Guest guest Posted April 18, 2004 Report Share Posted April 18, 2004 I'm interested in all the recent discussions on leg length. I'm 52 and have bad OA in my R hip due to a slipped cap femoral ephysis when I was 12. While painful I don't think I'm anywhere as bad off yet as most of you have described yourselves pre surgery. I'm not bone on bone yet. My R leg is slightly shorter (less than 1/2 " and my pelvis tilts up on the left side. It's pretty obvious when I look in the mirror. I have pretty severe bursitis on my left side, sometimes it hurts if my husband just places his hand on my thigh. Actually my whole left side hurts from my head to my neck to my lower back, down to my toes. I've been given the impression by a few docs that all this would go away if I get my hip done. My fear is that they won't. I'd check into a hospital tomorrow if this was certain. Was wondering what you all thought. I was scheduled to have a THR this May until, thank God, I came across this website. I have tried some heel lifts, but can't say that it helped. I don't know if they were fitted correctly. Anyway, I would appreciate any and all advice. Thanks, Harriet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 18, 2004 Report Share Posted April 18, 2004 Hi Harriet, Welcome to the group and you do indeed sound like you have some serious health hassles. When you say you are hurting from head to toe down one side, is this each joint or do you have more of that bursitis in other parts? Have doctors given you a reasonable explanation of why it is down your thigh and why the body is reacting in this fashion out of the left hip? Other areas of the body do get upset about any joint not functioning as it should. My left hip was fused and as a result my left knee, right shoulder, and a lot of spine were damaged along with worn areas on the right hip, left ankle and believe it or not left wrist........never been able to quite work out how left wrist fitted into the story.............. maybe just getting out of chairs etc. Most of these areas have slowly settled with a lot of work done to strengthen them and easing of the stress placed on them. I may still be up for a right hip replacement and my back will never be happy but it functions much better now............ The big thing is how much damage you have in real terms. i.e. if xrays are showing extensive cartledge damage in various joints, that doesn't repair too well but the pain may be eased if you use different angles post op and so back onto the reasonable cartledge zone of the said joint and strengthen the muscles to carry more weight around the said joint. I am over 50 too and noticed that this seemed to be a signal to my body to develop extensive arthritis like symptoms even in the tendons around stressed joints. So the trouble with leaving all these things until bone on bone is happening big time in one hip, is you may have created extensive damage elsewhere attempting to live any sort of life. Then the road back is far harder, far more expensive in terms of correcting gait, sorting out muscles, even finding them etc.- well if emails to this forum are anything to go on............ Which really does make me wonder why so many report that their OS said to wait until everything is a mess to have a hip replacement. Then again they only replace the joint, the patient gets all the hassle with fixing the body up around it. Edith LBHR Dr. L Walter Syd Aust 8/02 > I'm interested in all the recent discussions on leg length. I'm 52 > and have bad OA in my R hip due to a slipped cap femoral ephysis when > I was 12. While painful I don't think I'm anywhere as bad off yet as > most of you have described yourselves pre surgery. I'm not bone on > bone yet. My R leg is slightly shorter (less than 1/2 " and my pelvis > tilts up on the left side. It's pretty obvious when I look in the > mirror. I have pretty severe bursitis on my left side, sometimes it > hurts if my husband just places his hand on my thigh. Actually my > whole left side hurts from my head to my neck to my lower back, down > to my toes. > > I've been given the impression by a few docs that all this would go > away if I get my hip done. My fear is that they won't. I'd check > into a hospital tomorrow if this was certain. Was wondering what you > all thought. > > I was scheduled to have a THR this May until, thank God, I came > across this website. > > I have tried some heel lifts, but can't say that it helped. I don't > know if they were fitted correctly. Anyway, I would appreciate any > and all advice. > > Thanks, > Harriet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 18, 2004 Report Share Posted April 18, 2004 Hi Harriet, Welcome to the group and you do indeed sound like you have some serious health hassles. When you say you are hurting from head to toe down one side, is this each joint or do you have more of that bursitis in other parts? Have doctors given you a reasonable explanation of why it is down your thigh and why the body is reacting in this fashion out of the left hip? Other areas of the body do get upset about any joint not functioning as it should. My left hip was fused and as a result my left knee, right shoulder, and a lot of spine were damaged along with worn areas on the right hip, left ankle and believe it or not left wrist........never been able to quite work out how left wrist fitted into the story.............. maybe just getting out of chairs etc. Most of these areas have slowly settled with a lot of work done to strengthen them and easing of the stress placed on them. I may still be up for a right hip replacement and my back will never be happy but it functions much better now............ The big thing is how much damage you have in real terms. i.e. if xrays are showing extensive cartledge damage in various joints, that doesn't repair too well but the pain may be eased if you use different angles post op and so back onto the reasonable cartledge zone of the said joint and strengthen the muscles to carry more weight around the said joint. I am over 50 too and noticed that this seemed to be a signal to my body to develop extensive arthritis like symptoms even in the tendons around stressed joints. So the trouble with leaving all these things until bone on bone is happening big time in one hip, is you may have created extensive damage elsewhere attempting to live any sort of life. Then the road back is far harder, far more expensive in terms of correcting gait, sorting out muscles, even finding them etc.- well if emails to this forum are anything to go on............ Which really does make me wonder why so many report that their OS said to wait until everything is a mess to have a hip replacement. Then again they only replace the joint, the patient gets all the hassle with fixing the body up around it. Edith LBHR Dr. L Walter Syd Aust 8/02 > I'm interested in all the recent discussions on leg length. I'm 52 > and have bad OA in my R hip due to a slipped cap femoral ephysis when > I was 12. While painful I don't think I'm anywhere as bad off yet as > most of you have described yourselves pre surgery. I'm not bone on > bone yet. My R leg is slightly shorter (less than 1/2 " and my pelvis > tilts up on the left side. It's pretty obvious when I look in the > mirror. I have pretty severe bursitis on my left side, sometimes it > hurts if my husband just places his hand on my thigh. Actually my > whole left side hurts from my head to my neck to my lower back, down > to my toes. > > I've been given the impression by a few docs that all this would go > away if I get my hip done. My fear is that they won't. I'd check > into a hospital tomorrow if this was certain. Was wondering what you > all thought. > > I was scheduled to have a THR this May until, thank God, I came > across this website. > > I have tried some heel lifts, but can't say that it helped. I don't > know if they were fitted correctly. Anyway, I would appreciate any > and all advice. > > Thanks, > Harriet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 18, 2004 Report Share Posted April 18, 2004 Hi Harriet, Welcome to the group and you do indeed sound like you have some serious health hassles. When you say you are hurting from head to toe down one side, is this each joint or do you have more of that bursitis in other parts? Have doctors given you a reasonable explanation of why it is down your thigh and why the body is reacting in this fashion out of the left hip? Other areas of the body do get upset about any joint not functioning as it should. My left hip was fused and as a result my left knee, right shoulder, and a lot of spine were damaged along with worn areas on the right hip, left ankle and believe it or not left wrist........never been able to quite work out how left wrist fitted into the story.............. maybe just getting out of chairs etc. Most of these areas have slowly settled with a lot of work done to strengthen them and easing of the stress placed on them. I may still be up for a right hip replacement and my back will never be happy but it functions much better now............ The big thing is how much damage you have in real terms. i.e. if xrays are showing extensive cartledge damage in various joints, that doesn't repair too well but the pain may be eased if you use different angles post op and so back onto the reasonable cartledge zone of the said joint and strengthen the muscles to carry more weight around the said joint. I am over 50 too and noticed that this seemed to be a signal to my body to develop extensive arthritis like symptoms even in the tendons around stressed joints. So the trouble with leaving all these things until bone on bone is happening big time in one hip, is you may have created extensive damage elsewhere attempting to live any sort of life. Then the road back is far harder, far more expensive in terms of correcting gait, sorting out muscles, even finding them etc.- well if emails to this forum are anything to go on............ Which really does make me wonder why so many report that their OS said to wait until everything is a mess to have a hip replacement. Then again they only replace the joint, the patient gets all the hassle with fixing the body up around it. Edith LBHR Dr. L Walter Syd Aust 8/02 > I'm interested in all the recent discussions on leg length. I'm 52 > and have bad OA in my R hip due to a slipped cap femoral ephysis when > I was 12. While painful I don't think I'm anywhere as bad off yet as > most of you have described yourselves pre surgery. I'm not bone on > bone yet. My R leg is slightly shorter (less than 1/2 " and my pelvis > tilts up on the left side. It's pretty obvious when I look in the > mirror. I have pretty severe bursitis on my left side, sometimes it > hurts if my husband just places his hand on my thigh. Actually my > whole left side hurts from my head to my neck to my lower back, down > to my toes. > > I've been given the impression by a few docs that all this would go > away if I get my hip done. My fear is that they won't. I'd check > into a hospital tomorrow if this was certain. Was wondering what you > all thought. > > I was scheduled to have a THR this May until, thank God, I came > across this website. > > I have tried some heel lifts, but can't say that it helped. I don't > know if they were fitted correctly. Anyway, I would appreciate any > and all advice. > > Thanks, > Harriet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 19, 2004 Report Share Posted April 19, 2004 Thanks Edith, I feel pretty certain that all my aches and pains are related to having a bad hip and a bad gait. I am a bit confused about what doctors have told me, but I think they have at least implied that everything would get better if I went ahead and had the surgery. All of the pain is in different joints. And I too have wrist pain. I had a test for RA but it was negative. I have an appointment set up Dr. Vail in NC in July and hopefully he will explain things a little better than others have. All the best, Harriet In surfacehippy , " ecrow " wrote: > Hi Harriet, > > Welcome to the group and you do indeed sound like you have some serious > health hassles. > > When you say you are hurting from head to toe down one side, is this each > joint or do you have more of that bursitis in other parts? Have doctors > given you a reasonable explanation of why it is down your thigh and why the > body is reacting in this fashion out of the left hip? > > Other areas of the body do get upset about any joint not functioning as it > should. My left hip was fused and as a result my left knee, right shoulder, > and a lot of spine were damaged along with worn areas on the right hip, left > ankle and believe it or not left wrist........never been able to quite work > out how left wrist fitted into the story.............. maybe just getting > out of chairs etc. > > Most of these areas have slowly settled with a lot of work done to > strengthen them and easing of the stress placed on them. I may still be up > for a right hip replacement and my back will never be happy but it functions > much better now............ The big thing is how much damage you have in > real terms. i.e. if xrays are showing extensive cartledge damage in various > joints, that doesn't repair too well but the pain may be eased if you use > different angles post op and so back onto the reasonable cartledge zone of > the said joint and strengthen the muscles to carry more weight around the > said joint. I am over 50 too and noticed that this seemed to be a signal to > my body to develop extensive arthritis like symptoms even in the tendons > around stressed joints. > > So the trouble with leaving all these things until bone on bone is happening > big time in one hip, is you may have created extensive damage elsewhere > attempting to live any sort of life. Then the road back is far harder, far > more expensive in terms of correcting gait, sorting out muscles, even > finding them etc.- well if emails to this forum are anything to go > on............ Which really does make me wonder why so many report that > their OS said to wait until everything is a mess to have a hip replacement. > Then again they only replace the joint, the patient gets all the hassle with > fixing the body up around it. > > Edith LBHR Dr. L Walter Syd Aust 8/02 > > > > > I'm interested in all the recent discussions on leg length. I'm 52 > > and have bad OA in my R hip due to a slipped cap femoral ephysis when > > I was 12. While painful I don't think I'm anywhere as bad off yet as > > most of you have described yourselves pre surgery. I'm not bone on > > bone yet. My R leg is slightly shorter (less than 1/2 " and my pelvis > > tilts up on the left side. It's pretty obvious when I look in the > > mirror. I have pretty severe bursitis on my left side, sometimes it > > hurts if my husband just places his hand on my thigh. Actually my > > whole left side hurts from my head to my neck to my lower back, down > > to my toes. > > > > I've been given the impression by a few docs that all this would go > > away if I get my hip done. My fear is that they won't. I'd check > > into a hospital tomorrow if this was certain. Was wondering what you > > all thought. > > > > I was scheduled to have a THR this May until, thank God, I came > > across this website. > > > > I have tried some heel lifts, but can't say that it helped. I don't > > know if they were fitted correctly. Anyway, I would appreciate any > > and all advice. > > > > Thanks, > > Harriet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 19, 2004 Report Share Posted April 19, 2004 Edith, Thanks so much for the information. I'm going to see if Dr. Vail can do this for me and if not consider going elsewhere. The last thing I want to do is go through with this surgery and find out that my other aches and pains are not cured and are unrelated. I'll keep in touch. Harriet --- In surfacehippy , " Lois G. " wrote: > > Harriet: > > You might look into seeing Dr. Mont. They do a complete gait analysis > prior to surgery if they think they need to. It is done because it helps > them decide if there is anything else going on that they need to address in > the surgery. I arrived a day early to have the tests done. I believe it > took about 3 hours. > > Hope this helps. > Lois > C+ 3/27/03 Dr. Mont > > > > Re: Leg Length/Pelvic Tilt > > > Thanks Edith, > I feel pretty certain that all my aches and pains are related to > having a bad hip and a bad gait. I am a bit confused about what > doctors have told me, but I think they have at least implied that > everything would get better if I went ahead and had the surgery. > All of the pain is in different joints. And I too have wrist pain. > I had a test for RA but it was negative. I have an appointment set > up Dr. Vail in NC in July and hopefully he will explain things a > little better than others have. > > All the best, > Harriet > > > In surfacehippy , " ecrow " wrote: > > Hi Harriet, > > > > Welcome to the group and you do indeed sound like you have some > serious > > health hassles. > > > > When you say you are hurting from head to toe down one side, is > this each > > joint or do you have more of that bursitis in other parts? Have > doctors > > given you a reasonable explanation of why it is down your thigh > and why the > > body is reacting in this fashion out of the left hip? > > > > Other areas of the body do get upset about any joint not > functioning as it > > should. My left hip was fused and as a result my left knee, right > shoulder, > > and a lot of spine were damaged along with worn areas on the right > hip, left > > ankle and believe it or not left wrist........never been able to > quite work > > out how left wrist fitted into the story.............. maybe just > getting > > out of chairs etc. > > > > Most of these areas have slowly settled with a lot of work done to > > strengthen them and easing of the stress placed on them. I may > still be up > > for a right hip replacement and my back will never be happy but it > functions > > much better now............ The big thing is how much damage you > have in > > real terms. i.e. if xrays are showing extensive cartledge damage > in various > > joints, that doesn't repair too well but the pain may be eased if > you use > > different angles post op and so back onto the reasonable cartledge > zone of > > the said joint and strengthen the muscles to carry more weight > around the > > said joint. I am over 50 too and noticed that this seemed to be a > signal to > > my body to develop extensive arthritis like symptoms even in the > tendons > > around stressed joints. > > > > So the trouble with leaving all these things until bone on bone is > happening > > big time in one hip, is you may have created extensive damage > elsewhere > > attempting to live any sort of life. Then the road back is far > harder, far > > more expensive in terms of correcting gait, sorting out muscles, > even > > finding them etc.- well if emails to this forum are anything to go > > on............ Which really does make me wonder why so many report > that > > their OS said to wait until everything is a mess to have a hip > replacement. > > Then again they only replace the joint, the patient gets all the > hassle with > > fixing the body up around it. > > > > Edith LBHR Dr. L Walter Syd Aust 8/02 > > > > > > > > > I'm interested in all the recent discussions on leg length. I'm > 52 > > > and have bad OA in my R hip due to a slipped cap femoral ephysis > when > > > I was 12. While painful I don't think I'm anywhere as bad off > yet as > > > most of you have described yourselves pre surgery. I'm not bone > on > > > bone yet. My R leg is slightly shorter (less than 1/2 " and my > pelvis > > > tilts up on the left side. It's pretty obvious when I look in > the > > > mirror. I have pretty severe bursitis on my left side, > sometimes it > > > hurts if my husband just places his hand on my thigh. Actually > my > > > whole left side hurts from my head to my neck to my lower back, > down > > > to my toes. > > > > > > I've been given the impression by a few docs that all this would > go > > > away if I get my hip done. My fear is that they won't. I'd check > > > into a hospital tomorrow if this was certain. Was wondering > what you > > > all thought. > > > > > > I was scheduled to have a THR this May until, thank God, I came > > > across this website. > > > > > > I have tried some heel lifts, but can't say that it helped. I > don't > > > know if they were fitted correctly. Anyway, I would appreciate > any > > > and all advice. > > > > > > Thanks, > > > Harriet > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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