951]

A friend had his ankle replaced / fixed and ended up with one leg shorter than the other. He buys a pair of shoes or trainers and takes them to the Orthotics people who adapt the one shoe for him.

PS I'm sorry to hear you're struggling after your op.

[Margaret1951 in reply to Rugger]

Wow thank you x

[piglette in reply to Margaret1951]

I managed to faint after I went for a shower in the hospital. It was really painful as I had to wait for the surgeon to get a team together to undislocate my hip and get an operating theatre free and set up. Also they had to get me out of the shower room and xray my hip!

It is not abnormal to find one leg shorter than the other after a hip op. It can often feel there is a discrepancy when there isn't also you may have always had a difference in length and the surgery has actually got the length correct. How bad is it? You should be having post op appointments with physio, nurse and the surgeon. Have you already had these? I would mention it then.

[Margaret1951 in reply to piglette]

Hi, bless you most of been a shock for you. Going to measure legs later when friend comes round but definitely longer than other. Have seen Physio 2 weeks ago but not since, nurse took all my clips out and left her card Incase I need her, surgeon phoned me about 2 weeks ago now so what is happening now didn’t then. X

[piglette in reply to Margaret1951]

I know that on the form I signed for the hip op, they did have a get out clause saying that there might be a leg length discrepancy. Initially I felt that there may be a difference, but I seem to have compensated, perhaps it wasn’t very much. It is good that you can call the nurse about it, I am sure she will help and point you in the right direction. I didn’t have clips I had dissolvable stitches. My surgeon asked me before he sewed me up. (I had a spinal with no sedation so I was awake).

[Margaret1951 in reply to piglette]

Thank you, I had stitches inside and metal clips outside but never hurt when the nurse to them out. I had a general anasthetic as injuries from accident damaged nerves for epidural. X

[Margaret1951]

Physio came 2 weeks ago and ringing me next week sometime. she left me the excersize chart to do.

[Canarylady]

Good morning Margrate1951,Sorry to hear your in a lot of pain,I m just sending you a hug to help you along.

I have very painful hips at the moment with a flare,but not as bad as yours.

Do take care,

Ruth

X

[Margaret1951 in reply to Canarylady]

Bless you, have you had the op ?? X

[2013mayo]

Hi Margaret , Sorry to hear you are having trouble with your new hip, you must remember you’ve had a big op and it takes a long time to get back to normal. I wouldn’t worry about the extra pred, it’s a small amount and won’t do any harm, I’d wait before trying to cut down as you need to get your strength back. Just take it easy and get yourself right.

Good luck , sending you a big hug.

😍💐🌞

[Margaret1951 in reply to 2013mayo]

Thank you, I am ringing my Doctor Monday and see if I can have an X-ray as last night in bed I moved and felt like a spike was sticking out and very painful so straighten up and pain went x

[2013mayo in reply to Margaret1951]

Hi Margaret , I really think you should contact the hospital, something is not right, can you phone the ward you was on? There must be some way of contacting them, or even call 111, let them decide, it needs X-ray. I’ve been there before many times, hip replacement , dislocated ,broken femur, you name it.

I’m waiting for my next op, this will be the 7th time on the same hip, having bone graft, (again) and muscles transfer.

When they go wrong they need sorting ASAP .

Let me know how you get on. Don’t wait any longer please.

Xx

[Margaret1951 in reply to 2013mayo]

Wow you have been through the mill !!! Bless you, what happened ? Yes I am phoning up on Monday as I need the X-ray done ASAP , today I have sat down quite a bit and had no painkillers but very bored. Will let you know and good luck x

[2013mayo in reply to Margaret1951]

Hi Margaret , Yes I’ve been through quite an ordeal with my hip, I had one of those metal on metal years ago, they should never have put one in me as I was too young at the time (48), they found out that younger women should never have them as they reacted to the metal. No one knew at the time, I was fine for 6 years and then it dislocated during an aerobic session, they put it back but there after it kept going wrong, I had several revisions and eventually the femur broke. I’m now waiting as you know for the next op.

I hope yours get better soon, don’t worry they don’t use metal on metal any more.

Let me know how you get on.

Xx

[Margaret1951 in reply to 2013mayo]

Wow bless you, what an ordeal you have had and still having. I had a bad night again last night, fidgety leg so pacing up and down again with no luck, trying to turn in bed with pain again, hope it’s not cause of increase of preds doing this. Monday I am cutting down just half mg to 4.5mg and pray it’s preds making me bad again !! will let you know x

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Margaret1951]

Have you tried magnesium supplements for restless legs? It helps a lot of people so worth a try.

[2013mayo in reply to Margaret1951]

👍Sending big hug 😍

[Mystik]

So sorry to hear that m going for a hip replacement in 2 weeks time I not on steroids I take pain. ibruproen Ask the drs if they help u m almost 60

[Margaret1951 in reply to Mystik]

I wish you luck with your op and pray it all works out fine, you won’t have the pain like before, just a different one. X

[Miserypants]

I had my hip done 3 months ago when on 9.5mg Pred. Just stayed at that. First month was aweful due to my irritable legs kicking off big time and not helping. I didn't use crutches only a zimmer indoors and then one walking stick for outside. Have been walking normally for last month with no aids or pain. It will get better. Give it time.

[Margaret1951 in reply to Miserypants]

Wow my legs the same jerking about, worse now since operation and I pace up and down the landing trying to release the nerve, drives me nuts !! I hope it gets better soon and hope the joint hasn’t moved, I don’t want another operation ! 5 weeks today had it done and still can’t sleep on that leg cause of pain 😭😭😭 x

[Matma]

Hello MargaretSo sorry to hear you are having a tough time! I have had both hips replaced - the last one in September 2020, and I’m now level again after having had a significant leg length difference for the previous 3 years. The first 6 weeks after surgery can be challenging - especially sleeping on your back! But it does get better and I certainly don’t regret having them done. My only advice would be to do the exercises religiously- it really does help your recovery! And I found sticks so much easier than crutches!

Very best wishes

Vicky

[Margaret1951 in reply to Matma]

Hi, Vicky, hope my other one doesn’t need doing 🙏🙏🙏 I can sleep on my other side ok now as on back drove me mad. Before the op I was on both crutches due to hip and knee giving way all the time 🤬🤬🤬 but don’t get that now thank goodness. Surgeon told me my joints were very bad crunching together bone on bone, he put metal and plastic in. I have tried sticks in past and kept tripping over on them somehow. X

[Canarylady]

Hi Margaret,No I ve not had my hips operated on,maybe in the future for me.

I ve had 2 spine operation s and it looks like another one on it’s way!

I do think you should contact the hospital about your hip,just to make sure it’s ok.

Do take care of yourself.

Ruth

X

[Margaret1951 in reply to Canarylady]

Hi Ruth, I do hope your operation will be the last and it all goes ok 🙏🙏🙏 I am ringing up on Monday now as I can’t go on like this after hearing all the plus sides on here x

[Canarylady in reply to Margaret1951]

Hi Margaret1951

Thank you for your message,and thank you for your best wishes for my next operation.

Yes I do think you need to get back in touch with your doctor or surgeon?

As you really don t want an infection settling in.

Please let us know how you get on on Monday.

Sending you my very best wishes.

Ruth

X