Re: Re: How do you know when it is time for hip replacement?

[Guest guest]

Same here with my knee. I am only 47 but I have had it with my knee hurting and limiting me. I finally got my OS to do TKR and I'm going for it. July 11 is the tentative date. God bless and take care, in Tennessee

llk_kmk <llk_kmk@...> wrote:

You will know when you either can't take the pain or have the lack of mobility to walk.When it consumes your daily life and nothing else matters but the pain in your hip.When every moment of every day you are aware of your hip!Sorry to go on but it will come to this as it has for everybody here.I had bone on bone and went to the point where I couldn't function without crying.The best thing I did was have this surgery.I'm 6 1/2 months p/o and after hard work rehabing I feel great and most people I know don't even know I had surgery. No I can't do everything but pretty close. Have good days mostly and some sore days as well.I'm 56 and was very active before this.You will be able to ride motorbikes and horses too.Good luck. Ken>

Hi all,> > I'm a 60 year old, retired navy captain/pilot -- very active all my> life with sports, flying and now motorcycle riding. With quite> intense pain, I finally received a diagnosis a year ago that my right> hip had significant arthritis and my left hip had signs of the same. > The past year has gotten worse and worse, limp is more noticable,> trouble sleeping and turning over in bed. I love to ride horses and> motorcycles, but the agony of getting on and off is curtailing my> activities. I go back to Navy orthodoc on 30 June to consider what is> next.> > Questions: 1. For those of you who have had successful replacements,> how did you know that you had no other options??> 2. Is it better to get the new hip early in life while activities are> still quite intense or wait until later in life when activities

have> been cut back because of stiffness and pain?> 3. If I get the surgery, will I likely be able to ride horses and> motorcycles again?? If so, what is the recovery period expected> before that type of activity will be likely??> > Sorry to ask these basic questions, but I'm not sure I trust the> doctors' opinions as much as I trust those of you who have already> experienced the same deterioration in overall quality of life,> increasing pain, surgery, recovery, and return to activity.> > Your advice will be appreciated.

[Guest guest]

Bill and Canter <cindyj4652@...> wrote:

Same here with my knee. I am only 47 but I have had it with my knee hurting and limiting me. I finally got my OS to do TKR and I'm going for it. July 11 is the tentative date. God bless and take care, in Tennessee good luck on everything . my prayers or with you.

llk_kmk <llk_kmk@...> wrote: You will know when you either can't take the pain or have the lack of mobility to walk.When it consumes your daily life and nothing else matters but the pain in your hip.When every moment of every day you are aware of your hip!Sorry to go on but it will come to this as it has for everybody here.I had bone on bone and went to the point where I couldn't function without crying.The best thing I did was have this surgery.I'm 6 1/2 months p/o and after hard work rehabing I feel great and most people I know don't even know I had surgery. No I can't do everything but pretty close. Have good days mostly and some sore days as well.I'm 56 and was very active before this.You will be able to ride motorbikes and horses too.Good luck. Ken>

Hi all,> > I'm a 60 year old, retired navy captain/pilot -- very active all my> life with sports, flying and now motorcycle riding. With quite> intense pain, I finally received a diagnosis a year ago that my right> hip had significant arthritis and my left hip had signs of the same. > The past year has gotten worse and worse, limp is more noticable,> trouble sleeping and turning over in bed. I love to ride horses and> motorcycles, but the agony of getting on and off is curtailing my> activities. I go back to Navy orthodoc on 30 June to consider what is> next.> > Questions: 1. For those of you who have had successful replacements,> how did you know that you had no other options??> 2. Is it better to get the new hip early in life while activities are> still quite intense or wait until later in life when activities

have> been cut back because of stiffness and pain?> 3. If I get the surgery, will I likely be able to ride horses and> motorcycles again?? If so, what is the recovery period expected> before that type of activity will be likely??> > Sorry to ask these basic questions, but I'm not sure I trust the> doctors' opinions as much as I trust those of you who have already> experienced the same deterioration in overall quality of life,> increasing pain, surgery, recovery, and return to activity.> > Your advice will be appreciated.

[Guest guest]

good luck cindyBill and Canter <cindyj4652@...> wrote:

Same here with my knee. I am only 47 but I have had it with my knee hurting and limiting me. I finally got my OS to do TKR and I'm going for it. July 11 is the tentative date. God bless and take care, in Tennessee

llk_kmk <llk_kmk@...> wrote: You will know when you either can't take the pain or have the lack of mobility to walk.When it consumes your daily life and nothing else matters but the pain in your hip.When every moment of every day you are aware of your hip!Sorry to go on but it will come to this as it has for everybody here.I had bone on bone and went to the point where I couldn't function without crying.The best thing I did was have this surgery.I'm 6 1/2 months p/o and after hard work rehabing I feel great and most people I know don't even know I had surgery. No I can't do everything but pretty close. Have good days mostly and some sore days as well.I'm 56 and was very active before this.You will be able to ride motorbikes and horses too.Good luck. Ken>

Hi all,> > I'm a 60 year old, retired navy captain/pilot -- very active all my> life with sports, flying and now motorcycle riding. With quite> intense pain, I finally received a diagnosis a year ago that my right> hip had significant arthritis and my left hip had signs of the same. > The past year has gotten worse and worse, limp is more noticable,> trouble sleeping and turning over in bed. I love to ride horses and> motorcycles, but the agony of getting on and off is curtailing my> activities. I go back to Navy orthodoc on 30 June to consider what is> next.> > Questions: 1. For those of you who have had successful replacements,> how did you know that you had no other options??> 2. Is it better to get the new hip early in life while activities are> still quite intense or wait until later in life when activities

have> been cut back because of stiffness and pain?> 3. If I get the surgery, will I likely be able to ride horses and> motorcycles again?? If so, what is the recovery period expected> before that type of activity will be likely??> > Sorry to ask these basic questions, but I'm not sure I trust the> doctors' opinions as much as I trust those of you who have already> experienced the same deterioration in overall quality of life,> increasing pain, surgery, recovery, and return to activity.> > Your advice will be appreciated.

[Guest guest]

Thank you. I'll let everyone know when I hear from the OS office about the definite date. in Tennessee

SUE VOGEL <suevogel@...> wrote:

good luck cindyBill and Canter <cindyj4652@...> wrote:

Same here with my knee. I am only 47 but I have had it with my knee hurting and limiting me. I finally got my OS to do TKR and I'm going for it. July 11 is the tentative date. God bless and take care, in Tennessee

llk_kmk <llk_kmk@...> wrote: You will know when you either can't take the pain or have the lack of mobility to walk.When it consumes your daily life and nothing else matters but the pain in your hip.When every moment of every day you are aware of your hip!Sorry to go on but it will come to this as it has for everybody here.I had bone on bone and went to the point where I couldn't function without crying.The best thing I did was have this surgery.I'm 6 1/2 months p/o and after hard work rehabing I feel great and most people I know don't even know I had surgery. No I can't do everything but pretty close. Have good days mostly and some sore days as well.I'm 56 and was very active before this.You will be able to ride motorbikes and horses too.Good luck. Ken>

Hi all,> > I'm a 60 year old, retired navy captain/pilot -- very active all my> life with sports, flying and now motorcycle riding. With quite> intense pain, I finally received a diagnosis a year ago that my right> hip had significant arthritis and my left hip had signs of the same. > The past year has gotten worse and worse, limp is more noticable,> trouble sleeping and turning over in bed. I love to ride horses and> motorcycles, but the agony of getting on and off is curtailing my> activities. I go back to Navy orthodoc on 30 June to consider what is> next.> > Questions: 1. For those of you who have had successful replacements,> how did you know that you had no other options??> 2. Is it better to get the new hip early in life while activities are> still quite intense or wait until later in life when activities

have> been cut back because of stiffness and pain?> 3. If I get the surgery, will I likely be able to ride horses and> motorcycles again?? If so, what is the recovery period expected> before that type of activity will be likely??> > Sorry to ask these basic questions, but I'm not sure I trust the> doctors' opinions as much as I trust those of you who have already> experienced the same deterioration in overall quality of life,> increasing pain, surgery, recovery, and return to activity.> > Your advice will be appreciated.

[Guest guest]

llk_kmk <llk_kmk@...> wrote:

scott, recovery is hard to put a time on because everybody is so different.some are good to go after 6-8 weeks others 6 months. there is no normal time.like any surgery rehab is hard to do and what you put into it makes a difference as well.no one can predict how long rehab will be.the good part is that the pain prior to surgery will be gone!!! you will have surgery pain but that is different. every day you will be a little better after surgery. i'm 6 1/2 months p/o and i still have minor muscle soreness around my incision area once in awhile mainly because the better i feel the more i do and therefore the muscle react to more movement. i highly recommend to have this surgery and have a positive attitude.there will be good days and some bad ones as well. Just so you know i have a Dupuy metal on metal with a 36mm ball which gives

about the most ROM you can get.good luck to you. ken> > > Hi all,> > > > > > I'm a 60 year old, retired navy captain/pilot -- very active all my> > > life with sports, flying and now motorcycle riding. With

quite> > > intense pain, I finally received a diagnosis a year ago that my > > right> > > hip had significant arthritis and my left hip had signs of the > > same. > > > The past year has gotten worse and worse, limp is more noticable,> > > trouble sleeping and turning over in bed. I love to ride horses > > and> > > motorcycles, but the agony of getting on and off is curtailing my> > > activities. I go back to Navy orthodoc on 30 June to consider > > what is> > > next.> > > > > > Questions: 1. For those of you who have had successful > > replacements,> > > how did you know that you had no other options??> > > 2. Is it better to get the new hip early in life while activities > > are> > > still quite intense or wait until

later in life when activities > > have> > > been cut back because of stiffness and pain?> > > 3. If I get the surgery, will I likely be able to ride horses and> > > motorcycles again?? If so, what is the recovery period expected> > > before that type of activity will be likely??> > > > > > Sorry to ask these basic questions, but I'm not sure I trust the> > > doctors' opinions as much as I trust those of you who have already> > > experienced the same deterioration in overall quality of life,> > > increasing pain, surgery, recovery, and return to activity.> > > > > > Your advice will be appreciated.> > > > > > > > > >

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Ken, for your perspective. In 1969 (seems like a century ago) I crashed a helicopter at sea off of North Vietnam. Compression Fracture of several verts, including some bone fragments that needed to be removed. Forcast for me?? No more flying and up to 2 years to return to active duty as a line officer. In 8 months I returned to Vietnam as a pilot, only to return on a stretcher with a blown disk. Again, I was told -- "You won't return to a flight status." Again, in about 8 months I returned to flying and an active and upward moving career. I have an iron will to "keep going" and don't want to lose even one moment of this great life because of a disability. I feel like I am now missing wasting days when I can't ride our horses, hike with my grandson or ride my motorcycle in the hills east of San Diego. I'll get something done as soon as possible and focus on recovery. I hope it goes as well as my previous 3

back surgeries. I'll keep you posted. Thanks for the great words and encouragement. llk_kmk <llk_kmk@...> wrote:

scott, recovery is hard to put a time on because everybody is so different.some are good to go after 6-8 weeks others 6 months. there is no normal time.like any surgery rehab is hard to do and what you put into it makes a difference as well.no one can predict how long rehab will be.the good part is that the pain prior to surgery will be gone!!! you will have surgery pain but that is different. every day you will be a little better after surgery. i'm 6 1/2 months p/o and i still have minor muscle soreness around my incision area once in awhile mainly because the better i feel the more i do and therefore the muscle react to more movement. i highly recommend to have this surgery and have a positive attitude.there will be good days and some bad ones as well. Just so you know i have a Dupuy metal on metal with a 36mm ball which gives

about the most ROM you can get.good luck to you. ken> > > Hi all,> > >

> > > I'm a 60 year old, retired navy captain/pilot -- very active all my> > > life with sports, flying and now motorcycle riding. With quite> > > intense pain, I finally received a diagnosis a year ago that my > > right> > > hip had significant arthritis and my left hip had signs of the > > same. > > > The past year has gotten worse and worse, limp is more noticable,> > > trouble sleeping and turning over in bed. I love to ride horses > > and> > > motorcycles, but the agony of getting on and off is curtailing my> > > activities. I go back to Navy orthodoc on 30 June to consider > > what is> > > next.> > > > > > Questions: 1. For those of you who have had successful > > replacements,> > > how did you know that you had no other

options??> > > 2. Is it better to get the new hip early in life while activities > > are> > > still quite intense or wait until later in life when activities > > have> > > been cut back because of stiffness and pain?> > > 3. If I get the surgery, will I likely be able to ride horses and> > > motorcycles again?? If so, what is the recovery period expected> > > before that type of activity will be likely??> > > > > > Sorry to ask these basic questions, but I'm not sure I trust the> > > doctors' opinions as much as I trust those of you who have already> > > experienced the same deterioration in overall quality of life,> > > increasing pain, surgery, recovery, and return to activity.> > > > > > Your advice will be appreciated.> > > >

> > > > > >

[Guest guest]

Hi Ken,

I went to Balboa Naval Hosp. on Friday and met with the OS. He had no doubts that it was time to replace the hips. Interestingly, he asked me which one I thought was the worse. I chose the right side as it is chronically sore, while the left side is episodically sore, though much more pain than the right. He said I chose the one he would also choose. He wanted to schedule the surgery in August, but I am postponing it for a month because of a long standing trip to Italy that would be messed up. As it is, my wife has great doubts about the wisdom of going as my gait is always with a limp and the pain is apparent on my face. But, we started making reservations nearly one year ago and I don't want to let her down. I feel bad for the Canadian writers who have to be on a waiting list for upwards of 2 years to get their hips replaced. So much for the benefits of socialized "big government" medicine.

As a side note, what are your thoughts about having both hips replaced in the same surgery?? The OS is not in favor of it, but he didn't close the door on the subject, either. We will talk about it again in mid August. Is the pain associated with surgery, recovery and therapy so intense that one side is enough??

llk_kmk <llk_kmk@...> wrote:

scott, you are very welcome for the words.We both live in the same state. i live in Merced in the central valley half way up the state.I don't know if i mentioned my age but i'm 56 and was playing racquetball 3 times a week until one day last year i woke up and couldn't walk!the pain was so bad i couldn't walk for 3 days.before that i had groin pain but not to the point of keeping me from playing RB.Had that pain for 6 years but again it didn't keep me from doing things.when i couldn't walk i then went to a OS for and had an x-ray and of course was told i needed a total hip done and that RB was out for ever.Talk about cutting my legs off at the knees.I then did research and talking to everybody i knew that had this surgery done to find the right doctor and hospital.again good luck to you. Ken- In

Joint Replacement , scott milner <slveag15835@y...> wrote:> Thanks, Ken, for your perspective. In 1969 (seems like a century ago) I crashed a helicopter at sea off of North Vietnam. Compression Fracture of several verts, including some bone fragments that needed to be removed. Forcast for me?? No more flying and up to 2 years to return to active duty as a line officer. In 8 months I returned to Vietnam as a pilot, only to return on a stretcher with a blown disk. Again, I was told -- "You won't return to a flight status." Again, in about 8 months I returned to flying and an active and upward moving career. I have an iron will to "keep going" and don't want to lose even one moment of this great life because of a disability. I feel like I am now missing wasting days when I can't ride our horses, hike with my grandson or ride my motorcycle in the

hills east of San Diego. I'll get something done as soon as possible and focus on recovery. I hope it goes as well as my previous 3 back surgeries. I'll keep you posted. Thanks for the great> words and encouragement. > > llk_kmk <llk_kmk@y...> wrote:scott, recovery is hard to put a time on because everybody is so > different.some are good to go after 6-8 weeks others 6 months. there > is no normal time.like any surgery rehab is hard to do and what you > put into it makes a difference as well.no one can predict how long > rehab will be.the good part is that the pain prior to surgery will > be gone!!! you will have surgery pain but that is different. every > day you will be a little better after surgery. i'm 6 1/2 months p/o > and i still have minor muscle soreness around my incision area once > in awhile mainly because the better

i feel the more i do and > therefore the muscle react to more movement. i highly recommend to > have this surgery and have a positive attitude.there will be good > days and some bad ones as well. Just so you know i have a Dupuy > metal on metal with a 36mm ball which gives about the most ROM you > can get.good luck to you. ken> > > > > > Hi all,> > > > > > > > I'm a 60 year old, retired navy captain/pilot -- very active > all my> > > > life with sports, flying and now motorcycle riding. With quite> > > > intense pain, I finally received a diagnosis a year ago that > my

> > > right> > > > hip had significant arthritis and my left hip had signs of the > > > same. > > > > The past year has gotten worse and worse, limp is more > noticable,> > > > trouble sleeping and turning over in bed. I love to ride > horses > > > and> > > > motorcycles, but the agony of getting on and off is curtailing > my> > > > activities. I go back to Navy orthodoc on 30 June to consider > > > what is> > > > next.> > > > > > > > Questions: 1. For those of you who have had successful > > > replacements,> > > > how did you know that you had no other options??> > > > 2. Is it better to get the new hip early in life while > activities > > > are> > > > still quite

intense or wait until later in life when > activities > > > have> > > > been cut back because of stiffness and pain?> > > > 3. If I get the surgery, will I likely be able to ride horses > and> > > > motorcycles again?? If so, what is the recovery period > expected> > > > before that type of activity will be likely??> > > > > > > > Sorry to ask these basic questions, but I'm not sure I trust > the> > > > doctors' opinions as much as I trust those of you who have > already> > > > experienced the same deterioration in overall quality of life,> > > > increasing pain, surgery, recovery, and return to activity.> > > > > > > > Your advice will be appreciated.> > > > > > > > > > > > > >

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Ken. I appreciate your confidence. I will lean on it. I am now convinced that one at a time is the better option. That is what I will do -- It is also what the OS wants to do. I don't know how much influence I will have on deciding what size and what materials to use. Do you have any suggestions on how I can find out what is best for me?? And, once I determine that, how to get the OS to install it??

llk_kmk <llk_kmk@...> wrote:

, In reading all the other posts I see where you have made a discission to have your surgery in Sept.Good for you!There is some pain from surgery and it's always good to have a "good leg" to support you while rehabing.How much time between surgeries will be up to you and see how you feel from the first one.I would want the new hip to be strong enough to support me for the second surgery.I know you'll do fine.You seem focused enough to make this all work.Good luck. Ken- In Joint Replacement , scott milner <slveag15835@y...> wrote:> Hi Ken,> > I went to Balboa Naval Hosp. on Friday and met with the OS. He had no doubts that it was time to replace the hips. Interestingly, he asked me which one I thought was the worse. I chose the right side as it is

chronically sore, while the left side is episodically sore, though much more pain than the right. He said I chose the one he would also choose. He wanted to schedule the surgery in August, but I am postponing it for a month because of a long standing trip to Italy that would be messed up. As it is, my wife has great doubts about the wisdom of going as my gait is always with a limp and the pain is apparent on my face. But, we started making reservations nearly one year ago and I don't want to let her down. I feel bad for the Canadian writers who have to be on a waiting list for upwards of 2 years to get their hips replaced. So much for the benefits of socialized "big government" medicine.> > As a side note, what are your thoughts about having both hips replaced in the same surgery?? The OS is not in favor of it, but he didn't close the door on the subject, either.

We will talk about it again in mid August. Is the pain associated with surgery, recovery and therapy so intense that one side is enough??> > > > llk_kmk <llk_kmk@y...> wrote:> scott, you are very welcome for the words.We both live in the same > state. i live in Merced in the central valley half way up the > state.I don't know if i mentioned my age but i'm 56 and was playing > racquetball 3 times a week until one day last year i woke up and > couldn't walk!the pain was so bad i couldn't walk for 3 days.before > that i had groin pain but not to the point of keeping me from > playing RB.Had that pain for 6 years but again it didn't keep me > from doing things.when i couldn't walk i then went to a OS for and > had an x-ray and of course was told i needed a total hip done and > that RB was out for ever.Talk about cutting my legs off at the > knees.I

then did research and talking to everybody i knew that had > this surgery done to find the right doctor and hospital.again good > luck to you. Ken> > > - In Joint Replacement , scott milner > <slveag15835@y...> wrote:> > Thanks, Ken, for your perspective. In 1969 (seems like a century > ago) I crashed a helicopter at sea off of North Vietnam. > Compression Fracture of several verts, including some bone fragments > that needed to be removed. Forcast for me?? No more flying and up > to 2 years to return to active duty as a line officer. In 8 months > I returned to Vietnam as a pilot, only to return on a stretcher with > a blown disk. Again, I was told -- "You won't return to a flight > status." Again, in about 8 months I returned to flying and an > active and upward moving career. I

have an iron will to "keep > going" and don't want to lose even one moment of this great life > because of a disability. I feel like I am now missing wasting days > when I can't ride our horses, hike with my grandson or ride my > motorcycle in the hills east of San Diego. I'll get something done > as soon as possible and focus on recovery. I hope it goes as well > as my previous 3 back surgeries. I'll keep you posted. Thanks for > the great> > words and encouragement. > > > > llk_kmk <llk_kmk@y...> wrote:scott, recovery is hard to put a time > on because everybody is so > > different.some are good to go after 6-8 weeks others 6 months. > there > > is no normal time.like any surgery rehab is hard to do and what > you > > put into it makes a difference as well.no one can predict how

long > > rehab will be.the good part is that the pain prior to surgery will > > be gone!!! you will have surgery pain but that is different. every > > day you will be a little better after surgery. i'm 6 1/2 months > p/o > > and i still have minor muscle soreness around my incision area > once > > in awhile mainly because the better i feel the more i do and > > therefore the muscle react to more movement. i highly recommend to > > have this surgery and have a positive attitude.there will be good > > days and some bad ones as well. Just so you know i have a Dupuy > > metal on metal with a 36mm ball which gives about the most ROM you > > can get.good luck to you. ken> > > > > > > > > Hi all,> > > > > > > > > > I'm a 60 year old, retired navy captain/pilot -- very active > > all my> > > > > life with sports, flying and now motorcycle riding. With > quite> > > > > intense pain, I finally received a diagnosis a year ago that > > my > > > > right> > > > > hip had significant

arthritis and my left hip had signs of > the > > > > same. > > > > > The past year has gotten worse and worse, limp is more > > noticable,> > > > > trouble sleeping and turning over in bed. I love to ride > > horses > > > > and> > > > > motorcycles, but the agony of getting on and off is > curtailing > > my> > > > > activities. I go back to Navy orthodoc on 30 June to > consider > > > > what is> > > > > next.> > > > > > > > > > Questions: 1. For those of you who have had successful > > > > replacements,> > > > > how did you know that you had no other options??> > > > > 2. Is it better to get the new hip early in life while > > activities > > > >

are> > > > > still quite intense or wait until later in life when > > activities > > > > have> > > > > been cut back because of stiffness and pain?> > > > > 3. If I get the surgery, will I likely be able to ride > horses > > and> > > > > motorcycles again?? If so, what is the recovery period > > expected> > > > > before that type of activity will be likely??> > > > > > > > > > Sorry to ask these basic questions, but I'm not sure I trust > > the> > > > > doctors' opinions as much as I trust those of you who have > > already> > > > > experienced the same deterioration in overall quality of > life,> > > > > increasing pain, surgery, recovery, and return to activity.> > > > > >

> > > > Your advice will be appreciated.> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >

[Guest guest]

Ken, My next appt. with the OS is on 22 Aug. I will talk to him about the size of the ball at that time. In the meantime, I will call his nurse tomorrow and inquire about the brands names that the OS uses. As my surgery is being performed at the naval hospital in San Diego, the OS is an active duty Commander. He doesn't practice anywhere except the USN. I will ask and I expect that I will have more info by week's end. Thanks for the suggestion. I described my lifestyle to him when we met. I will do so again and ask him to tell me the criteia he uses when selecting the ball size. I suspect some of the criteria is bone size, but that shouldn't be a problem for me. At 6'3" and 190 pounds my God given hips are probably average to large sized. The OS should be able to use a large ball. I will definitely ask. I'll keep you posted. llk_kmk <llk_kmk@...>

wrote:

, First I would ask these questions to your OS and then find out what companies he uses and what companies the hospital your going to go to uses.Both usually stick with one or two makes of prostetics.See if your OS uses more than one hospital to do surgeries as they may use another company.I would think that a man as active as you are would what the biggest ball for the greatest ROM.There is some difference in opinion on what material to use for the ball and cup.I have metal on metal and a 36mm ball.I asked my OS these questions and he pretty much likes the metal on metal and I didn't have much choice that way but he also put in the bigger ball on his own so I lucked out. Because of how good of a doctor the man is I went with what he likes. I know quite a few people who went to him and had great results so that's why I didn't

fight him about material.If you trust this OS you went to then maybe what he is used too will help you make a choice.Look foward to hearing from you. Ken- In Joint Replacement , scott milner <slveag15835@y...> wrote:> Thanks, Ken. I appreciate your confidence. I will lean on it. I am now convinced that one at a time is the better option. That is what I will do -- It is also what the OS wants to do. I don't know how much influence I will have on deciding what size and what materials to use. Do you have any suggestions on how I can find out what is best for me?? And, once I determine that, how to get the OS to install it??> > > > llk_kmk <llk_kmk@y...> wrote:> , In reading all the other posts I see where you have made a > discission to have your surgery in Sept.Good for you!There is some >

pain from surgery and it's always good to have a "good leg" to > support you while rehabing.How much time between surgeries will be > up to you and see how you feel from the first one.I would want the > new hip to be strong enough to support me for the second surgery.I > know you'll do fine.You seem focused enough to make this all > work.Good luck. Ken> > - In Joint Replacement , scott milner > <slveag15835@y...> wrote:> > Hi Ken,> > > > I went to Balboa Naval Hosp. on Friday and met with the OS. He > had no doubts that it was time to replace the hips. Interestingly, > he asked me which one I thought was the worse. I chose the right > side as it is chronically sore, while the left side is episodically > sore, though much more pain than the right. He said I chose the one > he would also

choose. He wanted to schedule the surgery in August, > but I am postponing it for a month because of a long standing trip > to Italy that would be messed up. As it is, my wife has great > doubts about the wisdom of going as my gait is always with a limp > and the pain is apparent on my face. But, we started making > reservations nearly one year ago and I don't want to let her down. > I feel bad for the Canadian writers who have to be on a waiting list > for upwards of 2 years to get their hips replaced. So much for the > benefits of socialized "big government" medicine.> > > > As a side note, what are your thoughts about having both hips > replaced in the same surgery?? The OS is not in favor of it, but he > didn't close the door on the subject, either. We will talk about > it again in mid August. Is the pain

associated with surgery, > recovery and therapy so intense that one side is enough??> > > > > > > > llk_kmk <llk_kmk@y...> wrote:> > scott, you are very welcome for the words.We both live in the same > > state. i live in Merced in the central valley half way up the > > state.I don't know if i mentioned my age but i'm 56 and was > playing > > racquetball 3 times a week until one day last year i woke up and > > couldn't walk!the pain was so bad i couldn't walk for 3 > days.before > > that i had groin pain but not to the point of keeping me from > > playing RB.Had that pain for 6 years but again it didn't keep me > > from doing things.when i couldn't walk i then went to a OS for and > > had an x-ray and of course was told i needed a total hip done and > > that RB was out for ever.Talk about cutting my

legs off at the > > knees.I then did research and talking to everybody i knew that had > > this surgery done to find the right doctor and hospital.again good > > luck to you. Ken> > > > > > - In Joint Replacement , scott milner > > <slveag15835@y...> wrote:> > > Thanks, Ken, for your perspective. In 1969 (seems like a > century > > ago) I crashed a helicopter at sea off of North Vietnam. > > Compression Fracture of several verts, including some bone > fragments > > that needed to be removed. Forcast for me?? No more flying and > up > > to 2 years to return to active duty as a line officer. In 8 > months > > I returned to Vietnam as a pilot, only to return on a stretcher > with > > a blown disk. Again, I was told -- "You won't return to a

flight > > status." Again, in about 8 months I returned to flying and an > > active and upward moving career. I have an iron will to "keep > > going" and don't want to lose even one moment of this great life > > because of a disability. I feel like I am now missing wasting > days > > when I can't ride our horses, hike with my grandson or ride my > > motorcycle in the hills east of San Diego. I'll get something > done > > as soon as possible and focus on recovery. I hope it goes as well > > as my previous 3 back surgeries. I'll keep you posted. Thanks > for > > the great> > > words and encouragement. > > > > > > llk_kmk <llk_kmk@y...> wrote:scott, recovery is hard to put a > time > > on because everybody is so > > > different.some are

good to go after 6-8 weeks others 6 months. > > there > > > is no normal time.like any surgery rehab is hard to do and what > > you > > > put into it makes a difference as well.no one can predict how > long > > > rehab will be.the good part is that the pain prior to surgery > will > > > be gone!!! you will have surgery pain but that is different. > every > > > day you will be a little better after surgery. i'm 6 1/2 months > > p/o > > > and i still have minor muscle soreness around my incision area > > once > > > in awhile mainly because the better i feel the more i do and > > > therefore the muscle react to more movement. i highly recommend > to > > > have this surgery and have a positive attitude.there will be > good > > > days and some bad ones as well. Just so you

know i have a Dupuy > > > metal on metal with a 36mm ball which gives about the most ROM > you > > > can get.good luck to you. ken> > > > > > > > > > > > Hi all,> > > > > > > > > > > > I'm a 60 year old, retired navy captain/pilot -- very > active > > > all my> > > > > > life with sports, flying and now motorcycle riding. With > > quite> > > > > > intense pain, I finally received a diagnosis a year ago > that > > > my > > > > > right> > > > > > hip had significant arthritis and my left hip had signs of > > the > > > > > same. > > > >

> > The past year has gotten worse and worse, limp is more > > > noticable,> > > > > > trouble sleeping and turning over in bed. I love to ride > > > horses > > > > > and> > > > > > motorcycles, but the agony of getting on and off is > > curtailing > > > my> > > > > > activities. I go back to Navy orthodoc on 30 June to > > consider > > > > > what is> > > > > > next.> > > > > > > > > > > > Questions: 1. For those of you who have had successful > > > > > replacements,> > > > > > how did you know that you had no other options??> > > > > > 2. Is it better to get the new hip early in life while > > > activities > > > > >

are> > > > > > still quite intense or wait until later in life when > > > activities > > > > > have> > > > > > been cut back because of stiffness and pain?> > > > > > 3. If I get the surgery, will I likely be able to ride > > horses > > > and> > > > > > motorcycles again?? If so, what is the recovery period > > > expected> > > > > > before that type of activity will be likely??> > > > > > > > > > > > Sorry to ask these basic questions, but I'm not sure I > trust > > > the> > > > > > doctors' opinions as much as I trust those of you who have > > > already> > > > > > experienced the same deterioration in overall quality of > > life,> > > > > >

increasing pain, surgery, recovery, and return to activity.> > > > > > > > > > > > Your advice will be appreciated.> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >