Re: Holiday help/Sun Run

[Guest guest]

Hi

I am 53, and I went to Cuba from Vancouver (6 hour flight) in

January at 13 weeks post-op, dealt with my own luggage (suitcase is on

wheels), walked all over Havana, etc. I was off the cane at 7 weeks,

so no problem walking. I did make sure to secure aisle seats in planes

and buses, so I could stick my leg out if necessary, but really I

didn't experience much leg pain or cramping, (pre-op I always had

terrible problems). Swimming in the warm water was very good for me

too, I'm sure. So I say, Go for it! You probably won't be totally

" over " your operation for at least a year, in terms of continuing

slight improvements, but you should be functioning well enough for a

vacation by then, since you are young and healthy. And if you are one

of the slow recovers (not so likely, at 34), why not lie around with a

book by the pool in a villa in Spain instead of at home? It would be

good for your morale. Just make sure to follow your doctor's

restrictions during the crucial first six weeks post-op, so you don't

delay your healing process by overdoing things or making movements

that stress the hip capsule or implants.

I set off every metal detector in every airport I've been in (3)

since the operation. They just get a woman to pat me down in that

area, and sometimes (in Varadero, for example), if I say I've got a

metal hip they just wave me through.

Re the Sun Run, although I think I might be up to walking 10 Km

by then, I'm sorry that I won't be joining you on that one, Pam. I've

seen the photos; a mob of thousands of people all starting from the

same place at 8:00 a.m., which means you have to get down there before

7:00 on a Sunday morning. I'd have claustrophobia for sure, not to

mention severe sleep deprivation. This event is definitely more fun

for extroverts, I'd say! I do donate to the Arthritis Society every year.

But I'm disappointed that a lot of their research is sponsored by

drug companies, as the drugs may be OK for short term functioning with

mild OA while you get on a proper exercise program, but they wreck

your stomach and liver, cause reflux problems, and allow you to

overuse the affected joints, eventually leading to damage in other

joints such as the knee. Mr. McMinn thinks that anti-inflammatories

may actually DAMAGE cartilege, and wants all his patients to avoid

them. He does allow medecines with codeine for pain. I'm so pleased

that I've been able to get off a lot of drugs since my surgery.

Re the new Hip Centre in Vancouver, I'm not getting too excited

yet. From what I read, they're focussing their research on drugs and

exercise, correcting misalignments, and other ways to prevent or delay

osteoarthritis; it didn't say they would be offering more hip surgery.

However, several of us have been contacted recently by Dr. Greidanus's

office, after waiting for almost a year, so it looks like some more

time for resurfacing surgery has become available somehow. Maybe

thanks to the efforts of Pam and others who have been hounding the

Medical Service people. I'm going to get him to take a look at my

other hip, which also has OA, though not quite as severely, and review

my 7 month Xrays of the operated hip, since I had my surgery in

England and hadn't been able to get an appointment a local OS for

follow-up.

n (in North Vancouver)

rBHR Oct.17/03 McMinn

> Can anyone advise me how long it takes to get over a resurfacing

> operation. I am due to have my hip done in May and have a villa

> holiday booked is Spain for August. ( Booked before I was told I

> could'nt wait for op any longer). Should I be OK. I am 39 and in

> good health. Also is it true that I will set off alarms at the

> airport? Thanks!!!!