It’s currently mid January 2024, the temp here in the Flathead Valley of Montana is -28 degrees, the car won’t start, I can’t go anywhere, so it seems like a good time to give an update about my right hip replacement surgery that took place Dec. 11th, 2023. I’ve been doing massage therapy in Kalispell for 14 years; this was the longest I’ve ever been off work, 1 month. Soon, hopefully in April, I will be scheduling a hernia repair surgery, and will again be closed for awhile.
The surgery was done at Logan Health in Whitefish, went great, I’m back to work, stronger than ever, and ready to tell my story. My hip arthritis wasn’t something that happened overnight, and getting to the point of surgery didn’t happen quick either. Symptoms began about 2018. I started at the top of the list: being that there was still cartilage, and not a bone-on-bone situation, I tried an umbilical cord stem cell injection, done locally. This did not work for me, however I’ve learned a lot since then and would now explore the stem procedure that takes your own stems from your brown fat. Next I dialed down to prolozone shots, lazer therapy, my own workouts, Synvisc injections (look it up), supplements, and all the other things people do to try and buy time and avoid surgery.
Hip replacement surgery.
There were some other major issues that led me to put off the surgery. Obviously in 2020 the whole world went crazy, and nobody wanted to be anywhere near a hospital. Also, around that time both my parents dementia conditions began to monopolize my time, and despite my dad’s passing in Sept 2022, continues to do so. Next, we have the local health care system, where, even if ya got the cash to pay them, there’s a lotta people in line in front of you. I finally couldn’t take the pain anymore, could hardly put my own sock on, so in Sept. 2023 I made the call, and they couldn’t get me in until 3 months later, Dec. 11th. The surgeon, local Dr. Tim Joyce, told me some days he’ll do 4 hip replacement surgeries in 1 day! There’s a lotta other people out there with hip conditions. Another factor was my wish to have the Mako robotic involved, which insures equal leg lengths post surgery.
My hip was bad. I couldn’t hike or climb anymore. I’d cringe every time I had to put on a pair of shoes. It affected my sleep. The chronic pain, which you get used to over time, took over my life. My relationships suffered. My work suffered. It was bad!
Now, about 5 weeks post surgery, my hip range of motion is getting better, I don’t utter curse words when I gotta put on socks, and I’m looking forward to climbing peaks in Glacier National Park again. My scar has healed enough that I can do an epson salt bath at home, and go to the hot springs again. Click HERE to see some of my past climbing, skibiking, and snorkeling adventure videos. In short, life is better, I’ve got some hope, and better prepared for my hernia surgery.
As my hip pain got worse, I had to change my massage therapy services. I stopped doing seated ashiatsu, and did more cupping and kinesio taping. Cupping is a free service, but I charge $15 to kinesio tape an area, think low back pain. Click HERE to see the kinesio taping page from my Kalispell massage therapy website.
In short, I’m back to work, stronger than ever, and very happy with my surgery! If you’re considering a hip replacement surgery, feel free to email me questions at johnnycmassage@hotmail.com.
