Chronic Pain Support Group

Physicians and professionalsdefine pain as chronic if it lasts longer than three to six months and is persistent. It's distinct from acute pain that is a direct result of injury or trauma. This support group is dedicated to those suffering from chronic pain. Discuss treatments that have worked for you, find advice for your specific experience, and find support. You're not...

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/ Chronic Pain Support Group

Hip replacement

equinegurl
equinegurl

Hello,


Long story short, I have been struggling with severe chronic pain in my left hip for 7 years. It has substantially worsened over the last 6 months. My doctors refuse to prescrib me anything stronger than a mild NSAID for the pain which means most nights I get 4 hours of sleep tops, and that's not secquental. I have seen 5 different orthopedists, two pain specialists and two GP doctors. Three years ago, multiple labral tears were found on an MRI. I had sugery and signficant cartilage damage was found then as well. I was pain free for about 4 months post op then it came back with a vengance. None of the doctors have found anything additionally wrong in my hip since then.


I have a consult with Mayo Clinic as my last resort next month and am considering asking them for a hip replacement. I have done years of PT both land and water, I have had cortinsone injections, Ice, tens, salon pas, tylenol, NSAIDs, chiropractic and acupuncture work done. The pain is to the point where I am considering suicide. I am only 31 years old and I can't go for long walks, I can't swim or bike or do anything physical. Work is getting more and more difficult every day and I worry that my employer will start to have problems with me. I don't know what else to do.


Has anyone else out there actually asked for a hip replacement? Has anyone had one around my age? Am I being crazy to even ask about it?


Thanks.

OlderCPer
OlderCPer
Hi, and welcome to the Board. So, currently your hip shows no tears or cartilage degeneration or arthritis, through imaging? I ask because your young and it's hard to get a joint replaced in your 30's when there's clear cut evidence that it has to be done...

Did any of the Dr.'s you saw give you a Diagnosis? Hip joint replacements, depending on what you do for a living, last about 15 yrs. So at 31, you'd be looking at roughly 3 or more, 3 would get you to 76. Here's the kicker and why they don't do them at such a young age. Each time they put an implant in, they have to drill it into your existing bones, they can only do that so many times before your bones are destroyed and there's no way to "seat" an implant in that joint.

Hopefully the Mayo Docs can give you a DX and plan for pain care or treatment of the hip. But i'm not sure they'd be willing to do a hip replacement at your age, without imaging showing a really bad hip joint that needed to be replaced.
equinegurl
equinegurl
Correct, all my scans/X-rays show only the suture anchor placed during my initial surgery.

One ortho PA I saw felt strongly that the repair had failed, which the suture anchor could be hiding, and sent me to a surgeon who refused to consider a second surgery since my scans were clear.

At this point the lack of sleep and lack of life is wreaking havok on my work life. Something needs to be done to fix the pain or I'm just plain done.
ItsJustMe2012
ItsJustMe2012
No doctor is going to do a hip replacement on you without diagnostic tests that show that is what you need. They also aren''t going to do it on someone as young as you are. If you mention the suicidal feelings, most, if not all doctors will refer you to a psychiatrist.
equinegurl
equinegurl
Mentioning my mental status will only switch their focus to solely that and they will stop trying to treat the hip. If I go all the way to Mayo and leave there with no options other than physical therapy (seriously, spent enough on PT the last five years to put a goddamn kid through college) then I will go home and kill myself. I'm not living the rest of my life this way with no one believing me or trying to help me.

And for your information, it was my sister in law who is an orthopedic nurse AT Mayo who told me to ask about the replacement. She knows my full medical history.

You really could have phrased that more kindly. Don't come on these types of help forums just to be a jackass.
OlderCPer
OlderCPer
It's hard when you have the pain to prove there is a problem, but not the "problem" showing up to prove the pain. I've had 15 knee surgeries in the last 18 years, both knees. My last one was a total rebuild of my left knee with cadaver bone transplants and screws and pins. I have multiple diseases that cause my joint problems and have since I was 17, but like you I'm also pretty old, 47, and was only 40 when they rebuilt the left knee. I'm eventually supposed to have both knees and both hips replaced, but I'm putting it off for as long as possible, because they only work so long. I've been in Pain Management for a long time though, for 30 years, so my pain gets treated medically as well as with the physical therapy I do at home, swimming, walking, etc.

I hope that they can give you some answer at Mayo, if they find something perhaps they can recommend a treatment plan to your Dr. that includes pain management meds. Unfortunately I just don't think they'll do a Hip Replacement on you...

You might have to try another Pain Management Dr. if Mayo doesn't do anything, I don't know how big of a city you live in, but sometimes you just have to keep trying until you get the right Dr.

I hope your trip goes well and please let us know what they say.
ChickenTikka
ChickenTikka
to equinegurl, sorry you are having such a tough time.
MaddyfromOz
MaddyfromOz
I'm really sorry you're going through all this too. You mentioned above that an ortho PA feels that the repair had failed so I was wondering if you could get another appt with him or her and ask what they think your options are or if they can recommend someone else that you could see? I don't know anything about hips problems but I do know how depressing and frustrating it is to get help and/or answers when you know there is something wrong going on with your body. Good luck with your appt at the Mayo, I really hope you get some answers and help. Regards Maddy
equinegurl
equinegurl
Thank you Maddy. Unfortunately the PA sent me to a surgeon who won't perform surgery since there is nothing visably wrong on films with my hip. The PA was actually wonderful, I wish he was able to do more. I'm hoping Mayo will be open minded. I know they've diagnosed me with impingement syndrome in both hips, the pain is only in my left, so I've started to wonder if there just isn't room for the anchor (it's actually pretty large when you see it on films).
jayceee
jayceee
I'm sorry..
I'm not in a good space for a lengthy response

Just want you to know YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

I've been at the point of this pain or my life needs to stop.
And we'really not the only was.

I was one of the lucky ones who got help pretty much just in time.

I am SO sorry that you,realised enduring this.

I'llw come back to this post when I can better gather my thought.

Hugs
jc
jayceee
jayceee
Oh,damnit
You can see by all those errors why I can't reply at this time.
Will be thinking of you.
equinegurl
equinegurl
Thank you Jayceee. I appreciate you taking the time while going through your difficult time to offer me kind words. I hope you continue to feel better and I'll be thinking of you as well.
jayceee
jayceee
EG..( equine... )

Are you getting any mental health support ?
I agree you don't want your regular Dr's to be able to brush everything under the mental health rug.
But, there aremental health professionals who specialize in chronic pain.

Mine, years ago, helped me to learn how to talk about how severely pain was affecting my quality of life to the Drs.

Have you investigated RSD ?

Still pretty space here..
But, wanted you to know I'm taking what you feel seriously.

Hugs
jc
hippyone
hippyone
Equinegurl I answered yesrtday but lost my post. When in pain it takes awhile to come right back, You are not to young for a hip replacement if you truly need it. I think you said one doctor admitted he felt you had a failed surgery. For real support go to Total Hip Support Board. Not on DS. You will find many who have needed and had hip replacements at at a younger age. They are making hips that last longer than 15 years.

I am so sorry you are suffering. I went through the suffering for a year with a failed hip pinning after a traumatic accident. In the end after having told my surgeon for a year something was wrong and I had so much pain my primary care wrote him a letter. He did a CT scan and saw the damage. The pins had dug into my muscle and I had non union and stage 4 avascular necrosis. In a short time I got my hip replacement.

Don't give up. You know your body.

love. and peace
hippy
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