Ortho Update

I paid the orthopedic a visit today to discuss discomfort in my right hip. They took a few X-rays. I sat around and waited for my name to be called. To my surprise, he was on time and it didn’t take long for the results. The right Femoral head is breaking down around the hip socket in the exact same manner the left femur is fracturing around my knee joint.

There are several treatment options. 1. Bite the bullet and deal with the pain. 2. Injections, such as cortisone. 3. Weight loss and low impact exercise IE; water aquatics, elliptical trainer, & stationary bike. 4. Hip replacement.

I am choosing options 1-3 for the time being. A hip replacement is inevitable, but we’ll start with a hip injection next week. The goal is get me through knee replacement and rehab without needing to focus too intensely on the hip.

As for the knee, there is nothing to do between now and Oct 4th. I questioned the possibility of a cortisone injection in attempt to control pain. This was shot down. To my surprise, they don’t perform joint injections within 3 months prior to surgery. I am supposed to stay as immobile as possible, avoid stairs and attempt to lose 20lbs in 3 weeks. The weight loss is little steep so I’ll shoot for 10lbs.

Breakdown: Good news – Surgery is still on for Oct 4th. Bad news – There is little to no pain relief in sight for the next 3 weeks. The Crystal Ball – The right hip will eventually need surgery. That’s the long and short.

Cheers!