BoldRider

I have just recently been diagnosed as having osteoarthritis in my hips, my left hip being much more affected than my right hip. I have not been riding much for 2 to 3 months for various medical and other reasons and am anxious to resume some level of riding. Pain and joint stiffness interfere with such simple things as putting on pants, getting in/out of a car, sitting for more than 15 minutes, walking and sleeping. I want to learn how to manage this and preserve as much activity/quality of life as I can. I would appreciate anyone with significant arthritis in their hips sharing their experience in managing the condition and (road for me) riding. Thanks!

Mike M.

McBTC

You mean, other than hip replacement, right?

marquhar

NoF - neck of femur
I had 3 titanium screws to repair a fx left NoF. Not really the same as you, but I was warned that necrosis could set in within 2-3 years if circulation around the NoF failed.

Google things like:
Floyd Landis 2003
Steadman Clinic in Vail,Co
BHR - Birmingham Hip Resurface (not a total replacement)

To recover I used a loop band to work my glutes, and squeezed a 1 Qt plastic container to work my adductors (inner leg). Both of these workouts increase circulation to the NoF. I am now 3.5 years out from my injury/surgery and have normal use of both hips (60years old).

You can also work various peppers into your diet: jalapeno, cayenne - these help with capillarys.
If you don't have gout or trouble with other big joints like shoulders and knees, then you have a better chance to manage your arthritis.

Cyclist0108

My wife has this. I wish I had the answer, but everyone I talk to who has had a hip replacement due to such issues wonders in retrospect why they put it off. I wish she would get it while she is still young enough to rebound quickly.

FWIW she finds riding helps to relieve it.

RonH

Have you consulted a sports medicine doctor?

oldschool56

After 15+ years of doctors, physical therapy, injections, and chiropractic in dealing with right hip pain, I'll be getting a replacement in June. The one physical activity I can enjoy now is cycling and following the replacement look forward to enjoying it for many more years to come.

Madtown Bob

I lived with hip pain even when I could only walk or stand for a limited period, I could bicycle when I stepped into my bike and lifted it up from underneath me. When my hip pain prevented me from biking--that was totally unacceptable. I had two hips resurfaced, feel great right now and, yes, wonder why I didn't do it sooner. Resurfacing isn't appropriate in all situations. A friend of mine went to see my surgeon and was told that he had to have a hip replacement. He is recovering and after three weeks, he says he already better than before.

fietsbob

Just Bike stuff, Since you are getting the Go See a Doctor suggestions.

Temporary hip pain, I was glad to have a step thru bike.. a folding bike with a low top bar, in my case..




....

Houseboy522

My experience:
I had osteoarthritis in left hip but did not know it until 2012. Very gradual decline (I'd say over 5 or 6 years)
It started when I noticed very slight pain when shifting (manual transmission car). I didn't know why but I switched to automatic transmission and didn't have trouble after that.
About 4 years later it started affecting my ability to lift my leg over the top bar. I wasn't sure why that was until I searched on Bike Forum and (finally) put 2 and 2 together - THANKS TO BIKE FORUMS. I did the "lay the bike down and step of it" routine of a year or 2.
Last couple of years of riding (with the pain) I was less able to keep my left knee straight over the pedal. By the end I was peddling with my left knee sticking out and that started causing knee pain since i use clips peddles.
Doc said I was a good candidate for hip replacement "whenever you want".
Pain was never so bad I could not manage it with occasional ibuprofen. Really never did that very often but was having more trouble with it by the Fall of 2013.
Got a cortisone shot (one time only) in November 2013 so I could walk around on a trip we were taking.
Unbelievable relief. Scheduled the hip replacement immediately (late Dec 2013 during holidays).
Started riding the trainer as soon as doc said I could (I think it was 4 weeks of maybe 5).

I would't say that I necessarily should have done it sooner but I would say that the cortisone shot was the thing that made me see what I had been missing.

KenR

First post in a long while, but thought it would be a good thread to start again. I was a longtime runner with a few dozen half marathons to my credit. Unfortunately, a few years ago the space between hip ball and socket got progressively narrower until orthopedist told me that I had a year left on it before I would be bone on bone, if I was lucky. Got the replacement and I'm very happy. I run less, but re-took up biking to make up the difference. Operation was totally worth it. Hip feels good.

TGT1

Have it, with some ugly xrays to prove it. Everyone is different, but what aggravates mine is when I can't ride due to weather or scheduling constraints and have stints of work that involve long drives and standing around on concrete. (Those both seem to coincide too frequently lately.)

The bike seems to help it a lot!

Try to find a sports oriented ortho. One that isn't approaching it from that perspective may see an ancient athlete as an oddity.

ColonelSanders

Why or how does a hip replacement help when you are in a situation where it will be bone on bone?

Don't you just end up with bone on titanium or whatever they insert into your body as the hip replacement?

rnothog

What you end up with is a removal replacement of the femoral head (the ball) and acetabulum (the socket).

So, you wind up with titanium on plastic and/or ceramic...there are variations in materials.

I'm five weeks post-op on my second total hip replacement. the first was done about a year and a half before the second one.

For both, I chose a procedure called "Superpath", which is a minimally invasive procedure that leaves musculature virtually intact, even if it is a bit stretched. My Doc is the tops in the field, with more than a thousand of these under his belt.

I'm walking quite normally now. Off to PT in just a couple of minutes. Hope to get back on the bike for gentle riding in a week or two (I see the Doc next week).

The first hip (left) was more deteriorated, and I had developed a noticeable limp. When that happens, the rehab and recovery rate may be a bit slower (it was, for me...the second has been much easier since the right one was getting bad when this started, but not totally done in yet).

OP - find some surgeons and discuss options. Investigate the procedures - anterior, posterior, Superpath etc.

Good luck. Now I'm off to PT.

KenR

Yes. My hip socket is ceramic lined. My operation was the invasive kind and I have an 8" scar on my hip. Had a good surgeon though.

The most important thing you can do after the operation is to take the rehab very seriously. Went to a rehab facility a few days after the surgery and spent almost two weeks there. Treated it like I was training for a century ride. Thankfully the facility was a good one. Excellent staff. Even the food was tasty. Walked out with just a cane and threw that away after a couple of weeks.

BoldRider

Thanks to all for the helpful and insightful comments. I have my next doctor appointment in a few days to discuss further. Is it true that the joint replacements are good for about 10 years and then need to be replaced? That doesn't seem like it would be the case given the materials involved. I am age 60 and want to work until 70 plus. I am wondering about the timing of a replacement. Of course that could be dictated by a joint condition/pain.

Thanks again.

Mike M.

KenR

I do not believe that a 10 year lifespan is the case. I know I'm planning on a longer time. Best to check with your doctor.

rnothog

I think you'll find there are no guarantees, but rather general agreement that 10 years would be on the short end of the durability scale.

The prostheses are not suited for running, or taking a lot of pounding otherwise, or heavy lifting. But they work well for everything else. Some people do run with them; I wouldn't. I would walk, hike, swim, bicycle, etc.

I'm your age, OP. One thing I can tell you from experience is that, as your hips deteriorate, you will lose more and more mobility, and your gait will change to compensate for the bad joint. For me, that meant a considerable amount of back pain from the lower thoracic spine, on down. Gait can affect your knees and feet, too. As I mentioned before, recovery was tougher with the badly deteriorated hip than the one replaced earlier in its decline.

In other words, delay might be unwise as well as unnecessary. The decision is yours, in consultation with your doctor.

Houseboy522

My doc said 1% per year or 10% need replacement by 10 years, 20% by 20 years etc.
That is probably skewed by the fact that some do not replace for reasons other than need.

I tend to agree with the sentiments of rnothog.

For me, the doc said "You'll know when you are ready". Guess he was right!

Good luck!

rnothog

Saw the doc Tuesday. Got cleared for street riding just two days shy of six weeks post-op. He said to leave the higher impact (mashing, mountain biking) alone for the next month or so.

So...yesterday was perfect...so's today...and I got on and rode about 8 miles. I just wandered around the neighborhood...nothing aggressive.

Post-operative experience varies, of course. I'm 60, and no super-athlete. Had very good physical therapists and worked at it.

BoldRider

Hi KenR, rnothog and Houseboy522, thanks for the follow up comments. They are both very helpful and encouraging. I have seen the initial doctor again and have been referred to an orthopedic specialist group. So awaiting that appointment. I am anxious to see what they advise and how things proceed. Weather here has been CRAPPY for cycling, but next dry 60 degree plus day I'm taking the Aleve and heading out to spin lightly. Thanks again guys.

Mike M.

KenR

Good luck with whatever transpires. I'm sure you'll do fine.

McBTC

Living on Aleve if the amount needed is significant has the downside of possible taking a toll on your kidneys. And then, there are the problems of stomach ulcers and gastrointestinal bleeding...

rnothog

Good luck, and may you have many happy rides ahead!

jppe

Based on my wife's experience I'd think about doing a hip replacement sooner than later. Living with the pain and restrictions you have now is just not the quality of life you deserve. I think the newer materials life span is much longer these days. Recovery from the replacement is not all that long either. Just my two cents from watching my very active wife go through this similar scenario........

timtak

I have a very slight pain in my right hip at 52 that has been with me off and on a while now. I have yet to go to the doctor.
Thank you @marquhar very much for

Are there any other hip health foods? The Japanese sell a lot of potions for osteoarthritis but I have not tried any.

I would be interested in pictures of those exercises.