Yet another surgery coming up

Here I go again.

On Thursday, October 8th, I will undergo yet another hip surgery.

Yep.  I know.

I've already had two replacements.  The left in January 2012, and the right just a year ago.

So where does a third one happen, you ask.

Well, the right hip has to be redone -- it's called revision surgery.  

You will recall that I did really well with the right hip arthroplasty.  My recovery was without incident and I sailed through the rehab physio sessions.

All was right with the world.

Until it wasn't.

I enjoyed the benefits of the replacement until about March of this year, when I started to experience difficulty in my groin.  I put it down to fatigue and figured it would pass.

Well, it didn't pass.  It worsened.

And it worsened until I had to seek medical advice.

My physiotherapist advised me to see my surgeon.  That appointment was still months away.

My massage therapist had the same advice.

My family doctor encouraged me to try to get an appointment with the surgeon sooner rather than later.

No can do.  I would simply have to wait my turn.

When my turn finally came in June, he wanted to rule out infection so he ordered blood work and a hip aspiration, during which he also allowed a cortisone injection to help alleviate the pain.  I had three days of blissful pain-free activity.
And it's been downhill since then.

My next visit with the surgeon, during which he told me there was no infection, he suggested that the prosthetic could be loose but the only way to tell is to go back in.  He wanted to take a wait and see approach, to perhaps allow the cortisone shot more time to work.

At the next follow-up visit it was clear that I was declining and his examination told him that in all likelihood the ball had not adhered properly to the muscle.  He would have to revisit it.  But this time he can't go in "on the dotted line."  He has to make a new incision, this time towards my backside, to allow him to have full access to the unit.

I'm told that revision surgery is a more involved, longer surgery than a straight replacement.  It's also a longer recovery, and takes longer to rehab.  And I will have significantly different restrictions for a longer period of time.

Oh, I am so not looking forward to this.