To the Hip, Hop the Hippy Hippy...

Seahawk · 09-10-2008, 09:38 AM

Any of the more seasoned on this board every had a hip replacement?

Why? Well I'll tell you why

When I was in college I was t-boned by a car riding to baseball practice. The tib and fib on my left leg were both closed fractured, messy. My left foot was also broken in two.

I decided not to have a rod inserted to repair the break, which the doctor recommended. It did leave me a left leg just over a quarter of an inch shorter than the right.

While my baseball career was over, once I well and truly healed (almost two years) I still played a lot of pick-up sports...a lot. Age 20 to 46 I had few problems...sore back, etc, the usual. After 46, I began to have a lot of pain in my hip after running or pitching in the old guy hardball league I play in. I have a high pain threshold and pretty much worked through it.

Well, not anymore. I'm 51 and I finally decided to see what is wrong. The local Ortho and Sports guy came well recommended. The visit was great but the outcome not so.

My hip joint is bone to bone with lots of arthritis "clouds" on the x-rays. The Doc recommended that we take a graduated approach. He put me on some arthritis medication (stop laughing you young bucks) and wants me to wait at least a month or so before we make a decision.

Sorry for the war and peace post, but my questions are:

Has anyone had the procedure
Recovery time (I know it varies)
Do you still have pain (which I am really tired of)
What activities can you do?

I know my old farts Basketball days are numbered, but I'd still like to pitch and ride a bike.

Thanks in advance. Any wise cracks from whipper snappers and I promise I'll beat the tar out off you with my walker

NICKG · 09-10-2008, 09:59 AM

i have a freind who had it done..worked very well for him and literally changed his life

Jim Richards · 09-10-2008, 10:02 AM

thrown_hammer used to (maybe still does) work for a company that makes the parts for these repair jobs. Maybe you can get hooked up on some discount parts, and we can come over for a DiY project. All you need to do is provide beer and pizza. Plus, Wayne's dying to have something for his next book.

MikeSid · 09-10-2008, 10:04 AM

My 80 year old father just had his hip replaced. I'd estimate his recovery time at six months. He's in reasonably good health....but he's also 80. They'll make you walk right away. After that, steps and getting in and out of the bath and up and down from sitting was difficult for him for a month.

After a month, he was more or less "normal" but had some atrophy and was general a bit slower. Six months and he was back to normal, walking to work (2 miles) each day. (yes he still works, and yes he walks to work).

If you are 51 and playing pick up sports I'd guess you be back to "normal" in 4-6 weeks. I'm no doctor, but it seems there is a huge advantage to doing it when you are young...which at 51 you are for a hip replacement.

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

I am a doctor but the wrong kind...I do own a tv though.

I'd give up the percussive sports. It sucks, but that is doing your joints no favors. Bicycles and swimming are good. Maybe take up tai chi (and join the other old farts in the park

).

id10t · 09-10-2008, 11:06 AM

When I worked in PT I worked with 10-15 THR patients a day.

One guy said (with his TKA - knee replacement) that what we put him thru was worse than what the Germans did when he was captured. He also came back to have the other knee done about 6 months later....

I've seen quite a few guys/gals playing golf 4-6 months post op... but recovery time really does depend on attitude, listening to your PT, doing the exercises, and a lot on how active you are pre-op. The little old ladies whos butts were wider than they were tall always took a year or more to get over it....

70SWT · 09-10-2008, 11:21 AM

If you are fully at "bone on bone", a replacement is certainly a matter of when, not if. However, you can try conservative measures and get by for a surprising amount of time before that inevitable day.

I imagine the arthritis med he gave you is an NSAID like Celebrex, which is a COX-2 type; lots of other good options out there. Good stuff, but mainly helps pain in your case; NSAIDs are anti-inflammatories, and the problem for you probably ain't primarily inflammation, its mechanical.

Glucosamine supplements with or without chondroitin help some patients, and can't hurt. May "plump up" whatever cartilage you have left, if there is any. If its gonna work for you, takes a few months to notice the difference.

One underused methodology: a qualified massage therapist with deep tissue experience. Ordinary physical therapists either think they know how to do it or dismiss it, so seek your massage therapist separately. Keywords to look for include someone trained in myofascial release or the St John's method. Won't affect the bony anatomy, but works wonders on the surrounding soft tissue, which improves matters to a great degree for many patients. Again, helps you buy time.

And, carefully look into non-impact exercise, especially light/high-rep resistance training; it can improve function, again, as tolerated by your aching hip. Avoid the impact activities - sorry, that is now your reality. Running and jumping do you no favors.

None of this is intended as a substitute for your doc's advice - just a few thoughts from an old hand at the orthopaedic game...YMMV...Al

Seahawk · 01:04 PM

Thanks, all...except Jim Richards. I got your DIY right here!

The doc did say no kidding bone on bone...I have been taking glucosamine supplements with chondroitin to some good.

I'll give up the basketball but still want to pitch

Thanks, Al, your advice tracks on a rail...

There has GOT to be a Pelican who's had this done...PM me if you get a chance

Jim Richards · 09-10-2008, 12:08 PM

MFAFF · 09-10-2008, 12:44 PM

Paul,

My SO is on her second artificial hip (long story) and a good few years younger than you

but the second one was like this...

2 weeks in hospital...
4 weeks non weight bearing (crutches, plus old fart's chair at home..)
Then an additional 6 weeks of physio...

Now she is pretty much fully mobile...but docs do not advise horse riding...at all...two reasons...firstly the hip position does the prosthetic no good..+ a fall could do real damage...to the point of not having a hip (BTDT no fun)

Also no bike riding...mainly due to the falling issue...same applies to skiing. But...hill walks and a bit of scrambling are fine.. (until there is some pain.. usually a few hours of walking). Swimming is good...

Contact sports are to be avoided...

BUT....at 51 you'll be lucky to get a decade out of it before you need a revision (new replacement hip) if you are active...and the rougher you are with it, well you get the picture. I met an old chap over the summer...in his 80s who had just had his done a few weeks before, he only got a decade out of his as well.

Hope that helps..

Mule · 09-10-2008, 12:54 PM

When I was 36 (19 yrs ago) I fell through a ceiling and shattered the ascetabulum (socket) on the left side into 8 pieces. An orthopedist by the name of Eugene Dabezies (should have been called Merlin the Magician), put it back together. After the repair, my best work out weights were 400# x 10 on squats, and 700# X 10 on the sled, (I weigh 195) on a pieced together hip. I have 13 screws (one about 6" long) and 2 steel straps. He told me that I may have to have a hip at some point, but the longer I could wait, the better.

A difference in leg length was the big deal back then but no more. Laser alignment and ceramic & Ti components make things MUCH better now. Recovery will go much quicker than my surgery did (6 mo.s). You should be off crutches in 6 weeks. Limitations should be few. The surgery is MAJOR. I scoff at women who talk about the pain of child birth. I tell them if having babies feels ANYTHING like what I experienced, any woman who gets pregnant a second time should be shot in the head as a danger to the planet. You should expect GREAT results with today's technology. If Dr. Dab is still practicing he's in Lubbock TX. I would go to Kenya to get him if I needed his help. PM me if you're interested. I know he remembers my case.

onewhippedpuppy · 09-10-2008, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Richards

thrown_hammer used to (maybe still does) work for a company that makes the parts for these repair jobs. Maybe you can get hooked up on some discount parts, and we can come over for a DiY project. All you need to do is provide beer and pizza. Plus, Wayne's dying to have something for his next book.

Awesome idea. We could make it a mod party, you could upgrade to the high-performance titanium and graphite hip!

Mule · 09-10-2008, 01:09 PM

Turbo!

Seahawk · 09-10-2008, 01:28 PM

MFAFF and Mule,

Thanks so much. The doc said 20 years is now the norm, but I'll probably move that left.

Mule, a PM with any info on the Dab would be great.

I am squarely in the homework phase so any and all positives, negatives, and stories from Aunt Bee are welcome.

Again, thanks

Seahawk · 09-10-2008, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Awesome idea. We could make it a mod party, you could upgrade to the high-performance titanium and graphite hip!

You, Sir, are now on my ignore list...punk a$$, punk a$$

Although the Turbo sounds nice...I'm at that stage in baseball where I stretch a triple into a single.

Jim Richards · 09-10-2008, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Awesome idea. We could make it a mod party, you could upgrade to the high-performance titanium and graphite hip!

And there's a free Titanium Monkey with every purchase over $5,000!

Mule · 09-10-2008, 02:47 PM

My surgery was different than what you'll get so this doesn't apply to you.

After I was back home from nearly a month in the hospital, I go in for one of my 2x a week check ups. Dab tells me "How's everything working?" OK I guess, considering that I can put ZERO weight on my left foot & I can't bend over. He says, "That's not what I mean. I mean how's everything working?" I said "Oh if you mean can I "Edited - language removed, Z-man", yeah I can "Edited - language removed, Z-man"." He says "that's good. We had the testicular nerve kind of flapping in the breeze for a while, and I wanted to make sure everything still worked." FLAPPING IN THE BREEZE? FLAPPING IN THE MOTHER "Edited - language removed, Z-man" BREEZE? And what made you think you needed to tell me that!"

Best doctor I've ever known!

MFAFF · 09-10-2008, 11:22 PM

Paul,

You're welcome. The 20 year figure is generated as an overall one (so lots of little old ladies who are 'relatively' inactive give the best life.

The truth is its up to you....more active = more wear...less time in situ.

The real issue for you is dealing with the time off work and at home...the month or so of being in hosptial or in hosptial a with limited mobility at home will be a tough time (mentally as well as physically)...and then the next 6-8 weeks being on crutches will be interesting.. and being unable to drive a P-car or even get into a 'lower' car is a bind (we had to get a 'normal' car in so SO could actually get in..the P-car and Audi were too low.....

As Mule said this type of surgery is major and your body will take a serious amount of time to get 'over it'... it is 'traumatic' in the medical sense and that, if you are not prepared for it is a shock. The physical fatigue even a month or so afterwards is something that catches people out and it can get to them....

But i'm sure that you'll be 'mainlining' PPOT and we can keep you entertained/ abused/ distracted and otherwise occupied whilst you recover...