Read about Bill’s first BHR Here

December 20, 2012

Had my right BHR done yesterday which makes me an official Bilat. Everything went very smoothly. Couldn’t sleep very well last night but felt very good this afternoon. Up and walking with walker first and then switched to crutches.  Dr said I could go home tomorrow if I do my steps tomorrow and I don’t get snowed in.

I can’t say enough about the care I recieved at Euclid Hospital branch of Cleveland Clinc. The nurses and staff have been wonderful.

Made it home on Friday evening through a snow storm and am resting at home today. This side has seemed so much better than the first.  The hospital care was very coordinated and anticipated every step.  From the house keeping guy grabbing me a ginger ale or an ice pack to the PT people and nurses working together. They all had very good training.

The pain medication was a big problem my first time, oxycodone, and made my sick. We were able to alternate Vicodin and ultram with a muscle relaxer and kept the pain low and me coherent.

Made it home on Friday evening through a snow storm and am resting at home today. This side has seemed so much better than the first.  The hospital care was very coordinated and anticipated every step.  From the house keeping guy grabbing me a ginger ale or an ice pack to the PT people and nurses working together. They all had very good training.

The pain medication was a big problem my first time, oxycodone, and made my sick. We were able to alternate Vicodin and ultram with a muscle relaxer and kept the pain low and me coherent.

January 2, 2013

2-Week update.  So far so good.  Had a scheduled ultrasound appointment to check for blood clots this morning and everything was clear.  Thankful to be done with the calf pumps.  Drove to work at my wife’s objections (don’t tell my Dr.)  and did not have any problems. Going to try 3/4 days at my desk job for this week.  We do have a large heated warehouse were I can get some indoor walking without worrying about slipping in the snow.

Only taking 2 aspirin for blood thinning and 2 tylenol per day.  My knee is still sore and has weird bruises on the inside that looks like marks from a clamp to hold my leg during surgery.  Not sure if that is what it is from.  No pain in the hip which is great. 

I had a lot less bruising or swelling this time compared to 4 yrs ago.  Already feel like I could switch to one crutch but will keep using 2 and follow my own advice. 

January 17, 2013

I am 4 weeks from my R-BHR and feeling pretty good.  Hip feels good and I think I am either on or ahead of schedule compared to my left which was done 4-1/2 years ago.  Today is the first day that I do not feel exhausted 1/2 way through the day.  I had dropped to one crutch on Saturday and went back to 2 on Sunday after feeling sore and wiped-out.  Back to one crutch today and feeling strong.  May play with cane this weekend as long as I can do it without breaking the 75% weight bearing rule issued by my Dr.

My knee is still sore when I move it from side to side.  I feel they must have really torqued it during surgery.  It is slowly getting better.  Bruises are gone and I am surprised at how good my scar is healing.  Left one had staples but used the glue on latest one.

The 5 PT exercises that were given by Dr. are becoming easy.  I started riding the stationary bike without resistance for 20 min at a time on Monday.  Able to put on socks and tie shoes after 3-1/2 weeks without help.  So far I am pleased. 

January 31, 2013

Had my 6 week check-up with Phil, Dr. Brooks assistant, on Tuesday.  X-rays on both hips look great.  Seems I have a 50 ball & 56 cup which he said was average in the men they did.  I was given one additional exercise to add to the ones I have been doing since surgery, a lying hip abductor.  He said do this 30 times, 3 times a day, and this would help eliminate any limp. Having trouble doing that many on my good hip let alone the new one.

I did show up with a cane instead of crutches and he ask how long I had been using it.  He told me  not to do any impact activities for 1 year.  He told me I could golf, bike and swim as long as I did not overdue it and to listen to my body.  So in typical fashion I overdid it yesterday and am paying for it with sore muscles around my hip today.  But there is no pain anymore in the joint. .

I have found that my hip does tire after a medium walk.  A cane does help my gate and keep me from limping on longer walks.  I only have to put a small amount of weight on it.  Thanks again for everyone’s help and support.

April 12, 2013

I will be at 4 months at the end of next week.

I have also been pretty aggressive with stretching, walking, bicycling, and a core workout which includes weights (no leg presses).  Twice during my recovery I have had to take 3 to 4 days off just to let my body catch up.  My back would lock-up, my hip and knee would get sore, and I would feel run down.  After rest I would feel better and continue.

“Patients” and “don’t overdue it”, are the two words of advice you will hear the most from doctors and the wise people on this site.  It is not a good idea to try to kick-start your son’s dirt bike before you are ready (yes, I did this last weekend without thinking and my hip let me know it in a hurry)  and I would also not be running at 19 weeks (wink, wink).   It’s a (walking) marathon, not a sprint.  My biggest gains on my other hip done 4-1/2 years ago were at 6 months, 1 yr, and 1-1/2 yrs.  I also notice improvement even at 2 yrs.

February 20, 2014

I was skiing on Monday in Western NY.   Was carving some nice turns on very hard packed snow (what they call ice out West) and I looked up to admire how pretty the ice on the trees looked.  Boom… I caught my edge and went down hard on my hip. One of those falls that jar your whole body.  Of course this always happens under the chair lift.   I got back up, gathered my pride, and continued down the mountain.  Very minor bruise on the hip area and my back is a little sore today but no problem with the hip. 

December 29, 2015

7-1/2 years on left and 3 years on right and still going strong.   I cannot emphasize enough that it takes continued exercise, stretching and conditioning to keep your new (or old) hips going strong.  Add a few pounds and go through a lazy spell and I will start to limp and clunk again.