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Need some encouragement! :-)

Posted , 19 users are following.

sportsw4
sportsw4

Hi folks. Have been a member of this community for a while now, reading about everyone's journeys and admiring the supportive environment as I've pondered my own need for a hip replacement. I'm sports mad and always have been, playing competitive squash for 20 years (probably the cause of my hip degeneration), followed by many years of rowing and subsequently cycling - which I still do with a passion. I was diagnosed with arthritis about 6 years ago (at 52) and have lived with it since then. Mine's been odd - I've never had the excruciating pain that most people seem to complain of - pain, yes - but bearable. My main issue has been with a gradual loss of range of movement. At this stage, I can barely tie a shoe on my right foot, putting a sock on is a nightmare - and cutting toe nails on that foot is pretty much impossible. But in the absence of severe pain and being still able to cycle with relatively little discomfort, I've never really known what to do about getting it fixed. That being said, I did decide to do something about it this year - and it looks as if I may actually be going in to get it done next week!! As I'm sure most of you did pre-op, I'm feeling pretty apprehensive - and still questioning whether I'm doing the right thing, even though I know I'm having many more 'bad days' and that the constant lack of a full quality of life is getting me down. So I guess I'm curious as to whether anyone has been in a similar position - and whether all you experienced hippies think I'm doing the right thing. Sorry for the ramble - but any thoughts would be much appreciated. Just need the courage to push myself over the edge towards what I hope will be a place where I can cut my toe nails again! Cheers, Mark.

6 likes, 41 replies

41 Replies

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  • shirley17649
    shirley17649 sportsw4

    Posted

    Hi Mark,

    The op will become more and more urgent as time wears on.

    You are doing the right thing in my opinion. Get it done while you are still in reasonable health and can recover rom the operation and have some quality of life.

    Go for it!lol

  • Rocketman_SG6UK
    Rocketman_SG6UK sportsw4

    Posted

    Mark,

    I have always said that the better shape you are in before the operation, the better the outcome and the swifter the recovery.

    This was bourne out by someone who had his THR the same day as me, but was in a much worse state before the operation.  He was still trying to drag himself up the ward on a walker when I was being discharged.

    The longer you leave it, theworse it will get, but only you can make that final decision to go ahead and grasp your new life.

    There will be good days, and bad ones too, and there will be lifelong restrictions for many of us.  Over all it's a great operation.

    Graham - 🚀💃

    • sportsw4
      sportsw4 Rocketman_SG6UK

      Posted

      Thanks for the encouraging words Graham (and great website btw - congratulations!) Apologies for the slow thank you too - forgot I hadn't done them!
    • Rocketman_SG6UK
      Rocketman_SG6UK sportsw4

      Posted

      Thanks - I have started adding some little animated pictures in there for interest, my favourite is the penguin, demonstrating how not to walk.
  • sue1957Geo
    sue1957Geo sportsw4

    Posted

    Mark,

    I was likyu not much pain ealy but waking near impossible, totaly aid no when first told, but thanks to the lovely family here I did it, vember 13th came around far to quick and it was all over, after that my old life was gone, and a new life began. The first week was tough, but gradually the new life takes over, and things you take for granted become possible, with physio you learn how to walk with out hobbling, for some one who was so against and so scared this has een a godsend to me, I can now alk further than ever, p[lay on the floor with my god daughter and my dog, go up and down stairs instead of waiting for lifts, bes thing getting on a bus and no one giving me their seat, belive me that is a big thing for me. I have been lucky considering I had displacia and that pushed up my pelvis, so my leg was alot shortr than the other. Go for it, start to live again.

    Good luck,

    Sue xx

    • sportsw4
      sportsw4 sue1957Geo

      Posted

      Thanks Sue - and really pleased it's been such a success for you :-)
  • lynn66084
    lynn66084 sportsw4

    Posted

    Go for it Mark, it will just get worse, mine was pain and mobility, even though I am only coming up to 4 weeks, my stride is longer, no arthritis  pain, obviously can't do shoes and whatever because of precautions, but that will come in time.  The first two weeks were the worst for me.

    It's freedom from your body restrictions.

    Lynn x

    • sportsw4
      sportsw4 lynn66084

      Posted

      Thanks Lynn - and may your recovery get better and better :-)
    • lynn66084
      lynn66084 sportsw4

      Posted

      It's really surprising how quick things work out. 5 weeks on Wednesday and I walk a couple of mile a day, 3 1/2 yesterday but that was because I had to go to the docs, drop my syringes off, should of shortened a walk, but feel fine.
  • renee01952
    renee01952 sportsw4

    Posted

    Hi mark,

    I ditto previous comments - It will not get better, only worse and like Graham says, the fitter you are now the easier your recovery will be ..

    Do you still play squash?

    Go for it -

    big warm hug

    renee

    • sportsw4
      sportsw4 renee01952

      Posted

      No more squash Renee - that stopped when I snapped my achilles playing it 19 years ago!!! It gave me a lot of pleasure for many years - but I've definitely paid the price! thanks for the hug - back at ya! :-)
  • tracyhipLA3UK
    tracyhipLA3UK sportsw4

    Posted

    Hi Mark,

    There is nothing worse than long toes nails in my opinion!!!! But honeslty life is so different after it - I can only give you my experience - like I've said before on this site - it gave me my life back - simple things like being able to go dancing, gardening, walking etc. Oh and cutting our toe nails! Thats why I am waiting on a revision (had my LTHR done in 2003) for my Left leg - bring it on!!! Each day it does get a little more stiff etc and I know once I've had it done it will all be back to normal again! I can't lift anything at the minute (very painful) I have to be so careful and I am aware of the hip all the time. I can honestly say for those 13 years it gave me were great - I forgot I had a THR most of the time. Good luck

    Tracy

    • fergal18345
      fergal18345 tracyhipLA3UK

      Posted

      hi tracy. how is it you need THR revision after 13 years. im told now you should get over 20 years  out of the 1st THR. i hear you say toe nails, tell me you did.nt dislocate it doing that. sound like a really bad pain i here that dislocating. how long should you get from the revision op did they say,
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