I just finished my final pre-op medical clearance and I'm set for surgery with Dr. Callander in SF one week from today. I wanted to thank everyone on this forum for their participation and encouragement, as this site is really an outstanding resource.
When I was originally diagnosed with OA last September it was more of an annoyance than anything else. I could see from my x-rays that there was little cartilage left, but I thought I had years before contemplating surgery. I began looking into the alternatives to a THR that my local doctor had recommended (he doesn't do resurfacings), just to educate myself, and remembered that I read something about Dr. Bob Arnot resurfacing his hips. A search lead me to this site.
As I looked through the stories of athletes that had resurfacing done, I was struck by John C.'s story - how he went back to skiing 8 hours a day, 7 days a week. That knocked me over and was hugely inspiring. I live in a ski town and would have put up with any amount of pain to keep skiing - my local Dr. suggested that a THR would curtail my skiing. The idea that there was an alternative that would allow me to keep skiing - and do everything else I enjoy doing put my mind at ease, even though I still thought I was years away from an operation.
By mid-November I was forced to stop running because of the pain. I was amazed at how quickly my hips had degenerated and I realized that I was looking at an operation sooner rather than later. I thought at the time it would be both hips and I started reading what bi-lats were going through. That was right at the time that Woodstock Hippy had both of his hips done and I really focused on not just his recovery but his attitude towards recovery.
I met with Dr. Callander in early January and he suggested that I just get the right hip done - I still had some life left in the left hip. We scheduled the surgery for March 27, the end of the ski season, although here in Lake Tahoe the season didn't really get going this year until late February.
As I continued to read the various stories and postings I began to identify with triathlete98, a fellow triathlete who was having his operation just 2 weeks before mine. His questions were my questions and up until my final medical this morning I was dreading the call that "there is something wrong with something and we have to postpone the operation." That is because an operation like this brings on such conflicting emotions.
I haven't been in the hospital since I was born, about a hundred years ago, and I'm still a bit dismayed that my hip has failed. On the other hand there is no question that I need the operation - I've been reduced to using a cane for about a month. I'm kind of dreading going in the hospital while at the same time really looking forward to getting this done and moving forward.
I've mentioned three people but there are probably closer to a hundred whose feedback on various issues have really inspired me. I think it's helped me put together in my mind the approach that I want to take to recovery. I will try to push things without really pushing things, and do my best to do everything I can while not overdoing it - although I am sure I will occasionally overdo it. I was going back and forth on when I might be able to run again - and I really want to run again - but I have decided to wait a full year before I take that up again. Rick Rubio's recent post cemented that in my mind.
I think it likely I will be able to do some hiking this summer - and Lake Tahoe in the summer is gorgeous - and I should be able to do some road biking. I see skiing as my first "impact" sport and I will be 9 months or so post-op before I take that up - and I'll be thinking about you, John C.
In the meantime we got 100"+ of snow this last week and I can barely walk after skiing as much of it as possible yesterday. I'm taking today off to recover and will try to get one more day in before I head to the city on Friday. I'll write again from the other side.
Recent Posts
