I got a new hip

[Kulindahr]

I think so. A few hours ago in Ashland, Oregon I met a woman [half of a hetero married couple] who had hips replaced in 1999 and 2003. Neither hip has EVER been very good since replacement, she's always(?) been on crutches since.

Actually, her second hip went because they made the first replacement and her leg was an inch longer than before. (REALLY...that definitely sounds "primitive." In medicine, a one-inch mistake might be as significant as a trip to the Moon. I certainly assume that stuff has been solved.)

In contrast, you have had both hips replaced in recent months, and you did our five mile hike (complete with significant rises and drops) like a champ, and your hip (or both?) only started complaining near the end of the hike. You were "paying for it" before I left...but, still. I don't think such results existed 10 years ago.

Over the last two days I did another five-mile hike: two and a quarter down the south side of that same cape, and a quarter mile down the beach; played on the beach for a day, and today hiked back up.

Descent time: 50 minutes. Ascent time: 1 hour forty minutes.

The hips actually felt better this morning after sleep on dry sand I got contoured to my body than most mornings. And there were no complaints from the hiking till the last quarter mile.

Oh -- it's an eight hundred foot change in elevation, from beach to trailhead.

 

[Kulindahr]

Ah well, it comes to all of us eventually

Actually some never get it -- and scientists of course are trying to figure out why.

Our hip problems are all caused by oesteo arthritis

Well, not all -- abuse has a lot to do with some.

 

[DonQuixote]

Says the voice of experience - but doesn't the abuse destroy the cartiledge, forcing an onset of arthritis in a de Facto sense?

 

[cgymike]

I may need new legs....

 

[LeicsDom]

Well, not all -- abuse has a lot to do with some.

I agree but it is all termed OsteoArthritis

 

[Kulindahr]

Says the voice of experience - but doesn't the abuse destroy the cartiledge, forcing an onset of arthritis in a de Facto sense?

I agree but it is all termed OsteoArthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a sort of catchall term, since it describes the results of different processes which end up with the same result. Sometimes the body does it to itself; there's a definite link between body fat ratio and OA -- not weight, although higher body weight means more stress and wear on a joint, but some sort of metabolic link with lipids -- as an example. Sometimes the process begins with actual injury to or abuse of the joint, which may or may not trigger ongoing deterioration "on its own". Lots of exercise actually fights OA, e.g. running which doesn't injure the joint, but once OA begins that same exercise might actually contribute to the process (or, as is apparently the case in my situation, both help fight it and contribute to it; the smooth movement encourages joint health while the jarring effect of each stride encourages deterioration, which in my case began with earlier abuse).

When I was still running cross-country, the docs warned us all that such activity would build up the heart muscle to a point where we would have to remain active because a switch to a sedentary life would allow a lot of that muscle to go flabby since it wasn't needed any longer, thus raising the risk of heart attacks (though there is research showing that it may be possible, through careful diet control and medication, to keep the flabby muscle in fair tone), but no one ever said a thing about the impact on joints. They do now, though; I talked to a high school CC runner two summers ago, and he said the team got info about running form and stretches and exercises to help protect the leg joints -- including teaching them to run on the balls of their feet (whereas we were taught to land on the heel and push with the toes) to absorb impact (I have to wonder if that stresses the foot bones, though).

So in the end, all joint deterioration is tossed in the OA category, because the end result is roughly the same, but processes to get there differ.

 

[Kulindahr]

BTW, I'm starting to think that my worst mornings are when I forget to take a cana-cap at bedtime -- I failed to last night, and even though I was cozy and comfy in my own bed without a dog waking me every couple hours, my right hip and thigh are stiff enough today I'm not up painting as I should be.

Maybe I ought to spread a carpet on the high roof, which is at a 15° slope (in 80°F warmth), soak up the rays, and just meditate on painting, instead.....

 

[DonQuixote]

Careful on getting up and down - it's a long fall.

 

[kindabikindagay]

You shouldn't be doing your ice treatment shit alone! WHY IS THERE NOBODY TAKING CARE OF YOU? Unacceptable.

 

[cgymike]

Maybe he cannot afford the care...

 

[Kulindahr]

You shouldn't be doing your ice treatment shit alone! WHY IS THERE NOBODY TAKING CARE OF YOU? Unacceptable.

Um, what "ice treatment"???

 

[Kulindahr]

Careful on getting up and down - it's a long fall.

After yesterday, I think I'd better hose off the roof before doing any more painting -- between paint chips and grit from the roofing, it's getting slippery.

Meanwhile, our summer-like weather seems to be leaving us, so painting is nearly at an end anyway.

And I'm getting an unplanned rest from conservation work: my truck's power steering is messed up.