Anterior Approach Hip Replacement

Saw the dentist this morning and he doesn't know what is wrong with my jaw.  He thinks it may be my tooth but it isn't conclusive.  It also may be due to the fact that I grind my teeth.  Going to watch it awhile and see it it gets any worse.  I have a crown on that side of my mouth and it may be that tooth and might need a root canal.  He wants to be very proactive since I'm looking at a hip replacement soon and you have to be extra careful that you don't have any kind of infection when you have surgery.

Speaking of surgery......I have been investigating this surgery and there is a new procedure called the anterior approach.  It requires a 2-3 day stay in hospital and you leave walking.  No therapy time involved.  No pain.
This is because they go through the front of the hip and do not cut through any muscle.  This speeds up recovery and healing extensively.

I sent the doctor an email and I'm going to call later today.  I want to see if I am a candidate (most people are) and see where to go from there.  Ron and I can fly to Houston, have the surgery and be home in about 4 days.  It would be so worth to me if I could do it.  I'd be able to have the second hip done a lot sooner too.  Keep your fingers crossed that I can make this happen!!!!!!

Questions

My outlook has improved so much because now I know what is wrong with me and their is a light at the end of the tunnel.  I hope that after the surgeries I will get my life back and be free of pain.  I had gotten so depressed when I thought that I was never going to get any relief.  

They made the decision yesterday to double fill my position here at the hospital.  They will be hiring my replacement and I'll have a few weeks to work with the selection before I have the first surgery.  I'm good with the decision because it will take a lot of stress off me and I can concentrate on rehabbing my hip after surgery.  The position will remain double filled until I'm ready to retire which may be in 18 months or if I feel like a new person I may choose to work longer.  Who knows.

Next thing on my list is to see the dentist in the morning.  I have a painful lump on my jaw and I want to see if it a tooth or what.  Ron ended up having to cancel his last surgery because of an infected tooth.  I don't want that happening to me.

If anyone out there has had a hip replacement please let me know how it went.  I am familiar with knee replacements but not hips.  I'm nervous and don't know what to expect.
 

UPDATEs from the bionic woman

Well, I finally found out what is causing me so much hip pain.  It wasn't bursitis but instead I need two hip replacements and two knee replacements.  I was caught off guard to say the least.

I'm starting with spinal injections to help with the slipped disc and nerve pain then I'll schedule the right hip replacement.  We'll see how that goes and then decide when to schedule the left hip.  I probably won't address the knees until I absolutely HAVE to and that may be after I retire.

Jan 2, I have the MRI and then Ron has his CT scan in mid January.  We need the results of his scan before I schedule surgery for myself.

We are never prepared for a surprise!  Just when I think I have my life plotted out I get a big surprise!  Our biggest decision is when to tell Mike.  It won't be until we have to because he gets really anxious if anything is going on with Ron and I.  I only have to refer to Ron's lung surgery.  

I was so saddened to learn about the passing of Patrick Leer.  He wrote the Caregivingly Yours blog and was just a fine man.  He was primary caregiver for his wife Patti for over 20 years. Patrick chronicled their experience and provided invaluable information to other caregivers.  He will be missed.
   

I spoke with the financial adviser today concerning purchasing the house for Mike and selling the current house.  I don't know if I'm enlightened or just hopelessly confused.  Gosh I wish I was smarter!  If I had known how much I was going to use my brain when I got older I would have taken more math!

I have had a rough week between back pain and hip pain and no sleep.  On top of a winter storm that made me afraid to step out on the ice.  Fortunately I was able to stay at home for most of it and ice my back.

I'm looking at a house that is for sale directly behind ours.  It is a cute 2 bedroom home that would be perfect for Mike.  We could put a gate in the fence and he could walk over anytime he wanted.  We talked to a realtor yesterday and toured the inside of the house (with Mike).  The only question Mike had was, "How am I going to use my goggles in that shower?"  Instead of a walk-in shower it has a tub/shower combination.  That threw him a curve ball I guess.  But he went home and "practiced" by taking a shower in the tub/shower combo in his current house.  He said, "It can be done." 

Now, my anxiety level is way up there because I don't want to make a bad financial decision, I don't know if I'm physically up to moving Mike and I don't know if that is just TOO close for comfort.  The reality is that we are taking care of him 24/7 as it is and this would just make it a lot more convenient.  The taxes are lower because it is a much smaller house than what he is in now.  It has been completely renovated with new windows/new siding/paint and carpet so we wouldn't have much maintenance.  

So, I'll pray about it and try to make this best decision for everyone concerned.

Cyber Monday.....this is about as cyber as I get today.  I have a board meeting in about 40 minutes and the golf cart parade is at 6:00.  This has already been a long day and just getting longer.

Our Thanksgiving was good.  The girl's 1/2 brother and his wife were here and they had a great weekend getting to know one another.  I was very thankful that they have found one another and seem so happy.

I've been down in my back since last Wednesday and I'm really anxious to see the orthopedist on the 15th.  I know I'll have to do an MRI before I know just exactly what if anything can be done.

I'm going to try and post pictures tomorrow of the parade.