As the subject line reads...I am having a total hip replacement at 9 a.m. tomorrow.

Apprehensive but hopeful.

My pain shows up after long periods on my feet. But, what really sealed my decision to have surgery are the periodic “lock ups” I have had since the first of the year. Theses have been really painful.

Having it done in a 60-bed “surgical” hospital and am expected to stay two nights. I found a doctor who is doing the procedure from the front which I understand has a quicker recovery.

I would appreciate your prayers.

If my doctor follows through in my request to take a photo of my “head” I will share at a later date. He refused my request to have the head so I could mount it on a plaque and put it beside the deer mounts in the TV room.

quote:

Originally posted by Hunthelp:

He refused my request to have the head so I could mount it on a plaque and put it beside the deer mounts in the TV room.

What, you're not entitled to your own body parts?

Best of luck with the procedure. Wishing you a full and speedy recovery.

Something about medical waste....phfff.

Good luck and get well soon!

Go to this website, https://bonesmart.org. A ton of information and a forum on hip replacement. There is both a pre and post op forum.

They also have a section on knee replacement. I had my right knee replaced last September and used this site to understand what I was getting into.

Thanks, Mas. I’ll visit that site.
I have watched probably 15 hours of YOuTube hip replacement videos and done lots of reading. There is always something to learn.

Good luck and speedy recovery.

Some additional info...
I’m 65. From the age of 4 to 7, I didn’t walk.
I had bilateral Legg-Perthes, a disease of the hips which hits primarily juvenile males. The ball of the femor becomes soft so the treatment is to keep weight off the hips to avoid deforment of the ball or worse breaking the ball off.
I understand the medical community still doesn’t know what causes it. I was treated by braces (think Gump style hardware), body casts and wheel chairs.

Sell the old one on ebay. Someone may be able to use it?

Good luck with your surgery and speedy recovery. You will be back on your feet soon.

quote:

Originally posted by Hunthelp:
Some additional info...
I’m 65. From the age of 4 to 7, I didn’t walk.
I had bilateral Legg-Perthes, a disease of the hips which hits primarily juvenile males. The ball of the femor becomes soft so the treatment is to keep weight off the hips to avoid deforment of the ball or worse breaking the ball off.
I understand the medical community still doesn’t know what causes it. I was treated by braces (think Gump style hardware), body casts and wheel chairs.

Very interesting. We (the veterinary community) see this as a congenital issue in certain breeds of dogs (poodles come to mind). The issue on them is that they don't get enough vascular development around the joint capsule and neck of the femur, which leads to poor ossification and mottling of the bone. Of course, when you weigh in at a whopping 3 lbs, we can just do a femoral head ostectomy and take that sucker out, leaving you to walk on the joint capsule and surrounding muscular attachments, which form a false joint. Try that with you, Hunthelp, and you'd not walk again.

Dunno if it'll apply to you, but I tell this story to all of my incoming ortho patient's owners: two people come in for the exact same hip surgery. One has a chronic condition with intermittent flare-ups that hurts badly for a short time, then gets ok for a bit, etc. The other was just in a car accident and is hurting like heck 24/7. After surgery, the car accident victim hurts the same or a bit less, the chronic pain person finds out what pain really is. My point is, same surgery, different perception of pain. Helps explain to the critter owners why their beloved dog with that chronic knee issue walked in on 4 and out on 3....

I know you'll be in better hands than my patients, and wish you the best in recovery. Now, just keep that e-collar on and don't lick yourself, and you'll be fine.

Best to you.

Prayers sent Hunthelp for a successful operation and complete speedy recovery!

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Prayer sent

Best of luck.

Hunthelp...you will be GTG...prayers sent for everything to go smooth with the BEST possible outcome with everything...

I had my right hip replaced in December 1992 at 39 years of age due to a 600 lb. boxcar door falling on me...within a year I was back to work at the railroad and was able to work until I retired in 2011...I did have the worn parts (ball head and plastic cup...think automobile suspension ) replaced/rebuilt in Jan 2013 (two nights in the hospital)...been good to this day. I do every thing I want to do pain free (except play the piano, but then again, I couldn't play it before)...

I'm posting this to let you know that the orthopedic surgeons have this hip replacement thing down pat...

Any surgery is stressful and daunting...nobody wants to "go under the knife"...but the reward of a life without pain is wonderful...

Again, you are in my thoughts and prayers for a quick and complete healing...

PS...DO what the PT (pain and torture) folks recommend...they are at times mean bastages and enjoy their "work" to well...but they do have your well being and progress in mind...

Hang in there, all will be well

Prayers up, and Godspeed.

Best of luck. A buddy of mine had his hip replaced and two weeks later was playing golf.
I had a lot of stainless steel parts used to bolt my leg back together after I broke it during a motorcycle crash. I asked for it back after it was removed and got it all, including some really terrifying screws! I made keyrings out the stuff and I am still using them.

Of course! Prayers up for a successful surgery and a speedy recovery

Soon you'll be good as new!