The Bear said...
Hi there denim - a pretty blue just for you. This is the bear here known only to say something sensible some of the time but maybe today. You can have my history and a little of mommy bears and you can make your mind up.
1974 seriuos ligament damage playing soccer - finished me with competitive sport. 1982 I had one of the first ligament reconstructions with carbon fibre whhich in my case was successful but the damage had been done elsewhere over the intervening years - cartilege degradation. Between then and 2002 had 5 arthroscopies to clean out the knee but in 2002 had unicompartmental replacement of one side of the knee - titanium. For the first time in many years I walked limp free but the toll was then borne by the hips. 2005 I had CAD-CAM hip replacement right leg and then my left hip degraded very quickly and I am going under the drill and saw end of August. What me and the orthopod have worked out is that often when one part of the leg gives up te ghost other joints have to take extra strain and this is often the precursor to OA.
What I have noticed since I ahd hip trouble is the referred pain can crop up anywhere from the lower back to the ankles and as you are probably aware it isn't gentle pain - not like RA either just different. Fora brief period after my first hip op I had brief respite from back pain which often used to go into spasm and I too would use a chiropractor adn yes, they are a short term and expensive luxury [even here where most medical care is free - not osreopaths and chiros though]
It's not for me to suggest you have a loook at your hips for your back pain but if there is seriuos OA in there then it is a strong possibility.
What I suggest you do if you go down the hip replacement route - only if necessary - that you go armed with all the right information to your consutations. IF your orthopods are anything like ours they may be bloody good mechanics but they weren't at the front of the queue when the language skills were being handed out. CSD-CSM is used only for those with money to afford it [over here it is free if your GP will fund it] but even normal hips coome in different styles and there is even 'skinning' like a replastering job on the ball and socket. I am hopefully looking forward to a relatively pain free early retirement next year particularly back pain free [ althouth there is some OA in there].
Mommy bear had a disc removed seven years ago after spending 7 weeks lying on the lounge floor after rupturing the disc. It has left her with limited flexibility in her back but thankfully relatively pain free. HOWEVER. With a discectomy???? therre is always the risk of peripheral damage and in her case it was loss of sensation in parts of her right foot and leg caused by nerve damage during the op and this has since caused night cramps which it seems nothing can alleviate.
In between the grunts and snorts the orthopod did warn her of possible nerve damage before the op but the pros outweigh the cons "If it were me I'd have it done" were his chosen words of advice!!!!
So Denim look at all the possibilities, weigh up the options, look up on the web like I did cos forearmed is forewarned.
Stay well.
The Bear from downtown Apsley, Hertfordshire, England. [but Washington DC next week].
Thank you so much for taking the time to post all of that for me. I never take that for granted. Your compassion is appreciated.
My problem has been that the doctors I see aren't listening to me, are not knowledgable or don't care. It has been odd to say the least that in 2 years of pain and mris stating stenosis, no one feels they can do a thing. I have zero options given to me at the moment. I live in Arizona, and I have come thus far to say, I have yet met up with a helpful doctor. I have had one doctor refuse to see me, another speak on hip replacement based on nothing. If one would speak to me about the stenosis I'd be thrilled. My last visit the doctor said, what I'm describing in my legs doesn't sound like stenosis or a back problem??? I feel like I'm in looney land and can't get out. Something has to give, it feels like it's getting worse. I had blood tests taken for ra and sediment rate to appease the doctor. If it doesn't show high, I will take it further and have grounds to see another ortho, but so far the 2 I've seen didn't help and the neuro was the worst, he couldn't be bothered.
Anyway....thanks again for your post.
Blessings to you and your wife,
Barbara