Re: How bad does the pain have to be?

[Guest guest]

Do IT!!! no reasn to wait..One way or another the degeneration will continue

not only in the hip but expect the rest of the body to start taking its

toll...You can not expect to walk around on a weight bearing joint for years

that is

degenerated without the entire body compensating. I am one who found out

about re-surfing 4 years too late...I had major deformities in my spine from the

compensation. I was in my 40's when I found out about the arthriitis..It wore

on my body for 8 years until I discovered this website. Being an athlete and

wanting to have the longevity in my profession was not an option with a THR and

I stayed in denial about it for years ..only hoping the progression would

ease up till I was 80 hahahah!!!

So, 3 months after I discovered the website and researched to my hearts

content and listened and shared I did make the scary decision to go and take

care

of it..

I can tell you today, I have more range of motion in my re-surf hip than my

old hip, no pain, my spine has actually straightened itself and can do pretty

much anything I want for as long as I want...no reason to wait till it is too

late for them to to give you your life back!! Id die without being able to

dance!!!

Take Care

Sue

De Smet 3/11/03 RBHR

sue

[Guest guest]

Dear Jacqui,

You OS doesn't have to put up with the pain and neither should you!

The longer you wait, the longer to get to recovery. Most of us were

advised to take body and bone damaging pain meds and let our muscles

atrophy and wait until resurf was no longer an option, then get a THR!

Geez, what lousy advice! I know it cost me three years of my life and

I almost missed my resurf window. Glucosamine did nothing for me. I

was at the end of my rope. There is no good reason to be progressively

miserable when a definitive cure is here now and yours for the taking.

It'll always be your call. Please make it a good one!

Good luck!

Take good care!!

Steve Vince

Bilat BHR De Smet Jan 6, 2004

> How bad does it have to be before you can say it's the right time to

> have a resurf?

>

> Should I wait until I can only walk with a stick and lose the rest

> of my twenties? My OS says I have several years left before resurf

> is not an option. Obviously in those years I will get steadily

> worse. But then when I have it done, it will be because I have to.

> Then the decision is out of my hands!

>

> It wakes me up at night sometimes, but not every night. SHould I

> wait until it's every night? I can walk up stairs (stiff but I can

> do it). Should I wait until I can't? At present, I can't walk far

> comfortably, I can't drive for more than 10 mins and the action of

> accelerator to brake is very sore. I can't tie my shoelaces or put

> my sock on or paint my toenails. Yes it is embarassing not being

> able to dance or stand for long. But should I wait until I can't do

> it at all?

>

> Is there something I havent tried? How about Glucosamine and cod

> liver oil? Changing my diet? I want to be sure I have tried

> everything before I do this, then I will start looking forward and

> not treading water! Eeek, I've only got 4 days to sort this out!!!

>

> PS I had CDH which was corrected as a child. Now joint is deformed

> and has very little cartliage.

[Guest guest]

Dear Jacqui,

You OS doesn't have to put up with the pain and neither should you!

The longer you wait, the longer to get to recovery. Most of us were

advised to take body and bone damaging pain meds and let our muscles

atrophy and wait until resurf was no longer an option, then get a THR!

Geez, what lousy advice! I know it cost me three years of my life and

I almost missed my resurf window. Glucosamine did nothing for me. I

was at the end of my rope. There is no good reason to be progressively

miserable when a definitive cure is here now and yours for the taking.

It'll always be your call. Please make it a good one!

Good luck!

Take good care!!

Steve Vince

Bilat BHR De Smet Jan 6, 2004

> How bad does it have to be before you can say it's the right time to

> have a resurf?

>

> Should I wait until I can only walk with a stick and lose the rest

> of my twenties? My OS says I have several years left before resurf

> is not an option. Obviously in those years I will get steadily

> worse. But then when I have it done, it will be because I have to.

> Then the decision is out of my hands!

>

> It wakes me up at night sometimes, but not every night. SHould I

> wait until it's every night? I can walk up stairs (stiff but I can

> do it). Should I wait until I can't? At present, I can't walk far

> comfortably, I can't drive for more than 10 mins and the action of

> accelerator to brake is very sore. I can't tie my shoelaces or put

> my sock on or paint my toenails. Yes it is embarassing not being

> able to dance or stand for long. But should I wait until I can't do

> it at all?

>

> Is there something I havent tried? How about Glucosamine and cod

> liver oil? Changing my diet? I want to be sure I have tried

> everything before I do this, then I will start looking forward and

> not treading water! Eeek, I've only got 4 days to sort this out!!!

>

> PS I had CDH which was corrected as a child. Now joint is deformed

> and has very little cartliage.

[Guest guest]

Dear Jacqui

It's always very difficult to tell somebody what or what not he or

she should do. The tough part is that in this matter we're more or

less alone when making the final decision. We know what we have, but

not what we'll get. A kind of a leap into the emotional unknown.

My story: I'm 46 and I'm a professional international mountain guide

(UIAGM) and I've been extremely active all my life. I've always been

sort of accoustomed to a bit of pain and soreness every now and then

(part of my job, sort of), so I have quite a high pain threshold. In

1984 I had a rappelling accident which

finally caught up with me in 1994 when my doctor diagnosed a mild

arthritic right hip via x-ray. Anyway, loads of excercise,

stretching, NSAID every now and then (not continuously) made it

possible to postpone the inevitable. My hip gradually deteriorated

and no glucosmine in the world could stop that. It's part of the

disease to have periods when things are better, which made me

sometimes think that I'll be fine in some miraculous way. It won't

happen.

My doc said that when it comes to how much pain a person can take it

is actually quite interesting (you know how docs can be) as although

the x-ray didn't show any change between 2000 and 2001 my pain had

simply gotten to a point where I simply couldn't deal any more. It's

like one passes a pain threshold and then it simply has to stop.

Anyway, in 2002 they went in and cleaned my hip from osteophytes, it

lasted barely 2 years. Fast forward: 6 weeks ago I was finally

resurfaced (BHR). Yes, muscles were sore, stiffness present, long

incision, etc BUT there's no pain in the actual jont. To be honest, I

had forgotten how it felt... to be pain free in the hip joint is such

an immense relief! As been said before, pain does something to your

personality, takes away the joy from some of the things we take for

granted, like walking, dancing etc.

Even though I'm still in rehab (as I'm just 6 weeks post op) I'm

enjoying all those everyday little things a lot more now. Today I

even managed to mount my Mountain Bike and went for an albeit short,

but still, ride. Also, and yes this might be intimate but it's an

important part of life, and I apologize if I offend anybody, but yes,

intimacy is now so much more enjoyable without the post coitus pain

that was associated with it before.

From your description I'd be thinking if I were you: this is the time

in my life I should be dancing, walking, trying out activities,

travel, maybe trek the Inca trail, go horse riding or even climb a

mountain... Yes, pain is part of life, but only a part, not the

whole, and when pain starts to stand in the way of your enjoyment and

becoming an ever more thought consuming " whole " , a change must be

made.

Sorry if this was way too long.

/Bogi RBHR 6 w post op

> How bad does it have to be before you can say it's the right time

to

> have a resurf?

>

> Should I wait until I can only walk with a stick and lose the rest

> of my twenties? My OS says I have several years left before resurf

> is not an option. Obviously in those years I will get steadily

> worse. But then when I have it done, it will be because I have to.

> Then the decision is out of my hands!

>

> It wakes me up at night sometimes, but not every night. SHould I

> wait until it's every night? I can walk up stairs (stiff but I can

> do it). Should I wait until I can't? At present, I can't walk far

> comfortably, I can't drive for more than 10 mins and the action of

> accelerator to brake is very sore. I can't tie my shoelaces or put

> my sock on or paint my toenails. Yes it is embarassing not being

> able to dance or stand for long. But should I wait until I can't do

> it at all?

>

> Is there something I havent tried? How about Glucosamine and cod

> liver oil? Changing my diet? I want to be sure I have tried

> everything before I do this, then I will start looking forward and

> not treading water! Eeek, I've only got 4 days to sort this out!!!

>

> PS I had CDH which was corrected as a child. Now joint is deformed

> and has very little cartliage.

[Guest guest]

Jacqui:

I asked the same question you are asking about 2 years ago after I

was first diagnosed with OA in my left hip. I found this site,

researched alternatives, stewed about it and about drove my wife

crazy trying to make up my mind. In the mean time, my hip continued

to degenerate, I missed out on some fun activities with my kids, had

to give up softball, running and weight training (with my legs). I

reached the point where I was finding unique ways to climb the

stairs and limping into and out of work like Quasimodo. Sometimes

the pain would magically disappear and I would ask myself if I

should wait longer. In the meantime.....your life goes by.

I finally rationalized that my arthritis was only going to get worse

and I was missing out on the " good stuff " that makes life worth

living.......I would EVENTUALLY need surgery anyway, and resurfacing

could be converted to a traditional THR even if it fails. I settled

on resurfacing because a THR typically lasts about 10-15

years...that's for certain. Resurfacing has the POSSIBILITY to be a

permanent, long-term fix. Sounded like a good gamble to me.

I had my hip resurfaced 3 weeks ago and I am walking around with NO

PAIN and no crutches. I can't quite chase the kids down yet....give

me another month or so. I feel that this was one of the best

decisions I have ever made. Life is too short.... If my right hip

begins to go downhill, I will not wait this long next time.

In the end, you are the only one who can make the decision. Please

do yourself a favor and investigate resurfacing thoroughly. Drs.

Gross, DeSmet, Mont and Amstutz are all skilled, have done many of

these surgeries and have a following of happy patients. Naturally, I

am biased, but talk with several and make your own decision.

Good luck!!

Jim

Dr. Gross C2K 6-23-04

[Guest guest]

Jacqui:

I asked the same question you are asking about 2 years ago after I

was first diagnosed with OA in my left hip. I found this site,

researched alternatives, stewed about it and about drove my wife

crazy trying to make up my mind. In the mean time, my hip continued

to degenerate, I missed out on some fun activities with my kids, had

to give up softball, running and weight training (with my legs). I

reached the point where I was finding unique ways to climb the

stairs and limping into and out of work like Quasimodo. Sometimes

the pain would magically disappear and I would ask myself if I

should wait longer. In the meantime.....your life goes by.

I finally rationalized that my arthritis was only going to get worse

and I was missing out on the " good stuff " that makes life worth

living.......I would EVENTUALLY need surgery anyway, and resurfacing

could be converted to a traditional THR even if it fails. I settled

on resurfacing because a THR typically lasts about 10-15

years...that's for certain. Resurfacing has the POSSIBILITY to be a

permanent, long-term fix. Sounded like a good gamble to me.

I had my hip resurfaced 3 weeks ago and I am walking around with NO

PAIN and no crutches. I can't quite chase the kids down yet....give

me another month or so. I feel that this was one of the best

decisions I have ever made. Life is too short.... If my right hip

begins to go downhill, I will not wait this long next time.

In the end, you are the only one who can make the decision. Please

do yourself a favor and investigate resurfacing thoroughly. Drs.

Gross, DeSmet, Mont and Amstutz are all skilled, have done many of

these surgeries and have a following of happy patients. Naturally, I

am biased, but talk with several and make your own decision.

Good luck!!

Jim

Dr. Gross C2K 6-23-04

[Guest guest]

Hi Jacqui,

Despite unproved claims made neither diet or anything you may take will have

real impact on the cartilage of a hip or any other joint.......... If one is

obese and loses weight it will have an impact on the load carrying of a hip

joint and thus take some of the pressure off the surfaces if they are

rubbing together.......... Now if there was still very good foundation

cartilage left, and one then undertook a series of good exercises to fully

extend and mobilize the joint without pressure on it, the body may, and that

is a real may, decide to replace the cartilage.......... The cartilage

doesn't have blood vessels so depends on the movement of synovial fluid

which only happens with how the joint is exercised and extended. I suspect

that most diets following fairly normal food groups etc would supply all the

nutrients needed to do that..........

I continue to be bemused that people in general think taking supplements is

the first line of defence for healthy joints......... Healthy joints are the

product of a body that starts out with all bones properly aligned, is kept

exercised in a manner that keeps joints well extended and lubricated and

isn't unfortunate with accidents/life events that mess up either alignments

or the actual cartilage situations......... I suspect nutrition only gets to

be a player in the situation of maintaining joint health in critical

malutrition situations - a situation that is complete nonsense in most lives

in western countries.............

Edith LBHR Dr. L Walter Syd Aust 8/02

>

> Is there something I havent tried? How about Glucosamine and cod

> liver oil? Changing my diet? I want to be sure I have tried

> everything before I do this, then I will start looking forward and

> not treading water! Eeek, I've only got 4 days to sort this out!!!

>

> PS I had CDH which was corrected as a child. Now joint is deformed

> and has very little cartliage.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Here's a link to some scientific evidence supporting the omega 3's

in cod liver oil and their beneficial effect on joint cartilage.

http://hdlighthouse.org/see/diet/supplements/cod.htm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/1817974.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3480053.stm

Dr. Nolthenius

> Hi Jacqui,

>

> Despite unproved claims made neither diet or anything you may take

will have

> real impact on the cartilage of a hip or any other joint..........

If one is

> obese and loses weight it will have an impact on the load carrying

of a hip

> joint and thus take some of the pressure off the surfaces if they

are

> rubbing together.......... Now if there was still very good

foundation

> cartilage left, and one then undertook a series of good exercises

to fully

> extend and mobilize the joint without pressure on it, the body

may, and that

> is a real may, decide to replace the cartilage.......... The

cartilage

> doesn't have blood vessels so depends on the movement of synovial

fluid

> which only happens with how the joint is exercised and extended. I

suspect

> that most diets following fairly normal food groups etc would

supply all the

> nutrients needed to do that..........

>

> I continue to be bemused that people in general think taking

supplements is

> the first line of defence for healthy joints......... Healthy

joints are the

> product of a body that starts out with all bones properly aligned,

is kept

> exercised in a manner that keeps joints well extended and

lubricated and

> isn't unfortunate with accidents/life events that mess up either

alignments

> or the actual cartilage situations......... I suspect nutrition

only gets to

> be a player in the situation of maintaining joint health in

critical

> malutrition situations - a situation that is complete nonsense in

most lives

> in western countries.............

>

> Edith LBHR Dr. L Walter Syd Aust 8/02

> >

> > Is there something I havent tried? How about Glucosamine and cod

> > liver oil? Changing my diet? I want to be sure I have tried

> > everything before I do this, then I will start looking forward

and

> > not treading water! Eeek, I've only got 4 days to sort this

out!!!

> >

> > PS I had CDH which was corrected as a child. Now joint is

deformed

> > and has very little cartliage.

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Here's a link to some scientific evidence supporting the omega 3's

in cod liver oil and their beneficial effect on joint cartilage.

http://hdlighthouse.org/see/diet/supplements/cod.htm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/1817974.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3480053.stm

Dr. Nolthenius

> Hi Jacqui,

>

> Despite unproved claims made neither diet or anything you may take

will have

> real impact on the cartilage of a hip or any other joint..........

If one is

> obese and loses weight it will have an impact on the load carrying

of a hip

> joint and thus take some of the pressure off the surfaces if they

are

> rubbing together.......... Now if there was still very good

foundation

> cartilage left, and one then undertook a series of good exercises

to fully

> extend and mobilize the joint without pressure on it, the body

may, and that

> is a real may, decide to replace the cartilage.......... The

cartilage

> doesn't have blood vessels so depends on the movement of synovial

fluid

> which only happens with how the joint is exercised and extended. I

suspect

> that most diets following fairly normal food groups etc would

supply all the

> nutrients needed to do that..........

>

> I continue to be bemused that people in general think taking

supplements is

> the first line of defence for healthy joints......... Healthy

joints are the

> product of a body that starts out with all bones properly aligned,

is kept

> exercised in a manner that keeps joints well extended and

lubricated and

> isn't unfortunate with accidents/life events that mess up either

alignments

> or the actual cartilage situations......... I suspect nutrition

only gets to

> be a player in the situation of maintaining joint health in

critical

> malutrition situations - a situation that is complete nonsense in

most lives

> in western countries.............

>

> Edith LBHR Dr. L Walter Syd Aust 8/02

> >

> > Is there something I havent tried? How about Glucosamine and cod

> > liver oil? Changing my diet? I want to be sure I have tried

> > everything before I do this, then I will start looking forward

and

> > not treading water! Eeek, I've only got 4 days to sort this

out!!!

> >

> > PS I had CDH which was corrected as a child. Now joint is

deformed

> > and has very little cartliage.

> >

> >

> >