Feeling a Bit Bionic These Days
 

Just had my 6 week visit to the surgeon for my 2nd hip replacement. I'm off all restrictions - whoopee.

Looking at the new Xrays, now with metal contraptions on both sides - I look strangely "normal". Like this was the way I came from the factory.

Now I just need some new Bilsteins and I'm set.

What happens at airport or building security when you pass through a metal detector?

B

Do you put on weight or lose weight after a hip replacement?

Depends on what airport...

I'm not sure if all hip replacement parts are titanium, but I was told when I had my 5 level cervical fusion in 2004 (which left me with 10 screws (c4,c5,c6,c7,t1) and 2 rods that titanium did not trigger metal detectors? They did give me a card to carry saying I had orthopedic implants in case.

I'm hoping to wait for further advances in med. tech. that will coat the bone to bone areas in the hip with teflon or something. They are doing that with some success in knee operations and other joints, I read a while ago.

I've got one of those cards that suposedly gives me a free pass. Haven't tried it yet. I'll loan it to the highest bidder.;)

I lost some, but I don't think it was from the replacement. Seriously - I saw a lot of overweight people who were getting replacements (hips and knees). Not my case, but it's a strong argument for watching your weight. And not being overweight has made recovery much easier.

My father-in-law is extremely reluctant to get his knees upgraded to version 2.0. He's in his 70's and has had a recent (last year) bipass surgery. Except for the knee thing he is very active and maintains a highly productive 2 acre garden, of which I enjoy the fruits and wish to continue doing so.

His orthopedic surgeon and cardiologist both tell him he's a reasonable risk and that his life will be dramatically improved.

What convinced you guys to go for it? Would you do it over?

I'm looking for a lever.

Bot

I'm 55 and THRILLED I had the surgery. I recommend it to everyone (need it or not).

BTW, they WILL do 2 knees at the same time, but generally not 2 hips - which is why I had to wait for my 2nd hip.

What is said about knee replacement is to get both done at the same time. It's supposedly pretty painful, and once you do one, you won't want to get the other one done. (I'm not sure if this is the lever you want.)

OTOH, I strongly recommend the surgery. I spent a lot of time in hospital and rehab talking to people who had hips and knees done. Quality of life is much improved, and the daily pain is gone.... And lifespan for the replacements is 15-20 years, depending on how you abuse them.

Make sure he goes to a good hospital that does them frequently.

Here's a link to the USNWR top ranking Ortho hospitals.

http://health.usnews.com/usnews/health/best-hospitals/search.php?spec=ihqorth

I used Hospital for Special Surgery NYC, which is the top-ranked on the survey, and I STRONGLY recommend them. According to the survey, they have done the most hip and knee procedures (10K+) in the last 3 years. Mayo Clinic was about the same, and then the rest on the survey were no more than 5K or less. Local hospitals (which I was recommended to by my MD) probably FAR less.

There was something very good about the way this was handled as a routine thing - they clearly know what they were doing. (Not in an Earl Scheib paintjob way.) There are a number of surgeons who do the procedure there, and I never heard a complaint about any of them.

A side benefit is that the mortality rate from the procedure at HSS (per the survey) is off the chart on the low end, compared to even the other hospitals on the survey, which is nice to know if you are intending to leave the hospital in a vertical orientation.

My $.02.