Very Anxious on the verge of freaking out.

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Cmonroe

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This is my first post here so I hope it doesn't sound too whiny. I am 31 years old, and I'm scheduled for a total hip replacement on August 13, 2009. I have had 13 operations on my left hip starting at age 12 after a car accident and my last one was 10 years ago. Many were failed attempts at fusion, or hardware replacement after I bent the titanium bars.
Now I have once again broken the titanium bar on my left femur, along with the 2 screws holding it in place. Also my fusion is becoming unstable once again, so my Doctor refered my to a really good surgeon, but as it gets closer to the date I am getting more and more nervous. Maybe it's in part to me remembering laying in bed for months in spika casts(yeah that was plural). I watched a video today of current procedures, and started getting really upset.
Is there anyone here who can relate, and/or has had a total hip done recently that can help me calm down a little, or just share your experience with me?
 
Oh boy, can I remember nursing people in those hip spicas! You have my sympathies, Cmonroe. However, all that is past and the THR can more than adequately rectify all the failed surgeries you had in the past. AND you'll be up and walking the very next day! Won't that be something?

Now as far as you are concerned, the op will last about 2 seconds and then you'll be ready to fly! I can promise you that this will be the least traumatic and most rewarding of all the procedures you've had in the past. And we'll look forward to reading your posts when you come back and tell us all about it!

Welcome to BoneSmart! You hit the right button for support and encouragement here though I know for certain there's been no-one here with quite your case history!
 
well im in the same boat as you going in next week only advice i can give you is too late dont watch the videos!!!!.beyong that few procedures viewed would be appealing.Seems to me that thr for you is a no brainer.Their are experienced people here who will help you along.Ill let you know how it goes next week!!!
 
Hi And Welcome. You have had some many surgeries, but this one should fix it once and for all. Try not to look at the negative ( i did alt first as well) but really if you do what your told by your Dr you will just fine. Then at 31 get on with your life and not have to worry anymore. Im a knee but I see so many hips come thru here and really they are all happy they did it. We will all be here to help in anyway we can, you are sooooo not alone...Post anytime ...Really you will be so much better off and at your age you have your whole life ahead of you, that should be exciting...!!!!!!!!!!!!Good Luck to you both !!!!!!
Hi Ron all goes the same for you , you are not alone you have all of us !!!!!!!
 
Welcome, Roe! Countdown's begun to getting your life BACK!!! You've got a TON of support here! Keep posting and good luck! )
 
CM, welcome to the forum. You will find this a very warm and supportive place to be. So post your questions and concerns. And you are not whiney! No wonder you are anxious, with all that you have gone through! But rest assured, like Jo says, this surgery will be the one that'll have you up and walking the day after. Any pain you might have will be soft tissue healing and that goes away. It's a new lease on life. :thmb:
 
well im in the same boat as you going in next week only advice i can give you is too late dont watch the videos!!!!.beyong that few procedures viewed would be appealing.Seems to me that thr for you is a no brainer.Their are experienced people here who will help you along.Ill let you know how it goes next week!!!

Quite agree with you on the videos, Ron. However, I believe people who think you've been through nothing and should be 100% one week later should watch them.:evil: Lots of luck to you next week. We shall look forward to your posts from the other side.
 
Cmonroe, welcome to the forum. We have such a wonderful group of caring folks here who will support you all the way through your surgery and recovery. As everyone above has said....good....no, GREAT...days are just ahead. People who have hip replacements today do so well afterwards. They are just amazed at how fast they get back to a real life. At your young age, this will be especially meaningful because you seem to have had a bad time of it for so long. Thank goodness you found a fabulous surgeon who is willing to help you get your life back.

Please don't hesitate to post any time you have a question or concern. I promise you that NO ONE here will think you are whining....we've all been there either with a hip or a knee or both!
 
Welcome, I had my TLHR and it was the best decision I have ever made and wished I had made it sooner, Life is Good again!
 
CMonroe

The waiting is the hardest part for sure. It is a wonderful surgery, I love my new hip and was amazed that I was walking the very next day. You have had a rough road getting to the hip replacement, but you will be very happy after
judy
 
Welcome to Bonesmart Cmon...and rh51!! Ditto's on that you have found THE place for support and help! I only wish I had found this Forum about two years before I did. You are NOT 'whiny'....you are anxious, concerned, worried, and just maybe ( I sure was..! ) scared sh*#less of the unknown!
We have ALL been there, and THIS is the beauty of these Forums. You are NOT ALONE, either. Support, strength and help is right here...a couple of mouseclicks away almost 24/7!
It sounds like you have been thru enough hell already....and that stuff is OVER. I've had Total Replacements on BOTH hips...the first on 3/5/07;the last on 3/17/09. BOTH went great!! ZERO problems, complications, or trouble.
They TOTALLY and ABSOLUTELY changed my life... they gave me my life BACK! THR's are so common today as to not rate a yawn amongst fellow surgeons in the 'interesting' catagory of procedures. Yes, they ARE a big deal as far as serious trauma to your body....especially when it's YOUR BODY being discussed!!:shk: Yeah, the surgery IS brutal, gory and traumatic. BUT...
One of the most profound experiences in my life came the day after my first replacement. The Physical Therapist came to see me, along with the usual nurse, who was carrying a walker. "Well, today we'll see about how this new hip works....let me help get you turned around and to the side of the bed for your first 'stand-up testdrive'!!" 'Anxious and afraid' does not come into the same zipcode close to how I felt. I prayed to God as my butt left the mattress, my feet met the floor, and my arms let my weight come down onto my new hip....WITH ZERO PAIN!!! My eyes as wide as saucers...my first words were "Oh my GOD!! It DOESNT HURT!!!" And the rest is history!
TWICE!! :thmb::thmb: Hope this helps. Post back!! Lee
 
Lee that so describes my first attempt at standing as well - just no pain at all.

CMonroe, after everything you have gone through over the years this one will almost be a walk in the park for you. It seems that everything else you have had done has only been a temporary fix, but this one should be much more permanent and should last you a whole lot longer.

Yes, the waiting time is the worst as you panice, get scared and think about all the "what ifs", you also worry about how you will be after the surgery as it is a real fear of the unknown, but just have a read of of the After Hip Replacement section and just see the really positive experiences everybody has to report so soon after surgery.

I had my right hip replaced on 2nd June and felt many of the same things your are feeling (as everyone does), I went through the why me phase - I am only 50 and no other joints are affected, but I have realised that there are so many much younger people than me having had it done with such great success rates - so I just knew I could get through it too - as you will. It is a big operation and you won't be allowed to slack afterwards, you will have to work really hard from day one - but the benefits are enormous and the pain really goes away once that rotten old joint is removed.

Everyone here offers such great support and encouragement, and we are here when you are feeling low and just need to get something off your chest.

Good luck and take care and just think that this is the very positive beginning of the rest of your pain free life.
 
Hi CMonroe,

Like many here, I was Very nervous and had a 2-minute moment at the pre-op assessment where I almost pulled out - much to the consternation of my husband!

I think there comes a point where all your research and information finding is no longer just an academic exercise and you realise that people are going to do stuff to you! That can be scary.

But, none my worries came to pass; I survived and thrived - and should have done it sooner:)

All the best
 
Welcome CMonroe,
I too am a newbie to this site and am thrilled I found it; lots of help, support, info. Put your worries aside and concentrate on the positives. Have seen videos of the surgery and it makes one wonder how we even stay on the operating table while they are hammering away lol!!:shk: But fear not, I had my LHR at the end of May and am SO LOOKING FORWARD to my RHR on Thursday.
It is unbelievable, so much pain is gone with this surgery, and the joy of it all is that instead of the pain getting worse each day, popping pills to dull the pain, going without sleep because of the pain, you find yourself steadily improving and able to do things you hadn't been able to.
In 2007, I shattered an elbow in a rollover, and that recupe was much more painful and uncomfortable than my hip surgery.
Best of luck in August;:thmb::thmb: you have lots of support here while waiting, and lots of threads to read to get you up to speed on all aspects of the surgery. Will keep you posted on my recupe after I return home Sunday (yes, that soon).

Glenys
 
I've had life long stupid hip syndrome, and surgeries as a teenage, and this surgery was so simple and so lacking in pain I was absolutley astonished. Try not to worry....just focus on the next 69 years of no pain (that takes you to 100!)....69 years of riding bikes, kicking balls, painfree sex, walking up and down steps, lifting things, maybe have some babies, 69 years of just living life without the focus always being on the silly hip and the things you can't do. Yesterday, For the first time in 20 years I RAN ....I was on the beach and I thought I'd just see if I could do it....wahoo.....do you know how good it is to run on the beach when before you struggled to walk??......
To be honest I sthink the scarier thought is living with stupid hip syndrome for the next 69 years. Thank God its an option!!!!

Stay calm....it will be alright
Rachel
 
Hey Cmonroe just wondering how you were doing. Are you hanging in there..Just checking !!!!!!! Good Luck to you....
 
Yeah I'm doing alright. All of you guys really helped me alot and I appreciate it. Looking forward to the end of existing, and the start of living again. :D
 
Never had pain free sex since this all started when I was 12. Something to look forward to. LOL
 
You have LOTS of great things to look forward to!! August is almost here and soon you'll be on the other side of the surgery and in recovery....a great place to be! The hardest part is what you're going through now....waiting. Hang in there!!!
 
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