Am I ready for a Hip Replacement?
I'm on the waitlist (Canada) for hip surgery and am going on 9 months now. I really am not looking forward to this surgery as I fear a big loss of my way of life. I ski pretty hard, dirtbike (trail), windsurf (poorly) and just got into Mtn Biking (including downhill). I'm 52. The Doc says my left hip is end of stage arthritis. I ache during the day but don't limp. Nights are the worst and the lack of sleep was getting to me but I just started taking a small amount of sleeping pill so am finally catching up on sleep and feel human again. I take small amounts of pain killers.
So, the clincher is, I get out on the hill and after a bit of warm up I can still ski hard- trees, bumps, whatever. I take breaks each run and I feel a bit awkward compared to normal and definitely am not up to my old level but no way am I handicapped.
So, the question is- is it possible to need a new hip when you can ski hard?? When the pain is less I definitely don't think so but then I'll have a few bad days. It's amazing though how I so quickly forget the bad times and pain/throbbing when I'm having a good time, even if it was just the day before. I seem to have no pain memory or is it that I'm just not ready yet?
Anyone else been there, done that? If so, how mobile were you and how much pain did you have before you finally got your hip done? Did you wish you waited longer? (i'm a total hip- they won't resurface me)
Thanks for any input
Carol