Wendy also mentioned he had been in a lot of pain during the .org video interview she and Lisa did after they had reconciled and performed with Prince. I think they were asked specifically about the hip.

Really, Paul Stanley had the same problem too. It shouldn't be so hard to believe even without some sort of "medical reports" having appeared on the Internet. I certainly wouldn't consider it "just a rumor".

lopez568 said:

I'm sorry if this is the last thing anyone wants to talk about right now but I think I'm in that stage where I'm getting really annoyed with the lack of facts and just a whole load of speculation. Does anyone have any factual or credible source information on Prince's "hip problems"? I was always under the impression that this was media bullshit and rumour akin to him having one of his ribs removed. However, now everyone is mentioning the hips and either I've missed something or the rumour is now just accepted without any evidence. Evidence and/or credible source info would be much appreciated.

The problems with his hips is not a new "rumor". It has been well known accepted fact for many many years. I read a quote with Wendy and Lisa talking about it three or four years ago.

trc1 said:

nursev said:

Really? Common sense

Splits can really screw up the joints.

trc1 said:

nursev said:

Really? Common sense

Splits can really screw up the joints.

definitely

peachandblack87 said:

trc1 said:

Splits can really screw up the joints.

I'm an ex-dancer and technically what Prince did were jazz splits where the back leg is bent, this puts a lot of pressure on the inside of the bent knee and that hip and causes many more injuries than true splits. I have no evidence of Prince suffering from this, but know from experience that jumping into this position repeatedly (as he did for years) hurts! Also people are saying he looked fine dancing on stage recently, but I've done shows with all sorts of injuries, and the moment you step on stage the adrenaline kicks in and you can't feel a thing, it's after that you suffer. Again I'm not saying this is definitely what was going on just my experience.

I agree. I think he was using the cane not as prop but for support for his hip/ankle problems. I know some dancers who have terrible hip and back problems and are waiting for surgery, but still they get on with work and dance like there's nothing wrong. As soon as the job is done, they're in excrutiating pain again. Adrenaline does the trick.

When he did his epic three-hour show at Paisley Park in 2009, I remember thinking after the halfway point, "Wow - he's really limping." It was almost like he had foot drop on his left leg.

I believe the hip rumors simply because he has been using a cane for the past 20 years. I first noticed him walking with a cane in the mid 1990's. At first I thought he was just being stylish, but the cane never went away. He did not have it at every appearance, but if you notice, he did have it a lot. Sheila E. stated in an interview the day that he died that Prince had problems with his hips.

I have not heard anyone confirm that he had the hip replacement surgery though, so if he did not, it's not too much of stretch to assume that he was on pain meds for his hips.

tmo1965 said:

I believe the hip rumors simply because he has been using a cane for the past 20 years. I first noticed him walking with a cane in the mid 1990's. At first I thought he was just being stylish, but the cane never went away. He did not have it at every appearance, but if you notice, he did have it a lot. Sheila E. stated in an interview the day that he died that Prince had problems with his hips.

I have not heard anyone confirm that he had the hip replacement surgery though, so if he did not, it's not too much of stretch to assume that he was on pain meds for his hips.

I honestly dont think he had the surgery....and yeah the cane was more than just for style purposes.

Someone that I know that worked for him confirmed he had hip problems for many years as well as kneee and ankle. Having a bad hip myself, I know that you compensate when walking and end up with knee pain as well.

According to this friend, it was suggested that he do a double hip replacement, but was hesitant because of the blood transfusion thing. Apparently, he banked his own blood for one hip and the surgery was successful, but he still had pain, so he didn't see reason to do the 2nd.

nursev said:

tmo1965 said:

I believe the hip rumors simply because he has been using a cane for the past 20 years. I first noticed him walking with a cane in the mid 1990's. At first I thought he was just being stylish, but the cane never went away. He did not have it at every appearance, but if you notice, he did have it a lot. Sheila E. stated in an interview the day that he died that Prince had problems with his hips.

I have not heard anyone confirm that he had the hip replacement surgery though, so if he did not, it's not too much of stretch to assume that he was on pain meds for his hips.

I honestly dont think he had the surgery....and yeah the cane was more than just for style purposes.

.

.

My mom worked in orthopedics for many years and so I'd hear about hip replacement surgery and other joint procedures quite often - like how they did them, what the patient went through, etc. I read an article after Prince's passing that had a quote from someone (I'm sorry I can't remember who said it) that Prince had had "a surgery" for his hip/s, which I thought was careful wording. He may have had some other kind of surgery to try to relieve pain, or another procedure that wasn't technically a "surgery" per se - but I agree that he didn't have a hip replacement. Things just don't seem to add up right for that to me. But again, I'm only speculating...

ERINAMONDO said:

Someone that I know that worked for him confirmed he had hip problems for many years as well as kneee and ankle. Having a bad hip myself, I know that you compensate when walking and end up with knee pain as well.

According to this friend, it was suggested that he do a double hip replacement, but was hesitant because of the blood transfusion thing. Apparently, he banked his own blood for one hip and the surgery was successful, but he still had pain, so he didn't see reason to do the 2nd.

.

.

Interesting. It is certainly true that a hip replacement isn't always the cure for pain that patient and doctor hope for. Makes me sad to think of Prince undergoing a hip replacement and getting no pain relief.