Well, it is now exactly 5 weeks until the first hip replacement… by this time in just 5 weeks, I may be knocked out and having my femur cut about and an implant put in place. Scary. It’s definitely crept up on me, it doesn’t seem that long ago I was saying ‘in a few months time, I’ll be having my hip replaced’, and now it seems the day is very very close! Eek!
I have decided that I need to make the most of the last 5 weeks of having both of my own hips though and the freedom of not being in recovery from surgery… so I will be doing as much driving about to see people and having fun as I can fit in around work! Hopefully there won’t be any issues brought up from the pre-admission appointment to interrupt my time before surgery!
35 days to go…
x
(I won’t delete posts, but this has now changed… see the ‘Change of Plan’ post!)
Life with Pseudoachondroplasia 
I’ve just discovered your blog, congratulations on having the courage to share your journey with others. I too have PSACH, I live in Western Australia. I have had both hips replaced; life is definitely better with newies. Facing major surgery is horrible and scary, especially because we are more complicated and take longer to recover, so I’m glad you will be making the most of your remaining 5 weeks, only to emerge in 6 months hopefully a new you. I found lots of hydrotherapy to be the most helpful in my recovery, and Feldenkrais to help change all the old habits of walking and moving with bad hips. May your surgery be successful! Best wishes
Thank you for your message Suchita, it’s so good to hear from someone who has had both replaced that there is light at the end of the tunnel! I’m going to have to look up what Feldenkrais is (I wonder if it’s something I should have heard of?!) but thank you for the recovery tips too! If you don’t mind me asking, how long ago did you have both hips replaced? x
Dear Ruby, I had my hips replaced in 1999, I had one done and then 9 weeks later the other, though mine were not as bad as yours appear to be from your xray. It took me about 6 months to be ready to be out in the world working again. Feldenkrais is a body therapy that has had the single most important impact on improving the functioning of my body (apart from swimming 4 times a week), and so helping me find greater ease, I highly recommend it. I go to someone who is qualified in both Physiotherapy and Feldenkrais and it is the most powerful combination.
9 weeks later? That’s quite soon isn’t it! If you don’t mind me asking, have you been left with any leg length discrepancy? (If you’d rather email me privately, just say and I’ll give you my email address!) I’ve been told that’s a risk for me.
I will definitely look into this Feldenkrais, sounds like it did you the world of good 🙂 And the swimming seems like a positive move too, I enjoy it anyway! x
Yes 9 weeks was fairly soon, but I was determined to get it all over with as soon as possible, since I had stopped my life to have them done, so I worked towards that. Thankfully I ended up with equal leg lengths, which my surgeon worked carefully to get. Mine was fairly straightforward, whereas yours looks more complicated, hence longer recovery and possible other outcomes. But you may surprise the doctors with a quicker recovery. Whatever the outcome I am sure you will have a much better functioning hip that will not be as painful anymore, and you will be able to deal with any other outcomes. What preparations are you doing for the surgery, apart from having a good time?
Hmm well I wonder at what point ‘within 6 months’ after the first op my second hip will be done? I suppose time will tell!
Well, as long as it’s less painful (and equal lengths) I’ll be happy… having to get a built up shoe is one more problem I could do without! haha!
I haven’t done any other preparations – nothing has been mentioned to me… do you have any suggestions? x
Yes here’s hoping you don’t have to wait a whole 6 months to get on with the 2nd op, and yes you have enough to deal with without having legs of different length. But whatever happens I’m sure you will deal with it as you have everything else in your life. I don’t know if any of what I do before surgery would work for you, especially now so close to the surgery, but I went to see a physiotherapist at the hospital and got exercises to do in the water, in addition to my swimming, to get me in peak physical condition, and to start the hydro early, to get various muscles working better. I also added to my usual supplements (calcium, vitamin D, turmeric, fish oil) with vitamins E and C, magnesium and arnica to help with healing after the surgery. None of this was mentioned by doctors, while they of course have excellent skills I find their perspective limited and have gone wider for advice and support. Doing everything I can to be in peak condition really helps with my worrying mind, that I have done all I can before I give myself into the hands of the surgeon. Good luck!
Thanks for your reply…. I reckon it’s probably a bit late for me to try all that, so I’ll have to rely on my body doing it’s best! Thanks for sharing your experience though, I hope your hips last a long time!!
I’m sure you’ll be fine, and besides you have youth on your side.