Hip replacement and vet practice

Re: Hip replacement and vet practice

An On MRCVS — Sun, 06 May 2012 12:56:02 GMT

The remark about my job was meant seriously. I have a nice job with a rural mainly large animal practice but on a locum basis. This has been convenient both for my boss and me, because he can suggest more days off in quiet times, and I can take as much holiday and when I want it as long as it doesn't interfere with the work. My concern is that if I am off for three or more months in the busy season, another vet need to take over and I may not automatically get my job back. That was already my worry with people commenting on me limping about. So I am glad that there seems a solution in sight with positive experience of people in the profession. Maybe I shouldn't be paranoid about it since so many of our farmers have replaced hips and/or knees!

But thanks for all of your reactions!

Re: Hip replacement and vet practice

Richard Fox — Fri, 04 May 2012 16:03:36 GMT

My wife who works in the NHS has just had hers (@ 36 I might add) and is in need of another soon - A long story of hip dysplasia - she loves her new hip - took her about 8-10 weeks post op to be confident to go back to work but its the best thing she did! Just needs the other doing at some point and then its back to cycling and enjoying life again!

Re: Hip replacement and vet practice

Bob Russell — Fri, 04 May 2012 14:33:19 GMT

[quote user="An On MRCVS"]

Thank you very much for taking the trouble to post this for me Elbe.

Very helpful and encouraging! One of our farmers had it done in March and was also very positive about the result after the first week of pain was over. So I'll have my name on the waiting list ASAP and hope to convince my boss to keep me on......[/quote]

It is very easy to read more into a post than was intended but without a tongue in cheek type smiley I will assume the last sentence was written seriously!

Are you suggesting that your job is at risk if you don't have the surgery? If so I would suggest you discuss this with your GP (possibly with your BVA/Household insurance legal helpline).

If it was in jest, ignore this post!

Re: Hip replacement and vet practice

An On MRCVS — Fri, 04 May 2012 13:48:20 GMT

Thank you very much for taking the trouble to post this for me Elbe.

Re: Hip replacement and vet practice

Elbe Dalton — Wed, 02 May 2012 23:01:47 GMT

I am a mostly large animal vet (mainly cattle) and had bilateral hip resurfacings (still have my own femur heads under the capping with the pin down the femur, acetabulum also lined) done respectively 11 and 10 years ago. I waited too long (nearly a year) to have the first one done as somebody said to me that after hip replacement/resurfacing your quality of life is never the same again, until one day I realised that limping around and living on painkillers is really no quality of life.

So I had it done, started working again after 6 weeks, mostly small animals for a start, after 3 months I was doing large animal work as usual, cycling, even playing squash, hiking and mountain climbing, in other words my own active self with terrific quality of life. I knew my other hip was also going, so a year afterwards when I did a 110km cycle race it was too much for it, I had the operation done exactly 2 months later, my recovery this time was much faster and I could go on with my life.

There may be a few restrictions on your movements after the operation but you learn to cope with it very quickly and find a way round it, for example sitting cross legged is out for me and sitting flat on the floor is not comfortable unless I can stretch my legs out in front of me, I also try to avoid low chairs as I find the action of sitting down and getting up out of a low chair harder. Physiotherapy in my opinion is essential after the operation especially to help you to cope with muscle spasms which can be quite severe after the operation, and to restore the full range of movement. You do not have to worry that you won’t be able to do large animal work, especially sheep - no problem.

The first 2-3 weeks after the operation is no picnic, it can be quite hard, but always remember that every day brings you nearer to the 6 weeks and eventually the 3 months when life without painkillers will be worth living again.

You are welcome to email me at edalton@vetsurgeon.org, or PM me through this site, but I don't check those very often. A good support network is vital in getting through the recovery period and if you have any further questions, I'd be happy to help.

Re: Hip replacement and vet practice

An On MRCVS — Wed, 02 May 2012 16:52:07 GMT

The Daily Mail article (Thanks for that too!) also said "Vet your surgeon carefully........"

Obviously I would trust Malcolm, but would the NHS pay? And would end up waling four legged????

Thanks very much, you guys cheer up my day!

Re: Hip replacement and vet practice

Thomas Johnson — Wed, 02 May 2012 14:55:28 GMT

Interesting article in the Daily Mail (I can't quite believe I've just written that!) two years ago which asked hip surgeons who they would refer a relative to for a hip replacement:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1303615/Britains-surgeons-hip-replacement-surgery--voted-specialists-themselves.html

Re: Hip replacement and vet practice

Malcolm Ness — Wed, 02 May 2012 14:07:01 GMT

[quote user="Michael Woodhouse"]I think Malcolm is hinting that he wants to do it![/quote]

A patient that answers back! No thanks.

Re: Hip replacement and vet practice

Michael Woodhouse — Wed, 02 May 2012 13:15:11 GMT

I think Malcolm is hinting that he wants to do it!

[quote user="Malcolm Ness"]Success rates are typically very high. However, choose your surgeon carefully - you are looking for someone who is doing and has already done lots and lots of THRs.[/quote]

[quote user="Malcolm Ness"]I have performed several hundreds[/quote]

Re: Hip replacement and vet practice

Malcolm Ness — Wed, 02 May 2012 12:00:32 GMT

Hi,

Sorry to hear about your hip. I haven't had a THR myself but I have performed several hundreds in dogs.

Successful THR in dogs and people will result in the patient returning to full athletic activity. Success rates are typically very high. However, choose your surgeon carefully - you are looking for someone who is doing and has already done lots and lots of THRs. In human surgery, there are surgeons who sub-specialise to a huge extent. A general ortho surgeon who does 3 or 4 hips a month is probably not what I would be looking for - the busier joint replacement surgeons will be doing 400 or more each year. Also, choose your implant carefully (this will be governed by your choice of surgeon) - tried and tested is what you are looking for, new and "improved" is best avoided - let someone else do the clinical testing!!

Don't be shy about asking loads and loads of questions, up to and including questions about that individual surgeon's personal case-load, that surgeon's individual success rates and failure rates etc etc. The good guys will happily share the information, others might be more evasive.

Good luck. Happy to discuss in more detail if you want to PM.

Re: Hip replacement and vet practice

An On MRCVS — Wed, 02 May 2012 10:46:19 GMT

Ha thanks Alet, that cheered me up. I love this forum!

Re: Hip replacement and vet practice

Alet Engelbrecht — Wed, 02 May 2012 10:35:00 GMT

My mum (recently retired) was a large animal vet in South Africa and also had severe osteoarthritis in both hips. She eventually took the plunge and had a Birmingham resurfacing done on the worst one, now probably 15 years ago. She has never looked back and had the 2nd one done a lot earlier in the course of the disease, actually regretting that she waited that long before having the first operation. She is a member of vetsurgeon and I will ask her to post on here, so you can have it from the horse's mouth!