Having Surgery

[Rich Tower]

Just an FYI but my brother Jim is having his hip replaced on Monday the 22nd.
Must be why he was limping at the Dam Race this summer. Please keep him in your thoughts.

Rich

[David_L6]

Nothing to it! My mother just had the same thing done. He'll be up and around in NO TIME.

[bill van steenwyk]

Hip Replacements / Major Surgery with all that entails

Rich:

With two total hip replacements on the left side, one in 1976 lasting 25 years, (old cemented in style) and that one revised (replaced) in 2001, I think I can speak with some experience. Biggest danger is infection contracted during and right after surgery. Nothing much you personally can do about that except be sure he has a good surgeon, and the Hospital has a low infection rate for hip replacement patients. If he is NOT overweight, that will speed his recovery and ultimate success of the replaced joint. My weight ran about 150 to 160 the whole time of the first one, and that was a great contributor to its success, as it was the older cemented in type, not the newer "bone grows into and holds" prosthesis being used today.

Very important to follow the doctors orders for the first 4-6 weeks as he is basically recovering from a broken hip. He might be on a walker for 4 weeks or so, or a little shorter time on a walker and then crutches and a cane. DON"T put any weight on the hip until the Doctor says OK. DON"T cross legs until Doctor says OK. You can dislocate the hip very easily the first few weeks until the muscles that have been cut to make the incision, heal enough to hold the ball in the socket securely.

EXCERSIZE VERY IMPORTANT AFTER SURGERY, to regain use of the leg. You would be surprised how much just a few weeks of inactivity will hurt in the recovery process and lengthen it. If he would like to talk about this after he gets thru the first few days, call me at 636-942-2283. I have lived with one for almost half my life now, and lost very little in the ability to do exactly what I wanted insofar as physical activity. You just need to be smart about it and realize the consequences of your actions.

He will probably be in a good deal of pain for a couple of days. Some people handle this better than others, depending on their individual tolerance.

Good Luck to him, and if he is the slightest bit overweight, make him lose it. That will be the best thing you could do to help him.

[MGallagher]

Good luck Mr. Towers! Go get em! I'll be think of you come Monday!

[Rich Tower]

Update-Jim Tower

Spoke with Jim yesterday. He is doing well. He is at the John Heinz Rehab center until hopefully Friday. PT is going well. He is up and walking with a walker. Going up stairs. He said compared to the double knee replacement this is a cake walk, no pun intended. When I asked him why he had it done now, he said so he could go to Florida and be 100% ready for the DAM RACE.

Rich Tower

[Jack Stotts]

I'm so glad to hear that Jim is doing well. He is a great guy and we need him back in full working condition for the 2009 season. John, please pass on my best wishes to Jim. Thanks. Jack

[Gunjumper]

Jim...

Keep up the speedy recovery and we all look foward to seeing you up and about at the banquet. Greg Lyons and family

[PopPop]

Hey Jim, Stick with the therapy and you'll be dancing around before you know it. Hang in there buddy !!

[jtower3941]

New Hip

Hi
Im home and doing well. Will be ready for the three min. gun in Ocoee. Thank you all.

Jim Tower

Boy the meds are great