Re: My experience, THR Left side-Dale

April 5, 2007

Dale

I have been thinking about your problem and find it as a catch 22 for anyone who has had any kind of surgery for anything but the most minor of ailment, have you talked to any of your co-workers who have had surgery and faced a similar situation?....have you approached your union representatives about it?....have you thought about the wording?is 100%really necessary to say....heck, you are not functioning at 100% now, are you?....i doubt that anyone is 100%. Contract wording is always open to debate and clarification. Is this your answer to the situation or has it been ruled on?

Ed

Re: Re: My experience, THR Left side-Dale

Like I stated before. I am almost positive that after I had a THR I would be able to return to work and be able to do anything required of me and needed in order to perform all the duties my particular job requires. But, there is a clause in our contract that states when returning to work after being out on temp disability the doctor MUST sign off on a paper stating 100% no restrictions. No matter what you feel like after surgery. And after all is healed. This is the problem. As no doctor I have asked yet is willing to sign such a paper. And this IS needed in order to even be allowed to return to work. Would they take me back knowing I have 10 years of service in and experienced and also do a specialized job that there is only me that does on my shift? Probally so. I am well liked also by management and co-workers. Would they bend the rules and ignore the contract just to satisfy my needs and allow me to return to work after all is healed from a THR? I am not so sure about that one. Especially since we have been bought out by a French firm. And they are very strict about following the rules and the contract agreements between the UAW and General Motors, and us.

Dale

My experience,

THR

> > Left

> > > > side

> > > > > > >

> > > > > > > I am 61 yo, I had my hip done 6 weeks ago. From

the

> > woman who

> > > > > > mopped the floor in my hospital room, to the woman

who

> > served

> > > > my

> > > > > > meals, the nurses, thept/ot people, the doctor and

> > everyone i

> > > > > came in

> > > > > > contact with, they were all totally professional and

> now i

> > am

> > > > > feeling

> > > > > > so good and able to walk long distances. I even

started

> > back

> > > > on

> > > > > my

> > > > > > Motorcycle.

> > > > > > > I have been reding posts on this site for about 2

> months

> > and

> > > > > quite

> > > > > > frankly most people seem to be looking for problems

> where

> > > > there

> > > > > are none.

> > > > > > > I listened to the words of one poster on here and

he

> > > > said....do

> > > > > > what the doctor and the pt/ot people tell you and

you

> will

> > be

> > > > > > fine.....he was absolutely correct

> > > > > > > If anyone wants to contact me because they are not

> > convinced

> > > > > that

> > > > > > the surgery works i would be glad to talk to them

> > > > > > >

> > > > > > > Ed

> > > > > > > Near Philadelphia

> > > > > > >

> > > > > > -----------------------------------------------------

---

> --

> > > > > > > AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out

more

> > about

> > > > > what's

> > > > > > free from AOL at AOL.com.

> > > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

> > ----------------------------------------------------------

---

> ----------

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what's

> free from AOL at AOL.com.

> >

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April 5, 2007

Arianne:

I didn't say we WERE disabled-- but that the " establishment " (government,

labor, healthcare and business) does consider us as such. Dale, for

instance, can't get the paper he needs to continue in his present job for

exactly that reason.

Having said that, I don't think there's anyone here, either a knee or hip

replacement person, single or bilateral, who would go out looking for a job

moving sacks of potatoes, boxes of apples and cases of beverages around a

warehouse-- stevedoring (loading and unloading ships, trucks, etc.) is also

out... So is the chance of anyone being drafted to the NFL, NBA or NHL...

And WWF wrestling is a no-no, too, for anyone who still had hopes in that

direction.

I started out my working career as a caster in an iron foundry, and I know

that even if I were still working there, I wouldn't be able to cast after

surgery.

My point to Dale was simply this: there is no job so precious that it's

worth sacrificing your quality of life... Unless you're knocking down $500K

a year or better, net. Is there anybody here doing that?

No, I don't consider myself a " cripple " , " gimp " or even " physically

challenged " ... But I do know that I can't walk as far, drive as far or stand

as long without moving as I once could, nor can I lift the things I once did

without the fear that I'll strain or break something in one of my hips.

What I'm trying to tell Dale is simply that life doesn't come to an end if

you have to change jobs, and retraining is always an option. According to

him, he's 35 years old-- I finished an Industrial Technician's certification

at age 30, upgraded to practical engineer by age 40, went through a

management course at age 45 and finished a B.Sc. in industrial engineering

through a learn-at-a-distance faculty of a US university when I hit 50 (all

the studies were after a full day's work, while helping to raise two

wonderful daughters, buy a home and help my wife earn a B.A. in Business

Admin. So she could become a department manager at the bank she works in. I

hardly think I'm so unique... All those I studied with in my evening courses

were my age, some even older... And all were married, with jobs and

children.

Dale, and anyone else with the same fixation about their job should get

their priorities right-- your health comes first, because without it, you

have nothing-- including the job you're so worried about-- after that comes

family, and only then does the importance of a job show up on the list of

priorities. Any job is just a means to an end (earning a salary), not the

end in itself. After kicking around in industry over a big part of the

world for more than 30 years, the only thing I'm still certain of is that

most of us will not retire out of the same job-- and probably not even the

same profession-- that we started out in when we finished school and entered

the work force. A good approach might be to accept the idea that " Any plan

is a basis for change. "

Plans are great, but Life is what we have to deal with on a day-to-day

basis, and there is no dress rehearsal!

- RTHR-2003; LTHR-2004

mdavison@...

P.S.: My OS specifically barred me from Bungee jumping and free-fall

parachuting.

Re: My experience, THR Left side-Dale

, your comments referring to us being considered disabled caught my

curiosity.

After having two hips replaced, I still don't consider myself disabled,

although I know others would consider me so.

This brings me to some questions I have had. What types of activities should

we not be doing? I moved a bed the other day and thought later that perhaps

I shouldn't have?

Arianne

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April 5, 2007

Dale,

I don't know how long ago you had your hip replacement, but

certainly your doctor or some doctor would sign off so you can

return to work. If they are not signing it, you must still be having

some problem that makes them think you aren't ready to return. I

went back to work four weeks after tkr. I was delighted to be in the

company of other people! My doctor signed off, even though I was

still using a walker and a cane. I worked in a Womens Center and it

didn't require me to do anything that was too painful or difficult.

I live in the US. I certainly hope you think about this situation

and either realize that you're not ready for work or that you need

to have a serious conversation with one or two or three doctors. We

all need our lives back eventually!

Barb F. in Illinois.

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > Yeah but you are 61 yrs old Ed. I mean no offense

> to

> > > you.

> > > > > But

> > > > > > if I

> > > > > > > were that age I would think nothing of getting this

> hip

> > > out,

> > > > > and

> > > > > > > another one in, so I can get on with my life instead

> of

> > > this

> > > > > pain

> > > > > > > dictating everything I do in my life right now. Like

> > today

> > > for

> > > > > > > instance, my hip(actually my whole leg, knee

> included)

> > > hurts

> > > > > like

> > > > > > > hell. And I am down to my last two Oxycontin, not

> that

> > > it's

> > > > > > really

> > > > > > > helping much anyways, but it must help some. And I

> have

> > no

> > > way

> > > > > > to see

> > > > > > > the doc until Monday. But, I have a very physical

> full-

> > > time

> > > > > job

> > > > > > to go

> > > > > > > to, and as much as I dread going in to work today. I

> am

> > > really

> > > > > > going

> > > > > > > to be the rest of the week without any Oxycontin to

> > help

> > > with

> > > > > the

> > > > > > > pain. But I have a family that I have to take care

> of

> > and

> > > do

> > > > > > what I

> > > > > > > have to do. But somedays the pain gets so bad I feel

> > like

> > > > > giving

> > > > > > up.

> > > > > > > If I get a THR now my job already told me they would

> > not

> > > let

> > > > > me

> > > > > > come

> > > > > > > back. And no way I could find another making the

> kind

> > of

> > > money

> > > > > I

> > > > > > get

> > > > > > > paid and my health, dental, and vision is all

> free.And

> > I

> > > could

> > > > > be

> > > > > > > facing three(possibly more) revisions in my

> lifetime. I

> > > think

> > > > > > there is

> > > > > > > only so much bone they can work with before they

> tell

> > you

> > > that

> > > > > > you are

> > > > > > > wheelchair bound for the rest of your life because

> they

> > > cannot

> > > > > do

> > > > > > > another revsion. Wheelchair bound, and STILL in this

> > > > > agognizing

> > > > > > pain

> > > > > > > at 55 or 60 does not sound like a life I wanna live.

> Ed

> > I

> > > am

> > > > > > only 35!

> > > > > > > This is one time that I only wish I were 60 so I

> could

> > go

> > > on

> > > > > and

> > > > > > get

> > > > > > > this damn hip out of me and get on with what's left

> of

> > > life.

> > > > > And

> > > > > > I

> > > > > > > still have to worry about the other hip as well. As

> > it's

> > > > > > starting to

> > > > > > > show some signs of AVN now.

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > Dale

> > > > > > > > in KCMO

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > My experience,

> THR

> > > Left

> > > > > side

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > I am 61 yo, I had my hip done 6 weeks ago. From

> the

> > > woman who

> > > > > > > mopped the floor in my hospital room, to the woman

> who

> > > served

> > > > > my

> > > > > > > meals, the nurses, thept/ot people, the doctor and

> > > everyone i

> > > > > > came in

> > > > > > > contact with, they were all totally professional and

> > now i

> > > am

> > > > > > feeling

> > > > > > > so good and able to walk long distances. I even

> started

> > > back

> > > > > on

> > > > > > my

> > > > > > > Motorcycle.

> > > > > > > > I have been reding posts on this site for about 2

> > months

> > > and

> > > > > > quite

> > > > > > > frankly most people seem to be looking for problems

> > where

> > > > > there

> > > > > > are none.

> > > > > > > > I listened to the words of one poster on here and

> he

> > > > > said....do

> > > > > > > what the doctor and the pt/ot people tell you and

> you

> > will

> > > be

> > > > > > > fine.....he was absolutely correct

> > > > > > > > If anyone wants to contact me because they are not

> > > convinced

> > > > > > that

> > > > > > > the surgery works i would be glad to talk to them

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > Ed

> > > > > > > > Near Philadelphia

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > -----------------------------------------------------

> ---

> > --

> > > > > > > > AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out

> more

> > > about

> > > > > > what's

> > > > > > > free from AOL at AOL.com.

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > >

> > > >

> > >

> > > ----------------------------------------------------------

> ---

> > ----------

> > > AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about

> what's

> > free from AOL at AOL.com.

> > >

> >

>

April 6, 2007

My OS didn't mention bungee jumping, , but he did say that any dreams I had of becoming a prima ballerina or a professional basketball player were over.

April 6, 2007

Barb,

My dr. wants me off work a bare minimum of 2 months after my RTKR which was March 5, and he'd be happier if I could take 3, but he says he will likely permit me to return to work after 2, if it's limited hours. I am a postal worker and my job is quite literally on my feet the entire time I'm at work. I've only got 2 months of paid leave so I really hope to be able to go back light duty the first of May or thereabouts. And at the rate I'm going, the pt says he sees no reason I won't be able to do just that. I'm a month out now and I walk better than I did before the surgery and I need no cane or walker.

And being around people really is important, isn't it? I've finally been able to start getting out and about this past week and I have enjoyed it so much. And today I get to drive for the first time since my surgery. Things like that are a real mental boost.

But... even though I don't know how we would manage financially if I had to take a month off without pay, I would do it, and not gripe about it. Because, as someone so aptly pointed out, without your health, you have nothing.

Best of luck in your continued recovery.

in WA

>>I went back to work four weeks after tkr. I was delighted to be in the company of other people! My doctor signed off, even though I was still using a walker and a cane.

April 6, 2007

My PT doesn't want me sky diving either.

Arianne

>

> My OS didn't mention bungee jumping, , but he did say that any dreams I

had of

becoming a prima ballerina or a professional basketball player were over.

>

April 7, 2007

LOL Arianne!!! Your PT sounds like a killjoy. Hehe.

>>My PT doesn't want me sky diving either.Arianne

April 7, 2007

Hi , I definitely felt better when I went back to work. I think socialization is so important after joint replacement. I sincerely hope that Dale makes the effort to get out, even if he can't go to work. Just being around people, friends or relatives that make you laugh, is a magical turnaround. Once I went back to my wonderful job in the Women's Center, being with all the great people made me very happy and I literally forgot about the pain. If you can't go back to work, and I say this to all of you, find some way to socialize. Go to a restaurant or a library or a movie, have friends over, go out to lunch, just get your mind off your problems for an hour or so. It is so reviving. The first time I could drive myself, I felt such a wonderful freedom. Art Buchwald wrote about the power of laughter and he was so right. I don't know exactly what it does in your body, but that happy release relieves pain. Your job definitely is very different from mine, and I know there is no way I could be on my feet all day. Actually I had to physically move my office several weeks ago (I had surgery in September) and I was tired and it hurt my back, but my knee was fine. I hope you will find some way to spend the rest of this month, at least, enjoying yourself. Remember, at least you won't have work stress for at least a few more weeks! Barb from IL

April 7, 2007

Actually I never said I liked the job. Actually I hate the job. But you tell me where else around here I am going to make $20 per hour, and have so many other benefits such as 14 paid holidays. If I am ever layed off I get 90% of a 40-hour week paid. Medical, dental(although limited dental) and vision is all paid for. Nothing comes out of my paycheck each week for it and so far it's been pretty decent insurance. My hours are from 4:30pm-around 2am. Never liked those hours and would like it better if I were able to see my son more than just the weekends and Fridays. And I do need the job to at least get this hip paid for. And do not forget the right hip also has pins in it and at some point in time it will also probally become a problem. But for now there is really no pain at all except from the left one. Short term disability for me at this current job is $430 a week for 26 weeks. It will be hard when I am used to more but we can make it on this. With my wife still working as well that is. And I need this job to keep health insurance not only on me for now to get this hip fixed, but the other one possibly in the future as well. And my family still needs health insurance coverage. My wife, even though she is in the medical field, her family health insurance coverage is $240 a month. That's quite high when we are used to paying nothing for this for so long. There are many other jobs I would much rather be doing. I would love to get into computer aided police/fire dispatching. Police/fire scanning has kind of been one of my hobbies for many years now. But I have no degree, and have nothing but a high-school education. Who would hire me like this at my age when there are so many people just out of college with a communications degree in their hands much younger than me probally lined up for a job such as this. And even with that degree I am sure it still will not pay $50K a year. They have been talking of eliminating my current position(repair tech) and sending me to do assembly line type of work. I do not think my hip in it's current state would be able to take the constant twisting and turning of that kind of work. So it may come down to a thing where I am forced to go out now and get this hip fixed and probally end up working at the local hardware store down the road from me, lucky to even be at $10 per hour. Last time I asked them about my position when the rumors were starting a couple of months back they told me not to worry and it was in the budget until the end of the year. A long time from now. They lied it seems. Oh, I almost forgot I also have a good 401K plan and the company matches well. With this 401K it was the only way I was able to come up with enough money we needed to put the required 3% down on this house and get my family out of the crime infested city and apartments we used to live in. The kids needed that and a better school system a rural school provides. So there's another benefit to my job I forgot. Although I am not quite sure how the remainder of the loan and the 401K plan will work or what to do with it when I go out for a THR. Knowing it must be rolled over into another job in a certain time limit or it will be lost up in taxes and penalties. Anyone on the list know much about this and experienced this when you maybe lost your jobs due to AVN of a joint? So I never said I loved my job so much I just had to stay for the love of that job. I just needed the job and what it provides for me and my family so far. And there is no way I could get another job paying anywhere close to what I am making now. Not unless it's an assembly line, or manufacturing kind of job and I work another 10-15 years threre to get to where I am today. And IF a "new" hip and possibly "bad" one for the future can handle it. And I have no money to do anything about going to school and getting a degree. Our family lives paycheck-to-paycheck like so many American families live from day to day. I am sure many on here are the same.

Dale

RE: Re: My experience, THR Left side-Dale

Dale:

Could you explain why you're so desperate to hold on to this job, knowing that it may cause complications to your health? I simply can't understand it, and I have left jobs with 10 years or more of tenure for reasons of principle, not medical reasons.

No doctor will sign the kind of release you describe, simply because a person after THR is considered handicapped, and the physician could lose his license for signing it. Trust me, the doctor's professional standing is more important to him/her than a single patient.

Get used to the idea that you will have limitations, and retrain for something that can provide a living while not going outside the limitations you will have to live with.

Maybe I'm the one who's dense here, but many of us have changed jobs and even professions with less fanfare than you have. A job, even one you love, is still only a way to make a living, not a way of life.

Greywolf - RTHR-2003; LTHR-2004

mdavisonnetvision (DOT) net.il

From: Joint Replacement [mailto:Joint Replacement ] On Behalf Of DaleSent: 04 April, 2007 8:29 PMJoint Replacement Subject: Re: Re: My experience, THR Left side-Dale

Like I stated before. I am almost positive that after I had a THR I would be able to return to work and be able to do anything required of me and needed in order to perform all the duties my particular job requires. But, there is a clause in our contract that states when returning to work after being out on temp disability the doctor MUST sign off on a paper stating 100% no restrictions. No matter what you feel like after surgery. And after all is healed. This is the problem. As no doctor I have asked yet is willing to sign such a paper. And this IS needed in order to even be allowed to return to work. Would they take me back knowing I have 10 years of service in and experienced and also do a specialized job that there is only me that does on my shift? Probally so. I am well liked also by management and co-workers. Would they bend the rules and ignore the contract just to satisfy my needs and allow me to return to work after all is healed from a THR? I am not so sure about that one. Especially since we have been bought out by a French firm. And they are very strict about following the rules and the contract agreements between the UAW and General Motors, and us.

Dale

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April 8, 2007

Don, I was just forced to retire from my job after 13 yrs with my company. My job required my to stand all day. I now barely do 10 min.I had TKR on both knees but the right one just never worked out right. My Os will only release me to a 3/4 hr a day job as long as it is sitting. My long term disablity says I need to make 80% of my wages to return to work. Right now I'm waiting to hear about my 401. By the paper work if I decide to keep the money I will be paying 20% of that to taxes. I have to wait and see.Shirley Re: [Total_Joint_ Replacement] Re: My experience, THR Left side-Dale

Like I stated before. I am almost positive that after I had a THR I would be able to return to work and be able to do anything required of me and needed in order to perform all the duties my particular job requires. But, there is a clause in our contract that states when returning to work after being out on temp disability the doctor MUST sign off on a paper stating 100% no restrictions. No matter what you feel like after surgery. And after all is healed. This is the problem. As no doctor I have asked yet is willing to sign such a paper. And this IS needed in order to even be allowed to return to work. Would they take me back knowing I have 10 years of service in and experienced and also do a specialized job that there is only me that does on my shift? Probally so. I am well liked also by management and co-workers. Would they bend the rules and ignore the contract just to satisfy my needs and allow me to return to work after all is healed from a THR? I am not so sure about that one. Especially since we have been bought out by a French firm. And they are very strict about following the rules and the contract agreements between the UAW and General Motors, and us.

Dale

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April 8, 2007

Unfortunately the UAW has created a dependency for a great number of

people, for indeed where would you find such benefits? There are

however many of us who with no formal secondary education and having

changed careers mid-life are making at least 20.00 per hour. At our

age we have had life experience and that counts for much, especially

if we are versatile and willing to work hard. If you have the

personality for it, sales is a good income as well as management and

consulting. There is always alternative ways to make a living but

you may have to let go of those wonderful UAW benefits which more

than likely won't last too much longer anyway with the auto industry

going downhill.

Deb

>

> Actually I never said I liked the job. Actually I hate the job.

But you tell me where else around here I am going to make $20 per

hour, and have so many other benefits such as 14 paid holidays. If I

am ever layed off I get 90% of a 40-hour week paid. Medical, dental

(although limited dental) and vision is all paid for. Nothing comes

out of my paycheck each week for it and so far it's been pretty

decent insurance. My hours are from 4:30pm-around 2am. Never liked

those hours and would like it better if I were able to see my son

more than just the weekends and Fridays. And I do need the job to at

least get this hip paid for. And do not forget the right hip also

has pins in it and at some point in time it will also probally

become a problem. But for now there is really no pain at all except

from the left one. Short term disability for me at this current job

is $430 a week for 26 weeks. It will be hard when I am used to more

but we can make it on this. With my wife still working as well that

is. And I need this job to keep health insurance not only on me for

now to get this hip fixed, but the other one possibly in the future

as well. And my family still needs health insurance coverage. My

wife, even though she is in the medical field, her family health

insurance coverage is $240 a month. That's quite high when we are

used to paying nothing for this for so long. There are many other

jobs I would much rather be doing. I would love to get into computer

aided police/fire dispatching. Police/fire scanning has kind of been

one of my hobbies for many years now. But I have no degree, and have

nothing but a high-school education. Who would hire me like this at

my age when there are so many people just out of college with a

communications degree in their hands much younger than me probally

lined up for a job such as this. And even with that degree I am sure

it still will not pay $50K a year. They have been talking of

eliminating my current position(repair tech) and sending me to do

assembly line type of work. I do not think my hip in it's current

state would be able to take the constant twisting and turning of

that kind of work. So it may come down to a thing where I am forced

to go out now and get this hip fixed and probally end up working at

the local hardware store down the road from me, lucky to even be at

$10 per hour. Last time I asked them about my position when the

rumors were starting a couple of months back they told me not to

worry and it was in the budget until the end of the year. A long

time from now. They lied it seems. Oh, I almost forgot I also have a

good 401K plan and the company matches well. With this 401K it was

the only way I was able to come up with enough money we needed to

put the required 3% down on this house and get my family out of the

crime infested city and apartments we used to live in. The kids

needed that and a better school system a rural school provides. So

there's another benefit to my job I forgot. Although I am not quite

sure how the remainder of the loan and the 401K plan will work or

what to do with it when I go out for a THR. Knowing it must be

rolled over into another job in a certain time limit or it will be

lost up in taxes and penalties. Anyone on the list know much about

this and experienced this when you maybe lost your jobs due to AVN

of a joint? So I never said I loved my job so much I just

had to stay for the love of that job. I just needed the job and what

it provides for me and my family so far. And there is no way I could

get another job paying anywhere close to what I am making now. Not

unless it's an assembly line, or manufacturing kind of job and I

work another 10-15 years threre to get to where I am today. And IF

a " new " hip and possibly " bad " one for the future can handle it. And

I have no money to do anything about going to school and getting a

degree. Our family lives paycheck-to-paycheck like so many American

families live from day to day. I am sure many on here are the same.

>

> Dale

>

> Re: Re: My experience, THR

Left side-Dale

>

> Like I stated before. I am almost positive that after I had a

THR I would be able to return to work and be able to do anything

required of me and needed in order to perform all the duties my

particular job requires. But, there is a clause in our contract that

states when returning to work after being out on temp disability the

doctor MUST sign off on a paper stating 100% no restrictions. No

matter what you feel like after surgery. And after all is healed.

This is the problem. As no doctor I have asked yet is willing to

sign such a paper. And this IS needed in order to even be allowed to

return to work. Would they take me back knowing I have 10 years of

service in and experienced and also do a specialized job that there

is only me that does on my shift? Probally so. I am well liked also

by management and co-workers. Would they bend the rules and ignore

the contract just to satisfy my needs and allow me to return to work

after all is healed from a THR? I am not so sure about that one.

Especially since we have been bought out by a French firm. And they

are very strict about following the rules and the contract

agreements between the UAW and General Motors, and us.

>

> Dale

>

> -------------------------------------------------------------------

-----------

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April 8, 2007

Yes it very much is like a "catch 22" situation. And I am sure if I had a hip replacement I would be funcioning a lot better than I am now at my job. But it does not matter and they still have to follow the contract. If they did something different for me to "bend" the rules then that would set a precedent and they would have to allow this and treat every other employee after me the same way. In order to keep from this I am sure they will follow the contract to the letter. And not only have I talked to my union representatives I have been to the local union office and talked with the president and vice-president of our local at the same time in the same office. Still nothing they could do. They did suggest me talking with human resources and presenting them with a hypothetical situation and asking them how they would handle it if I were to go out on aTHR for surgery. And if I could not get the doctor to sign off on 100% no restrictions, would they keep me and let me come back to work based on this. knowing I am a 10 year employee and basically liked for the most part by mangement and co-workers. I weighed the situation and preferred them not to know this at this time. Bad enough they know I am disabled enough to be using a handicapped placcard for parking there. I just thought it best at this moment for them to know as little about the situation as possible so they could not use anything against me in the future from it. And no, nothing has been ruled on because I have not had any surgery yet. But I do know, that I need this job for now in order to get the temporary disability benefits and the medical insurance coverage so I can find out what I need to do to get this hip fixed. And do not forget I still have metal pins in the right hip that will no doubt cause it to go bad at some time in the future. I am glad it is for the most part pain free now, but who knows at what point in time it will start the pains I am feeling in the left one. Most people in this country are living paycheck-to-paycheck and my family is no different. And this is with me still working full-time making the money I make now currently. So with this hip, my back is to the wall, and I'm not quite sure how to get things fixed and still have a job. Even though job situations can change, and health situations can change. sometimes for the better but in this case for worse, the bills that have been stuctured around my current salary and situation. Those bills stay the same and in most cases go up for people with doctor's visits, and precription costs, ect. Kind of makes things very difficult when you are facing a job loss and the bills do not care about this, and then there are the added things that come like I just mentioned with co-pays, prescription costs, ect. If you are working somewhere, and get sick, or injured, or disabled in any way and your health changes, with jobs like mine(and there are millions out there who work the same type of jobs I do), you are pretty much screwed.

Dale

My experience, THR > > Left > > > > side> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > I am 61 yo, I had my hip done 6 weeks ago. From the > > woman who> > > > > > mopped the floor in my hospital room, to the woman who > > served > > > > my> > > > > > meals, the nurses, thept/ot people, the doctor and > > everyone i > > > > > came in> > > > > > contact with, they were all totally professional and > now i > > am > > > > > feeling> > > > > > so good and able to walk long distances. I even started > > back > > > > on > > > > > my> > > > > > Motorcycle.> > > > > > > I have been reding posts on this site for about 2 > months > > and > > > > > quite> > > > > > frankly most people seem to be looking for problems > where > > > > there > > > > > are none.> > > > > > > I listened to the words of one poster on here and he > > > > said....do> > > > > > what the doctor and the pt/ot people tell you and you > will > > be> > > > > > fine.....he was absolutely correct> > > > > > > If anyone wants to contact me because they are not > > convinced > > > > > that> > > > > > the surgery works i would be glad to talk to them> > > > > > > > > > > > > > Ed> > > > > > > Near Philadelphia> > > > > > > > > > > > > >> > > > > > --------------------------------------------------------> --> > > > > > > AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more > > about > > > > > what's> > > > > > free from AOL at AOL.com.> > > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > >> > > >> > >> > > > > > > > -------------------------------------------------------------> ----------> > AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's > free from AOL at AOL.com.> >>

AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at AOL.com.

April 8, 2007

Wow Micheal did you have some rich unlce that died and left you lots of money to accomplish all of this? Exacttly what I meant before about most people out here are living paycheck-to-paycheck. So in that regards, yes, you do seem to be unique in that situation. From the time I was 18 I started working in a machine shop at a crappy $5 per hour. But you have to start somewhere right. And why did I chose this line of work? Well, becuase I took Machine Shop as a class in Vocational-Tech school in high school. So it seemed the natural thing to do at the time and they probally hired me based on my past schooling. $5 per hour or not, I am sure if I had took something like Cooking class I would not have gotten hired and therefore would not have started somewhere in building up some kind of working experience in hopes of finding something better in the near future. Times have changed now and there are illegals here(yes I know I'm bringing it up again but it's true and fits the subject) that would probally even keep me from getting that crappy $5 per hour if it were now. I got sick with pnemonia and they fired me. See, even little family owned machine shops way back in 1989 followed the same policy larger corporations follow now. Luckily a large corporation moved into the small town where I am from, and naturally I applied for a job there(same as the other 350 employees I worked with did). This gave me manufacturing and production experience. Which without a college education what else was I going to go into unless I "knew someone who could get me on". I worked there for almost 6 years, moving my way up as I could, going from just a basic assembler, to lead man of my own department on nightshift. Only getting there, and making the money it provided, by experience. My American employer went bankrupt, and a German corporation decided to step in and buy the company out. Lucky for me they did or I would have lost the job right then. Well if it's not already known, European companies hate American unions. And since they decided to freeze wages and promotions until they started turning a profit, people wanted a union in there. The union president himself(Teamsters) told us if they ever said they would shut down the company and move overseas because of the union then they were giving us lies and this was illegal for them to just move because of a union. We belived them, and voted the union in, six months later I was jobless as they moved to China with the machines I worked with every day making parts for this company. Foreign companies do not care about American laws and regulations. Follow along please because it fits my current situation, as the company I now work for is owned by, you guessed it.....a FRENCH COMPANY!!! Even worse than the Germans trust me. But it provides a job and if I wanted to pay bills it's something that had to be overlooked. But this company is also forced to accept the union as if they want to do any business with General Motors it's the only way. So there you have it. Manufacturing and production is all I know. Is it what I wanted? Of course not! But the fact remains. And I do not have a "stash" somewhere to fund schooling for another line of work. Like I said before paycheck-to-paycheck. And I am not African-American, nor do I qualify for poverty levels, in order to get funding for schooling. As my wife makes to much for this. So you must tell us your secret then Micheal because I know I'm interested. Feel free to email me privately with this if you want, and I will be urgently checking my emails in hopes that you do. With a little bit of luck, and face it, luck is about 90% of getting a job, and in being at the right place at the right time, I might get another job after this hip is fixed. I will probally be looking at an auto reposession on my record and a 60% pay-cut. But I will have a job. Luckily my wife is in the field where she would be in demand and can move right into another job making the same or more than she was making if she ever lost her job. With the type of jobs I have experience in, there is no demand and actually we are losing manufacturing jobs to China and Mexico at an alarming rate. Email me please Micheal.

Dale

RE: Re: My experience, THR Left side-Dale

Arianne:I didn't say we WERE disabled-- but that the "establishment" (government,labor, healthcare and business) does consider us as such. Dale, forinstance, can't get the paper he needs to continue in his present job forexactly that reason.Having said that, I don't think there's anyone here, either a knee or hipreplacement person, single or bilateral, who would go out looking for a jobmoving sacks of potatoes, boxes of apples and cases of beverages around awarehouse-- stevedoring (loading and unloading ships, trucks, etc.) is alsoout... So is the chance of anyone being drafted to the NFL, NBA or NHL...And WWF wrestling is a no-no, too, for anyone who still had hopes in thatdirection.I started out my working career as a caster in an iron foundry, and I knowthat even if I were still working there, I wouldn't be able to cast aftersurgery.My point to Dale was simply this: there is no job so precious that it'sworth sacrificing your quality of life... Unless you're knocking down $500Ka year or better, net. Is there anybody here doing that?No, I don't consider myself a "cripple", "gimp" or even "physicallychallenged"... But I do know that I can't walk as far, drive as far or standas long without moving as I once could, nor can I lift the things I once didwithout the fear that I'll strain or break something in one of my hips.What I'm trying to tell Dale is simply that life doesn't come to an end ifyou have to change jobs, and retraining is always an option. According tohim, he's 35 years old-- I finished an Industrial Technician's certificationat age 30, upgraded to practical engineer by age 40, went through amanagement course at age 45 and finished a B.Sc. in industrial engineeringthrough a learn-at-a-distance faculty of a US university when I hit 50 (allthe studies were after a full day's work, while helping to raise twowonderful daughters, buy a home and help my wife earn a B.A. in BusinessAdmin. So she could become a department manager at the bank she works in. Ihardly think I'm so unique... All those I studied with in my evening courseswere my age, some even older... And all were married, with jobs andchildren.Dale, and anyone else with the same fixation about their job should gettheir priorities right-- your health comes first, because without it, youhave nothing-- including the job you're so worried about-- after that comesfamily, and only then does the importance of a job show up on the list ofpriorities. Any job is just a means to an end (earning a salary), not theend in itself. After kicking around in industry over a big part of theworld for more than 30 years, the only thing I'm still certain of is thatmost of us will not retire out of the same job-- and probably not even thesame profession-- that we started out in when we finished school and enteredthe work force. A good approach might be to accept the idea that "Any planis a basis for change."Plans are great, but Life is what we have to deal with on a day-to-daybasis, and there is no dress rehearsal! - RTHR-2003; LTHR-2004mdavisonnetvision (DOT) net.ilP.S.: My OS specifically barred me from Bungee jumping and free-fallparachuting.-----Original Message-----From: Joint Replacement [mailto:Joint Replacement ] On Behalf Of arianne377Sent: 05 April, 2007 4:18 PMJoint Replacement Subject: Re: My experience, THR Left side-Dale, your comments referring to us being considered disabled caught mycuriosity. After having two hips replaced, I still don't consider myself disabled,although I know others would consider me so.This brings me to some questions I have had. What types of activities shouldwe not be doing? I moved a bed the other day and thought later that perhapsI shouldn't have?Arianne--------------------------------------------My mailbox is spam-free with ChoiceMail, the leader in personal and corporate anti-spam solutions. Download your free copy of ChoiceMail from www.digiportal.com

April 8, 2007

I have never had a replacement yet. And no, every doctor I have ever asked stated they would never sign such a paper. If it were not for this there would be no issue. I would get the replacement, get healed, go back to work as if nothing had ever happened. If it were only so easy. Maybe I need a job at the Women's Center. But then I would have to file a discrimination lawsuit when they did not hire me because I am a man. Wait! This may be the answer to all my problems. Barb can you tell me where this place is please?

Dale

My experience, > THR > > > Left > > > > > side> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > I am 61 yo, I had my hip done 6 weeks ago. From > the > > > woman who> > > > > > > mopped the floor in my hospital room, to the woman > who > > > served > > > > > my> > > > > > > meals, the nurses, thept/ot people, the doctor and > > > everyone i > > > > > > came in> > > > > > > contact with, they were all totally professional and > > now i > > > am > > > > > > feeling> > > > > > > so good and able to walk long distances. I even > started > > > back > > > > > on > > > > > > my> > > > > > > Motorcycle.> > > > > > > > I have been reding posts on this site for about 2 > > months > > > and > > > > > > quite> > > > > > > frankly most people seem to be looking for problems > > where > > > > > there > > > > > > are none.> > > > > > > > I listened to the words of one poster on here and > he > > > > > said....do> > > > > > > what the doctor and the pt/ot people tell you and > you > > will > > > be> > > > > > > fine.....he was absolutely correct> > > > > > > > If anyone wants to contact me because they are not > > > convinced > > > > > > that> > > > > > > the surgery works i would be glad to talk to them> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Ed> > > > > > > > Near Philadelphia> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >> > > > > > > -----------------------------------------------------> ---> > --> > > > > > > > AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out > more > > > about > > > > > > what's> > > > > > > free from AOL at AOL.com.> > > > > > > >> > > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > >> > > >> > > > > > > > > > > > ----------------------------------------------------------> ---> > ----------> > > AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about > what's > > free from AOL at AOL.com.> > >> >>

April 9, 2007

Dale,

You are at this point, asking doctors if they would sign off so you

can go back to work, but you've never even had the replacement. You

are worrying about something that hasn't even occurred yet. And even

if you can't return to your job, I work in a community college and I

can tell you for sure that there are jobs out there that you can be

trained for that would not require so much physical work. Even if

it's a " feminine " job like medical transcription, you can get

retrained and there are grants, like the Pell grant, that will pay

your expenses. You have got to look at the alternatives because

there are many. In fact, there are many non-degree jobs that will be

vital and more marketable than jobs are now. My husband, who was a

senior designer, lost his job because it went to India. Please go

online and check what jobs are out there that will be vital in the

future. Many high tech jobs don't require a degree but are hands on,

yet not physical, like an MRI repair person. Please think about it!

By the way, my beloved Women's Center is gone and I now work for the

Multicultural Awareness Center. I used to be in PR, but the stress

got to me. I got very sick and I retired. I came back in three

months to the Women's Center, which was not stressful. Doesn't pay

much but I do have a pension. That's what I mean. You can find

something that you are interested in that you can do physically. By

the way, we had many men in the center. It was a safe haven for many

students who needed it.

Barb from Illinois

> > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > > Yeah but you are 61 yrs old Ed. I mean no

offense

> > to

> > > > you.

> > > > > > But

> > > > > > > if I

> > > > > > > > were that age I would think nothing of getting

this

> > hip

> > > > out,

> > > > > > and

> > > > > > > > another one in, so I can get on with my life

instead

> > of

> > > > this

> > > > > > pain

> > > > > > > > dictating everything I do in my life right now.

Like

> > > today

> > > > for

> > > > > > > > instance, my hip(actually my whole leg, knee

> > included)

> > > > hurts

> > > > > > like

> > > > > > > > hell. And I am down to my last two Oxycontin, not

> > that

> > > > it's

> > > > > > > really

> > > > > > > > helping much anyways, but it must help some. And I

> > have

> > > no

> > > > way

> > > > > > > to see

> > > > > > > > the doc until Monday. But, I have a very physical

> > full-

> > > > time

> > > > > > job

> > > > > > > to go

> > > > > > > > to, and as much as I dread going in to work today.

I

> > am

> > > > really

> > > > > > > going

> > > > > > > > to be the rest of the week without any Oxycontin

to

> > > help

> > > > with

> > > > > > the

> > > > > > > > pain. But I have a family that I have to take care

> > of

> > > and

> > > > do

> > > > > > > what I

> > > > > > > > have to do. But somedays the pain gets so bad I

feel

> > > like

> > > > > > giving

> > > > > > > up.

> > > > > > > > If I get a THR now my job already told me they

would

> > > not

> > > > let

> > > > > > me

> > > > > > > come

> > > > > > > > back. And no way I could find another making the

> > kind

> > > of

> > > > money

> > > > > > I

> > > > > > > get

> > > > > > > > paid and my health, dental, and vision is all

> > free.And

> > > I

> > > > could

> > > > > > be

> > > > > > > > facing three(possibly more) revisions in my

> > lifetime. I

> > > > think

> > > > > > > there is

> > > > > > > > only so much bone they can work with before they

> > tell

> > > you

> > > > that

> > > > > > > you are

> > > > > > > > wheelchair bound for the rest of your life because

> > they

> > > > cannot

> > > > > > do

> > > > > > > > another revsion. Wheelchair bound, and STILL in

this

> > > > > > agognizing

> > > > > > > pain

> > > > > > > > at 55 or 60 does not sound like a life I wanna

live.

> > Ed

> > > I

> > > > am

> > > > > > > only 35!

> > > > > > > > This is one time that I only wish I were 60 so I

> > could

> > > go

> > > > on

> > > > > > and

> > > > > > > get

> > > > > > > > this damn hip out of me and get on with what's

left

> > of

> > > > life.

> > > > > > And

> > > > > > > I

> > > > > > > > still have to worry about the other hip as well.

As

> > > it's

> > > > > > > starting to

> > > > > > > > show some signs of AVN now.

> > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > > Dale

> > > > > > > > > in KCMO

> > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > > My

experience,

> > THR

> > > > Left

> > > > > > side

> > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > > I am 61 yo, I had my hip done 6 weeks ago. From

> > the

> > > > woman who

> > > > > > > > mopped the floor in my hospital room, to the woman

> > who

> > > > served

> > > > > > my

> > > > > > > > meals, the nurses, thept/ot people, the doctor and

> > > > everyone i

> > > > > > > came in

> > > > > > > > contact with, they were all totally professional

and

> > > now i

> > > > am

> > > > > > > feeling

> > > > > > > > so good and able to walk long distances. I even

> > started

> > > > back

> > > > > > on

> > > > > > > my

> > > > > > > > Motorcycle.

> > > > > > > > > I have been reding posts on this site for about

2

> > > months

> > > > and

> > > > > > > quite

> > > > > > > > frankly most people seem to be looking for

problems

> > > where

> > > > > > there

> > > > > > > are none.

> > > > > > > > > I listened to the words of one poster on here

and

> > he

> > > > > > said....do

> > > > > > > > what the doctor and the pt/ot people tell you and

> > you

> > > will

> > > > be

> > > > > > > > fine.....he was absolutely correct

> > > > > > > > > If anyone wants to contact me because they are

not

> > > > convinced

> > > > > > > that

> > > > > > > > the surgery works i would be glad to talk to them

> > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > > Ed

> > > > > > > > > Near Philadelphia

> > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > ---------------------------------------------------

--

> > ---

> > > --

> > > > > > > > > AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out

> > more

> > > > about

> > > > > > > what's

> > > > > > > > free from AOL at AOL.com.

> > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > >

> > > >

> > > > ----------------------------------------------------------

> > ---

> > > ----------

> > > > AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about

> > what's

> > > free from AOL at AOL.com.

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

April 9, 2007

And it's a good thing I think ahead like that isn't it Barb. Better to find out about it all now when I can still maybe do something about it and have choices than finding out about it all later after a surgery. You are thinking like my wife now, or is that just a woman thing? The taking one day at a time kind of thing. Myself, I like planning ahead when at all possible.

Dale

My experience, > > THR > > > > Left > > > > > > side> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > I am 61 yo, I had my hip done 6 weeks ago. From > > the > > > > woman who> > > > > > > > mopped the floor in my hospital room, to the woman > > who > > > > served > > > > > > my> > > > > > > > meals, the nurses, thept/ot people, the doctor and > > > > everyone i > > > > > > > came in> > > > > > > > contact with, they were all totally professional and > > > now i > > > > am > > > > > > > feeling> > > > > > > > so good and able to walk long distances. I even > > started > > > > back > > > > > > on > > > > > > > my> > > > > > > > Motorcycle.> > > > > > > > > I have been reding posts on this site for about 2 > > > months > > > > and > > > > > > > quite> > > > > > > > frankly most people seem to be looking for problems > > > where > > > > > > there > > > > > > > are none.> > > > > > > > > I listened to the words of one poster on here and > > he > > > > > > said....do> > > > > > > > what the doctor and the pt/ot people tell you and > > you > > > will > > > > be> > > > > > > > fine.....he was absolutely correct> > > > > > > > > If anyone wants to contact me because they are not > > > > convinced > > > > > > > that> > > > > > > > the surgery works i would be glad to talk to them> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Ed> > > > > > > > > Near Philadelphia> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >> > > > > > > > -----------------------------------------------------> > ---> > > --> > > > > > > > > AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out > > more > > > > about > > > > > > > what's> > > > > > > > free from AOL at AOL.com.> > > > > > > > >> > > > > > > >> > > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > >> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ----------------------------------------------------------> > ---> > > ----------> > > > AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about > > what's > > > free from AOL at AOL.com.> > > >> > >> >>

April 9, 2007

And I would not mind becomming an MRI repair person. But I have no idea how one would even get into something like that. I just always assumed the manufacturer sent out people for that and even those jobs were from people with degrees. What I would love to do and would go along well with my one of my hobbies is police/fire computer aided dispatching. But I would think there would be a line of 20 something people with communications degrees in their hands that would get picked before they would want someone like myself.

Dale

My experience, > > THR > > > > Left > > > > > > side> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > I am 61 yo, I had my hip done 6 weeks ago. From > > the > > > > woman who> > > > > > > > mopped the floor in my hospital room, to the woman > > who > > > > served > > > > > > my> > > > > > > > meals, the nurses, thept/ot people, the doctor and > > > > everyone i > > > > > > > came in> > > > > > > > contact with, they were all totally professional and > > > now i > > > > am > > > > > > > feeling> > > > > > > > so good and able to walk long distances. I even > > started > > > > back > > > > > > on > > > > > > > my> > > > > > > > Motorcycle.> > > > > > > > > I have been reding posts on this site for about 2 > > > months > > > > and > > > > > > > quite> > > > > > > > frankly most people seem to be looking for problems > > > where > > > > > > there > > > > > > > are none.> > > > > > > > > I listened to the words of one poster on here and > > he > > > > > > said....do> > > > > > > > what the doctor and the pt/ot people tell you and > > you > > > will > > > > be> > > > > > > > fine.....he was absolutely correct> > > > > > > > > If anyone wants to contact me because they are not > > > > convinced > > > > > > > that> > > > > > > > the surgery works i would be glad to talk to them> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Ed> > > > > > > > > Near Philadelphia> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >> > > > > > > > -----------------------------------------------------> > ---> > > --> > > > > > > > > AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out > > more > > > > about > > > > > > > what's> > > > > > > > free from AOL at AOL.com.> > > > > > > > >> > > > > > > >> > > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > >> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ----------------------------------------------------------> > ---> > > ----------> > > > AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about > > what's > > > free from AOL at AOL.com.> > > >> > >> >>

April 9, 2007

Having a plan is a great way to go. Just what is your plan Dale? What do you do when that pain hits the point where you can't stand it? What do you do then?

Ed

Re: Re: My experience, THR Left side-Dale

And it's a good thing I think ahead like that isn't it Barb. Better to find out about it all now when I can still maybe do something about it and have choices than finding out about it all later after a surgery. You are thinking like my wife now, or is that just a woman thing? The taking one day at a time kind of thing. Myself, I like planning ahead when at all possible.

Dale

My

experience,

> > THR

> > > > Left

> > > > > > side

> > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > > I am 61 yo, I had my hip done 6 weeks ago. From

> > the

> > > > woman who

> > > > > > > > mopped the floor in my hospital room, to the woman

> > who

> > > > served

> > > > > > my

> > > > > > > > meals, the nurses, thept/ot people, the doctor and

> > > > everyone i

> > > > > > > came in

> > > > > > > > contact with, they were all totally professional

and

> > > now i

> > > > am

> > > > > > > feeling

> > > > > > > > so good and able to walk long distances. I even

> > started

> > > > back

> > > > > > on

> > > > > > > my

> > > > > > > > Motorcycle.

> > > > > > > > > I have been reding posts on this site for about

2

> > > months

> > > > and

> > > > > > > quite

> > > > > > > > frankly most people seem to be looking for

problems

> > > where

> > > > > > there

> > > > > > > are none.

> > > > > > > > > I listened to the words of one poster on here

and

> > he

> > > > > > said....do

> > > > > > > > what the doctor and the pt/ot people tell you and

> > you

> > > will

> > > > be

> > > > > > > > fine.....he was absolutely correct

> > > > > > > > > If anyone wants to contact me because they are

not

> > > > convinced

> > > > > > > that

> > > > > > > > the surgery works i would be glad to talk to them

> > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > > Ed

> > > > > > > > > Near Philadelphia

> > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > ---------------------------------------------------

--

> > ---

> > > --

> > > > > > > > > AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out

> > more

> > > > about

> > > > > > > what's

> > > > > > > > free from AOL at AOL.com.

> > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > >

> > > >

> > > > ----------------------------------------------------------

> > ---

> > > ----------

> > > > AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about

> > what's

> > > free from AOL at AOL.com.

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at AOL.com.

April 9, 2007

Most 911 jobs are county jobs, I would start with my local politician and ask to be put on the list.

Re: Re: My experience, THR Left side-Dale

And I would not mind becomming an MRI repair person. But I have no idea how one would even get into something like that. I just always assumed the manufacturer sent out people for that and even those jobs were from people with degrees. What I would love to do and would go along well with my one of my hobbies is police/fire computer aided dispatching. But I would think there would be a line of 20 something people with communications degrees in their hands that would get picked before they would want someone like myself.

Dale

My

experience,

> > THR

> > > > Left

> > > > > > side

> > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > > I am 61 yo, I had my hip done 6 weeks ago. From

> > the

> > > > woman who

> > > > > > > > mopped the floor in my hospital room, to the woman

> > who

> > > > served

> > > > > > my

> > > > > > > > meals, the nurses, thept/ot people, the doctor and

> > > > everyone i

> > > > > > > came in

> > > > > > > > contact with, they were all totally professional

and

> > > now i

> > > > am

> > > > > > > feeling

> > > > > > > > so good and able to walk long distances. I even

> > started

> > > > back

> > > > > > on

> > > > > > > my

> > > > > > > > Motorcycle.

> > > > > > > > > I have been reding posts on this site for about

2

> > > months

> > > > and

> > > > > > > quite

> > > > > > > > frankly most people seem to be looking for

problems

> > > where

> > > > > > there

> > > > > > > are none.

> > > > > > > > > I listened to the words of one poster on here

and

> > he

> > > > > > said....do

> > > > > > > > what the doctor and the pt/ot people tell you and

> > you

> > > will

> > > > be

> > > > > > > > fine.....he was absolutely correct

> > > > > > > > > If anyone wants to contact me because they are

not

> > > > convinced

> > > > > > > that

> > > > > > > > the surgery works i would be glad to talk to them

> > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > > Ed

> > > > > > > > > Near Philadelphia

> > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > ---------------------------------------------------

--

> > ---

> > > --

> > > > > > > > > AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out

> > more

> > > > about

> > > > > > > what's

> > > > > > > > free from AOL at AOL.com.

> > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > >

> > > >

> > > > ----------------------------------------------------------

> > ---

> > > ----------

> > > > AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about

> > what's

> > > free from AOL at AOL.com.

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at AOL.com.

April 9, 2007

Couldn't tell you as it hasn't even come close to that point yet.

Dale

My experience, > > THR > > > > Left > > > > > > side> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > I am 61 yo, I had my hip done 6 weeks ago. From > > the > > > > woman who> > > > > > > > mopped the floor in my hospital room, to the woman > > who > > > > served > > > > > > my> > > > > > > > meals, the nurses, thept/ot people, the doctor and > > > > everyone i > > > > > > > came in> > > > > > > > contact with, they were all totally professional and > > > now i > > > > am > > > > > > > feeling> > > > > > > > so good and able to walk long distances. I even > > started > > > > back > > > > > > on > > > > > > > my> > > > > > > > Motorcycle.> > > > > > > > > I have been reding posts on this site for about 2 > > > months > > > > and > > > > > > > quite> > > > > > > > frankly most people seem to be looking for problems > > > where > > > > > > there > > > > > > > are none.> > > > > > > > > I listened to the words of one poster on here and > > he > > > > > > said....do> > > > > > > > what the doctor and the pt/ot people tell you and > > you > > > will > > > > be> > > > > > > > fine.....he was absolutely correct> > > > > > > > > If anyone wants to contact me because they are not > > > > convinced > > > > > > > that> > > > > > > > the surgery works i would be glad to talk to them> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Ed> > > > > > > > > Near Philadelphia> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >> > > > > > > > -----------------------------------------------------> > ---> > > --> > > > > > > > > AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out > > more > > > > about > > > > > > > what's> > > > > > > > free from AOL at AOL.com.> > > > > > > > >> > > > > > > >> > > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > >> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ----------------------------------------------------------> > ---> > > ----------> > > > AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about > > what's > > > free from AOL at AOL.com.> > > >> > >> >>

AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at AOL.com.

April 10, 2007

Dale,

You said you like to plan ahead and prepare for life so that things don't

take you by surprise, which is why you are worrying so much about the hip

replacement you haven't even had yet.

Perhaps you could use that ability of yours, the one that helps you prepare

for any and all outcomes, by investigating how to become an MRI repair

person or a dispatcher. You said you had no idea how to get into MRI repair,

you assumed the manufacturer sent people out for that, and you think there

would be a long list of people trying to become dispatchers. But you are

just assuming these things, not putting the energy into ascertaining them as

facts.

I'm sure with your abilities you could readily find out the specifics of

these things and much more, rather than assuming something to be true

without really knowing the facts.

Good luck to you. I know that this is a stressful situation; I don't think

there's a person on here who has dealt with a major joint replacement issue,

who hasn't had to deal with an enormous amount of stress. Pain, worry,

finances, the list goes on and on. What is key is finding a way to cope with

that stress in a positive way. Perhaps channeling your worry into working to

find some answers to possible future careers would be part of the answer for

you.

Best regards,

in WA

>>And I would not mind becomming an MRI repair person. But I have no idea

>>how one would even get into something like that. I just always assumed the

>>manufacturer sent out people for that and even those jobs were from people

>>with degrees. What I would love to do and would go along well with my one

>>of my hobbies is police/fire computer aided dispatching. But I would think

>>there would be a line of 20 something people with communications degrees

>>in their hands that would get picked before they would want someone like

>>myself.

Dale

Visit my eBay store:

http://stores.ebay.com/s-Market

April 10, 2007

Dale,

Your negative thought process is making you become more and more

depressed. Many people on this board have tried to help you, but you

come up with the same argument over and over again. Please have the

surgery. Perhaps your pain is making it more difficult to look at

the future. Have the surgery and see what happens. Until then, and

unless you take some of the advice on this board, there is not much

more we can do for you. We understand your situation extremely well,

and many of (or at least I did) wonder if we can do our jobs

adequately again. You refuse to take suggestions seriously, and keep

dwelling on what might happen. This will get you nowhere. Until you

think in a different pattern and get the surgery will you find peace

within yourself. Your problems are compounded, in my opinion, by

depression and anxiety. This board is about joint replacement, how

to get through it, how others solve problems dealing with their

surgeries and recovery, and getting opinions on situations that they

are now facing. No one has job security in this country anymore,

unless you are in the medical field, and maybe not even then. Our

lives were drastically changed when my husband lost his job, but we

went through it. We're very far from wealthy and don't have much of

a happy retirement (I work part-time to supplement our income).

We're in our 60s and our future isn't great. But we find happiness

in friends and family, and we laugh a lot. Mental health is an

important issue here, and I urge you to get some therapy or see a

psychiatrist.

> > > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > > > Yeah but you are 61 yrs old Ed. I mean no

> offense

> > > to

> > > > > you.

> > > > > > > But

> > > > > > > > if I

> > > > > > > > > were that age I would think nothing of getting

> this

> > > hip

> > > > > out,

> > > > > > > and

> > > > > > > > > another one in, so I can get on with my life

> instead

> > > of

> > > > > this

> > > > > > > pain

> > > > > > > > > dictating everything I do in my life right now.

> Like

> > > > today

> > > > > for

> > > > > > > > > instance, my hip(actually my whole leg, knee

> > > included)

> > > > > hurts

> > > > > > > like

> > > > > > > > > hell. And I am down to my last two Oxycontin,

not

> > > that

> > > > > it's

> > > > > > > > really

> > > > > > > > > helping much anyways, but it must help some. And

I

> > > have

> > > > no

> > > > > way

> > > > > > > > to see

> > > > > > > > > the doc until Monday. But, I have a very

physical

> > > full-

> > > > > time

> > > > > > > job

> > > > > > > > to go

> > > > > > > > > to, and as much as I dread going in to work

today.

> I

> > > am

> > > > > really

> > > > > > > > going

> > > > > > > > > to be the rest of the week without any Oxycontin

> to

> > > > help

> > > > > with

> > > > > > > the

> > > > > > > > > pain. But I have a family that I have to take

care

> > > of

> > > > and

> > > > > do

> > > > > > > > what I

> > > > > > > > > have to do. But somedays the pain gets so bad I

> feel

> > > > like

> > > > > > > giving

> > > > > > > > up.

> > > > > > > > > If I get a THR now my job already told me they

> would

> > > > not

> > > > > let

> > > > > > > me

> > > > > > > > come

> > > > > > > > > back. And no way I could find another making the

> > > kind

> > > > of

> > > > > money

> > > > > > > I

> > > > > > > > get

> > > > > > > > > paid and my health, dental, and vision is all

> > > free.And

> > > > I

> > > > > could

> > > > > > > be

> > > > > > > > > facing three(possibly more) revisions in my

> > > lifetime. I

> > > > > think

> > > > > > > > there is

> > > > > > > > > only so much bone they can work with before they

> > > tell

> > > > you

> > > > > that

> > > > > > > > you are

> > > > > > > > > wheelchair bound for the rest of your life

because

> > > they

> > > > > cannot

> > > > > > > do

> > > > > > > > > another revsion. Wheelchair bound, and STILL in

> this

> > > > > > > agognizing

> > > > > > > > pain

> > > > > > > > > at 55 or 60 does not sound like a life I wanna

> live.

> > > Ed

> > > > I

> > > > > am

> > > > > > > > only 35!

> > > > > > > > > This is one time that I only wish I were 60 so I

> > > could

> > > > go

> > > > > on

> > > > > > > and

> > > > > > > > get

> > > > > > > > > this damn hip out of me and get on with what's

> left

> > > of

> > > > > life.

> > > > > > > And

> > > > > > > > I

> > > > > > > > > still have to worry about the other hip as well.

> As

> > > > it's

> > > > > > > > starting to

> > > > > > > > > show some signs of AVN now.

> > > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > > > Dale

> > > > > > > > > > in KCMO

> > > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > > > My

> experience,

> > > THR

> > > > > Left

> > > > > > > side

> > > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > > > I am 61 yo, I had my hip done 6 weeks ago.

From

> > > the

> > > > > woman who

> > > > > > > > > mopped the floor in my hospital room, to the

woman

> > > who

> > > > > served

> > > > > > > my

> > > > > > > > > meals, the nurses, thept/ot people, the doctor

and

> > > > > everyone i

> > > > > > > > came in

> > > > > > > > > contact with, they were all totally professional

> and

> > > > now i

> > > > > am

> > > > > > > > feeling

> > > > > > > > > so good and able to walk long distances. I even

> > > started

> > > > > back

> > > > > > > on

> > > > > > > > my

> > > > > > > > > Motorcycle.

> > > > > > > > > > I have been reding posts on this site for

about

> 2

> > > > months

> > > > > and

> > > > > > > > quite

> > > > > > > > > frankly most people seem to be looking for

> problems

> > > > where

> > > > > > > there

> > > > > > > > are none.

> > > > > > > > > > I listened to the words of one poster on here

> and

> > > he

> > > > > > > said....do

> > > > > > > > > what the doctor and the pt/ot people tell you

and

> > > you

> > > > will

> > > > > be

> > > > > > > > > fine.....he was absolutely correct

> > > > > > > > > > If anyone wants to contact me because they are

> not

> > > > > convinced

> > > > > > > > that

> > > > > > > > > the surgery works i would be glad to talk to them

> > > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > > > Ed

> > > > > > > > > > Near Philadelphia

> > > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > > -------------------------------------------------

--

> --

> > > ---

> > > > --

> > > > > > > > > > AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find

out

> > > more

> > > > > about

> > > > > > > > what's

> > > > > > > > > free from AOL at AOL.com.

> > > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > >

> > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------

-

> > > ---

> > > > ----------

> > > > > AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more

about

> > > what's

> > > > free from AOL at AOL.com.

> > > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

April 10, 2007