News and Notes: What is hip?

What is hip?     My hip replacement was installed in my body fifteen years ago. When the operation was performed, my doctors told me that they had no idea how long the prosthesis would last, because it's usually elderly folks who have hip replacements, and they tended to die off before anyone could determine how long their replacements would stay tight and workable.

After the operation, it took me three months on a walker to "learn to walk" all over again. I had to take six months disability leave from work. When I was "healed" I dreaded the idea that I'd ever have to go through that again, but knew that there might just be that possibility.

I remember the thrill of being able to dance again, to walk long distances without any hip or leg pain. This euphoria lasted about eight years, and then the pain began to return. At first, it would "flare up" during times of weather change, and my doctors assured me that this was "normal". I would always be able to "predict the weather". As the years passed, I was pain free about 80% of the time, and hurt a little about 20%. At least this was far better than the 100% pain I experienced before the operation.

I make sure I get a yearly physical examination from my general practitiioner. For the past few years, I've complained that the pain in my left leg and hip seems to be getting worse. Doc prescribes some X-rays, determines that the screws are still tight, and sends me an automated voicemail message telling me the X-rays show no abnormalcy with my leg and hip.

X-rays don't show the pain.

I'm a little late having the physical this year. My reason is that I still haven't paid the complete bill for my colonoscopy last year, so I didn't want to go to the doctor's office until I'd paid off my debt. However, last Thursday night, the pain in my hip prohibited me from getting any sleep, and I called in sick to work Friday morning. I've never had to call in sick because of my hip pain, so this was pretty serious. All week long, I couldn't think of anything else except the pain. I had to use my cane when walking. I decided to schedule the yearly exam, and talk to the doctor about my pain.

I had some bloodwork scheduled, and the doctor did his usual prodding and poking. I like my doctor, even though he's young enough to be my son, and he always seems to "know" me, and my medical history, so I enjoy consulting with him. Since I have to pay a $20.00 copayment each visit, I try to make sure I have my litany of medical questions ready when I visit, so I get my money's worth. Besides the increased pain, which is now occurring about 80% compared to 20% of the time with no pain, I have also had some problems urinating, and get up multiple times during the night to urinate, only to find a trickle instead of a stream.

Here are the results of my physical examination.

I have an enlarged prostate, which is located below the bladder. This is causing my bladder to think that it's fuller than it is, and this is causing my incontinece. The doctor prescibed a pill I have to take every night, possibly for the rest of my life. The medicine should help to shrink my prostate, so I don't feel I have to urinate until my bladder is full. Here's something I didn't know. The bladder holds sixteen ounces of liquid.

There is some tingling in my left foot when the doctor massaged my left calf, and although his prodding didn't cause me any immediate pain in my hip, there might be nerve damage. I had X-rays taken of both my hip replacement and my lower back. Radiology gave me a set of copies of the X-rays, a couple of which accompany this blog entry, so that I can take them with me when I visit the orthopedics department.

Yes, I'm getting a referral to orthopedics, which of course is the department which ordered the hip replacement in the first place back in the early 90s. Hopefully they can determine the cause of the pain. My doctor told me I will most probably have to have the hip replacement operation again. I didn't smile when I heard this news.

Great strides have occurred in medical science since my "first" hip replacement. According to one of our Vice Presidents at work, a friend of her husband's just had a hip replacement and was out walking about in two weeks time. That's a pretty quick recovery. Of course my worry is purely financial. I still have $300.00 to pay on the colonoscopy operation. That was last year. This year I have to start my deduction all over again. It was only $500.00 when I had the first hip replacement. However, inflation has driven the price up to $1500.00 now. (Heck, if I would have had a second hip replacement LAST year, along with the colonoscopy, I would only have had to pay the additional $600.00 for both operations since they would have been in the same year.)

I don't know of course if I will need another hip replacement. (Hip replacement replacement surgery?) I'll find that out after I visit the orthopedic surgeon. Wish me good luck. First the referral goes out to the ortho dept. and to Blue Cross, my HMO. Then I get a letter in about a week telling me to contact the department for an appointment. In the meantime, I did ask for painkillers from my GP. (Something I never thought I'd ever do, since I don't like taking pills.) He prescribed Tylenol with Codeine. I've dropped a pill each night for the last two nights, and have similarly used the prostate medicine. I've had two good night's rest, and I didn't have to constantly go to the bathroom. The pain medication isn't eradicating the pain, but is  blunting it somewhat that I can live with it. I've lived with pain all my life, so a little pain doesn''t hurt that much.

I had stopped my daily power walk in the middle of last week. At least I was able to return to my walking yesterday morning, and I was able to walk the three blocks without any trouble. My hip is hurting a bit as I sit here and type this morning, but it isn't as bad as it was last week.

I think I may be pinching a nerve in my leg somehow. This would explain why I can be in great pain for 15-20 minutes and then miraculously it will disappear for a while. But I'm  no expert. That's why there are doctors and a medical industry. I will put my trust and my faith in them, and pray for the best. If I have to do this hip replacement thing all over again, I'll just smile and shrug it off as necessary. Heck, maybe I'll even make a video blog about it!

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