So, some of you may remember that I broke my hip on a jump 3 years ago. The reassembled it with 3 pins back then. I've been having lots of problems with it the past several month, extreme pain and so on.

Long story short, I have avascular necrosis. Basically the femoral head's (the ball joint part of the hip) blood supply didn't heal correctly and it wasn't restored. We knew this was a chance going in from the beginning, I just didn't expect it. So now most of the ball joint is dead and the rest is continuing to die and it has started to collapse. It's no longer a smooth ball shape, so that's part of the pain, and the reason for the popping, clicking, and snapping noises I get all through the day and night.

I'm waiting now for a referral to a joint replacement specialist up in Denver to see what type of replacement they'll do. It's looking like some newer material they expect to last 30yrs...no one's had it long enough to know for sure yet..haha. Either metal or ceramic. Some will go in the socket, and then they'll "resurface" the ball joint. But that's a bad name in my opinion. They'll lop off the dead stuff and rebuild it with new stuff. The unknown part right now is how much needs to come out.

So, that's it. Fake hip to come sometime this year...before I'm 35 even. I look forward to being out of all this pain though. Still flying when I feel good, and trying to fly as often as I can since I'll be grounded for awhile once I go under the knife.

Here's a pic. You can see where it's collapsed and no longer a nice round shape.

Ouch... I can see why there might be some "slight" discomfort there....

Good luck and heal fast.

Gump

I've heard from some people who had artificial hips installed that it couldn't have come soon enough.

Good luck, man. What kind of jump was it, anyway?

1SeventyZ wrote:I've heard from some people who had artificial hips installed that it couldn't have come soon enough.

Good luck, man. What kind of jump was it, anyway?

A practice jump into a stadium for a bowl game performance. I spent 4 years running the USAF's parachute demonstration team. I caught some lift and rotor in the stadium on short final and I couldn't shut down the canopy before I went through the end zone and impacted the concrete wall at 20mph.

It will get better after the surgery, try to look forward to it for this reason: Two years ago at 56 my sister in law completely replaced both knees at the same time. Rheumatoid Arthritis, when she came to they came running with the pain killers and she didn't want them. She said it was the best she had felt in years. She and my brother take annual motorcycle trips... Route 66, New England, British Columbia, up the AlCan to Alaska. She was healed up in time to go and was a trooper through out according to my brother even though she still suffers from the crippling disease. Your advantage is you are young and strong and motivated. You will push to be active again. Hang in there and may God be with you on your journey through recovery.

best of luck to you.

Yea, I've seen some really good success stories too, and no bad ones... All on old farts like me. Good luck to ya.

Sometimes, if we mess with the bull, we get the horn... ha ha

Tadpole wrote:

1SeventyZ wrote:I've heard from some people who had artificial hips installed that it couldn't have come soon enough.

Good luck, man. What kind of jump was it, anyway?

A practice jump into a stadium for a bowl game performance. I spent 4 years running the USAF's parachute demonstration team. I caught some lift and rotor in the stadium on short final and I couldn't shut down the canopy before I went through the end zone and impacted the concrete wall at 20mph.

Tadpole,
I flew a hang glider ONCE inside a stadium, (totally roofed in, just a launch down the stairs to the infield)I figured it would be just like a dead air launch. It was way more complex then that, something to do of course with the huge HVAC system. I came real close to eating the pipe handrail at the bottom, I should have cleared it by 20' if it was a normal calm air launch. I can see dropping into an open stadium being even more challanging, wow...
For what it's worth a neighbor of mine had a new hip joint installed and kicked himself (bad choice of words) for not doing it sooner, his recovery was complete and quick. He is back carpentering, playing tennis, mountain biking and on the local Ski Patrol.

Good luck to ya!

Hey Tadpole, I was just talking to my buddy, Lee Majors, who suggested you opt for the enhanced hip version that would give you speeds up to 60 mph!

Thanks everyone. It feels good to hear nothing but good stories of other who have gone through this.

Tadpole,

Good friend of ours just had his fake hip replaced because the first one did not fuse to the bone right. But, he also went through Kemo and Radiation treatments after the first one and that did not help matters any. This new one seems to be doing well. He was walking around here the other day after just a few days out of the hospital showing us his first hip, the doctors let him keep the old one.

Brian.

And if the docs screw up there's always Jerry Springer...




Gump

That dude creeps me out too!

Yah TP..but he doesn't have to worry about going under the knife to replace HIS hip.

surgery is a bitch no matter what it is... I'm sitting here typing with one hand after bone fusion surgery two weeks ago. my hand is still swollen up like a boxing glove and i have pins and wires holding my fused bones in place with a cast over the left wrist and thumb down to my knuckles and half way up my left arm...i can't lift anything heavier than a spoon with my left hand cause the wires will break and i'll have to start over again...good luck.. I just wanted to inject some un encouraging words.... just so you don't start to think it will be a picnic...

iceman wrote:I just wanted to inject some un encouraging words.... just so you don't start to think it will be a picnic...

I've already had one hip surgery and was laid up for quite awhile with that one.

Wonder if a SODA will be required flight physical wise?

Hey Jason,
I know misery loves company, but I'd rather talk with you about life on the other side. PM me with a phone# if you want to chat about your options and things to know. This x-ray is also at age 35. Waited a lot longer than wanted, but needed the technology to come available. You need to be aware that more than half of orthopedists are still stuck in their old ways and doing what they know, which is the small ball and polymer crap.
As for the SODA, you probably need it now more than post-op. Are you avoiding right cross winds so you don't have to hold left rudder?! How long does it take to extricate yourself from something like the front seat of a cub? Should be able to get right back at flying as soon as you are off any meds. Best wishes, Matt

Wow Matt, that looks....umm.......well, interesting!!