 Poster: A snowHead
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Out on a routine Friday night mtb ride when bike slid out from under me and I crashed down hard onto pavers on my left side top of leg. The Intense pain told me it was bad !
Carried to A&E and confirmed I had broken the hip ball off my femur .
After a few varied consultations it was decided a full hip replacement was best option. This carried out Sat morning .
The reality of the situation is starting to sink in now ( as the morphine wears off) and I’m wondering if I will ski again. Surgeon was optimistic and actually said it will be 99% as normal hip was .
Do we have any hip replacement skiers on here to reassure my now fragile state off mind ?
Biking and skiing are my main pastimes now and it would be a crippling blow to lose either of them .
Hip was fine before the crash but at 57 they decided to replace rather than repair . Either being a fairly major opp.
Feeling a bit of a fraud now watching the para Winter Olympics and seeing what those guys do!
Appreciate any info please . Dave
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@scarbski, Don't panic. Mrs NBT suffered similar in an accident and is now back on both an MTB and on skis. I'll ask her to come along and give you her side, but from what I can see there is no objective way to tell that anything ever happened - the hip replacement went really well
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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@scarbski, sorry to hear of your woes, that sounds really bad. As it happens one snowHead, Frosty the Snowman, is skiing in Austria this week, his first trip in several years, after having hip replacements last year. He's about the same age as you and the replacement hips have transformed his activity, so he's back on his bike, skiing, etc.
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@scarbski, I had my right one replaced 6 years ago, I was 55, and have skied every year since. Its as good, if not better than new, except I am not permitted/allowed/advised not to run anymore.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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I know someone who still ski races with two replacement hips, he is 72.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Look on the bright side, this years ski season is nearly over and you now have a free run through the summer up to next season during which to get really fit. My husband had a new hip in November and I have (endorsed by orthopaedic surgeon) banned him skiing this winter but have no doubt he will be able and will wish to ski next year. He worked really hard at the physio and is still doing it and we travelled to the far east and New Zealand at the end of January (12 weeks post surgery) for a five week holiday which prior to the replacement he would not have been able to do due to the amount of walking and queueing involved in long haul travel plus walking around in NZ so as to takke in the full splendour of the country. I can only say what an amazing operation it is, life transforming for many and I suspect the outcome is slightly dependent upon the commitment of the patient to recover to the full. For someone like you with your wish to return to your greatest loves (biking and skiing) the incentives are all there and the potential is unquestionable. Go for it, you will do it all again, all the best.
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Love you guys ❤️Thanks, Cheering me up no end !
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@scarbski, an instructor friend of mine has two replacement hips, no problem. All the best with your recovery 
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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@scarbski, I have a friend skiing after a hip replacement too. She was very assiduous in doing all the rehab and physio (this was essential) and did a lot of walking in the Yorkshire Dales before the ski season. She was fine. One of her hips had been bad for ages - she was about 65 when she had the op.
You're fortunate that the decision to replace the hip was made quickly, and the operation done. From now on it should be a straightforward road to recovery.
Personally, I'd be more bothered about getting back on the bike than back on skis. I know a lot more skiers than mountain bikers but the latter hold the prize for serious injuries.
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My father has had three hip replacements and still skis. The first being twenty years ago when he was around your age. Physio is of course very important.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Take a look at Wayne Watson of Alpine Experience in VdI ... he's had both done ... some info on the site about it I think.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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@Carolyn, has 2 new hips and 2 new knees skis very well!
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You know it makes sense.
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@scarbski, Sorry to here of your woes. I also know of a ski instructor who had both hips done (2 years apart). He is the far side of 70 and did 6 hours on the hill today.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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@scarbski, Sorry to hear that you had to have a hip replacement.
I found myself in your situation and after an operation to screw the clean break, waited to see if I was one of the unlucky small percentage that can get avascular necrosis ( dying of the bone). After a year of hobbling around it was apparent that I had been unlucky, meaning a full hip replacement was needed.
It was a slow process of making sure I did all the physio exercises and walked every day using strava. This enabled me to walk as much as possible but not overdoing things.
It was several months before I was back on a turbo trainer (you're not supposed to bring your hip joint over a certain height, for fear of dislocation. Then onto a regime that would help build up my muscle. This is crucial as the only thing now holding up your replacement is gravity and muscle.
Getting back on my mtbike was scary and I did have a proper fall on the second time out. Funnily this gave me confidence as I didn't break anything. Mountain biking was possibly never quite the same as I have huge fear.
However I have skied 3 weeks since my replacement and everything has been fine.
I ski a lot slower than I used to and am trying to stay away from idiots on the piste, however with many years of experience under my belt I can usually avoid the nutters.
Push yourself where you can, but also don't overdo it as its a slow process. You are half way there as you are still relatively young and very fit.
I was told to take up swimming breast stroke (please ask your surgeon) by my specialist. Going nearly 6 times a week really helped keep my fitness up. If possible don't sit down for longer than 20 minutes at any one time. Move around in between.
Of course things like driving (getting in and out of a car is difficult for a while).
The good news is that you are a man without hormone problems and your bones are larger and you are less likely to have osteoporosis than women. The way hip replacements are today is so much better than even 4/5 years ago.
Spend the year getting fit and hopefully by mid/end summer you should be back mtbiking and next ski season back on the slopes skiing normally.
Good luck with your recovery (which I think will be easy and straight forward, because you want to get back to normal asap).
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Poster: A snowHead
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Thanks everyone for your experiences and encouragements , hit a low point this morning and this has really helped me through .
Back home again and mobility improving quickly .
Told the main reason for having the full replacement over the mend was the risk of losing blood supply and bone dying off , Mrs Nbt, it must have been awful having to go through it all again . Obviously a very determined woman !
Thanks again folks and best wishes to you all . Dave
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@scarbski, I am skiing this week with my new hip of 12 months, and in some challenging snow. I am 56.
It has performed flawlessly and within 2 days i binned the imoact shorts i had borrowed. In fact I turn better on it than on my other hip.
Top tips :
Do the physio and walking religiously
Follow the instructions about 90 degress and leg crossing religiously
Once you've passed 6 months put in some real effort to get your glutes, hip aductors and legs in good shape.
Try and shift any excess weight.
Its 6 yrs since I last skied, but 10 yrs dince i skied this well.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@Frosty the Snowman, great news.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@Frosty the Snowman, really good to hear the new hip has had such an impact. Enjoy the skiing!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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| scarbski wrote: |
Thanks everyone for your experiences and encouragements , hit a low point this morning and this has really helped me through .
Back home again and mobility improving quickly .
Told the main reason for having the full replacement over the mend was the risk of losing blood supply and bone dying off , Mrs Nbt, it must have been awful having to go through it all again . Obviously a very determined woman !
Thanks again folks and best wishes to you all . Dave |
I will add my tuppenceworth.
6 years ago I had a right hip resurfacing (I was 44 and did a lot of sport, so the smaller implant was deemed better for future sporting exploits).
The physical therapy / stretching etc is absolutely vital. Do it for longer than the physios advise, but get back to exercise ASAP and try and vary your exercise regime to include lots of stretching / mobility exercises.
I lost a bit of weight when laid up, basically because I was off the beer due to the drugs !! As noted earlier, losing weight will help. I am lighter now than I was pre op.
You will find a lot of "I was back on my skis/bike etc 2 months post op" stuff on the web - dont panic if thats not you, I had a bit of pain when stretching for 6-9 months or so while the new implant settled down, and my first ski trip I was a bit tentative.
I used to ski, cycle, run, and play squash a lot - I canned the squash and running (weight bearing exercises not good) and concentrated on cycling, hillwalking and the gym (plus, of course occasional skiing).
My surgeon was brilliant, was a skier and cyclist himself and understood what I wanted post op - he basically said "do whatever you want, but when skiing stay on piste and dont do moguls".
You will be fine - give it time and do the physio and you will be sorted sooner than you know it.
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thanks again for more positive results.
Just wondered if any of you had knee problems post opp.?
As my hip improves my knee seems to be getting worse, was tender after the opp , (i guess it takes a pounding ) but now it’s more painful than the hip and swollen.
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@scarbski, did you bash it when you fell off?
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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@scarbski, Yes I had really bad knee pain.
I was told this was due to walking badly for almost a year with a stick. The pain subsided and I only get little twinges now and again.
You may be walking badly at the moment because you're still in recovery. A hip replacement is a major operation and everything takes a while to settle down.
If the knee pain carries on, go and see the Dr. or phone the physio department at your local hospital.
Also as @holidayloverxx, says you could have really bashed it when you fell off.
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Almost certain this is damage from the opp , had no knee pain or swelling until after .
I mentioned this to docs& physio but just said to give it some time . Both surprised at level of swelling tho.
Now sat with cold compress watching pointless with bottom lip out.
See how things are next week . D
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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In a few months time, this will all be a bad memory and you'll be back to normal. I felt exactly as you do now.
If you have any more questions just ask. It's good to get feedback from others who have been through similar situations.
Get some good films, read some good books and hang on in there. Hopefully you'll have lots of visitors to come round (and take the mickey).
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Certainly been suffering the butt of all the old man jokes !
Hip actually feels great now and knee is improving steadily , getting out for some short steady walks with crutches .
Staples out on Fri then start physio next week
Got tickets for the Stranglers on Fri night but I think that may be pushing things a bit to far , no pogo'ing for a while yet ! 
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@Frosty the Snowman, so glad to read that. You are an inspiration.
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You know it makes sense.
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Certainly inspiring me !
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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@scarbski, I was just wondering how your recovery is going.
I'm hoping you're bike on a turbo trainer and out and about.
Let us know what you're up to?
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Poster: A snowHead
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I met a lady ambassador leading a mountain tour at Steamboat. She had had both hips and both knees done. Age 50/60.
NB It is ESSENTIAL to listen to the physical terrorists and to follow their instructions. If necessary pay for physio. It will be a good investment.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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FWIW I dont think extra physi0 is necessary for a hip replacement. Just religiously follow you physios instructions and kerp active. Keep pushing it and at 6 months get yourself fit n strong, then once achieved go and try and wear it out
Knees may well be different
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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@scarbski, I was overtaken by a bloke soloing Idwal Stream while ice climbing, he said that he was testing out his two new hips, think it was 16 weeks after his op 
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@scarbski, Sounds very much like mine. Keep on with the stretching exercises, but it sounds like you are very well travelled down the recovery road. Although, like you, not under any physio after 6 weeks, we have 3 friends that are very experienced physios and they said to not go mad for 8 months post op, to let the bone and implant fuse properly, to bike and continue with bodyweight stuff. I think this was a belt and braces approach, but after 8 months I started to work hard on hip adductor exercises. It has worked a treat for me, but then I was starting from a different position to you, having been inactive, apart from eating lots, for 6 years.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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I'm 4.5 weeks post op on my right THR now. Recovery going really well. So much so, I slung my crutches after two weeks. I had my other one done at the end of October 16 and was in Tignes skiing in the middle of March 17. I'll be going next season deffo. It just takes time to sort yourself out. Don't overdo it and you'll be fine.
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@scarbski, All well here. However since I've been diagnosed with osteoporosis it's been another step backwards.
I've been doing some lunges and squats, but would appreciate any advice as to what other exercises I can do to strengthen the old bones.
Still mtbing, swimming and walking as before my break. More cautious on the bike though, as falling off could be a disaster.
You seem to be on course and well on the way to getting back to normal for the next skiing season. 
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Hi folks
hip update ,
4 months post opp and I am now confident that I will be skiing this year. Have agreed to go on a pre Christmas trip to test things out.
Been mtbiking, 15-20miles + and doing pretty physical work , can’t say I don’t get reminded if I over do things but good progress.
Strange how a titanium hip can ache !
Hope everyone else’s convalescence is going well and the sunshine is helping Mrs NBT .
Still over 4 months before winter 😁
Selling ice cream at mo’ in 30*+ heat it’s hard to imagine -20 and snow . But it will come !
Dave
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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:d :d :d
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