After Market Parts are Available

 

I’m sure there are many of you fellow retirees that are also running on aftermarket parts that are a welcome replacement of the originals that have worn out. I don’t expect they will last quite as long as the originals, nor are they quite as fully functional as the God given originals. But never-the-less they are a welcome result of present medical advancements.

I’m speaking of my new (4 months ago) hip joint that replaced the one that had quite effectively carried me on my first 73 trips around the sun. However, it started to complain about 2 years ago. Medications, physical therapy, and a cane all helped a little, but they can only carry you so far. Before I knew it, it was time to investigate those new replacement parts. The information I found had recovery times of 6-10-12-15+ weeks to get back to most daily activities. Then the doctors and nurses look at your gray hair and milage on a 70+ year old frame and they all say “well you should expect to be at the longer end of that range”. I expect many of you are also getting a little tired of hearing that logic. So, when is that length of recovery time available here in Wisconsin? I chose January so I’d be back to active for spring activities, summer camping, fishing, and fall hunting. The doctor is also busiest in winter since few Wisconsinites want to spend our short summers recovering. All I had to do was teach my wife how to run a snow blower (that’s a longer story for another time).

The procedure went very well (the doctor says he does 4-5 a day!) I was up and walking 5 hrs. after the surgery, with the arthritic pain already gone. One night in the hospital. No pain meds at home other than Tylenol. Therapy started on day 5 for 10 weeks. I used a wheeled walker at home and to therapy for about 3 weeks, until a cane was enough. I was able to walk the 1-mile round trip to and from therapy at 6 weeks without the cane (was a little sore the next day). By 2 months after the surgery, I rarely used even the cane. By 3 months, I was in the lake installing the pier for the start of the summer camping season. So, recovery is not as long as I feared. Haven’t yet decided if water skiing is next on the agenda.

I’ve been told that hips are easier than knees to recover from. I hope to never have to personally make the comparison. I’ll be fine with the easier of the two. If you have had one of each, I’ll be happy to take your word on that.

Keep moving – once you stop – pretty soon you can’t anymore.

Regards,

Gene