Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Got a date! New hip coming

I finally date have a date for my first hip replacement surgery - Feb 26. Feeling pleased and scared! Although plenty of people here have had much scarier surgery!

Unfortunately, I found out today that my torn rotator cuff is even worse than I feared. The tendon is torn off completely and has receded away from the joint so there is a huge gap in my shoulder. This is going to be a big deal to repair and I'm expected to treat my shoulder very carefully in the meantime. So I face hip replacement surgery with a useless shoulder.

RA is certainly taking its toll of my body!

Oh Wendy
Great for the hip but so sorry about the shoulder
I hope here in time it will all be fixed and you will be better I miss talking to you
Hugs! Lisa

Hi Wendy: I am happy you are getting a new hip, mine have served me well for the past 20 years, but sad you have a torn rotator cuff. I am sad you, me and all the others on this site have AS. Keep exercising and keep a positive attitude...Tom

I can understand being pleased and scared too! It is great that you'll have a resolution for your hip... but how will you manage the recovery with crutches etc. with a shoulder in such a rough state?

That sounds like a challenge... I'm sure it will be great afterwards to have a major joint back in good working order.

Hope it goes well for you, Wendy!

Thanks Lisa. I'm not on here as much because I'm studying for a PhD and that takes a lot of my time on top of working full time. But I check in regularly and do follow everyone's progress. I miss the hilarious chats I used to have with several people on KA.

Thanks for the support. It really helps knowing people are rooting for you.

Thanks Tom. People like you help me with the positive attitude! This will be the first hip replacement. Will still need to do the other one and get the torn rotator cuff repaired so the amount of surgery I'm facing does feel a bit daunting. I'm busy collecting the various equipment I need for this surgery - walker, crutches, reach extender, sock aid, etc. I'm amazed at the limitations I will face for the first 6 - 12 weeks!

You're right, Mig, that the shoulder is going to make using crutches or a walker more difficult. It may slow down my recovery a bit. One of the things that worries me is that both shoulders and both knees are showing significant damage from RA which suggests my RA treatment isn't working. I face becoming bionic woman.

One more thing - I have to come off both methotrexate and Celebrex 2 weeks before surgery so I'm guessing my RA pain will get much worse.

My husband had a RC repair last summer where his tendon had receded. He didn't have much extra trouble with it, according to the PT afterwards. However, he had also been compensating heavily with accessory muscles to the point that the ortho was totally surprised when the MRI was complete. Had no idea it had been that bad based on the physical exam. Surgeon was topnotch and did a great job. I would recommend getting the best shoulder/sports medicine surgeon you can find to do your shoulder.

There is a lot of good in being bionic, but sorry you are having to go through the slow process of getting to that point. Would be much better if it could be accomplished in a weekend or two, with no PT. Good luck on the new hip.

Well, congratulations on the hip!!!! I'm so glad to hear it.

As for the shoulder ... well hell. I'm sorry to hear that.

Still, you're tough. Wendy, I have no doubt you'll come out the other side of this. Still, I'm sending white light and love, just to make it a little easier to shoulder.

Love and gentle hugs,