[spondylosaurus]

Also disabled, and this is a topic I've been chewing on a lot lately—I started writing up a longer comment but deleted it, lol. What I really want to say is that I have a few problems I would 100% cure in a heartbeat, and a few that I'm less sure about, so I get it.

Some disabilities only have one true cure: fix the part of your body that's bad at its job. No amount of accomodation or acceptance is going to mitigate the worst parts of, say, liver disease. But other disabilities have two paths forward: cure the body, or create a world that's more accommodating to people with that disability. Deafness seems like it falls in that category, which is tricky, because both paths have salient points but are also at odds with each other.

[silverquiet]

I'm actually in this position a bit. I'm still young(ish) with a serious hip condition that causes me some disability. There are options for replacement that could get me to near full function, but there are drawbacks and the shear fear of surgery and replacing part of my body with metal and plastic. If I was wheelchair-bound, I don't think it would be a hard choice, but I am able to essentially do most of the things I need to do at least as I am. And so I put it off and put it off.

[spondylosaurus]

Hip problems are brutal, been there before :( Mine (mostly) resolved when I addressed some other underlying issues but I was also seriously considering joint replacement for a bit!

The surgery and downtime are no joke, but everyone I've talked to who went through with a replacement was glad they did. I even know at least one guy who now works on his feet all day. Not saying to just take the plunge now, but if you ever do, the outcomes seem pretty damn good.

[silverquiet]

Yes - it’s a bit ironic that I have an extremely rare condition (Perthes disease) that ultimately may be resolved by a very common surgery. And it is known as one of the best as far as outcomes - the Lancet called it the surgery of the century, so I do at least have some hope there.

Good to hear you were able to mostly resolve your issue. Given your name I’m assuming you have ankylosing spondylitis - I certainly see that in joint replacement forums from time to time, often people younger than I at this point who are facing more joint issues than myself.

[spondylosaurus]

Damn, I recently learned about Perthes and it does not sound fun. Glad you're managing for now but I hope you get some relief in the future, through surgery or otherwise.

And yep, spondylitis with a side of hip bursitis, so Perthes hits close to home. Eventually I figured out I have colitis, started to treat that, and the arthritis got 90% better. Also I learned that some people with really aggressive colitis who go on steroids for years wind up with osteoporosis so bad that they need... hip replacement surgery, lol. It all comes full circle!

[jamiek88]

Do you have significant pain?

[silverquiet]

Pain is the main disability; most days I walk well enough that no one can tell I have issues, but the pain can make it hard to concentrate on my work. That said, some days I have little pain and so it is hard to commit to a surgery when I have a string of good days.