I have degenerative hips and had to stop surfing for the first time in my life. It’s a bit of a chore keeping my head together while awaiting surgery, not knowing if I can get it back. Does anyone out there have bionic joints and still surf?
Friend of mine got both hips replaced, first starting 15 years ago, now first one replaced with teflon/titanium, and he runs, windsurfs, ride’s road bikes as good as before needing the replacments.
If you can stand up from prone, you can surf.
Epac, Bill Irons ( Andys uncle ) had both hips replaced and he surfed in last years Pine Trees contest. Aloha, Kokua
sorry to hear that ep. A friend of mine had double hip replacement, and is back in the water after a 10 year hiatus (it took him that long to get it together for the surgery).
Is this a genetic thing, or is it from the wear and tear of living?
Best of luck, you can do it!
Kit
A friend had his hip replaced and was told no more surfing–he didn’t go for that and was surfing again in 6 months–he just bails soft–he is 63-and still smiles alot!!
Take heart- the hip replacements being done today are quantum leaps better than those being done even last year. Done correctly you should be able to surf and live pain free, depending on who is the surgeon and what system he uses, as some systems are pain free for 98% of the patients. The big fears which could be a life-threatening occurence after a wipeout in big surf- but this year a few manufacturers came out with “Big Ball heads” technology that make the risk of dislocation much lower. Should be fine in waves up to quite sizeable. No, I wouldn’t want to go out in maxing Mavericks or Teahopu, but otherwise it should be just fine. Shop around for surgeons who use the new big ball heads technology, who do a lot of hip replacements ( go for a guy who does 100 or more a year) but not too many (such as at a teaching hospital because he will pass off much of the surgery to an inexperienced resident and the results may not be as good). Take heart- hip replacement is now I think the #1 surgery as far as good to excellent results and most everyone says they can’t believe they waited. (I guess this is only a design thread in that the new systems use high-tech metals and plastics?)
Oh, to more precisely address your question I know there are quite a few guys who have had hip replacement and still surf in Hawaii. I also think I remember seeing years ago that Malibu legend Johhny Fain had a hip replacement and still surfed? And other guys I have met still ski.
Lee- for the last 2 ½ months of not stand up surfing I have been riding prone on my 14’ paddle board, so still riding waves over at the kiddy break, and having fun with that. I’m doing the work in the pool w/ the isolation hip flexor exercises. I have been assured by the Doctors that I will have full flexion and no pain. I know of a couple of people that have successfully gone through the procedure, but at this point it is still hard to imagine.
Kokua – is that Janna’s dad. I know her from the local surf clubs and such, but didn’t know of Bills deal. I’ll probe some more there.
Kit – osteoarthritis is wear and tear, and the degenerative aspect is maybe genetic. It’s hard to know for sure. I have both conditions, and have been buying time for a few years now.
A good friend of mine, an ex-EMT fire fighter recommended a Doctor in L.A. who is a surfer himself, so I have confidence that the questions asked are understood as to what is expected when surfing. To me the most critical point is taking off and going from prone to standing, from one extreme to another.
As one might imagine, the more information the better, so anything is welcome. Thanks for your time friends.
Tubedog - I’m w/ you on the big ball head. The Doctor I’m thinking of doing it only uses them. I walked in his office and among the Pro basketball jerseys was a hanging Black Da Cat model from Greg Noll. Anyone heard of Dr. Robert Klapper?
He works with a P.T. / aquatics women in Santa Monica. They co - wrote “Heal your Hips”.
I’m just getting over the insurance hurdles and narrowing in on a date this summer. Finger and toes crossed.
Had a stretch recently where I fractured my Patella (see old post as “mook”) then 11 months later fractured the hip. While the hip hurt a lot worse to break the P.T. needed to recover was a lot less difficult than the knee. I took my board to town the day I was released from the hip injury to go back to work. Right after the Dr. appointment went surfing in Kahului Harbor chest high surf. Found I could turn ok but when walking to the nose was unable to back pedal so just got stuck there. When it came time to get out of the water not enough strength in the left leg to climb the rocks. Ended up crawling up to the side of the road. After watching most of the winter slip by while recovering I didn’t care was just happy to be in the water.
Eastern talk to Scott Stanley from Esaus hes got lots of info and Ray Kunze the malibu Inforcer you know what gates he guards.Both are back after years of pain.good luck.KP.
Good luck w/your recovery Mook!
Kirk- third times a charm for Scotty. Had been seeing Ray in those outside, standup barrels on his 11 footer when I was in action. I’ll have to turn over some rocks to find him. Classic Guy. Thanks for the tips.
thers a guy over here about 63 or 64 now had both hips done ,Len dibben ,long time board builder …
i was out surfing with him last year ,im paddling back out as hes surfing and he takes this weird purposeful looking bail out…
i said to him "hey len what happened it looked like you jumped off on purpose " he says “yea my hip felt like it was gonna pop out so i had to bail”
regardlesss to say …hes still out there on the smaller days having fun…
regards
BERT
Click the link below to a story about my friend Tom O'brien who had a hip replacement and won the East Coast Championchips 3 years later. This guy not only surfs with a fake hip....he rips!!!! Since the surgery he has won numerous events on both shortboard and longboard. He is one of the most dominant competitive surfers on the east coast for 50 and over age group.
http://www.ventnorevoice.com/bulletinboard/archive/index.php?t-820.html
And a few pictures......even ripping in 40 degree water. I hope when I am his age I can surf half as well.
I am 63 years old and had both hips repaced about 5 years ago. I still surf and basically don’t even think about my hips anymore.
There is a recent picture of me surfing on magiscseaweed.com at the mainland mexico spot saladita. It is the picture on the upper left. The goofyfoot with white and black trunks and the black and grey rashguard.
Good Luck.
Jim
I had one. It’s great. Mine was done from the front (anterior). Going on 6 years with no major problems.
Timely thread: my right hip has started giving me trouble (first time surfing during my last session) . Have an appointment to get an evaluation in a couple weeks. Wish me luck for a good prognosis.
it’s cool reading this again. 2004 was a long time ago.
I’ve since got back into surfing again and the hips are fine for the most part. Looking back, I wouldn’t hesitate having the surgery again in a heart beat. My best advice would be to find the best surgeon that you can, even if it means traveling.
If you want any info I have a lot of things that might help.
Slightly OT but I came back from heart valve replacement so there is surfing after major surgery.
Mike