New member and going to see Dr. Gross

[lori.36]

Aerial, I am also a woman that has gotten HR.  I am 5'6", but weigh more than you.  I thought that I had big bones to explain the extra weight, but nope small bones.  I was the smallest size that my doc would do.  I was thrilled that I still had the option.  I think I am going to go to yoga on Saturday for the 1st time in a year!

[Anniee]

Hi Aerial,

You really are lucky to live to live in Columbia!  I live in Aiken, and consider myself lucky to be within 60 miles of Dr. Gross!  He and his team are great!  I have to take issue with one of your statements, though - I'm a very active 65 and was definitely not ready to accept a THR unless there was no other alternative!  A lot of resurfacing doctors may have had problems with performing resurfacing on a female of my age, but Dr. Gross looks at the individual (overall health , bone density, etc.) and had no problem with resurfacing my hip.  What Steve and John say about his protocol, and the care you receive from Dr. Gross himself and his staff is absolutely true.  They are the best!

[Aerial]

Annie- So sorry I didn't mean to suggest that 65 was "old" in anyway or at 65 people aren't active.  Glad to hear you had a good experience with Dr. Gross.  I will know if he can help me out in early September when I have an appointment.

[Anniee]

Aerial, no need to apologize at all!  I just wanted to make it clear that resurfacing can be an option for any active person, regardless of age and sex.  I think you will really like Dr. Gross and his staff and hope you will keep us posted.

[Dayton96]

Aerial:

I was surprised to read that you are ruling out marathon running in the future.  Are you doing that because of the resurface?  I know Dr. Gross lifts all restrictions on impact sports, including running, after six months.  By the way, like Steve, I plan on driving the 9 hours down from Ohio, to see Dr. Gross for my one year check-up.

Mac

[Aerial]

Mac- I guess to me right now, I just seems utterly impossible to be able to run a marathon again.  A mile pain free even walking or running would be amazing.  If I eventually get to a running a mile then I'll take it from there.

[gibbcutter]

NUTS

Yup, some of you guys are nuts.  Running marathons....holy smokes!  Running those marathons and training runs of 10+ miles a day for sure led to my arthritis.  I am content with walking without pain, riding a bike, and other low-impact aerobic activities.  Besides, even if my newly resurfaced hip can take the abuse, I am concerned about the remaining cartilage in my other joints.

Good luck to you ambitious folks.  I'll be one of those cheering you from the sidelines while you go running by!

[Aerial]

I also have picked up road cycling over the last several years.  This is an activity I can actually do even now.  It hurts less to road cycle right now than walk, given that I keep it reasonable.  I was a sub three hour marathon runner and deep inside I don't know that I really want to do that again.  I also suspect it led to my demise. 

[Tin Soldier]

I'm with you Gibb, I just want to row a boat, ride a bike, maybe play a little soccer with friendly friends, unicycle with my kids, and walk with my wife.  (BTW - I'm only 42, perspective I guess).

I do wonder a little about the revision stats and how they correlate with super-active folks.  There a definitely some folks here that are doing a lot of running on an HR'd hip and they seem to be doing fine.  I don't think any of us want to tell others how to live, but I do think Aerial that when you get rid of the pain, and it sounds like you have quite a bit of it, you may be so darn happy with life that walking may be all you need.

[Aerial]

Wow Tin Soldier I ride a unicycle too!   ;)

[Tin Soldier]

Hey Aerial - I posted about unicycling in the sports section awhile ago and surprisingly, I got no responses.   ???  Anyone who has spent some time on a uni knows that the hips and the muscles around them are also on.  Hoping in about 6 weeks unicycling will be my therapy. 

[Aerial]

I was on a unicycle team as a kid and can still ride one.  I used it as a motivational tool when I was teaching elementary school, my kids loved it.  I haven't been on it for awhile with my hip.  I haven't tried but I best just the push off to get up would be very difficult.

[imgetinold]

How funny!  I started this thread, and find fellow unicyclists!  I learned as a child....used to be able to ride forward, backwards, forward and backwords with one foot on the pedal, and ride a 5' tall one.  Hilarious.

My ten-year-old now can ride. 

Small world.  Aerial:  where was your team?  There was a private school in Northeast Ohio - St. Helen's - that had a unicycle drill team.  I don't suppose that is where you're from?

[ScubaDuck]

You guys have me wondering if riding a unicycle helps bring on osteoarthritis.  LOL

Dan

[bigblue]

You are so lucky to have Dr. Gross in your hometown. I drove 6 hrs from Ky. for my surgery. I was a high risk patient because of a lower bone density. I was sold on the HR because I just could not understand cutting off part of my femur if it could be saved. During my research it became abundantly clear to me that doctors who can not perform the surgery will have nothing good to say about HR. Check out my thread about my 3 yr. checkup if you have not already done so. My decision to have Dr. Gross do my surgery was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I am sure that when you meet Lee, Nancy, and Dr. Gross your fears will be eased. Good luck, keep us updated.

[Aerial]

How funny!  I started this thread, and find fellow unicyclists!  I learned as a child....used to be able to ride forward, backwards, forward and backwords with one foot on the pedal, and ride a 5' tall one.  Hilarious.

My ten-year-old now can ride. 

Small world.  Aerial:  where was your team?  There was a private school in Northeast Ohio - St. Helen's - that had a unicycle drill team.  I don't suppose that is where you're from?

No way, I am from northeast Ohio and my team was St. Helen's!  Way cool.  First saw them in the Christmas parade in downtown Cleveland.  I guess I was on the team in the mid-70s.  My parent still live in Strongsville, OH.

[Aerial]

You are so lucky to have Dr. Gross in your hometown. I drove 6 hrs from Ky. for my surgery. I was a high risk patient because of a lower bone density. I was sold on the HR because I just could not understand cutting off part of my femur if it could be saved. During my research it became abundantly clear to me that doctors who can not perform the surgery will have nothing good to say about HR. Check out my thread about my 3 yr. checkup if you have not already done so. My decision to have Dr. Gross do my surgery was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I am sure that when you meet Lee, Nancy, and Dr. Gross your fears will be eased. Good luck, keep us updated.

I am feeling very reassured by the posts here about Dr. Gross.  Thanks to all.  My appointment is September 8 so it is getting close!

[imgetinold]

Okay....I just realized I said I started this thread.  Ooops....that way you, Aerial.  I get mixed up when I'm replying to many.

So, you were on the St. Helen's team, huh?  I recall the team came to my Jr. High (West Geauga), which is where I was able to try the 5' high unicycle.  That is wild.

My father ran Bingo at St. Helens from about 1992 to around 2004.  Small world.

[Tin Soldier]

OA from unicycling?  There's a study.  Although, I think running, soccer, ski racing (crashing), jumping off dunes, unicycling, and maybe a little genetic pre-disposition may have all contributed to my OA. 

One of my boys is getting into mountain uni and trials type stuff.  We built a triple wheel uni (6 feet high) and I so badly wanted to try it, but thought I really need to wait til things have healed well before getting on it.

Sorry for the the thread creep.