My ski career may be over

Chris wrote

Where does he operate

On hips

Chris : I am on the board at. Claxton Hepburn Medical Center in Ogdensburg , a gew yrs ago we recruited my orthopedist Dr . Thomas Herzog from Florida when he had done beaucoup joint replacement surguries over the decades .

He has done several friends and our prior CEO and current one have observed him and are very high on his talent ,process and high quality outcomes.  My primary doc and cardiologist has said if he or anyone in his family needed joint replacement Dr Herzog would be doing the surgery , again he is excellant

He is a skier goes annually out west to ski and understands the insanity  he cautions to be careful and will not reccommend it to newbies but with. Skilled skiers he simply urges caution .
 

To totally CLARIFY : Dr Herzog does not reccommend downhill skiing after surgery but cautions experienced and skilled skiers that if you ski exercise control , speed and caution on the hill

that's awesome warp glad the ticker checks out! Last weekend I got out on the skates for the first time with the new hip (I coach my sons varsity hockey team), a little tentative for the first few minutes but pretty much forgot about it after 15 minutes. So much more power and mobility than last season, can't wait to ski!

I think the real challenge will be to keep reminding myself I really ought to take it easy...

Good luck on the 12th!

Gorgo so happy to hear that you are back on ice and raring to go , just stay in control my man .

i know THAT is always my struggle too always want to just "point 'em south and let 'em run "

2016 has been a tough year and may  just put an end to my skiing for good .

After undergoing Total hip replacement in OCT of 2015  i have had 14 months of serious deep ache in the groin, upper thigh and backside . I have always been in great shape and was expected to breeze thru this but i am now officially an outlier in the data for this situation . MY ortho 25 yrs of doing these operations in both Florida , the Navy  and here has never seen a case like mine ....ugh

I have had several interventions of various therapies and procedures all to no avail . All xrays , ultrasounds taken thru out the process including yesterday show the device firmly implanted with no loosening and a myriad of other tests including a biopsy for a swollen lymph node in the groin were negative .

They initially six months ago diagnosed  a psoas tendon issue ( hip flexor ) ..nope .  Then they suspected it was the ileo inguinal nerve  and branches issue . Well i had two nerve block shots ... No improvement .  I am on a cane yet , six months ago i could walk 1-13/4  WITHOUT  totally depending onthe damn cane    .

Today my first 25 steps make me look like a frankenstein monster , then i can go with the cane . The very deep ache has been constant for 14 months , i can be at ease sleeping , driving. Or in a chair , but movement is a bitch .

The main issue now seems primarily in the upper thigh and outside portion of the  upper thigh. My bone densirty is awsome , my knees are both in great shape ..so now they think its muscular

So now i am being referred to a suoer group in Saratoga with a doc who specializes in hip redo  operations after THR . The game plan would be confirmation ofthe musle issue or to find out if something else is driving the issue and the third option WHICH I HOPEIS NECESSARY a second operation.

In addition to this bs i had two hospitalizations for previously undiagnosed Atrial Flutterwhich is now under control . 2016 has been a real challenge ..

.hell 8 yrs ago when i had open heart surgery THAT WAS  a CAKEWALK , was skiing 4 months later , but this groin/ leg thing has been nasty


Bottom line i want to  walk again with no pain and play golf , but IFa second operation is necessary , my ski days arehistory





     

I typed the damn thing wrong , i hope a second operation is NOT. Necessary

That's sad WD. WTH? I really hope it works out for you. Pain sucks.

You're one tough cookie Warp!! Don't put the cart before the horse and go see this other Doc. Who knows what he will find, say or recommend. I sending nothing but ++++++++vibes+++++++ your way pards

Plus it's almost 2017 so you can tall 2016 to kiss your ass!!

Thanks Camp. And snowballs , 

Yup  i am generally a pretty positive guy and still am .And yeah  Campy , as an ole dumb jock i can take pain . I always played hurt especially in football ( told ya i weren't that bright, bwaa haha ) but this beotch needs to get resolved .

 I am  mentally tough enough to handle what ever the hell the outcome is BUT like all you guys ...DAMN i  freaking LOVE  to ski  and hate the thought that it may end . Shit my conditioning  was light years ahead of most my age , but the old machine is showing some balkiness now and im fighting it best i can .

Ill be out there at Titus with my boys and grandboys at Christmas ,when they all come her efor a week . they can bomb the hill and ole Warpy will ski Mahogany Ridge waiting for 'em .

WD....hoping the new doc finds you some solutions and relief!  Sorry to hear it's been such a rough go.  Praying for you.

There ya go!!!

With your positive attitude and being in shape hopefully they'll get the pain figured out and you'll be back on the hill.

Why is it that if you have to have another hip surgery (i hope you don't unless it will help you) do they tell you skiing will be 100% out??

Camp the best way i can explain is both my primary doc and my ortho ARE skiers . They understand the drive , but they are both of the opinion that a second surgery may be extremly difficultto both do and result in stability enough for skiing .

Here's  an analogy: providing one has good bone density on the first surgery     Its like setting a fence post in really firm well compacted soil when they drill out the bone and insert the device and let the bone grow back . BUT a second surgery is like putting a the implant into sandy loam ( the bone was already drilled out onceso is compromised when the original implant is replaced) the secondimplant is then CEMENTED back in much like  setting a fencepost in loam or sandy soil .

Or asmy one doc says we put yer ass back together with bailing wire. Bwaaa hahaha ...hey ys gotta laugh at some shit .

And that my boy is why id be skiing Mahogany Ridgeif them sons o bitches set my ass in sand 😉    

I gotcha

But, geez, with all the technology we have you'd think they could put a little concrete in there to hold ur ass up

Either way the bar will always be there

campgottagopee wrote

and go see this other Doc. Who knows what he will find, say or recommend.

It does make you wonder. WD laid out a whole lot of info and they have zero answers/ideas ? Plus he has considerable pain ? Wonder of the device itself has issues ? Disintegration causing " metalosis " (that's real) or what ever ? Something is wrong and MAYBE it could be remedied.

Go see another Doctor, Warp. Call a lawyer even. Seriously. Lawyers who specialize in specific medical issues usually have quite a lot of insight, information and knowledge of problems with that device/operation. They maybe your best friend now. They probably are even if you don't actually sue for damages.

Good luck !!!

Warp Daddy I'm sorry to hear about your situation.  Good luck going forward.  Never say never, you don't know what's coming down the pike.  I'd just get as many second opinions as you can before going back to surgery... gotta wonder if there's something else going on that rehab can address without another hospital trip.

Keep your head up, Warp. PMA is the most important thing but even if you couldn't downhill ski there are other ways to be on snow to make the most of it. Pulling for you though.

Warp

If you need a 2nd opinion i suggest dr Peter VanEenenaam in Watertown not too far from you in Potsdam.  He worked under dr steadman in Vail and was the full time doc for the US women's ski team in the past.  He did my knee squeezing me in before getting on a plane to work the Salt Lake Olympics.  Hell of a good surgeon.

http://health.usnews.com/doctors/d-peter-vaneenenaam-218942

Ya, I'll echo the previous sentiments, see a few more Docs and get some more opinions.

People like to hold Docs in such a high regard that I think they forget that they are human and make lots of mistakes or aren't up on the latest procedures/technology.

Good luck WD and heal up.

Damn Dubya-daddy... sorry to hear the news. I know the groins been bugging you, was hoping it resolved itself over the summer. I'd definitely check out some other opinions. Having my THR at such a "young" age I've heard varying life expectations of the implant from 10 yrs to forever so a revision at some point is always in the back of my mind. I've spoken with a few guys that have had or need revisions and understand that just the ball and socket parts of the prosthesis can be replaced if needed. Anyway vibes and prayers to ya bud. If your up for taking a ride down Philly way check out Richard Rothman/Rothman Institute, he's done more THR's than anyone else on the planet and invented my Stryker titanium pro skier model... according to him anyway. This old hippy's pulling for you warp