u/GlitteringLocality

I am a 33 year old female and just underwent an emergency simultaneous posterior bilateral hip revision. I originally needed and had both hips replaced months apart in 2020 because of avascular necrosis from corticosteroid use, which is not something you expect to deal with in your twenties.

Since then in those six years, I’ve had 10 dislocations total, with 3 happening this year alone on the right side. I was told originally because of my pelvis size, and being the smallest implant size they made, that I would be a high risk for slippage. However I had no idea to what extent.

The worst happened last Saturday in the ER after another dislocation when I went in for a reduction. Somehow during the procedure, the ER doctor managed to dislocate both of my hips. Yes, both. I went from one dislocated hip to two and I was fucking pissed, terrified, and in excruciating pain.

Because I had already needed two reductions in the previous two months and had received so much fentanyl during both, the paramedic team earlier had told me I had built up enough tolerance to fentanyl that pain control was becoming difficult to transport me. So the ambulance gave me ketamine as one of the only remaining options and I had an absolutely horrific trip. It was one of the scariest experiences of my life and I genuinely thought I was dead or losing my mind, couldn’t decide.

I was transferred back to the Twin Cities on Monday via ambulance to my original surgeon, where I spent 3 days unable to move with both hips out, in traction with bars supporting my knees just to keep the pain somewhat manageable while waiting for parts to come in for my surgery.

At that point I felt like I had been given every opioid known to man. Dilaudid drip, fentanyl, oxycodone,
Propofol, everything, plus regional anesthesia, general anesthesia, and ketamine.

I eventually underwent a 4.5 hour simultaneous bilateral revision. My surgeon revised both hips with larger components and a lip for more stability. I now have 6 incisions and somehow I’m already walking short distances.

Physically I’m recovering at a remarkable rate, but mentally this whole experience wrecked me. Nobody really prepares you for the trauma of repeated dislocations, extreme pain, ketamine hallucinations, and waking up from major revision surgery at 33.

I guess I’m sharing because I want to know if anyone else has been through anything even remotely similar, and because I honestly don’t want to feel so alone in this..

**Side note, we were aware my pelvis expanded and outgrew the original parts in those years so they were basically floating in there. Aware I needed a revision I planned to do this but I had a packed summer, and did not plan to do it asap.

My parents were there when this happened and my boyfriend came later as he was flying in that day. He stayed with me the whole time at the hospitals, his plane landed and he drove here and never left. If I didn’t have a support team I don’t know how I would do this.