Total Hip Replacements

[Oh_hunnihunni]

Hmm. Mine should be done. In theory.
I hate the idea. Metal and get metal poisoning? Or ceramic and take the risk? The last surgeon I saw was honest, he said they can't really say how long they last, because no-one has had one long enough to prove or disprove the manufacturer claims.

And as he said, nothing is as good as the original. I've read a lot of user comments about dislocations. Well, not surprising as you don't get artificial tendons holding it all there, only  your muscle and skin.

Rather creeped out by this:

However, because joint replacements are made of metal and plastic, it is difficult for the immune system to attack bacteria that make it to these implants. Bacteria like to stick to metal. Since the metal implant does not receive any blood flow, our immune system has a hard time identifying the bacteria, so it does not know how to respond and kill it. If bacteria gain access to the implants, they may multiply and result in a joint infection.

Despite antibiotics and preventive treatments, patients with infected joint replacements often require surgery to cure the infection.
There was a guy in the UK who had to have extensive surgery - and no longer could have any artificial anything as there wasn't much left after they stopped it.

And of course, the age thing, they can only do it so many times, due to how much of the real you they have to take out each time.
Happened to a friend of mine(Older), she couldn't have a 4th and was in a wheelchair thereafter.

I have a metal on metal implant and am blood test monitored for chromium and cobalt poisoning six monthly since it went in.  Which was just three weeks before that particular device was withdrawn worldwide and the lawsuits started. My implant is one of very very few still in place so my consultant has a living breathing example to monitor and report on for his ongoing research project. My blood results for the record are above normal, but still in the safe zone. Otherwise they'd be pulling the thing out, quick smart and no waiting list. It is my left hip now that is beyond saving and up for total replacement.

Titanium and plastic implants are used for private patients because they can pay the much higher cost than those dependent on the public system. The metal the DHBs use now, as I understand it is an alloy embedded in resin, or ceramics, with polyethylene components. These are supposedly neutral in the body, and each have their particular strengths with different patients, and the surgeons are the best ones to assess that. But, in my experience with lots of orthopedic surgeries, these specialists are often superbly clever and talented surgeons, but they are optimists. The reality is no implant, no reconstruction, no repair, is as good as the original natural and undamaged structure, and to expect it to be so is asking for disappointment. They are not miracle workers and those of us who expect them to be so are deluded. an awful lot depends on the patient doing the work to get the best out of the work done.

A hip replacement is a huge bit of surgery. It is brutal, the scar is enormous, the muscle damage severe. The recovery is seriously challenging, but the pain is different, hugely different to the arthritic nastiness when it has reached acute or severe. And that is the only reason to go through it. Having been there, my advice is leave it as long as possible, and then don't expect a miracle unless you are prepared to do the work...