Total Hip Replacement/Hip Resurfacing

Well the core decompression operation and hardware removal was a success. Now time will tell. Doc says in 6 months we will know if this worked. He said it should heal up if I abandon running so that's great news. I've learned a lot throughout this process and that both my hips are early arthritic...fantastic. About circulation, arthritis and AVN: Hips can develop osteoarthritis through a lot of different mechanisms; athletes typically have this condition earlier in life as we work those joints so hard. I have arthritis in both hips as a result of poor lifetime circulation and genes. If anyone has heard of MTHFR and knows about how it works in our body, I would like to hear it as I probably have a genetic defect in the MTHFR gene. Genetic variation in this gene influences susceptibility to occlusive vascular disease, neural tube defects, colon cancer and acute leukemia, and mutations in this gene are associated with methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase deficiency (this gene mutation. I'm on a cocktail of supplements to help with oxygen uptake to increase circulation in the hip area. (I saw a nutritionist who was a former oncologist to get these supplements before surgery) PM me if you want to know about them. I also am getting a DNA test done as I mailed off my saliva to a place that will look for that gene defect. Anyways, I'm feeling so much better after taking these supplements. I have a clearer train of thought, drinking a few beers doesn't feel so painful, and my energy level is very strong, almost like I'm 28 or so. I swam twice in the last four days. 2.5 weeks since surgery and I swam 1200 yds on Thursday, and a mile Sunday at Barton Springs. I haven't swam in two years...I felt very strong unbelievably. The hip is really stretching out around the incision and the doc was right to put me back into the water so quickly. I love my doc for that reason alone. My avascular necrosis was probably also caused by the gene mutation as well due to blood restriction. Sure, the fracture set things in motion but the lack of correct blood flow was a contributor. Regardless of your genetic predisposition I also learned about wound healing...and I particularly remember what it was like at 10 years of age to cut my hand or leg and literally watch it heal before my eyes in a few days. As we age that process slows down and we wonder why. I asked the nutritionist about this and once again, the supplements "will bring that healing back to what it was like in your younger days". I have been dumbfounded at how fast I have healed since surgery. I cannot express enough how a team of physicians have been the key to my recovery. I think we are conditioned to put trust in one doc and go with it but in reality...nutrition is such a major part of healing and we generally don't associate a doctor with nutrition recommendations. So an oncologist turned nutritionist was a godsend for me. The road to a total hip replacement can be accelerated by being stubborn as well. I broke my hip being stubborn five years ago. I read a few forums where people were asking about what hip replacement would be best for running. That's just nuts imho. You have about three shots at THR revision. Why would you want to accelerate the process if you didn't need to? Why risk forming microfractures where the stem enters the heart of the bone? Swim for the rest of your life, hang up the late in life tri aspirations and accept defeat. It's okay to do so; I'll drink a beer with you and remind you to be glad with your condition. :chug: Every doc says the same thing...swim until you're 130, you can't do anything better for your health. :applaud: Well, I could be back here in 6 months facing a total hip replacement and that would be okay. It could happen in 5-15 years or it could never happen. Time will tell. Attitude is everything. I'm happy with whatever happens and I'm no longer scared of the outcome. I'm heading home in :30 minutes to hit the pool in my neighborhood. 1.5 more weeks of crutches, 1 week on a cane and then I wait for life to run its course for 6 months. If anyone wants more information on any of this stuff please pm me or email me directly as I will be more than happy to share. All the best to a fun filled summer of swimming melanoma free!!! :bliss:

Well the core decompression operation and hardware removal was a success. Now time will tell. Doc says in 6 months we will know if this worked. He said it should heal up if I abandon running so that's great news. I've learned a lot throughout this process and that both my hips are early arthritic...fantastic. About circulation, arthritis and AVN: Hips can develop osteoarthritis through a lot of different mechanisms; athletes typically have this condition earlier in life as we work those joints so hard. I have arthritis in both hips as a result of poor lifetime circulation and genes. If anyone has heard of MTHFR and knows about how it works in our body, I would like to hear it as I probably have a genetic defect in the MTHFR gene. Genetic variation in this gene influences susceptibility to occlusive vascular disease, neural tube defects, colon cancer and acute leukemia, and mutations in this gene are associated with methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase deficiency (this gene mutation. I'm on a cocktail of supplements to help with oxygen uptake to increase circulation in the hip area. (I saw a nutritionist who was a former oncologist to get these supplements before surgery) PM me if you want to know about them. I also am getting a DNA test done as I mailed off my saliva to a place that will look for that gene defect. Anyways, I'm feeling so much better after taking these supplements. I have a clearer train of thought, drinking a few beers doesn't feel so painful, and my energy level is very strong, almost like I'm 28 or so. I swam twice in the last four days. 2.5 weeks since surgery and I swam 1200 yds on Thursday, and a mile Sunday at Barton Springs. I haven't swam in two years...I felt very strong unbelievably. The hip is really stretching out around the incision and the doc was right to put me back into the water so quickly. I love my doc for that reason alone. My avascular necrosis was probably also caused by the gene mutation as well due to blood restriction. Sure, the fracture set things in motion but the lack of correct blood flow was a contributor. Regardless of your genetic predisposition I also learned about wound healing...and I particularly remember what it was like at 10 years of age to cut my hand or leg and literally watch it heal before my eyes in a few days. As we age that process slows down and we wonder why. I asked the nutritionist about this and once again, the supplements "will bring that healing back to what it was like in your younger days". I have been dumbfounded at how fast I have healed since surgery. I cannot express enough how a team of physicians have been the key to my recovery. I think we are conditioned to put trust in one doc and go with it but in reality...nutrition is such a major part of healing and we generally don't associate a doctor with nutrition recommendations. So an oncologist turned nutritionist was a godsend for me. The road to a total hip replacement can be accelerated by being stubborn as well. I broke my hip being stubborn five years ago. I read a few forums where people were asking about what hip replacement would be best for running. That's just nuts imho. You have about three shots at THR revision. Why would you want to accelerate the process if you didn't need to? Why risk forming microfractures where the stem enters the heart of the bone? Swim for the rest of your life, hang up the late in life tri aspirations and accept defeat. It's okay to do so; I'll drink a beer with you and remind you to be glad with your condition. :chug: Every doc says the same thing...swim until you're 130, you can't do anything better for your health. :applaud: Well, I could be back here in 6 months facing a total hip replacement and that would be okay. It could happen in 5-15 years or it could never happen. Time will tell. Attitude is everything. I'm happy with whatever happens and I'm no longer scared of the outcome. I'm heading home in :30 minutes to hit the pool in my neighborhood. 1.5 more weeks of crutches, 1 week on a cane and then I wait for life to run its course for 6 months. If anyone wants more information on any of this stuff please pm me or email me directly as I will be more than happy to share. All the best to a fun filled summer of swimming melanoma free!!! :bliss: