Question
Dear Sharon Davis,
I am a 60 year old male in fair physical condition. My only flaw is a lower back injury I had many years ago and as a result of all the 3 surgeries I had left me with Nerve damage to most my right leg and lower back. I am always in pain because of this and was forced to retire at 45. Well wouldn't you know it at the beginning of December 2004 I was taking out the garbage and sliiped on the ice and shattered my right hip joint at the neck of the ball. They did a partial hip replacement just the ball. I still have my own socket. It has now been about 4 weeks since my operation. It was done on the 9th of December. I am wondering about what my life will be in the future and if I will be as I was before all this was done to me. I had loss a lot of muscle tissue due to the nerve damage on the side that was operated one. I was very active before this happened to me. I am sure the muscles in that leg will never come fully back due to my lower back injury and the amout I had left. I have been doing a lot of walking with a cane which I hold in my left hand since the right leg is the one I need support with. The doctor said that maybe in 20 years I may need another operation to replace this joint as the socket may wear out during this time. Do you think I can be as active as I was before this operation ?? and how long do you think it will be before I feel secure using this leg ??? I also injured my shoulder and now can't raise my arm about about chest level. The doctor said I may have torn my rotator cuff. I have had a problem which came out of the blue with this shoulder for the past 4 months before the accident but now it is much worse. Any thoughts on this??? Thank you for your time. Any help will be so much appreciated. Yes I feel very depressed But I think I will come out of this as I always have a way of looking on the brighter side of life. Thanks again

                          John

Answer
Dear John
You really had quite a time with this, haven't you?

I wish I could address the back issues but I can't.  I have some nerve damage in my knee due to surgery and although it does not hurt, it's numb and tingling. There is nothing I can do, for my problem, but I'd suggest if there is any type of medication that can allieve the nerve pain that would be good for you.  Pain can make us depressed.  See ift he doctor can give you something to help with that pain.

Muscles can be built up.  So you will be able to work on the muscles in your hip with specific exercises.  Do you have a swimming pool near your home?  Can you ride a bike?  Those are two good exercises.  If you join a water aerobics class, you can meet other people too.  Look for an evening class since most of the evening classes have more mature people and less kids.

If you were very active before your hip surgery, you will have to adjust to not being able to do all of the the things you did before.  If you do any contact sports, or sports that can lead to falling, like ice skating or skiing, you might get youself into trouble.  Unfortunately the hip replacement is not as stable as a real hip and can dislocate and I assure you, that if you start to head up the slippery slope of doing things that are not good for you, the hip will dislocate.  And that is a problem because once you dislocate once, you set yourself up for further dislocations.  Your surgery was only four weeks ago, and most doctors do not let you do anything major until at least 6-8 weeks.  You will have residual pain for at least 6-8 weeks.  That's just healing and will get better.  

When you feel more stable, ask the doctor when you can get rid of the cane.  It might be at 6 weeks.  You will be able to "feel" (for lack of better words), in your heart when you are able to get rid of the cane.  It will come, just have patience.

The rotator cuff may be another surgery you may have to have.  I don't know much about that injury, but I know that sometimes surgery is needed to fix it.

I can absolutely understand why you are depressed.  Pain can do that.  The loss of independance can do that too.  I know because I was in a body brace for 3 months with one of my surgeries and I could not even go to the bathroom myself.  It will pass.  The one thing I would suggest is this.  See if you can get to a good mental health therapist.  Please don't "pooh  pooh" it.  I went and it helped me through rough spots.  My feelings are that so many people will see a doctor at the first hint of physical pain, but if they have emotional pain, which you do have, they put a stigma on you.  Go see a therapist.  It might be that you have to go on an anti-depressant for a few months until you feel better.  An anti-depressant might also help with the pain in your body as well.  When we are depressed, everything is much worse. Try and get out.  See if you can volunteer at a hospital, a school with preschoolers to read to them and give the teacher a break for a few minutes.

You don't say if you are married or in a relationship. If you are, get in the car and go for a ride, go to a movie.  When I was in a body brace, I was not able to go out.  I was in the house for three months.  I was told if I even went on the porch and the insurance company found out, I could lose my benefits.  One day, I got so crazy, my husband dressed me up in a hat and baggy clothes and stuck me in the car and we just went for a ride and I felt like a new person.

I understand what you are going through, and I hope I've helped you.

Sharon Davis