Hi
After almost a year of bone mets and a deteriorating hip/femur, I have finally got a date for my proximal femur replacement. 7th April. The hospital were still leaving it up to me, (as quite a bit of the femur has to be replaced, so I will probably end up with a limp, as I will lose some important muscles and prior to last week only have experienced minimal pain.)
I went for a scan this morning and since January the bone has deteriorated considerably and is now in the ball part of the hip joint too, aswell as the top of the the femur. They said that they would let me go a little longer, but after last week’s pain I have had enough! I decided to go ahead with it now, while I am still on hormone treatment and feeling well in myself. If I wait any longer I might be back on chemotherapy which would be an added complication. The consultant got out her diary and said next Thursday, I asked for an extra week to sort things out at work etc.
Now I am thinking ‘what have I agreed too?’ there are so many things I have planned in the next few weeks, but I suppose that will always be the case. I will be in hospital for approx. a week then 6 weeks at home then return after 6 weeks for a week of intensive physio. It will be difficult but I need to look at it as ‘however long it takes, it will get better’ but now it is just deteriorating and getting worse.
So that is my update, some people have kindly responded with experiences in the past. Any experiences of proximal femur hip replacement stories and advice would be appreciated.
No experience of this Nicky - but just wanted to wish you all the best. Having followed your posts when you were agonizing over the decision, I have enormous sympathy for your dilemma. I would have made the same decision and gone for the op sooner rather than later. It’s going to be very inconvenient - but at least this way you can plan for it - much better than having an emergency op if you had left it and it spontaneously fractured.
Hi Nicky,
So sorry the pain got worse but glad they will act quickly. I don’t think there’s ever a right time for things lije ops, they always seem to interfere with something!
Just wanted to send you a hug for now, will talk yo you on chat later I hope.
Love Julie xx
My neighbour had a complete hip replacement last year (age related not cancer), but she is 80 and its been incredible seeing how she has coped and was pretty fraighl (spelling) before hand, but says not having the pain now makes her feel so much stronger.
Hi Nicky, when my hip spontaneously fractured my foot ended up at a complete right angle…weird! The ball was replaced plus I have a pin which has masses of screws and which reaches nearly down to my knee. Good news was I was off crutches in 4 weeks and started my physio the day after the op…to help the new replacement bed in. Don’t be alarmed your operated leg may be a few inches longer than the other leg at first…mine are fine, matching now. I hope you will find the new hip is a huge benefit as I have. I would have a replacement replacement in an instant…if I live that long to need another.
Good Luck…xx
Oops a Ps…think I’ve mentioned before but I lost a lot of muscle and I don’t limp. Also…make sure you have all the handy aids, raised loo seat, one of those sticks like a litter picker upper…most useful and helpful for putting your undies on! (You can send it all back after a few weeks.)
Sorry Nicola, I have no words of experience here.
But have you explored all the pain meds you can use before you jump ahead? I have severe bone pain, well I did, but got referred to a Pain Specialist attached to the Oncology unit. Since I got my meds changed I have noticed a huge improvement in pain relief. I do take morphine(MST) and Gabapentin, Amitrypilene, and Diclophenac.(Sorry too unwell to look up correct spelling) But the difference after alteration in the pills has been amazing.
I can hear doubts in your mind about the op because of the loss of Muscles. Also the fact that future chemo could interfere with an op. Think it over carefully OR ask for a referral or second opinion to see if the time is right for you. Because reading your post you said you are feeling well in yourself. Perhaps if the pain could be addressed?
I am sorry you have been given these results and the problem that comes with this in making a decision what to do for the best. Keep writing your thoughts down on here because by doing so you may come to the answer all by yourself just by verbalising it to us. Gentle hugs, love Val
Hi Nicola
Sorry not experience of the hip op but I had op on my arm due to bone mets in my humerous - so have a replacement shoulder/upper arm -wonderful freedom from the dreadful mets pain after the initial recovery from the op; I can’t use the arm 100% but love knowing the metal replacement is not harming me. Good luck with whatever you decide
Fran
Val it is not so much to do with the pain, it is more where the cancer is, it is right across the top part of the femur and is high risk of fracturing. Obviously that part takes almost all of your body weight as you step onto it. They have been monitoring it since last May and can see how weak it is getting. They have said that if it was a smaller area or just for pain relief they would do rads instead, but feel that they need to strengthen the whole area. For the last year the pain has only been if I over-exert myself, but for the past couple of weeks has been constant, which
Is why they wanted to see me Today, as constant pain is an indicator of imminent breakage apparently.
The socket part of the hip is OK, so is being left, they are putting in a metal ball joint, removing the cancerous top of the femur and inserting a metal spike attached to the ball, lower down into the femur. One benefit I guess is the largest area of cancer in my body is being removed in one go!
just wish all the other areas could be ‘removed’ while I was in too!
I actually feel quite ‘bionic’ when I see my scans…a sort of Iron Lady. And it’s good to get these things sorted without the added chemo delays and interuptions. x
Glad you have made a decision to go ahead, even if it has been sort of forced on you in a way. I completely understand you wanting it done now while you are feeling well especially after the dilemma you had last year. I would be the same. Speak later I hope.
Hi Nicky
Although the op seems quite a big one it sounds like it’s the right thing to be doing to get you out of your pain and get you fully mobile again. And, as you say it gets rid of a big part of your secondaries at the same time. Good Luck for the op and hope you recover really quickly so you can enjoy the Spring sunshine again in a few weeks.
Nicky x
Hey! Just spotted your post AFTER having just posted on what I consider my “home” forum (inflammatory breast cancer)! Wishing you all the best and will be following your progress as I too have just agreed to hip surgery… Def. the ball-replacement at top of femur but also the socket bit in pelvis plus possible reinforcement of pelvis (but won’t know that till they “go in”!). But I’ve been quoted up to 18 weeks wait so unless I get pushed up list, I’ll be well behind you!
Nicky,I hope you don’t mind be joining in.It is probably best to get it sorted before it fractures spontaneously. Soon you will be frightened to stand up fo fear of it breaking.
I was once in the horrific position of a patients femur breaking when we were x-raying her leg looking for a fracture. We were gentle,honest!
Her bones were very weak and the Dr from her ward said it was inevitable and it would have been us or the next nurse to give her a bed pan etc.
Far better to get these things sorted in a controlled manner. You may not be as lucky (?) as for it to break on an x-ray table!
Good luck
Love n hugs
Dot
xxx
Hope all goes well for you next week. I have my date now - May 16th so about 5 weeks behind you. Keep posting! Going to be a nightmare not bending beyond right angles when there’s no actual pain to prevent it! Be very interested in your tips! Had pre-ops last week and got a bit anxious that I’m having a spinal block anaesthetic and sedation rather than a general an. Is that the same for you? Don’t fancy waking up as they’re sawing me leg off!!!
Hi Haxted
That’s good news, well that you’ve got a date that is, not that you need an op!
I will keep you updated! I also had my pre-op this week, they seemed to take an awful lot of blood !
I am having a full anesthetic, sedation is very brave, I’m glad that I will sleep through it all! I have been quite lucky with anesthetics in the past (and I’ve had a few now!) I wake up fine, usually very hungry and I have to beg them to let me eat! They usually give me something light and I’m fine. I have been told that I will be in the High Dependency Unit for the first night, then transferred to the ward where I had my biopsy last year, for a hospital it was a lovely ward. I am expecting to stay a week.
Like you I am concerned about what I won’t be able to do , I say as I am sitting with my legs curled under me as usual, sleep will worry me, as I can’t sleep flat on my back at all. Not being able to drive will be horrendous, I remember the feeling of helplessness when you have to rely on others for lifts, after my WLE I couldn’t drive for 6 weeks, but walked daily to the shops for the food for each day, I won’t be able to do that this time. We are actually going to sell my car, I have a gorgeous convertible mini, it was my treat after my original diagnosis, but. Since going part time we can’t really afford 2 cars, so it’s going while I can’t drive.
I am trying to think of positives, the best being not having to shop for food, cook or do housework…!!! I have also bought/been given loads of books, so I will enjoy not feeling guilty spending time reading. I am also starting to think of films I want to see, I might even take up knitting again. I have also used the forthcoming recovery as an excuse to buy a nice new leather recliner + footstool.
Take care and I will write again in a coup,e of weeks when I’m home.
Hi hip ladies, I had the general and woke up feeling ok. I did start to develop a bed sore and it is horrible not being able to sleep in your usual position for a while…but I managed to stop the bed sore developing by just using sudocream…gp nurse’s suggestion…she also got me an inflatable mattress…lovely if a little noisy when you move. I only used it for a few weeks but still, 8 years later, sleep with a small pillow between my knees…it helps you feel more comfortable…a tip from a fellow forum user of many years ago.
Knitting is fab…Nicky have a look at ravelry.com and there are loads of lovely blogs and free patterns around.
I have a lovely recliner…it’s MINE but as soon as I leave the room my husband makes a dive for it.
Good Luck…xx