About two years ago, after a lifetime of running, aerobics, yoga, tennis, and everything else you can think of to keep fit, I found myself suddenly limping, in a lot of pain, and losing my quality of life. When I went to my (male) family doctor, he told me to get a hip replacement. He said it just like that: “time for a hip replacement.”
No discussion of the risks, none of the fact that there’s a long recovery, nothing about the perils of general anaesthesia. It may as well have been “replace the spark plugs.”
I’m not a fan of unquestioned medical advice, and my mother “sundowned” after general anaesthesia for diverticulitis surgery and never recovered, tipping over into Alzheimer’s disease and a terrible slow decline. So I tried it all: acupuncture, physical therapy. yoga, stretching, Celebrex — whatever.
Nothing worked. My joint was bone on bone. But I also have back problems, which I had always controlled through yoga, and I knew a lot about alignment. After all, the “hip bone’s connected to the thigh bone, the thigh bone’s connected to the knee bone,” and they are all connected to the spine.
So I sought a surgeon who could help me with the hip replacement while not destroying the subtle alignment I had created in my back through yoga. The first guy I saw was so gruff that I walked out of his office. The second, a doctor in Tucson who does the minimally invasive surgery, admitted that he knew nothing about backs, and allowed as how my back wasn’t important, because after all this was my hip!
Finally I was referred to a female hip surgeon. And naturally, she listened to me and planned with me. She knew damned well that my back would be a problem, and she told me flat out that she couldn’t do minimally invasive surgery and guarantee my back would be okay after because she had to see inside the joint to position the new hip properly.
I trusted her, and we went through the surgery together, but it still wasn’t easy. Especially the recovery, about which no one is honest. If they told you it would be at least six months before you felt like a normal human being, you wouldn’t do it, so they stress the fact that you are up on your feet the same day. That’s not the same as being able to walk two golden retrievers on leashes. Also, the hospital itself is dangerous: nursing shortages, staph infections, complications, and all the psychological issues.
I had no one to talk to about these, and very little from the patient’s perspective to read. So I kept a blog here. I documented my fears, my opinions of surgeon and hospital, and my ups and downs during the recovery.
Please read it, share it, and recommend it to other people contemplating hip replacement. If we share enough stories, we will get good medical care. If we keep it to ourselves, we will literally suffer in silence.
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After reading your comment I thought this video link may be of interest to you. Your comment is over two years old so hopefully you are now fully recovered.
Good luck.
January 29, 2012 - 2:45amhttp://www.nhs.uk/livewell/arthritis/pages/videohipoperation.aspx
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I had a hip replacement about a year ago. The only thing that I found to replace the runner's high, is a hot, sweaty, and vigorous yoga practice. It's even better
May 27, 2010 - 11:43amThis Comment
I had a tough time without the high, too, but I'm scared to run on the joint because I know I would have to have a second surgery. That's the danger. The second surgery doesn't work well. Also, I now have come to believe, almost three years later, that it was my back that caused me to wear out my hip (alignment) and that hasn't changed.
September 26, 2009 - 6:40amThis Comment
It has been 3 years for me too and can relate to the back prob.also,am worried about revision surgery.As I dont seem to be able to regain my level of fitness and now a weight problem ! diet alone is not working.I would love to return to aerobics.Torn between weight putting more pressure on joints etc or exercise !
June 30, 2010 - 3:34amThis Comment
SueB, as I've been waiting for my THP, I too have gained weight.
There IS a solution, and something that I found helped me tremendously. As I laid in bed - yes, it's THAT bad trying to get around - I've got a "Double Whopper" so to speak. Hip on one side and knee on the other from an accident in the pool.
One of my business ventures NOW, after I initially tried it and it worked for me was gourmet fat burning coffee. Did you know many types of black coffee are high glycemic? I didn't at the time, but know that now. The first 2.5 months on bed rest, I had put on about 25lbs. The gourmet fat burning coffee was the first product in this line, and I began with the recommended 2 12oz servings per day.
SueB, in 2 1/2 weeks I had burned off 15lbs of FAT!! Still laying in bed, nothing different other than the fat coming off. When I saw for myself how effective this was, I could NOT wait to join the company. There are many "copycat" companies out there, but NO ONE has our patents, and the actual LEGAL claims.
We now have more products - the sweetener which is all organic and doesn't send the signal to your brain that a sweet substance has entered your body. (It's called the Cephalic effect) It measures like sugar, of course tastes exactly like sugar and you can also bake with it.
If you've been reading the news, what many of us already knew about artificial sweeteners vs sugar, is that the artiicials ( you know the ones - the blue packet, the pink packet, the yellow packet, the one that claims it's half sugar/half artificial - that one is ALL artificial, the little green leaf (the gov warning on that one is may cause death in infants and children) send a signal to your brain that a substance hundreds of times sweeter than sugar entered your body.
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This product has two versions - both build lean muscle faster, while only burning fat. One burns the fat, and one does it through a process known as lipolysis (breaks it up and your body expels). The one with Lipolysis releases 118% more fat.
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If you'd like more information, please let me know. The medical community in my area has embraced these products because of the rise in obesity and diabetes. They have seen the difference in their patients. Now, of course ... this doesn't give you license to start eating several pints of ice cream per day. Nor drinking $500 - $600 of beer per month. (I had a college friend who couldn't wait to start using our products and in 5 months - I of course told him that his beer consumption was too high, and although burning fat, there's nothing that can keep up with that type of intake - he did stop using the tea. You have to be realistic)
I do have a medical background and work VERY closely with a top Dr / surgeon who has some patients that have had great success. One in particular was a man who was over the 500 lb mark. In 6 months, without any exercise he burned off a little over 250 lbs, was able to go off his type II diabetic meds, and has now reached his goal weight.
Many who run, or swim as I do, know that it takes 2 solid hours of rigorous exercise to reach the fat storage cells in your body. The company released a bone and joint supplement 2 months ago - I took it for one month and actually FELT a difference. Unfortunately, it's not going to help me now, but will continue to take it after my surgeries.
All products are gluten free, have undergone double blind studies by companies and outlets that are NOT associated with us in any way, and recently under strict FDA examination, we passed with flying colors, are now officially a health and wellness company, and will be rolling out products for athletes (energy bars, etc), young children (the above items have age restrictions - the coffee, green tea and Chocolate Raspberry Latte can be ingested by 17yrs and up, and the product that builds lean muscle during the day with resistance exercise (it's minimal exercise too ... is age 23 and up) The point being, that almost all of us fall well into the age category.
If you, or anyone else would like more info, you can get in touch with me here or through my email - [email protected]
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February 3, 2012 - 8:46amThis Comment
Francine,
September 27, 2009 - 4:17pmThanks for the reply, but I'm not glad to here about your back. You see I've just found out about some lower back issues myself. I wonder now what could have been. No more cutting, how are you dealing with the back issue?
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I just had a total hip replacement I would love to see more on your journy of recovery. I so can related to the statement you made "If they told you it would be at least six months before you felt like a normal human being, you wouldn’t do it, so they stress the fact that you are up on your feet the same day.
July 8, 2009 - 8:24pmThis Comment
I wrote at length about my recovery at http://www.Francine-hipreplacement.blogspot.com.
July 29, 2009 - 9:50amThis Comment
Yes, I have been reading it. Thank you. I would also like to get my story out for others to read. My blog is at (arlenasnewhip.blogspot.com) Unlike you and others I was not very athletic but still enjoyed other activities such as golf and dancing. Still after 3 months I am unable to do a lot. I fear what the next 6 months may bring. They do not tell you that You can never (bend, tuck and roll like you use to). I could befor, yes pain but I could. Now I cant, The New joint will just not allow it. Best wishes to you.
September 27, 2009 - 5:26pmArlena
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I am more than 2 yrs out from hip replacement. I am days away from my 50th birthday and I will say that it does get better! Nothing will be as it was, but you probably are not in the pain that you were before the replacement are you? My replacement leg is now a lil' bit longer than the other leg which makes caring a full cup of coffee a belly laugh ; } Like other events in your life, you must find a new normal. Following your doc's recommendations is smart,following your bodies signs is smarter! Push yourself carefully,don't take this phase in your life too seriously and DO NOT let "the blues" rule your days. Take your pain pills as long as you need to,throw a smile on your mug and Thank God you woke up this morning ; }
February 5, 2012 - 4:49pmThis Comment