Constanze
graduate
GermanyOk, I may be neither young nor a firefighter, but I can tell you how I feel for your concerns and anxiety. I'm very fond of exercise, and that means more exercise than the average person my age, well even a younger age - with 10 marathons and 3 half-marathons, and lots of 10-12 ks as well as long-distance cycling and long-distance swimming. Even tried the Ironman Germany at Frankfurt but my cycling was too slow (not hip-related but due to the extremely hot weather). I was the same pre-op as you moping around and driving my husband nuts. I didn't want the surgery because I thought I would not be able to do what I enjoy - running. They said that was not to be recommended because it would wear out the hip - too much impact. And the first 2 surgeons I consulted weren't very helpful and treated me like an aging invalid and didn't take me seriously. You see there are people around who are quite happy walking to their cars painfree, but I wanted more. Then the surgeon where I had the op understood the situation of athletic people. He looks after athletes in the olympics and is a hobby athlete himself - I think he's done the ironman before.
To cut a long story short - I had the operation done in the end after leaving it way too long in fear of being restricted afterwards. But I'm by no means restricted now. I went back to running about 3 months post-op and my legs fees just great - much better than they even did when I was young, because it looks as if that hip has been a problem ever since I was a child. You will certainly be able to go back to work and do what you enjoy. Hip restrictions (the 90°C rule, not crossing the middle line) are usually not more than 12 weeks today, and some people have none and can go by trial and error.
I would find a surgeon how has some understanding for active people.
Besides, artificial hips are now more robust and many should last longer than the 25 years that surgeons mention. Mine is a titanium stem and ceramic ball, also ceramic lining of the cup. I think ceramic is more robust than plastic. Ask your surgeon.
About rowing: I don't know what Concept 2 indoor rowing is but I did go on an exercise rowing machine at my local gym and that was fun, too. Before the op, it would have been too painful. I don't think you'll have any problems.
I can't find any other firefighters on Bonesmart but I read the recovery thread of a 52 year-old roofer in the US. I believe, roofing is a job similarly demanding as firefighting. This roofer's alias is "Roofmaster". I think he had surgery in 2014. You can search him in Bonesmart. After his op he did roofing in freezing cold weather on snowed-up roofs. You will see his lovely photos in his thread.
So cheer up and take heart. And carry on posting here. We would like to follow up your story.
To cut a long story short - I had the operation done in the end after leaving it way too long in fear of being restricted afterwards. But I'm by no means restricted now. I went back to running about 3 months post-op and my legs fees just great - much better than they even did when I was young, because it looks as if that hip has been a problem ever since I was a child. You will certainly be able to go back to work and do what you enjoy. Hip restrictions (the 90°C rule, not crossing the middle line) are usually not more than 12 weeks today, and some people have none and can go by trial and error.
I would find a surgeon how has some understanding for active people.
Besides, artificial hips are now more robust and many should last longer than the 25 years that surgeons mention. Mine is a titanium stem and ceramic ball, also ceramic lining of the cup. I think ceramic is more robust than plastic. Ask your surgeon.
About rowing: I don't know what Concept 2 indoor rowing is but I did go on an exercise rowing machine at my local gym and that was fun, too. Before the op, it would have been too painful. I don't think you'll have any problems.
I can't find any other firefighters on Bonesmart but I read the recovery thread of a 52 year-old roofer in the US. I believe, roofing is a job similarly demanding as firefighting. This roofer's alias is "Roofmaster". I think he had surgery in 2014. You can search him in Bonesmart. After his op he did roofing in freezing cold weather on snowed-up roofs. You will see his lovely photos in his thread.
So cheer up and take heart. And carry on posting here. We would like to follow up your story.
