Hip Replacement Operation

[caftan]

Hello everyone, I will be going into hospital on 2nd August for a hip replacement op and am not sure about my steroid dose before I go in. They have asked me to be there at 12.30. I am currently alternating between 6 and 6 and a half mgs per day. How many extra should I take on the day of the op and the following days. I think it is is 5 but I'm not sure. Needless to say I'm very apprehensive about the op as I am 84 years old and the Polymyalgia has taken it's toll. Hopefully I will be a little more mobile after the hip replacement. Thank goodness I can still drive and am able to get about and to the shops and I go to the park as often as I can with my sister who is just one year older than me and in reasonably good health. My daughter lives about 4 hours drive away but she will be coming to stay with me before and after my op so that's good. I have had my pre op assessment and that seemed to go quite well and I will be seeing the surgeon this afternoon as the previous surgeon who was going to do the operation will not now be doing it. My son will come with me for that appointment. Hopefully all will go well. I do suffer from swollen ankles and am hoping that this won't be a reason for the operation not to go ahead. The medical person at the pre op assessment is obviously aware of this anyway and seems to have given the go ahead for the op to proceed otherwise I would not have had a phone call from the hospital giving me a date. I must say I was taken aback as I hadn't expected it to be so soon. Still, the sooner the better.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Good news on hip op…

You will be given IV cortisol throughout your operation, and it may be suggested you take extra for the following few days. You need to discuss that with surgeon this afternoon, and with them and anaesthetist on day before surgery… when they come round to do last minute checks.

Good luck -and if you have haven’t already seen this - have a look -

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk....

[caftan in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you Dorset Lady. Do you have any advice re the steroids please and/or a link that I can click on

[caftan in reply to caftan]

I'm not very good on the internet when it comes to looking for information

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to caftan]

There are sick day rules but honestly not sure they are necessary -but look at them by all means - and discuss with medical team -

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

[PMRpro Ambassador]

You don't adjust your dose - you discuss it with the surgeon and, more importantly, with the anaesthetist before the op. If possible I would ask your rheumy - or GP if you don't have a rheumy - what they want to do if you should have a flare as a result of the op but it isn't a given it will happen.

All the best - and afterwards I hope you will have a really good recovery. I have a few friends who had hips done in their 80s and had great results.

[piglette]

As DorsetLady says you should discuss any steroid dosage with your surgeon. They would not like us giving you advice over them!! Normally they want as low a dose as possible at the time of the op although you may need to increase afterwards. You will feel like a new person after your hip op. I have had both done and I still think back to that awful pain I used to have.

[ncfaaeos]

I'm 81 and had one hip replacement at 79 and the other at 80. I just continued to take the usual amount of prednisolone and had no problems at all. Since my last operation, 18 months ago, I have progressed from being unable to walk without a walker to being able to walk as I did before. It's marvellous and I am so grateful - and so is my dog 😀. Good luck with your operation(s).

[proactive]

I had a hip replacement after a trauma. I told the ER Doctor my current dose which was 9.5 mg. The hospital pharmacist came to confirm the dose with me as she had never heard of . 5 mg tablets. I explained that I cut 1mg tablets and since she seemed reluctant to do that, I said that she could just give me 20 mg daily for the days that I would be there and I simply resumed 9.5 mg when I got home. No problem , Good result but surgeon stressed the importance of doing the recommended physiotherapy after surgery.

[Hirwaen]

I am 77yrs old and had my hip replaced last November, like you I was a bit shocked when I got the date! Just make sure you tell your consultant about your PMR and present dosage and the anaesthetist will take care of the rest. I was the best thing I ever did, although obviously all the old arthritis pain hasn’t gone in other joints my new hip is marvellous!! Good luck, you will be fine.❤️

[Holyco]

Hi, I have had 2 hip replacements in the last 6 months! Please do not be scared as it honestly will change your life! As soon as I’d had each op I had no pain at all apart from the obvious pain from the op but that goes fairly quickly. Make sure you do the post op exercises as they are very important. I also have PMR and made the Surgeon and anaesthetist aware. I was told stay at my normal dies as they give you a large amount during surgery and can advise if you need to take more after the operation…I dident. Honestly you will have a completely new lease of life it really is amazing! I had the spinal block both times and also sedation and knew nothing at all about the operation. They like to get you up to do a couple of steps they day of the op. I was home 3 days after my op! Good luck I’m sure all will go well. 😄

[marantha]

I had breast surgery last year and like you was concerned re steroids. I told each medic who saw me and they were very aware. The anaesthetist was great and gave me instructions for post op. The team really do communicate with each other. Good luck with the op.