Hip Replacement (or not)

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Wade Icey

Trad climber

www.alohashirtrescue.com

Topic Author's Original Post - Nov 24, 2009 - 01:58am PT

Success stories?

Still in shock here, be gentle maties.

Bouldering, skiiing, running are done for sure. But then those things are all too painful to be any fun anymore, anyway. I hope none of you have any experience with this but if you do chime in please.

we're all gonna die.

Don Mellor

climber

Nov 24, 2009 - 08:37am PT

Google hip resurfacing - it's still two big pieces of steel, but the range of motion is huge. I'm in my third year and it's been really good - no limitations at all.

Jaybro

Social climber

Wolf City, Wyoming

Nov 24, 2009 - 08:50am PT

If it's any inspiration, I know two people with Cadaver hip implants who managed to play tennis again....

Gilwad

climber

Frozen In Somewhere

Nov 24, 2009 - 09:33am PT

Really look into hip resurfacing. It's not as common in the USA as hip replacements are, but it's definitely a much better option for active people if your hip condition is a candidate for it. I know a half-dozen people who are skiing, climbing, etc. with a resurfaced hip, including my wife. Her doctor thinks running is OK, and she can, but we both think it's a bad idea to do much of it even if the doc says it's OK. But that gives you an idea of the possible....

stevep

Boulder climber

Salt Lake, UT

Nov 24, 2009 - 09:47am PT

Another vote here to check on the resurfacing. My cousin had it done and while he's had to back off on running, he's at full speed on mt. biking, skiing and climbing.

TGT

Social climber

So Cal

Nov 24, 2009 - 09:56am PT

A friend of mine has had one and still does Centuries and multi day bike tours in his mid 70's

I got an email from him about six months after he had it done. The subject was biking route one to his home in Manhattan beach. When I got a bit further into the read I realized he'd started in Vancouver!

slabbo

Trad climber

fort garland, colo

Nov 24, 2009 - 10:03am PT

depends how shot the joint is. Re-surfacing works well if you still got some femur. I had mine ground down flat and had no choice but replacement (or wheelchair). Strange thing is the other hip is cool. I have had work on both knees as well but so far.....

I move a lot better now, though my running days have long passed. Biking is ok i am able build my own house so I guess I'm doing ok.

the key is surgeon who has done lots. my guy had done some 1,800 hips in Boston.

good luck,,

john

Crimpergirl

Sport climber

Boulder, Colorado!

Nov 24, 2009 - 11:04am PT

Many people do really well with this procedure - if it is done correctly! Find a surgeon who uses image guided tools to do this. Best of luck!

Jaybro

Social climber

Wolf City, Wyoming

Nov 24, 2009 - 11:12am PT

What Mtn said, seize the day! However it is that works for you.

Ksolem

Trad climber

Monrovia, California

Nov 24, 2009 - 11:13am PT

Hip replacements are done two different ways.

The older technique is done from the posterior (rear) side. Lots of muscle is cut and the rehab is longer.

If you are a candidate for the newer anterior (front side) approach you will have a much easier rehab.

I know a number of people with hip replacements and have done rehab work with several. All have good results and most say they should have done it sooner.

Make sure you go with a top notch Doctor/Team who have a track record with athletes. After, don't skimp on the P/T.

What Crimpie said...

Robb

Social climber

The Greeley Triangle

Nov 24, 2009 - 11:17am PT

Can't speak about success, but rather the opposite. My mom was a good candidate, but stubbornly refused to do it, and was finally to old for the procedure. Result was that she spent rest of her days as a miserable immobile cripple. Go for it!

PS: Let us know how it goes.

KathyS

Trad climber

Poughkeepsie, NY

Nov 24, 2009 - 11:30am PT

Back in the late 80's, I used to see an older guy (at least 65 years old, if not older) at all the big orienteering meets. He regularly beat me (and I could hold my own in my category) in spite of his two artificial hips. Not sure if he had his doctor's blessing or not. Best of luck to you!

Kathy

Wade Icey

Trad climber

www.alohashirtrescue.com

Topic Author's Reply - Nov 24, 2009 - 11:59am PT

Thanks all. So far looks like my insurance Kaiser won't or doesn't do the resurfacing.
looks like I could do it in India for 12k, Including travel and a couple days on the beach.
Any one go this route?

Ironically I have six hours to change my insurance (or not).

Floridaputz

Trad climber

Oakland Park Florida

Nov 24, 2009 - 01:26pm PT

I had posted up about this a month or so ago. I had Anterior Hip replacement 5 months ago. Previously I had looked into all the options and settled on the anterior approach.

The bad news

It's a major operation, in my case painful. Your recovery depends on what you want to do after. My goal is to be as fit as I was before the hip injury. To climb again. My observation is running is out. Weight training and stuff like that I would avoid. Contact sports like Rugby, karate I would avoid. You get pulled out of line at all airports and checked (they don't care about the card.)As Said to me "terrorists can have hips replaced too"

The good news

All pain is gone. I have near full range of motion. Walking, standing, sleeping all back 100% (better than I can remember)I can hike pretty good.
I am not fully healed yet. The rod that is placed in the femur is still healing. The hip itself is fantastic. I'm climbing in the gym 3x a week and have regained most of my form. I going to Cochise Stronhold in late Dec so we will see how it goes with difficult approaches and slab climbing.

all in all if you hip is gone, your done. Replace it and regain you quality of life. It will take time however. No more pain medicine is needed. I will report on how my climbing outside progresses. I am 50 so I'm hoping for the best on that.

Good luck, there is no easy way to resolve this but waiting too long just makes it more difficult to get back to where you were before the injury.

Jingy

Social climber

Flatland, Ca

Nov 24, 2009 - 02:18pm PT

Wade - Not a replacement, but a hip no less...

It was 1994/95...

I had just learned of a climbing gym very near my home (at the time) and had planned on visiting to take a test so that I could start climbing.....

At the end of work, I headed home on my bike at a calm pace (usually, I timed myself to-from work, just to see how fast I could make the 18-20 mile commute). Shortly after leaving my workplace I took a fall that left my leg hanging at a strange angle, moved like it never had before, and me stranded on the side of the road. A passerby took me to the hospital, I got fixed, sedated, and left in a bed for 3 days. My left thigh was the size of a prize winning watermelon at the state fair when I awoke.

The doctor had placed a couple of piece of metal (1 pin screwed into the ball-socket joint of the hip, and a piece down the bone that was screwed into the Femur bone....

5 months later, my doctor cleared me to climb, I've been climbing ever since.... no problems, no pains, little soreness during the cold, but hey.. I got a piece of metal in my leg... what do I expect?

Hope this helps. Trust that, unless this messes with you ability to move at all, and if you have any urge to climb at all, it will happen, because these things work out that way.

good luck, and get back soon!

Wade Icey

Trad climber

www.alohashirtrescue.com

Topic Author's Reply - Nov 24, 2009 - 06:18pm PT

hippy bump for the evening crew

Chiloe

Trad climber

Lee, NH

Nov 24, 2009 - 06:22pm PT

Wade, check your ST email?

slabbo

Trad climber

fort garland, colo

Nov 24, 2009 - 07:37pm PT

The PT is casual if you enjoy stuff like that. Kinda like doing a new route. It hurts a lot but you feel good after. I got Titanium and the doc says good for 15-20 years.

The thing about going offsite (India) is you really should not travel too much.