by Deidre Rennick
By now you are stiff and sore all the time, taking high-end pain killers, unable to ride without pain, suffering from interrupted sleep, tripping and feeling like your leg is going to give way. Once you commit to a hip replacement it can be very scary and it is easy to use a range of delaying tactics, as rider Cindy Francis did, through fear of the unknown. Now is the time to arm yourself with knowledge and empower yourself for the journey ahead!
Research and reach out
Use social media, the internet, social networks, club members, nurses, your GP, relatives, anyone or anything that will give you the information and reassurance you need. For Cindy and Tony Golder it was talking to and seeing other riders with hip replacements, for Mal Maytom it was being inspired by a Brazilian rider at the 2004 Olympics who had both hips replaced. Be a little careful about where you research and who you talk to, as often horror stories abound, but the more you know the better prepared you will be when you go looking for a surgeon. Learn the ‘language’ of hip replacement (see Terminology Box).
Riding with a new hip Putting your fears regarding riding after a hip replacement to rest. There are many riders continuing to enjoy riding after a hip replacement, some of which have been required due to an accident, but more commonly it is the slow deterioration of the hip joint that leads to this operation. For those who require a hip replacement due to trauma then many of these recommendations will still apply. You have the advantage of not previously living with a deteriorating hip and are likely to be more fit and mobile, which will stand you in good stead for your recovery. For those riders who are on the path of deteriorating joint function, you will have managed for as long as possible but realise the time to act is coming. August/September 2019 - Page 48
Choosing your surgeon is perhaps the biggest challenge of all, as you need to find a surgeon you can trust, but who also respects and understands your desire to return to riding and an active life. Cindy was horrified when told by one surgeon that “at her age” (55 years) why would she want to ride? “Go and take up golf” he said. For Mal it was finding a surgeon who understood the physicality of riding, so he found one whose wife was a dressage rider. For rural people, and those without private health insurance, your options may be limited. Tony’s search was much harder without private health insurance, as his first two preferred surgeons did not operate in the public system. It is also worth knowing that in the public system the surgeon you meet may not be the surgeon who does the procedure – particularly in a teaching hospital where junior surgeons are learning the craft. Cindy chose not to go with a surgeon in the city four hours away due to the travel and isolation from loved ones.
Interview your surgeon!
After all, you are going to trust them with a procedure that will potentially return your life back to normal or even better. Get good, plain language explanations about why they are recommending a certain approach. Ask if they have done replacements on horse riders or other sports people. Cindy found several surgeons mainly dealt with older patients who did not have the same expectations as she did for what constituted an active life post-op. If possible, talk to nurses, physiotherapists and other health care professionals who see the outcomes of the surgeon’s work. Tony’s surgeon was recommended by another surgeon.