Need to get a hip replacement

cannedhams on 04/03/2014 - 10:38

I was hoping I might be able to pick up one at aldi's yearly artificial hip sale (jk)

As it happens I don't have health insurance. My gp gave me a referral to a hip surgeon who only sees patients with private insurance. I offered to pay with cash but no cigar.

Couple of questions:-

Is it worth me getting private insurance now? I am pretty confident I could put it off a couple more years. I am only 35.

Or should I shop around and get someone who will do it on medicare or cash in hand?

I could also try and get it done in Japan I suppose.

Any suggestions?

Financial

Comments

  • DarthAntz on 04/03/2014 - 10:42
    +1

    Japan, Taiwan or India. Start researching, I wouldnt bother with anything here. You'll be put on a wait list and spend 3-4x as much, compared to going overseas, having a nice little holiday, good doctors and great food from the countries above. I've had friends go OS for dental and cancer work, but not for a hip replacement.
    Good luck and godspeed

    • cannedhams on 04/03/2014 - 11:02
      +3

      Dentistry is one thing yeah, hip replacement another. Fees here are 8 to 10 k. Not too bad I suppose.

      • Dpx on 05/03/2014 - 18:49
        -2

        Dentistry overseas? No thanks - Different infection control standards & training levels. Ill stick to Aussie dentists.

      • kolorijo on 06/03/2014 - 08:46

        Yupe, op pretty much will be doing alot of physio as well straight after the operation for around 3-4 weeks.

    • Candour on 05/03/2014 - 10:57

      an indian friend told me that they might overcharge you in many ways in india.
      and who knows how good they really are?
      probably good to get into a fund now to qualify if you expect to lose your hip at 35??????
      check preexisting condition exclusions.

    • Bunnyburger on 06/03/2014 - 03:11

      My family does all their medical checkups in Taiwan, very professional and affordable. Instead of sitting in a waiting room hunched over a small seat for hours, you actually get a bed to lie in and an Ipad to play with while waiting for the next test.

      The taiwanese folks call the place "Tai Da", if that helps.

  • althamaj on 04/03/2014 - 10:52
    +2

    I am all for going overseas for hip replacement, but it can be a long road for recovery and you will generally need extensive physio when you get back.

    You are also very young so their may be alternate methods (see hip resurfacing) that a bit gentler so I would try and see if you can get another opinion. To have a full replacement at 35 means you'll need another one about ~50 which will be even more technically difficult.

    If you pay privately you have to check, some will have a longer wait list for pre-existing conditions.

    Which state are you in?

    • cannedhams on 04/03/2014 - 11:00

      In Queensland. I read a bit on the internet and I do not like the sound of the second operation 15 years down the track.

      Basically I am leaning towards putting it off as long as possible.

      Hip resurfacing sounds interesting. I should note that it is the socket that is knackered not the ball.

      • althamaj on 04/03/2014 - 16:25
        +2

        There is so many variables I would not attempt to offer medical advice online, but some surgeons might consider the birmingham method (BHR).

        As others have said if you have a genuine need the public system will generally look after you fairly quickly. In the worst case, once you are on a public list, be extra nice to the medical receptionist and ring daily to check for any cancellations/ no shows.

        In the mean time see you gp for a referral to a public clinic and regarding pain relief, from paracetamol to Injections. Also if you try and (safely) improve your physical condition and lose any excess weight, it will help your recovery no end.
        Without private insurance a physio/GP (or an ortho surgeon) is the best one to try and advise you on what is safe and what isn't with OA hip.

        Go to the ED if you absolutely need to for pain relief, but it won't put you ahead to see a clinic.

        • cannedhams on 04/03/2014 - 23:20

          Thanks very much for the info.

      • Bunnyburger on 06/03/2014 - 03:16

        I got screwed over by a doctor in Brisbane. Suing him wasn't worth it under the Civil Liabilities Act because the damages are capped. Pain and suffering is not something that's worth compensating, you need to prove economic loss in cases of medical malpractice as well.

        Btw I love paizuri too :)

        • Conka on 06/03/2014 - 09:42
          +3

          Btw I love paizuri too :)

          Based on this comment, I googled. I'm not sure I should have, as the electronic security team will be here shortly to take me away.

          (BTW, so do I!)

        • brilliances on 07/03/2014 - 01:34

          Based on this comment, I googled. I'm not sure I should have, as the electronic security team will be here shortly to take me away.

          Based on your comment, I googled what you googled. I am all the wiser.

        • cannedhams on 07/03/2014 - 08:20

          Med negligence is definitely a hell of a lot more difficult these days since the CLA.

  • mini2 on 04/03/2014 - 10:59

    I thought even if you take up insurance now there's gonna be some sort of waiting period for pre-existing conditions? Like the annoying iSelect ad, if you haven't sign up before your 31st b/day there's gonna be loading added.

    Malaysia might be another option along with what's been mentioned - plenty of their dr's are educated here then gone home and their facility isn't bad at all. Prolly similar story with Thailand or Taiwan.

    • cannedhams on 04/03/2014 - 22:08

      Yeah I get the feeling private insurance is not worth it for me.

  • cuteseal on 04/03/2014 - 11:17
    +1

    Yeah be careful - even if you get private health, they could potentially wiggle out of paying by saying it's a pre-existing condition.

    If you say you can wait - going down the Medicare route would be the most cost effective?

    • cannedhams on 04/03/2014 - 11:31
      +1

      Yeah probably. Maybe I should hit the gp up again and get another referral.

  • dp1 on 04/03/2014 - 12:11
    +3

    Private insurance CAN NOT legally refuse to cover pre-existing conditions (can only have waiting periods), however most companies have joint replacements only in their top-level cover, you may be forking out 3.5-4K a year for this so will possibly break even over 2 years compared to just paying cash up front for the procedure.
    Ring round all your local orthopaedic surgeons to see if anyone will see you uninsured (private patient at a public hospital is one halfway-house solution).
    Alternatively go on the public wait list for 1-2 years if you have time anyway, $0 cost.

    • dp1 on 04/03/2014 - 13:11
      +9

      Sorry that is not the "best thing to do", it is a piss-poor use of public health care resources. If a decision has been made already that a procedure is needed, the GP should refer to the public hospital orthopaedic clinic if private is not an option for the patient. Duplication of investigations will send any health system broke, and ED should not be doing pre-operative work-ups if it is not an emergency (the OP said they can wait for months/ years if needed).

      Rant over.

      DOI a GP who would NOT be impressed if hospital staff gave my patient the above advice

      • dishak on 04/03/2014 - 14:09
        -7

        It may not be the best thing to do as the OP has stated that they can wait months/years (what is the diagnosis of your hip, eg fracture, degeneration, dislocation ect), If the OP has already been told that he needs a hip replacement by a GP (that is worrying as they have no experience in determining surgery and at your age surgery should be the last option)so i am not 100% sure who has told the OP to get a hip replacement as they will need advice only from a orthopedic surgeon.

        In my time as a health professional the only reason why people wait to do surgery is because it is not something serious and doesn't bother them every minute (e.g degeneration, arthritis etc) which all of these can be dealt with medications, unless when there is a fracture, repeat dislocations, unable to do everyday tasks ect it becomes an urgent issue which is why it is best to do is to go to the emergency department. Even if you tell them that you have had the necessary examinations they will still take you in, if you are prepared to wait. They may also direct you to the public services available.

        • one man clan on 04/03/2014 - 15:11
          +12

          Or, instead of overburdening the allready overburdened emergency system, he could go back to his GP (or another GP) and ask for a referral to a doctor that will actually see him?

        • MementoMori on 05/03/2014 - 10:31
          +3

          And this is why I can't even get a simple blood test in under 2 hours, the first time in over 5 years I want to use the medical system I pay tens of thousands in tax for.

          We could use a lot less 'dishak's' taking advantage of our generous system.

        • kwaker on 05/03/2014 - 20:43
          +1

          Why are you wasting hospital time with simple blood tests? Hypocrisy

    • Amaris on 04/03/2014 - 17:34
      +2

      Sure mate. Go to ED, tell them you are in pain, tell them that you had no trauma and have been in pain for XX number of weeks/months. I guarantee it the most they will do is make sure you can walk and give you the name and number of the on-call Orthopod and ask you to see him. If the hospital has an Orthopaedic outpatient service they may refer you to that and you will be lucky to get an appointment in a few weeks. Your GP could do the same referral quicker (rather than waiting to be seen in ED)

      I don't know where or as what you work in the 'public sector' but it sure as hell sounds like it is not in an ED!

  • georgedeka on 04/03/2014 - 13:39
    +2

    Get another referral, you could even ask for one to a public hospital

    • cannedhams on 04/03/2014 - 23:44

      i think i probably will, thanks

  • [Deactivated] on 04/03/2014 - 19:28
    +4

    Saw a documentary on one type of material being used for hip replacement ball and sockets. I think it might have been cobalt!? Anyway, this was over 12 months ago, but they said it was still in use because it's government approved for discount whereas other types aren't - something like that anyway. Apparently the metal is faulty, breaks down, and then destroys surrounding flesh and bone. Make sure you find out exactly what it is, and that you aren't given one of those.

    • cannedhams on 04/03/2014 - 22:07

      I will watch out for cobalt :-) thanks

    • kwaker on 05/03/2014 - 20:46

      I saw this report too very scarey.

  • [Deactivated] on 04/03/2014 - 19:36
    +1

    Can't offer any advice mate (know very little about them but I watch them being done all the time - I'm a radiographer), but can I ask why you need one at 35? You're so young. Just curious, but if you don't want to share that info, I understand. Good luck with it all :)

    • cannedhams on 04/03/2014 - 22:06
      +1

      Well I Uploaded my xray here. Severe osteoarthritis of the right hip.

      The only explanation I can think of is that 10 years ago I fell over on my bike with my feet stuck in the cleat pedals

      Thanks to all for their info

      http://i62.tinypic.com/kt1xk.jpg

      • MarkB4 on 04/03/2014 - 23:01
        +1

        That looks bad. Good wiki here - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hip_replacement

        If you can wait get it done here on medicare, you've paid for it and if anything goes wrong you're in good hands and not OS. I doubt the wait would be long given your condition.

        • cannedhams on 04/03/2014 - 23:19
          +4

          Im not in any pain except if I walk a considerable distance. However, the doc says once I wear through that last bit of cartilage I'm going to cry like a little bitch.

        • fatlikeyamum on 05/03/2014 - 08:20
          +1

          Hi,

          As stated on this thread I think your best bet is to sign up right now to a private fund and wait out the 12 months (if you can go that long).

          Could I ask you to give your exact symptoms? Just after walking distance it gets sore? Is it the 'whole' hip joint or does it just get sore in a certain spot? How about excercise such as lifting your knee up toward your chest and down again, is there any pain or clunking feeling?

        • cannedhams on 05/03/2014 - 14:59

          I have constant low level ache and tenderness over the "knobby bit" (greater trochanter?). If I walk more than 6 ks, the ache will become progressively worse, and I will need several hours to recover.

          Anymore than 8ks, the ache will become unbearable and I cannot walk any more. Running much worse, any more than several hundred metres and the pain gets too bad.

          If I move my leg vertically upwards towards my chest I will get pain, but not too bad. Lateral movement is much worse. For that reason when I walk I take care to use my right leg in a perfectly straight line, if I side step off that leg I get pain.

          I have modified my stride to make the step with the right leg shorter. Unfortunately my left foot takes the strain and I have developed plantar fasciitis in the left foot. However I manage that okay with a night splint.

      • headlessfly on 05/03/2014 - 21:11

        That looks like your left hip has severe arthritis and the right hip is healthy.

        Unless you put the xray up the wrong way around

        • cannedhams on 05/03/2014 - 22:32

          Well spotted. Frankly I don't know why they do it the other way.makes more sense to have the right on the right surely.

        • headlessfly on 06/03/2014 - 09:49

          Conventionally it's always the other way around - because most of us look at the patient from the front.

  • jeffjj on 04/03/2014 - 22:45
    +2

    That appears to be a very damaged hip. But I would not consider overseas treatment due to risk of superbug infection and in my experience going to casualty is no use unless you have an urgent need eg infection or acute pain. Has your GP considered referring you to a rheumatologist both to rule out inflammatory causes of the joint damage, and to guide you through the non surgical treatments available?

    • cannedhams on 04/03/2014 - 23:23

      No, havent really discussed it other than a 5 minute conversation with the GP. Thanks for the suggestions.

  • Amaris on 04/03/2014 - 23:06
    +2

    Why don't you take out the Top cover of any major health fund and then wait a year to serve out your waiting period? Then you should be able to get this done almost for free. The cost would be about $100 a month for the health cover. This is assuming you actually need the hip replacement…

    • cannedhams on 04/03/2014 - 23:18

      Thanks for that suggestion, did a quick search and you are right. I really appreciate the info, thanks. Looks like I have a couple of options to toss up.

      • surm on 05/03/2014 - 14:40
        +5

        Take a cover that has
        * No excess payment
        * No daily co payments

        because you will definitely have the procedure done.

        Also make sure some funds have longer waiting periods for certain procedures.

        It is much easier to compare funds and benefits from here:

        http://www.privatehealth.gov.au/dynamic/compare.aspx

        • cannedhams on 05/03/2014 - 15:01

          Thank you very much for that, most helpful.

  • anna10 on 05/03/2014 - 07:32
    +1

    Agree, you'll need the top cover health ins - sit back for the waiting period - ensure you read the fine print re what is covered. Also, seek another surgeon's opinion before thoughts of that surgery so young. Going o/s not a good idea as you'd be incredibly uncomfortable post surgery and here they would tell you to cancel all o/s travel post surgery in case of clots and infections etc.

    Sadly, the top cover will cover hosp fees, but the surgeons etc will have out of pockets, say 3K?

    • cannedhams on 05/03/2014 - 07:50

      Really? Thats harsh. What about if it was done in the surgeons rooms? I see I'll have to look at this closely. Thanks for the info.

  • anna10 on 05/03/2014 - 08:08
    +1

    A total hip replacement (THR) is a serious operation. Not sure what op you are talking about. Many surgeons will not recommend any direct injections and other non useful actions as if you get an infection in there and you can never go to surgery.

  • piggyfund on 05/03/2014 - 09:15
    +5

    Hi, I am going to make 2 assumptions - 1. you have never had a hip replacement before and 2. you have never had a surgery in Japan or any other country aside from Australia. If you can find an orthopedic surgeon that is will to do this for $8K go for it! This is a bargain. Once you factor in the hospital bed stay for at least a few days if not over a week the price will go up up up. I have cared for my husband post hip replacement op. (he too is in his mid 30s) It takes about 6 weeks to recover and post op the first 4 weeks are the worst. You can't sit, drive or do anything except rest. You need special seat/frame at home to help you go to the toilet as you can't sit and no stairs etc etc. On top of that you will need someone to care for you. Not around the clock care but at least daily to help you. Japan is not a viable option unless you are fluent in Japanese and have somewhere free to stay. 6 weeks in Japan will wipe out any savings you think you may get and having lived there for a long time its not a convenient place to recover from surgeries as there are a lot of stairs everywhere and crowds plus all travel is done on public transport. Plus so many uni students sleep through their classes I would not want anyone opening me up in case they slept through their university days (!!!)

    • cannedhams on 05/03/2014 - 14:47

      excellent info. many thanks. yes I have never had this done before.

  • backpaqer on 05/03/2014 - 10:07
    +3

    My wife needed a hip replacement around your age and they put it off as long as possible waiting for new technology. She now has a titanium hip with the teflon cups that are replaceable. She saw a Dr Richard De Stiger in Melbourne (massive waitlist). Her op (about 12-14 years ago now) cost about $15k all told…mostly covered by private health insurance. I can't believe they turned their noses up at cash. They should be able to give you a worst case scenario for cost and if you can pay that up front as a surety there should be no question.

    As someone else pointed out, Japan…very expensive…better to go to Thailand or Indonesia if you're willing to take that gamble and it would be quite cheap to park your recuperating body on a beach with full bar service. But you'd want a surgeon who knows what they're doing…any chance of doing it through the public system?

    • dvd107 on 05/03/2014 - 11:00

      The surgeon must also factor in cost of post-op complications - e.g. infection. Sometimes the patient needs to go back into surgery to have the wound washed out. This can cost many fold x 15k plus longer rehabilitation.

      Should something go wrong in the surgery, and you need ICU stay, the cost can be up to few thousand each day.

      No surgeon would take on that risk.

    • cannedhams on 05/03/2014 - 14:48

      Thank you for the info. The replaceable teflon cups sounds brilliant, I have to factor in at least two future ops potentially. Thanks again.

      • backpaqer on 06/03/2014 - 08:36

        Yes…the old tech used to dictate that a person could only have a maximum of two hip ops in their lifetime, once the second hip wore out you were wheelchair bound from then on. And with a hip-life expectancy of 20 years - to get a hip replacement was almost guaranteeing that you would not be walking after 75 years at best. Basically, if the hip has to come out, they have to cut away some of the pelvic bone to fit the titanium socket.

        The other great thing my wife got done was one leg was one inch shorter than the other…so she got the surgeon to even that out during the process. She still insists on wearing orthotics - which I consider something like snake oil.

  • anna10 on 05/03/2014 - 10:23
    +2

    Surgeons will give you a written quote with all the other voluminous paper work which you have to agree to before they proceed. Best you ask for a referral to a good surgeon. Don't think that because you see a surgeon it is a slippery slope. Many will tell you if you need to wait until you xxx symptoms and they have no shortage of patients, mostly older. We now live longer, but unfortunately they tag it on the end. ;)

  • OldBugger on 05/03/2014 - 10:51
    +3

    My friend (in his 60s, lives in WA) is booked in for his hip replacement and it took a little over 2 months from GP to surgery. He has no private health cover.

    Same situation as you, he was thinking of getting private health and wait it out or pay for the surgery up front. They heard of a respected specialist who carries out hip operations at public hospitals and requested a referral from the GP. A few weeks later they got into the specialist who decided my friend should get the operation as soon as possible. The specialist was able to book him in for surgery within a month and a half.

    Only costs were the $150 for initial consult to the specialist (there will be a couple of appointments after surgery). Pre-operation scans and tests were all free. Surgery will be free. He is getting it done this month.

  • bringitontm on 05/03/2014 - 12:47
    -2

    Firstly what was the reason your hip got bugged in the first place? At 35 years old it is a sign of a physical dysfunction causing the hip to become this way which may or may not be helped by a hip replacement. I would definitely consider other options at your age. The most promising looks to be Total Motion Release. Check it out and you will not be disappointed.

    • cannedhams on 05/03/2014 - 16:29

      No idea. Potential causes:-

      1) Vegan diet since teenage years. However the rest of me is fine. If it was a dietary deficiency you'd think that the other hip would be knackered too.

      2) Maybe a fall from a bike a long time ago.

      No history in the family of hip problems.

  • bargain_knight on 05/03/2014 - 12:49
    +1

    You should be able to get it free through Medicare. There will be a wait and you won't be able to choose your surgeon.

    Ask your GP for a referral to a public clinic.

  • jeffjj on 05/03/2014 - 13:49
    +1

    As mentioned before, most orthopaedic and spinal surgeons in Melbourne won't see uninsured patients, or at least the ones I deal with. Therefore to consider surgery, you could get your GP to refer you to the orthopaedic clinic at the public hospital of your choice, or maybe rheumatology clinic if you want to see about non surgical treatments.

  • Dingus on 05/03/2014 - 14:12
    +3

    I got a hip replacement last year at the age of 18. As others have said you need time to recover I was on crutches for 3 weeks from memory but the first week or so I was still in hospital getting physio once or twice daily? (I forgot) Anyways the first week was painful even with meds. So as long as you can find time to recover it shouldn't be too bad going OS especially if you can find a good surgeon.

    • cannedhams on 05/03/2014 - 17:53

      Thanks very much. It puts things into perspective about me being a misery guts having to get one at the age of 35.

  • anna10 on 05/03/2014 - 14:47

    Health ins w' no excess does not mean that you will not need to pay. Better ask around.

  • HN Professional on 05/03/2014 - 16:55

    1. Holy Ship, paizuri (& Dingus & piggyfund's hubby & backpaqer's wifey), bad luck commiserations :-(
      I used to work in Aged Care and hip replacements are thoroughly unpleasant (mebbe the suffering is mitigated if you're younger?)

    2. Thanks for the useful info from everyone eg. medical 'tourism' people, lahiruwan, piggyfund et al. I'm in a similar age bracket and my left knee feels like scraping sandpaper some days. I don't have health insurance (by stubborn choice) - I don't want to be a burden on taxpayers - I've always thought I could just rock up to a specialist (with referral, of course) and pay cash. Seems I've been very naive - <scurries off to check health insurance websites…>

    • cannedhams on 06/03/2014 - 11:56

      Yeah it did come as something of a shock. I guess we all take out health for granted.

  • headlessfly on 05/03/2014 - 17:25

    In your situation, it will depend on how much the hip is bothering you, and whether you can wait long enough on the public waiting list.

    It sounds odd that the surgeon would refuse to see you even if you offered to pay for the consultation.

    Your options are:

    1. Ask your GP to refer you through the public system. You may wait months to see a surgeon, at which time they may decide to send you for further investigations, and see you again with the results of which they then use to help decide what the best treatment is for you - and it may or may not be surgery. Unless your condition is very clear cut, the GP and the surgeon may have differing opinions about the best course of management. The surgeon may decide that a hip replacement is not necessarily the answer, for various reasons, e.g. you may outlive your artificial hip and therefore may need a replacement of your replacement down the track, etc. So with this option you are looking at several months, sometimes years, and a few visits to hospital before getting an answer to your problem. And a further wait if you need surgery.

    2. Putting the above into context, your second option may be to go private. Ask your GP to refer you to a surgeon who will see you if you paid for your appointment (you can claim part of the consultation back from Medicare). Private health doesn't usually give a rebate for surgeon appointments, so whether you have private health or not right now doesn't matter really. This way, you will see the surgeon relatively quickly, and get your relevant tests organised and see the surgeon again and get an answer as to what to do next. This could all potentially be sorted within a matter of weeks, or couple of months. During this time, you can start taking out private health cover and wait 12 months (generally) and then you'll be ready to use that cover.

    3. There is one other option - That is, to get an answer swiftly first, then decide to go public or private. Ask your GP to refer you to a surgeon who works a mixed practice - partly in private and partly in public. That way you can visit the surgeon at his/her office and be seen privately (pay cash and claim reimbursement from Medicare) and a decision can be made. At this point, ask the surgeon whether he/she recommends a hip replacement, and if so you can decide then whether to go private or public. If you decide to go public, then the surgeon can organise you to be put on his/her list at the public hospital. This way you get seen and a decision quickly, followed by waiting on the public waiting list with all the public patients. The advantage of this method is at least you don't wait months or years to even start to get put on the waiting list.

    • cannedhams on 05/03/2014 - 17:55
      +2

      It sounds bloody odd to me as well. I guess business must be pretty good if he can afford to turn away people with cash.

      Thanks for the tips, I like the sound of no 3. Maybe I will organise insurance and go and see him in 2 months or 3 and see what he says.

      • headlessfly on 05/03/2014 - 18:57

        Yes. Particularly odd given that the appointment is not reimbursed by private health as far as I understand.

      • headlessfly on 06/03/2014 - 09:59

        Having said all this, since activity-based-funding came into play for the public health system, there has been a push to do more joint replacements, as they are often positive-funding operations for the hospitals. And you may find you somehow make it through quicker than you expected.

        The very simplified explanation is that the hospitals get a certain lump sum for a procedure - and that has to cover the entire episode of care from operating theatre costs, to staffing and equipment, physio, etc. And if everything goes well, the money is enough to cover all that, with money to spare - which the hospital can then use to fund the negative-funding activities. And joint replacements are one of these ones that can potentially generate positive funding.

        The hospital has an incentive to make sure as many people get through it without complications as possible, because otherwise the cost of treating those complications comes out of the hospital's own pocket. That can quickly turn a positive funding activity into a negative funding one. +/- any fines for underperformance (e.g. if a patient falls in hospital).

        In your case, since you are young and healthy (I assume), you are probably going to go go in there, get your hip done, do a bit of physio and get out unscathed. More likely anyway than an old granny with multiple heart and kidney problems. By that logic, at least from a funding perspective, the hospital wants you. Of course not everything in life is about funding, nor should it be, but that's life sometimes.

  • anna10 on 05/03/2014 - 17:58

    You may not actually need a hip replacement until a surgeon looks at the pix and talks to you about yr symptoms.

  • dp1 on 05/03/2014 - 18:34
    +1

    headlessfly's option 3 is what I would suggest, most surgeons will see you for an initial private consult then put you on a public waiting list if uninsured. There are a few who hold no public hospital contracts and can't access the public system so avoid these.
    Do you have the radiology report for your X-ray? It looks more complicated than the average 75 year old arthritic hip, and that might be best dealt with by a niche professor in a tertiary public hospital rather than the average jobbing orthopaedic surgeon.

  • kangaroo on 05/03/2014 - 19:00
    +2

    Sorry I don't have the answer to your question regarding how to get the right doctor.
    I have been researching about hip surgeries on the web as I might need one in the far future.

    ******* I am not a medical professional, but based on my OWN research, my observations are as follows. ******

    1. I saw the xray, your left hip looks very healthy.
    2. The right hip might have got damaged due to a sports injury (as you mentioned), or due to posture (where you have been over using one leg, bearing most of your body weight.
    3. Give that you are young, hip resurfacing such as the Birmingham procedure might be an option (instead of total hip replacement)
    4. My understanding is that hip replacements lasts from 15 - 25 years. So you will have to pick the right time since given your age you might require two surgeries.
    5. Arthritis in 30s is not uncommon. Sadly even kids have Arthritis. But, with a positive outlook the disease can be managed.
  • Seren on 05/03/2014 - 22:03
    +1

    March 2013 GP gave me a referral for back specialist. One of the first 2 questions the receptions asks is whether you are a public or private patient. I said public, common responses were that they were "not taking on public patients", "not taking on public patients for rest of the year". Out of eight specialist, one could see me in August.

    Brother-in-law (50-ish y.o., dodgy hip for as long as I've known him), currently on unpaid sick leave while he waits for hip replacement surgery in public system in Qld. On high dose prescription painkillers and can barely walk/shuffle. Surgery is to involve hip replacement and bone graft to add bone back into where it's worn away. Despite level of pain, severity of damage, inability to work and now lack of income, he's in the second highest priority group available. This still means minimum 12 to 18 month wait.

    Would be worth asking private health insurers what the waiting period is for something like a hip replacement. If it's 2 years and you can hold off that long, what you would have paid in private health insurance would probably still be less than cost of getting the surgery and rehab etc if your pay cash all the way.

    So question might be 'what's your pain threshold like ? '

    • cannedhams on 06/03/2014 - 19:59

      Yeah, 18 month wait, I may as well just pay for the bloody health insurance. We have more in common with the US health system than we care to admit I think. Thanks for the info.

  • backpaqer on 06/03/2014 - 08:41
    +2

    Traditionally hip replacements were scheduled at the 11th hour, just as the patient was getting to the point where mobility was severely restricted. Problem with this is the muscle tone deteriorated and the recovery time increases. These days they seem to get in early while mobility is still reasonable with good muscle tone/structure and recovery is pretty quick (weeks not months)…my wife was walking (albeit painfully) within 8 hours of surgery.

    • cannedhams on 06/03/2014 - 20:00

      Yeah, I was thinking of waiting until my hip was absolute rat **** but maybe thats not the thing to do. Thanks for the info.

      • morpheu on 08/03/2014 - 14:56

        If i were in your position i wouldn't do that, if your operation is to replace the ball and socket joint with artificial parts, think carefully about 'running your hip into the ground' before the surgery, to get a good result the new parts need good strong solid bone to anchor to, if you wait to the last minute the bone maybe soft/brittle or lack a good blood supply, this not only means a higher chance of failure but a much longer recovery and rehabilitation period.
        ps let this be a reminder to everyone here, take vitamin D and calcium supplements everyday!

  • cannedhams on 06/03/2014 - 20:01

    Thanks to all for the comments, really appreciate it.

  • ajd71 on 08/03/2014 - 20:40

    My mother in is her 80's and needed a hip replacement just due to day to day wear and tear.

    She's a pensioner and has very little money and no private health insurance, so she did get a referral as a public patient, and had to wait about 18 months for it to go through, during which time she was in immense pain and immobile.

    That said, there is prioritisation process, and as much as I would like her to have been done immediately, I understand with her age and it not being life threatening she had to wait in the queue.

    We're from a large family, so we all got together during the time she was on the waiting list and said "We'll pay for it", get it done privately. We got very, very strong advice from several doctors not to do this privately without insurance, as while the operation is relatively straight forward and known, what happens after - in terms of infections, drugs, physio, potential second/third operations in the event of problems is very unknown, and you simply don't want to have to think about money when you're in that situation. As they said - if you're in pain and are offered a drug which sells for $500 per injection - do you want to have to think about if you can afford it, or worry about paying it off? You just want the injection.

    To give you a scale of magnitude - Doctors said that in the event of problems, $50-$100K would not be unusual.

    Sure, some of this is due to her age and increased risk, albeit she's otherwise very healthy. But in your case, if you're 35 and getting a hip now, you'll need 2-3-4 more hip replacements in the rest of your life,a s they can last from 10-20 years.

  • spacemansam on 11/04/2014 - 16:43
    +1

    I am a physio and see hip replacements all the time. In my opinion 35 is pretty young to be getting a total hip replacement purely because most prostheses are designed to last between 15-20 years (mainly because the majority of patients who have them are 65 years+, therefore it is likely you will have to go through the procedure again in the future. Also this means that you will have many functional restrictions eg. running.

    There are other surgeries possible, namely hip arthroscopies (key hole surgery) which is pretty much just a clean out. Often surgeons will opt for this method first as it is less invasive and can prevent you from having to go through a total hip replacement. The only reason a person in your situation would be recommended a total hip replacement is:
    1) There is significant degeneration of your hip
    2) You shattered your hip

    I would suggest considering getting a referral to a musculoskeletal physio or a musculoskeltal physician (such as Olympic Park Sports Medicine Centre) as there is a chance that you can still opt for conservative management is possible for you eg. exercises, injections etc.

    Rehab following a hip replacement is generally not very long, usually between 2-3 months if everything is going smoothly. You also have the option of attending community health centres for physio which will probably cost roughly $9-$14 per session depending on the place.

    Happy to answer any other questions you may have.

    Good luck!

  • spychiatrist on 13/04/2014 - 07:33

    Not to scare you but a co-worker in his late 50's deferred his hip replacement for years. Finally was convinced to go under the knife last December. Had his new hip pop out twice due to being too active after the first operation, thus going under the knife a total of three times. Lost consciousness the first time the hip popped out due to unbearable pain. Was off work for 14 weeks.
    He has Bupa as private health Top Cover and end up paying $500 total for the three ops. Insurer is trying to weasel out of giving him income protection money due to underlying condition.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join