Alan Rhodes Hip Resurfacing with Dr. Gross 2008
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March 29, 2008 I am just 3 weeks post op of having my right hip resurfaced by Dr. Gross in Columbia, SC. I don’t have any nightmare stories nor have any bad press for Dr. Gross’s procedure. Actually my experience has been very good and am recovering rapidly. I am already walking unassisted around my house with little limp, mainly out of fear, though I still use the cane when walking laps around my big drive way in the country and have worked up to over one half mile already. Last week I did experience a deep “stone bruise” or cramping feeling in my right thight about mid way after over doing it a bit too soon but that has disappeared completely. In the last two days I am experiencing a deep pressure feeling directly in my hip joint that radiates into my right knee upon standing, walking, or positioning my right leg straight forward (with my toes pointing forward). It is a real tight feeling. This happened suddenly after I seemed to temporarily forget about my problems and stepped into my wifes van on the drivers side two days ago with that right leg first. There was an audible “snap” sound with a slightly odd sensation in my right hip that caused no pain, but I yelled anyway just in case there was major discomfort to follow. I immediately felt the feeling of pressure I am describing even as I drove away in the seated position. When I arrived at my destination and stepped out of the van I was expecting something horrible to happen but it didn’t. I only felt the pressure in my right buttock/hip area that radiates into the lateral side of my right knee. At this moment I am blaming the experience to a tendon or ligament that might have slipped past the Biomet bearing, or is trying to position itself. The pressure is worse upon my walking around my drive way. I would really like to hear from anyone with a similar story that may have some good news for me! Thank you. March 30, 2008 My wife and I decided that I would call the physicians office early this week if the pressure and tightness persists but it is somewhat better this morning. I feel I am probably overdoing it. it seems after reading these post op stories is that most of the complaints and problems are due to patients jumping into exercises or overdoing PT too soon and with too much intensity. I’m sure I fall right into this group. I’m returning to work tomorrow so I hope it continues to improve. I am surprised at some of the exercises that a few of the resurfacing post op patients are doing and agree with your opinion that walking is probably the best of exercise/PT choices while allowing the body’s own feedback to be the barometer on how little or much needs to be done. Dr. Gross also seems to endorse this philosophy. With that said, mine has been yelling me pretty loud, so I think I’ll take my own advice and slow down which seems to be difficult for me because I have spent my entire life pushing myself physically. I’ve also noticed that other patients like myself have the same or similar active backgrounds March 30, 2008 I am almost into my 4th week post op of having my right hip resurfaced. Golf has been my passion for the past 38 years (since I was 5 years old!) and though I have managed to incorportate other sports and activities into my lifestyle through the years, golf has remained my friendly and competitive choice of sport. I am a 4 handicapper and am quite anxious about turning on that right side when I start swinging a club again, not to mention firing that hip through impact at some point! Are there any golfers out there who could offer up some optimistic feedback? My recovery has been fairly boring other than some pressure and tightness in that right hip when stepping forward. I am walking unassisted around the house already but take the cane along when I do my walking exercises for support. I’ve only had a couple of problems due to over doing my PT (which I think has caused the pressure and tightness). I did try and take back a wedge from the address position in our livingroom yesterday but was abruptly stopped at an abriviated point at the top by severe pressure/tighness accompanied with a good bit of pain in that hip. I’m definately not ready to swing a club any time soon but would like to hear from golfers out there on any level about their recovery experience from hip resurfacing. I thought I would start putting and pitching at the range in a week or so and hope to swing without too much pain or discomfort in a few weeks… Am I being overly optimistic? Any input and feedback is much appreciated.April 03, 2008 Since this happened to me I have been improving with each day. I no longer have the pressure or tightness in that hip and am walking unassisted a mile a day and also started back on my eliptical trainer this past weekend. No more referred pain in my thigh and knee. I’m already able to stay on the trainer for 20 minutes at a very deliberate but steady pace. I truly believe the additional exercise is speeding up my progress, but I surely would not recommend jumping into this suddenly after resurfacing. I think you are correct about the trauma of surgery causing the initial problems in my leg and hip as everything is trying to heal but I think it’s all becoming further behind me now as the days lapse. I was 3 weeks post op yesterday and am very excited about the progress. The only symptom I am having at this point is sharp pain in the hip joint upon standing after I’ve been seated for a period of time. But after a few steps this always wears off. I can even walk normally up stairs now without “slinging” my right leg up to the next step as I have for the past 6 years! Now that’s exciting!April 06, 2008 I am now working through my 4th week post op after having my right hip resurfaced by Dr. Gross and also found it very difficult to sleep flat on my back due to some chronic right side siatica problems. I was also told this pain had probably been caused by my favoring the bad right hip for some time. As did Pat, I also found sleeping with a big pillow between my knees helped, and it allowed me to rotate to my left side (for temporary periods at first) which took some pressure off of my lower back. As the days went by I was also eventually able to sleep a little on that left side and also lay on my stomach some around the end of the second week. Any position seemed to be better than laying flat on my back. Also during the first week or so after my surgery I benefited from a large sofa cushion placed underneath both of my lower legs at the foot of the bed. This not only elevated my legs to keep the swelling down around the incision but took the pressure off of my lower back. Lee Webb, RNP, Dr. Gross’s assistant, suggested this to “keep my toes above my nose” as she put it. It works. One other thing; I purchased a Zero Gravity Chair and had it placed in front of the big screen in the den to lounge and sleep during the first couple of weeks. I still use it today to get my legs to heart level and to take the pressure from my lower back. I found these chairs in the Cabela’s catalog as Chaise Lounger chairs but you may be able to purchase one locally as well. To me, the chair has made my recovery much more tolerable. By the way… It gets much better very fast! I’m sleeping in any position with reasonable comfort now other than directly on that right side now at 4 1/2 weeks. I believe the PT (including walking, walking, walking) is the key along with the normal healing process.June 3, 2008 I am back to playing full rounds since Dr. Gross placed this noncemented Biomet onto my right hip on March the 12th of this year. I’m pushing my clubs on a good Sunmountain cart which rolls smoothly with little resistance and I’m back to the low 70’s again! And my group thought they would have an advantage when I returned… I’m not sure what Lee or Dr. Gross would say to my getting back to this so soon, but I was instructed to allow my hip to guide me back into playing again. Though my swing is about three quarters the speed and power of what it used to be, it’s not affecting my scores or the fun I’m having. Even turning against that right side is okay with no problem whatsoever. I’m sure that left hip of yours will heal fast allowing you to get your weight transfered so you can fire through the ball. As far as any problems I’m having: Only when I over do the walking and/or elliptical trainer for several days in a row do I get pain in the joint even after being on my feet for a while. It comes back as that old “pressure” and sharp feeling pain in the joint but after a few days of down time it goes away. I’m still afraid of the “fracture factor” or loosening of the device itself, and taking it easy is very difficult when you’re running on pure excitement most of the time just because it’s great to be without pain again for the most part. My wife has to constantly keep me in check with reality as well as having to remind me of Dr. Gross’s warnings because of my wanting to over do most everything already. It sure is fun though… |