STORIES OF THE TOTALLY HIP

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Two New Hips in Three Years

From: Marty Benham  martyben@juno.com
Date: 31 Jan 2000
Time: 19:58:53
Remote Name: 63.252.211.13

Comments

In 1993 I started to have some pain in my left hip when mowing the lawn etc. Since I am basically very healthy, I didn't give it much thought; just put it down to being in my 50's and getting older. By 1995 it was bothering me a lot, and I was taking quite a bit of pain medication. In June of 1996 I changed my primary physician and he decided to take an x-ray. He told me that my hip was the worst he had ever seen on someone who was still walking! In October 1996, I had a THR of my left hip. When they took the pre-surgery x-ray the surgeon said that my right hip was almost as bad as the left. Not what I wanted to hear. I am an active person but not into heavy sports and have not had a serious accident. I was diagnosed with Osteo Arthritis. Following the first THR I started taking an arthritis water exercise class 3-4 times and week and supplemented my diet with a Glucosamine/Chondroitin compound. With my new left hip, the exercise and the diet supplemenet I managed to put off the second hip replacement until this year. I had a THR of the right hip on January 19, 2000. My recovery is going well, and I think part of that is due to being in much better physical shape going in than before. After participating in the water exercise class for a year I was recruited by the YMCA to teach, so I have been teaching the class three days a week for two years.

Last changed: January 31, 2000