Re: Any Positive Experiences? (sorry .... long)

[Guest guest]

Well, I can't tell you that because, I made the mistake of falling in Feb but, if I hadn't fallen, I would be living a nice pain free life. I had hip replacement in 2003 at 38 because, my situation was similar to yours, I was born with a dislocated Left hip and, now had no choice but, to have it done. The pain was gone, I was doing really good then I fell. It takes several months but, you aren't helpless for that long. You just have to be careful with your new hip.

Connie

dakotahrose@... writes:

I don't think I can put off a replacement for much longer, but I spent somuch of my childhood in casts & braces that I despise the thought of beinghelpless for several months again. It really scares me. I've been reading all the post-surgery difficulties, and I know nobody goesfrom surgery to leaping tall buildings overnight - there will be a healingprocess, I just need to hear some of those who had hip replacements tell meit was all worth it and they came through the other side and now live normalpain-free lives.

[Guest guest]

I've been reading all the post-surgery difficulties, and I know nobody goesfrom surgery to leaping tall buildings overnight - there will be a healingprocess, I just need to hear some of those who had hip replacements tell meit was all worth it and they came through the other side and now live normalpain-free lives.

I'm 3 months postop, and am so much better! I walk most of the time without a cane, only using that when I start limping (usually when first getting up). I'm back to living in a normal way. The first couple of weeks are hard with getting around slowly and being dependent, but it is not too bad, looking back on it all. When I'm bone on bone on the other side, I'm not going to hesitate getting the other one done. I'm 62 and have OS on the other side.

I am taking Advil but nothing stronger, and only a couple of times a day.

So, my experience says "go for it".

Huntly Hashagen

[Guest guest]

Hi Rhonda

I've had both hips replaced and truly got my life back after the surgeries. Were the surgeries worth it.....you bet they were!!! I think the weight issue is a familiar problem. The less mobile one is the more easily weight is gained.

Sally

[Guest guest]

Hi Rhonda,

I am in a similar situation with a hip problem that I have had since

childhood. After 4 hip surgeries on my left hip with the last one

being probably 21 years ago, I'm 31 now, and facing a hip

replacement. I too have around 100lbs of extra weight on my body as

a result of not being able to move around a lot to help get the

weight off.

As far as losing weight goes, I'm sure anyone on the list will tell

you it's better to lose some weight before you have a hip

replacement. As a matter of fact, I was given that advice by people

on the list when I asked the question of whether or not people have

had much success finding an OS who would operate on seriously

overweight patients.

It is true that losing weight will help you with all aspects of the

hip procedure from aleviating the stress on the hip joint by

removing how much weight it's carrying, to being able to get up

easier after recovery because of not having as much weight to move

around. Losing weight will also help with minimizing the wear and

tear on the new joint as well.

But I also believe that it's something you need to discuss with the

OS as to whether or not you should have the surgery before or after

losing weight. For my case, the doctor took one look at my x-rays

and said that anyone with the hip that I have, regardless of their

physical stature, would be having serious pain and mobility

problems. So even if I was much lighter, I would still be faced

with this problem. For me, losing weight before surgery by just

controlling diet is taking off some weight, but it won't take off

nearly enough to make a HUGE difference in the total outcome when

you consider I have 100lbs or more to lose. I felt that I needed to

pursue surgery now as opposed to later because the pain and lack of

mobility is ruining my life right now. My hip is bone on bone, and

I too had much success with Vioxx, but have had a hard time with

pain control since it was removed from the market. I'm now on

painkillers to help with the pain, but even that isn't working very

well.

So I guess to answer whether or not to lose weight before surgery

you should look at your overall situation. Can you tolerate your

current hip problems while you work on losing weight, or do you feel

that you need to address the hip issue and mobility issues and then

work on the weight? For me, I have decided on the second option and

will be having surgery in June. Any amount of weight you can lose

before surgery will help the cause. I think I've read somewhere

that the stress and force to a hip joint is three times greater than

your overall weight since the hip does so much work. So if I look

at it that way, the 7lbs that i've lost has actually helped to take

21lbs of force off of my hip (or something like that ).

I hope this helps you a little with the weight question. Just know

that you're not alone in this decision, there are other facing the

same issue.

Aimee

> I'm a 46-year-old woman and I've had 2 previous hip surgeries as a

child. I

> was told at the last surgery (I was 12-years-old) that one day I

would

> probably need an artificial hip. I'm facing that decision right

now.

replacements tell me

> it was all worth it and they came through the other side and now

live normal

> pain-free lives.

> Here's the question: would it be best if I tried to lose the

weight before

> getting a hip replacement?

>

[Guest guest]

I had the same response from my OS when I met with him last week. One of the reasons for my primary care doc to suggest that I go to see my ortho was because I can no longer exercise. I had been on a 3 day a week Pilates program but even that has become impossible. At 318 pounds I had lost 130 pounds using that program but was gradually gaining weight back because of loss of mobility. One major motivation for me to have this surgery is to get back to that plan and drop the last 45 pounds of extra weight I am carrying.

Debaimay73 <aimay73@...> wrote:

Hi Rhonda, I am in a similar situation with a hip problem that I have had since childhood. After 4 hip surgeries on my left hip with the last one being probably 21 years ago, I'm 31 now, and facing a hip replacement. I too have around 100lbs of extra weight on my body as a result of not being able to move around a lot to help get the weight off.As far as losing weight goes, I'm sure anyone on the list will tell you it's better to lose some weight before you have a hip replacement. As a matter of fact, I was given that advice by people on the list when I asked the question of whether or not people have had much success finding an OS who would operate on seriously overweight patients. It is true that losing weight will help you with all aspects of the hip procedure from aleviating the

stress on the hip joint by removing how much weight it's carrying, to being able to get up easier after recovery because of not having as much weight to move around. Losing weight will also help with minimizing the wear and tear on the new joint as well. But I also believe that it's something you need to discuss with the OS as to whether or not you should have the surgery before or after losing weight. For my case, the doctor took one look at my x-rays and said that anyone with the hip that I have, regardless of their physical stature, would be having serious pain and mobility problems. So even if I was much lighter, I would still be faced with this problem. For me, losing weight before surgery by just controlling diet is taking off some weight, but it won't take off nearly enough to make a HUGE difference in the total outcome when you consider I have 100lbs or more to lose. I felt that I

needed to pursue surgery now as opposed to later because the pain and lack of mobility is ruining my life right now. My hip is bone on bone, and I too had much success with Vioxx, but have had a hard time with pain control since it was removed from the market. I'm now on painkillers to help with the pain, but even that isn't working very well. So I guess to answer whether or not to lose weight before surgery you should look at your overall situation. Can you tolerate your current hip problems while you work on losing weight, or do you feel that you need to address the hip issue and mobility issues and then work on the weight? For me, I have decided on the second option and will be having surgery in June. Any amount of weight you can lose before surgery will help the cause. I think I've read somewhere that the stress and force to a hip joint is three times greater than your

overall weight since the hip does so much work. So if I look at it that way, the 7lbs that i've lost has actually helped to take 21lbs of force off of my hip (or something like that ).I hope this helps you a little with the weight question. Just know that you're not alone in this decision, there are other facing the same issue.Aimee> I'm a 46-year-old woman and I've had 2 previous hip surgeries as a child. I> was told at the last surgery (I was 12-years-old) that one day I would> probably need an artificial hip. I'm facing that decision right now.replacements tell me> it was all worth it and they came through the other side and now live normal> pain-free lives. > Here's the question: would it be best if I tried to lose the weight before> getting

a hip replacement? >

[Guest guest]

Wow, Aimee! Your story is so similar to mine! Thank you for the advice, it really helped me to decide what to do now. I'm going to start with the weight loss, but I won't delay seeing an OS any longer.

I can probably tolerate my situation a wee bit longer; if I can just get under 200 lbs (I'm about 250) I feel it would be a really good boost.

Thanks again!

Rhonda

-------Original Message-------

Hi Rhonda,

I am in a similar situation with a hip problem that I have had since

childhood. After 4 hip surgeries on my left hip with the last one

being probably 21 years ago, I'm 31 now, and facing a hip

replacement. I too have around 100lbs of extra weight on my body as a result of not being able to move around a lot to help get the weight off.

My hip is bone on bone, and I too had much success with Vioxx, but have had a hard time with pain control since it was removed from the market. I'm now on painkillers to help with the pain, but even that isn't working very well.

Can you tolerate your current hip problems while you work on losing weight, or do you feel that you need to address the hip issue and mobility issues and then work on the weight? For me, I have decided on the second option and will be having surgery in June. Any amount of weight you can lose before surgery will help the cause. Aimee

[Guest guest]

---Rhonda, go to surfacehippys and look in the archives for messages

from Edith, or just read the messages and ask lots of questions.

Edith had a fused hip for 35 years and went to a surgeon who does hip

resurfacing, and he freed her hip and she is now doing wonderfully.

There are people on there who had exactly what you have and their

orthopedic surgeons told them they had to have total hip

replacements, but they found out about hip resurfacing and then their

surgeons tried to talk them out of it with scare tactics like metal

ions etc. They went ahead and had the resurfacing and some have had

several healthy babies since, and are doing wonderfully years later.

Please check it out before having something as drastic as a total hip

replacement.

Go to; surfacehippy

and scroll down to the messages, and look back at past messages from

these people and, most importantly, ASK LOTS OF QUESTIONS ON THAT

BOARD! Those people are awesome with helping newcomers to find

information.

Best of luck to you. ..... Maxine

In Joint Replacement , " dakotahrose "

<dakotahrose@g...> wrote:

>

> Hello All,

>

> I've been lurking for a few weeks reading the experiences of those

who've

> had hip replacements, and so far a wheelchair isn't looking so bad.

Heh!

>

>

>

> I'm a 46-year-old woman and I've had 2 previous hip surgeries as a

child. I

> was told at the last surgery (I was 12-years-old) that one day I

would

> probably need an artificial hip. I'm facing that decision right now.

>

>

>

> My mother had a difficult time when I was born and my right hip was

> dislocated during my birth. This wasn't discovered until I was a

year old

> and still not walking without hanging onto something. I was put

into a

> frog-like cast, followed by braces, until I was 29 months old.

>

>

>

> At age 7 my hip became dislocated again; at this time I had my

first surgery

> to deepen the socket. At age 12 my hip was dislocated again and

surgery was

> done to create a socket in my pelvic area.

>

>

>

> By my mid-20's I was starting to use a cane whenever I was going to

do a lot

> of walking; by the time I hit 40 I was on medication for arthritis

and using

> a cane virtually all the time - and I need to use electronic

> carts/wheelchairs while shopping. I hate this with a passion!

>

>

>

> The only time I was able to walk well was the few months I was on

Vioxx last

> year (May - Autumn, when it was taken off the market). Celebrex

took care of

> most of the pain, but I still got stiff pretty quick. Vioxx took

care of the

> stiffness, as well as the pain, and for a few months I didn't need

my cane

> or electronic carts! My switch from Celebrex to Vioxx was brought

on by

> changes in my insurance company's policies ... they put Celebrex &

Bextra in

> much higher co-pay bracket and suggested Vioxx. Once I saw how well

Vioxx

> worked for me I was grateful for the change ... until it was taken

off the

> market. Now I'm on Bextra and it works about as well as Celebrex.

>

>

>

> One thing I do have to admit about the Vioxx is that the extra

walking was

> making my hip worse. I was about to ask for increased dosage when

it was

> pulled from the shelves. Being able to walk more easily caused me

to ignore

> the fact that the hip was still badly deteriorated.

>

>

>

> In 1999 I had x-rays on both hips and was told that my right hip

was pretty

> much shot, and the doctor didn't like the looks of my left either.

I've

> never had problems with my left until the past couple of years;

it's never

> been dislocated, but I imagine after 40+ years of favoring my right

hip the

> left just wore out. X-rays last fall showed my right hip is just

> bone-on-bone now and the pain is getting worse.

>

>

>

> I don't think I can put off a replacement for much longer, but I

spent so

> much of my childhood in casts & braces that I despise the thought

of being

> helpless for several months again. It really scares me.

>

>

>

> I've been reading all the post-surgery difficulties, and I know

nobody goes

> from surgery to leaping tall buildings overnight - there will be a

healing

> process, I just need to hear some of those who had hip replacements

tell me

> it was all worth it and they came through the other side and now

live normal

> pain-free lives.

>

>

>

> Now for a question. Prior to my second hip surgery in 1971 I was an

> extremely active child; a tomboy in fact. After my first surgery at

age 7 my

> mother told me I couldn't climb trees anymore because of my hip, so

I wrote

> a letter to my orthopedic surgeon asking if this was true. He wrote

me back

> saying it was okay as long as I was careful; I held that letter

over mom's

> head until my second surgery. LOL!

>

>

>

> After the second surgery I lost a lot of range-of-motion in my

right hip and

> it affected my activity level. I slowed down considerably and began

to put

> on weight. By high school graduation I was 50 pounds overweight. As

my hip

> worsened, my weight rose. I'm now 100 pounds overweight.

>

>

>

> Here's the question: would it be best if I tried to lose the weight

before

> getting a hip replacement?

>

>

>

> Keep in mind I've been using my weight for 4 1/2 years as an excuse

not to

> have the surgery, and I may be guilty of self-sabotage in regards

to my

> previous dieting. I've gotten quite close to goal in the past, then

gave it

> up and re-gained all the weight. :-/

>

>

>

> Thank you for listening.

>

>

>

> Rhonda

>

> Southeastern South Dakota

[Guest guest]

Hi Rhonda,

I read your e-mail and its sad all the stuff you went through as a child I was a baby born to soon I weight 3 lbs 4oz and I ended up hard of hearing from the way they deliver me I had pains when I was little and my Mom always told me I had growing Pains .

When I was in my late fourtys my legs hurt a lot I went to dr one dr told me that I shouldn't have had kids I had a son and daughter. The dr told me it was the vains in my legs it took me ten years to get a dr to give me x-rays and then they told me that my hips where bad since I was a baby but it didn't bother real bad until I was in my late fourtys and my knees where bad also .

The dr I had didn't tell me anything about how the hip replacement was like I have to use a high toilet for the rest of my life and I couldn't squat or pick anything up off the floor .I was fifty pounds overweight and he said I didn't have to lose weight so I had my Hip replacement done first and it didn't turn out good I still feel pain and have a hard time walking I still have to use a cane and then seventeen months later I had my Knee replacement done and thats what I wanted done in the first place After I had my hip done the dr said my hip bone wasn't that bad . I think my knee replacement went better then my hip replacement I had both done on my right side I quit smoking so I gain more weight so all I can say is lose as much weight as you can before you have a operations All my dr could say about my hip pain was I had bad scar tissues. After I move I'm looking for a better dr.

Well you take care

Susie

-------------- Original message -------------- > > > Hello All, > > I've been lurking for a few weeks reading the experiences of those who've > had hip replacements, and so far a wheelchair isn't looking so bad. Heh! > > > > I'm a 46-year-old woman and I've had 2 previous hip surgeries as a child. I > was told at the last surgery (I was 12-years-old) that one day I would > probably need an artificial hip. I'm facing that decision right now. > > > > My mother had a difficult time when I was born and my right hip was > dislocated during my birth. This wasn't discovered until I was a year old > and still not walking without hanging onto something. I was put into a > frog-like cast, followed by braces, until I was 29 months old. > > > > At age 7 my hip became dislocated again; at this time I had my first surgery > to deepen the socket. At age 12 my hip was dislocated again and surgery was > done to create a socket in my pelvic area. > > > > By my mid-20's I was starting to use a cane whenever I was going to do a lot > of walking; by the time I hit 40 I was on medication for arthritis and using > a cane virtually all the time - and I need to use electronic > carts/wheelchairs while shopping. I hate this with a passion! > > > > The only time I was able to walk well was the few months I was on Vioxx last > year (May - Autumn, when it was taken off the market). Celebrex took care of > most of the pain, but I still got stiff pretty quick. Vioxx took care of the > stiffness, as well as the pain, and for a few months I didn't need my cane > or electronic carts! My switch from Celebrex to Vioxx was brought on by > changes in my insurance company's policies ... they put Celebrex & Bextra in > much higher co-pay bracket and suggested Vioxx. Once I saw how well Vioxx > worked for me I was grateful for the change ... until it was taken off the > market. Now I'm on Bextra and it works about as well as Celebrex. > > > > One thing I do have to admit about the Vioxx is that the extra walking was > making my hip worse. I was about to ask for increased dosage when it was > pulled from the shelves. Being able to walk more easily caused me to ignore > the fact that the hip was still badly deteriorated. > > > > In 1999 I had x-rays on both hips and was told that my right hip was pretty > much shot, and the doctor didn't like the looks of my left either. I've > never had problems with my left until the past couple of years; it's never > been dislocated, but I imagine after 40+ years of favoring my right hip the > left just wore out. X-rays last fall showed my right hip is just > bone-on-bone now and the pain is getting worse. > > > > I don't think I can put off a replacement for much longer, but I spent so > much of my childhood in casts & braces that I despise the thought of being > helpless for several months again. It really scares me. > > > > I've been reading all the post-surgery difficulties, and I know nobody goes > from surgery to leaping tall buildings overnight - there will be a healing > process, I just need to hear some of those who had hip replacements tell me > it was all worth it and they came through the other side and now live normal > pain-free lives. > > > > Now for a question. Prior to my second hip surgery in 1971 I was an > extremely active child; a tomboy in fact. After my first surgery at age 7 my > mother told me I couldn't climb trees anymore because of my hip, so I wrote > a letter to my orthopedic surgeon asking if this was true. He wrote me back > saying it was okay as long as I was careful; I held that letter over mom's > head until my second surgery. LOL! > > > > After the second surgery I lost a lot of range-of-motion in my right hip and > it affected my activity level. I slowed down considerably and began to put > on weight. By high school graduation I was 50 pounds overweight. As my hip > worsened, my weight rose. I'm now 100 pounds overweight. > > > > Here's the question: would it be best if I tried to lose the weight before > getting a hip replacement? > > > > Keep in mind I've been using my weight for 4 1/2 years as an excuse not to > have the surgery, and I may be guilty of self-sabotage in regards to my > previous dieting. I've gotten quite close to goal in the past, then gave it > up and re-gained all the weight. :-/ > > > > Thank you for listening. > > > > Rhonda > > Southeastern South Dakota > > > > > > > >

[Guest guest]

oh my.... I will say that none of those drugs ever helped my pain.. I used to crawl up the stairs on all fours.. I am so happy I had my hip replaced othetr than a minimal of post op pain.... I am so pain free.. today I walked on the boardwalk for 40 minutes.. and still felt great....I suffered for so long....if my experience can help you .. I hope so..

Sue Vogeldakotahrose <dakotahrose@...> wrote:

Hello All,I've been lurking for a few weeks reading the experiences of those who'vehad hip replacements, and so far a wheelchair isn't looking so bad. Heh!I'm a 46-year-old woman and I've had 2 previous hip surgeries as a child. Iwas told at the last surgery (I was 12-years-old) that one day I wouldprobably need an artificial hip. I'm facing that decision right now.My mother had a difficult time when I was born and my right hip wasdislocated during my birth. This wasn't discovered until I was a year oldand still not walking without hanging onto something. I was put into afrog-like cast, followed by braces, until I was 29 months old. At age 7 my hip became dislocated again; at this time I had my first surgeryto deepen the socket. At age 12 my hip was dislocated again and surgery wasdone to

create a socket in my pelvic area.By my mid-20's I was starting to use a cane whenever I was going to do a lotof walking; by the time I hit 40 I was on medication for arthritis and usinga cane virtually all the time - and I need to use electroniccarts/wheelchairs while shopping. I hate this with a passion!The only time I was able to walk well was the few months I was on Vioxx lastyear (May - Autumn, when it was taken off the market). Celebrex took care ofmost of the pain, but I still got stiff pretty quick. Vioxx took care of thestiffness, as well as the pain, and for a few months I didn't need my caneor electronic carts! My switch from Celebrex to Vioxx was brought on bychanges in my insurance company's policies ... they put Celebrex & Bextra inmuch higher co-pay bracket and suggested Vioxx. Once I saw how well Vioxxworked for me I was grateful for the change ... until it was taken off themarket. Now

I'm on Bextra and it works about as well as Celebrex. :(One thing I do have to admit about the Vioxx is that the extra walking wasmaking my hip worse. I was about to ask for increased dosage when it waspulled from the shelves. Being able to walk more easily caused me to ignorethe fact that the hip was still badly deteriorated.In 1999 I had x-rays on both hips and was told that my right hip was prettymuch shot, and the doctor didn't like the looks of my left either. I'venever had problems with my left until the past couple of years; it's neverbeen dislocated, but I imagine after 40+ years of favoring my right hip theleft just wore out. X-rays last fall showed my right hip is justbone-on-bone now and the pain is getting worse.I don't think I can put off a replacement for much longer, but I spent somuch of my childhood in casts & braces that I despise the thought of beinghelpless for several

months again. It really scares me. I've been reading all the post-surgery difficulties, and I know nobody goesfrom surgery to leaping tall buildings overnight - there will be a healingprocess, I just need to hear some of those who had hip replacements tell meit was all worth it and they came through the other side and now live normalpain-free lives. ;)Now for a question. Prior to my second hip surgery in 1971 I was anextremely active child; a tomboy in fact. After my first surgery at age 7 mymother told me I couldn't climb trees anymore because of my hip, so I wrotea letter to my orthopedic surgeon asking if this was true. He wrote me backsaying it was okay as long as I was careful; I held that letter over mom'shead until my second surgery. LOL!After the second surgery I lost a lot of range-of-motion in my right hip andit affected my activity level. I slowed down considerably and began to

puton weight. By high school graduation I was 50 pounds overweight. As my hipworsened, my weight rose. I'm now 100 pounds overweight. Here's the question: would it be best if I tried to lose the weight beforegetting a hip replacement? Keep in mind I've been using my weight for 4 1/2 years as an excuse not tohave the surgery, and I may be guilty of self-sabotage in regards to myprevious dieting. I've gotten quite close to goal in the past, then gave itup and re-gained all the weight. :-/Thank you for listening. :)RhondaSoutheastern South Dakota