The Brown Shadow
Active Member
I thought it might be interesting for those Drivers out there with bad hips.
I had osteoarthritis (bone spurs) in my right hip. This led to total destruction of my cartilage, 8 mm displacement of hip ball, and deformation of femoral hip ball. After 7 years of moderate hip pain (2 weeks of severe pain in the last year) I had my hip replaced.
My surgeon used the posterior approach. I was able to return to work after a 7 week recovery period and am doing ok. I still have pain in the area of my hip, but it is from the surgery and is not the same as the internal hip pain I had pre-surgery. I work carefully, but am able to perform all my normal work functions on my mostly residential route.
I didn't try to claim workman's comp on this injury. I am not sure how much genetics had a hand in this, but I am sure my 17+ years as a driver did contribute to this condition. I took the time off from Nov 24th-Jan 5th. I used 20 sick days I had accrued, 2 weeks of vacation, and the 5 paid holidays to cover my time off. Comp would have only paid 67% of my 40 hour work weeks and how I did it paid better than that. I am OK with using my sick days and vacation weeks this way. I didn't have to fight for months, or go to court, to get this procedure authorized. I have some coworkers who were gone for like 6-9 months off with severe, surgery requiring injuries, that started with a battle to determine that UPS work caused said injuries. In the end UPS did pay for my operation through Union benefits and the days off paid from the job.
If anyone has questions please ask. Especially those who may be suffering from a similar condition.
I had osteoarthritis (bone spurs) in my right hip. This led to total destruction of my cartilage, 8 mm displacement of hip ball, and deformation of femoral hip ball. After 7 years of moderate hip pain (2 weeks of severe pain in the last year) I had my hip replaced.
My surgeon used the posterior approach. I was able to return to work after a 7 week recovery period and am doing ok. I still have pain in the area of my hip, but it is from the surgery and is not the same as the internal hip pain I had pre-surgery. I work carefully, but am able to perform all my normal work functions on my mostly residential route.
I didn't try to claim workman's comp on this injury. I am not sure how much genetics had a hand in this, but I am sure my 17+ years as a driver did contribute to this condition. I took the time off from Nov 24th-Jan 5th. I used 20 sick days I had accrued, 2 weeks of vacation, and the 5 paid holidays to cover my time off. Comp would have only paid 67% of my 40 hour work weeks and how I did it paid better than that. I am OK with using my sick days and vacation weeks this way. I didn't have to fight for months, or go to court, to get this procedure authorized. I have some coworkers who were gone for like 6-9 months off with severe, surgery requiring injuries, that started with a battle to determine that UPS work caused said injuries. In the end UPS did pay for my operation through Union benefits and the days off paid from the job.
If anyone has questions please ask. Especially those who may be suffering from a similar condition.
