Anyone under 50 and/OR regularly active had a hip resurfacing or THR?

[Maru Kitteh]

What did it feel like when your problem first started "for real," and by that I mean you just didn't feel like you could take it anymore, you were taking too many over-the-counter drugs or self medicating, etc.?

Did you feel like your healthcare provider(s) understood how bad it was?

How long did it take you to get to an accurate diagnosis?

How did you get to your accurate diagnosis and treatment?


Let me preface this whole story by telling you that I am a 42 yo female who is overweight but not in the obese category by medical criteria.

Any help would be so greatly appreciated. I feel like I'm doing my level best to be communicative and assertive with the caretakers I've seen, but so far I've come away feeling like they think I'm wrong about the origin of my pain (I f'n know where it f'n hurts, thankyouverymuch) or they just don't understand how bad it is.

I don't want to get too personal, but one of the first things most of us do in the morning, obviously, is pee. Due to the amount of water I drink to help my kidneys with the meds, peeing is usually the first thing I want to do after sleeping as long as the pain and my trazodone will allow. I got a script for traz to combat the insomnia that was mostly caused by the pain in the first place.

I swear to God, that commode looks like it's 7 ft. away when I need to sit down on it in the morning. I'm terrified of the pain on the way down, and I'm terrified I won't be able to get back up. I won't bore everyone further with a pain diary of my daily life because you probably understand already.

Help me. Teach me. Tell me what you think I should know.

Thanks so much - Maru Kitteh.

[Warpy]

1. Get yourself a high hat

It's a plastic gizmo that sits on top of the toilet and raises the height to a much more comfortable position. I've been eyeing them, myself, although I'm not there yet.

Your local pharmacy will probably order one for you if you don't have a medical supply store nearby.

You can also get them online. This one is reasonably priced, http://www.amazon.com/Mabis-Toilet-Seat-Riser/dp/B000BKD3BW There are also more expensive models that come with handles on the side to help you get off it when you're done.

[Maru Kitteh]

2. I've thought about adding one of those temporarily. It would help with at least that one thing. But

I'd really rather address and treat the root of the problem, of course. I do not accept the current state of affairs as one that cannot be remedied. I'm way too young to quit hiking up mountains and camping and biking and someday in the not so distant future I plan to do some tearing around with some future grandkids.

[Warpy]

3. The problem is that joint replacements have a limited lifespan

which is why they don't want to do them on younger folks. In the meantime, they expect you to paste yourself together with a patchwork of drugs and assistive equipment like high hats or even a cane until you're of an age where a hip replacement will last the rest of your active life.

You don't have to like it.

My eye surgeon had to fight for two years to get his hip replaced and he's an old bugger, older than I am. They really resist putting them in if that hip is still holding you up.