Anyone else early 40s like me?

[tonerika]

I am new so excuse me if I don't know what I am doing!!! I am 41 and have the choice of having the hip repl. surgery or living with the pain. I cant handle pain so I am about to schedule the surgery. I am curious if there is anyone in my age bracket that has had this done. Do you feel it was worth it? My doc said I need to ask 2 things: What was the best thing about it and what was the worst thing? Any replies on that would be welcome. Thanks for your time and imput! :sct:

 

[Texas]

Hi Welcome I am 42 with a knee replacement. I do think it is worth it. Why waste all your yrs in pain when you can have the surgery and be done with it....Then you have all those yrs to look forward to with a new hip......Dont look at the worse things. Look at all the hips on here. Most are back to doing things well that they could never do and more !!!!Im sure they will post maybe not in your exact age limit but I tell you what people older the 40 are doing a whole lot more then they were... I couldnt see living all these yrs with a bum knee saying no I cant, no I cant when it will be all over soon and YES I CAN !!!!!!!lol..Good Luck to you in your decision. We will all be here to help if you need it.....

 

[TBONE]

tonerika--I had my hip replacement surgery at 51, but I should have had it in my early 40s. I ignored everything about it and by the time I saw the doc I was told that I would not be able to walk in a year. My suggestion is have it done. Consider resurfacing which I was not a candidate for. At yoru age, it should be a consideration.
The best thing about it is I have my life back. I can walk, bike, everything ...pain free. Many people, I suspect, will tell you this. The worst part about it is that, having waited so long, my joints and muscles have atrophied and, accordingly, my flexibility is a problem. 10x better than before surgery, but still not good. and the catheter..I hated the catheter!

 

[tonerika]

I dont think the resurfacing is an option. I had surgery in March where he put pins in both sides trying to make the blood flow and the bone come back to life. It was getting better and then started getting worse. I havent walked normal since Christmas. Man, I sure want to walk normal again. And it would be a real blessing to go one day with no pain! I have spent all morning on this site, reading all the posts. I sure am glad that I found y'all!

 

[Josephine]

Well, we're glad you found us too! You're most welcome and we love having new members in our little family!

Eeh, these surgeons, always gotta try something before they do the obvious! So your revitalising operation didn't work (what a surprise!) and now he's finally admitted you need THRs!

Well, you may be on a road to a new life! Once you've got over the initial surgery pain and then the 6 weeks restrictions, you'll be raring to go! You read the threads - you know this.

Go to it! :wahey:

 

[mdakota]

ok so its avascular necrosis. well i'm having both mine done now the right collapsed and the left not far behind. so
best part.. i'm 6 weeks post op, i have a little muscle soreness but no hip pain, even with it still being new my activty level has trippled.
worst part. the first three day. and the fact that it is a process you'll have to put some work into it.
i dont regret it not at all. as long as your prepared to do some work you'll do fine. i love my new hip and am having the second in two weeks.
by the way if you were asking me the worst part on having your tonsils out i would tell you the first three days too because its surgery.

monique

 

[tonerika]

Monique,
Thanks so much. Mine did the same thing! Right side collapsed which led them to discover the left side was well on the way. So here is another question for yall. If I can get my surgery in the 2nd week of Sept. (waiting on the call back for the date), what are the chances of being able to handle a trip to Orlando with the kids in November? I sure as heck could not do it now, but that would be about 7 wks after surgery.

 

[mdakota]

ok. well i'm 6 weeks post op now and if you told me i got to go to orlando i would say. where is my cane. i might also see if i could use a stroller for when i got tired and if nothing else to hold my stuff. id ice at night so i'd be ready for the next day. and i would have a fantastic time. ohhh i need to tell you this , the first few days are rough then everyday after gets easier. then you'll think the recovery has slowed down but then what you'll see after that is that what you wouldnt have thought possible anytime soon one week the next week seems easy. so no right after you have it you wont think you can do it maybe even the first 4 weeks. but you just cant even imagine that every week makes such a huge difference. i took my kids to the beach last year and couldnt walk in the sand enough to get them to the water. i would take them next week and we would have a blast. hope this helps.
monique

 

[Judles]

Go for it!!!! Get your life back!!! . And welcome!

 

[kangaroo]

Ok Tonerika,
The best thing was walking down a really big waterfall (641 steep stairs) without any pain, 2 months after surgery, and running on the beach,
I know that none of this is directly related to the surgery, but it is all a consequence of the surgery ...
Surgically, placing my weight on the operated leg and knowing that it was ok, and by far the most important moment was at rehab, when I walked (albeit with crutches) straight for the first time in 20 years!

The worst part for me was vomitting after the surgery (ALMOST missed the OS) and having low blood pressure so I kept fainting afterwards....this delayed my getting out of bed.....At NO time was this surgery traumatic or was I in tons of pain....

I had an "anterior, minimally invasive" thr, and I wouldn't hesitate to go back for the other hip should it become necessary. I am 43, with an active family of 5 kids and whilst i can't say I should have done it earlier....these things happen when you are ready....I'm really glad that I have done it and I'm glad that the sitting around knowing that one day Id need the surgery has gone so that I can now get on with life without the unknown shadow of thr hanging over me.

If you are in pain, or your life is shrinking around you, if you are frustrated because of the things you can't do, if you send your kids to the park, and sit on the bench rather than kick the ball, If you find yourself using your hip as an excuse, if this is stopping you from doing all the things that you love to do ....then go and make that surgery appointment......and you'll be on your way to Orlando.
Incidentally the bushwalk was with 4 kids in tow, and without any other responsible (?!) adults other than myself.....and I was not worried about it at all!

My question is .....Is the hip and pain going to get better? If not, what are you waiting for?
Rachel

 

[tonerika]

You guys are great!! So encouraging. My date is set for Sept 10th.!! OMG. which is my 15th wedding anniversary. Good thing I have a darn good hubby that believes in the "in sickness" part of the vows. The trip to Orlando is a once in a lifettime chance to see Disney. Free place to stay and way discounted tickets! So I am not going to cancel by gum. If I have to take it easy I will, but at least I will be there w/my hubby and kids who I am sure will really need a happy family time by then!
OK, next question then....I doubt I can do roller coasters then BUT they are in my future right? Dont care if I cant jog, I dont do it now!! But I sure do like high speed rides.
I have not asked the doc what kind of hardware I am getting but I think I will email him. You guys sure seem to be much more informed about that stuff than I am! I am going to look through the threads some more. I am sure yall have one somewhere about what to have waiting at home when I get there.
Erika

 

[Judles]

Don't worry, Erika!!! We were ALL hip and/or knee replacement virgins once!! That's why its so important to have a skilled OS to let HIM/HER guide you through the whole process!!! :0

 

[mvo]

Hi Tonerika,
Go for the surgery - I had mine last year, my sister had both her left and right hips replaced and she is 5 years younger than I am. We both agree we should have done it 5 yers ago. The absolute best thing is the lack of pain - we had both forgotten what that was like.... The worst? Well, I luckily had a very easy recovery, so the "worst" things such as having to have someone else tie your shoelaces, or having to wear those thick white stockings seem rather inconsequential...

All the best for your surgery