Hip replacement: considering going abroaf

[Fuzzywig1]

I have chronic pain in my hip. Have had for about 5 years but getting worse and worse. I no longer walk our dogs, I avoid going to the office and I ring the children in the house rather than go and speak to them. I’ve had an MRI and am waiting to see the orthopaedic surgeon. I should mention I have had loads of physio and am an active person. I still do a lot of yoga and Pilates and ballet barre though some things I can’t do but it is walking and the aftermath that kills me.
every time I get an appointment with the surgeon a week to a month beforehand they cancel and reschedule. This has happened 6 times now. I’ve no hope of getting a replacement especially as my poor sister who has necrotic hips and can’t walk is still waiting.
so I’m considering paying for it and going abroad. But am totally scared! So I wonder if anybody had experience of it it could recommend any websites or anything. Thank you

I would suggest you pause barre because many hip injuries can result from poor teaching and form, typically a tear of the hip labrum. Then if you repeat similar movements in the pilates classes, you might make things a lot worse.

None of the barre movement are natural, with odd flexions and you are overusing a joint.

I did a lot of ballet growing up and the barre work in ballet has nothing to do with that pseudo ballet-pilates-barre. I tried a few classes to see if it was just the instructor or the model that was wrong. Unless you have excellent ab control and know how to isolate them, you will only abuse your hip flexors.

I have similar a similar problem with both my hips & arthritis in my back.
I try to swim and do aqua classes about 5 times a week, which definitely helps.
Walking any kind of distance is painful for me too, I take Ibuprofen & co codomal.
If I do venture out for a social occasion on the tube, I take a stick for support and usually manage to get a seat.
I’ve been on a waiting list to see a consultant for about 18 months. Looks like the physiotherapist or my doctor messed up my referral to the hospital. So I’ve had to be referred again.
I'm scared to have the operation but have been reassured by people I know who’ve had the op.
I think that I’d be even more scared to have it done abroad. Also the cost not just of the op but the flights and recuperation time needed to be spent abroad.

Dr Smet in Belgium is a highly recommended hip surgeon overseas. I wouldn’t expect it to be any cheaper than a UK surgery though. I don’t think I would want any old surgeon doing my hips, it needs to last a really long time. I would also be very concerned about travel and follow up. It’s a great op but it is a big op and not to be taken lightly.

I think a better approach would be to nag and push to get your follow up appointment, keep calling the secretary. You need a diagnosis before you can determine the action. Doing ballet and yoga doesn’t really tally with being pre-op for a THR (or resurfacing which might be a better option as you are presumably younger than average?).

Could you see the surgeon privately now you have had your MRI done? It might cost around £200.

I’m sorry you’re in so much pain. It’s a horrid, sickening pain. Are you on painkillers? Anti inflammatories do help a bit.

I agree with a pp - 'ballet barre' classes bear little resemblance to actual ballet, and could do considerably more harm than good. I do an adult ballet class, and the teacher is exceptionally careful that we use correct placement and all the right muscles, and also that we do exercises well within our personal physical limitations (in my case age!).

It isn’t ballet barre, it’s called barre concept and she is very careful about what muscles we use. I’ve only recently started doing it and it hasn’t made things worse.

I have spoken to a lot of people who could manage yoga etc but not walking. Walking is the issue for me.

im not scared about the op itself just about having it done abroad. That’s a good idea on the surgeon and then maybe I can get honest advice from him / her

Also living the dream you can get a badge from TFL that says ‘please offer me a seat’.

Why can’t you go privately in the U.K.