RE: What is normal??

April 11, 2004

Hi

What are we going to do with you?? Smile............

Even I get to pivot/sprawl etc............ and the memory is too faded to

remember if that was what it was like at 17........smile. But it does feel

like the normal leg much of the time and it would take a weird freak

accident to dislocate it now. And remember I started well behind the 8 ball

compared to everyone else............

Having had troubles since 9, have you ever worked in the yard all day and

not suffered later from some part of the body or another.............??? Do

you really want to go on causing stress to other parts of the body nursing

the hip........ ??? Believe me while that doesn't show too much when

younger, after 50 it bites with avengence.............

I love my implant because it gave me back the opportunity to work on having

a life instead of complete misery much of the time. If I ever notice its

occasional clunk - and it sure rattled the physio last week when she was

pushing it to the limits - I silently gives thanks............ and get extra

happy for a couple of hours............ Wandering around looking like the

cat that got the cream is sure a nice way to spend the occasional

hour..........and cheers others up too............

But, in the end it has to be your decision though so best of luck with it.

Edith LBHR Dr. L Walter Syd Aust 8/02

> With my hip refusing to hurt in the final days before my

> surgery, I am fighting a terrible case of " bail out fever " .

> For those of you who have a year or more behind you, can you tell me

> what " normal " is like? I've had my problem since I was 9 years old,

> and it has been intermitently horrible/tolerable. Can you guys do

> yard work all day and not think about it? Do you pivot the same as

> before? If you need to sprawl out for some reason, do you still

> think about the implant? What exactly does normal mean to you? Does

> it feel like the non-operated leg (for those of you who aren't bi).

> Chris

April 11, 2004

At 08:33 PM 4/11/2004 +0000, you wrote:

>For those of you who have a year or more behind you, can you tell me

>what " normal " is like? Do you pivot the same as

>before? If you need to sprawl out for some reason, do you still

>think about the implant? What exactly does normal mean to you?

What is normal for me now? Not having to plan EVERY move in

advance. Being able to go out into the yard without having to drag a chair

with me to help me up and down from the ground. Being able to take off a

shoe to get a pebble out (or maybe just to air my warm tootsies ;-),

without seeing who was around that would be able or willing to help me put

the sock and shoe back on and tie it. Getting more house and yardwork done

in the evenings because I am now able to quickly change out of work clothes

into " play " clothes without a lot of effort. Prior to my surgeries, I

changed from work clothes into my nightgown as anything else was just too

much effort and pain. Normal is now being able to pick things up off the

floor, to wipe up a small spill without having to drag out the mop. Before

surgery I didn't pivot, basically didn't move much at all except foot

forward. A pivot for me was a series of tiny steps. I can now SWAY to

music, which was incredibly painful pre-op. Pre-surgery, there was no sway

or hint of a sexy wiggle, there was only the Igor lurch and painful

limp. Still working on the sexy wiggle part ;-). I crawl around on the

floor playing with the dog, wrestling with my niece and nephew, and

retrieving dust bunnies and dog toys from under the sofa. I climb the

ladder into my rafters for the Christmas ornaments, and clean my gutters

out. I've changed a couple of flat tires, rototilled the yard, helped

deliver a litter of puppies, put together furniture and carried numerous

bags of dog food.

I am still " aware " of my hip, as I still have muscle issues, but both

implants feel completely natural, and if it weren't for staying on this

list, I'd wonder if it had all been a dream. I don't worry much about the

implants as they have survived three falls, all within a month of being

post-op. The first was about three weeks post-op when my crutch slipped

out from under me at the pool, 2nd was my first post-op hall walk on the

second hip when I fell in the hospital, and the third was about three days

out of the hospital when I fell in my bedroom and smacked down hard on my

knee. As long as I use common sense, I can't imagine doing any worse to

them than that! Still lots of things on my list to try or learn to

do--roller skating, dancing, yoga (I just got a DVD-Yoga for Inflexible

People-that be me!), scuba diving (coming next February), hiking to the top

of Multnomah Falls, bike touring, and lots of other things I can't think of

at the moment.

No regrets here, only thankfullness!

Cindy C+ 5/25/01 and 6/28/01

Dr. Boyd

April 11, 2004

Chris:

Having no pain just as surgery is scheduled is another one of those

Law kind of happenings. I am not kidding when I say IF YOU CANCEL, then

the week following your pain will return completely. Why? LOL....'s

Law of pain!

Are you on any medication? Pain meds or anti-inflammatory? If so, you

have to stop taking them 10 days (or is it 2 weeks?) prior to your surgery.

Trust me when you stop the meds, the pain will return.

On a more upbeat note, I can do anything I did before. However, my

muscles were so weak from 2 years of little use prior to surgery, that when

I exercise a lot or garden all day, yup, I get sore. But hay...I got sore

when I was many years younger too! What I don't get is Arthritic PAIN.

That is forever gone.

Lois

C+ 3/27/03 Dr. Mont

What is normal??

Hi Gang,

With my hip refusing to hurt in the final days before my

surgery, I am fighting a terrible case of " bail out fever " .

For those of you who have a year or more behind you, can you tell me

what " normal " is like? I've had my problem since I was 9 years old,

and it has been intermitently horrible/tolerable. Can you guys do

yard work all day and not think about it? Do you pivot the same as

before? If you need to sprawl out for some reason, do you still

think about the implant? What exactly does normal mean to you? Does

it feel like the non-operated leg (for those of you who aren't bi).

Chris

April 11, 2004

Did I tell you that I bailed? I was scheduled as you know to see Dr Santore for

an osteotomy. He said I was too far gone and had me prepped for a polyethylene

THR. Talked my husband into signing a consent form. I was literally on the

gurney with an IV hook up. An anesthesiologist came in to talk to me. I told

him I wanted the IV out and jumped gurney- so to speak. One of the best things

I ever did..... next to the RESURFACING!!! THAT WAS THE BEST DECISION I EVER

MADE!!!

I do everything I want. I do not think about the hip except sometimes when I

remember how it used to be.....

Unlike you I only lived " horrible " for 2 years- so " normal " is closer to my

memory than you. Yes I am as normal as a mad rock climber can be. We cranked a

ridiculously hard climb on Saturday- you ever seen someone climb???? It was a

sustained 30 degree backwards incline to a 5' roof to go over. Rated a 5.10B

because the holds were huge---but difficult for someone 5'0 " tall! Reachy!! I

cannot believe the contortions and splits and pure moves of utter strength and

power that I put this hip through!!! Not to toot my horn but man oh man that was

a good climb!!! My husband often likes to tell onlookers about my hip- just for

pure shock value. hehehe So then I came home and worked in the yard. Had to

get it pretty for the Easter Egg hunt! Cleaned house- got up early and made a

huge brunch. After the guests went home washed the cars, lubed my bike, went for

a spin, did more yard work-(never ending) and didn't think about the hip. Not

once.

Now the only excuse I have when I can't send a route climbing is that I'm too

short, it's too cold, it's too hot, the holds aren't brushed, my shoes suck, its

bogus placement, too greasy, etc etc. Used to be hip-obvious.

It does feel natural. The only thing I have noticed is that I need to stretch

my hip flexors more on that side. I have had dysplasia all my life without

knowing it. The left hip was never as flexible as the right. I just thought I

was right legged and everyone was like that. I am more flexible and stronger on

my left side now than I have ever been. Dr De Smet was right--he asked " Who made

me? " I replied " God. " He said " Well whoever it was I will make you better " - and

he did.

It is a big surgery. And you do have to go through all that surgery stuff and

heal. But soon it all becomes the past...

Keep us posted. Keep a stiff upper lip. (Where did that come from???)

Cheerio,

Jude