United States
Hi everyone, I just talked to Line and Jamie from BoneSmart and was encouraged to post a thread about my story. I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis and avascular necrosis at the age of 14 after having major flare ups at both the ages of two and twelve.
Despite the flare ups, I continued playing sports until around the time of being diagnosed the summer before my freshman year of high school. From the lack of blood flow due to the AVN, my hips deteriorated quickly so by my junior year of high school, my family and I decided that I could not continue on without getting some sort of new hips. That June, we met with my rheumatologist who ordered xrays that proved that I truly could not continue on with life without receiving a bilateral hip replacement. So that August, both of my hips were replaced.
That December, I headed to live in Brazil for a year where I was able to live the life I lost in high school. I also had the opportunity to visit Thailand, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. I lived so many experiences in that year that would not have been possible if it weren't for the surgery. I'm now a college student working towards becoming a physical therapist so i can help patients the same way my physical therapists helped me.
I hope that this thread reaches many people out there who are younger and also are going through the process of receiving joint replacements. It's a daunting procedure but the life you will have after going through with it, will be filled with opportunity and gratitude like you've never had before!
I have a few YouTube videos that I created a few years ago, during the process of doctors appointments and pre and post op:
I wish everyone the best in all that's to come!
#Teenagehipreplacement
Despite the flare ups, I continued playing sports until around the time of being diagnosed the summer before my freshman year of high school. From the lack of blood flow due to the AVN, my hips deteriorated quickly so by my junior year of high school, my family and I decided that I could not continue on without getting some sort of new hips. That June, we met with my rheumatologist who ordered xrays that proved that I truly could not continue on with life without receiving a bilateral hip replacement. So that August, both of my hips were replaced.
That December, I headed to live in Brazil for a year where I was able to live the life I lost in high school. I also had the opportunity to visit Thailand, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. I lived so many experiences in that year that would not have been possible if it weren't for the surgery. I'm now a college student working towards becoming a physical therapist so i can help patients the same way my physical therapists helped me.
I hope that this thread reaches many people out there who are younger and also are going through the process of receiving joint replacements. It's a daunting procedure but the life you will have after going through with it, will be filled with opportunity and gratitude like you've never had before!
I have a few YouTube videos that I created a few years ago, during the process of doctors appointments and pre and post op:
I wish everyone the best in all that's to come!
#Teenagehipreplacement
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