Bone-on-bone hip OA and TMS?

[mazmar]

Hello

I just joined this site after lurking for a while and I guess I am looking for some hope and encouragement.

I am 58 and have been struggling with pain in my right hip for about 10 years now. The diagnosis is osteoarthritis. I will do anything to avoid surgery, and have been looking into the TMS route and neuroscientific principles for pain management for a few years, and it has helped me to a point. I still walk 6 - 8 miles several times a week, and although I pay for it afterwards with stiffness and pain for a few days, I still do it. The only other thing I can't do is sit cross-legged. I very rarely take any painkillers.

Every professional I have been to says I need a hip replacement, and today I went to the hospital hoping to discuss other options with the surgeon, but he was insistent I needed surgery and sooner rather than later, telling me it was a really bad X-ray and bone on bone. (a negative evaluation which is a major danger signal to my nervous system, or Major DIM if you're into Explain Pain and DIMs and SIMS!!)

The waiting list is 1-2 years and I put myself on it, but I am quite honestly terrified of major surgery for a number of reasons, not least being on my own and not having anyone to look after me when I get out, and a fear of going mad with not being to get out of the house and out and about for weeks on end.

I am wondering if anyone else has experience of being told this, of refusing it, of applying TMS or similar principes and of being OK without surgery in the end?

 

[BloodMoon]

not least being on my own and not having anyone to look after me when I get out

If you are in the UK, I believe the Red Cross has a 'Support at home" service for this purpose. Someone I know had an operation on her foot and wasn't allowed to put her weight on it at all for a long time, and she used the Red Cross service until she was mobile again.

I'm afraid I can't help with the aspect of having been in your situation and avoided surgery. I guess though the 'good' thing in having to wait 1 to 2 years to be offered an operation, is that you can use the time to experiment with various mind/body/TMS techniques before having to make a decision and, as you've been a 'lurker' on the forums for a while, I expect you'll already know what those methods are.

EDIT: Something I learned the other day (with regard to my being on an NHS waiting list for an operation) is that when they do eventually call you up for your procedure (even maybe before they do - I'm not sure about that) if you want to delay you can without having to start from scratch with regard to the waiting time -- apparently, without having to go back to the bottom of the waiting list again or to have to be re-referred by your GP when you do want the surgery... What they can do is categorise you as a "P6" case, which means that they should contact you circa every 6 months (for an indefinite period, it seems) to see how you're doing and whether you are ready for the surgery. (I don't know how it works out in practise, but it might help you out if mind/body work is helping you and you might want to delay for longer.)

 

[Cactusflower]

Hi @mazmar
My Mum was diagnosed with bone on bone osteo in both hips. She successfully had both replaced once, and the implants were good for about 45 years of service!
However: Mum also had TMS - it's a game of chicken or egg sometimes. Did she REALLY need the surgeries? Well, like you she was very active and stayed active until she was wheelchair bound (for a very short period of time). Her hip surgeries were wildly successful, but she had other health issues in time: some that were medical and run in our family, and some that I'm sure were part of TMS.
Mum was never a person who would have participated in TMS work - but I think it would have benefited her so much. So consider that no matter what your situation, participating in the work can help anxiety around all the waiting and decision making, and how you heal after your operation if you need it.
In the UK SIRPA is the TMS organization, and you might want to call the main office and talk to someone about your situation. They might be able to guide you - I bet they have some experience assisting others in a similar situation.
The thing you have on your hands right now is time. You've got 2 years to start (if you haven't already started) to do the TMS work and see where it leads you!