New Hip Progress

[ribbert]

I sent a PM.

Mark, I didn't get it.

Noel

[FJmonkey]

I sent a PM.

Mark, I didn't get it.

Noel

The reply about the PM was to Dads_FJ.

[Millietant]

Good luck, Dean.

Ted

Thanks Ted 

[Millietant]

So there's extra risk of back problems when they correct my left leg length with the femoral section replacement (my back will have developed to cope with the unequal length legs, over time) but that's a chance I'm willing to take. The real surprise to me was that 20 years ago i was told that my left leg was apparently only 20mm shorter than my right - not sure how this extra difference has come about, but the consultant didn't seem surprised.

Dean,

One man at work had one short leg, from a war.  He had one shoe with a thicker heel and sole than you need.  I would not think it wise to fully compensate for the entire difference for you now, because of the upcoming repair, but some compensation (~2cm?) may be helpful.  Check with the experts there, of course.

Best wishes.

Yeah, there isn't a plan to add 4cm to bring my legs back to equal - the discussions have been around gaining 2cm maximum back through this surgery.

For almost 40 years of my life, the difference of up to 2cm didn't really cause me any issues at all.

It's interesting but since mentioning this to a couple of people I see regularly when I'm out walking the dog, they both said that the way I walk always made them think my left leg was a lot shorter than my right - they say they only really noticed it when spotting me from a distance, and that up-close, they couldn't tell.

Hello Dean,
You certainly have the textbook signs and symptoms of a worn out hip joint. I've rehabed many a hip during my 26 years working in Physical therapy and have observed a few surgeries. You are right that 2 cm is the max the femur can be lengthened due to putting to much stretch on the soft tissue in particular the sciatic nerve and femoral artery,risking complications.
Also a lot of times leg length discrepancy is caused by pelvic misalignment causing back and hip pain and often correctable with proper physical therapy.  But you being bone on bone obviously need a THR. You can do preop partial or non WB exercises to minimize loss of strength .
Hang in there until February .
Cheers,Hans

Thanks Hans,

I've been riding an e Mountain Bike, to keep myself as fit as I can, and doing as much as I can to maintain my left leg strength, but even so, the doctor noticed the muscle difference immediately when I took my trousers (pants) off for the X-Ray and examination.

I'm totally determined to get back to full health/strength as soon as possible, without overdoing it - I've been warned of the potential for dislocation if I do too much, too soon, or the wrong type of exercise activity.

[Millietant]

Dan, Bryan - thanks guys 

[Old Rider]

Good luck Dean !  i also has some hip problems in the past and found that it came from placing the bike on the centerstand

[ribbert]

......i also has some hip problems in the past and found that it came from placing the bike on the centerstand

Rolf, I made this prototype years ago and I got lucky with the height, length and angle, they were all spot on first try so needless to say, I never remade it neatly. It has a metre high handle so I don't have to bend down to pick it up or move it, I use it daily.




Roll the front wheel up, hold it with the front brake, push the centre stand to the floor, let go the brake and the bike literally rolls back onto the stand under it's own weight, I can do it in bare feet, no lifting, no pulling. It's a bad back, crook shoulder, weak wrist, dodgy knee, arthritic or 90lb weakling's dream.

Noel

[Millietant]

Good luck Dean !  i also has some hip problems in the past and found that it came from placing the bike on the centerstand

Thanks Rolf,

Mine came from a childhood bone disease and being dragged around under a carousel when when I was 5, which smashed the top of my femur and part of my Pelvis. I had 2 years in hospital, and time in a wheelchair and on crutches when I came out, but from the age of about 9 up until almost 60, it had never really bothered me - until it reached the critical point !!!!

Now it just hurts like hell all the time and I struggle to walk more than about 3/4 of a mile, but at least I'm comfy on the FJ and as it's not my right hip, putting the bike on the centre stand isn't an issue for me

[Old Rider]

Noel That was a brilliant invention for bad back, crook shoulder, weak wrist, dodgy knee, arthritic or 90lb weakling's dream device

[krusty]

While on the subject of centre stands. My 1100 is easy but my 1200 is a pig to get on the centre stand. Has anyone found this? (BTW my GL1500 Gold Wing is easier than the 1100).

[ribbert]

While on the subject of centre stands. My 1100 is easy but my 1200 is a pig to get on the centre stand. Has anyone found this? (BTW my GL1500 Gold Wing is easier than the 1100).

The effort required to lift the bike onto the centre stand varies greatly depending on height of the bike, the lower it is the harder it is to get the stand over centre.
Owners who have raised the rear of the bikes notice easier use of the stand immediately.

Even if both your bikes are standard but one has mushy suspension that allows it to sit lower, it will be significantly harder to put on the stand. Conversely, .........

Noel

[SpiderFJ1200]

I was trying to figure out how to put my FJ on its center stand solo with my psoriatic arthritis. Another complication is I have the ride height as low as it will go to put my feet down as securely as possible, but still can't flat foot the FJ. I think this device for putting the FJ on its center stand is brilliant, and I'll probably make something similar. Thanks for that!

[andyoutandabout]

Yeah center stand technique is a thing to practice. I watched a YouTube vid years ago and it was pretty useful.
Left hand on left grip
Right hand under rear sub frame
Right leg lightly pushes centerstand down to touch ground
Position bike so both feet of the center stand touch the ground
Push down with right leg and up she goes.
This really saved my lower back, because you don't really use your back at all. All in the legs, just like proper lifting technique.
Anyway, initially I still struggled only to discover the little triangle bits on the centerstand feet had been ground off. A scavenged replacement from Randy's boneyard made all the difference, so check those triangle pieces are in good shape.

Dean, best of British when going under the knife. The NHS will see you right.

[ribbert]

Yeah center stand technique is a thing to practice......Anyway, initially I still struggled only to discover the little triangle bits on the centerstand feet had been ground off. A scavenged replacement from Randy's boneyard made all the difference, so check those triangle pieces are in good shape.

Yes, the sequence you describe makes it as easy as it gets. I can't think of another task where a minor shift in technique can make such a huge difference. I've watched big burly blokes struggling to put modest sized bikes on the stand and flat out unable to so with a big one. Once you "get it" it's a revelation. However, in my case, age and specific body part failures have forced me to modify many things around the workshop and in this instance, review how I manhandle bikes in the garage, hence the centre stand aid.

Doing this many times a day was part of my job for several decades and while most bikes would yield to the right technique, there was the occasional pig that was just plain poorly designed.

I haven't had the centre stand fitted for years, I just loose fit the bolts (no spring) for cleaning and servicing.

I'm at the stage where I think I'm able bodied enough to pick my bike up if I had to but not in any condition to do it just to see. Yet another task where success relies entirely on proper technique, not strength, fitness, age or size.

To this end I bought one of these just yesterday after a lot of research.

https://eastbound.shop/product/motorcycle-jack-lift-a-fallen-motorcycle-eastbound-motowinch-lc2500dan/

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Feastbound.shop%2Fdemo-videos%2Fmotowinch-demos%2F&psig=AOvVaw0QHAh-QU3T5rdcwzXNjdnZ&ust=1640695713005000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAsQjRxqFwoTCJDGppyChPUCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAP

Yes, it's expensive and yes I could make one but I know I won't. I nearly dropped my bike about 3000 times last week in the middle of nowhere on a road that appeared to go months without a single passing vehicle. The entire 37km road was solid clay only broken up by sections of boggy clay and it was pouring rain. I wasn't going to die if I dropped it but I might have spent a very miserable night and had a long walk the next day, assuming I wasn't injured.

Noel

[red]

I was trying to figure out how to put my FJ on its center stand solo with my psoriatic arthritis. Another complication is I have the ride height as low as it will go to put my feet down as securely as possible, but still can't flat foot the FJ. I think this device for putting the FJ on its center stand is brilliant, and I'll probably make something similar. Thanks for that!

SpiderFJ1200,

As for flat-footing, maybe I can help. 
1. Light boots with aggressive thick treads (waffle-stompers) will bring the Earth closer, when sitting on the bike.  You will be walking taller also, which is okay by me; just be a little cautious when climbing steps (or a curb) until you get accustomed to the extra foot lift-needed there.  Use the handrails, if available.  I use "light tactical combat boots" (which I got on a clearance sale for cheap) as my riding boots.  They have side zippers, so I knot and stow the laces inside the boot, for safety; I never untie them.  They weigh less (and may cost less) than most good hiking shoes.
2. Most good auto upholstery shops can un-staple your seat covering, shave off some foam to suit, and re-staple the covering as if it was never touched.  If you go a little too far with the angle-grinder on the foam, you can cover that easily with a layer of softer foam, before re-covering the seat-foam.  In some cases, narrowing the seat foam at the front will help as much or more than simply reducing the height of the foam.
The center-stand "lift" technique here is good also.
HTH.