So im a 32 single no kids very active male had perthes at age 8 now pain is affecting my lifestyle. Trouble walking short distances stairs sleep weather that kinda stuff really nothing new though it has always hurt. Started the hospitol rounds a month ago been to 3 ortho surgeons in last month hoping for another answer. Thr is about it I'm afraid, Frankly terrified at the thought of my femur being cut off.. always been active, basketball running skiing hiking even after perthes. probably beat myself up actually, always was taught to work hard and lead by example. have worked heavy highway bridge construction last few years all I really know is hard work requires slopping in mud lots of carrying and climbing. 4 years ago I was still running on the road and jumping out of truck beds. Haven't been able to do that for a couple years know. Hard pill to swallow thinking I may have to completely change my career and the way I do things. At what point is the pain so bad when youve always lived with pain. I've never even taken meds for pain nor really want to. Just have always sucked it up. now I seem to complain and moan all the time I feel 80
I know there doing them on younger patients but i can't find any info on a hip revision or second thr on same hip at age 50-55 which I'm just as worried about. Will I ever carry 80 lbs or be able to run as exercise after thr is that not even possible I surely wouldn't want to wear it out at my age I suppose
Oh I wish I could help you but sadly not as i am an older hippie.
Keep researching and hopefully you will find some answers.
This forum is a lifeline before and after surgery.
All the very best.
Hi Mike,
i am 45 and just had my first THR. Prior I was doing triathlon and working full time. The deterioration has reduced my ability to run and cycle. The last few weeks before surgery I was only swimming.
i was very shocked when last year I was told I needed a new hip. Especially since my mother has has 4 (1 left, 3 right). It seemed so radical. My GP basically said why go on living in pain when I am so young.
2 weeks in I am glad, I can already see improvements in my pain and am walking 2-3 km a day. Planning a 5 km walk tomorrow. I have had comments from friends that I look better in my face as I am not in the pain. I felt like I was 80 too and was continually grumpy.
i am going to start cyclying and swimming again and going to hope I can compete in a team if I find someone to do the run part. It is hard, I look at people running and am very envious, I hope I can resist as I recover. On the other hand I have the view that life is for living and you can never predict wear and tear.
My mum is in her mid 60's and doing well. Her left hip is 15 years in and all good. Her right is the third and all good.
Good of luck in your decision, only you know when you're ready.
💌🌈🚴🏊🏃💌🌈
Hi Mike
THRs have changed so dramatically over the decades. Hips last longer and longer and people are able to do so much more with it. You have the opportunity to be pain free and to rebuild your life with a smile instead of a grimace.
wishing you all the very best and remember we are here to support every step of the way.
Laura
Dear Mike,
First of all, welcome to this site of wonderful, supporting and loving fellow hippies ... You are young, perhaps one of the youngest here on this forum ... I am so sorry that you are in so much pain-
You mention that you were diagnosed with Perthes when you were 8 years old ...
How was it treated? I don't know much about this childhood disease though, except that it has to do with the top of the thigh bone in the hip joint (the femoral head) softens and breaks down....
How was it treated when you were growing up? was it monitored at all? How were you able to do all those sports and heavy physical labor?
Are there any other options given to you except THR?
My heart goes out to you and you will make the right decsion ..
don't allow fear of the future stop you from living now ...
warm hug
renee
Hi Mike
i had a RTHR 11 weeks ago and am making good progress, I'm 46.
You may find help from members of the Facebook page Young Hip Replacements UK. There are people on that group in their 20's who have been through the procedure.
Good luck with your operation and wishing you a speedy recovery.
Paula 😃
Hi mike. I'm 44 with two kids and before my op which was just over two weeks ago, i was lucky to only have around 6 months of pain, although looking back I had had reduced mobility for much longer but that hadn't stopped me doing Great North Run, Insanity exercise programme and going to the gym.
I didn't feel the need to take any meds as was bearable.
When I raised concerns about problems of revisions in the future to my surgeon his comments where "let me worry about that", he pointed out that progress all the time in medicine and in 15 yrs time who knows what they may have come up with.
For me personally, I am also aware that my step dad was diagnosed with cancer at 54, he died 4 yrs later. We really don't know what the future holds, we cant even guarantee being here for future revisions.
Even after only a few weeks I feel fantastic. The op went so well for me. I am on no meds, sleep comfortably all night and I'm pottering about the house with no crutches. (Do be aware that not everyone so lucky). Although I might not take up running again I will certainly find something, ie cycling that will allow me to stay healthy and strong, I may need right hip doing in next year or so. If I need revision in future I just have to faith that all will be well.
I least I can have the immediate future pain free and enjoy holidays etc while my kids are still young.
Good luck with your decision.
Hi Mike, I'm still waiting for the operation at 50 years old, not in any pain but as hip deteriates further it will need to be done eventually. I can't run and walk with a bad limp since I was 45, but can cycle completely pain free. The Uk gold medal show jumper, Nick Skelton, had a full hip replacement before the olympics and went on to win it. I have been active watching this forum for a few years now and although everyone reacts differently to the operation, the vast majority are so pleased afterwards and a year later are playing sports and acting like nothing was ever wrong. If you are in pain, get it done. My doctor told me that if you put a frog into boiling water it will hop out and live; if you put it in a cold pan and slowly heat the water up, the frog will stay in until it dies; you get used to pain and live with it when it is not necassary.
I do not take any pain killers, but the moment I need them on a daily basis....then I will get the operation done.
I really believe that a young fit patient with a modern hip replacement will last much longer due to better physio and exercise routines, if you need a second and it lasts another 15 years, that is 30 years of being back to normal, I would jump at that option and happily expect a wheelchair when I'm 70. But more and more patients are getting a third hip now as doctors do a better job...
Hope this helps, keep positive.
Well said Mark. Very well put!
Mike
You'll definitely find people in your position in the Facebook group mentioned by Paula. Some are on their second hip in their 30's and 40's. From the posts I've seen they're all really positive about their ops and don't have any regrets.
Hi mike, are you in the uk ? Is there still cartalidge in the joint ? If so ask about hip preservation clinic at uhcw . If your in US there may be a similar clinic. Also i suggest asking about micro invasive techniques such as superpath, makes revision easier as is tissue sparing,( i only have a 3 inch scar).
Regards Jay.
mike - I was diagnosed at 30 (now 42) with advanced osteoarthritic in both hips. i continued running marathons and half marathons s well as other sports. about 4 years ago things started to deteriorate quite badly to the extent i struggled with stairs let alone any intensive sports. i have just had the first of mine done and in hindsight should have had them done three years ago when the surgeon last offered it. At the time though I dont think I was mentally ready for it - i convinced myself it was all OK and i needed to hold off until i was 50. over the last 6 months though I came to the conclusion that I'd rather enjoy the next 15 years (or whatever it may be) and I'll deal with what happens later when it happens. I realised if I put it off I would be having an operation at that age anyway but at least i could have done more of the things i enjoy in the meantime.
There are a number of things to consider but you have to be in the right frame of mind. Keep in your mind that there have beeen loads of cases of people leading amazing lives afterwards.
good luck with your decision
Hi again Mike,
A year after a succesful hip operation, there are just a few sports you should probably keep away from; better stop bungy jumping, sky diving, paragliding and hangliding. I'm sure people continue with the last three, and it is probably perfectly OK as long as the flight goes right...but just occasionally you get down with a hard thump. I did all three for years.
If you can get by without these few sports.......
Hi Jason, I've been following the forum on hip replacement and noticed your comment about a hip preservation clinic at uhcw. Can you give me any more information about this? I'm in the UK with hip osteophytes causing less rotational movement in my hip, but absolutely no pain at all...unless I try to run ! But it is greatly restricting me and my own Doctor and Surgeon have never mentioned other options to me, well except putting me off a hip re-surfacing.
Perthes disease or adult version is avascular necrosis.. had 2 long screws drilled through pelvis into femoral head for a few weeks until blood flow in femoral artery returned so bone coild grow back can't really remember I think I blocked it out was in like 6th grade.. removed screws after a few weeks and that was about it I guess femoral head and pelvic socket never really grew back right severely deformed just a out of cartridge I guess bone on bone I've always had a limp and really always been in pain especially at night never really relized how used i have gotten to the pain until finally confronting the problem guess in back of mind always new just didn't really want the news so kept putting off. Live in ohio the winters are horrible doesn't help at all
Who has had a revision???
Ya I hear ya... just way to active not to mention at age 32 feel to young.. ya know just freaked feel lIke i shold be in my prime instead of worrying about a thr suks no matter what I guess .. started watching thr on YouTube that was a bad idea made it a few seconds and stopped haha
Not to deminish life threatening illnesses at all think cancer has affected pretty much everyone. That's why I dont like to complain about my hip pain doesn't make it any better though. Guess having the choice in your hands is just hard. I mean I am telling someone to cut my femur off its not like I have too its when I choose too but you are right I'd take this over a terminal disease anyday obviously
So went to other surgeon for pain on shoulders as if hips not enough thought maybe torn tendons from baseball can't bench or do push ups nope severe arthritis told me maybe 10 yrs I need replacements but I could see the look on his face now I'm freaked cause I have trouble with both shoulders and know I'm can't even freaking swim. Said my joints looked like someone twice my age. Depression has set in
Can understand your depression and you need some time to get your head around this. I started having shoulder problems in my 20s and then dislocated my right shoulder roller skating when 29. With care and physio I managed to delay my replacement until I was 60 😀 but now in retrospect wish I'd had it done years earlier. Physio said the only reason I had so many problems post op was because of the degree of degradation I had pre-op. Now having had shoulder and hip done I would say don't leave either very long and that hip is a doddle. I have met rugby players that had shoulder replacements as soon as it was suggested and they were strong and mobile within just a few weeks. Listen to your doctors and keep doing the mobility exercises your physios will give you.
Healing hugs
Laura