Newbie - Hello everyone (and thanks !)

[Andy-LTHR]

Hi
I would just like to introduce myself and say 'Hi'.
I'm Andy, a 48yr old motorcyclist from the UK, and I had a total left hip replacement on 17th April '09. I found this forum about two weeks or so ago and have found some fantastic information posted here by fellow 'hippies', and thought I should join up as you seem to be a friendly 'lot' :thmb::hehe:
I hope I will be able to help others with my experiences as many of you have helped me....

A little hip history...I had an RTA in 1978 which resulted (amongst other things!) in a dislocated hip fracture of my left hip. 7 weeks traction later - all seemed well!!
No real problems since, apart from a little loss of movement until 4 years ago when I was involved in another RTA, damaging ( again - amongst other things !!) my left hip! My x rays showed severe OA in the left hip, and the accident resulted in a substantial loss of mobility and a massive increase in pain in my hip !! This worsened over the four years to a point that my hip socket was destroyed!
I am now the proud owner of a shiny new MOM hip and a bone graft and two screws!
It is only now that I am pain free that I realise how much pain I was in, and how much my life was controlled by this pain and lack of mobility.

My operation went well (apart from one of the screws breaking during insertion - due to the hardness of my pelic bone according to my OS!!:hehe and I am amazed at how much mobility I have already!! I am walking further than I could post op (albeit still on crutches) and, apart from some knee and ankle pain and swelling, am pain free!!

Anyway - sorry if I have gone on a bit - I only intended to say hello !! It's just that I cannot get over how good this has all been for me! :shk::hehe::hehe:

Regards
Andy

 

[Judles]

Wow!! Welcome Andy!! That's such great news! And the best part! It's going to get better and better!!! . Keep up the great healing!!!

 

[JudyS]

Welcome Andy
Glad our stories have helped you. welcome to the bonesmarty family. I too just love my new hip.
judy

 

[Jamie]

Hi, Andy....so glad you decided to join us!!! Your post was delightful and I am thrilled to hear that you are feeling so well already!! Please let us hear from you again soon....we LOVE positive stories!

 

[TBONE]

Welcome Andy--I was a motorcyclist in the U.S. until about 4-5 years ago when I could no longer sit on a bike for any distance. I am a bilat MOM and have been tempted to get back on a bike ( I sold mine...practically gave it away!). However, my wife says you had your fun, think about staying healthy for a while. I respect her opinion.
I had my surgery on 4/01/09 and my flexibility is so good, I know I could even ride a 996 now!
Tom

 

[Andy-LTHR]

Thank you for the warm welcomes from the US, much appreciated.
I can't really get my head round the fact that things are going to get even better! WOW ! I still laugh (often out loud) when I stand up from sitting and it doesn't hurt :D. I am trying to get out of the habit of gritting my teeth in anticipation of the pain, which, of course, never comes...he he he
@Tom - I should have explained in my post - I have also been unable to ride since my beloved Fireblade was written off in my last accident :rant:(along with the Subaru that U-turned on me - knocking me off!) I too was unable to get my leg over the seat, never mind get my foot on the pegs! lol :D
I am still considering my options - my wife is OK with me riding again,as she knows bikes were my life, but my young daughter (and my OS!) has other ideas...watch this space!! I too recon I could now ride a lovely 996 :D

Regards
Andy

 

[Josephine]

Well, here's a warm welcome from another UK person, Andy! There are a few of us on here but not too many.

You sound so happy and upbeat now. That's what relinquishing that awful pain does for you! I'm really pleased for you.

Are you a Subaru fan? Have you ever heard of ScoobyNet? It's a forum for Subaru-ites! It was started by a friend of mine and his friends who are all Subaru nuts! It has over 101,000 members! I joined once just to be friendly but couldn't understand da lingo! :hehe:

 

[Steph]

Hi Andy

You sound like you are doing brilliantly after such a long time in pain. It gives me great hope for my op next week to hear such an upbeat positive account.

As for the bike idea, why don't you have a change and drive something quick with a roof - your new hip will be protected as well. I am a bit of a female petrolhead, so understand how you are feeling - if I was told I couldn't drive my cars again I would be devastated. I have got a Nissan Skyline GTS-T, and a Stagea (Skyline estate) both Jap imports and both with the 2.5 turbo engine. I have always loved the big Jap sports cars and have just sold a Toyota Supra I owned for 10 years - loved it to bits, but coudn't really justify 3 cars, lol!

So get back in the saddle soon, but try one with 4 wheels and a roof....

Take care

 

[Andy-LTHR]

Well, here's a warm welcome from another UK person, Andy! There are a few of us on here but not too many.

You sound so happy and upbeat now. That's what relinquishing that awful pain does for you! I'm really pleased for you.

Are you a Subaru fan? Have you ever heard of ScoobyNet? It's a forum for Subaru-ites! It was started by a friend of mine and his friends who are all Subaru nuts! It has over 101,000 members! I joined once just to be friendly but couldn't understand da lingo! :hehe:

Hi Josephine - many thanks for the warm welcome.
I am absolutely happy and upbeat now - I have been suffering pain for far too long and had got far too used to living with it - it's sooo nice to have my life back.:D:D:D:hehe:

As for Scoobys - errr not exactly a massive fan no - due to the driver of one wrecking my life 4 years ago. I suppose it's not the car's fault that the (far too young for such a poweful car) driver did not look before he did a U turn into my path and left me with serious pelvic and facial injuries - but to be fair they are a nice looking and sounding peformance car - I just struggle to like them any more due to the bad memories Perhaps it's time to move on - lol

You run a super site here Josephine and have a 'family' of lovely people. It is a pleasure and an honour to be among you all.:yrk:

Kind regards
Andy

 

[Josephine]

Thanks, Andy - you're too kind! Must have misread your post, I got the impression you were in the Subaru!! Sorry!

 

[Andy-LTHR]

Hi Andy

You sound like you are doing brilliantly after such a long time in pain. It gives me great hope for my op next week to hear such an upbeat positive account.

Hi Steph
If I had time (between the walking, exercising and resting - lol :D) I could write you a whole book on how positive an experience this has been for me.
Only now have I realised how much the slow onset of pain has spoiled my life for a long time. The snag is - you just get slowly used to dealing with it :sct:and so fail to notice how much it controls you.
SO day 1 post op was the start of me regaining control of my life again, as well as being pain free. Wooo Hoooo :D
I still laugh (often out loud ) when I stand up from a chair gritting my teeth ready for the pain - and of course - it never comes. I just can't believe it still - even after 5 weeks !! :D:hehe::D

I hope that your op next week is as good for you as mine has been for me - I am sure you will feel brilliant pretty quickly :thmb::thmb:. I love my new 'go faster' bits and I am sure you will too. If you need any more positives to help you along - give me a shout - I've got a bucket load of them to share :D:D:D:D

Regards
Andy

 

[Andy-LTHR]

Hi Andy

As for the bike idea, why don't you have a change and drive something quick with a roof - your new hip will be protected as well. I am a bit of a female petrolhead, so understand how you are feeling - if I was told I couldn't drive my cars again I would be devastated. I have got a Nissan Skyline GTS-T, and a Stagea (Skyline estate) both Jap imports and both with the 2.5 turbo engine. I have always loved the big Jap sports cars and have just sold a Toyota Supra I owned for 10 years - loved it to bits, but coudn't really justify 3 cars, lol!

So get back in the saddle soon, but try one with 4 wheels and a roof....

Take care

Hi again Steph (here's part 2 lol )
Firstly - nice selection of cars - I like the Skylines too - great motors :thmb::D
And what a coincidence - I owned (about 11 years ago) a 3.0s Supra - white with blue leather and it was my dream car at the time. Pure muscle and looks to die for. Gave me goosebumps everytime I saw that front wing bulge from the drivers window - hehe :D:cool::cool: Unfortunately I blew the engine on it (literally - totally wrecked, melted pistons etc! :shk and we sadly parted company soon after....

4 wheels instead of two....hmmmmm
I had the same idea when I came out of hospital after my crash and, realising I physically could not ride a bike, blew the insurance money I got for my (once) beautiful Fireblade on an MG-F - thought being roof down motoring was the next best thing to 'knees in the breeze' biking - lol :D
I must have been close as I still have the MG (with a few performance mods - a bit like me I guess - he he he:hehe::hehe
It's not got a big bruising engine (I just LOVE big V8's !!) but it's fun to drive and handles like a demon, being mid engined. I would love to change it sometime but as I have to run a family car as well, I will keep it for a while yet.
It will be interesting to see if I can get in it anytime soon tho' lol :pzld:

Happy motoring (once you get the OK to drive after your op:skp:) , fellow petrol head :D:lvros:

Regards
Andy

 

[Jamie]

I am a bit of a female petrolhead, so understand how you are feeling - if I was told I couldn't drive my cars again I would be devastated. I have got a Nissan Skyline GTS-T, and a Stagea (Skyline estate) both Jap imports and both with the 2.5 turbo engine. I have always loved the big Jap sports cars and have just sold a Toyota Supra I owned for 10 years - loved it to bits, but coudn't really justify 3 cars, lol!

Hey, Steph....another female car buff. My fav car is my 1966 Mustang convertible, 289 V8, one-owner car (ME!). I was a real hot rodder in my young days....

 

[Andy-LTHR]

My fav car is my 1966 Mustang convertible, 289 V8, one-owner car (ME!). ...

Now I AM jealous.
Soft top AND a nice juicy V8...yummmm :D:cool::cool::cool::evil:

Andy

 

[Steph]

How strange Andy, my Supra was a white turbo with blue leather as well - a 1990 model. I was very sad to see it go cos it was such a pretty car, but had all the right stuff under the bonnet. I just love something a bit different....

Hang on to that MG - I am sure that you will get back in it in time . I have never driven one, but they look really good fun to drive and it sounds like you enjoy it a lot. Like you I do prefer the bigger engined vehicles, my ultimate was a 4.0 Jag Sovereign that we had for a while - beautiful cruising car - just didn't have enough days in the week to drive everything at the time so some had to go...I am a bit of a kleptomaniac when it comes to cars and drive my hubbie mad.

 

[Steph]

Hey, Steph....another female car buff. My fav car is my 1966 Mustang convertible, 289 V8, one-owner car (ME!). I was a real hot rodder in my young days....

That is fantastic Jamie - I just love the older shaped Mustangs, a really big aggressive car with beautiful lines

My dream car is a Corvette, I have always loved them and in particular the newer ZO6 with the 7 litre engine - couldn't afford to run it with the cost of fuel these days though, plus I am not sure if I could cope with a left hand drive car on our roads - but one day maybe :D

Good to know there are other female petrol heads out there :cool:

 

[tahoe1009]

Welcome!! I too began my trip to a THR on a motorcycle (had a lady turn left in front of me). I was 17. I am now the service manager at a motorcycle dealership. My THR hasn't been without it's problems, but I am starting to be able to enjoy it.
Kinda cool that someone else loves motorcycles!! As for that 996 someone mentioned... I'd take a CBR1000RR Repsol edition over a 996 any day!!

 

[Jamie]

That is fantastic Jamie - I just love the older shaped Mustangs, a really big aggressive car with beautiful lines

My dream car is a Corvette, I have always loved them and in particular the newer ZO6 with the 7 litre engine - couldn't afford to run it with the cost of fuel these days though, plus I am not sure if I could cope with a left hand drive car on our roads - but one day maybe :D

Good to know there are other female petrol heads out there :cool:

Corvettes may not be around much longer.....as you may have heard General Motors (GM) is having a lot of financial problems and there is talk they are going to discontinue some of their "specialty models" like the Corvette. That would be beyond sad!!! I had a 1978 Stingray when I was married to my first hubbie. It was really his car, but I drove it. The idiot let a friend borrow it and he totaled that lovely metallic blue machine. That was my hubby's SECOND totaled car in the 5 years we had been married (the first was the FIRST model of Pontiac's Grand Am). I let him hang around for another year or so and then I was done....MY insurance was going through the roof because of HIS accidents. While we were married, he never had a car he didn't wreck in some way. Geeze!!! My second hubby pick was MUCH, MUCH better!!!

 

[loggon]

Wow I would have been having a . I had two sting rays back in the 70's Both 1975. I almost bought one last year another 1975, it was a beauty, but the old knee said dream on.

We also had a 1951 Mercury, lowered and the works. It was beautiful. It was in one of the movies made her in Austin. Sold it site unseen to someone in Calif. If you went anywhere it it was a long time before you got home.

Beth how are you trying to post your pics? Depending on you operating system and programs there are several ways.

 

[Texas]

Listen to you girls.....you go !!!!!!!!!!!!!!