I already had my first consultation for total hip replacement surgery a few years ago. Things were so bad I could barely walk, and that was after having my third cortisone shot. Because of family medical history issues, it was advisable that I not ever have more than three, lifetime. Turns out, the reason my leg was in SO much agony, was that the last shot developed a minor bone infection. It resolved on its own before I realized what it was, but it was gruelling for a couple of months.
I'm still bone-on-bone on my right hip and pretty close to it on the left. I'm actually looking forward to getting the replacement, and nervous because it's not hurting nearly as much anymore. They usually recommend replacement ONLY when it's so bad you can't really walk anymore. The older you get, the more difficult the recovery. My surgeon told me that the expected recovery and physical therapy process is to simply walk, as often as possible, every day. The more you walk, the quicker you recover and the more limber you are when the recovery is complete.
So I'm hoping to "need" surgery sometime within the next couple of years. Hopefully when I turn 65 and go on Medicare, so I don't have to shell out my $9800 out of pocket expense for this $25,000 procedure - which would put me in major debt.
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