Being young with OA

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I was diagnosed with OA in my early thirtys and thought I had no other

alternative than to wait until I was crawling in my fiftys and then get a

THR. I have done all of the alternatives, glucosomine, herbs, prolotherapy,

water exercise, PT... and my hips have progressed very slowly. I am about

to turn 45 and most people have no idea I have a hip problem because I only

limp occasionally. I get nasty looks when I use my disabled placard in my

car. My range of motion is pretty shot and I know that my body has adapted

drastically over the years to be able to walk so well. Occasionally when I

am a little too relaxed I get a shooting pain through my hip that can send

me to the ground in pain. I realize that I tighten all the muscles

automatically in my butt and thighs when I walk. This of course, causes all

sorts of other problems. But anyway, you might be able to wait a long

while. By the time you really need surgery, it might be covered by

insurance in this country. If you were just recently diagnosed, I would

wait until it has passed the FDA approval. You probably have time. Send

your xrays to a resurfacing Doc to make sure. You can save a lot of money

if you wait.

Other's might agree or not, but the reason my OA has been slow progressing

could be that I rarely use NSAIDs. Dr. De Smet told me NOT to use any of

them. It makes me think that maybe that is why other's OA seemed to

deteriorate the joint so quickly while mine has gone so slowly. For example

my father went from first diagnosis to THR in only a year and a half. His

doctor prescribed loads of NSAIDs. I have had this for years and am still

functioning quite well! I am scheduled for a unilateral with Dr. De Smet in

August. I feel ready and am going to do this BEFORE my quality of life gets

too bad. After serious thought and discussion with Dr. De Smet I have

decided to get just the right hip done and then wait on the left one for a

while. I don't think I can wait for the FDA on the right one. I don't want

to lose my opportunity for resurfacing.

June