Arthritis in the hip!
 

I have developed arthritis in my hip. Hurts bad after games. Went to the Dr and he gave me some medication and it has helped some. Anyone have any advice? Is it time to hang it up? I am in my mid 50's and have called for over 25 years and have done it all?

I know an official who also has arthritis in his knees and hips. Besides medication, he takes physical therapy and it really helps - plus, it's covered by his health plan. Check with your medical professional.

Do you still enjoy refereeing? If yes, then get with a physical therapist and have them teach you the proper exercises to strengthen and improve flexibility in the hips.

If you find out you are beyond what physical therapy can do to help you, then check out a hip replacement called, The Birmingham Hip. I got mine May of 07 works perfectly. I referee any Basketball game or Soccer Match I want to pain free.

Billy...I think I'm developing the same condition. We're about the same age and have worked about the same number of years. I experienced severe pain in my hip after games and that was with extra streching, applying both Aspercreme and Icy Hot, Advil, and wearing not only compression pants but 2 pair of compression shorts. Feel that if I don't do all that the hip is just going to give out. Problem has continued through baseball/softball season. Working in the cool, damp, wet spring and early summer here has been murder.
I don't know about you, but it always hurt more after the game (esp.the next day) than during the game. The area of pain for me extends from my right hip down to the cheek of my butt.
Aside from replacement (and I am scheduled to see a doc) any advice from you or anyone else on coping with and managing the pain when working a game?

If nothing else, you certainly are dedicated!

Also look into natural remedies, Example Viatmin B (ALL), flax seed, etc etc and other natural remedies. there is a large quatity of information on the web, you will need to filter a lot of junk however. Always check with your Dr. first to ensure no side effects or interactions with current medication. Remember that natural remedies take time and are not instanteneous.

You could also keep your enthusiasm alive by teaching younger officials and perhaps officiate slower games. It would be a total waste to throw 25 years of experience away.
Best of luck

I strongly encourage anyone with medical issues to consult a licensed medical professional. The internet is rife with crappy advice, and this forum shouldn't be, well, a forum for it.

Also, be careful: it's one thing to report what worked for you, but it is illegal to dispense medical advice without a license.

You are 100% right MBYRON. this is a basketball forum.

I too "strongly encourage anyone with medical issues to consult a licensed medical professional. "

Thank you once again

I wouldn't get too technical. The statutes generally require that one holds themselves out as a physician and also take a fee. Plus, there are additional elements that generally fall under the term, mens rea (google it). Saying, "I'd recommend you take advil for that" isn't illegal in most jurisdictions.

If I were you, my next stop would be at a chiropractor's office. There are several different types of arthritis, some of which are treatable, some not. But it may be that what is causing your problem is ultimately an issue with your spine, something that a chiro may be able to help you with without surgery or medication.

Maybe what you're doing right now (meds) is the best that can be done, but regardless, the meds are only reducing the salience of symptoms, not addressing the fundamental cause of your pain.

I've been seeing a chiro for six weeks now, and it's the best thing I've ever done for my general health or my officiating career.

I'm 57 and developed fairly severe osteoarthritis in both hips prior to becoming a high school official at 45. Went to several Docs looking for relief and there are no good options. Did all the correct "stretching," Celebrex, Glucosamine and Ibuprofen. Only the Ibuprofen had any real effect (taking 2400 mg per day) but I enjoyed being on the court enough to offset the pain it caused. Finally had enough and had total hip replacements during the offseason 4 years ago and am now officiating, playing golf and skiing pain free. Surgery is definitely the last option (with a good surgeon) but one you might consider if it's chronically painful even when you're not active. If it is arthritis, the meds and stretching may help ease the pain but is not ever going to magically disappear without the surgery option. (Your Doc will give you the warning about the hip wearing out much faster if you engage in high impact activities - I'm willing for that to occur rather then give up participating in the things I love to do.) You should consult with some good Docs about all the options and restrictions but only you can decide what's the best thing for you.

BTW, I don't purport to be a Dr. and am just providing anecdotal information based on my experience. Anyone who's concerned about giving "medical" advice on this or any other internet board shouldn't give it but IMO are being overly officious in telling others they shouldn't.

What is the recovery time for the Birmingham Procedure? I went to my family Dr and he has told me to go see a cutting Dr. He said with my age the Birmingham method might be a good deal for me.

I had BHR the 1st week of May 2007, Week 1 walking with a walker, week 2 walking with crutches, week 3 walking with cane. Refereed my first soccer match Mid August, 1st college soccer match 3rd week of August. :)

Should you want to talk about recovery, PM me and I will give you my phone number to call me.

Just think how much better the world would be if everyone was so willing to give advice that could help their fellow man without the fear of litigation.

Since he was merely reporting his own experience, it would take a crack lawyer to make his report out to be "advice." ;)

And frankly, given what passes for "helpful advice" these days, it's just as well that the current system discourages it.

But you brought it up and the OP was merely asking some fellow officials what they thought of his situation. I don't think he would go to Mexico for some miracle treatment based on the advice of someone he probably never met face to face before.

Just asking for some info. All of you lawyers need to fine another post to read! I know what doctors tell you is not the ways things happen all the time. who better can you trust than a ref?

Do you mean about basketball rules, medical care, or how to fix a diesel engine? :rolleyes:

Totally depends on your physical/mental condition and how successful the surgery was. I was out of the hospital one day following the hip replacement. (They won't let you go home until you demonstrate you can walk up and down a couple of stairs with crutches or a walker.) Was walking on one crutch within a week. Driving and back to work (desk job) in two weeks. Walking long distances and using an elliptical within a couple of months. Reffed first game eight months after surgery starting a full schedule (for me) of fifty-plus games with no problems and no pain. Downhill skiing the following winter with no problems (wouldn't recommend that to anyone as there's a definite danger to the hip from a hard fall - but relating it to show how well the hip can perform with a successful surgery).

My hips were too far gone for a resurfacing option but that's an alternative to replacement and has a lot of positives including saving your ball joint and a quicker recovery time. Both are major surgery. You need to consult a top ortho surgeon to get options and make an informed decision.

Good luck!

Thanks, just trying to get all the info before I make my decision. I an leaning toward the birmingham method and want the turnaround for that one?

BHR = Birmingham Hip Resurfacing. ;)
See my previous post.

What was the time from you got operated on till you could ref?

About 14-15 weeks. But, I rehabbed 6 days a week, normal schedule was 2 or 3 days per week.

Thanks all for your experiences.

I have been suffering with similar complaints for about 2 years. My discomfort is expressed as tighteness in my thigh muscles, and craking whenever I rotate around the head of the femur.

I spoke with my orthopedic surgeon 2 yrs ago. Lat month when he noticed that i was listing as i walked (the arthritis has taken all the cartilidge out of the joint, so my right leg is 1/2" shorter than my left) he redid an MRI.

We talked of a resurfacing, and he recommended against it. He said that the stress placed on the bond could be very high in my case (6', 220 lbs) that it was too high a risk.

I am now scheduled for full replacement at the end of august.

Thanks for all the insights.

RefProf

RefProf, I am 6'2", 210 lbs. My Surgeon used the cement-less cup and ball so that bone grew into the the irregular surfaces of the prosthetic attaching points.

Has your surgeon been trained and certified to do the BHR? In spite of being surgeons they still have to make a living. If he is not able to provide the BHR he may be less willing to recommend it as he would have to refer you to a surgeon who has traveled and payed to be trained.

The 8 to 10 year studies are showing a stress failure rate of <2% with the BHR, the total hip has a higher stress failure rate.

"The Birmingham Hip Resurfacing was released in 1997. In Mr. McMinn's series of nearly 2700 BHRs to date, the failure rate has been 1.2% at nearly 9 years. In the younger age group (under 55 years) with osteoarthritis, the failure rate of Mr. McMinn's resurfacings is 0.2% (survival 99.8%) at 11 years follow-up. The failure rate with a traditional hip replacement in this age group by comparison is 19% at 10 years and 67% at 16 years according to the Swedish Hip Arthroplasy Register."

I have been so satisfied with the BHR, I should try to get a job as a marketing representative for the company.:)