Aging Athletes and Joint Replacement

Did you know that Jane Fonda had a hipZoomers.
replacement? Being a former leg warmer-wearingWe are not willing to take the antiquated doctor's
aerobics instructor myself, this information comfortedadvice to wait as long as possible with a painful hip
me. She was 67 when she had her hip done, so I , atbecause the new joint won't last the length of a
age 43,didn't feel THAT much better.younger person's lifetime. This is thankfully no longer
The good news is that the artisit formerly known astrue. Hip Replacement surgery and the actual device
Prince, at age 49, had a recent hip replacement madethat they install has become state of the art and
me feel less alone in the titanium hip world. Throw inbetter able to endure wear and tear.
tennis legend Jimmy Connors who was back on theSo us Baby Zoomers can get back to the sports we
courts six weeks later and Tony Award winninglove; living our active lifestyle to the hilt, without
dancer BeBe Neuwirth (Remember? Lilith on Cheers)limping or whining. Anyone who has ever experienced
who just had her second hip replaced and now I ama deteriorated hip socket knows that the pain is
feeling less geriatric and more main stream. There'sexcrutiating.
also a rumor that Martha Stewart had a THR?I used to think that when I saw people limping they
A new joint could actually become the Plastic Surgerywere just walking off center. Now I know through
of this century! The relatively new trend for youngermy own two years spent hobbling around that when
adults to get this radical surgery is closely correlatedsomeone limps it is because something HURTS.
to the aging baby boomers who have been sweatingBADLY. Being unable to bear weight on your leg is
and exercising over their entire lifetime as opposedcrippling and I am thankful every morning when I first
to my parent's generation, where exercise wasthrow my bedcovers back that my day is not going
looked upon as torture.to be ruined by putting my foot on the floor to go
Running, as a sport, was never heard of until Forrestto the bathroom.
Gump invented it in 1970 or thereabouts. I am curiousNot to mention that I now have something in
about Tom Hanks hips as well? We are the firstcommon with Prince besides high heels. Bring it on.
aging jock population or what I prefer to call Baby