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Newbie Sharing Her Story

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ziuta

new member
Joined
Sep 4, 2009
Messages
15
Age
46
Location
New Jersey
Hi everyone!

I'm going in for THR October 22-a decision I struggled with for years. I had my "issues" since birth. My right butt cheek and leg is much smaller then the left, I never sat Indian style, never can paint my toe and the 2 times I actually managed to tie my shoe I ended up with back pain. I have tailored my life around these obstacles and the only reason I decided to do the surgery is because 1. I am hoping I will be able to tie my shoe, paint my toes, and (I hope this doesn't offend anyone, but make love to my husband and actually SEE his face (my "work around" is to get creative and unfortunately we can never be face to face) and 2. I need a surgery sooner or later so now seems like the right time. The pain is such a part of me that I don't even mind it in most of the time and there are days i struggle with going into surgery because I cant justfy it, I start to feel like I need to be in horrible pain but reading posts here helps me get rid of this guilt-THNAK YOU ALL for that!

I guess I just want to know-will I seriously be able to tie my shoe and paint my toes (even though I was never able to)????
 
Welcome Ziuta,
Unusual name, what is the story behind it?
And welcome again to one of the best forum sites. Don't be afraid to ask or give your opinion on any subject relating to your hip replacement. We can't help if you don't ask.
I had both hips replaced recently, but that was because they were completely worn out which is nought compared to what you have endured all your life. So I cannot answer your questions for you but to say that I do not regret one bit having both hips worked on. I am now almost completely pain free and one of the joys is pain-free sex. What a blessing after years of misery.
Our forum adviser and mother hen, Josephine, will be along before too long and give her expert advice. And then there is Jamie to back her up.
There are lots of threads here of past, present and future situations but I have not seen one that is identical to yours. Perhaps you can pick up some info. from them.
Do keep posting and keep us informed of your progress.
By the way, there is no need to go through life in agony and especially to feel guilty for wanting to feel better.

Glenys
LHR 5/28/09
RHR 7/23/09
 
Hi everyone!

I'm going in for THR October 22-a decision I struggled with for years. I had my "issues" since birth. My right butt cheek and leg is much smaller then the left, I never sat Indian style, never can paint my toe and the 2 times I actually managed to tie my shoe I ended up with back pain. I have tailored my life around these obstacles and the only reason I decided to do the surgery is because 1. I am hoping I will be able to tie my shoe, paint my toes, and (I hope this doesn't offend anyone, but make love to my husband and actually SEE his face (my "work around" is to get creative and unfortunately we can never be face to face) and 2. I need a surgery sooner or later so now seems like the right time. The pain is such a part of me that I don't even mind it in most of the time and there are days i struggle with going into surgery because I cant justfy it, I start to feel like I need to be in horrible pain but reading posts here helps me get rid of this guilt-THNAK YOU ALL for that!

I guess I just want to know-will I seriously be able to tie my shoe and paint my toes (even though I was never able to)????
um sex part will be easy the painting your toes part might be a little dicier.They really dont want you doing that like ever!!!lol.My surgeon just told me a story a woman after five years went to trim her pinky toe and displaced her hip!!You will feel 100% better but there will be some limitations:)
 
Whoa what do you mean you are trying to justify the surgery.
My dear you are long over due for the surgery. You will be so happy
once it is done. I am a knee not a hippie but I know you will be able to achieve the things you want to achieve.

Humm how about not paining the toes but painting the toe nails.
Just kidding. My mom had her hip done and she painted her toe nails and tied her shoes and well I really don't want to picture the sex part. One always thinks their parents don't do that!!!

Talk to your doctor and I am sure he will tell you how much better and how many more things you will be able to do.
 
Hi Zuita, welcome along to this wonderful forum. Jo will be along soon but here are my answers to your questions.

I am now 3 months post op and managed to cut my toenails for the first time for ages a few weeks ago - I am sure I could reach to paint them as well, and as time goes on the mobility will only improve. My surgeon was quite happy with me doing my nails - but you must always remember to externally rotate the hip to reach your foot, i.e. bring your knee up to the side when sitting and eventually put your foot on your unoperated knee.

Sex is also much easier and completely pain free, although you will probably tread on eggshells for a while until you gain confidence in your hip.

Go ahead and get it done, you won't regret it and it will open up a whole new life for you after so long. Good luck with it all.
 
Thank you all for your replies! I KNOW that even a bit of more range of motion will make this all worthwhile! Steph I can’t believe you can actual put your foot on the other leg’s knee!!!! OMG I will forever be so grateful if I can do that :) My right (bad) leg just does not go that way, it’s pretty much forward and back and straight out when sitting! I actually open up my socks and place them nicely on the floor, then I slip my toe in the opening and then get down while holding onto a dresser or chair. Then I reach from the back and pull the sock up over my heel. Stockings take a bit more work and I kind of slid them up with the foot of my good leg until I can reach it which is just past my knee. I’m such a pro at this that it takes me about a minute and I’m done lol. I know which shoes I can buy and which are too much “work” haha. I think it just helps to hear from people who have been through it all. My family is thrilled that I scheduled my surgery but that doesn’t make it any easier for me. I think my husband is my biggest deciding factor. He encourages me but at the same time he doesn’t look at me funny when he has to tie my shoe or buckle the strap. And he doesn’t mind that my body is not the usually shape.

I had surgeries back in Poland in early 1980’s and they did the best they could. My doctor said they literally “butchered me” and I had endured a lot of stress. I remember the “gas mask” to put me out before surgery. The BIG COLD scissors they used to cut the casket, and when I cried and screamed for my mom the nurse yelled at me to keep quite. Plus my parents having 3 other kids could only visit me once every 2 weeks and the one time they didn’t come (my brother was very sick) I stayed up late and kept insisting to the nurse that they will come… but they never did. I also remember how I didn’t want to see my mom but when she had a white lab coat on I had no issue when she held me. And I know this is long ago but I think it’s maybe the trauma from that past that I get so “skeptical.”

HOWEVER, I was much much worse last week. Everyone here is saying great things and the best “aha” moment I had is that WE made the decisions. I think it helps that I have control this time and my family will all be there (not 2 weeks away lol). I even scheduled on Thursday like my sister asked so she can spend time with my over the weekend.
 
Hello, Ziuta, and a great big welcome to BoneSmart! I'm sure you'll be delighted with your new hips once they've healed and settled down. And for sure you'll be able to cut your toenails and have look at your partner whilst having sex!

The only 'maybe' I'd insert here is that after all this time of having one leg smaller than the other, the muscles and ligaments, and maybe even the bones, will be so malformed you may have ongoing issues there.

Have you discussed anything like this with your surgeon? If he has any concerns about not being able to restore you to normal anatomy, he should have told you already.
 
Hello and welcome Im a knee but I wish the best for you...and we are all here for ya knees hips etc................it will be ok.............) Best wishes...........cant stay in that pain anymore the surgery pain will go away........
 
hi ziuta
iam only 27 and have had my new right hip for just over 5 week now and it is the best thing i have ever had done i was a bit like your self i lived with pain for some time as i was not very keen on getting the op done but iam so glad i did when i first got it done i was very down as i thought my life was going to be full of do's and dont's but guss what its not you will be so happy to be pain free you wont even give it a thought your body will let you know when your ready to start getting back to the norm hope all goes well for you stay safe
 
Hi Zuita, your history sounds a bit like mine...life long stupid right hip!..I had thr 5 months ago and I'm doing fine.....except I still cant do up shoelaces or paint my nails....and as for seeing my husbands face, .....well that happens too....
I say "go for it"....after all ,what have you got to lose? Pain, lack of mobility, excuses,....and even if it takes a while to getting to paint your toes, and do up your shoelaces....at least your doing it without pain.....and painless sex, well thats still a novelty for me!
Rachel
 
Welcome Ziuta! "Cut the casket?" I don't even want to know what that means! All I do know is that you've found the best place to vent and get info and laughs as well! As far as your surgery day....should be a great one....it's my birthday!! :).....YOu will do great!!! Just THINK of all the new positions you'll be able to get into NOW!!!!Ummm......minds out of the gutter,soon!!! Let is know how you progress!!! Best of good luck!! ((:0)
 
I’m going to cry is how I feel because I’m so happy I found a place full of such wonderful angles I never met who know exactly how I feel-THANK YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH!

My company is in the middle of switching insurances and they have stopped so that I can get my surgery done without the hassle of switching providers and such. So I guess it finally hit me when one of the owners told me the “good” news lol. So now it’s no turning back. Judi I will be thinking about you since the 22nd will now be a very special day for us both :)

The funny thing is now that I’m schedule it’s like my pain got worse lol. I don’t know what happened. My only guess is that maybe I’m paying more attention to it and I just notice it more lol!!!
 
Ziu,,,,,you will do fine!!!! The countdown's begun!!!! ((:0)
 
Welcome to the BoneSmart family, ziuta. We're so glad you found our loving and caring group of folks. There will always be people here to support you and answer questions as you go through your surgery. So don't worry!!

You will be so amazed at the difference in your life after your operation. I can't wait to read some of your posts! It sounds like you have a wonderful hubby who will help you too....so important! Jo's suggestion that you may have some extra effort involved to get back to "normal" where the bones, muscles and ligaments have been affected over the years makes sense to me. I do think it would be good to discuss that part of the recovery process with your surgeon so you know what to expect.

Post any time you have a concern or even just to talk! We will enjoy hearing from you.
 
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