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TripL7
Trad climber
'dago
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FWIW I am an OTR/L(occupational therapist)and over the years, past 15 or so, have worked with many THR(total hip replacement) and TKR(total knee replacements)and I am past due for a TKR myself.
As an OT we only treat the patient(THR) for the first few days post-op. Initially for bed mobility and then(as soon as they are cleared by MD.)for toe-touch weight-bearing/transfers etc. Our biggest obstacle is convincing the patient to participate(they are in allot of pain). Early weight-bearing and range of motion(ROM) to avoid scaring/decreased ROM etc.
But the reason I am responding to this is that when I here THR, the first thing that comes to mind(and my foremost concern for the patient)is that they get through their hospital stay without contracting pneumonia. It is(or was?) the #1 cause of death regarding the elderly/post THR patients. They contract pneumonia and it is a slow, downward spiral(not always, but often enough).
When a person is supine it is much more likely for pneumonia to set in since the fluids are pooling in their lungs.
As far as the success of(long term)etc. it would be better to talk to a PT(phsical therapist)since they treat the patient in the out-patient setting, and for a much longer period of time regarding ROM and strengthening etc. And they would see and here the complaints/issues that occur further down the road.
I know my PT friends have instructed me to wait as long as possible for two reasons regarding TKR's, and that is 1)they are extremly painful and take many months of therapy post op. I had knee reconstructive surgery that failed(I am bone on bone/no cartilage left)and can relate to the pain aspect. And 2) they only last a few years 3-7? And then it has to be redone(so I have been told).
So I would talk to at least two different PT's and ask them what type of success THR patients have in general(pro's and con's of THR). It will be a touchy subject for them because we are always dealing with the possibility that what we say will get back to the MD. and there goes our job (in some cases).
I don't mean to scare/discourage you in anyway. It is only my opinion and I have seen much more success(90+%) than failure in the short run(I considered it a success if the patient was discharged home and was not sent to intermediary care(nursing home to rehabilitate). After that we no longer follow the patient, but the likelihood of pneumonia setting in is greatly reduced if they are ambulatory(up and using a walker)and sent home.
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slabbo
Trad climber
fort garland, colo
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My story-
Start by giving up 3 units of your blood.
Hip replaced tuesday pm at age 45. Out of bed on crutches thursday and home friday AM. Without a really supportive partner, I would say1 week in rehab facility. PT started the day after I got home,. Mostly side movement and lifts, 2-3x a day.
I was pretty much into the PT so after about 4 days i was able to go up stairs reasonably well. After a few more sessions, the therapist let me do it on my own.
A big motivator was getting off the damn coumadin for blood thinning. (they worry about clots), That stuff is bad ! I was pretty sure that i would be as active as I could be so didn't worry about clots to much.
One month later i was biking and moving OK. I'm sure glad that i did the Devil's Tower routes I wanted years ago 'cause that kind of big time stemming is OUT.
ps The surgery is not the time to find out you are allergic to morphine ! AND for any dental work, including cleanings, you need to load up on Amoxicillin before (yes people have died) 'cause the implants can really screw you up. I also found out I was allergic to this as well -REALLY BAD reaction.
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klk
Trad climber
cali
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sherman had his done-- he went to belgium to get a top guy who promised that he could jump off boulders again after the procedure.
last time i saw him he swore that he could jump off boulders again without any problems.
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L
climber
Avoiding sleet under Big Bob's Big Wedge
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KLK is correct. Sherman the Vermin had both hips replaced in Belgium (State of the Art surgery overseas...eat yer hearts out AMA ;-)) a couple (possibly more) years ago, and last I heard, was romping around like a teenage sheepshagger again (purely a term of endearment btw).
The price was about half of what it would've cost him here, I believe. You might track down John's email and ask him yourself--sounded like a true success story from a truly prolific boulderer.
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Wade Icey
Trad climber
www.alohashirtrescue.com
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Topic Author's Reply - Dec 13, 2009 - 10:20pm PT
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bump for the weekend crew
thanks all...
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Lambone
Ice climber
Ashland, Or
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Dec 13, 2009 - 10:25pm PT
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My wifes boss had one. His activities were basketball and football. I think he suffered through if for a long time. After he got it he said he wished he hadn't waited so long. Now he plays again.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Dec 13, 2009 - 10:50pm PT
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They make some mighty fine beer in Belgium. Could be that helped decide Verm to go there. :-)
We certainly are fortunate that we have the possibility of surgery of this kind, whatever abuses we may or may not have exposed our hips and knees to. Though it sounds like a nuisance, probably worthwhile in the long run, as long as it's done well. A cousin is an orthopedic surgeon in Calgary, and does quite a lot of hip replacements. Most on elderly people, and people with injuries and/or arthritis. The therapy and prognosis for younger and healthier people, even if they have joint overuse issues, may be different - worth making sure they know what your ideal result is.
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Jingy
Social climber
Flatland, Ca
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Dec 13, 2009 - 11:20pm PT
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Not exactly a hip replace.. but definitely a break....
Time: 1994/95
Place: Mountain View, Ca
I had recently found out about a climbing gym right around the corner from where I lived in Santa Clara, Ca. and i had already made the call to tell'em I was on my way....
Got off work in Mt. View and started peddling my way home.
Not five minutes after leaving my place or employ I was on the ground with a broken hip. X-rays showed that I had taken the area between the outer hip (that piece you feel when you lay on one side) and the ball (that part that attaches to the pelvis) and turned it into about 5-7 pieces.... Little floaty bits...
Dr Farrarri screwed some hand-gun looking thing into the ball portion, and down the side of my thigh bone and left me in bed with a fair-winning-sized watermellon for a thigh....... for 6 months!
Plenty of Vicodin was made available, but being a head tripper, I fought back the pain in order to make the vicodin last... Don't remember how long it lasted..
Turned out to be the end of a relationship, the beginning of my studies in Hemp, I even collected signatures to get the marajuana laws changed to allow medicinal use of the drug. (Even then I knew that this plant could hold more power than we know)
I've really only had a few instances that I can remember where the hip has bothered me. Every once in a while it gets a little itchy.....
It means a long time in bed, and you better have someone there to take care of you, someone reliable, who really wants to be there... not like the one I had... "Can you take me to the store so that I can by groceries for two weeks or so...?"
Eye's fluttering back and forth, hands on hips "I.... I don't know, Rob... I didn't sign up for this..."
She was not "the one", if you know what I mean....
Anyway, hope everything goes well, and I Hope this little tid does some good, or at least provides a chuckle.
Cheers, good luck.
Wade - Just read the rest of the OP... Bouldering is overrated, skiing costs a bundle - every-frickin-time, and that other thing makes you look like a girl...
Don't worry, climbing is still in your future, trust me!
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Ezra
Social climber
WA, NC, Idaho Falls
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Dec 13, 2009 - 11:36pm PT
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Wade,
I have a friend who's also a doctor and a climber who had hip resurfacing at 57, had good results and still climbs some, although with less range of motion. The procedure was some what "experimental" and costs 'round 30,000 dollars, but he managed with some fighting to get insurance to cover the majority of it (not sure how much exactly).
consider Hip resurfacing
Best
-e
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Minerals
Social climber
The Deli
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Dec 13, 2009 - 11:46pm PT
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Grant’s first few moves on rock, after his hip replacement
Don’t worry Stevie-Ray… You’ll get through this and be back at it soon!!! Best wishes, my brother!
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Captain...or Skully
Social climber
Top of the 5.2-5.12 Boulder
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Dec 13, 2009 - 11:51pm PT
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Doublin' up on that last......Best Wishes, for sure.
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reddirt
climber
da subarwu
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Dec 14, 2009 - 12:04am PT
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I climb w/ a guy who just had his 2nd hip replaced in Aug (1st/other hip was done last year). I think he's not leading yet just to be safe... toproping 9's. Does a ton on the elliptical.
I also climb (sometimes) w/ another guy who has had both hips replaced. Not sure how hard he was leading on trad this fall but he sends 11's in the gym & projects 12's(whips). A lot of gym climbs require a lot of technique (turns, drop knees, hip flexibility)...safe to say he's def a poster child for successful climbing post-double hip replacement.
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Dr.Sprock
Boulder climber
Sprocketville
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Dec 14, 2009 - 12:08am PT
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if they give you an Ipod for the operation, ask for What Is Hip, by Tower of Power, but you knew the band,
doin a hip trip, maybe hipper than hip,
i don't wanna go to the Hippies grave yard, thats a good one,
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donacole
Social climber
New York
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May 22, 2012 - 12:17pm PT
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You can check out the internet and find reliable source about hip replacement/resurfacing. Taking precaution is the best way to have regrets. I suggest you visit this site http://www.rotlaw.com/wright-conserve-hip/, it has information about hip replacement.
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jaaan
Trad climber
Chamonix, France
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May 22, 2012 - 12:57pm PT
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Absolutely go for it. If you need one, then you'll have no regrets. The secret to a quick recovery is not to wait until you can't walk. By having it done while your muscles are still in good shape you'll be out climbing again in the minimum amount of time - after all, the prosthesis doesn't need any 'running in' time, it's the muscles that need the recovery, and this can be greatly reduced by being in good shape. If you go for a cementless prosthesis, then the bone has to grow into the roughened surface before you can go wild... My replacement is a ceramic/polyethylene total hip replacement (resurfacing isn't done in France though it's very popular in the US and UK).
Six weeks after my op - with my surgeon's blessing - I was top roping easy routes and three months post op I was leading. I've chosen not to ski (even though it's part of my job) not because I'm at all worried about damaging my hip, but because I no longer want to. I have a number of friends who do ski after THRs. This was all 18 months ago and apart from a slight tendonitis which has long ago cleared up, I've had zero problems and zero regrets - apart from not having it done sooner!
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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May 22, 2012 - 01:00pm PT
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Kitty Calhoun had both hips resurfaced in Belgium by the guy who has more procedures than any other doctor. She had great results.
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Karen
Trad climber
So Cal urban sprawl Hell
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May 22, 2012 - 01:08pm PT
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My 70 yr-old sister just had a total hip replacement done. She had that frontal type where the incision was only four inches, not the horrid rear kind that cuts through too many ligaments/muscle. She had very little pain and was up walking the next morning-on a walker- she needed very little pain meds, and in fact once home she only took Motrin. Within a week she could total weight bear (she stated she could have done so earlier but didn't want to take the risk).
The surgery was done at Loma Linda, an excellent hospital over in I believe Redlands, Ca.
Good luck to you!!!!!!!!!
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Wade Icey
Trad climber
www.alohashirtrescue.com
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Topic Author's Reply - May 22, 2012 - 06:00pm PT
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Thanks all.
Since the OP in '09 I've had both hips resurfaced and back to gripping my way up easy routes. Somewhat bemused and really psyched to be a beginner again. Feeling better every time...it's a beautiful rocky world...
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telemon01
Trad climber
Montana
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May 22, 2012 - 08:37pm PT
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ditto that, amigo...
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