First - thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your prayers and good thoughts. I'm kinda an old cranky guy so it's a little hard to tell you all; how much I appreciate all of your thoughts, prayers and occasional well deserved roastings.
Woke up Saturday with no pain in the hip joints for the first time in 12 years. That was like being in a room that was just too quiet - duino how else to describe it. The wierdest thing is that when I walk there is no more popping noise - LOL - used to keep me company.
The MD's at Scripps-Green were absolutely great. We went over everything together and made the 2nd surgery decision together. Hospital nursing staff were the most amazing people on the planet. Hats off to all the nurses who do it right. More stories to come on some of those nurses and what I saw them pull off in the surgery ward.
If anyone is an old hacker on here and knows what ICE is (WRT William Gibson) - I'll tell you a funny story about coming out of anasthesia on surgery #2. I won't bore everyone else.
Finally - THANK YOU ALL again for all of your prayers and thoughts.
Baby boomers are fueling an unprecedented growth in hip- and knee-replacement surgeries.
Some are hard-driving fitness buffs who ran, jumped, slid and dunked their way to injury and need their hip sockets and knee joints replaced with artificial ones. Others have worked at a joint-punishing job that took a toll.
Still others are couch potatoes who never met an exercise they liked and are paying the price for burdening their joints with excess body weight.
They all need new joints that will last the rest of their lives, or until they need a redo.
Georgia Arndt of Brewster, Minn., has worked in retail for 32 years. Last year, her knee pain became so great that she was able to work only three hours a day, though her normal Wal-Mart shift ran 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
"I could always tell when it was 10 o'clock, I was in so much pain," says Arndt, 60. She would leave her shift, go home, put her feet up and cry. "I was only 59; I shouldn't be in so much pain and crying."
She eventually decided to have her knee replaced last year and has found relief from the haunting pain.
Boomers, now ages 42 to 60, are getting joint replacements at earlier ages than their parents did. One reason is that people have more access to information and realize they don't have to live with pain, says Tim LeeBurton, an orthopedic surgeon at Sioux Valley Clinic-Van Demark Orthopedic Specialists in Sioux Falls who performed Arndt's surgery.
The quality of replacements is higher than it was 20 or 30 years ago, and the new device will likely last longer, he says.
"The old story was, (an implant) would last 10 years. But now studies are looking at implants that are older than 10 years and are still holding up," said Dr. Marc Rosen, an orthopedic surgeon in Glendale, Ariz.
In 2003, people ages 50 to 59 made up nearly 20 percent of total hip replacements, compared with 11 percent a decade earlier, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. The trend was similar for knee replacements.
"We have an active population getting hurt ... and these younger patients won't accept being in pain or giving up their lifestyles," said Dr. Neal Rockowitz, an orthopedic surgeon in Phoenix.
The academy predicts the demand for joint replacements will soar in the next 25 years, spurred by an aging population. The growth could outstrip the number of orthopedic surgeons available.
Also driving the trend: Doctors are more willing to agree to the surgery because medicine is more devoted to pain relief, and artificial-joint materials last longer. They now recommend patients who have arthritis and have lost or damaged cartilage undergo surgery sooner than later.
However, many younger boomers who demand knee replacements to alleviate pain are taking an unnecessary risk, some doctors say.
"Total joint replacement is a treatment modality for destroyed joints. Period. It doesn't matter whether you're 16 or 60," said Alex McLaren, an orthopedic surgeon who is creating an orthopedic surgery residency at Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center in Phoenix.
But performed too soon on the wrong patient, it is a prescription for trouble. The joint could wear out, leading to more pain, a second replacement with less bone to work with and less mobility.
"If you can't tie your shoes, can't walk a city block, those are the indications for surgery," McLaren said. "Not because they (patients) get pain on the back nine (holes of golf), and they can't make par 3."
Arthritis in Arndt's right knee had destroyed the joint, causing bone to rub on bone. She developed hip pain as a result of her compromised knee and received cortisone shots in each hip to quell the pain, but the relief didn't last.
A joint replacement was her last option.
"I never thought I'd get a joint replaced at (age) 59. When you're young, you think you're going to live forever, but then you start feeling aches and pains. And arthritis runs in my family. My grandfather had severe arthritis at age 28."
Arndt got her new knee a year ago. She was in the hospital for a couple of days and walked to therapy the day after surgery. She gained relief immediately, with total pain relief coming within 4 to 6 months.
"I walk a lot and lift a lot. I must walk about 12 miles, all over the store on concrete floors," Arndt says.
Being able to do her job without pain "is like a miracle."
"Before surgery, Dr. LeeBurton asked me what my goal was," Arndt says. She answered, "to dance again."
Now, co-workers ask her why she's so happy at work.
All good advice Dmiller. I agfree completely with all of the cautions, thanks for providing. Those same cautions have been passed on through my various PCP's over the last twenty years or so. All said the same thing - wait as longas you can and keep an eye on the technology. Pain was not the deciding factor for me. I have learned to live with that 24/7 over a decade ago. It was when I lost the mobility to get fully dressed without help; coupled with the fact that the latest technology is looking at 20 years of good use; that I made my decision.
So... thanks for your post that urges caution - I would urge the same. I'm available to discuss the issues but in the end I will not provide anything other than my personal experience and will suggest refering any questions to a good ortho-surgeon.
Since Jard asked for the first dance, does that mean I get the second one?
I am so glad that your doctor and nurses were wonderful to you, it always makes me smile to know that most....(most) people of my chosen profession are within that realm...and most mean very well within their core being.
Pain was not the deciding factor for me. I have learned to live with that 24/7 over a decade ago. It was when I lost the mobility to get fully dressed without help; coupled with the fact that the latest technology is looking at 20 years of good use; that I made my decision.
Something just dawned on me when I saw RR's name as being on GS tonight. How true it is that there are things that can be worse than physical pain. I think a lot of them involve freedom. In this case the freedom to be mobile and do things for yourself(and others), but I can think of other examples as well.
Someone could be thinking, well, what if that physical pain were carried to an extreme degree? Maybe a good point, but the same can be said of other things. To avoid going off in a tangent, I will refrain from elaborating. I am sure most others, if they agree, can think of plenty of examples.
In this light, we can be even happier for RR. Maybe, in reciprocation, a little like that big smile he gave me (I bet he doesn't remember) after I gave a certain recitation at a corps meeting. ( I remember too much).
BTW thanks David for taking the time to put the actual post on the thread, instead of just my lousy link.
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RumRunner
Back in the GSC saddle again.
First - thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your prayers and good thoughts. I'm kinda an old cranky guy so it's a little hard to tell you all; how much I appreciate all of your thoughts, prayers and occasional well deserved roastings.
Woke up Saturday with no pain in the hip joints for the first time in 12 years. That was like being in a room that was just too quiet - duino how else to describe it. The wierdest thing is that when I walk there is no more popping noise - LOL - used to keep me company.
The MD's at Scripps-Green were absolutely great. We went over everything together and made the 2nd surgery decision together. Hospital nursing staff were the most amazing people on the planet. Hats off to all the nurses who do it right. More stories to come on some of those nurses and what I saw them pull off in the surgery ward.
If anyone is an old hacker on here and knows what ICE is (WRT William Gibson) - I'll tell you a funny story about coming out of anasthesia on surgery #2. I won't bore everyone else.
Finally - THANK YOU ALL again for all of your prayers and thoughts.
Best,
D
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dmiller
Welcome home. :)
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krys
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excathedra
so very happy to hear, dear rummie
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Lifted Up
Yea.....
:) :) :) :) :) :) :)
Thought of you today when a story appeared in the local paper about joint replacement. Here it is, or for at least as long as the link is good...
Joint Replacement Story
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dmiller
Joint replacement story ---
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I Love Bagpipes
Rejoicing with you!
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RumRunner
All good advice Dmiller. I agfree completely with all of the cautions, thanks for providing. Those same cautions have been passed on through my various PCP's over the last twenty years or so. All said the same thing - wait as longas you can and keep an eye on the technology. Pain was not the deciding factor for me. I have learned to live with that 24/7 over a decade ago. It was when I lost the mobility to get fully dressed without help; coupled with the fact that the latest technology is looking at 20 years of good use; that I made my decision.
So... thanks for your post that urges caution - I would urge the same. I'm available to discuss the issues but in the end I will not provide anything other than my personal experience and will suggest refering any questions to a good ortho-surgeon.
Best,
RR
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prayingfordaylight
So rumrunner....
Since Jard asked for the first dance, does that mean I get the second one?
I am so glad that your doctor and nurses were wonderful to you, it always makes me smile to know that most....(most) people of my chosen profession are within that realm...and most mean very well within their core being.
Welcome back!!
Dawn
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sogwap51
Glad you're back and healthy Rum!!!! Won't ask for a dance as my card seems to be full....
as is yours 
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Lifted Up
Something just dawned on me when I saw RR's name as being on GS tonight. How true it is that there are things that can be worse than physical pain. I think a lot of them involve freedom. In this case the freedom to be mobile and do things for yourself(and others), but I can think of other examples as well.
Someone could be thinking, well, what if that physical pain were carried to an extreme degree? Maybe a good point, but the same can be said of other things. To avoid going off in a tangent, I will refrain from elaborating. I am sure most others, if they agree, can think of plenty of examples.
In this light, we can be even happier for RR. Maybe, in reciprocation, a little like that big smile he gave me (I bet he doesn't remember) after I gave a certain recitation at a corps meeting. ( I remember too much).
BTW thanks David for taking the time to put the actual post on the thread, instead of just my lousy link.
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