I am a new member, and this is my first post. I have had P.D. for 12 years. Currently I experience difficulty in rising from a chair, and I walk with short steps. I was told by one of my doctors that my recent pain is connected with my right hip. A visit to an orthopedic doctor yesterday confirmed this. He suggested hip replacement. This brings specific questions!

Have any of us had hip replacement with Parkinson's? Was it successful?
I am overweight. I am hoping that dropping down to a normal weight may result in me not needing surgery, or at least avoiding it for a while. Does anyone have a weight loss diet that has worked for them?

Thanks for reading and for your help!

I''m sure you will find information here to help with the decisions you are facing. If you have read much here already, you already know that there is a wealth of information and experience here to be shared in problem-solving on the PD path. Again, welcome!
Robert

David-
Welcome aboard. One of our number, Fiona, had a hip replaced a few years ago. She had to relearn how to walk and did so. Plus, she is a professional dancer! She is on sabattical right now, but some diligent searching should help.

So far as dieting goes, you might google "intermittent fasting". It is a formof caloric restriction where you only eat every other day. On the feast day you eat as much as you want. No rules! Then you take a day off with a vitamin pill to give your body time to clean up. Supposedly it has the same benefits as themore traditional fasting.

Welcome David,

I haven't had a hip replaced but I had two knees and then a second revision of one that went wrong. I don't think I had any problems that were specifically tied to PD. My advice would be the same for any surgery.

1. Get the best hip replacer you can find. Ask nurses, they know. Doctors know but they won't tell.

2. Talk to your surgeon about the extreme importance of having your Parkinson's medications on time. My doctor agreed to allow me to administer my own, if he hadn't I would have done it anyway. Regular staff often don't get it and may think you're just being demanding and whiny.

3. Do your PT religiously. Listen to your body and don't take "unresonable expectations" as an answer when you tell your doctor that your pain is still too intense.

4. Be hyper alert for infection, don't hesitate to go in to see your doc if you even suspect it. The consequences can be alarming.

5. Be careful of the pain meds they prescribe, they are often really heavy duty and very adictive. You can have a dreadful time getting off them.

Good luck whatever you decide. Losing weight first is a good idea either way. It might make the surgery unnecessary or at least the recovery easier.
My husband lost 25lbs on South Beach and has kept it off. I lost 7 during the same time period. UGH!

Pam

David is about 70 miles from where I live. We have been friends for years thru PLWP, then PAN.

David, trust me on this one, but if you have the option not to have hip surgery, avoid it! How would Brenda take care of you? You would have to go to either a rehab facility or a nursing home (where you are not watched all that closely) and you may fall and really be in trouble!

I know that you are also diabetic, so I would suggest Weight Watchers. It can be done entirely online or you can choose a local support group. They pattern the diet of the American Heart Association, and have lots of delicious and easy-to-prepare recipes.

Bottom line - lose the weight and exercise as much as you can. There was a guy from Unicoi in our support group. He fell several times, weakening his immune system. He didn't watch his medication schedule or eat properly - and I attended his funeral last night (71 yrs old).

Let's get together soon - been way too long!
Peggy

I am a caregiver, but I loudly second Peggy's recommendations. If one can avoid elective surgery then do so and hip replacements are elective surgeries. If you have access to a pool, water exercise, whether swimming, walking in water aerobics or just moving around, is great for those of us with joint and/or weight issues.

Hi David. I'm sure my situation is quite different than yours but I will let you know about my experience with hip replacements. When I was 13 I was in a terrible car accident that shattered my right hip and pelvis, also both jaws.There were so many of us (8 in our car alone) We were on our way for a picnic Since my dad had been killed in a car accident in 1953, my older brother was driving. It was foggy and he pulled out in front of a car that did not have it's headlights on. My mother, 2 brothers and a sister were killed. This happened in a very small city with just a small hospital. All available doctors and nurses were called in to help. And it was 1959 when we didn't have all the technology we have today. My hip was set but never healed properly.When I was 16 my hip was fused so I had no movement and walked stiff legged. Great for a 16 year old girls self confidence and image, right? I was told I'd have to have a C-section if I ever wanted kids. Well, they were wrong. I had 4 kids naturally. In 1986 a doctor in Green Bay came up with a new hip made from poly solfoam and I agreed to the experiment. That hip lasted 10 years. In 1995 I had another hip put in and never got over the pain so in 1996 I went to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester and had a titanium hip put in and now I'm having problems with that one. I was 40 years old when I had first hip done. Way too young as hips rarely last beyond 10 years. And I was raising 4 kids, married and way too active for an artificial hip. Right now I can hardly walk due to the pain in that hip. I'm afraid the prosthesis may be loose. Can my body go through another hip replacement? I don't know. Because I've walked with a cane all these years I developed arthritis in my left knee and left shoulder and had those both replaced 5 years ago. Fortunately they are doing quite will. When I had 3rd hip replacement done at Mayo Clinic in 1996 I was given Compazine (a anti nausea med). This was Dec. By Feb my right thumb tremored. In August when I went back for hip check up I was dx with PD. I was told Compazime brought out PD symptoms early. I was told that I would have been dx with PD eventually but not at age 51. Hey I would have been just fine with a few more years without PD.
David, be sure you really need this hip replacement at this time of your life. Listen to the others who have responded to your question. What will be the quality of your life? Yes, hip replacements work but be sure this is the best treatment for you.
As far as having trouble getting out of a chair that is normal for us PDers. I have a lift chair that is wonderful. Also, I have trouble turning in bed so I took a child's jump rope and cut it in half and tied each half on the side of the bed with the handles. Works great. I also have silk sheets which make it easier to turn in bed.
If you do have hip replaced, educate the nurses and doctors. They think they know what PD is but they don't have a clue. Most people think it's only tremors. HA!
As far as diet and exercise goes, Weight Watchers is probably the best and you can do it online as Peg suggested. Also water walking is great for any joint.
I wish you the best of luck with your hip. It isn't bad enough we have PD but we have other health problems too. If I can answer any questions for you please don't hesitate to ask.
I apologize for the length of this post but I guess I'm just long winded today.

Caz