Hip Pain

Hello Everyone.  I am a new Member (joined yesterday) and Susan was nice enough to welcome me abroad, but suggested that my hip pain maybe should be under 'arthritis' so here it is - maybe someone out there can direct me.  I am a 71 year old guy, who up until a few months ago was active in baseball and softball playing 130+ games this year, and 160+ last year.  However, in August/September my pain in the right hip became unbearable.  I wanted to get hyaluronic acid shots, but my xrays showed too little (or no) cartlidge in the ball and socket of the right hip.  So today I started physical therapy to help alleviate the pain and the limp.  The reason I am writing, is that I do NOT want to have hip surgery which two doctors (who do hip surgery) have said I needed.  I had team-mates who had the surgery and now they cannot move around or run or go side-to-side anymore.  Hence, my Memo has a 2-fold purpose:  First is there someone out there who HAS had the hip replacement AND can run etc?  Second, aside from the normal supplements (glucosamine, chondrotin, NSM, etc.) is there anything that is non-prescription or over the counter anti-inflamatory that has been successful with anyone?  I do NOT want to take prescription painkillers as they have too many side effects including really damaging one's stomach.  Any suggestions or experiences with this wopuld be appreciated.  Thank you.  regards....Tom

Goodmorning Tom & welcome to HW. 

I would first like to say, "Bravo" and applaud you for being so fit and athletic, it's very admirable!

So the right hip has little to no cartiladge, so we're dealing with Osteo Arthritis right?  The joint deterioration is from wear and tear.  Do you have any other rheumatic or arthritic condition?

 

Good move with starting PT.  Of course, surgeons are eager to cut and will push for hip replacement surgery.  I would however suggest, asking around to your friends and perhaps you will find an orthopedic who is conservative with surgery (some docs are not so "scalpel happy" and will maybe give you a different opinion.)

 

A buddy of mine is 54, male, basketball and runner who had bad hip pain, little cartiladge and a bad limp.  He had both hips done and DID continue to run afterwards and play ball....so, there is hope and remember that everyone is UNIQUE!  You may be very successful if you should ever have surgery done.

 

Okay, regarding treatments.  To add to your supplements: SamE improves joint function (and well being), fish oils such as Cor-Omega is great (I take that).  These can be bought at the drugstores OTC.  Nutri-Joint as well (but that's just like Gluc and Chond.)  Can also add gelatin to the diet as well as herbs such as tumeric, garlic, cumin which are good antiinflammatories.

Tylenol works well for pain and is easier on the stomach than NSAIDs.  But Tylenol can cause liver damage in high doses; in normal doses it is safe.

People have found chiropractics and acupuncture helpful (but that can be costly as not covered by insurance sometimes).

 

Pain can and will effect your quality of life and could keep you from doing the things you love.  Not all Rx narcotics have ill and undesirable effects.  One does tolerate them and the initial "drowsy" feeling lessens.

Prescription LidoDerm patches are excellent!  They are applied topically to a hurting area...ask your doc!!

 

The hips do take a beating over time unfortunateley. 

Remeber there is no rush to have surgery.  You're an athlete so you know your body well.

You'll make the right decisions Tom.

I hope this was of some help.

Have you been on steroids at all for the hip pain?  Seen a rheumatologist yet?

 

Take care Tom,

Erin

Tom, welcome!!!!

It is great that you are still very active at your age. (not meant as a slight at your age ) I work in a long-term care facility and see many, many people younger then you who's bodies have not faired as well. May you have many more years of activity ahead of you.
Just a thought here... and the others can feel free to jump in and add their two cents..... is there an injection available that adds "lubrication" to the joints? I vaguely remember reading something about it but don't remember if it was still in trial or on the market. Anyone?
I have quite a few residents that have had total hip replacements. Some are still active and others are not. It is all individual. It also has alot to do with the activity level afterwards too. A lot of people who have hip replacement surgery don't get up and into PT as fast as they should. In the home we encourage people to start "bearing weight" (not walking) within days of the surgery. It is very hard to do. The pain often makes people not want to. The fact is that you start loosing muscle mass within hours of inactivity, so imagine what happens after a surgery like this if you don't get into the PT fast enough. That is when a persons range-of-motion starts decreasing. If you wait for the pain to go away you will be behind the eight ball for a long time.
These are all thoughts to consider. There are often factors that work into a person's healing or lack there of. Look into all the options and decide what is best FOR YOU. None of us can tell you what to do. We can only arm you with our knowledge or point you to the place to find it.
Best of luck. I'll be praying for you. Keep posting and let us know how you are making out.
Oreo

Keep trying to find what works for you Tom. You sound as though you are a person that once you set your mind on something you don't give up until you achieve it. Keep it up!!! Those injections are what I was thinking about. Can you receive them or are the Dr's trying to talk you out of it? Do you have to have a little cartilidge for the med to work? I don't know too much about it. Keep up with the PT. It may hurt but should help in the long run.
Tom, have you ever tried hydrotherapy? (pool PT) It helps to build up the muscle mass and ROM using the resistance from the water. It is also good because it takes away the weight bearing load from the joints while still working the muscles. I have known people who have sworn by hydrotherapy over conventional PT.
Keep us informed on how things are going.
Oreo

Dear Erin, Ducky and Oreo - - Thanks once again for your helpful and encouraging comments.  Let me address your questions individually.   First Erin - -  You asked do I have osteoarthritis? The two guys with the knives (aka the surgeons I went to) along with the crowd that took the xrays of my hip and also MRI, say that I have Degenerative Arthritis of the Right Hip.  Yes, I also take Omega 3, and I take a liquid Gluco, MSM, Chondroitin plus tumeric, CoQ10, curcumin, and a host of other supplements (about 20 different ones) as I have always taken vits and minerals since I was in my twenties!  Even now, the only prescription med I take is clonidine as I have high blood pressure (just the top number) the bottom number is always in the 70's and my pulse is always in the 60's. As to your question on ever using steroids the answer is no.  I also NEVER took any of the "big league" anti-inflammatories like Celebrex and Vioxx, etc. as I knew they were lethal.  Also, I have always advised my teammates against cortizone because although it relieves the pain miraculously, one is only postponing a disaster that will be excellerated down-the-road, i.e., cortizone causes on its own the dibilitation of bone, etc.  What a nightmare that cortisone is! I think that covers your questions, and thanks again for your thoughfulness.

Hello Oreo - - As to your questions, no I have never tried hydro therapy, but I have heard it is extremely good for all the reasons you mentioned.  Thank you for that.  In the Spring I am moving to a new home being built in an over 55 community that has an indoor and outdoor pool, etc. and I will look into that at that time.  As to the hylaronic acid shots, yes they put the needle right into the cartlidge between the ball and the joint of your hip.  Since the cartlidge is made up of that hylaronic acid (and the acid is "sticky") it stays in the cartlidge to provide lubrication and cushio and acutally helps rebuilds it.  My most recent guy said there was 'bone on bone' hence he couldn't do it - - but said to call him back when I want the replacement hip! (haha).   Thanks again for your note.

Hello Ducky - - How am I feeling?  Well pretty good.  The enzyme stuff I am taking is definitely releiving some of the pain, and I do beleieve that the PT will help me down-the-road.  I have NOT called an acupunturist yet, but I have found one that is only about 15 miles from my home, so I am going to give them a call on Monday and go see them when I get an appointment.

Again folks, thank you very much for your concern.  I appreciate it very much.  Hope all three of you have a great weekend.  I am going to a weekend retreat for 9th graders in our religious ed program at church, and I am only one of two male teachers out of 37, so they need me there for discipline purposes.  Although I am Tom M. all my life, I am secretly Capt. Bligh! (another haha).  Regards...Tom M. 

 

Erin - - In one of your memos to me, you mentioned a friend of yours in his mid-50's who had BOTH hips replaced and is a runner!  Is it ok to give you my email address and ask that this fellow contact me?  I would love to talk to him, as my experience in talking to the few ball players who have had hip replacements, they CANNOT run - - as a matter of fact their doctors strongly advise against it etc.  Also, there is a fear of falling, as I am told if you do fall and break a hip there is no place left to insert the replacement piece.  I do NOT want to violate any rules of the chatroom, so please email back what I should do to contact this chap.  Thank you.  Regards...Tom M.

Tom, I think you're GREAT!  You're such a good asset to HealingWell.  A true motivation and inspiration for many I'm sure, including myself.

You're making me reconsider taking up PT again.  Since I have medicaid maybe I can find a place that accepts it.  Or at least try to get back to the pool (even if I can't swim well right now, at least maybe paddle a bit).

The best to you.

Sincerely,

Erin

oh man! I haven't spoke to my buddy in over a year! (I do not go to the gym anymore, and I lost touch with many friends). But I do know by word of mouth that he's hittin' the gym and playing ball. You know what, the holidays are coming and we go to the same pub, I'm sure I'll see him. I'll see if he has email and I'll get a full report of how he's doing with his bionic hips! Will get back to you.
Erin

Chocolat - - Thanks for that info!  I had heard of taumeel a couple of years ago, but forgot all about looking it up, etc.  I just now went up on Google to look where I could get it, and I only got 12 responses - 11 of which were in German and the other was just talking about it - no way to order.  I'll keep searching.  Thanks again.  And glad to hear you are pain-free.  Regards...Tom M.

Hah!  Tom, you are one funny fellow.  Hopefully you found some info written other than German.  Darn...should have paid attention in "German Club" in highschool.  Shucks!

Welcome CHOCOLAT!  Glad to have you here at HealingWell.  So what is this Traumeel?  An elixir? Pill?  What was your experience on it and how did it help?  Are you interested in homeopathy?  I'm curious to hear your story, please share!

{{Just remember that when posting responses, we can't advertise/solicit products...but if you're interested in posting a link, you have to clear it with Peter at admin. and he'll inform you how to do it.}}

Looking forward to hearing from you Chocolat!  Again, welcome.

Oh, do you have OA of the hips too?

Sincerely,

Erin 

Chocolat - - I found the Traumeel. I notice there arte the tablets and the creme. Did you get relief by using the tablets? The creme? or both? Please advise so I know which to order - or both! Also, what was your "time frame" for relief? Thanks again for your help. Regards...Tom M

Chocolat - - Thanks for the info. I am going to order the sublingual tablets. I will keep you posted as to my success with them! I am glad for you that you are pain-free with them, as chronic pain can really tire you out! I'm sure it played a big part in your chronic fatigue. Fortunately, I only started getting this hip pain several years ago, but foolishly I let it go, and now it is horrendous! That is why I posted a remeinder to folks out there who have pain (say in their hip or any other place for that matter) to right away start doing something to relieve the pain, otherwise your options for correction of the problem diminish with time. Thanks again for your help and continued good luck with YOUR pain! Regards...Tom M.

Can this be used for RA?  as well as OA?

Thanks,

Erin