Flooring contractor

Bones, joints and muscles
1

Hi All, new here and just found out I need THR due to hip dysplasia. I'm a 48 year old flooring contractor and my doctor say's this will be a career ender. I have 2 children ages 6 and 10 and I'm terrified I won't be able to support my family. I've been doing flooring for 30 years and don't know any other form of income. I feel as though I'm doomed to live with this stabbing pain in my hip. The mobility of my hip is crucial after surgury and need it to be as good as before. Does anyone have experience with being able to bend their pelvic / femur further than 90 degrees after the operation.

 Many thanks

2

You will get lots of support on this forum and many people go back to very tiring, physically demanding jobs... I am hoping you will get lots of great advice this evening.

I completely understand where you are coming from with your income and children's ages - and the responsibilities you have are huge with young children. 

I was forty when I had my hip replacement, with two children (same age more or less) and obviously I am quite fit and healthy - I love the gym and still do....but, and I have to be honest I am not sure I could ever go back to a proper physical job like flooring.

My surgery was very successful, and I go to the gym, play sports, but all of these things can be stopped when I am tired or it is starts aching, they also do not require getting up and down from the floor all of the time.

In fact even at my young age I tend to find getting up and down from the floor quite tricky even now - it is probably the hardest of all the things we do (I am 18 months down the line) I have mastered doing it more easily now, but I wouldn't say I was leaping up and I don't think I could do it all day. I don't want to worry you I really don't, as I know you are in a really difficult position but I think your doctor might be right, and certainly even if you can go back to flooring it wouldn't be for a long time after your surgery.

I really hope you don't think I am being negative, but there are some jobs that are going to be harder than others post surgery and this is probably one of them. That said with lots of breaks, rest, and care you might manage it...some people do the most amazing things we have seen people achieve the impossible on this forum so many times. 

I can bend 90 degrees no problem - but I am not sure about all day every day for another twenty years to your retirement. 

Is there any other position in your company that you could consider doing? If you are not in complete agony have you time to retrain for a new job that would be easier for you? This is a lot to take in, and especially you have only just been told you need a THR  It is a horrible shock. 

I am hoping many of us will post on here with their experiences and can help you with solutions. 

This forum is a great place for advice and information - so welcome and wishing you well.

 

3

Randy,

I'm new to the forum and haven't even wrapped my head around the whole prospect of a needed THR, but I am working on it.  Like you, I work in the trades, steel fabrication, and at 62 yo, the limitations on my hip joint have have reduced my efficiency to a pathetic level primarally due to pain and reduced ROM.  Fortunately for me I am quite a few years closer to retirement so the surgery doesn't present the same earnings challenge you are staring at.  I can't offer any insight into the ROM issue you ask about, but would like to point out to you, with 30 years of experiece, expertise and knowledge of your trade your ability to contnue working does not have to end although it will probably need to make a lateral career move.  As a contractor myself, being my own boss was a large part of my motivation as it is with many of us, possibly you as well.  Going to work for someone else always seemed like a failure to me but given the same set of circumstances you are facing I woudn't hesitate to begin taking steps toward doing so.  Remember you have estimating, project management skills, administrative knowledge, quality control/assurance experience and possibly a good client list from former projects all of which might make you a very attractive candidate for a larger firm that could use someone to oversee and guide their projects and workers.  Hanging up the tools is a hard decision for anyone who has made their living with them for a long time but you have other tools which could be just as valuable and a lot less physical strain.  You write clearly and well and your thoughts are organized.  Having done construction all these years you already know how valuable [and mostly absent] those qualities are on a construction site, maybe you can make advantage out of that.  Best of luck.

4

What a fantastic post Jim, and I couldn't agree more, there must be a postiion out there so eloquent and organised, and clearly very very experienced. It does not have to be the end of a career, but prehaps the start of a new chapter instead.

5

Thank you for your candor. I am the owner of my business and already have the best position.😞

6

Their isn't an ounce of fiction in your words. I love what I do and even with employee's find it impossible to jump in and do the hard stuff. I feel 48 going on 32 and had major shoulder surgery 4 years ago caused by a pitching career cut short. I heal fantastically and was hoping the one doctor I saw was wrong. I want to thank you for your words of encouragement and your right there are those not so exciting jobs out there that could make ends meet. I specialize in custom flooring for celebrities and the like. I'm sure I'm going to miss them... Thanks

7

Dear Randy

Your doctor is incorrect unless you have a bad outcome to the surgery! Following my total hip replacement twenty years ago at age 55 I was able to get back to working full time for myself in about 7-8 weeks but perhaps I was particularly fortunate.

I did not have others to compare my progress with as is possible these days with forums like this so just got on with it!

My work was pretty demanding and involved building projects and sheep hill farming on steep hill sides. If you put the following into Google you will see my last project almost finished which should give you hope. Yogesh total ankle replacement.

This was done when I was 70 and I personally did all the trades with a little labouring help from a young lad. So as to give you a proper appreciation of what could be possible for you following surgery I will take the liberty of listing what I did on this project.

I underpinned the entire building, rebuilt 4/5 of the stonework, moved the entire roof structure down the building and raised it a couple of feet, built all the internal walls, rebuilt the roof built a second roof above the old oak structure, slated and stone tiled it, mixed and laid the concrete, built all the internal structure, installed the underfloor heating, plumbing, electrics and all the plastering, sourced and collected tons of old oak timber from all over the country and did all the woodwork, painted inside and of particular interest to you laid the engineered oak floor boards.

I've left out loads but hopefully you are now viewing your future in a far more positive way.

If you would like to chat on the phone message me and give me your land line number and I will gladly ring you.

Cheers.

Richard

8

It's a big thing to have to change your employment, much like being made redundant (3 times for me). But, as well as providing for your family, you need to be fit and well to make the best of your life with them. People needing a THR can go downhill very quickly as the disease progresses, to the point of being unable to walk. There are other jobs you can do. BW Lisa 👣

9

Afternoon Randy. Like you I too had hip dysplasia. Born with it. I had been in so much pain prior to surgery for at least 4 years. I was 1 & 1/2 inches shorter than my left leg. I had my rhr July 18, 3 weeks 2 days later had to have a total hip revision due to dislocation of my hip. 6 weeks non weight bearing and no hip exercises or hip flexion past 80 degrees. Before surgery I was able to get on the floor with difficulty but nonetheless I was doing it. Now.....I have not been able to for 9 months! Why? First off I have had extremely tight muscles, tendonitis and bursitis. Now I'm dealing with a trapped nerve due to scar tissue in my thigh causing great discomfort , sensitivity and pain. It's been a tough road for me. I still cry about this and wish and wonder if I should of left well enough alone. Anything that touches my thigh is so bothersome and I'm still stiff with this joint and the muscles surrounding the hip. This is of course MY story. For the most part people on here are doing quite well and living their lives with gusto!! As for me I'm still limping, relying on a cane, and struggling with nerve pain. Again we all are different in our healing and recoveries. I'm wishing you all the best in your surgery. God's blessings to you. LD.

10

GOSH... this isn't going to be easy is it? I'm 6'4" 195lb so kneeling down is a long way in it's self. I think I'm going to stay on my Meloxicam for a bit longer and research my options extensively.

 Thank you all for your in put and thank you to anyone who chimes in later I will read everything and take it all into concideration.

 Good luck to those still suffering!

11

I hope I didn't scare you, that wasn't my intentions. But yea research, talk to your dr get second opinion.... I had already seen another dr so I kinda knew it was time. My cup and the ball of the joint were completely deformed. Probably had a year or less to go. Thing is you don't want to wait too long as the more deterioration the harder the surgery. Good luck! LD 🤠

12

Dear Randy

I'm sorry that my earlier post did not succeed in giving you a more positive outlook on hip replacement surgery<G>

As Linda has said do not leave the surgery longer than necessary because not only will your hip not get any better, but you will be trying to save you damaged hip. In so doing this will be throwing your whole body out of true with it's own knock on effects.

The offer I made remains open if you would like to take me up on it.

Cheers Richard

13

Hi 

I to had THR due to dysplasia . I was 38 although I don't do a physical job, it certainly does not mean your career would be over. It all depends on your recovery and the skills of the surgeon allowing for the dysplastic hip. Have you had previous surgery on your hip ? I learnt after only last month receiving my second THR that it's imperative not to rush your recovery, go at your bodies pace and don't rush back into work as you need the hip to be as strong as possible before starting back in work, this will ensure you do get back and can manage your career long term. Rushing at this stage allowing for your age and job, would be a mistake. 

The old tale about hip only lasting ten years is also rubbish , I had my first one for twenty plus years , while working and bringing up a young family. They used to worry that younger people could run the risk of wearing it out. Plus techques and skills of orthopaedic surgery does mean outcomes are better than ever. 

Good luck you have had some helpful replies , it's a very helpful group

all the very best 

14

My God Man!  I'm exhausted just reading this.  Great Job.

15

Hi Randy,

 You've come to the right place.  Here, you will hear the good the bad and the ugly (you already have).  You couldn't ask for a better group of buds.

I've read all the replies and only have three things to add.  One, an anterior procedure has no restrictions, certainly no 90 restrictions.  Two, why not simply be the "face" of your company (aka sales), just a thought, you still get to be in your line of work and finally, as others have pointed out, there are many other things you can do along these same lines.  My suggestion is perhaps looking into teaching your trade to others.  I know here in the U.S. many of our community colleges are returning to teaching the trades.  The only people who can and do teach trades are tradespeople.  This would be the one case where a teacher does not need a college degree to teach.

I know this is a very tough decision and I for one do not envy you.  

I suspect you already know you cannot go on like this until retirement age.  You currently have youth, energy and stamina on your side.

Best of luck Randy

16

You all have been so helpful and informative. What a great bunch. Thank you.

I have made my 2nd opinion appointment whith a Harvard grad, Mayo grad and currently teaches at USC. One benefit of living in L.A. is I'm not limited going to see Dr. So-in-so. I actually have breader cup Dr.'s to choose from (makes me laugh that my first Dr.'s name was B. Hack).

 My shoulder surgery healed amazingly- I healed so fast I was out of my sling by the end of the fourth week and off to PT.  Thanks for for all your words of wisdom and encouragement.

17

This is scary news but don't despair. Flexibility should be easily achieveable with the anterior approach. I have had posterior and have instructions to  restrict movement to ninety degrees for three months and no twisting. You are not doomed but you can't ignore this. It will get worse and .. sometimes quite quickly.

. 

18

It's coming for sure... I've ignored it for eight years, babied it for two and have been on my anti-inflamitory for 7 months... the pills work but not as good as they did even 7 months ago. I saw Dr. Hack today and he said it could be next week or 16 years but a new hip is coming - hows that for a time frame.

19

I dont think it needs to be the end of your business. I think you might need to take on someone to help you if you don't have that already - you will be able to some work, quite a bit, but can leave getting up and down to someone else? You can oversee it all as you did before.

I think you may need a readjustment. You will find solutions to the things you find more tricky and can get on with everything else.

I definitely don't think this will end your career - you just need to make a few changes thats all.

20

The time frame is tricky particularly in young patients, as we go down hill fast because we are using our joints so much - active life and busy. Yes it could be very quick at the end so be prepared both mentally and in other ways, so you are ready to do it.

I left mine for years and regret it actually, but you have time now - a window of opportunity to think about your business and how it can work - and get your life in order so you can be ready to get fixed once and for all.