The Phil-list Jun_2008: [philmont] Backpacking After THR

From: Scott Douglass <sedoug@fuse.net>
Date: Sun Jun 01 2008 - 20:52:20 CDT

This is a response from a fellow Scouter that I know.
YIS,
Scott Douglass
CC T21
ADC Hopewell District

-----Original Message-----
From: Jon Kerr [mailto:jkerr@fuse.net]
Sent: Sunday, June 01, 2008 9:22 PM
To: philmont@troop47.com
Subject: FW: [philmont] Backpacking After THR

Charlie,

I have had three hip replacement surgeries, and am still very active in
Scouting. I had bilateral replacements done (same day, both sides) some 15
years ago and went to Philmont in 2004. At that time, both of mine were the
old metal on plastic type. My new one on the left side was replaced this
past summer due to the plastic particles degrading from use and settling in
around the prosthesis stem, causing the bone to deteriorate, making a
revision necessary.

The long story short is that my hips have never held me back from
backpacking. I have never felt pain or like I was in danger of not
performing to my best, but I am always careful not to crouch low with my
heels on the ground and my butt close to my heels. That angle puts a real
stress on your hips and could force them to dislocate. You don't want that
at any time, but in the back country, it would be disastrous.

Go for it. Don't let the doctors scare you away from doing what you want to
do. The hip replacements are excellent and very resilient. Like you, I was
advised to avoid sudden impacts, but I know some docs who now say that
tennis is OK. I think the nature of the thing is that doctors are unusually
cautious with active patients. Let's face it, not many people our age have
hips replaced. (I had mine done originally when I was 37, and I'm now 51.)

Let's go backpacking!

Jon Kerr
ASM T21
Twenty Mile Stand, OH

"My son is an Eagle."

-----Original Message-----
From: Scott Douglass [mailto:sedoug@fuse.net]
Sent: Sunday, June 01, 2008 6:10 PM
To: 'Jon Kerr'
Subject: FW: [philmont] Backpacking After THR

Jon:
I thought you might have a comment on this.
Scott

-----Original Message-----
From: philmont@troop47.com [mailto:philmont@troop47.com] On Behalf Of
Charlie Evans
Sent: Sunday, June 01, 2008 10:46 AM
To: philmont List Member
Subject: [philmont] Backpacking After THR

[Unless you or a companion have experience backpacking after a total hip
replacement, feel free to stop reading now.]

I have been blessed to hike Philmont and ride it on a Cavalcade. After
having some minor stiffness following long periods of sitting this
winter I went from lunchtime jogging to needing a cane to walk in four
weeks. The diagnosis: rapidly progress osteoarthritis in my left
hip. Somehow I missed the years of chronic pain and skipped right to needing

total hip replacement (THR) surgery. I just turned 50 in January but I
wasn't expecting to fall apart quite so soon! Anyway, I am not posting for

sympathy or pity - I got in two trips to Philmont and assorted other
scouting adventures and am extremely happy this didn't happen a year ago as
I prepared my scouts for a Cavalcade - but I do want to know if anyone can
share any experience backpacking after a THR? I have seen two orthopaedist
who agree on my diagnosis but one wants to use an alumina ceramic hip and
the other wants to use a metal-on-metal hip. Both of these are hoped to
last longer than the 15-20 years that the popular metal ball/polyethylene
socket combination is lasting. Each has drawbacks: ceramics may squeak and,

although unlikely, a catastrophic failure would be a nightmare; the
metal-on-metal puts metal ions into the body that have not been proven to
cause long-term problems such as cancer but raise some concerns. High impact

activities are not recommended with either. [I am not a candidate for hip
resurfacing due to osteonecrosis.] Following rehab, I am told that with the

ceramic hip I can backpack as long as I two-pole it, stick to moderate
terrain, and don't use a heavy pack. With the metal-on-metal hip I would
have no restrictions on backpacking except to avoid jumping off logs and
rocks. Even without my medical condition, it is unlikely that I would make
another trip to Philmont so my decision will not be based on what might get
me back to "Scouting Heaven". However, I would like to remain a
recreational backpacker. Can anyone share their personal experience in this

area before I make a final decision?
Thanks,
Charlie Evans
ASM, Troop 72
Fayetteville, GA
702-G (2004)
714-CV (2007)
"I used to be an Eagle"

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Received on Sun Jun 1 20:55:16 2008

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