September 7, 2009 My surgeon Mr. McLauchlan is widely recognized as the top orthopaedic surgeon in the North West, not only for THR but also for resurfacings. I was rather lucky in that I had private medical cover through my firm, but an initial consultation cost £160, and the same thereafter. Had my op on Friday at approx 4PM BST and it lasted about 1 1/2 hours. Had spinal, with sedation!!!!!

Can’t remember anything about it, but was lying starving in recovery ward afterwards, as had to fast as a precaution in case had to have general. Couldn’t sleep at all on Friday night as I was so pleased it was done and excited about getting up next day.

Got up and had a shower. Went on walker on Saturday am, graduated to crutches soon afterwards. Navigated stairs soon afterwards!

Nursing staff and physios were so pleased with my progress they discharged me 4 days after the op.

Still very swollen, but can do most things for myself so far!!!

I had De Puy ASR fitted 4th September 2009.

I had the choice of various devices and my consultant said he had no preference as to which one we should use. The hospital used De Puy ASR, so I decided to have the De Puy.

September 10, 2009 I am now 6 days post op. I am doing ok, but the hip is still very swollen, and I’m struggling to do some of the exercises the physios gave me for now.

However, I managed to go with my wife to my soccer teams stadium, to exchange my seat for Saturdays game. I didn’t think I’d be able to make it, but I know I can do now. We have 3 home games in September and I’d figured that I’d have to miss them all. My friend has offered to drive us to the games.

I also had the joy of watching my wife do the shopping at the supermarket as well!!! I normally do the weekly shop!!! Supervision is the way forward!!

September 12, 2009 Managed to go to the soccer game today with my daughters. My friend kindly drove us, but we park about 1/2 mile or so from the stadium, and I walked both ways. My team won as well!

To be honest, I don’t think I’ll be on crutches for much longer, as I can walk fairly easily without them around the home. I never really had the arthritis that bad to be fair, and I could probably have soldiered on a while longer, but that wasn’t enough for me. I want to get back doing my sport asap.

I also walked another mile tonight to the supermarket as well!

September 22, 2009 Been to see physio today. Have graduated to one elbow crutch. Have been told I can do as much walking as I want and that I can use the stationary bike. So I have cycled 15km today on a medium resistance.

They have supplied me with 3 rubber bands of varying resistance to put round both ankles to do some exercises with.

Swelling is almost gone, but groin is still a little tender, as is knee. Have been using ibuprofen cream to ease this.

Just going back on bike to do another 5km.

Hopefully I can drive again in a few days time. Incision has healed nicely. I might knock the tablets on the head. Working again tomorrow!

October 2, 2009 I’m 4 weeks post op today. I have no real pain. Scar has healed well. I have no need to use a crutch or cane. I am cycling 80km per week on my stationary bike. I’m hoping to return to the gym next week.

I have been working part time (2 1/2 days per week) since 14th September. I will be returning to working full time next Monday. I have been driving just over 1 week now.

That said, at 42 years of age I should make a smooth recovery!

October 11, 2009 I’m just over 5 weeks post op now.

I think I could probably get round my course, but it is quite hilly. I am worried about slipping and dislocating, so I may leave it until next year now.

I’ll have to go to the range to get my perfect swing going again!!!

October 21, 2009 I’m 7 weeks post op on Friday and I can tell you things are going well. I’m back at the gym now. The only problems seem to stem from tenderness from the incision. My limp has almost disappeared, I’m back at work full time and driving to see my clients as required, so overall I’m pleased apart from some clunking due to my slack glute muscles!

November 11, 2009 I’m 9 weeks post op on Friday.

I can do most things, but I still have a pain in my groin area, which is taking time to clear.

That said, it doesn’t stop me going to the gym, but I thought it would have cleared up by now. Still have some clunking when carrying our certain movements like cycling on stationary bike.

November 19, 2009 11 weeks post op on Friday. Went to see the physio yesterday, who insists I’m doing very well!

I have progressed to two extremely hard therabands for strengthening my glutes further!!! Can’t wait to get started!!

Still have a sore groin though. The physio assures me that it will settle down in time.

However I am going to the gym 5 times per week, so its only a minor thing obviously.

December 11, 2009 Have been to see surgeon today.

I still have a sore groin, and sometimes suffer some clunking, but he says I am doing very well.

I have been given the all clear to do some jogging (no major distances) and to resume my golf.

So overall I’m not too unhappy.

I have to go back in a further 9 months time to see him and have an xray to see how things have settled down.

June 3, 2010 I have given up running, and just use the crosstrainer and stepper in the gym and play golf.

I’m so depressed to damage my knee whilst walking down a path, near the end of a 12 mile hike.

Hopefully it will be better after my op which is 2nd July. I’ll let everyone know re proceedure in case anyone else might meet it in future.

October 5, 2010 Just been to see surgeon one year on from operation. I had some X rays taken and blood sample taken. I have a DePuy asr, and naturally I presumed that as a male patient, the recall was not an issue for me. However he told me that I only have a small femoral head, and the cup size is on limit for the failing devices.

I am only 43 years old, and If I have to have a revision in the near future, I will be very angy and annoyed.

The ironic thing I that I could have chosen which implant to have!!

Should DePuy not be paying compensation out for their “faulty device”?

Surgeon says they will pay for the revision if necessary.

December 16, 2010 I received a medical consent form from a loss adjuster, so that De Puy can approach my surgeon for my medical records.

I have to go back every year for tests for the next 4 years or so. I argued that DePuy should be paying for these extra consultations and not myself ( I have a policy excess) and my insurers and they have agreed to pay for them.

As my surgeon has told me to give up running, I’m naturally suspicious of this. This suggests to me that he became aware of the issue soon after my device was fitted. The whole point of having the op was so I could carry on my running and physical activity.

Not happy.

March 20, 2011 I have reservations after having De Puy ASR done in Sept 2009.

I was a keen runner prior to surgery, and that’s why I had a resurfacing done. When I say keen runner I mean half marathon distance. I wanted to carry on doing it raising money for charity.

Surgeon has told me to give up running which I think is a little odd. Needless to say I ignored his advice, and decided to do some light jogging on the treadmill at the gym. I can run for 40 minutes, but then I get very bad groin pain meaning I have to give up.

I have a feeling he’s trying to cover up for the faulty De Puy ASR I have in me.

I worry about this on a daily basis.

May 16, 2011 I have had the special blood test carried out, and the surgeon confirmed that the readings were ok for someone with a metal device. I have to go back each year for the same test.

I do have problems in the groin area when I take exercise at the gym. It’s not all the time though.

It is estimated that there are 8,000 patients in the UK who had an ASR.

August 25, 2011 I did 30 minutes jogging on the treadmill tonight.

It’s amost two years since my op.

I was in agony afterwards, and the pain in my groin is still present some 3 1/2 hours later.

I can’t believe really.

November 2, 2011 Thanks for that.

Been for ultrasound scan today.

Radiologist said that everything looks in good shape, but I am suffering from bursitis, which I don’t know too much about other than its an inflamed bursa containing some fluid, which usually acts as a shock absorber. I’m quite relieved that it is this rather than a potential implant problem.

Hopefully it can be treated using a cortisone shot, or ultimately removed, to ease the discomfort.

December 6, 2011 Not great news for me. Consultant says it will settle on it’s own!!! It won’t go away it keeps reoccuring. It’s very painful when it flares, and affects my walking as well. 2 Years down the line I was expecting to be doing ALL the things and more than I did before, not less. Gutted.

Have also been to see Doctor today about the pins and needles in my hands and feet that are fairly constant, and occasional numbness. He says I have peripheral neuropathy. If you Google this term with DePuy ASR, it’s a side effect of Cobalt poisoning!! Hope it’s not that. Having some more blood tests done tomorrow. I do occasionally suffer from an upper body rash that comes and goes without explanation. It usually affects my upper torso, head and arms, and comes on suddenly. Hopefully it’s not related to the hip, and I don’t need a revision.