To want to cry with hip pain

[Excitedannie]

All. The. Time.

I'm a shadow of my former self. 52 and osteoarthritis in my left hip but the burning stiffness pain actually radiates down the other side. Every day the pain is different - it's like the gift from hell that keeps on giving. I barely go out and I walk like I've birthed an elephant for the few Stephanie can manage. Waiting list for a replacement is a year at least but the consultants say to manage it with steroid injections. Oh wait - there's a 10 month waiting list.

My life is awful - everything has changed - I feel so sorry for the teenage DD who has to see me like this.

Sorry - just ranting. How can my right side hurt so much when it's my left side - AIBU to just curl up and cry? 😭

@SabrinaThwaite I did not go to my GP first off. I think it might be useful for your husband to try again - as I am sure he must be in pain as it doesn't get better.

I went to see a private consultant who specialised in sports injuries because I didn't know what was wrong with me and I thought I had hurt myself horse riding.

He did a MRI and cortisone shot and then referred me on to two surgeons to get their opinions on whether I needed a hip replacement. Both of those surgeons also work for the NHS - so then I went to my GP and they put me straight on the NHS list to see the one I wanted. There was no messing because I had already got the diagnosis that I needed it.

In the end I went private for the whole thing to expedite the process.

Regarding costs - If you go for a private consultation its about £250 and they send you for an MRI - between £400 - £900 (I have paid both prices because I had two) and an xray was about £350. Even if you pay for the diagnosis bit then it might get you on the NHS list quicker/give them no reason for the GP to gatekeep like it appeared he did when he wouldn't even put your husband forward for an investigation.

@Cherryana Thanks for taking the time to reply (it is appreciated) but following GP consultation (GP was upfront about very long waiting lists and criteria, and DH, whilst in pain and having limited mobility, did not fit the NHS criteria) DH took the opportunity to go private - consultant recommended arthroscopy rather than a hip replacement after MRIs and X-rays. It was successful and DH was relatively pain free and back to full mobility after the op.

@SabrinaThwaite I am so glad that your husband found a solution and is now out of pain and back to health. That is a good news story for this evening!

Please also consider the importance of hormones if you are perimenopausal or menopausal.

I finally had letter from rheumatologist yesterday. They have referred me to orthopaedics for management as my hip has significantly deteriorated so I guess that’s progress.

@Blueuggboots I started HRT in the hope that it would help my joints and it unfortunately triggered a massive inflammatory arthritis flare and I ended up putting on weight from it. Complete disaster and I wish I had left well alone. I’d heard such good things about how it has helped people but for me it wasn’t to be.

Hip pain is awful, I really feel for you. I had months of waking up at 2am with it and then just lying there in agony until I had to get up for work. I was constantly tearful.

I sleep with this pillow between my thighs now and it does help

https://amzn.eu/d/by86FVM

I'll. e sure to update you after my appointment tomorrow. In the meantime, I managed to trip (because I'm not lifting my feet up properly) and fall spectacularly in front of a load off people on a concrete path! I escaped very very mildly with a bloody knee but it would have been so different,...

OK, so an update as I've just come back from my appointment. Basically, they won't put me on the list.

He basically said that although the hip joint has osteoarthritis, that doesn't necessarily count for the pain that I experience in the other hip, lower back, both knees and sometimes calf muscles. He said that it's a major op, and he doesn't feel that it would solve the other issues and referred pain wouldn't present as that. He did lots of exam and questions etc, and he gave me two options. One was to go to some happy clappy pain thing; the other was to have another set of guided steroid injections into the joint. I've gone for the latter. Basically, I think the idea is that if that solves everything, then bingo, we know what it is. If not, then they'll review at the next appointment. Anti inflammatory 3 x daily with food.

Shit basically. I sat and cried - poor guy didn't know what to do. Fifth appointment - fifth surgeon (although he did go out for back up and came back with the same advice). Why the hell am I like it?! I'm phoning up for my injections tomorrow as I'll go private so I'll have them quite quickly. And then I'll really scrutinise where the pain is. Whatever the outcome, I think I'll have a private consultation.

I don't know what to make of it really - on one hand I'm weirdly relieved as one of my questions today was going to be "will that definitely fix me" as I had this sinking feeling that it wouldn't, and he confirmed that before I even asked.

I'm sorry OP, that sucks. (I'm on the thread with a different username.) I think I'm going to be in the same boat. Just had an appt after waiting a very long time. Dr felt that physio was going to be my best option for now. Going for more xrays, but not hopeful that there will be any other options available for me until I'm 'older'.

@Excitedannie I'm shocked your surgeon has fobbed you off saying its major surgery. Well yes it is but that is what is needed! Surely its normal to have referred pain elsewhere? I did in my back, thighs and knees.

Where were you referred to? You can ask your GP to refer you to a surgeon at a private hospital (Spire) as an NHS patient where you will get an appointment very quickly. I have just done this.

Initially my GP sent me to local hospital for Xrays and MRI scan under the physio department (took ages). Then physio said shes referring me to hip ortho surgeon. Instead I called GP and asked to be referred to the private Spire hospital, where the same NHS surgeons have clinics. My appointment came 2 weeks later! You have a right to request this.

It seems surgeons have differing opinions depending where they are. I had my first hip replacement done at age 47 after a failed arthroscopy 6 years ago. It's been amazing! Top surgeon in Manchester who specialises in younger patients. Like somebody upthread mentioned, they use updated materials for the prostheses that are meant to last much longer, possibly a lifetime. He stressed the importance of quality of life NOW.

I would have been disappointed with that too.

I’m just a week out of my 2nd hip replacement. I’m 51 and had the first one done in March.

before the 1st replacement surgery I also had back pain, calf pain just referred pain everywhere and this was linked to the hip as. I had been walking “wrong” for so long.

I tried to put off the full hip replacements with 2 arthroscopies and I wish I hadn’t bothered as they were a failure (I have hip dysplasia and hyper mobility)

My current surgeon said there wasn’t a point In trying to delay as I would just deteriorate even more and have a lower quality of life I have a 12 year old and I got sick of missing out on time with him. Yes I will probably need revisions in 20 odd years but the technology will have moved on by then and it will be even easier to do. He also said the “wait as long as you can” is becoming an outdated view, (but I supposed it keeps people off the waiting lists)

i found the injections hit and miss so stopped having them and pushed for replacements. Having seen the actual hip after I came round from surgery (I requested to see it) I can definitely say it was the right choice as it was in absolutely shocking condition and no injections was going to make any difference.

good luck

Waiting list for a replacement is a year at least but the consultants say to manage it with steroid injections. Oh wait - there's a 10 month waiting list.

@Excitedannie

We can self refer for steroid injections in Wiltshire. No waiting except for the next available appointment which is usually a week or two

Rheumatology have now referred me to orthopaedics. I also have hip dysplasia and hyper-mobility so interesting reading . Am making my peace with needing a replacement. In however long it takes…

I'm so sorry to hear that there are so many of us in a similar situation. I live in a world renowned City of medicine so you'd think I'd have a bit more luck!!

So a futher update is that my GP has sent three referrals to the private hospital to have my steroid injections. The first was lost; the second one didn't say what hip so I'm hoping that they've received the third and final one, but they're not replying to me enquiring. I had an amazing appointment with my physio last week who really seems to be the only one talking sense. He said the same as you @Marisa444 - its not necessarily referred pain, but the pains on the other hip and side of my body is because I'm adjusting how I walk and he's really made me see that yes - it's my hip and I shouldn't be doubting it. He was really cross with what this recent consultant said - he had my X-ray up and went through it thoroughly with me.

So as soon as i get my steroid injections, I need to be really aware of what they solve. If everything seems to feel fine, then bingo - that's the proof I need of it being that hip. Then, although I can't afford the surgery privately, I am going to go for a private consultation to try and get a way forward

Exhausting isn't it...

Fellow hip dysplasia sufferer only recently diagnosed. Have full thickness labral tears as well. Seeing my consultant on 23rd and actually desperately hoping they'll book surgery. I'm in a lot of pain and it's having a debilitating affect on my life now.

@Excitedannie...I had two hip replacements in 2016, three months apart. I won't bore you with the details but I'm happy to offer advice based on my own experiences if you like. Incidentally that 'you're too young and if you have it now you'll need another one' is BS according to the surgeon I had, it's just an NHS technique to encourage you to wait, a THR should last pretty much a lifetime now if you're in your 50's, I was 52 when I had mine done.

Chronic pain is so debilitating and if you can try and go private . There's no doubt it's a lot of money but you'll have your life back.
I think we are at the stage of a two tier health care system . I feel for those who simply cannot find the money but I'd like to think those who can are freeing up the waiting lists .

Hi all, I realise this is an old thread but I still read it as I found it of great comfort - thought I'd provide my update in case it's of use to anyone else!

Well I was finally put on the NHS waiting list in September, so I've been on it 5 months. I did have a consultation with a private hospital last week, and the current cost for a hip replacement is a staggering £19k!!!!! I know it could mean my life back, but that is A LOT of money that I don't really have, and who knows - the NHS might call me a few months! I'm considering all angles, and I'm also looking into private healthcare - not that it will be any good for this hip, but I'm bound to have future problems in other joints.

Anyway, now for the advice. My worry is that the rest of my body is taking it's toll. I've been told the left hip is now bone on bone, but weirdly enough, that's not where the pain is (although yes, I get sharp stabbing pains!). I experience pain in the other hip and muscles, and lower back. The consultants keep saying that it's because of my body adjusting to the bad hip, but has anyone had any experience of this? It's literally rubbish isn't it - I'm on a crutch at home and can't walk more than 100 yards without sitting down when I'm out. I've contacted my GP to see if I can get anything stronger for the inflammation 😩

Would be interested in hearing others experiencing of having pain in other areas than the source, and whether it got better after the operation?

You poor thing, that is awful. I had a non elective surgery on my hip last year and it still hasn't healed. Can you at least get a prescription for some strong painkillers, like dihydrocodeine or stronger? The steroids is all very well but the pain will be constant without pain relief. Please go back to the GP and do not take no for an answer.

Have you checked the wait times at other NHS hospitals? If you go on the NHS website and enter the speciality you require it will give a list of all the hospitals offering the surgery and their wait times.

I need surgery for a different matter and the waiting list in my area is horrendous. I found a hospital just a few miles away where the wait time was so much quicker. At my local hospital the wait for the initial consultation was a minimum of 40 weeks at the other it was 6 weeks.

good luck!

Thank you for your replies. I'm going to investigate other hospitals as well.

I'm just so worried about it all - I'm a single parent (ok she's 15) so
I'd be coming home alone to recover, plus I'm so worried that I'll have it done but will have lasting damage to my back and other hip. No way of knowing I guess. I'm trying to use a crutch as much as possible to try and take the weight off the other side.

Oh well - cup of tea and bed I guess!

Go private if you can

You'll be seen in next to no.time, and your quality of life, will vastly improve.

So incredibly sorry to hear this OP, I had SPD during both my pregnancies-second pregnancy was absolute hell due to the hip pain. I was in complete agony every day for the last 5 months. I felt suicidal it was that bad. Even now 10 years later I still have bad hips and get flare up. Convinced I’ll need hip replacements when I’m older too. I’m trying to think what helped me pain wise and all I can remember was sitting in bed completely still helped ease it and hot baths. So sorry you’re having to go through this.

Hi I posted upthread and I am sorry to hear you are still in so much pain.

My hip is playing up something chronic at the moment. I am fine at 8am, limping a little at noon but on my knees by 4pm. It's very wearing.

Please ask for stronger painkillers. I have Amitriptyline and Gabapentin with the option of dihydracodeine if I am in agony in other parts of my body. I am riddled with osteoarthritis but the nerve pain is in another league.

I was taking turmeric supplement from Nutrition Geeks and forgot to reorder and I am in more pain. The pills are on their way!

Upthread is a post with recommendations for dietary changes. I am going to decide which of these to follow as I am sure that if I improve my gut health I will be in less pain.

Hoping you see an improvement soon.

It really is worthwhile looking at other hospitals. Our health authority is 3rd worst in the country (I'm in the south east) for waiting times. I asked about the wait times at other hospitals and realised they had far shorter wait times. I discussed this with my GP but he knew nothing about the system so I had to find information myself.

It is a patient's right to choose where they have treatment, so if your GP knows nothing about this don't worry, just go on the NHS website yourself. Once I'd found a hospital with a far shorter wait time I got in touch with my GP's office and asked them to refer me there. They did and I already have an appointment for the initial consultation. Had I been on the waiting list for my local hospital I doubt I'd have been seen till the end of this year.

I hope you are seen soon.