Arthritis in hips -when does it become worth thinking about surgery?

[redadmiral]

I have had arthritic pain in my hip for about 10 years. It's not too bad but does stop me walking far or doing any sport except swimming. What's more of a problem is that it is so inflexible not that I can hardly bend it, so loads of things are becoming impossible, eg, running, dancing, cycling, sex, etc.... (Well sex not impossible, but tricky ) Have seen doctors and been told that hip surgery not relevant yet. There is nothing that can be done to restore mobility. Any advice?????

A guy I know had his hip joint resurfaced rather than replaced. I expect that it needs to be done before the damage is too severe. I doubt it's available on the NHS though. There is a history of hip replacements in my family and I have some problems with mine so I'm hoping that it does become more widely available in the next few years.

The less I do the more pain I have so I'm trying to keep the mobility - you sound further along the road than me though.

I feel like I'm spouting on alot about osteopathy at the moment but that can definitely help to get as much mobility as you are 'anatomically able' - ie as much as the joints will allow by helping to make sure that all muscles and ligaments are as free as possible.
Also taking glucosamine sulphate (1500mg per day) with chondroitin is thought to be beneficial in slowing the rate of cartilage degeneration.

Yes, they do say to try to keep the mobility you have.

Have taken glucosamine, but I read studies which say it's a bit iffy if it really works, and then I forget for a while.

Have had several bouts of physio, and they all seem shocked by just how inflexible the joint is, and very little seems to help, but the consultant said 'if you're not taking painkillers like they're Smarties, don't bother coming back.'

Think I'll make a private appointment just to check if there's anything else that can be done, but I'll see if anyone medical pops up on here first so I've got all the background info.
(Saggar, the doctors never mentioned what seems quite an important point - just in case you don't know - it's much better to wear cushioned shoes to help protect your joints if you're getting hip pain.)

resurfacing is available on the nhs, and is one of the options for "young" people with arthritis.

How old are you, and when did you last have an Xray? What is your arthritis due to?

Ha d x-rays 1.5 years ago, and 6 months ago. (They had lost the previous x-rays the latest time I went.) Both times seemed to indicate 'srthritic changes in both hips', though I only really have problems with one at the moment.

This seemed to be enough to tell them that arthritis was the cause of the pain and stiffness, but at the same time they didn't comment more than that, so I don't know how bad they though it was. (Not very, by their shrugs )

They don't know what it's caused by.

I'm 44

My dp has arthritic hips and has been told he can have them resurfaced whenever he wants on the NHS - however he did have to fight hard for a referral to a consultant with a special interest in younger people with arthritic hips - the one he saw initially was of no help at all. So I'd suggest trying to find out if there is such a consultant in your area (the one dp saw is based in Cornwall, don't know if that's any good for you?) HTH

My Mil needs new hips, for other reasons. She was advised to wait a bit as hips tend to only last 15 ish years and they didn't want to have to do them again. (she is 60)
worth thinking about length of time before you need to do them again.

in an older person, a "standard" hip replacement should last 20-25 years

in a younger person, higher demand tends to make them wear out quicker, and the person tends not to be so tolerant of the physical restrictions associated with a hip replacement.

redadmiral, I think you should ask your gp for a referral to a surgeon who does resurfacing. If gp doesn't know of one, then your current surgeon should know, and probably wouldn't object to referring you on, if that's what you want.

Thanks. I know they don't do resurfacing at the hospital I was referred as I asked. (He basically said I wasn't ready for that either.)

I'll find out more and try again I think. I can understand waiting because you don't want a second replacement too soon, but part of me feels like 'do I have to live a really restricted life until I'm 70, when they'll be happy to do it, but there won't be much I want to do anyway by then?'

Levan - how much does your DP's arthritis afect his way of life, and at what point will he think it's worth going for the op?

at the moment not hugely - quite a lot of pain from time to time and he has had to give up running which he enjoyed, but it sounds like your is causing you more problems. I think if it was restricting him as much as yours is he would definitely be considering the op in the near futur tbh. Hope you can get a better response from your doctor

at the moment not hugely - quite a lot of pain from time to time and he has had to give up running which he enjoyed, but it sounds like your is causing you more problems. I think if it was restricting him as much as yours is he would definitely be considering the op in the near futur tbh. Hope you can get a better response from your doctor

OP did you ever get a hip replacement? I'm in a similar situation to what you describe in your OP.