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Floridaputz
Trad climber
Oakland Park Florida
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Topic Author's Original Post - Oct 7, 2009 - 12:45pm PT
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I turned 50 this year and also had a total right hip replacement(anteior approach). I have been climbing since I was 16 and have managed to overcome all sorts of injuries to return to climbing, e.g tendon replacement in left ring finger, 2x broken wrist, blown out shoulder, Now my right hip. I was climbing right up to the surgery, it was tough but I could still do it. Now 3 months out i'm able to walk and gym climb. (but specifically, I want to go back to trad climbing grade III-IV climbs. I will do everything I can to recover (training) but would like to know if there are any others who have had a hip or knee replaced and how this worked out for future climbing.
before you scoff, this may happen to you someday !
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Elcapinyoazz
Social climber
Redlands
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The Verm had a hip replacement, iirc, and seemed to be climbing well only a few months later.
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MtnZealot
Trad climber
Washington, DC
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I know a guy at my gym who had both hips replaced. I see him lead hard 10s and 11s most nights. I know he still gets out for big trad days at the crag here and there. It sounds to me like his business is holding him back more than the hips. There is hope!
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rhyang
climber
SJC
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Another third-party account: a friend had one last year and she got back to climbing. Not long afterwards she was diagnosed with breast cancer, but she's beaten that too. Good luck !
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perswig
climber
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Paging Chiloe? Bueller? Bueller?
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Josh Higgins
Trad climber
San Diego
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My friend in his mid-50s had double hip replacement and then went out and sent 5.13b/c! He's got some DRIVE!
Josh
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Ghost
climber
A long way from where I started
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Not the same thing as a replacement, I know, but I broke a hip ten years ago. I didn't get the joint replaced, but I do have quite a bolted-together mess in there. It hasn't made any long-term difference to climbing or any other physical activity. Rehab was less than pleasant, but eventually it was fine.
As to actual hip replacements, a friend has, over the last two years, had both her hips replaced and she's climbing just fine.
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Crimpergirl
Sport climber
Boulder, Colorado!
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Paging Philo.
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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I'm almost 50 and starting to look at a hip replacement/resurfacing.
Via limited rotational issues at the hips, I've got downstream issues with both feet and can't walk more than 2 miles (...or maybe my hip adductors, knees, and feet just hurt).
I've spoken with Verm (had it done out of country), Chiloe, and a woman who climbs big mountains; all who've had replacements. The latter has "hip resurfing hardware" with a titanium rod in her femur: recently climbed the South Face of Lhotse, postsurgery/rehab.
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survival
Big Wall climber
A Token of My Extreme
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We had to replace MANY joints, after their ancestors were burned, and we kept climbing! What's all the fuss?
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stevep
Boulder climber
Salt Lake, UT
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Replaced joints with pipes. No issue while climbing.
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survival
Big Wall climber
A Token of My Extreme
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Nahiice!
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overit
Trad climber
Boulder
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Before cancer took him, Steve Dieckoff climbed pretty hard into his 50's after a hip replacement.
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Brian Hench
Trad climber
Anaheim, CA
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I know a fellow of about 50 years at my gym who has had both hips replaced. He climbs pretty hard but avoids bouldering, naturally. He is limited in how high he can step since the surgery. He is still not sure whether it is the joints themselves or ligaments that are limiting him.
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healyje
Trad climber
Portland, Oregon
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How about finger joints? I broke my right ring finger and it set up badly, the hand surgeon said he could replace the joint, but it wouldn't hold up to climbing. Was hoping to verify the validity of that statement. If they really don't hold up then I'll just wait til I quit climbing.
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philo
Trad climber
boulder, co.
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Total knee 18 years ago. Lots of miles, lots of use. I have several friends who have had double hip replacements and still crank. You CAN do it! Just be smart and careful. Bouldering should be way low on your priority list. Don't be in a hurry, you are in this for the long haul. Fortunately hip replacements are the most successful of the replacements some are over 40 years old. Let us know how it goes. Wishing you all the best.
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Mighty Hiker
Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Several climbers on ST regularly replace their joints, and still climb. Sort of.
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philo
Trad climber
boulder, co.
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Rock and, um, ROLL.
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reddirt
climber
Elevation 285 ft
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I sometimes climb w/ a guy who clips 11's in on plastic & upper 10's trad.
He's had a double hip replacement.
He climbed some in the Tetons either this or last year, so there's yer post hip replacement Grade III/IV.
I also climbed in the gym last night w/ someone who had her entire ankle replaced 4.5 months ago.
I climbed in the stupid gym the evening before back surgery thanks to pinot noir & opioids. why the hell not... it was gonna get fixed the next day.
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Floridaputz
Trad climber
Oakland Park Florida
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Topic Author's Reply - Oct 8, 2009 - 10:26am PT
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Thanks everyone for the feedback. I will proceed with great optimism !
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