Dear Smarties - thought I’d just pop a bit of a summary ahead of disappearing
tomorrow morning at the crack of sparrows.
My first THR seems like an age ago, although it was only in April. Goes to show what a change that alone has made as I am not conscious of the new spare parts I have been gifted, and which have already made a big difference. I rate my surgeon who detected that not only my right hip needed replacing but my left one was in bad shape, and he was spot on, because I am less than 24 hours away from that one being replaced and in the intervening months the rapid decline is palpable.
Once you have selected and consulted a reputable and experienced surgeon who has declared your hip or hips as suitable case/s for replacement and you are pondering about whether to proceed, I can only say that a professional knows what they are looking at, from years of experience, and they have a pretty shrewd idea of what the outlook is for you. It’s not a dose of ‘flu which you can nurse and which will improve. Osteoarthritis is an animal which, once it gets a hold, bites and doesn’t let go.
We all have anxieties about surgery – that’s natural – but hip replacement surgery is one of the most successful and is carried out every day all over the world, and the wealth of knowledge that has been accumulated over the years is astonishing. I went in nervous as a kitten, but I am now a total convert.
Osteoarthritis has crept up on me over a period of years. What was first thought to be back pain turned out to be horrid hips, so much time was wasted until we got the right diagnosis. In the interim I have consumed vast quantities of drugs in an attempt to mask the pain. My mobility and fitness have suffered along with my ability to be actively involved in numerous daily activities until practically housebound. I felt plain old before my time - and boring. This adds up to increasing sense of misery which can send a previously sane person into a downward spiral very quickly.
I was only said to someone yesterday that, if they were in the same position, our great grandparents (possibly even our grandparents) would have been sentenced to a lifetime of increasing pain and disability. They would have been lucky to be given aspirin for the pain. I count myself extremely fortunate that I can elect to have this life changing surgery which will enable me to follow all those dreams that have been put on hold for so long.
BoneSmart has been an absolute Godsend – I came back here for understanding and guidance and got it in spades. The friendships that have blossomed will be lasting. I have likened the experience to a race. Some standing on the side-lines watching and wondering, some on the race track charging onwards and then passing the baton of experience on to those coming up behind. Then at the finishing post there are plenty there cheering us on, sharing our little victories and equally thrilled that we have finally completed the course.
I’ll be back with updates as they happen – I’m a bit prolific once I get the bit between my teeth.
United Kingdom
UK has seen its first snow and the temps have plummeted. Just the right time to be cosied up and recovering and let the others get on with everything else. 
See you here again soon!
