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SPORTS & FITNESS

Mountain Views-News Saturday, July 27, 2024

HIP, HIP, HOORAY!

I’m happy! Not because something great has 
happened or the world has suddenly become 
less hostile. No, I’m happy because I am 
going to have a total hip replacement in the 
next few days. As a fitness professional for 
almost 40 years, I’ve logged in thousands of 
hours of exercise. From running and hiking 
to swimming and fitness classes. But the 
pain and inconvenience of having severe 
osteoarthritis and nerve pain has taken its toll 
on me the past 2 years. I’m looking forward 
to that coming to an end. 

A THR (total hip replacement) is something 
many people go through. More than 450,000 
of them are done each year in the USA. You 
don’t have to be elderly to need one. Here 
are the top 10 jobs most likely to lead to hip 
replacement surgery, based on the physical 
demands and repetitive motions associated 
with each profession:

1. Construction Workers: Heavy lifting, 
climbing, and repetitive strain.

2. Agricultural Workers: Constant 
physical labor, lifting, and operating 
machinery.

3. Professional Athletes: High-impact sports leading to joint injuries.

4. Manual Laborers: Jobs involving consistent heavy lifting or long periods of standing.

5. Dancers: Especially ballet dancers, due to repetitive and strenuous hip movements.

6. Healthcare Workers: Nurses and aides who frequently lift patients and stand for 
long hours.

7. Military Personnel: High physical demands and rigorous training.

8. Factory Workers: Repetitive motions and heavy lifting in industrial settings.

9. Delivery Drivers: Constant lifting and carrying of packages.

10. Fitness Professionals: High-impact exercises, repetitive movements, overuse injury 
potential.

What are the symptoms? Stiffness when getting up from sitting a long time or in the 
morning when getting out of bed. Tight muscles in various parts of the leg. From pain in 
the gluteals and tight thigh muscles to difficulty lifting your leg. Going up stairs is next 
to impossible on the affected side. Putting on shoes and getting into the car is not easy. 
Stretching can give temporary relief but the pain quickly comes back. Anti-inflammatory 
drugs, physical therapy, steroids and staying off your feet don’t really help.

How do you know how bad it is? You won’t know until you’ve had an Xray and possibly 
an MRI. If you’ve had the above symptoms for a long time, the hip has probably been 
deteriorating for a while. Pain will gradually increase and you’ll be able to do less and less 
without feeling restricted. Even walking can hurt. In some cases, nerves may be involved 
as well.

Are there alternative treatments? If you're seeking temporary relief, injections can help 
alleviate symptoms. Acupuncture, massage therapy, and chiropractic care offer short-
term benefits too. Applying heat and cold packs can reduce inflammation, and ensuring 
adequate vitamin D intake may slow down disease progression. Wearing good shoes and 
managing weight can relieve pressure on the joints. Regenerative treatments show promise 
by stimulating healing processes within the body. In less severe cases, hip arthroscopy may 
be considered to repair or remove damaged tissue. However, for severe osteoarthritis, hip 
joint replacement is the most proven effective treatment.

What exactly is the process? THR is considered major surgery but with a high success rate. 
During surgery, an incision along the side of the hip is made to access the joint. Damaged 
bone and cartilage surfaces are removed before placing an artificial implant made of metal, 
ceramic, or plastic to mimic the natural hip joint. Patients are up and walking right away 
and can often go home the same day. Post-surgery, patients are closely monitored for 
recovery, including pain management and physical therapy to regain strength and mobility. 
Regular follow-up visits ensure the new hip joint functions well and healing progresses 
smoothly. Risks of the surgery include infection, blood clots, nerve or blood vessel damage 
and leg length issues. 

Personally, I’m not sure how it will go. Scary to say the least. I know 4 people who have had 
the procedure in the past year and all 4 had completely different experiences and outcomes. 
The only thing my doctor said regarding recovery time, is that it depends on “how good of 
shape” I’m in. So, we will see.

If you’d like to follow my experience and progress, I’ll be detailing it all on the Facebook 
page listed with my byline. Follow the page and scroll down to see my X-Rays showing 
what the damage looks like. I’ll post regular updates, pictures and exercises to help if you 
know someone going through the same thing or are considering surgery yourself. It will 
all be detailed there to help you gain insight and decide when/if you or someone you know 
may need to follow the same path.


Michele Silence, M.A. is a 37-year certified fitness 

professional who offers semi-private/virtual fitness 
classes. Contact Michele at michele@kid-fit.com. 
Visit her Facebook page at: michelesfitness Visit 
her Facebook page at: michelesfitness.

HUDDLE UP

With HARVEY HYDE


THE TIMES THEY ARE A CHANGING’

Looking back and looking out today, I truly understand that 
generations are different. Our early years are significant -- depending 
on the times. Was it the economics? Was it some war being fought? 
Was it the times when our parents grew up? I see attitudes and actions 
and viewpoints differ so much depending on our early years. As 
workers, as athletes, coaches, as citizens. 

I am older than many of you. Here’s some of my “generational 
memories.” We had chores to do, not on the farm, but as family 
responsibility. We worked before we could “play.” How many of you had to wash the car, cut the grass, 
take out the trash, make the bed? Our parents did not really serve us. But taught us. It was a team 
effort. 

What about learning how to change a tire. Wax the car. Work part-time when you could… (At the gas 
station, delivering news papers, bagging groceries at the market) We had additional responsibilities 
other than play and study. Had to do a little bit of everything. 

There were no cell phones to look at all day sitting in a chair or walking around. No computers. You 
went to the library or read through the encyclopedia and dictionary to learn facts, how to spell and 
communicate with people. (I learned the communication better than the spelling)

I was taught to look a person in the eye and that a hand shake meant everything. I was taught that 
“please” “thank you” “yes sir,” yes ma’m” were not bad words, and was reminded often.

‘Tho I was sometimes irritated at these reminders, I did not hate my parents for these disciplines of 
life and how to treat people. 

I remind later generations, It’s never too late to learn common sense and common useful skills. (just 
as important as “intelligence.” ) How to cut a piece of wood, hammer a nail, vacuum a floor, wash 
your own clothes, iron a shirt. I learned how to knit and understood how hard Mom’s job was. I can 
cook a couple of things, feed myself, wash dishes and live a life without starving to death or eating out 
every night. These things were a part of growing up. I admit, I didn’t always like it, but I did it…. or 
no privileges for me.

I went to public schools and rode the bus, which relieved my parents of transportation and saved 
money. I didn’t know anyone who went to a private school. Now, parents have to work hard to pay for 
specialty private schools, transportation and food, lunch, books etc that public schools and the state 
were (and still are) responsible for. (in my day, money for lunches in the cafeteria was fifty cents. )

And then, school was over. My “adulthood” was here, and my prospects were questionable. I was 
graduated and my parents thought it might be a good idea to have some reminders about those adult 
responsibilities and discipline. So I joined the Army reserve. This certainly made me understand life 
at a different level. 

I didn’t just do what I wanted, I did what I was told, and if not faced the consequences. I polished off 
some skills my folks had tried to teach earlier, and I got a chance to decide who I wanted to be! And 
what I didn’t want.

I came back from training and went to Pasadena City College – a great school -- with smaller classes 
than a bigger school or university, where you couldn’t hide. I played football as I did in high school, 
and didn’t win many games. I learned that I did not like losing. From that I got a scholarship. I was 
very fortunate as money was hard coming. I took advantage of it and had a great college experience. 

I loved football so it kept me in school. I had to be eligible (in both high school and college.) Of 
course I then had to major in something! Big question. What do you have the ability to be?

Not an “A” student, so being a doctor did not work and a lawyer had to take all those classes and pass 
the bar. (too bad because my skills in arguments were always good) 

So I decided to be something that didn’t feel like I was going to work every day. I am a lucky guy that 
I chose right. And have tried to pass on those “old time” skills to my own kids and players of other 
generations. And those were my “good old days.” Part two coming up. 

Follow me @coachhyde or coachharveyhyde.com 


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com