Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Novara

(6,115 posts)
Wed Jun 29, 2022, 09:32 AM Jun 2022

Hip replacement? Cortisone shots?

Back in January and February I fell on the ice - hard - and I jammed my hip. The trauma cut off the blood supply to the femoral head and I have avascular necrosis. The femoral head is disintegrating. I have to have a hip replacement, no ifs ands or buts.

This morning I got a cortisone shot in my hip. I cannot believe I immediately feel so much better. I'll get the hip replacement this fall. When the cortisone wears off I'll be miserable again.

Has anyone gone through this and can anybody tell me how long the relief from the shot lasts?

Thanks in advance.

22 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Hip replacement? Cortisone shots? (Original Post) Novara Jun 2022 OP
I don't really know. I've had two Cortizone shots Walleye Jun 2022 #1
Glad you are getting relief from the shot. But def get yr hip replacement scheduled asap emulatorloo Jun 2022 #2
Nice to talk to someone else who has this condition Novara Jun 2022 #5
i had a roto cuff injury from playing tug with my giant dog.. samnsara Jun 2022 #3
I have Rebl2 Jun 2022 #4
My buddy had it done when he was 70. Replaced femoral head and socket. Only took an hour or so. mitch96 Jun 2022 #6
Wow Novara Jun 2022 #7
I would expect the surgeon to go down to good viable bone and replace it with the prosthetic. mitch96 Jun 2022 #8
Thanks. Novara Jun 2022 #9
"like the first couple of weeks of recovery, since I live alone." I understand as I live alone also mitch96 Jun 2022 #10
It's worker's comp. Novara Jun 2022 #11
Sounds like a plan good luck..nt mitch96 Jun 2022 #12
Thanks Novara Jun 2022 #13
Don't know Rebl2 Jun 2022 #14
I had the anterior approach total hip replacement surgery in February 2020. I was 60 y/o. Ziggysmom Jul 2022 #15
Thanks I'm 61 and fairly active Novara Jul 2022 #16
You sound a lot like me 😉. You will do very well and have a speedy recovery. The one thing Ziggysmom Jul 2022 #17
You're right. Chronic pain is disabling and leads to depression Novara Jul 2022 #18
update Novara Aug 2022 #19
I'm so happy to hear you're scheduled and will have the anterior approach. I tried to exercise Ziggysmom Aug 2022 #20
Thanks! Novara Aug 2022 #21
I had the surgery 10/3 Novara Oct 2022 #22

Walleye

(35,891 posts)
1. I don't really know. I've had two Cortizone shots
Wed Jun 29, 2022, 09:34 AM
Jun 2022

One in my knee. Eventually had to have both knees replaced. The Cortizone help to little for a while. And I had tendinitis in my foot and the Cortizone seems to cure that entirely. Now I am having terrible problems with my right shoulder. I really don’t want surgery right now. Seems like once you get one thing fixed and another thing breaks down. Good luck we’re thinking about you

emulatorloo

(45,571 posts)
2. Glad you are getting relief from the shot. But def get yr hip replacement scheduled asap
Wed Jun 29, 2022, 09:40 AM
Jun 2022

I too had Avascular necrosis that killed the femoral head of my right hip, mine was a side effect of being on high dose prednisone. Unfortunately I had to wait a year to get the surgery done because of other complications.

As soon as I woke up from the surgery in last July I could tell that horrible horrible grinding pain was gone. I actually cried tears of joy

Recovery from the surgery was no walk in the park but it didnt take nearly as long as I thought it would.

Fingers crossed for you.

Novara

(6,115 posts)
5. Nice to talk to someone else who has this condition
Wed Jun 29, 2022, 09:57 AM
Jun 2022

Mine is a work injury so worker's comp will be paying for it. I told the surgeon that I wanted to do the replacement ASAP. I have to wait 3-4 months from the shot and then I'll get it done as soon as I can, before the winter. I told him I don't want to be on crutches in the snow.

The pain was getting so bad that it was radiating to my back on that side, making it impossible to sleep or to stand for any length of time.





My thoughts are with you all. Dealing with chronic pain is awful. So many times I've been reduced to tears of frustration because it just hurts so damn much. And I'm usually a really tough cookie. I'm frustrated that I can't do things like go for a nice walk or a bike ride. Or even mow my lawn, which I actually enjoy doing. I hope to get some relief so I can have a decent summer before the hip replacement surgery in the fall.

samnsara

(18,290 posts)
3. i had a roto cuff injury from playing tug with my giant dog..
Wed Jun 29, 2022, 09:44 AM
Jun 2022

i literally couldnt use that arm because of the pain. Months and months of pt that did nothing..finally therapist said i just need to go get a shot. It didnt hurt at all!! But no immediate relief. After a cpl days the site felt bruised then i noticed...no pain at all. Has been three years now. The covid shot seemed to make it flare up just a little bit for a sort time. im always going for the shot now..pt is too long and didnt help much.

Rebl2

(14,794 posts)
4. I have
Wed Jun 29, 2022, 09:51 AM
Jun 2022

rheumatoid arthritis and when I was much younger (for several years) about every 4 or 5 months I needed a shot and they gave me depomedrol-it’s not letting me spell it correctly 😐. It is a long lasting medication, although it didn’t always work for me. It does give you relief pretty quick though.

mitch96

(14,691 posts)
6. My buddy had it done when he was 70. Replaced femoral head and socket. Only took an hour or so.
Wed Jun 29, 2022, 10:51 AM
Jun 2022

Relatively small incision and they had him walking for a bit the next day.The old way was traumatic and this new anterior approach is much better. Did 6 weeks of rehab and his is good to go. He now says most days he does not even think about it. When the weather changes it talks to him a bit but no discomfort.. He's happy with the outcome. YMMV
m

Novara

(6,115 posts)
7. Wow
Wed Jun 29, 2022, 10:55 AM
Jun 2022

I suspect mine is a little more involved than that because the blood flow to the bone was cut off, but that's amazing.

I keep hearing stories of people with such remarkable pain relief afterwards. The rehab will be hard - I live alone and will need help in the beginning - but I'm continuing to do physical therapy daily to keep the muscles strong in order to make recovery faster.

mitch96

(14,691 posts)
8. I would expect the surgeon to go down to good viable bone and replace it with the prosthetic.
Wed Jun 29, 2022, 11:10 AM
Jun 2022

Hope it does not freak you out but this is what it looks like when all done. Basically replacing an organic ball and socket joint with a mechanical metal one... The rod looking thing goes down to "good" bone and the bad stuff is removed..
m
https://tcortho.com/is-the-anterior-approach-total-hip-replacement-better/

Novara

(6,115 posts)
9. Thanks.
Wed Jun 29, 2022, 11:16 AM
Jun 2022

I've already done a lot of research so I have a good idea what the prosthetic looks like. It's pretty amazing what they can do now, isn't it?

I worry most about the immediate aftermath, like the first couple of weeks of recovery, since I live alone. But I look forward to being physically able to live a normal life again. Eventually.

mitch96

(14,691 posts)
10. "like the first couple of weeks of recovery, since I live alone." I understand as I live alone also
Wed Jun 29, 2022, 11:39 AM
Jun 2022

I would expect it would depend on your insurance.
Would they pay for a home healthcare worker to come to your house?. Once a day? twice a day? Food procurement? Doctor/rehab visit transportation? Something to look into I guess..
m

Novara

(6,115 posts)
11. It's worker's comp.
Wed Jun 29, 2022, 11:49 AM
Jun 2022

This is from a work injury.

We'll see, I guess. Transportation shouldn't be a problem and I can have groceries delivered. It's just getting around my house the first few days that worries me. I'll get something figured out. I have friends who can help a little.

Rebl2

(14,794 posts)
14. Don't know
Thu Jun 30, 2022, 08:16 PM
Jun 2022

your age of course, but there are times they want you to go stay at a rehab place if you have nobody at home that can help you. That was my experience with my mother except she was much older. My dad wasn’t in any shape to help her and physically neither was I.

Ziggysmom

(3,612 posts)
15. I had the anterior approach total hip replacement surgery in February 2020. I was 60 y/o.
Fri Jul 15, 2022, 06:48 PM
Jul 2022

Went home less than 24 hours after surgery, was able to even climb a few stairs with the physical therapist before release. Used a walker at home only one or two days, at the doctors suggestion, but really did not need it. I'd say I had very brief post surgical pain for about 4 days. I was so happy the pain was gone, mad at myself for putting off the surgery due to fear.

Cortisone did not relieve my pain more than 50%, and lasted about 3-4 months. Try to get your house in order before surgery and stocked up with easy heat & eat foods. I had a cleaning person come in 2x a week to help with vacuuming, changing bed linens and heavier chores; she was well worth the cost and it made me much more comfortable. Hope all goes well for you

Novara

(6,115 posts)
16. Thanks I'm 61 and fairly active
Sat Jul 16, 2022, 05:49 AM
Jul 2022

The cortisone is helping but I'm in late stage avascular necrosis and now the pain is radiating up my bottock into my back. If I am on my feet any length of time - like more than 10 minutes, the back pain is atrocious and the cortisone shot does nothing about that. So my grocery trip this morning will wipe me out but luckily I can sit on my ass most of the rest of the day today. I have to plan things like that.

I am on the surgery schedule for early October. I can't wait to be able to walk normally and get back on my bike. Oh, I miss early morning quiet rides.

I've had several surgeries before, so I have a pre-surgery routine of getting everything in order ahead of time. - food, assistive devices, etc.

I'm also keeping up with physical therapy to keep the muscles strong so I am hoping healing will be a breeze. I'm preparing for this as best as I can.

Ziggysmom

(3,612 posts)
17. You sound a lot like me 😉. You will do very well and have a speedy recovery. The one thing
Sat Jul 16, 2022, 11:30 AM
Jul 2022

I forgot to do before my procedure was make room in my bathroom to place my walker in front of the toilet. That really helps take the strain off your hip if you have something close, so you can use your arms in pulling your body up. Stupid me had my cats litter box in the John and didn't plan ahead.
I borrowed my daughters stationery bike and started on that after a week or so. I was on my regular bike outdoors after my surgeon said it was ok, like around 6 weeks postop. I took it slow and on level paths for a few months. I feel for you describing your radiating pain. My hip got so bad it threw off my spine alignment and I had sciatica so bad it made me cry. Chronic pain is so disabling, and thinking back now, I didn't realize at the time how depressed I had become. I was stubborn and put off my surgery for 8 months to finish a project at work. I would never be so foolish again. Wishing you a pain free, healthy future

Novara

(6,115 posts)
18. You're right. Chronic pain is disabling and leads to depression
Sat Jul 16, 2022, 11:50 AM
Jul 2022

I can't work out like I prefer and I've gained some weight, which I am trying to get off before the surgery to put less stress on the new hip. I can tell my cardio has suffered. And it's just plain depressing not to be able to physically do things. Reaching down to fill the cat food dishes hurts, for example. Turning over in bed hurts. You know how it is.

My bathroom is tiny and not easy to maneuver a walker, but it can be done. I have my Mom's walker and shower seat - and her wheelchair. I never did get around to donating them after she passed away. I'm glad I didn't.

Yeah, I decided not to involve my work in deciding when to get this done. I am lucky that as soon as I am able, I can work from home, but if I need to take more time, that's OK too. I am just looking so forward to the day when I don't have this pain anymore.

Novara

(6,115 posts)
19. update
Wed Aug 24, 2022, 11:50 AM
Aug 2022

I had my pre-surgery consultation yesterday and I'm scheduled for early October. The doctor said I'm a good candidate for the anterior method, so I wanted to check back with you. He thinks I'll be up and around in a week. The office sent me home with exercises I can do before and after and it turns out that I'm doing most of them already (they sent me to physical therapy before diagnosis and I've continued the home program).

I live alone so my goal is to be mobile as soon as I can.

The cortisone wore off fairly quickly. I only had a few good weeks before the pain came roaring back.

I can't wait for the pain relief once I have the surgery.

Ziggysmom

(3,612 posts)
20. I'm so happy to hear you're scheduled and will have the anterior approach. I tried to exercise
Thu Aug 25, 2022, 05:28 PM
Aug 2022

as much as possible before surgery, but it was so difficult due to the pain. After surgery was much easier and enjoyable. I cried on my first bike ride 6 weeks post-op 😊

It was so great to be without pain walking after surgery. You will feel like you were born again, it's a difficult feeling to describe!

I had to get mobile quickly after surgery, too. I'm sole caretaker for my disabled husband. Thank God we did well with no complications. I have a feeling you will do great, too. You're fully prepared and doing all the right preparations. Healing hugs to you!

Novara

(6,115 posts)
22. I had the surgery 10/3
Thu Oct 13, 2022, 01:10 PM
Oct 2022

It went well. My surgeon was way too optimistic when he said I'd be back on my feet in a week. This is 10 days post-op. I am able to walk unassisted a little! My thigh hurts and the incision area hurts and the muscles are sore, and my thigh is swollen, but this is muscle pain, not the bone deep pain. The surgeon said the bone was just crumbling when he got in there. And I have a fracture along my femur, so they had to put a band around the bone so it can heal.

They lengthened my left leg by 5 mm so walking feels a little weird (plus, I was limping for seven months). But I'm working on trying to learn how to walk without a limp.

But I have to be honest - it is hurting more than I thought it would, and sleeping is damn near impossible. But I believe that once I get past the muscle pain, it'll feel great. I can't wait to clip my own toenails. There's still too much swelling in my leg to bend that far.

Latest Discussions»Support Forums»Chronic Health Conditions Discussion and Support»Hip replacement? Cortison...