Hip replacement questions?

[Charlie Bob]

An x-ray is a good diagnostic tool for advanced hip arthritis. MRI would be used more to diagnose labral pathology/avascular necrosis.

Cartilage shows up on Xray as just a dark gap- when it’s gone, that’s where and why it hurts.

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Sounds like you know more than I , so I defer to you.
I’m frustrated in general with our current system.

 

[Charlie Bob]

Insurance and the medical system (working together) can be real frustrating at times and it’s not getting better. But I think they out those replacements off for as long as they can because they're not permanent either ?

I’m sure you’re right , I’m an old curmudgeon that thinks the system is rigged against him.

 

[Treeshark]

Sounds like you know more than I , so I defer to you.
I’m frustrated in general with our current system.

I get it. The scam you were describing does exist but plays out more in knees/shoulders than in hips imo.

There is value in conservative treatment though, surgery is not without risk.

 

[Nick87]

I’m sure you’re right , I’m an old curmudgeon that thinks the system is rigged against him.

I don’t necessarily disagree.

 

[El Jason]

@Charlie Bob yeah I have no illusions insurance is there to do the best for me.

No MRI because it’s irrelevant. The status of the labrum doesn’t matter because the joint is toast and needs replaced. @Treeshark is right. Every surgery comes with risk, and the replacement joint has a finite lifespan as well.

PA said if I can run without pain and hike without pain let’s keep the status quo. We will see how anti inflammatory meds help with the other stuff.

@Treeshark I’m not sure my x-ray was as good as Figure 2 looks. Less cartilage and more bone spurs.

 

[Burn Pile]

I said “so basically the tire has gone flat and we’re going to run on the rim till we go in the ditch?”

Him “zactly”.

Seems like a bad way to go about it when they can already see that the cartilage is gone and bone spurs are present. It's not going to get better without intervention and fake cartilage is way better than none. I did not try the r-? something injections. My insurance did not cover them at the time and I haven't heard much good about them since.

They do a whole lot of these with scopes now, 1 tool & 1 camera. Small holes. Waiting to get older isn't going to make the recovery easier.

When my one got done there was a bone spur to grind away and cartilage to repair and nothing got better until they got in there and did the repairs. If it was me I'd only wait until the timing as good as it can be with you schedule. But its your leg so do as you will.