Should I go through with the surgery or wait and manage?

[hernanu]

Mike, I respect your decision - several folks here have postponed their surgeries, I know I put mine off just by not going to the surgeon  ::) .

Like you said, you'll know. As Jeremy is doing, though my only advice is to keep close track on it and move on it when you need it. Keep posting, this is not only for those with HRs already, plenty of folks are here who need support before.

Good luck.

[mike1966]

Hi everyone, with some very good advice from members here and others, I rang my surgeon and rescheduled. I lost my slot next week but got April 2nd. I have been planning this for months and I hated letting the last minute jitters beat me. I dont want to live like a cripple and I realize that I should be grateful that this surgery exists instead of feeling sorry for myself for having OA.

Thanks so much to those who took the trouble to write such good advice. It helped heaps

Mike

[hernanu]

Good, Mike - I can recommend it, but like all of us, it's much better to be comfortable with your decision.

[Two4One]

Zap, you sound like you are totally awake in a world where it seems most are asleep at the wheel and on autopilot.

Good on you,
'one

[midiowa]

mike   iam 17 days now po,  i was considering cancelling rbhr 1 day from surgery, i too could do alot  before pain set in , but then i can also remember all the things that i was missing in life like playing with my kids like i should, , being able to tie shoes , golfing,  all the little things addded up and the list was getting bigger each month on what i couldnt do.  thats what made my decision, i still wonder about the decision but i know its gonna be awsome in a couple months to do again what i  have missed out on.   good luck. Brad

[mike1966]

How is your recovery at 17 days Brad? Do you feel like being active prior to surgery has helped? Funny thing, I had to cancel the surgery to realize how much I actually wanted it. Facing up to the fact it isn't going away and i have a choice between deterioration and doing something to start getting better. Good luck with your recovery

[midiowa]

hey Mike,  I'm doing good no pain just trying to get walking as much as i can, each couple days its obvious that iam getting stronger, i have a pretty physical job and worked up to the day of surgery hard to get everything caught up,(but was really feeling it then) .  i think it helped being strong going in definitely.  its just a little freaky right now knowing a chunk  of metal is my hip but the aches gone. good luck.brad

[strost]

My surgery is in 12 days!!!

I've known about problems with my hip since 1999 and drs have been describing it as severe since 2009. I was scheduled for surgery last summer, but found something that took away my bone on bone pain, so I canceled it.

I still don't have much pain (except if I take a hit on the leg from the dogs or I'm walking uphill). However, I'm realizing the impacts of the lack of range of motion on my low back, other hip and my "go-to" leg, plus how the limping puts my knees at risk as well.

Sure, I could easily put surgery off for another few years, but what damage am I doing to my body in the interim. I'm 47 (will be 48 in May). I will likely be looking at 2 surgeries in the course of my life time. I made up a pro and con list as I know surgery at some point is the only option. I too asked about upcoming developments with stem cells and plasma. All the surgeons said my hip was too far gone (structural cam deformity) to have anything help it down the road.

Make up your pro and con list (like my Mom always said to do). You can even weight various items on the scale of 1 to 10 to really objectively evaluate it.

Here are some of my reasons to proceed now:
1. Do less damage to my other joints (right hip has some problems already).
2. Limping and lack of range of motion does cause problems elsewhere in the body.
3. My kids will only be here for another 3-5 years before college. I don't want their only memories of me to be the gimpy Mom. They already have forgotten how I was the only Mom out playing with them when they were younger.
4. I love to ski and since I re-ruptured a disc, I'm realizing how dangerous the lack of motion is in that hip. It is putting me at higher risk for so many more injuries while I still try to do the things I love.
5. I'm in decent shape now. Due to the limitations in range of motion, I can't work that leg fully. My "go-to" leg is much stronger which can create more imbalances. At least, I will be able to go into my 50s being strong and fit versus trying to minimize further decline.
6. This is the time in my life where I want full quality of life. I don't want to waste 5 more years waiting for surgery.
7. I'm actually going a different route than resurfacing this time. The anterior approach does not cut any muscles or tendons, so recovery is fast. He said I could ski in 6 weeks, but I will wait. It is a dual mobility device which means the range of motion on it is impressive, plus I'm avoiding metal on metal due to all the unknowns. I'll only be under for 2 hours max and should be walking without any devices in about 2 weeks.
8. The longer I limp and do things to compensate for the lack of range of motion, the more likely I will continue to limp.
9. I'm tired of strangers asking me about my limp.
10. I'm tired of researching and worrying about it. I want my mind and my time back.
11. The statistics are on my side for a good outcome.
12. The majority of people wish they would have done it earlier.
13. I don't want to have that fast decline into pain some people talk about and then have to wait a few horrible months to get in for surgery. I'd rather do it proactively.
14. Muscle testing (kinesiology) shows my body is ready for the surgery - just need to wrap the conscious mind around it.
15. The younger and stronger I am, the faster the recovery.
16. 2 hours of my life and a few weeks of downtime and discomfort = years and years of fun and good health.

I actually had 25 pros for now and 5 pros for waiting - granted death, disability, stroke, etc. are all major reasons to wait. If your hip is not too far gone, then you have a chance at some new technologies coming out.

Don't get me wrong. I'm still scared - especially since I'm not doing the surgery for the pain in that hip (pain is a powerful motivator). I'm going to through out a post asking people for tips on keeping calm in the upcoming days.

Trust your gut and always do what is right for you.
Good luck!
Susan

[WTW15]

I am 6wks post op today and had the same concerns/fears/pros/cons.....  bottom line is I want my life back and I was slowly cutting out so many things I want to do.  I am 46 and while I know I have at least 9months of recovery time to deal with, I know that this time next year I'll be skiing and riding my motorcycle and won't even think twice about whether or not my hip will "move" in the right directions.  Glad you rescheduled.  Keep the Faith!

[Jeremy76761]

Susan: just out of cusiousity, how did you manage to keep out of pain with so little cartilage?

2. what device are you using and why?

[imgetinold]

Mike,

Many people did the same thing.  I ran 4 miles on the Monday before my Wednesday surgery.  But, I knew it would a) get no better, and b) that I had just as many periods of time when I couldn't walk as I did without pain.

Here are TWO threads I started about the exact same thing.

http://surfacehippy.info/hiptalk/index.php?topic=2656.msg20521#msg20521

http://surfacehippy.info/hiptalk/index.php?topic=3081.msg26144#msg26144

Lots of additional wisdom there (from others here......certainly not me, at the time).

Good luck,

Andy

[Two4One]

Hi Mike,

Day 86 bilateral post op here, and this is the second day in a row that I have ZERO pain in either hip upon awakening!  Don't be afraid because if you have the right surgeon, you will start regaining your life so quickly your head will spin.  Uhm, my back aches, but that's only from all the activity and working out 2x a day for an hour every single day after being bedridden in a hospital bed in my living room for two and a half years with a misdiagnosis.  I'm telling you, Mike, I see all the 'fit' folks like you that were blessed enough to be able to do their sports and full on active life right up to the day before surgery, and THEY bounced back a LOT faster than me.

Waiting, IMHO, is like inviting the soul crushing pain to move into your hip(s).  Then, you will have a minimum of 3 weeks of agony before resurfacing surgery, or more likely, even a couple months of pain you cannot begin to imagine while you are on the waiting list of your chosen surgeon.

I know you've made your choice that is right for you.  I hope you receive my 2 cents as well intended cautionary advice and not pushiness.  May you continue on your path to wellness.

All the Best,
'One

P.S.  In the interest of full disclosure, after 4pm each night is a different story pain wise.  My hips start 'talking' and I get horizontal!  It's the process though, and the fact is I'm working hard on my PT  and healing so well that Hubs and I are going to Naples, FL for the whole week after Easter!

[wriggra]

Hi mike

How are you getting on now? Your story sounds very similar to mine. Not in that much pain. But surgeon did tell me that cartilage has completely worn away. I keep having doubts but know that it is a question of when and not if I need the surgery. Also I don't know if it is just in my head but since I found out that I needed surgery my hip has been feeling worse. Or maybe things are just starting to deteriorate quickly like others on this thread have experienced.

Anyway, hope all is well with you and keep us posted on your progress

Grant