Erik Hip Resurfacing with Dr. Pritchett 2010
October 31, 2010 I’m 11 days out of surgery with Dr. Pritchett in Seattle and feel I’m doing about average. It’s interesting reading the various posts and comparing other experiences and recovery time lines with mine. I left the hospital on crutches, two days post op, and was walking 2 miles on one crutch by day 5. Yesterday I walked for two hours, in addition to my 3 rounds of home PT exercises, and suspect I overdid it a bit. I’m amazed that so many hippies are off medication so quick, including you Pat. I’ve had significant bruising around the incision, post op, but it’s greatly improved and never caused much pain. My pain is primarily in my lower quad, between my 10 inch incision and knee, and feels like I was hit with a sledge hammer. I don’t understand why this area is so sore and wonder if it was deeply bruised during dislocation? Everything is getting better, will continue to do so with time, but I’m a bit concerned that I still need meds to sleep. I had a percocet at 5:30am this morning and then didn’t have anything all day. I had nagging pain all day, was fairly uncomfortable and discouraged and didn’t take a walk outside or do much PT. Is it ok to continue with the meds so that I can sleep and do my exercises? I’m 46, weigh 175 and was very fit going into surgery.
November 1, 2010 I’m a 46 year old PE teacher and did extensive research before deciding on hip resurfacing. I’m 13 days out with Dr. Pritchett in Seattle and just returned from an uncomfortable 6 hour road trip; Yakima to Seattle and back; yep I drove after testing it out Sunday on a Costco run. I’m doing well, was able to drive, and am optimistic about my progress. Dr. Pritchett said he has performed over 2000 resurfacings and as we looked at my x-rays I asked him, “What kind of angle do we got there?” He grabbed his protractor, affixed it to the x-ray and said 30 degrees. For some reason I thought that it should have been closer to 45 degrees, so I asked him if my angle was in the optimal target range. He said that less is better and that 55 degrees or more is where ion issues come into play. I would love to hear from any of you hippies that could make me feel at ease with my 30 degree angle
November 7, 2010 I’m 19 days out of surgery (RBHR) and can’t believe how well my new hip feels. The first two weeks were pretty tough, painful and uncomfortable, but now I feel amazing. I just returned from a quick paced hour long walk, and although I’m still using my cane, there were a handful of flat sections where I took 50 steps unaided.
November 20, 2010 I’m 4+ weeks out and will head back to my K-5th grade wonderful PE job after Thanksgiving break. I just hauled ass around my neighborhood on a 20 minute walk and wanted to run because everything felt so good. The first 2 weeks are pretty uncomfortable, but after that the pain and swelling improve quite rapidly. I’m not going to be running any marathons in the next month, but do plan to ride my bike five miles, as I do every work day, my first day back to school. I’ve set my bike seat up super high as my ROM isn’t great yet, but it’s getting better each day. I started taking very safe, not clipped in, 20 minute rides 5 days ago and although the knee to chest motion still seems stiff, I feel that the low impact motion is very beneficial. It seems to me that a stationary bike would be the very best PT if you can get your hands on one. I had hoped to join my local YMCA this week and was really looking forward to some swimming and ROM movements in the hot tub. I’ve got an issue with a suture that’s trying to poke through my skin, so the water will have to wait as I suspect a small incision will be necessary to excise the suture, and don’t want to risk infection.
I can’t believe how normal my hip feels after 10 years of daily OA pain. Hip resurfacing is a miracle but I’m taking Pat’s and everyone else’s advise in regard to listening to my body, not pushing it too much and avoiding all jolting, high impact movements.
February 8, 2011 Four months out with Dr. Pritchett and I’m biking everyday, skiing and snow shoeing up some pretty tough Washington peaks and progressing very well.
August 7, 2013
My hip, done by Pritchett in Seattle November 2010, is golden and works perfectly. I run, jump, bike, snow board, climb, hike, swim, etc. Absolutely amazing! I’ll see Pritchett this Thursday to schedule my shoulder resurfacing and hope that it will turn out as well as my hip did. He’s pretty much the man in the Pacific Northwest.