I had another X-ray that day which shows that the replacement hip joint is perfectly aligned and still firmly set into the femur and pelvis. I had my camera with me this time and the lady consultant who I have seen several times allowed me to take a couple of shots from her computer screen.
See the screws holding the socket joint cup in place on the pelvis? Imagine them rasping out that little lot and using all the power tools in the Black and Decker range! And notice the way they chopped off the head of the femur and rammed the the ball joint spike into the bone after pumping in some cement. It does not hurt at all now apart from sometimes in damp weather, but only for the first few steps.
Earlier the lady consultant remarked when she saw me walking, "Hey, look at you move - that's perfect!" And I had just walked a brisk three miles from where I parked the car.
She said, "Does the other hip give you any trouble?"
I said, "No, why?"
She said, "The joint is nearly worn out! I can't undersatnd why it doesn't hurt you - see the gap of missing cartilage between the ball and the socket."
She went on to say that the X-ray is only two dimensional and may not have picked up that there may still be quite a lot of cartilage there on a different plane. She said, "Obviously it is not troubling you and we are very pleased with your operated hip, so we are discharging you. If you have any problems we can do the other one for you."
We always enjoyed our chats and she was fascinated by me donating 92 pints of blood and managing a donation just 9 months after the operation. Apparently the risk of dislocation has fallen to below 1% so I can ease up a bit on restricting movement. After the consultation I shook her hand and said I would also like to thank the surgeon, the chief consultant, personally for giving my life back to me. She knocked on his door and he did not have a patient with him so I did thank him and he was delighted that I did so.
Regarding the X-ray photo. Originally it was one photo but to save my modesty I cropped out the central part LOL. The full version is available on prescription only and please make out generous cheques to Eddie Bluelights LOL
On to other things - I am still having a partial break in BlogLand and from the Sunday Roast but I hope to return soon.
Meanwhile I received an email from someone called Paul asking me if I would consider selling my blog. No way Paul, it is part of me. Not for sale! Has anyone else had that request?
Finally, I saw an interesting maths conundrum recently which works for people born from 1900 - 1999.
Take the last two digits of the year which you were born and add these to your age next birthday. The answer is always 111. How about that for a piece of useless information! LOL
