Richard Haynes PTA/CPT - 3/31/2009

Question
I am a chronic pain patient and have had several surgeries. It looks like I am
going to have a second surgery on my hip. I'm am currently on pain meds to
manage the pain. The problem I have is it is now April and I have two small
children. We also have a plan to Disney World in June. The point is this is NOT
a good time for me to be on crutches. I know the pain meds are strictly short
term solutions and all the problems that can come from long term use but
am I unreasonable in my thinking that I want to hold off the surgery until at
least August. Does this seem like an unreasonable request?

Answer
Hi Frank,

Your answer will depend on how much of the pain and discomfort you can handle. How will affect your activities of daily living?

Also it depends on the type of surgery you are having on your hip.
If the hip was to be replaced it would not be unheard of for someone to recover quick enough to continue with your plans and feel  much better in doing so. That depends on the individual though and there may be other factors.

What does your doctor prescribe? If you can wait by all means its not unreasonable that will depend on you.

Is the medication doing its job? Will a cane do instead of crutches?
Sometimes the constant pain medication will give you other problems like constipation for example.

You hold the answer to this unless your surgeon is saying otherwise due to possibly further hip complications.

If you decide no then you have that choice.

Richard Haynes PTA
Punta Gorda, Florida.