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Author Topic: Hello Hippies  (Read 5912 times)

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Woodstock Hippy

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Hello Hippies
« on: July 11, 2011, 06:33:26 PM »
This is my first post here but i have been reading for a couple of weeks.  I have been a patient of Dr Boettner at HSS in NYC for the past two years for arthritis in my right hip.  It started with groin pain from running and he has treated it with cortesone injections.  At my last visit about six months ago he told me that the arthritis was now in my left hip.  I haven't been running but I still cycle and swim with a pull buoy and all was ok until about a month ago when it all seemed to go bad.  Now it seems to get worse every day.  Can arthritis really progress this fast.  Some days it feels like my bones are sticking out.  Sometimes groin, sometimes pain in the tops of the bones in the front.  Climbing stairs or ladders or a hill on the bike it feels like all my strength is gone and I'm going to throw up.  I see Dr Borttner in another week but I'm amazed at how fast I'm going bad.

I have found some great information here, thank you very much.  When I first saw Dr Boettner, he said I'd be a good candidate for hip resurfacing and said I'd have a couple of years.  It looks like my time is running out. 

I'll keep you posted as things progress.
« Last Edit: July 12, 2011, 06:58:46 PM by Woodstock hippy »
Bilateral, Dr Scott Marwin, NYU Joint Disease Hosp, 11/15/11

Neild5

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Re: Hello Hippies
« Reply #1 on: July 11, 2011, 08:14:59 PM »
I was Rx with bilateral OA 20 years ago in my hips.  Last December the pain got so bad I went from walking with a limp to needing a cane in about 3 weeks.
50 yo male left Biomet 2/28/11, right BHR 2/20/12

Jeremy76761

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Re: Hello Hippies
« Reply #2 on: July 11, 2011, 08:29:42 PM »
Hi Woodstock,

I've found it hard to get advice re: OA on this site, probably because it really is geared towards those with resurfacings.

But I'm in a similar boat as you. I was diagnosed by a CT scan radiologist in January and started to have pain walking in March. In 2010 there were mild symptoms during grappling which paralleled a groin strain I had been treating. A physiotherapist actually tore my quad in 3 places before Christmas and with the weak quad painful symptoms in the hip got much worse, hence, the pain walking starting in March. It is intermittent, but my quad has strengthened overall in the past month and the hip pain all but disappeared as a result. Believe it or not.

My points it this: hip OA symptoms -- and presumably the pace of degeneration -- has everything to do with the strength of the muscles in the lower extremity. All the quadriceps muscles, hamstrings, gluteus minimus/maximus, psoas, etc. support the hip during all movements regardless of impact. Whether you engage in an impact sport like soccer, running, or wrestling is only one influence on pace of degeneration. The elasticity, flexibility, and strength of the muscles and positioning of the fascia are critical to OA management if you have enough cartilage left.

At least that's my experience. Just yesterday I re-strained the quad again going up some steps. Today I had hip pain. The past 2 weeks no quad injury and no pain. The relationship between the two is that close I guess because it is a damaged unstable joint that needs the security of tightly bound muscles.

Not sure if you want advice. I'm sure you've been told to keep off impact sports, but obviously that is an almost philosophical decision. What is more definite is that you would be well served from a total muscular workup and flexibility program for the intra-articular and upper leg muscles.  This might help.

Are you doing all you can in this area?

hernanu

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Re: Hello Hippies
« Reply #3 on: July 11, 2011, 09:06:42 PM »
Welcome to the site, Woodstock! I understand your concern, I think we've all been there with the pain.

 My progression was pretty quick between just being sore after working out, and pain walking. I let it go to dislocating one hip before I knew it was time to check it out. Everyone progresses differently, and as Jeremy notes, it may be affected by different things. I was very active athletically, and that probably prolongued it in some regards, but it also led me to ignore what was happening.

Five years before the surgery, I had an ultrasound and was told that my cartilage was slightly down in one hip, and perfect in the other. I was told I had at least 10 years before I needed anything. Three years later, I was limping everywhere and although still playing a lot of sports, it was through pain. Two years before the surgery was the first dislocation, then they became more frequent to the point of happening while sleeping. The XRay done then showed no cartilage on one hip and almost none on the other.

I don't think anything happens gradually, I think it follows chaos theory more, being in one plateau, then going fast.  You seem to be reaching the point of decision, and that time will be all yours, all of us reached it one way or another.

The encouraging thing is that this procedure (done twice on me last year) has really worked on me and others on this site. Make sure you pick the best surgeon possible, which may not be who is treating you now. Interview surgeons, and use the recommendations here as one input - the final decision is whoever you feel good with.

Good luck and keep in touch. There are many good and supportive people here, and we've all been where you are.
« Last Edit: July 11, 2011, 09:08:05 PM by hernanu »
Hernan, LHR 8/24/2010, RHR 11/29/2010 - Cormet, Dr. Snyder

Woodstock Hippy

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Re: Hello Hippies
« Reply #4 on: July 13, 2011, 07:40:06 PM »
I've already decided that something has to be done.  I'm a 61 year old heavy construction carpenter and I'm having a very hard time doing my job.  I've had it great for a long time.  Working hard, training hard. Racing Triathlons including Ironman, running marathon's and racing the mountain bike.  Today I went out on the road bike and couldn't even average 15 mph.  I'm loosing all my strength and I want to get back to what I'm used to doing.
Bilateral, Dr Scott Marwin, NYU Joint Disease Hosp, 11/15/11

jjmclain

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Re: Hello Hippies
« Reply #5 on: July 13, 2011, 08:02:21 PM »
Woodstock,

It sounds as if it is time...I think a lot of us reached a point where we just knew it was time to get it done. Once I found out about resurfacing and did my research, I scheduled an appt with a surgeon and scheduled surgery on my first visit. I am 8 months post-op LBHR and am doing great! I wish I had known about it sooner and therefore had the surgery sooner. It sounds as if you are still very active and that will help tremendously.

You will gain valuable information and support from this website, thanks to Pat and all of the other Surface Hippies. I found it very comforting leading up to surgery as well as after. I think I read a majority of the postings dating back several years. There are also a lot of very witty hippies on this site!

Good Luck to you!

June

Woodstock Hippy

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Re: Hello Hippies
« Reply #6 on: July 17, 2011, 06:49:55 PM »
Wow, feels like it's getting worse every day, luckily I see Dr Boettner tomorrow.
Bilateral, Dr Scott Marwin, NYU Joint Disease Hosp, 11/15/11

Woodstock Hippy

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Re: Hello Hippies
« Reply #7 on: July 19, 2011, 12:40:47 AM »
Well, I saw the Dr today and he advised me that he doesn't think at 61 years old a hip resurfacing is good for me.  I'm surprised that he says I have to realize that life has to slow down at some point and that and that since I can walk fine on a level surface I should continue with cortisone  and have conventional hip replacement when the cortisone doesn't work anymore.  I think a conventional hip replacement will really restrict what I can and can't do for the rest of my life.  I got injected in both sides and go back in six weeks.
Bilateral, Dr Scott Marwin, NYU Joint Disease Hosp, 11/15/11

Groundhog

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Re: Hello Hippies
« Reply #8 on: July 19, 2011, 05:01:33 AM »
Hello Woodstock.
An active 61 year old not suitable for a resurface???
I too am an active 61 year old. I too was advised not to have a resurface by my doctor and surgeon at my local hospital. Having researched resurfacing myself I became convinced this was right for me and pushed hard to get it and finely succeeded. You sound like an ideal candidate for resurfacing to me. As long as you have strong bones. With a total hip replacement you will be a lot longer recovering and will have to be more careful what sport you partake in.
Don't give in! Unless they can show you a good reason like osteoporosis I would insist. Good luck.

Lopsided

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Re: Hello Hippies
« Reply #9 on: July 19, 2011, 05:13:03 AM »
Well, I saw the Dr today and he advised me that he doesn't think at 61 years old a hip resurfacing is good for me.

What that means is that he cannot do it. Find another surgeon!



Proud To Be Dr. De Smet's First Uncemented Conserve Plus, Left, August 2010

Pat Walter

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Re: Hello Hippies
« Reply #10 on: July 19, 2011, 09:15:05 AM »
61 is not too old for a hip resurfacing.  I was 61 when I had mine done because I wanted to remain as active as possible.  You are in NY so you are near the very best.  Make an appointment with Dr. Su or Dr. Clarke and find out if you are a good candidate.  Never listen to a surgeon that does not do resurfacing or only does a few of them. You also don't want an inexperienced surgeon doing your resurfacing.  You want a surgeon that has done a thousand or more do your surgery.  Dr. Gross of SC will also give you a free email consultation if you send him an email with a copy of your x-ray in a digital format.  Since you are an active guy - get a hip resurfacing is possible.  Not only does it keep you from having a large part of your femur bone sawed off, but it allows you to keep your normal gait.  Your body will keep in the same balance as when you had your natural hip. When you have  a THR with a long rod down your femur bone - you bone does not grow and act normall plus your gait is thrown off.  Listen to Dr. Brooks of the Cleveland Clinic explain why a resurfacing allows your bone and body to act more natural.  http://www.surfacehippy.info/shvideos/videosdoctor.php

Get more input from several of the top resurfacing surgeons before making a decision.  Even if you have to get a THR if you are not a resurfacing candidate, be careful what type of device you get.  Make sure it is a large ball device that matches the size of your current femor ball.  If you don't get a large ball device, you definitely WILL BE RESTRICTED.  Be careful since you are an active guy.  Good Luck.  Pat
Webmaster/Owner of Surface Hippy
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hernanu

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Re: Hello Hippies
« Reply #11 on: July 19, 2011, 09:56:08 AM »
What Pat said !

I also got the "you need a THR and have to live with the limitations" from a respected surgeon at a respected hospital in Boston. I didn't accept it because I had researched the issue and knew successful resurfacing was a good option, IMO the best for me.

Like Pat said, you are lucky to be near several very good surgeons; I'd go to them to at least be sure of where to go. Good luck and Illegitimi non carborundum....
« Last Edit: July 19, 2011, 01:48:03 PM by hernanu »
Hernan, LHR 8/24/2010, RHR 11/29/2010 - Cormet, Dr. Snyder

AlanN

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Re: Hello Hippies
« Reply #12 on: July 19, 2011, 06:48:32 PM »
Hello Woodstock.
An active 61 year old not suitable for a resurface???
I too am an active 61 year old. I too was advised not to have a resurface by my doctor and surgeon at my local hospital. Having researched resurfacing myself I became convinced this was right for me and pushed hard to get it and finely succeeded. You sound like an ideal candidate for resurfacing to me. As long as you have strong bones. With a total hip replacement you will be a lot longer recovering and will have to be more careful what sport you partake in.
Don't give in! Unless they can show you a good reason like osteoporosis I would insist. Good luck.

What he says!

Stick to your guns, took me nearly 2 years to find the surgeon who agreed with me (I'm in the UK where it's a lot more difficult to "choose" your surgeon/proceedure).

Good luck mate!
Alan
Motor Racing nut now with LHBHR ;)

mark_k

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Re: Hello Hippies
« Reply #13 on: July 21, 2011, 12:09:41 PM »
Well, I saw the Dr today and he advised me that he doesn't think at 61 years old a hip resurfacing is good for me.

What that means is that he cannot do it. Find another surgeon!

exactly! many OS's have resurfaced patients  in their 60's and even 70's. It depends on your bone density, not your age.

Jenn Marie

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Re: Hello Hippies
« Reply #14 on: July 21, 2011, 02:48:42 PM »
Welcome!
I agree with everyone who says find another doctor.  My doctor has written in many professional journals that you are the ideal candidate for resurfacing because of your age, gender and activity level.  I had surgery last month and read volumes about resurfacing beforehand.  I was not an ideal candidate because of my gender and small stature, but wanted to regain my active lifestyle, which included running.  I know that I'll likely need a revision or a total replacement in my lifetime, but as my doctor put it, I'm mortgaging my future to regain my quality of life in the present.  It's well worth it.
As to rapid degeneration OA, I went from running daily without pain last November to debilitating pain in January and x-rays that revealed I had little cartilage left in my rt hip. I was told I would need a hip replacement within 10-15 years.
By March when I got in to see a specialist, x-rays showed I had ZERO cartilage left and was bone on bone!  The doctors said that it was genetic and that my high level of activity expedited the problem.
It sounds like you need to find a doctor who will listen to you and will consider your active lifestyle.  It's not worth living through all that pain.  I scheduled my BHR surgery right away after reading hundreds of posts from the good folks on this site who said they wish they had scheduled surgery sooner.  Best of look to you.
The time is always right to do what is right.

Woodstock Hippy

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Re: Hello Hippies
« Reply #15 on: July 24, 2011, 12:43:52 PM »
Thank you for all the encouragement.  I've made an appointment to talk to Dr Su about this but it won't be until the end of September.  I'm going to call another doctor and go see him also.  I don't want to go through all of this and then end up with a traditional hip replacement and be limited to what I can do in the future.  For thirty years I was a runner, a triathlete for fifteen, and finally when my hip was shot I started long distance mountain bike racing and had some good success until this spring when it all went bad.  Now I need to get fixed up.  I also need a small reapair to my shoulder that I'm going to have first.  I've been a heavy construction carpenter all my life, I'm working at the World Trade Center right now, and I plan to retire with all these surgeries.  Then I want to be able to have fun.  I plan one more change in focus to long distance ocean swimming and celebrate my come back by doing the 2.4 mile Waikiki Rough Water Swim next September.  I think I could have ten more good years of racing after all of this.

So Jen Marie, why do you say that you will need another surgery in ten years?  That's the same thing that Dr Boettner said to me that if the resurfacing failed in ten years I'd need to have another surgery.  These all steel units would seem to be much stronger than a traditional hip replacement.  I think for someone like me the traditional hip replacement would be more likely to not last ten years and then what would my options be?
« Last Edit: July 24, 2011, 03:13:45 PM by Woodstock hippy »
Bilateral, Dr Scott Marwin, NYU Joint Disease Hosp, 11/15/11

hernanu

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Re: Hello Hippies
« Reply #16 on: July 24, 2011, 01:48:42 PM »
There's no set in stone (or bone) limitation as far as I know, but there's only statistical data for a short span and short term studies report women's revision rate as double the men's. However, that is sometimes misleading in that the failure rates we're talking about are very low.

One study in Australia has men at one year failing at 1.6 % and women at 2.1%, in three years, men at 2.1% and women at 4.1%. The thought is that what influences the larger rate is the smaller bone size of women, the fluctuation in bone density in women due to menopause and other factors. All of this IMO can be counterbalanced by selecting a good surgeon, which overcomes the smaller size problem, as proper placement of the components is critical in avoiding revisions for both men and women. The bone density issue I would think can also be treated, but as I'm not a physician, I can't speak to that.

Anecdotally, we've had one hippy report in who was celebrating the twentieth year with successful hip resurfacing, so at least this is encouraging.
Hernan, LHR 8/24/2010, RHR 11/29/2010 - Cormet, Dr. Snyder

Woodstock Hippy

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Re: Hello Hippies
« Reply #17 on: July 24, 2011, 05:41:43 PM »
Now, here's a really crappy part of all of this; after waiting six or seven weeks to see the doctor, he gave me cortisone in both hips and told me that I should see how it feels if I kick when I swim at the pool. Since this started I have been swimming with a pull buoy because it caused pain in the beginning.  Well, I got the shots on Monday, road biked well on Tuesday, mountain biked well Wednesday, rested Thursday and
Friday after working all day in the New York heat and got to the pool after working Saturday.  I pulled for most of the short workout and only kicked freestyle for a short time.  Last night I woke up feeling like my bones were sticking out again, got out of bed and I could feel the weakness, pelvis tilting, same old crap.  I rode the road bike this morning and I had no strength and I could hardly turn my legs over.  So after waiting over six weeks I got three good workouts and now I'm back in the dumps!
Bilateral, Dr Scott Marwin, NYU Joint Disease Hosp, 11/15/11

Anniee

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Re: Hello Hippies
« Reply #18 on: July 24, 2011, 06:35:55 PM »
Hey Woodstock,

Cortisone shots do not fix OA!  I'm sorry you went through the shots with such short-lived results.  As for being too old, listen to Pat and the others.  I had mine a few months ago, and I am 65 and a woman.  Dr. Gross had no problem with my age or the fact that I'm a woman.  The hip doctor I saw before I found Dr. Gross also suggested cortisone shots, but I decided not to go that route because 1) the effect is temporary and 2) I was afraid if I couldn't feel the pain in my joint I would do too much and really mess it up!  Then Dr. Gross told me cortisone would have done nothing for my problem anyway!

As for the bone density issue, there are several medications that work very well to treat it, and I'm not at all convinced I will ever need a revision.  Time will tell, of course, by my doctor sees no reason why I should need one, unless I fall badly and break my hip.

I know how frustrating it is to not be able to work out as usual.  I also know that if you find out that you are a candidate for resurfacing, you will be able to do pretty much anything you want after the surgery.  Since you have to wait so long to see Dr. Su, I think you should take Pat's advice and e-mail Dr. Gross for an opinion.  It might make the wait less frustrating if you find out that you are a good candidate for resurfacing.

Hang in there!
Annie/ Right Uncemented Biomet 4-20-11/Left Uncemented Biomet 10-12-11/Dr. Gross

Lopsided

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Re: Hello Hippies
« Reply #19 on: July 24, 2011, 09:02:47 PM »
he gave me cortisone in both hips and told me that I should see how it feels

Do you really want your doctor to do experiments on you?



Proud To Be Dr. De Smet's First Uncemented Conserve Plus, Left, August 2010

 

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