Trouble climbing in and out of cars was the first sign of a R hip joint that had run out of what was needed to keep the bones from painful grinding under load.
This Xray from several years ago shows the difference in spacing between the pelvic bone on the L and the R femoral head [top of thigh bone]
My worst issue with this arthritic hip joint was trying to sleep with occasional severe pain at night when I moved or turned over.
Not keen on pain-killers, I looped a couple of tractor inner-tube loops together and strapped them to the footer of the bed to give the joint a wee stretch. Worked a treat for about two years.
Two years ago Antonie and I managed a holiday in Vietnam starting in Hanoi where the taxi driver recommended the French Hanoi Hospital as being good to check out hip problems.
We called the Hospital number from our hotel and they said to they could see me in 30 minutes so we got back in the taxi and had an excellent specialist examine, do multiple angle Xrays, MRI scan [with CD copy] and inject a steroid into the joint to reduce inflammation [and pain]. This along with diagnosis, prognosis and some other medication cost under NZ$1,000 and it all took 2 hours which our doctor son here at Dunedin Hospital said would have cost about $10,000 here and taken 3 months.
Walking got easier and a memorable holiday was had, but at the beginning of this year I pushed the joint a bit too hard while lifting a small beam up a ladder at our farm and the joint went ‘kerlonk’ and the pain got worse.
With no chance of getting a hip replacement on our Dunedin Health System waiting list because I had not been on pain killers for a year and could still just walk to the letterbox, I researched the best option for a privately paid for hip replacement and sold my best Landcruiser to help pay for the estimated $25,000 cost.
A less invasive anterior operation with quick recovery was offered at Timaru Bidwill Hospital but I still had to wait 3 months before a surgery date 28/5/25 last Wednesday was available.
The Surgeon Mark Cvitanich was very reassuring having done 400 of these hip operations.
He explained the detailed operation process, showing me the titanium and ceramic bits that would replace my crunched bone joint and assured me that I would be up and walking with crutches as soon as the epidural anesthetic wore off and I could wiggle my toes.
The titanium bits have special bubbly surfaces that the existing bone quickly grows into without the need for any glues.
And that is just what happened.
Within a couple of hours I was doing rounds of the Hospital ward on crutches and next morning was off home to Dunedin with a bucket of drugs and just this bandage to show for a complete hip replacement job.
They also let me have the worn top ball of the joint [femoral head] which has now been replaced with a ceramic ball and titanium attachments.
Mark explained that was a bit tough to remove so got broken in the process.
Just as well the Anesthetist Mr Duran had everything well under control.
I was very happy to wake up with the news that all had gone well.
and we were able to stop off in Oamaru for lunch and a wander on the way home.
I am told the healing will take 6 weeks and I need to walk lots progressively each day and there is a heap of drugs that will make this stage of the process tolerable, including pain relief, muscle relaxant, laxatives, blood thinners, and antibiotics.
I am delighted with the hip op, the expertise of Mark Cvitanich and the caring and attentive staff at Bidwill Hospital and I am looking forward to a full recovery and maximum mobility within 6 weeks.
Lee Vandervis - lee@vandervision.co.nz 