hip and knee replacements

Looks like boomers are breaking all records. Due to our healthy, active ways, we are out-soing all hip and knee replacements of the Greatest Generation.

I read today that by 2030 the number of knee replacements in the US is expected to jump 673 percent according to a study done by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons' annual meeting. Hip replacemts are expected to grow 174 percent to 572,000.

This is no surprise to me. I have a friend who has already had a hip replacement, and one who needs his knee done, but is dragging his feet, living in pain.

I hope there are enough doctors and nurses to ake care of all of us!

Why do you suppose that is? I think its because we don't do enough walking like our parents before us and theirs before them. We ride everywhere parking as close as we can, we use remotes instead of getting up to change the channel, we have drive in windows for everything these days, drugstores, banks, fast foods, cleaners, and they even have doctors and dentists that travel in Vans right to your door, geesh! Even some grocery stores and liquor stores have drive thru windows and now you can order your groceries online and delivered to your door. There is a saying that "if you don't use it, you lose it." You think???????

I think you are absolutely right about that, Chatty! We have become "conveniently" lazy. I remember my parents and grandparents always walking places. My grandpa would walk his farm on a regular basis checking things over seeing if fences needed repaired, or if the woods needed cut back off of the fields, berry picking, mushroom hunting, cut grass with a push mower....not a rider. Yep,they did alot of walking. Still had thier original kness and hips at 93 too.

I don't know. The people I know hwo have, or need replacements need them becasue they have work them out due to so much exercise. One was an avid skier and the othera total fitness nut, runner,tennis player, etc. I think lots of boomers are wearing out due to the physical fitness craze we championed.

"Six of one, half as dozen of the other." My momma would always say when there was more than one explanation for a problem.

Must have been a saying for all of that generation. Mom and Dad said the same thing.

My sons wife, now age 42, had her hip replaced twice, she grew out of the first repair job they did. This was all from her ex husband who repeatedly beat her and threw her down the stairs. Her entire hip is metal and or plastic....

I think the difference with our 'activities' today is that they are often high impact in contrast to walking and working the farm.

High impact isn't my culprit--it's standing on concrete for too many years in hospitals and doctor's offices. Mine aren't that bad, just whinny.