Option for hip joint repair. Please help!

[bmd_2012]

hey y'all. I really need some advice. i'm 21 years old and I have been diagnosed with Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis (affecting my right hip joint), and degenerative disc disease since I was 17, with symptoms of all 3 complications starting at the age of 14. a lot for a 21 year old, I know. here's what information i'm looking for: recently, I've been having excruciating pain in my right hip. it's so bad, it's to the point to where I literally couldn't even walk or move my right leg without the pain taking the breath out of me. it hurts that bad. after having some X-rays done at my local ER, it revealed that there is no cartilage left in my hip joint, meaning the ball of my femur is grinding with the socket of my pelvis and it' hurts just as much as it sounds. my rheumatologist has referred me to an orthopedic surgeon who i'm waiting to see to discuss my options. what are my options? am I going to have a full hip replacement at the young age of 21? is that heard of in the medical field? are there any alternatives to becoming pain free? i'm currently on a lot of pain pills to cope until I can see my orthopedic surgeon but I don't want to be on them for the rest of my life if I don't have to. thanks so much for any information you have to offer!
-Blake

[namnam46]

Hi bmd_2012.  As Tuck said, I hope that you are still monitoring your thread. I want to join Tuck in apologizing for being so late to your question and also in welcoming you to the Forum.

Yes, 21 is very young to be getting a hip implant, however, I wasn't much older, 28, when I was told in 1974 that I needed a hip implant because of Osteoarthritis.  At that time the hip implants were quite knew and my Doctor had me put it off until I couldn't stand the pain anymore because in 1974 the implants were only good for about 5 to 10 years in someone as young and active as I was.  I managed to go until I couldn't stand the pain anymore which was another 7 years when I was 35 yrs old.  By the time they did surgery I, like you, had my hip bone rubbing on my socket without any cartilage left just like you do.  I remember how incredibly painful that was.  It's a pain you will never forget.  When my implant was done, finally, back in 1985 when I was 35 yrs old it lasted for 26 years and I was able to wear 5"heels, chase 2 small children around the house and dance and run and do everything I'd done before and it was better than before.  The BEST thing was that horrific arthritic pain was GONE!!!  What a difference it was.  I finally felt as if my life had begun.  It was wonderful.  I hope that you will have the same wonderful experience that I did.  You deserve to have the pain from your hip gone and I hope you will let us know how you feel afterwards.  I know you have a lot of other issues also, but I hope that you will get an enormous amount of relief from your hip, at least.

Please know, we are here for you and hope you get the same relief that I did.  

Thinking of you and looking forward to your updates!                  ..........      Sherry    :)

[Tuckamore]

Hello and a tardy Welcome. Please excuse this tardy reply. We have some members that haven't able been able to participate in the community recently. I'm apologize.

So please catch me up. I hope you are still monitoring this site. Have you seen the Orthopedist? - If so what suggestions did he offer you?

You have more medical issues on your plate than anyone your age should have to juggle. My son was diagnosed (DX) with a similar condition - Ulcerative Colitis at age 12.

We were warned that an Inflammatory Bowel Disease could effect the joints and organ. Reactive Arthritis is one of the conditions they quoted. Is that the type of Arthritis. Is that your DX?  

I agree that 21 seems like a very young age to require a hip replacement. Have they suggested injections of products into the hip that may help. An intra-articular injection with glucocorticoids may be beneficial.

We all know about steroid injections but there are newer products available.

Viscosupplementation is a term used to describe the injection of lubricants that are synthetic forms of synovial fluid into an arthritic joint, including the hip. One site claims this fluid mirrors healthy, cushioning joint fluid. It can mimic the functioning of your fluid in years past, and has also been shown to help protect against further cartilage damage.

"Joint Replacements" use to have a life of 10-15 years - now those statistics have improved as the "joints" have improved.

Educate yourself. I'd get more than one opinion. You are so young sweetie. I'm hoping there are good options for you.

I encourage you to post in our Orthopedic Community - Crohn's and our Gastroenterology Groups.  I've provided the links below:

http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Crohns-Disease---Ulcerative-Colitis/show/178
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Orthopedics/show/60

http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Gastroenterology/show/68

Good luck and please update us. I'll watch for your post.

Best Wishes,
~Tuck