Malcolm
Adkins, 63, is a retired Principle Lecturer and Senior Course Tutor at Coventry
University, and discovered that both his hips were arthritic after falling
whilst out running.
Until three years ago I ran about five miles on a weekly basis, although it was fairly
off and on. My main problem was that I now work as a boat builder and house
restorer, which involves a lot of lifting and hands on labour, not to mention
getting in and out of boats. I mainly work with wood and have to sit down whilst
working.
After a fall one day whilst out running, my GP sent me for an X-ray, which
revealed that I had arthritis of both hips. Until then I had no idea I had
arthritis, although it is possibly hereditary as my mother had a replacement
hip. Having been told that I would need a hip replacement myself, I took up
swimming for the first time since I had swum competitively at school in the
1950’s. I built up my stamina slowly over a period of about a year, knowing that
I was facing a sizeable operation, and that my post-operative recovery would be
better if I was fit beforehand.
I did get a lot of muscular pain, which was relieved by a very good
Chiropractor. She sorted out the painful muscles one at a time but of course
could not solve the increasing pain in my hip. Prior to the operation I was
reduced to going up stairs one step at a time with both feet on each tread.
Sitting in a car was painful for anything over a few miles. My wife drives most
of the time when we are together, but driving for work presented a problem. I
sold my Ford van, which had a low driving position, and bought a Suzuki which
has an “armchair” driving position. I also bought a bike as an alternative to
walking, and amassed quite a collection of walking sticks for when there was no
alternative.
Before my operation I could not sleep in our double bed and having only recently
married, my wife thought it strange when I moved to a single bed, where for some
reason I could sleep!
With the waiting list likely to be about two years at my local NHS hospital, I
reasoned that the cost of having the operation done privately was probably well
worthwhile. At the same time, I first heard about Hip Resurfacing from a friend
who had had the operation himself. He gave me some literature and I decided to
look at this more closely, since there seemed to be distinct advantages in this
technique for someone of my age. Armed with this information I went to my GP who
agreed to refer me to a Surgeon who was experienced in this technique.
The main advantage of private medicine is that it puts you in charge, and I was
seen very quickly and after agreeing with my surgeon that I was suitable for Hip
Resurfacing, I was able to more or less choose when I wanted it done.
The operation at the Warwickshire Nuffield Hospital was on a Saturday. I was up
on Sunday, walking up and down stairs on Monday and discharged on Tuesday. I was
fairly active by two weeks after the operation and actually went up on a roof to
tie down a tarpaulin that the wind had blown about, although my Physiotherapist
thought I was mad! I was back to “normal” by about four weeks after the
operation, including driving my car. I started swimming again within three weeks of
the operation. The only after effect about a year after the operation is a
certain amount of numbness where the scar is.
Since the operation I have been able to climb stairs and get up and down ladders
normally. My sleeping habits are also back to normal, and I have thankfully been
able to abandon the single bed in the spare room!
My new hip feels very strong. My left hip, which I am expecting to be done under
the NHS soon, did not give me very much trouble to begin with, despite being as
bad on the X-rays as the right one was. I suspect this is because I can put more
weight on the new hip, but the other side is progressively getting more painful
now.
I am a keen swimmer again now, and once I have had my other hip done I am aiming
to break the 20-minutes barrier for a kilometre. I am definitely not going to do
impact activities such as running again as I want both hips to last, but at
least I will be able to work normally, and be able to go walking when on holiday
with friends and family.
My one new hip has made me active again; two new hips will make me super-active!
