Hip Replacement surgery needed????

Dear Doctor,
30 years back, my father now aged 52 received steroids as he was very very thin. He is 6'1 but was really thin at that point of time. Doctors at that time administered steroids and after that he cannot walk properly(apparently beacuse of calcium lost from hip). His walk is unsteady and this problem is pestering him for 30 years, but unfortunately he did not do anything about it. Recently, I went to my family physician and he told me that a side effect of anabolic steroids is that calcium can be lost from healthy bone, leaving my father maimed. The doctor now suggests hip replacement if my father wants to walk properly like every other human being does. My question is do you think hip replacement be recommended for a patient aged 52 years??? Is anything else possible??? Can anything other than surgery help my father walk properly again as he did once???? Please help I really want to help my father walk properly as he used to.

Thanks a lot doctor!

[S. Kaul, MD]

Hi there!

Well, 1. “Doctors do not administer ‘anabolic steroids’ for being thin” Either these would have been corticosteroids, given for some other purpose or it is likely that these were taken by the patient himself. 2. Its only long term steroid therapy that is associated with osteoporosis. (unlikely to be a medical prescription without a severe basic cause)

Also without knowing the exact clinical diagnosis, physical condition and the relevant clinical details, it would not be possible for me to comment on if hip replacement would be needed. If you have doubts, you may seek a second opinion with another orthopedician.
Hope this was useful.

Take care!