Dear bone smart community,
I'm new to this community, and already I have found much solace reading through people's posts. Thank you all! Like many folks on this site, I was shocked to learn that I have end-stage OA in my right hip. At 51 years old, I thought this was too young, particularly since I am still highly active (I know better, now). I'm a mountaineer and yoga practitioner. I used to run but quit (due to what I now realize was hip pain - although I thought at the time that it was referred back pain - I've got back OA too). But I have been an avid exerciser since I was about 15, probably working out in one way or another 5-6 days a week, with a few breaks in there, but not many.
What scares me the most right now is hearing about physical limitations after THA. Hearing about possibility of dislocation doing what seem to be very basic yoga poses (Warrior I, Warrior II, Triangle - even Child's pose) - even years after surgery - makes me super sad. Really? I realize I will likely need to to narrow the scope of activities I participate in and be more gentle on my body - maybe I won't be plunge stepping down Mt. Rainier on a glacier -- but can I do some long, steep, (maybe even multi-day) hikes? My fear of these limitations is making me want to wait as long as possible before doing surgery. My passion is backpacking. I have such a long list of trails I still want to explore!
I recently came upon the work of Jill Miller, who is a yoga practitioner that had a THA in late 2017. She describes getting a dual-mobility hip joint, which apparently permits movement in any and every direction. Her surgery also used the superior approach, which was new to me, since I'm mostly hearing about the direct anterior approach. She's got some interesting podcasts describing her story.
At this very early point in my journey towards eventual hip surgery, while I'm currently scheduling appointments to get second and third opinions, here's the big questions I have:
1. If you have bone and bone hip OA with a "large subcondrial cyst", is it too late to get hip resurfacing done? Is my only option THA?
2. If I have a large cyst in my acetabulum (it's pretty huge), is postponing the surgery going to risk making it bigger? I ask this because I'm still quite mobile. I have bad pain on the 2nd half of an 8 mile hike, so I've had to curtail my mountain sports, but I am still able to do lots of other things and I feel like I could wait. But will I be making the situation for a successful surgery worse? And reading this forum makes me wonder "why wait"? I'd been under the impression that a replacement may only last 15 years...
3. What do y'all know about the superior approach and/or the dual-mobility joint?
I also just want to say thank you, again, to all of you who are sharing your stories and activities. It really helps me feel more normal. I'm getting lots of very surprised reactions from friends and family since I don't consistently have the amount of pain that one would usually consider pre-op.
Finally, I want to express support and empathy to anybody reading this who is in pain, physical and/or emotional, and say that I hope this forum is helping out, and I hope that you are finding multiple ways to manage it. I recognize that I am fortunate to be able to walk up and down stairs and I send my respect and support your way.
Warmly,
hike&yoga
I'm new to this community, and already I have found much solace reading through people's posts. Thank you all! Like many folks on this site, I was shocked to learn that I have end-stage OA in my right hip. At 51 years old, I thought this was too young, particularly since I am still highly active (I know better, now). I'm a mountaineer and yoga practitioner. I used to run but quit (due to what I now realize was hip pain - although I thought at the time that it was referred back pain - I've got back OA too). But I have been an avid exerciser since I was about 15, probably working out in one way or another 5-6 days a week, with a few breaks in there, but not many.
What scares me the most right now is hearing about physical limitations after THA. Hearing about possibility of dislocation doing what seem to be very basic yoga poses (Warrior I, Warrior II, Triangle - even Child's pose) - even years after surgery - makes me super sad. Really? I realize I will likely need to to narrow the scope of activities I participate in and be more gentle on my body - maybe I won't be plunge stepping down Mt. Rainier on a glacier -- but can I do some long, steep, (maybe even multi-day) hikes? My fear of these limitations is making me want to wait as long as possible before doing surgery. My passion is backpacking. I have such a long list of trails I still want to explore!
I recently came upon the work of Jill Miller, who is a yoga practitioner that had a THA in late 2017. She describes getting a dual-mobility hip joint, which apparently permits movement in any and every direction. Her surgery also used the superior approach, which was new to me, since I'm mostly hearing about the direct anterior approach. She's got some interesting podcasts describing her story.
At this very early point in my journey towards eventual hip surgery, while I'm currently scheduling appointments to get second and third opinions, here's the big questions I have:
1. If you have bone and bone hip OA with a "large subcondrial cyst", is it too late to get hip resurfacing done? Is my only option THA?
2. If I have a large cyst in my acetabulum (it's pretty huge), is postponing the surgery going to risk making it bigger? I ask this because I'm still quite mobile. I have bad pain on the 2nd half of an 8 mile hike, so I've had to curtail my mountain sports, but I am still able to do lots of other things and I feel like I could wait. But will I be making the situation for a successful surgery worse? And reading this forum makes me wonder "why wait"? I'd been under the impression that a replacement may only last 15 years...
3. What do y'all know about the superior approach and/or the dual-mobility joint?
I also just want to say thank you, again, to all of you who are sharing your stories and activities. It really helps me feel more normal. I'm getting lots of very surprised reactions from friends and family since I don't consistently have the amount of pain that one would usually consider pre-op.
Finally, I want to express support and empathy to anybody reading this who is in pain, physical and/or emotional, and say that I hope this forum is helping out, and I hope that you are finding multiple ways to manage it. I recognize that I am fortunate to be able to walk up and down stairs and I send my respect and support your way.
Warmly,
hike&yoga