Dr. Joseph Ovadia, M.D.

Consult a general surgeon and preferably a colorectal surgeon.

Placing a rod in (I presume your femur) is for the purpose of treating a fracture. Removal may be considered once the fracture has healed and usually one year later dependent on the age of the patient. After fifteen years, it may be a difficult task to remove the rod and in my opinion should be left alone unless there's a reason to the contrary. In any event, there is no indication for the removal in order to exchange it with a new rod. A rod may also be inserted as a prophylactic measure when dealing with a malignancy present in the bone in anticipation of a possible impending fracture, and in this case, the rod should not be removed.

I would not recommend such surgery absent an indication to do so.

There is a list of risks involved in any surgery. There is as well a list particular to spine surgery and, of course, more in the presence of comorbidities such as diabetes and hypertension. You should discuss all pertinent risks with your spine surgeon as well with the anesthesiologist.

Post-operative pain is anticipated and dependent on the type of surgery, and the reason for it is the duration may vary. Nonetheless, you should feel much better after one week's time, give or take.

Difficult to give a precise time of duration, but in my experience, you should feel a lot better after one week's time, give or take.

It is not unusual to expect three to six months time before a return to full pre-surgery activities. It also depends on the individual and how realistic expectations are.

After hip surgery (I presume replacement), in my experience, patients are out of bed and walking with assistance within one or two days. With post-surgery vigorous physical rehabilitation, one can expect a resumption of full mobility within a month or two and a return to full pre-op activities within six months. Yet all depends on how realistic the expectations and, of course, it varies with the individual (age, comorbidities, and stamina).

You should consult with your surgeon to rule out or assess nerve injury that may be reversible.

Educate yourself about hip replacement surgery (there are many good booklets that talk about the subject easily explaining the scope of the surgery in lay terms accompanied with vivid illustrations. Those booklets are provided by your surgeon). Follow this with the discussion about all pertinent risks and benefits to include what to anticipate in the immediate period after surgery as well long-term and future need for a revision. This includes infection and failure of the prosthesis as well as dislocation.

You should rule out disc problems. Discuss it with your doctor.