THR surgery planned

November 22, 2004

Hello All

I was Dx'd last October Bilateral AVN hips. Since then, I have had

L4-5 Fusion and Carpel Tunnel Surgeries. I went to Ortho Thursday

and saw the " Crescent " on my Femur. Before it was not so evident.

He says its time for the THR but it's up to me to say when. I limp

and do not really hurt much else except walking. I want to put it

off until next spring if possible. About 3 months after I have the

Left THR, I will have CD of the right hip. I will have another MRI

before the first surgery. He says my left hip is a stage III and

the right is a stage I.

He gave me lots of reading material and a video to help prepare for

the surgery. It will be a metal/plastic hip. He said the x-ray shows

enough deterioration of the hip to have surgery anytime and that

when my quality of life and pain are affected, I can have the

surgery. He then said with the limp, he thought it was about time.

I still want to wait for spring.

I am still working and lots of things to do as an activity director

at Christmas. The facility is moving and I need to establish the

new programs. Also, I need to build up more sick leave. The

facility provides me with a scooter at work.

Dr. told me that I may be able to go back to work after the THR in

about 2-3 weeks. Hard to believe. After the CD, 6 weeks on

crutches.

Forgive me for such a long post. I don't usually post but I have

been waiting for this news for at least a year. Been reading most

all your posts and keeping up with you that way. It seems to make

it easier to be informed, and have friends in the same boat.

in AL

November 23, 2004

My circumstances, symptons, etc. mirror yours in many ways. I really

agonized about getting the surgery---was my level of pain " enough " ?

(it's amazing how a person can adapt to pain by compensating

movements, ativities, etc.) Should I wait? I'm 50 and in very good

health otherwise. Also in the best physical shape since high school.

Ultimately, after much reading and discussion with my doctor, I

decided that waiting would only make the situation (pain and limited

mobility) worse. Also, who knows what my overall health would be like

5 or 10 years from now? Who knows what my insurance situation would

be then also? My doctor said that most of his hip patients come to

him on a walker, already barely able to walk. His take was that I was

thinking " progressively " by getting it done now when recovery and

rehab would be so much easier. I made the decision in October this

year and could have gone right in but I waited until December when

things are slow at work. December 2 is the day. I must say that I'm

nervous but very optimistic. Good luck with whatever you decide.

>

> Hello All

> I was Dx'd last October Bilateral AVN hips. Since then, I have had

> L4-5 Fusion and Carpel Tunnel Surgeries. I went to Ortho Thursday

> and saw the " Crescent " on my Femur. Before it was not so evident.

> He says its time for the THR but it's up to me to say when. I limp

> and do not really hurt much else except walking. I want to put it

> off until next spring if possible. About 3 months after I have the

> Left THR, I will have CD of the right hip. I will have another MRI

> before the first surgery. He says my left hip is a stage III and

> the right is a stage I.

>

> He gave me lots of reading material and a video to help prepare for

> the surgery. It will be a metal/plastic hip. He said the x-ray shows

> enough deterioration of the hip to have surgery anytime and that

> when my quality of life and pain are affected, I can have the

> surgery. He then said with the limp, he thought it was about time.

> I still want to wait for spring.

>

> I am still working and lots of things to do as an activity director

> at Christmas. The facility is moving and I need to establish the

> new programs. Also, I need to build up more sick leave. The

> facility provides me with a scooter at work.

>

> Dr. told me that I may be able to go back to work after the THR in

> about 2-3 weeks. Hard to believe. After the CD, 6 weeks on

> crutches.

>

> Forgive me for such a long post. I don't usually post but I have

> been waiting for this news for at least a year. Been reading most

> all your posts and keeping up with you that way. It seems to make

> it easier to be informed, and have friends in the same boat.

>

> in AL

November 23, 2004

Hi ,

I'd say schedule the surgery when it is most convenient/desirable for you.

You didn't mention your age or physical condition. I'm 52, about 20 lbs overweight, but exercised as much as possible before the surgery. Its been almost 4 weeks, and I feel that I could have gone back to work already. I meet with my doctor on 11/29.

See if your doctor will prescribe physical therapy so you can use this time to improve your strength and mobility. That will help with your recovery.

Carol

jsmaker1951 <jhsmaker@...> wrote:

Hello AllI was Dx'd last October Bilateral AVN hips. Since then, I have hadL4-5 Fusion and Carpel Tunnel Surgeries. I went to Ortho Thursdayand saw the "Crescent" on my Femur. Before it was not so evident.He says its time for the THR but it's up to me to say when. I limpand do not really hurt much else except walking. I want to put itoff until next spring if possible. About 3 months after I have theLeft THR, I will have CD of the right hip. I will have another MRIbefore the first surgery. He says my left hip is a stage III andthe right is a stage I.He gave me lots of reading material and a video to help prepare forthe surgery. It will be a metal/plastic hip. He said the x-ray showsenough deterioration of the hip to have surgery anytime and thatwhen my quality of life and pain are affected, I can have thesurgery. He

then said with the limp, he thought it was about time.I still want to wait for spring.I am still working and lots of things to do as an activity directorat Christmas. The facility is moving and I need to establish thenew programs. Also, I need to build up more sick leave. Thefacility provides me with a scooter at work.Dr. told me that I may be able to go back to work after the THR inabout 2-3 weeks. Hard to believe. After the CD, 6 weeks oncrutches.Forgive me for such a long post. I don't usually post but I havebeen waiting for this news for at least a year. Been reading mostall your posts and keeping up with you that way. It seems to makeit easier to be informed, and have friends in the same boat. in AL

November 23, 2004

Hi Carol ,

I forgot to asked you do you think they just started people doing exercises before their operations ?Because my dr never told me about doing exercises before my operation or losing weight he said it didn't make any differant I think if I lost weight and did exercises before my operations I would have been a lot better off .

SusieCarol <carolann1312004@...> wrote:

Hi ,

I'd say schedule the surgery when it is most convenient/desirable for you.

You didn't mention your age or physical condition. I'm 52, about 20 lbs overweight, but exercised as much as possible before the surgery. Its been almost 4 weeks, and I feel that I could have gone back to work already. I meet with my doctor on 11/29.

See if your doctor will prescribe physical therapy so you can use this time to improve your strength and mobility. That will help with your recovery.

Carol

jsmaker1951 <jhsmaker@...> wrote:

Hello AllI was Dx'd last October Bilateral AVN hips. Since then, I have hadL4-5 Fusion and Carpel Tunnel Surgeries. I went to Ortho Thursdayand saw the "Crescent" on my Femur. Before it was not so evident.He says its time for the THR but it's up to me to say when. I limpand do not really hurt much else except walking. I want to put itoff until next spring if possible. About 3 months after I have theLeft THR, I will have CD of the right hip. I will have another MRIbefore the first surgery. He says my left hip is a stage III andthe right is a stage I.He gave me lots of reading material and a video to help prepare forthe surgery. It will be a metal/plastic hip. He said the x-ray showsenough deterioration of the hip to have surgery anytime and thatwhen my quality of life and pain are affected, I can have thesurgery. He

then said with the limp, he thought it was about time.I still want to wait for spring.I am still working and lots of things to do as an activity directorat Christmas. The facility is moving and I need to establish thenew programs. Also, I need to build up more sick leave. Thefacility provides me with a scooter at work.Dr. told me that I may be able to go back to work after the THR inabout 2-3 weeks. Hard to believe. After the CD, 6 weeks oncrutches.Forgive me for such a long post. I don't usually post but I havebeen waiting for this news for at least a year. Been reading mostall your posts and keeping up with you that way. It seems to makeit easier to be informed, and have friends in the same boat. in AL

November 24, 2004

I asked my doctor about exercises before surgery, and he said not to

worry about it. For some I could see that would not be so good, but

I do walk some every day and I try to get in warm water exercises

several times a week. He never even asked me what I was doing or if

I was doing anything. Everything that I have read leads me to

believe the recovery is quicker when the muscles have been worked

before surgery. So, I am keeping up with the exercises and have

started doing some of the exercises that are to be used after

surgery. That way I will be familiar with them and will understand

how they are supposed to be done.

Cara