The Preservation Society

Posted , 13 users are following.

I have been trying to work out why so many of us are given differeng advice with our recoveries.

In reading how despondent Michael was feeling yesterday (another 6 weeks of restrictions) I am suddenly aware that age is everything.

I am 53, I was 52 when I had my first hip done and was devastatingly given many lifetime restrictions. My surgeon said a couple of months ago that "Wayne Sleep doing the high kicks is not doing us any favours".

I was considered young (smirks) for THR and all my advice has been pointing towards keeping my new hips in good condition for as long as possible. If I look after these, with a predicted life of 15 - 20 years, if I am a good girl then I won't be looking at a revision until I am 70+.

I had approached my THR's with my usual gung-ho attitude and believed that fitness and exercise would get me back to normal. I now believe that a more genteel existence is what is going to keep me on my feet for longer. Pooh!

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  • Posted

    Indeed! I work with quite a few younger men (20s and 30s) and see them zipping about. The mind is willing, but the legs....oh, the legs just groan when I tried to trot, let alone run! And to think I NEVER walked anywhere until I was 32 and even at that age, I used to play basketball 8 times a week (twice on a Saturday).

    In a way, this process has calmed me down to an acceptance of the stage of life I am at. In the 1940s you were expected to die in your early 60s - hence the pension age. So, at 55 *gulp* perhaps I should just....be happy that I have another few years ahead of me. 

    *my poor wife - I have strong genes with a father at 90 and his mother still going strong at 105 (different times)*

     

    • Posted

      Michael, may I remind you that you mostly got fantastic feedback from your surgeon ----there is no reason for you to think that you won't be able to play sports again - maybe something else or with other "hippies"eek - eeeek right??? just the thought is horrifying, but hey ... ( I cried big tears when I saw a football match of our Dutch senior football players against the young ones ) - 

      you know that you are getting stronger and better with each and every day ... look how far you have come already ...

      big warm hug

      renee

    • Posted

      Oh Renee, I now have visions of us doing Crutch Hockey, Synchronised Stick Waving and a Steeplechase with all our toilet raisers and bath boards - hah!

      Things may have to change but not always for the worst.

    • Posted

      I am telling you Kate !!!!  fast trolley walking in a straight line without turning over - a whole new future -- maybe I will become athletic in my golden years --- 
  • Posted

    I find yes i can do alot more than before my op, walking still with a slight limp. Took grahams advice and walk quickly, this helps alot only i cant breath i am 59 this year, always thought of myself as being young .  This operation deals with us differently what ever age we are, yes we all have had the same thing, but every hospital, doctors physio has said different things.  So each one of us has different knowledge to pass on to the next hippie to be.

    we all deserve a medal for getting through this intact.

    suexx

    • Posted

      You are right, Sue, I have only got to go back a month to remember the agony I was in and how far I have come already.

      My partner has just suggested that by the time I get to having a revision they will have invented something like Wallace's Trousers (Wallace and Gromit?) and we'll all be charging around the day after our ops!

  • Posted

    I am 51 and just had my first Rthr, the left has some but not too bad yet.

    The surgeon said not to do anything too strenuous for six weeks because the bone is still fragile. I take the attitude that my hip could outlive me. I don't want to damage it or cause myself pain but outside that I intend to ride my bike as much as I can!

    I suppose we all have different energy levels and attitudes to life, attitudes tend to adapt to the available energy. Luckily.

    • Posted

      No, electric bike. :D Get into it boy you'll love it! I had a Honda 250 years back but things were just too dodgy for me on the roads with the advent of 4x4s and I gave it up. I'm over cars too my brain can't keep up, sad but true.
    • Posted

      Electric bike are all the rage in these parts. Good for you - they will help with your fitness levels too. 
    • Posted

      Sad but true, those 4x4 drivers just couldn't see me on my 600 suzuki, it was like I had a cloak of invisibility.  

      They couldn't see me on my 2300cc Triumph Rocket III either, for a different reason, they couldn't see me for dust cheesygrin.   Hence the name "Rocketman".

      Graham - 🚀💃

  • Posted

    It certainly sounds like it Kate.  

    Weight is going to play a significant part in the wearing out process too, so it's going to be a lifetime diet from now on. frown

    Graham - 🚀💃

    • Posted

      Yay, you are right RM, I am already trying to lose the extra pounds although my body is demanding calories to heal.

      Long term I intend to keep the weight off my hips and just offer you a round of applause for losing the amount you did.

      Let's get skinny!!!!

    • Posted

      I don't think I'll ever be skinny, but some more weight needs to come off to compensate for the height someone stole from my body.

      Graham - 🚀💃

  • Posted

    I am the same age as you Kate, and I know how you feel. A friend sent me a utube video of a woman in her 80's doing extreme yoga poses after THR.  I am 10 weeks post op and still limping and having pain after some of the physio exercises.  Beginning to realise that those who go off to ski and horseride after THR are probably in the minority and may need revision fairly quickly. Have to admit to feeling low about my recovery at the moment.
    • Posted

      I felt quite low too, Toto, until I got my head around it. There was no choice the OA jumped and bit me hard, I couldn't have gone on like I was. A more sedentary life was not on the cards for years but I am weighing up the trade. 

      People tend to think that the THR is the miracle cure - I can't tell you the number of people who have said "You'll be running around like a new thing". Well, I am a new thing and I have to make changes if I want to preserve these fake hips.

      We'll get there, Toto, it is just a period of change and adjustment but not the end of the world!

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