Sally's story: Waiting two years for hip surgery

Sally Roberts, 59, LLangefni, was diagnosed with osteoarthritis three years ago after suffering pain she’d initially put down to wear and tear. She’s currently facing a two year wait for surgery on her hip which, she says, will mean she’s unable to return to work and will lose her job.

Diagnosed with osteoarthritis by chance

I started with aches and pains a few years ago and just put it down to wear and tear. I tried to muddle through but it was very painful and became difficult to do day-to-day tasks like shopping and housework, even getting in and out of the shower was hard. It got to the point that I was unable to sleep due to the pain so I was permanently exhausted.

I got diagnosed by accident really, I was having a scan on my legs for varicose veins and they found arthritis in my knees. A few months later more x-rays for back pain showed osteoarthritis was also in my back and hips. They told me that there was nothing that could be done, I’d have to live with it.

I wasn’t in a good place really because I was only 57, I wanted to carry on working but knew that the painkillers and anti-inflammatories I’d been prescribed wouldn’t be enough. Mostly I wondered how I was going to live with this pain for the rest of my life.

I’m lucky my husband is very good but I’ve always been independent, I worked as a carer in a dementia unit, I’ve always been the carer so having to be cared for was very frustrating. I remember a patient at work offering to help me stand up which just made me realise how bad it was, I also remember my grandchildren saying I walked like a ‘penguin’ which I laughed off but it was quite upsetting because they’d noticed. I was always the Nana on the floor playing with them until this started but I can’t do that now, can’t do a lot of things I want to do with my grandchildren. 

Waiting for hip surgery may cost me my job

I did keep going back to my GP because it was getting worse and eventually got another x-ray early this year and an appointment with an osteoarthritis surgeon in April. He told me I’ve now got one leg longer than the other and my hip is just bone on bone which explains why I’m in so much pain. He said I needed surgery, then told me the waiting list is at least two years.

I worked full time but had to drop a day earlier this year because the long shifts were just draining me so I cashed in my pension pot to make up for the money I was losing. After Christmas I couldn’t cope anymore, I was in so much pain and so exhausted, so I had to go off sick.

That two year wait for surgery will most likely cost me my job because they can’t keep my post open for that long. That will impact on us financially, I’ve already had to use my pension. I’ve always worked, always been independent and this is really difficult to deal with. They are screaming out for carers in Wales and I love my colleagues and love working with the elderly.

Osteoarthritis is impacting my mental health and sense of identity

I can’t really go out now, my car doesn’t move for days because I struggle to walk the 25 metres from my door to the car. I have just applied for a blue badge but I really didn’t want to. None of this makes sense to me, they’ve said I’ll be fine after a new hip but a two year wait means I won’t be able to keep on working. I feel fobbed off, like they’re saying arthritis is something you have to just live with.

I’ve worked hard to lose weight, 5-and-a-half stone, and I feel better for it but it hasn’t helped my hip. I’ve had to start taking sleeping tablets due to the pain when I’m lying down and they are also anti-depressants so I think it’s helping with that too because I have been on a real downer.

I’m used to being the one helping others, not the one taking help and it’s really impacted on my sense of identity. I’ve always been so independent and feel like that’s been taken away from me. I’m lucky I have people to help, my husband and grandson are brilliant, but that’s not the point, being so reliant makes me feel so bloody useless.

The thought of that surgery, the thought that getting a new hip might make things better is really the only thing that’s keeping me going. I know this is about NHS finances but they need to get these operations sorted, people shouldn’t be left waiting in pain for two years. If the people in charge went through what I do on a daily basis they might understand.