My ski career may be over

 Just got word from my orthopedist that i need to have total hip replacement surgery . Have had hip bursitis on and off for damn near 25 yrs .

The last 3 months have been tough the ache has been constant and nothing touches it so had xray done and im now down to Bone on Bone and surgery is now necessary . It is up to me as to when. To schedule it and is based. Solely on my ability to withstand pain . i am not afraid of this after surviving open heart surgery 6 yrs ago and skiing my butt off till now .

BUT iam bummed out about maybe having to give the sport up

Been very physically active all my life as matter of fact the Queen of the Hop and i were treated last week for our 50 th Wedding anniversary with a great week at our original honeymoon resort in the DACKs . Our adult children and all the grandkids treated us to the week and all came for the week and we kayaked the Fulton Chain of Lakes it was awesome

BUT was climbing stairs quite a bit and was in some nasty ache  at the beginning of this week  . After a couple days rest it was lessened and GO figure shot my best round of golf a 74 this week .

So lately i have been researching various forums on the topis of skiing after toal hip replacement and have found several th:eads citing people who have done so . Their is a STEEL HIP SKIERS Club near Boston founded by a dentist

SO I AM MORE MOTIVATED NOW t!!     may do it this fall skip the 2016  season , rehab long and strong and come back in 2017 . When i do come back id be 73 and would have to slow it down and stay on the easy stuff BUT that is  a preferable way to go since i absolutely DETEST the idea of giving this great sport up dammit !

Best of luck Warp.  73 is young.

Damn, sorry to hear that WD. That said I know you'll come out of this stronger and keep skiing. NO WAY can a little hip surgery keep an ole Ax Man like yourself down.

RAWK ON BRO

I know several people with total hip replacements who ski almost every day during regular season. One guy you can hardly tell, he was skiing after 3 months of recovery.

Warp... You may be old as dirt but you'll have a brand new shiny hip beneath that wrinkly skin!  And we all know true beauty is below the skin.



With an attitude like that, you'll find just fine!

Thanx guys u r the best , lots of motivation to keep me stoked thru rehab and  i will continue to stay tuned and Live vicariously  thru all your skiing antics this 2016 season as i rehab for next season .

I am Rapidly forming the opinion that the mental part of getting on the boards again will be the only challenge , the fitness issue wil not be a concern at all .. Thanks again for the positivity !! You guys rock .

 


Me and my son and one of my grandboys kayaking last week on our 50th anniversary

 

 our  50 th Anniversary , 4th Lake. At The Woods Inn

See you on the slopes Warp.

Physical therapy and dedication to it.   Best of luck with the operation, should that go well, you will be back.  As an aside, how awesome is medical technology?/!!!!

Warp Daddy: In the gym where I work, there's an 82-year-old who's still skiing.  Never say never, and don't be afraid to ask for a second opinion if you think it's warranted.

The link below is to a searchable database on surgeon effectiveness/rate of complications following surgery.  Like, whose patients have a higher rate of infection following a major surgery.  Interesting stuff.  https://projects.propublica.org/surgeons/

Best wishes for a successful outcome.

Warp, train hard and keep up the Positive Mental Attitude - I think you got about 25 years left on the slopes.

If your other leg is strong enough and the timing in your rehab is right you might be able to try some one leg skiing using outriggers that single leg folks use.  I did it after I tore my acl but before surgery.  It was fun stuff.

Sit skiing also might be an option.  Check with the adaptive section of Titus ski school.

For what it's worth, I was told by an orthopedist in NYC that you can minimize your chance of complications be selecting a surgeon that specializes is your specific injury. That is, a lower extremity specialist in your case vs. a general orthopedist.

With a little luck and some PT you'll be back on the slopes.

tom

Isn't there also some stem cellish treatment ? I've seen one for some sort of hip ailment.

warp fom a new/old hippy - don't let it bring you down! your positive outlook and determination will make your hip replacement a breeze! like all have said pre/post op pt is the key - stretch and walk like a mofo!

I got my new hip a few weeks after the end of last ski season (4/28) and am at about 90%. I have been back on the bike since mid june and even went for my first mtb ride this past weekend. I plan on being back on skates and skis in the next few months. review your expectations with your ortho and make sure they are up to date on their technique  - anterior/lateral vs posterior -   if not find another. since finding out I need a replacement I have spoke with lots of folks from ages 35-80 that have total hip replacements and are riding, skating and skiing better than ever!

I've talked to plenty of plenty of people at Gore who are on new hips and still hitting it.  Helped a guy out of a bank on Open Pit last year.  He was not able to pop his skis because he was worried about his 4 month old hip.  I helped him pop them, got him up, and he headed down the hill and straight to Lies.  

You can do it, don't let anyone tell you that you can't.  I had my shoulder totally rebuilt when I was 13... the key to the whole thing is PT.  Do your PT.  Do as much as you can.  It is going to hurt like hell but as long as you push you can get there.  Get in the OR ASAP and get it over with.  No point in delaying.  Most surgeons try to get people to wait as long as possible because they know they won't do all the PT.  You are the opposite... and make sure your surgeon and your physical therapist knows that.  

Thanks again to one and all , the info and inspirational stories of others who have made the comeback journey are great motivation . As i have said before after the open heart surgery ' THIS is not as daunting to me .

 PT will actually be a social event for me since we have been in THAT gym 2/3 times a week for the past 6plus yrs since the heart adventure .

thanks again guys. Ur the best  !

Campy you and the Birdman o The Dacks better  watch out .

with all the damn downtime this i gonna have winter i MAY be lookin to sharpen up mah  FOOOZY. Skills. N'dethrone you two at da FOOZ table ....... Hey .ya NEVER know  

them fooze players only have one leg!  

you will be back on the mtn for sure!