Help for arthritic hip pain????

Any suggestions for dealing with increasingly painful arthritic hip pain???

Thanks much!!!!

When it gets beyond Aleve (naproxin) making it less painful, see an orthopedic doc. They might be able to shoot it with cortizone for a while, but ultimately they will filet your hip, saw out the old one and install a new ball and socket. I'm beyond Aleve, and well into cortizone. Not looking foward to replacement. So it goes.

Jim Ricks

I'm in the same boat with needing a hip. I have literally been putting it off for at least 10 yrs. Just had xrays done last month and it doesn't look any worse than it did since the last time it was xrayed (about 7 yrs ago). I had some surgery and despite repeated explanations somehow my leg was over extended during the surgery and I woke up with incredible pain and unable to walk! I couldn't put my heel on the floor........to say I was angry was an understatement! However, at that point I saw another ortho guy and he put me on Vioxx - it was a godsend. I have switched around on the NSAIDS from time to time but have been on Celebrex for the last few years.
I am seriously considering having the replacement next spring. Like I said, it isn't any worse but it won't get any better either and I think it affects the rest of your health and well-being because you are less likely to exercise, be able to count on it not hurting on 'special' occasions, etc. On the other hand it maybe OK at this level forever (at least in my case). Last spring I was able to do alot of walking at the Grand Canyon.........
I've never done the shots - not a fan of needles!!

Mine is definitely not as bad as some of you! I take glucosamine/chondroitin/MSM every day but don't know how much it helps. I usually wake up with pain but it is gone once I get out with the dogs for a walk. The exercise helps a whole lot. I also do yoga stretches most evenings to keep the hips limber.

Deb

Thanks for the info and sharing your status.
I have just made my first appt with an orthopedist.
Ibuprofen/acetaminophen seem to help less each week.
I'm also taking gluc/chon/MSM.
I'm limping more each week.
I'm hoping I can put surgery off for a long time.

I have hip pain not from arthritis but from a joint dysfunction. I have to exercise daily and do yoga to keep the pain at bay. If I don't do for a few days, it makes a huge difference in the amount of pain I feel.

I had a hip replacement in July, after years of arthritic pain.
The surgery wasn't fun, but the pain is gone. It was well worth it, and I recommend it to all of you who are suffering with this pain.
Now, if I could only have a finger replacement.

consuming spicy peppers is supposed to help with arthritic hip pain, esp the red, yellow and orange varieties. Not saying that you would be pain free, but if you like spicy peppers and can tolerate them, it couldn't hurt.

Exercises

Anyone care to share some particulary helpful stretching exercises? I've been to physical therapy on four separate occasions, and haven't found any that help much.

tia

Hip

I live with chronic pain from three bulging disks in my lower back and have hip pain (burns and radiates down one leg) as a result of nerves from those. Had two MRIs yesterday of upper back and neck because doctors think something else is going on there too. If those don't show anything, they'll probably throw me into the Fibromyalgia category.

I have been doing a light weight lifting and cardio work out with a trainer at the gym three days a week when in NC (about half my time) hoping to strenghten upper back to take over for lower but a visit to orthopedic spine specialist this week had her suggesting that I take Yoga and do stretching strenghtening instead. Trainer isn't happy but for now, he's switched to just putting me through light cardio and stretches.

I hope you find some answers. It isn't fun living with pain.

I've had great results taking OPC-3 from Market America. I have had arthritis in my knees and ankles and it has tremendously helped me to reduce the swelling and take the fluid off of the knee.

My mother has also benefited greatly from this and she is 73. She used to use a cane to walk when she could and hardly uses it anymore since she started taking the OPC-3. OPC-3 is a powerful antioxidant that has a potent anti-inflammatory benefit. I take more than the recommended dose but it doesn't seem to harm me. It's also helped me with my allergies tremendously.

Can't say enough about the stuff. I'm sure that many antioxidants will also work but I've had great luck with this one.

TUGfan said:

I'm hoping I can put surgery off for a long time.

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Why subject yourself to more pain? My husband had both hips replaced in his 50's and now is able to enjoy just about whatever activity he wants to do in his early 60's. He would encourage you to have the surgery sooner rather than later. When he was contemplating the surgery someone told him that it was so much better to get it done while you are younger and have many years ahead of you to be pain-free, than to endure that pain for all those years and then have it done when you are older with fewer years left to be active.

I’m a 67 yrs old very active male, playing tennis 2x, cardio exercise 5x & weight exercise 3x a week. 2.5 yrs ago during a trip to Italy, I noticed pain in my left hip when climbing up those narrow steps of bell towers. After we got home, the pain got worse and had a hard time going upstairs & could only play tennis 30 mins a week w/ a great deal of pain. After x-ray & MRI, I was diagnosed having arthritis & avascular necrosis (lack of blood supply to the bones) and was told eventually have to have a hip replacement. I added a “multi hip” machine to my exercise retune about 1.5 yrs ago. I use it 5x a week and now I’m back to my active life. I can still feel the pain especially nite after the tennis, but it is so slight that it doesn’t bother me at all. Btw, I got rid of knee pain by riding stationary bike as well. But I still have a lower back pain from my college judo time but it is manageable.

Glynda said:

I live with chronic pain from three bulging disks in my lower back and have hip pain (burns and radiates down one leg) as a result of nerves from those.

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I have the same problem, but I don't know if its bulging or herniated disks.

I am having hip replacement surgery in a week. My hip has hurt two years, especially when I am doing something actively. If I slowed down and did nothing I could live with the discomfort. I am having a relatively new procedure.

The Anterior Approach for Total Hip Replacement

http://www.hipandpelvis.com/

This procedure is being done around the country. There are hardly any restrictions after surgery, and recovery is much quicker than by the posterior traditional method. I know two men who had their's done by my doctor two years ago, and they are doing great.

Check it out for yourself. I will post again after its done.

Update from OP - Heading to the OR!

TUGfan said:

Thanks for the info and sharing your status.
I have just made my first appt with an orthopedist.
Ibuprofen/acetaminophen seem to help less each week.
I'm also taking gluc/chon/MSM.
I'm limping more each week.
I'm hoping I can put surgery off for a long time.

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Thought I would update this message for those who are interested.

I was able to see the Orthopedist Jan 21. He said nothing short of surgery will help my hip pain....so surgery it will be. Can't continue with the pain and increasingly limited mobility. My hip joint is bone on bone and very displaced.

I am scheduled for surgery one week from today on March 16 - total hip replacement. I am ready to get it done. Went to the hospital today for preop stuff and will be a patient on a brand new joint unit.

The Physician's Assistant was reviewing the xray with me and my husband and said that my hip dysplasia was most likely present from birth. I've watched several youtube.com videos about people who have had the procedure done - they have been helpful. I fully expect to recover quickly and look forward to resuming a regular and active lifestyle.

I will update this message again once I am home and recovering.

Thanks very much for any thoughts and prayers directed my way!

Best wishes to you for a speedy recovery!

My Yoga teacher told me a long time ago while I was still going to her class that the best stretch for the hips is a lunge. If it hurts your knee to put it on the floor while you stretch back with the other leg put a pillow under it. Hold it as long as you can at least 30 seconds and make sure your front knee stays in line with your ankle. For more stretch move the leg back not the knee forward as this can damage the knee.

Lynn

TUGfan said:

I am scheduled for surgery one week from today on March 16 - total hip replacement.

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Based on my husband's results after having had both his hips replaced (not at the same time!), I think you will be very pleased & pain free very soon. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

I've had both hips replaced One 10/08 and the other done 07/09 after being diagnosed with avascular necrosis.

My only problem now is with stairs, I have to have a rail to hold on to, but I think that is more pyscho samatic, not sure if I spelled that correctly, but other than that I'm so much better, and no more pain. I used to get the pain more when I was lying down, and it was so uncomfortable. That is all gone now.


Recovery wasn't all too bad, especially when the day came to not have to use cane or anything to walk "normal.

Good luck with what you decide.

Surgery is right for the OP, but fish oil can also help with some mild arthritis. Have to take 3-4 g/day, though.

I had my hip replacement Dec. 1, and except for some complications from the painkillers, the hip part was fine. I was walking stairs before leaving the hospital. The first week or two was rough, but I sat around all Dec. like a princess. Since I had the minimally invasive approach, there was no cutting of the muscles, and no physical therapy. I joined the gym in January and started swimming, using the treadmill and the elliptical. I was able to feed and take care of the horses in the February blizzards. Its 3 months now, and except for two spots that continue to feel bruised, I am almost back to normal. I can walk up stairs with both legs, walk a mile on the treadmill, and kneel and get up.

Good luck to you.

Post op Update from OP

4 weeks tomorrow I had my total hip replacement and I cannot even begin to tell you how much better I feel. Essentially from the moment I woke up after surgery, I have had no pain in my hip joint, minimal incision pain, and only some minor muscle soreness from exercises.

It is difficult to believe this surgery will make such a major difference in my life, but it will.

I was in the hospital only 3 nights. I am now walking with my cane about half the time and with nothing the other half of the time. I am able to take short walks outside without any pain.

My outcome from this surgery that I really dreaded cannot be better.

I am very happy!!!

TUGfan said:

My outcome from this surgery that I really dreaded cannot be better.

I am very happy!!!

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Thanks for the update. That is very cool!

Be sure to investigate hip re-surfacing too!

Especially if you're young-ish