FOX6 San Diego AM News Show Today

[michael_romine]

I learned about this site this morning watching the morning news. I am a 49 y/o male having a tuff time with my worn hip (necrosis right femur head) thinking to myself "WHEN IS THE RIGHT TIME" to get this hip replaced. The reasons to replace continue. But one small detail. I dont have the family infrastructure in place now to care for me if I needed it. Specifically, if something goes wrong and I am stuck in a wheel chair for the remainder of my life. Is this thinking over done? I dont know which way to go.....wait a few more years or go for now?

I appreciate your time shared with me about this dilemma I have.

Thanks
Mike

 

[sbrown]

If you choose a doctor with lots of experience, the hip replacement is one of the safest operations. The doctor at our hospital does about 500 hip and knee replacements a year. Someone who does only 20 a year may not be as skilled.

 

[Kraft]

Mike, Your fear of the direst consequences of a THR are unfounded. In fact you are in greater danger of spending a significant part of your life on crutches or in a wheel chair if you DON'T have your hip treated. I let myself go until I was literally weeks away from spending the greater part of my walking hours seated - including the very real possibility of needing two crutches to get around. I was a little slow on the uptake, but I finally got myself to an ortho surgeon for what I already knew I needed. I wasted at least five years suffering pain, becoming increasingly disabled, greadually having to use a cane to walk, living on NSAIDS. During the final year I basically went nowhere unless I could park three feet from the door. That is no way to live. Thank heavens I came around.

THR is one of the very most successful surgeries performed today in terms of what it gives back to patients in pain relief and mobility. I have had both of my hips replaced and it has worked a miracle for me and my life. I can walk miles, have no pain, use no cane, and can go about my daily life normally. I could kick myself for not taking care of it sooner, but I was in denial for many years and also scared to death of the idea of THR surgery. No more.

Good luck to you.