justifing hip replacement

[wizzard]

I am scheduled for replacement 11/26 although i've had time of severe pain I mostly have a problem after walking 1 1/2 miles or so.(i"m only 43 and very used to an active lifestyle I ran marathons just 6 years ago).Recently i began to have problems just mowing the lawn.thats when i decieded to do it.Ican still use the eliptical machine at the gym for 30 min at a time.so am i jumping the gun.Its a game,good day bad day.(i know the answer is up to me).I also have a 3 and 1 year old and want to be active with them .

 

[Josephine]

HI there, wizzard, and welcome to BoneSmart! Your story is a familiar one. Most everyone gets to that place where half of them wants to dash in and get it done NOW and the other half is pulling back and saying "whoa, whoa"! But mostly what I think you will find people who have been there - read around, you'll find there are many - end up saying they couldn't think why they waited so long!

That's the upside of hip (as opposed to knee) replacements, the joint is a relatively simple one and the prosthesis is so much smaller in comparison to the surrounding body mass than in a knee joint. I say go for it. You will have the same risks of complications now as in 5 years time. And don't be too put off by the talk about revisions and wear. These prostheses are often hardier than folk give them credit for.

Did you see my post in the top of this forum about the lady had her hip replacement done over 40 years ago and is still active and busy lady? The surgeon who did that was the one we have to thank for all the joint replacements as he would not listen tp his peers who laughed and said it wasn't possible!

Also, why not make sure you avail yourself of the minimally invasive surgery option? Do a search for that and see, there's heaps of info out there and in here if you click on the logos at the top.

Just one thing I ask; when you have had it done, do come back and tell us all how you got on.

 

[MLDavies]

I had THR Oct 24, 2007. I needed it Dec 22, 2004. I waited hoping the insurance company would help. They didn't but I'm so glad I had the surgery. I've got two girls ages 10 and 7 in 5 months I should be carrying them on my shoulders again as I use to (at the same time).

 

[Ginny]

MLDavies,

I'm in your boat too. I am 35 year old female, trained for two maratons and ran one. (London,2000)...I've gone from being an avid runner to slowly limping around the block. Yesterday I walked the block which would take me 25 mins to run and it took me 50 MINS to walk!! I was in so much pain, I considered flagging a car down to give me a ride home. It was horrible. But today, I'm okay. Some days are good, some not so much. I pray the surgery will be successful and I will soon be pain free and be able to bend over and tie my shoes.
(My surg. is sched. for Jan 14, 2008)
~Ginny

 

[JGosse]

I just had my second replacement this year in Septmeber. The first was in January. I'm only 56, but arthritis had taken my life away. Not only could I not run or do almost any kind of expercise, I couldn't sleep. I didn't realize how much this was affecting the quality of my life. Now, I can sleep all the way through the night with NO PAIN!!!! I wake up early and feel great. I'm out walking and wearing heels, dancing and loving life again. I have far greater range of motion than I have had for years. Just the sleep thing alone is worth it. Don't hesitate...do it. The surgeries hurt for a few days and the walker/crutch thing is boring, but compared with what I got out of it they were not a big deal. I was back at work in 5 weeks each time.

 

[Josephine]

That is a great report, JGosse, and thank you for sharing it. I am definitely awarding you a gold star for such a wonderfully encouraging post!