Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Hike everyday you can!

Just wanted to remind people who love the outdoors, the mountains, the exercise, or any other joy of hiking, do it every chance you get. Your health can change anytime - I had a major illness at 41 that kept me off the trails for most of a year, then celebrated my recovery by finally summitting Whitney last year, and now Ive learned my hips are badly damaged, and I can't walk without serious pain. I'm not feeling sorry for myself - actually starting physical therapy and new medication and consulting with surgeons about hip replacement, but I do hope to remind people that every day on the trail is a gift - please take advantage of it!

your comments are well received by me Cristobal ..
had slew of injuries and operations last yr -
double microdiscectomy,
a trip to the ER to reduce dislocated elbow.
torn hip flexor and damaged thumb ligament .
helps me to appreciate what health i have today.

Had bilateral inguinal hernia repair this morning...read your post and agree...cant wait to get back to the hills...hope all goes well with the hips...rehab or replace...they will be there when you're ready...

Dances....

So true Cristobal... every day is a gift, no one is promised a tomorrow...

Good word!

Cristobal, I had a total hip replacement (left) 10 years ago (May, 2003). The pain in my hip had gotten so bad that not only couldn't I hike, I couldn't even find a comfortable position for sleep.

Since the replacement I have summited Whitney twice (and stopped short of the summit twice, but not because of hip pain), hiked to the top of a couple Colorado 14ers, been up Baldy many dozens of times (some of us don't keep count), and hiked mountains in Spain, France, and Italy.

There are many factors to consider in deciding whether to have a replacement operation but I am very glad I did it.

Whatever you do, good luck.

Burt