Subject: Re: Message for LOULOUBELLE
Hey Shiffy I'm still here!!! I'm very well at the mo - back on the anti-tnf and able to get about very well at the mo. My little boy is running riot most of the time so i'm glad to be able to keep up with him. I only had to wait about 4 or 5months to have my hip replaced. I'd had no problems with my hips until i turned over in bed one night and pierced a hole through the cartelidge! I was completely unable to walk so my rheumy kept me in hospital for a week of traction and then two weeks of physio and hydro therapy. Because of my age (and his shock at my upset reaction - he's used to me being very strong) I was sent for an MRI scan. The bones were extremely worn away so he wsa keen to push things through. I was sent to a surgeon at the same hospital as my rheumy who specialises in replacing hips in young people. I was given a furlong hip as they were exoected to last the longest. The surgery went well and I was home after 5 days and able to walk with one stick. I was very good at doing the exercises and I think this helped immensley. I was back at work within 3 months. The 2nd hip went the following year and I was in surgery within about 5 or 6 weeks! I think they were particularly keen to push it through as I was young and in full-time employmen - I think I got a cancellation appointment. My recovery wasn't as good the 2nd time - the pain relieving spinal injection stopped working so I was given tramadol. Turns out it sends my heart rate a bit mental so every time the physio tried to get me to stand up I kept going super dizzy. This wasn't helped by the fact I needed a blood transfusion. So this delayed me getting out of bed and beginning the physio. As a result I have less mobility in my left hip than my right (not too much that it causes a problem but does make it more difficult to put a left sock on when I'm having a flare). I also got a mild infection in the scar 10 days after the op (although I put this down to the filth in the hospital and the staff's reluctance to change the dressing). Now, 10 years on I often forget that I've had my hips replaced. I carry on as though they are my own. I just have to be mindful not to put a twisting, pulling pressure on the joint (e.g. sitting cross-legged on the floor - not that it's ever going to happen anyway lol). I just hope that I can get another 10-15 years before they need replacing again. They expect them to be ok for up to 25 years but, when I had them fitted they'd only been about for about 15 years. Also, they're not sure if the fact I'm young and fairly active I might wear them out quicker. I would say to anyone deciding whether or not to have their hips replace to do it as soon as they can. It gave me a new lease of life! All the best shiffy Lou x
|