| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Pop |
Posted - 15 Jan 2015 : 1:04:42 PM
.... on the subject of hip replacement? How long does it take to recover? How long would it be before its possible to ride again, specifically a quiet pony?
Anyone know anything about this issue? :)
Thanks in advance  |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Pasch |
Posted - 07 Feb 2015 : 02:57:01 AM
I am sorry to hear about latest developments Pop,although you always manage to make me smile,too.
I would say you can't afford to wait until April unless you are determined to suffer and find yourself unable to walk and having to crawl…I am afraid that is what you will do anyway hard headed as you are 
Wilz needs some serious groundwork when you recover  |
| Pop |
Posted - 06 Feb 2015 : 12:02:48 PM
The paperwork went missing, apparently this is entirely the fault of the computer ...hmmmmm
I don't think it will be an appointment based thing now, bits keep falling off, which is very painful, but more importantly, every time this seems to happen, it gets that bit more unstable, The joint seems to wobble when i walk, so I just use it like a stick, but it simply refuses to follow my instructions; its most annoying, I tell a the body part to move, and it just totally ignores me. I say, lift my foot and place in in the foot-well of the car, nothing, it just stands there, no reaction whatsoever, so I have to lift it in, never known such blatant defiance from a body part ever. Very spooky.
I have morphine strategically placed in the places i'm most often, ready for a collaspe. Not an ideal situation at all.
I cannot see it lasting more than a month, but if I slip or anything, then i think it will be considerably quicker. I'm avoiding mud, ice and Wilz, which I've identified as the real danger zones.
I caught Mats watching me walk a few weeks ago, she seem puzzled, and since then she has stopped her habit of wiggling her upper lip on me (arms, head anything really, she wiggles it, and it gets harder the more I ignore it). She no longer waits for me to put a finger on her to indicate what/where I want her to move, she just seems to anticipate and move before I ask. Sadly Wilz continues to charge around like a little tank, totally disrespectful of space, unless its her own.
If I were accused of not dealing with compromised mobility well, I'm afraid I would have to agree. 
ETA: Mud, Ice, Wilz and Haynets. The haynets have conspired to bring me down. They sit and watch, appoint an assassin, who anchors the bottom on something, then the string creeps along the ground and wraps itself around my ankle, as soon as I start to walk, it yanks hard, they have no compassion. |
| RUTHIE |
Posted - 06 Feb 2015 : 08:06:56 AM
Lets us know how you get on and the best of luck to you #128515; |
| Quarabian |
Posted - 05 Feb 2015 : 6:49:28 PM
Good luck Pop. I'll be thinking of you. |
| Pop |
Posted - 28 Jan 2015 : 3:09:11 PM
Thanks Quarabian.
Yes, I really need it done, it gradually got much worse, and I had to abandon my plan to ride as a treat, it was absolutely horrible, then I had a night of such pain, words fail me to describe it, but after, it was very much better. My theory is that there was a bit of collapsed bone lurking, and that it moved, hence the pain then relief. I will not go thru that again, i really won't, so I will be assertive and demanding. The best time would be end of March/Beginning of April, when there are not so many heavy jobs, I can get help then for a while, I just hope it lasts that long. So long as it stay as it is now, I think I can manage
The thought of a hip replacement make me feel very old, but the thought of no pain mobility is just so very very nice, would be so so good, I'm looking forward to that. |
| Quarabian |
Posted - 27 Jan 2015 : 4:28:32 PM
Hi Pop, you have brought me out of lurk mode to comment.
If you need a hip replacement then you need it done asap. No good worrying about when you will be able to ride, if you dont have it done you probably wont be able to ride anyway. Hats off to you for your perseverence while suferng a fracture, but now you know what needs to be done you dont get my congrats for suffering any longer. Do the right thing however long it keeps you from riding you will definately be back!! |
| Misshana |
Posted - 25 Jan 2015 : 12:07:58 PM
My friend had both hips replaced in her 50's, done separately not at same time. She had metal joints which she now has to have checked yearly. I will ask her how long she didn't ride but she is very determined and was back in saddle soon as possible. She was told to always try and mount from block and not ground. She's now in 60's and still riding daily, mucking out and doing everything as before .
As I said, she's very determined and even backed/started her young New Forest pony herself and now hacks and schools him regularly. |
| Goldenmane |
Posted - 22 Jan 2015 : 5:42:58 PM
Pop, no words of wisdom except you sound like you're going to be a terrible patient....worse than I was when I hurt my back and was in hospital. Listen to your body. Better 6 months off riding than a lifetime. I'd love to hear your stories!!  |
| Pop |
Posted - 21 Jan 2015 : 6:10:55 PM
Yes Barbara, I agree. I hate taking any medications. I have to carry a Steroid User Notice, I guess that makes me a sort of Junkie. I think I would attempt to give them up if it was just the hip, but the steroids are for a different thing, and I think they make the hip feel better as a side affect. I'm taking so much stuff atm its depressing. I'm so concerned I'm even reading the leaflets that come with drugs,
Have you ever done that, read the leaflets? Why is it that the list of side affects is exactly the same as the list of things they are supposed to treat????
And you know the ones that tell you not to drive, well of course we all tend to ignore that; here's the thing, if you are taking two or more that say 'Don't drive', it should be changed to "Hey, really really don't drive, I mean it now, do not drive". lol
I could tell you some stories .....  |
| barbara.gregory |
Posted - 21 Jan 2015 : 3:18:04 PM
Pop, high dose steroids ARE NOT A GOOD IDEA long term. They mask the problem rather than sort it.
Good luck with whatever you have done but doing nothing doesn't really sound like an option.
Barbara |
| Pop |
Posted - 20 Jan 2015 : 11:21:05 AM
Great AL feedback. I'm working on a plan that gets me back riding within 2/3 months, but of course all my other joints are fine, which is not usually the case for replacement patients, because its so often arthritis and has an effect on more than one joint, and if I can get the op soon, I will have fitness. This is going downhill fast as each day I'm less mobile :)
I'm now working on the pre-op riding plan, which is I think possible as my steroids will now be increased to spooky no pain level. I think riding less dangerous than trying to explain to Wilz that I just deliver the food, I don't want any of it for myself, and there is no need whatsoever to behave in such a rude manner whilst trying to prevent me taking a mouthful of her food. And there is no need to ram me against the stable wall to remind me that she is not happy that I might be inclined to eat some of her food. Whilst I have been seen with a mouthful of hay, this is purely accidental.
 |
| kofihorse |
Posted - 19 Jan 2015 : 9:13:00 PM
Also,I believe that different surgeons use different styles/types of replacement. A friend of mine was told that she would never be able to ride after a hip replacement so she got a second opinion from another surgeon and he said that the type he used would be fine - and so it is,she is riding again but I can't remember how long it took. |
| barbara.gregory |
Posted - 16 Jan 2015 : 10:26:56 PM
I too need a new hip. I have put it off for the moment as I have a foalie due early July so I need to be OK for that. I have been for physio although I now don't attend, just on the books and ring if I need to go again. I went to get the correct exercises as the stronger you are before the op the quicker and better you heal. My physio was very surprised and said I was very strong (tussling with half a ton of stallion does tend to make you strong!) and to keep up the exercises and get back to her when I was ready to go on the list for a replacement. I thought about next Christmas and then it could be done April/May time 2016; easier for the horses as they could live out for the summer.
I was told that you can't do certain movements and mustn't bend down as the hip could pop out, no use with a foal as one needs to get down with them. Good luck with yours, Pop. Our post lady had hers done last year, goes with the job now they have vans, and she was only in overnight but said it was 6 months before she was fully operational again but I thing for me 4 months sounds doable, a lot better than 6.
Barbara |
| Vik1 |
Posted - 16 Jan 2015 : 5:44:42 PM
'6 months !!!!!! That doesn't work for me.'
Spoken like a true horsewoman! lol |
| RUTHIE |
Posted - 16 Jan 2015 : 12:16:54 PM
You will know what feels right and what dosen't. We have recently changed Fey's saddle for a medium wide from a medium as she has changed shape through age ( I can relate to that one!). OH felt the difference on his hip even now. His hip was done as he had bone on bone grating...he walked like a duck in pain. He now is pain free. Occasionally, the right hip reminds him another one will be needed.
Take care of yourself, be patient both pre and post op....yes Mum.
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| Pop |
Posted - 16 Jan 2015 : 11:27:32 AM
Callisto, legs pretty much flap in the wind anyway, and you have me imagining a new hip in ceramic with a little picture of characters from Wind in the Willows on it.
Thanks Ruthie.
I don't know when it will be yet. I'm expecting an appointment with a specialist to come thru soon. It was a bit of a shock, they were looking for arthritis to confirm a rather nasty autoimmune disorder, and I was so elatated that it wasn't the one they thought it was that I didn't ask all the questions I should; and I was also quite shocked that its so bad that the only solution is replacement, It was something about no blood supply and dead bone.
But now I'm a bit concerned and curious, in a few days my steroid medication will be doubled, and I'm sure from previous times at that level, I won't feel much pain at all from the hip. When I suggested that I could carry on as normal once the pain was removed, the doctor raised her eyebrows and said that was not a solution at all. So now I'm wondering if I do carry on as normal and ignore it, might it snap or break off or something?
I'm not sure now if she meant that wasn't a long term solution or that to carry on as normal including riding was something I shouldn't be doing. And then of course who do I ride, Billy is small and narrow, but he does need a fair amount of leg work, Zar is a barrel and would freak at being mounted from the wrong side, Mats is tall and narrow and is so smooth that even a spook is smooth and graceful, and I can ride her on just voice, but she has the potential of go batsh*t if the mood takes her.
I've not ridden since Xmas Eve, and I was rather hoping to ride soon, as a treat, but now I'm not sure if the issue is pain or further damage.
I was all focused on what happens after the replacement, now I'm wondering what happens before. |
| RUTHIE |
Posted - 16 Jan 2015 : 08:34:53 AM
Ceramic is the hardest material to use....can last 15 years. There has been reports of the metal type ones where tiny fragments have been found to cause damage as they shear off. Yes you need to do the exercises to repair the muscle and keep it strong. No you won't clink....the best to have. Don't settle for anything else. Good luck Pop....when are you having it done? |
| Callisto |
Posted - 15 Jan 2015 : 10:55:43 PM
I thought ceramic meant similar to those whizzy new frying pans that are very slidey - superior non stick, rather than something made from something similar to a high class teapot, but forgive me if I am wrong. Sounds painful Pop, and I hope you have the best outcome possible, and don't overdo it too soon, the thought of you being stuck on a horse with your leg dangling in the wind because it has popped out of its socket sounds very painful  |
| Pop |
Posted - 15 Jan 2015 : 10:11:32 PM
Thank you Ruthie, I guess I will have to learn to balance sensible with impatient ...
Ceramic sounds good, will I not clink as I walk thou?
And another hopefully sensible question, I'm thinking that I should try to maintain strong muscles, guessing that would be significant in recovery. Is it worth pushing thru discomfort to keep strong muscles? |
| RUTHIE |
Posted - 15 Jan 2015 : 7:44:30 PM
Sure it would hurt and back into surgery for repair. I worked on a ward where THR was a regular thing. I use to take care of the patient post op. It's important in the care of post op healing....avoiding wound and bone infection. Just my opinion and experience. Perhaps I was too cautious, but my husbands recovery was brilliant. Time is needed for the implant to bed in. Ceramic is the best to have btw. |
| Pop |
Posted - 15 Jan 2015 : 7:32:18 PM
Hmmmm, the ball coming out of the socket thought made me wince a bit. Would that hurt, or would your leg just dangle? Would they just put it back, or is it a bit more complicated than that.? |
| RUTHIE |
Posted - 15 Jan 2015 : 7:26:38 PM
Hi Pop....he said about four months after surgery he thought he could ride again. |
| RUTHIE |
Posted - 15 Jan 2015 : 7:24:56 PM
We all heal differently. I was just cautious, because in the early days, the ball can slip out of the socket. Also time is good as this is pretty invasive surgery and it would be a shame to rush things. I watched a THR once when I worked on the wards. A lot of hammering and sawing. I still feel 6/12 is a good time frame for healing. Down to the individual in the long run I suppose. My husband said no way riding after 6 weeks post op. What would happen if you fell off so close after surgery....I shudder at the thought. |
| lulu |
Posted - 15 Jan 2015 : 7:23:41 PM
OH had a hip replacement about 2 years ago wear and tear from being a postie. Our local doctors sent him private. He was in on the Saturday and out Sunday morning. Had to wear dreadful socks for a few weeks and not drive for 6 weeks but he sneaked outbefore that. He had exercises to do he walked round the village and was back to normal within a couple of months. Had to take several pills but that gradually cut down as well. Good luck. |
| Pop |
Posted - 15 Jan 2015 : 7:22:42 PM
Ruthie, thank you. Can he recall when he felt able to ride again, rather than when you lifted your (well advised I think) 6 month restriction? |
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