When is it hip replacement time?

[drawacircleroundit]

I'm 52 years old and having to straighten up slowly from any length of time sitting or lying down. Yesterday I was tending to my feet to get them summer ready, so I had been adopting something akin to that yoga move with knees splayed outwards for some time. Feet are now pretty. Then, upon standing, my hips were so painful I had to hold on to the wardrobe until I had warmed up, as it were.
This can't be normal, or is it? Once I've warmed up, which takes only a few seconds, everything is fine, but for those few seconds I feel helplessly pained. I do 3k hill walks about 3 times a week and work full time, and, as long as I keep moving, all is good. But as soon as I stop it's like someone takes the opportunity to pour glue into my joints.
Is this what 52 feels like, or do I need to get checked out?

We still do a lot of revision surgery that replaces the whole lot. Replacement joints can fail for a number of reasons. (Doi: anaesthetist not orthopod).

I have 2 friends in their mid fifties who have recently had hip replacements, plus one friend's mother in her seventies, and all 3 have been completely rejuvenated by them and able to return to normal levels of activity. I don't think waiting until you are no longer able to be active and have lost a lot of strength due to the pain just because you might need a revision in your seventies is particularly a good idea.

Anyone know why the NHS is keener to do hip replacements than knees?

A hip replacement is less painful than a knee and has more reliable results. One in ten knee replacement patients still have some degree of pain post operatively. Stiffness is a significant issue and generally (and anecdotally) it’s typically the patient who wasn’t quite ready for a joint.

listen it’s fab surgery but honestly it’s not the answer for everyone and lots underestimate what’s entailed.

I get a lot of hip pain, so stiff when I've been driving for a while that I limp when I get out of the car.

Yes to physio etc. But also maybe a really good podiatrist. I saw one a few months ago and he said my hip flexibility was reduced on one side and suggested my running style should change. So instead of speed from long strides, he said to almost shuffle and increase speed via cadence not stride.

I have a lot less hip pain and my flutes engage better so less piriformis agony after my run.

Pilates v good also
I used to attend Pilates that was taught by a runner and he gave me some fab stretches.

My favourite is lie on the floor next to a wall and shuffle your bum up so it touches the skirting board. Put your legs up the wall and then 'walk them' down the wall as if you are doing a squat lying on your back. Then walk them gradually out as far as you can and breathe into it. It's a lovely bedtime stretch.

I'm 32. I know. Having the plastic bits replaced is not as bad as a full replacement. I didn't go into it with my eyes shut. I'm just saying what I was told by my surgeon

my favourite stretch is this one. gentle on the knees too.

Wouldn't be gentle on my knees...

Google says that osteoarthritis is main reason for hip replacement. But so many hip replacements here at a 'young' age. Did those of you with young hip replacements have osteoarthritis in other areas of your body?

I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid arthritis when I was 16. So my hips, knees, shoulders and one elbow and wrist now have OA too. I am on the list for my shoulder and elbow replacements too and then I am having my wrist fused! I'm 32 (today!)

3k hill runs?!? I can barely do the school run some days....

I hoping for a hip replacement - seeing specialist in August when I will be 49.

I saw him two years ago and he said I have an undiagnosed hip dysplasia (shallow hip socket) and a tear in the labrum.

I am so sick of the pain, especially at night. I sleep on a heated pad which helps as it relaxes the muscles.

I have everything thing crossed I qualify for a replacement.

That's a bummer, AllThingsServeTheBeam. Thank goodness for modern medicine to help you out.

My dd2 is 18 and on the waiting list for hip replacement, she had Perthes syndrome as a child and it's left her with a badly misshapen hip joint and severe OA in the joint. One hip being bad has affected all her leg joints (not with arthritis but muscle pain) and she's regularly taking strong painkillers. The wait time could be up to 4 years with the covid backlog! Physio has helped and she goes to the gym regularly to do non weight bearing aerobic exercise and weights to build up the muscles in her legs. Swimming is good too.

I'm going to end up having to have new knees & hips. I was born with a dislocated hip, walk very badly as my knees turn in, I have very bad osteoarthritis in my feet, knees & hips. I was advised by a chiropractor to start at the bottom, get my feet fixed, then my knees & then decide if I still need my hips replacing.

for those few seconds I feel helplessly pained

Clearly, now is not the time for a hip replacement. Look into the conservative measures recommended already on this thread. It may be you never require a hip replacement. Jumping to maybe 'needing' one now is insane, based on your OP.

I had a total replacement of my left hip 18 months ago. I was 46. No OA
anywhere else.
it took me two years from initially seeing my GP for the pain to surgery via acupuncture, physio, a steroid injection and synvisc. When I was initially triaged by the hip and knee clinic I was told (by the junior doctor) I was too young and he would “reluctantly” refer me to the Ortho. The Ortho examined me and referred me for surgery right away. I went on his cancellation list and had the op about three months later.

I had a hip replacement when I was 25 due to being born with hip dysplasia. I had the same feeling you described of needing to move extremely slowly after being in one place for a while and there is no way I could have even done a gentle job without being in excruciating pain. I couldn't even move my foot from side to side. It definitely changed my life for the better!

I would say this is very challenging on the knees unless you're really padded up with blankets.

There are so many exercises for the hip joints - best to check with a physio which part of your hip it is. You might need strengthening or stability not stretch ie something like clam shells.

I had osteomyelitis in my pelvis as a child which damaged my hip. Having the hip replaced at 23 changed my life. I'm now just wondering how long it will last until I will need it replaced again. It's all good now over 15 years later.

I’m 57 and 8 days in to a Total Hip Replacement. I was a runner for many years and my hip was getting progressively worse over 5-6 years. I tried physio, yoga, exercise but every year it got worse until the new normal was to not reach my toes, tie laces, trouble walking/sleeping ….
Eventually I saw a Consultant who told me it was bone on bone and would only get worse so after a lot of thought I’ve done it.
Its a major op and very hard going but to not be able to walk and move around easily is horrible. You’ll know when it’s time … and yes I’m worried about needing a revision at 70 ish but I really felt the life I was leading was so restrictive I had no choice. Don’t leave it too long. Get a professional opinion. It helped me decide.

Going straight to assuming you need a hip replacement is a bit drastic. Agree with others see a good sports physio – I’ve found them more useful than standard ones. I saw one privately, and they came to my home, was surprisingly reasonable in terms of cost. I had similar issues turned out to be a glutes problem – an imbalance in that area a common reason for hip pain in women, particularly over 40 apparently. I had acupuncture to ease things, followed a course of exercises and switched to a different type of running shoe. Took a couple of months or so but all fine now. Could also be a problem with referred pain related to certain back muscles or an unstable knee/ankle, or made worse by an issue with your posture, a problem with your gait etc You may also need orthotics. Could also be a problem with your sleep position, mattress, pillows. Also certain yoga exercises are not necessarily good for everyone particularly women, there are a number of videos from physios online going over which yoga poses are actually best avoided.

I was a physio for many years, and with those symptoms, I'd recommend a one-off private consultation (and possible follow-up) with an orthopaedic physio to check for anything that needs specific treatment, and also to get specific exercises for the underlying muscle imbalance that is almost certainly going on. And to prescribe the right stretches - again, this will be personal to you and your biomechanics.

You could play the NHS lottery, but personally I'd pay to choose the right person.

And then get doing any weight-bearing exercise of your choice, ideally incorporating jumping (important to maintain bone density). Davina McCall DVDs and similar are great if you don't like the gym. I personally recomend a mixture of weight bearing aerobic exercise and weight lifting as being ideal for everyone post-40. For quite unfit people, just lifting your body weight will be enough to start with. Loads of hip and butt exercises, including clams - everyone needs clams. Be sure to be clenching your butt the whole time though, or you'll just be worsening any muscle imbalance.

With age, everyone's joints will deteriorate - deterioration is not the enemy - inflammation is. What stops inflammation is strong muscles without imbalance.

There is nothing in what you have said that would indicate a need for a hip replacement, but nor is it normal for your age - I'm older and undoubtedly fatter and have no problem with my hips at all.

Interestingly, the hip surgeon I saw said no jumping at all ever. Never have both feet off the ground...

To all the people saying hip replacements only last 15 to 20 years, my dad had his first one done in 1992 at 57 as a result of Perthes. Because he limped so much for most of his life, the wear and tear on his "good" hip meant that he had the other done around 10 years ago. He gets both checked every year. The first one has zero wear according to the X-rays & consultant. As he's now 87, he hopes that will see him out.

His 2nd surgeon advised him to use cushioned insoles in his shoes and to continue using elbow crutches when walking as it takes some of the weight off the hips. One of his friends made him some customised leather cloth pads to go over the handles of the crutches and he uses them when out and about. Twice a week he walks down into town with his little backpack, does a small shop and walks home. It's around half a mile each way - slightly uphill on the way home.

@Malbecfan good on your Dad for doing so well. But trying to work and live such a limited life at 50 means most hips will they think last around 20 years . My consultant pointed out us younger pts.( loved that as I'm 50) demand more. He advised no bungy jumping and avoiding running as a hobby if possible. I'm sticking to swimming and my bike . If it last till I'm past 70 I'll be thrilled.

I had a hip replacement done at 52. Severe RA / Lupus has wrecked my joints, one hip in particular. I couldn’t walk a few blocks without being in agony. Getting it done was painful for a week or so, but my recovery was smooth. I’m now properly mobile again.

My Orthopedic surgeon doubts I’ll ever need a replacement for it, and because I was fairly young, the recovery was straightforward. I’ve no regrets, it’s helped Immensely.

I had kids late in life, they’re now tween/teens, and I’m able to participate in life with them again, which was my most important goal.

good luck, whatever you decide.