Hip replacement!

[Guest guest]

Well, guys, I am scheduled to have my right hip replaced on 6/28/06.

I went to see Dr Stern at Northwestern last week. He said that he

only performs the metal/cement type of replacement, and since I was

relatively young yet (48) he didn't feel that was the best option

for me. Sent me to see a colleague of his, Dr Puri, who does ceramic

prostheses.

Dr Puri looked at the MRI and Xrays of the hip, and agreed that I

definitely need a replacement. Being overweight does put me at a

slightly higher risk of complications postop, but he felt I should

do well despite that. Anticipating 3 days in hospital postop, and

approximately 4 weeks off work.

I have to do a BUNCH of stuff preop. Stop the Enbrel and

Methotrexate a month preop, stop the Aleve 10 days preop, start

taking iron tablets about 35 days preop and then 5 days after

starting the iron start going to the blood bank weekly to donate my

own blood for the operation, get a preop physical from my internist

and schedule a joint management class and return to the orthopod for

a preop visit all within 7-10 days preop.

I am looking forward to getting rid of the severe arthritic hip

pain, but I must confess to being slightly nervous about the

operation. I think this is the most major surgery I have ever had.

Anyone else had a hip replacement, and how did it go?

Wanda.