Re: trying to maintain perspective

[Guest guest]

Liz the biggest pro is that by getting surgery you will stop doing

damage and weird things to the rest of your body with the " old lady

walk " and whatever limping is going on. Sometimes we don't actually

know how much we are limping because we have done it wo long. The

more damage you do to the rest of your body the longer it takes to get

back to normal.

Overall, I think most people have been amazed at how quickly they have

recovered - I was very lucky and without a cane at 2 weeks and back

ice dancing by 6. I know I was fortunate - my husband was slower -

but overall whatever the number of weeks life without arthritic pain

is worth it.

Pamela and Cliff

LBHR and RBHR De Smet Oct 23.02

> I have good days and not so good days. Probably taking Vioxx on and

off helps out on the bad days but I don't need pain medications. I

need perspective on the pros and cons.

>

> Pro resurfacing: The day before yesterday a friend (who knows I have

arthritis) said, " Why are you walking so funny. You're walking like an

old lady. " I actually appreciate hearing that because it reconfirms

for me my decision to have resurfacing this summer. Also a recent trip

to England, where I was a good sport and walked all over the place

with friends, left me walking all twisted up and limping ... to say

the least.

>

> Con?: I hear about the difficult recovery some people are having.

I'm in good shape through swimming which is amazingly helpful with

joint stiffness. I'm just worried I'll end up worse off than I am. On

good days, as long as I don't do much on my legs, there are a lot

fewer aches and pains. Should I wait longer if the recovery is so

problematic. I wonder if we could do a survey on the general length of

time it takes people to recover.

>

> Thanks, Liz

>

>

[Guest guest]

Liz the biggest pro is that by getting surgery you will stop doing

damage and weird things to the rest of your body with the " old lady

walk " and whatever limping is going on. Sometimes we don't actually

know how much we are limping because we have done it wo long. The

more damage you do to the rest of your body the longer it takes to get

back to normal.

Overall, I think most people have been amazed at how quickly they have

recovered - I was very lucky and without a cane at 2 weeks and back

ice dancing by 6. I know I was fortunate - my husband was slower -

but overall whatever the number of weeks life without arthritic pain

is worth it.

Pamela and Cliff

LBHR and RBHR De Smet Oct 23.02

> I have good days and not so good days. Probably taking Vioxx on and

off helps out on the bad days but I don't need pain medications. I

need perspective on the pros and cons.

>

> Pro resurfacing: The day before yesterday a friend (who knows I have

arthritis) said, " Why are you walking so funny. You're walking like an

old lady. " I actually appreciate hearing that because it reconfirms

for me my decision to have resurfacing this summer. Also a recent trip

to England, where I was a good sport and walked all over the place

with friends, left me walking all twisted up and limping ... to say

the least.

>

> Con?: I hear about the difficult recovery some people are having.

I'm in good shape through swimming which is amazingly helpful with

joint stiffness. I'm just worried I'll end up worse off than I am. On

good days, as long as I don't do much on my legs, there are a lot

fewer aches and pains. Should I wait longer if the recovery is so

problematic. I wonder if we could do a survey on the general length of

time it takes people to recover.

>

> Thanks, Liz

>

>

[Guest guest]

Liz, the rate of recovery is very individual and often depends on the

kind of shape you're in prior to surgery. With very limited activity,

I was painfree pre-surgery and walked into the hospital without a

limp. (Tennis made me ache and limp, so I quit playing long before

my surgery).

I put down my crutch at about 5 weeks post-surgery, and now at 5

months, I'm taking low impact aerobic classes a couple times a week

and hitting tennis balls for an hour almost every day. You could

never tell that I've had hip surgery by the way I walk. I have

absolutely no hip pain and am thrilled with my results. Don't wait

too long because you can develop problems in other parts of your body

from overcompensating. Keep up the swimming; you're wise to keep

your muscles in good shape to make your recovery easier. The

question you have to ask yourself now, is whether you're happy with

your quality of life. I was very depressed about mine right before

my surgery and absolutely had to do something about it. I am so

happy now and so grateful to have my active life back. Hope this

helps. Donna LBHR 11/13/02 DE SMET

> I have good days and not so good days. Probably taking Vioxx on and

off helps out on the bad days but I don't need pain medications. I

need perspective on the pros and cons.

>

> Pro resurfacing: The day before yesterday a friend (who knows I

have arthritis) said, " Why are you walking so funny. You're walking

like an old lady. " I actually appreciate hearing that because it

reconfirms for me my decision to have resurfacing this summer. Also a

recent trip to England, where I was a good sport and walked all over

the place with friends, left me walking all twisted up and

limping ... to say the least.

>

> Con?: I hear about the difficult recovery some people are having.

I'm in good shape through swimming which is amazingly helpful with

joint stiffness. I'm just worried I'll end up worse off than I am. On

good days, as long as I don't do much on my legs, there are a lot

fewer aches and pains. Should I wait longer if the recovery is so

problematic. I wonder if we could do a survey on the general length

of time it takes people to recover.

>

> Thanks, Liz

>

>

[Guest guest]

At 04:54 PM 4/20/2003 -0700, you wrote:

> I need perspective on the pros and cons.

>

>Con?: I hear about the difficult recovery some people are having. I'm just

>worried I'll end up worse off than I am. I wonder if we could do a survey

>on the general length of time it takes people to recover.

Liz,

I definitely need to speak up on this issue, as I am one of the founding

members of the " Turtle Club " . Just because my recovery was long and

difficult (and I still consider myself rehabbing, even at this date),

doesn't mean I have any regrets. Far from it!! About six weeks post-op

from my left hip, I was still on crutches, my leg was still partially

non-functioning from the nerves and muscles having been stretched (mine was

an extreme case--not likely to happen to many others), and if I had never

gotten any better than that, it all would have been worth it! Since then,

I have made great strides. The nerves are almost back to normal, I can do

WAY more than I could before, and have NO pain, except in my feet and low

back. Now I'm working on my low back while continuing to increase

flexibility and strength in my hips.

Recovery is individual for each person, and in fact, each hip. It takes

exactly as long as it takes, not a minute more, or less. All a part of the

travels on the road of our lives...

C+ 5/25/01 and 6/28/01

(ditched the cane last Easter Sunday)

[Guest guest]

Liz:

If you qualify for the resurfacing process, you will have instant

gratification of the bone on bone hip pain, 4-5 week recovery at the end of

which, if you are a normal case, you will put down crutches, or as I did

carry them out of the doctor's office and stow them with the luggage for the

plane ride home, and feel totally incredulous about the entire experience.

Two years later I feel the same. Yes, post operative pain and discomfort

but after what surface hippies have already experienced.........a piece of

cake. Don't wait too long for this procedure....bone on bone over time can

produce cysts and other wearout problems which might affect the femur head

quality which is important in the resurfacing process.

Best of luck...........happy research. Remember to check........... the

website:..........activejoints.com...........

C+ 5/23/01 DMC, Dr. TP Vail

trying to maintain perspective

I have good days and not so good days. Probably taking Vioxx on and off

helps out on the bad days but I don't need pain medications. I need

perspective on the pros and cons.

Pro resurfacing: The day before yesterday a friend (who knows I have

arthritis) said, " Why are you walking so funny. You're walking like an old

lady. " I actually appreciate hearing that because it reconfirms for me my

decision to have resurfacing this summer. Also a recent trip to England,

where I was a good sport and walked all over the place with friends, left me

walking all twisted up and limping ... to say the least.

Con?: I hear about the difficult recovery some people are having. I'm in

good shape through swimming which is amazingly helpful with joint stiffness.

I'm just worried I'll end up worse off than I am. On good days, as long as I

don't do much on my legs, there are a lot fewer aches and pains. Should I

wait longer if the recovery is so problematic. I wonder if we could do a

survey on the general length of time it takes people to recover.

Thanks, Liz

[Guest guest]

Hi Liz!

If you took a poll of recoveries - the most important questions

would focus on one's condition before surgery. I had a fairly quick

and easy recovery - but I was in fairly good shape before my

surgery, too. I used a cane - figured I walked more " dignified "

with it than without. And at about 14 weeks post-op, I was pain and

limp-free once more.

The other thing to consider is this: if you perhaps have a high

tolerance for pain - you could wear your bone to the point that

resurfacing is more difficult, or even not an option.

Another point that others have echoed: when it " goes " , it goes

fast. In September of 2002, I had my first x-ray to see why I was

limping. Vioxx helped for about 6 weeks, then it was like the last

shred of cartilage gave up and I was using a cane after that.

I don't recall anyone ever wishing they had not had this surgery

Best wishes!

Deb C+ 5-2-02 Dr Mont/Etienne

> I have good days and not so good days. Probably taking Vioxx on

and off helps out on the bad days but I don't need pain medications.

I need perspective on the pros and cons.

>

> Pro resurfacing: The day before yesterday a friend (who knows I

have arthritis) said, " Why are you walking so funny. You're walking

like an old lady. " I actually appreciate hearing that because it

reconfirms for me my decision to have resurfacing this summer. Also

a recent trip to England, where I was a good sport and walked all

over the place with friends, left me walking all twisted up and

limping ... to say the least.

>

> Con?: I hear about the difficult recovery some people are having.

I'm in good shape through swimming which is amazingly helpful with

joint stiffness. I'm just worried I'll end up worse off than I am.

On good days, as long as I don't do much on my legs, there are a lot

fewer aches and pains. Should I wait longer if the recovery is so

problematic. I wonder if we could do a survey on the general length

of time it takes people to recover.

>

> Thanks, Liz

>

>

[Guest guest]

Dear Liz,

We all have different expectations for our quality of life. Some

people are happy to curtail their physical activities and gobble

anti-inflammatories to get through a sedentary day. But for those

of us who use exercise as Prozac and primary coping

mechanism/social outlet, what have you, feeling like a

bed-ridden geezer is intolerable.

My recovery was a million times easier than certain oral

surgeries and dental visits I've had and the nurses said the

speed of my recovery was remarkable. But I took training for my

op very seriously and really worked all the hip flexor and

buttocks muscles aggressively with spot-toning, p.t. exercises

and ankle weights during the months before. I also got my upper

body in shape and leaned out. Everyone has a couple rocky

days immediately post-op, but I agree with the woman who

observed that the ease of recovery is largely predicted by one's

pre-op condition.

My only regret is I didn't get BOTH hips done. Here's the amazing

thing: You won't know until after your surf just how screwed up

your biomechanics were. Once you get done, you'll be amazed

by the difference in your walk, posture, et al.

Another indice of readiness is whether the pain keeps you

awake nights. To me, that is a real signal that the time has

come. As is losing ROM and finding that your hip condition is

dictating your life activities to a greater extent than you mind. I

rationalize the recovery period in that if I kept the bum hip, that

would be compromised time, too - only with pain!

Best of luck to you,

Sheila

> I have good days and not so good days. Probably taking Vioxx

on and off helps out on the bad days but I don't need pain

medications. I need perspective on the pros and cons.

>

> Pro resurfacing: The day before yesterday a friend (who knows

I have arthritis) said, " Why are you walking so funny. You're

walking like an old lady. " I actually appreciate hearing that

because it reconfirms for me my decision to have resurfacing

this summer. Also a recent trip to England, where I was a good

sport and walked all over the place with friends, left me walking

all twisted up and limping ... to say the least.

>

> Con?: I hear about the difficult recovery some people are

having. I'm in good shape through swimming which is amazingly

helpful with joint stiffness. I'm just worried I'll end up worse off

than I am. On good days, as long as I don't do much on my legs,

there are a lot fewer aches and pains. Should I wait longer if the

recovery is so problematic. I wonder if we could do a survey on

the general length of time it takes people to recover.

>

> Thanks, Liz

>

>

[Guest guest]

--Liz, I could not have explained my concerns and apprehensions any

better than you have in your email about making the final decision.

I'm in the exact point as you physically. For me, it has come down to

letting go of control and leave it up to a higher power, ultimately

your hip will tell you. There is one thing I did to prolong this

decision, I had a Synvic injection that helped considerably for

approximately 6 months. Dr. De Smet told me not to do it again if I

was considering surgery any time soon for it may increase the

possibility of infection in the joint. Today I sent both McMinn and

De Smet my x-rays; I'll see what they say. As Pamela and Cliff

mentioned as far as damage. I have developed considerable

degeneration in my femoral head within one year as a result of using

NSAI medication, another deciding factor for me. Anyway, good luck

with your decision and all the best.

Los Angeles

-

In surfacehippy , " Pamela Jansen " <icedancer@s...>

wrote:

> Liz the biggest pro is that by getting surgery you will stop doing

> damage and weird things to the rest of your body with the " old lady

> walk " and whatever limping is going on. Sometimes we don't

actually

> know how much we are limping because we have done it wo long. The

> more damage you do to the rest of your body the longer it takes to

get

> back to normal.

>

> Overall, I think most people have been amazed at how quickly they

have

> recovered - I was very lucky and without a cane at 2 weeks and back

> ice dancing by 6. I know I was fortunate - my husband was slower -

> but overall whatever the number of weeks life without arthritic

pain

> is worth it.

>

> Pamela and Cliff

> LBHR and RBHR De Smet Oct 23.02

>

> > I have good days and not so good days. Probably taking Vioxx on

and

> off helps out on the bad days but I don't need pain medications. I

> need perspective on the pros and cons.

> >

> > Pro resurfacing: The day before yesterday a friend (who knows I

have

> arthritis) said, " Why are you walking so funny. You're walking like

an

> old lady. " I actually appreciate hearing that because it reconfirms

> for me my decision to have resurfacing this summer. Also a recent

trip

> to England, where I was a good sport and walked all over the place

> with friends, left me walking all twisted up and limping ... to say

> the least.

> >

> > Con?: I hear about the difficult recovery some people are having.

> I'm in good shape through swimming which is amazingly helpful with

> joint stiffness. I'm just worried I'll end up worse off than I am.

On

> good days, as long as I don't do much on my legs, there are a lot

> fewer aches and pains. Should I wait longer if the recovery is so

> problematic. I wonder if we could do a survey on the general length

of

> time it takes people to recover.

> >

> > Thanks, Liz

> >

> >