Ytcoinshooter link=topic=8284.msg94033#msg94033 date=1324661130 said:
People look at me strange when I use my handicap tag but if it's slick out, rain, snow or ice I will not take a chance of going down and dislodging a hip. I had severe pain for years due to having developed bad arthritis at age 40. I'm now 55 and 5 1/2 years out from the second surgery. I wasn't accurately diagnosed for 6 years because my Dr. found I had sciatica and I was just to live on pain meds. By 2003 I was in tears from the pain and always could tell the weather was changing. I'm talking about 24/7 pain, nothing helped and it was my constant companion. Sitting or lying down did not reduce the pain. I was still trying to detect marathon sessions in and out of the water despite being in agony full time. I still wonder how I did so well in finds when I was medicated to the stratosphere. You name it I was prescribed it. I chewed pain pills like tic-tacs with black coffee just to get to the shower and start my day.
Bell-Two, you can pm me or ask me here anything. You (and I) are lucky that today's hip replacements are advanced over what was available 20 years ago. Much of my hip problem was due to scoliosis resulting in one leg shorter than the other. I had an up and down gait when I walked and had worn holes in my left femur and pelvic bone. My first surgery also got my leg adjusted so both are the same length. Anything you want to know just ask. My life is great now. My back is arthritic but I can live with that compared to where I was in 2003.
One thing to think about is rehab during winter stinks because walking is the best and I had to go to an indoor
mall work it. But I thought I wouldn't miss detecting the following spring if I got it done in December. The right hip I decided to have done in fair weather. Took June 9 - Sept 6 off of work. 3 weeks before I was due back on the job I spent 2 weeks on Cape Cod water hunting in the ocean and found diamond rings and all the good stuff. It was great!
There are 90 day and lifetime precautions after this surgery.
HH-Bruce