Joint Replacement Outcomes, I'd like to hear from others

J

jaminhealth

Senior Member
Location
Santa Monica CA
I found in 2010 right groin area was a mass of arthritis spurs, I think that's what I'll call it as that is what it looked like. Left groin smooth and fine.

I succumbed to a THR in 2010 (Anterior) and for first 5 months was doing pretty great actually, very short rehab and home right after surgery, alone.

Then 5 months down the road the body went haywire. It took almost 2 yrs I think to find my right leg was shorter from it all. From this shorter leg outcome OA issues in the body are all worse.

So complications were and still are:

Shorter leg.
Femoral Nerve Damage
IT band damage

The whole right side of my body is messed up.

A doctor I hear on the radio says once the body is cut, arthritis sets in.

Now I'd like to hear other stories. jam

BTW: I was 72 at time of surgery, so going on 8 yrs ago.
 

Someone I know had a complete knee replacement . It was recommended by their doctor.
Now the person is seriously crippled . He is convinced his leg wasn’t attached back on properly.
 
Bilateral knee replacement, had surgeries 6 months apart, 11 years ago. Both work well now with no pain but full recovery did take at least two years even with lots of physical therapy. Osteoarthritis problem there.

Partial shoulder replacement 6 years ago due to fall. Full range of motion never returned but works well enough for an 85 year old and nothing else works as well as it did when I was 50 so it's OK. Not much shoulder pain unless I abuse it.
 

I've had one hip replaced, one knee and both shoulders. In every case it was osteoarthritis and the pain had become crippling.
All operations were successful - pain free and able to walk OK and the arms and hands are functional again.

I had excellent physio/rehab treatment for the hip and knee but needed very little for the shoulders.

Two years after the first knee was done, my other knee is now starting to grumble and I anticipate another trip to the operating room later this year. Why suffer when something can be done ? I am now 75 so not too old to recover.
 
I had partial right knee surgery in 2004,because, I couldn't bend the knee back all the way was in a lot of pain.
Every morning when I get out of bed,I still do the exercises my therapist gave me to do. It does help that I'm a life long walker,can still take my 3 daily walks.
My knee is stiff some mornings,otherwise its fine.I think when I have trouble walking,that will be a sign I'll need another knee surgery Sue
 
moviequeen1 said:
I had partial right knee surgery in 2004,because, I couldn't bend the knee back all the way was in a lot of pain.
Every morning when I get out of bed,I still do the exercises my therapist gave me to do. It does help that I'm a life long walker,can still take my 3 daily walks.
My knee is stiff some mornings,otherwise its fine.I think when I have trouble walking,that will be a sign I'll need another knee surgery Sue
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I don't know your age, but my knee started to make noises when I was 57 and now soon 80, it's gone thru some damage including a staph infection in late 2016, long story. I can bend it and it hurts but am so fearful of a replacement surgery AGAIN. I spent almost 5 months in hospital/rehabs for the infection that MD's did not find until they finally did MRI. They had me take 2 months abx IV drugs and then did a knee "clean out"...I believe that clean out was more damaging...they only take more cartlidge that is still there...many after these clean outs end up with replacements...I've read articles about this.
 
10 years ago I had a total right hip replacement. I felt a world of difference afterward. I now have issues with both knees, and my left shoulder. All due to arthritis. I am told I need my knees replaced, but except for now using my cane when out, I do not feel I am at that stage yet. I was also told my shoulder needs to be replaced, which I do agree with.
The doctor told me if I did want to do it all, I should do the knees first, and completely heal before the shoulder. He said it would be easier as I would probably need crutches or a walker after the knees, and for some reason it would be harder to use them if my shoulder was still in recovery. So, I have decided I can probably hold off on the knees for a long while, as I , personally, feel I need the should done first.
I do not feel any worse after the hip surgery, but was told by the surgeon that I should not be surprised if I needed another one done, as I was so young (55) when I had it done. But so far so good.
 
I have a friend right now, actually 2 people I know who have done shoulder replacements and both struggle with their issues. The woman I know says it's a constant struggle to do the rehab exercises every day. I have shoulder issues but work with other things like Prolotherapy injections...they can WORK to keep us from surgery.

How did my parents and all my relatives make it without all these replacements...they did and maybe they were better off and they all lived into 80-90's. Mom lived to early 90's, dad almost 95, no replacements but they had their pains.

I've gone downhill since this hip replacement, who right side of body is OFF. Which puts everything else off, knee, foot/ankle.
 
My dad had both knees done back in the 70's. But I think it was all relatively new back then. I am hesitant I have learned to adapt. I guess I am among the lucky ones who had a sucessful hip replacement. I did have to retire 3 years earlier than planned due to mobility and balance issues. Not sure if I want to go through more surgery
 
I had both hips replaced in 2013, a month apart. I was in terrible pain before the replacements and could not get around without, at first a cane, then two canes, then a walker and then a wheelchair most of the time.

My recovery from the surgeries was a breeze and I am SO glad I had the replacements done. My hips are totally pain free and work just like normal hips. If I were having trouble with one of them I would go back to my surgeon and have it revised (fixed surgically) in a heartbeat.

I had one leg shorter than the other all my life and had to wear special lifts in shoes or special shoes. My surgeon evened up my legs while he was replacing my hips (by varying slightly the depth to which the rod was inserted in my femurs) and for the first time I my life I am able to wear normal shoes with no lifts. It is WONDERFUL.
 
Butterfly said:
I had both hips replaced in 2013, a month apart. I was in terrible pain before the replacements and could not get around without, at first a cane, then two canes, then a walker and then a wheelchair most of the time.

My recovery from the surgeries was a breeze and I am SO glad I had the replacements done. My hips are totally pain free and work just like normal hips. If I were having trouble with one of them I would go back to my surgeon and have it revised (fixed surgically) in a heartbeat.

I had one leg shorter than the other all my life and had to wear special lifts in shoes or special shoes. My surgeon evened up my legs while he was replacing my hips (by varying slightly the depth to which the rod was inserted in my femurs) and for the first time I my life I am able to wear normal shoes with no lifts. It is WONDERFUL.
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You are very fortunate, plenty throughout the world and I went to many support groups after my replacement, looking for those in the same misery and hearing other stories. I've heard some horror stories, no I won't back for revisions, my whole thigh is NUMB now 7 yrs out and cutting into it again...don't think so. I just think the surgeon did a sloppy job on Friday after noon after a week of replacements, he was in a hurry to get out for the weekend...I've played this all in my mind for years.

A podiatrist found the leg discrepancy a couple yrs out...so I do wear lifts and orthotics.

I had the Anterior approach and found years later that one of the side effects is Femoral Nerve Damage, guess who got it...
 
Marie5656 said:
10 years ago I had a total right hip replacement. I felt a world of difference afterward. I now have issues with both knees, and my left shoulder. All due to arthritis. I am told I need my knees replaced, but except for now using my cane when out, I do not feel I am at that stage yet. I was also told my shoulder needs to be replaced, which I do agree with.
The doctor told me if I did want to do it all, I should do the knees first, and completely heal before the shoulder. He said it would be easier as I would probably need crutches or a walker after the knees, and for some reason it would be harder to use them if my shoulder was still in recovery. So, I have decided I can probably hold off on the knees for a long while, as I , personally, feel I need the should done first.
I do not feel any worse after the hip surgery, but was told by the surgeon that I should not be surprised if I needed another one done, as I was so young (55) when I had it done. But so far so good.
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My shoulder surgeries were a breeze. I stayed just two nights in hospital and required only gentle range of movement exercises for 12 weeks. For six weeks I was required to wear a sling which is why having the knee and hip close together would be a problem. I had the second shoulder done 4 months after the first and by then I had full use of the first one done.

I do think it is very important to have a specialist surgeon. I have one who did the hip and knee and a different one for the shoulders. My primary health doctor is very good at finding surgeons with the right experience and who is up to date with modern techniques.
 
jaminhealth said:
I had the Anterior approach and found years later that one of the side effects is Femoral Nerve Damage, guess who got it...
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Every surgical procedure can produce unwanted complications. My husband has been left with a drop foot after back surgery. Given that he could just as easily suffered more serious problems from paraplegia right up to dying under the anaesthetic, I consider this unfortunate but not catastrophic.

Before having any operation (and always when taking off in a plane) I remind myself that this could be my last day on earth and I commit my life to God with a thank you for all that I have experienced so far. I sometimes pray for the operating team but never for myself. I am satisfied and ready to go when called.
 
Warrigal said:
Every surgical procedure can produce unwanted complications. My husband has been left with a drop foot after back surgery. Given that he could just as easily suffered more serious problems from paraplegia right up to dying under the anaesthetic, I consider this unfortunate but not catastrophic.

Before having any operation (and always when taking off in a plane) I remind myself that this could be my last day on earth and I commit my life to God with a thank you for all that I have experienced so far. I sometimes pray for the operating team but never for myself. I am satisfied and ready to go when called.
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Glad you had good shoulder results. I have shoulder issues but they are manageable and I've had Prolotherapy in the right shoulder and got 3 pain free years. I will hopefully do more Prolo before it's all over. I would imagine there are Prolo workers where you are.

I also deal with nasty degenerative disc disease (DDD) but no back surgery for me. I've heard some stories there over the years, some going back for 3-5 re dos. We do what we feel is best at the time and HOPE for the best ... take care down there. jam
 
jaminhealth said:
You are very fortunate, plenty throughout the world and I went to many support groups after my replacement, looking for those in the same misery and hearing other stories. I've heard some horror stories, no I won't back for revisions, my whole thigh is NUMB now 7 yrs out and cutting into it again...don't think so. I just think the surgeon did a sloppy job on Friday after noon after a week of replacements, he was in a hurry to get out for the weekend...I've played this all in my mind for years.

A podiatrist found the leg discrepancy a couple yrs out...so I do wear lifts and orthotics.

I had the Anterior approach and found years later that one of the side effects is Femoral Nerve Damage, guess who got it...
Click to expand...

I've heard a few horror stories, too, but the vast majority of people do very well after hip replacements.

My surgeon doesn't do the anterior approach -- he said there were still side effects in that approach, especially for older people whose hips were as bad as mine were. I had what is called a posteriolateral approach, which is where the incisions were pretty much on my sides, a little to the rear.
 
Butterfly said:
I've heard a few horror stories, too, but the vast majority of people do very well after hip replacements.

My surgeon doesn't do the anterior approach -- he said there were still side effects in that approach, especially for older people whose hips were as bad as mine were. I had what is called a posteriolateral approach, which is where the incisions were pretty much on my sides, a little to the rear.
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A friend had the posterior at 82 and then the other hip went out and she had the anterior at 90, and she has faired pretty well, but does not walk like she did before the 2nd replacement, she loved to be outside walking and now does not, she uses a rollater in the house and when she goes outside for a short distance. She's 91 soon and full of arthritis. My body is loaded with arthritis too and higher doses of MSM powder help calm some of the pain. We're all different and I often wonder where I'd be if I had not done the replacement. Groin pain was pretty pretty bad. Talk later.
 
My mother had a tough time with her first knee replacement several years ago.

When she had the other knee done last year, it was a nightmare. They put the first joint in...there were problems...they had to open the knee again a couple of weeks later and replace a part of the joint. Then she had problems with THAT one and they had to take the whole thing out and put a temporary spacer in for six weeks. THEN, they went back in and put in another joint. In and out of the hospital, in and out of rehab. Had to get a temporary pacemaker installed in the middle of one operation and then had to go back later and get a permanent one.

Her advanced age (92) didn't help the matter, either.

She now walks with a cane for short distances and a walker for the rest of the time. The cane and walker have, of course, wrecked havoc with her shoulders and back.

It doesn't slow her down, though. She's out and about just about every day.....drives to the store and picks up her friends to take them to lunch. In fact, my sister went by the house yesterday and found her raking leaves after washing her car.....all with her walker, of course.
 
Your mother sounds amazing, Jujube.

I expect to be quite demented if I live to be in my nineties and hospitalisation then would be a nightmare for all concerned.
I intend to get as many surgical procedures out of the way as is possible by the time I am 80. In this category I include cataracts and possibly dental implants.
 
Warrigal said:
Your mother sounds amazing, Jujube.

I expect to be quite demented if I live to be in my nineties and hospitalisation then would be a nightmare for all concerned.
I intend to get as many surgical procedures out of the way as is possible by the time I am 80. In this category I include cataracts and possibly dental implants.
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I'm heavy into alternative healing and at 80 soon, no cataracts as I take supplements that protect and prevent eye issues. Always wear SUNGLASSES outdoors. I do all I can to avoid surgeries, but that is me and I've been working for over 25 yrs with my supplements and working to keep myself healthy as there is SO MUCH info for us to grasp. jam

Yeah, washing the car with the walker, I use a walker but am limited in what I can do. Gave up driving this year...due to knee mess...I'm really OK with not driving, so many services today to help us.
 

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