September 14, 2009 I am ten days post-op from a BHR procedure on my right hip at UCD Medical Center, Northern California. My surgeon is Dr. Paul Dicesare, the head of Orthopedic Surgery at the University Hospital, a teaching doctor. I have osteo-arthritis in both hips, and dysplasia as well. Aside from swelling that showed up the fourth day post-op and has lingered, I have no complaints about my recovery so far.

My strength has continued to increase, energy levels too have increased. My sleep patterns are not very consistent. Pain however, is virtually non-existent. I have partial weight bearing on the operated hip. I’m walking with one crutch, able to do most things around the house. The PT comes again tomorrow, her third visit, to help me with a time-line for driving again.

For the last couple of days my left thigh muscle has been ‘numb’ to the touch although it works just fine. In the first few days after surgery there was a recurrent low-grade fever that came on at night. This would generally break sometime in the night, I’d be fine all day then again at night it would go up to 100, 101 degrees Fahrenheit. This went on for about five nights post-op and has since subsided.

September 16, 2009 I like most of you had swelling four days post op; it happened in the evening while I wasn’t looking. As I recall it was all of a sudden that I noticed the swelling which began in my thigh and knee then moved into the calf, ankle and foot by the next day.

I had not been given TEDs to wear in the hospital (but I didn’t have any swelling either). After reading the posts above, my wife bought some knee highs which I’ve worn for two days now (not at night) and the swelling is almost gone.

One other thing that has been bugging me that my RN and PT have no real answer for is the numbness on the non-op thigh above the knee going all the way up to my groin area. The area is about 4 inches across my thigh all the way up from the knee. No pain, no heat, no redness, no rash or swelling, just numbness. I am currently 14 days post op.

Today is the fourteenth day post op; yesterday I was able to take very small steps un-aided by my crutch. Today I can take slightly bigger steps, nothing I would do away from my crutch in case I stumble, but my new hip is able to hold the weight. I had a resurface with the BHR product. I’m pleased with this but still wanting more muscle tone. Most of what holds me back at this point is the lack of muscle tone on my shin. I have great difficulty raising my toes up to place the heal down and roll. It’s improving.

September 21, 2009 Went to work 1/2 day today 18 days post op. Good day, hip feels great but it wore me out so I came home early and slept…

September 27, 2009 This is week 4 post op and I’m almost able to walk normally. I was able to walk unassisted at week 3. Seems like the more I walk with one crutch, longer distances, more frequently, the stronger my muscles become and the more easily I can walk unassisted. I am still amazed at the success of this procedure and the BHR hip. Very thankful for this site and those who take time to add their experiences.

November 27, 2009 I am a 55 year old male, five days short of 3 months post op with a BHR right hip, Dr. Paul Dicesare with UC Davis Medical Group did the surgery. Dr. Dicesare is the head of Adult Orthopedics and one of the docs who pushed for FDA approval of resurfacing in the USA. I have had no hip pain at all since the surgery. Muscle pain and pain from swelling around the hip have diminished dramatically to almost non-existent. Recovery thus far allows me to walk several miles at a time, sit and stand for long periods w/o pain, lift heavy weight, carry heavy items, drive (which was the worst at first) moderate distances, motorcycle, even put on my pants, socks, shoes, etc. w/o pain… BUT I have a drop foot on the operative hip side and my opposite leg is numb on the front of my thigh from the knee cap to my pocket area, 3-4 inches wide all the way up.

I’ve read all the nerve damage postings I could find and most of the replies seem to say that time will improve the nerve damage.

The nerve damage on my operative side seems to have impacted the L5 Peroneal nerve (according to my chiropractor friend Jim). This nerve controls rotation of the foot outward and up from a 90 degree sitting position. Associated with this nerve issue is a complete atrophy of my shin muscle. Put together, when the heel hits the ground while taking a step, the ankle should begin to flex to less than 90 degrees with forward momentum, then roll onto the ball in a smooth, fluid motion. For me after the heel touches the ground my foot flops down causing a funny ‘slap’ sound and what looks like a limp. From what I’ve read about ‘drop foot’, my condition is more like ‘slap foot’. I have some control of my ankle.

The numbness in my foot (behind my toes) from nerve damage and the numbness in my thigh on the other leg have not changed at all since the day after surgery. There is no pain associated with this and there has been no improvement either.

The operation has been no less than miraculous; eliminating all pain, and increasing my ROM. The slap foot changes all hope of my returning to racquetball/handball, backpacking in the Sierras, and the other activities I love.

November 28, 2011 Two years and three months ago Dr. Paul Dicesare Head Surgeon of Adult Orthopedics for UCD Medical Center in Sacramento, CA, resurfaced the hip on my right side using the BHR product. Since then the nerve damage to the L5 on that side has regenerated but the nerves affecting the sensation of touch on my left thigh have not re-grown. I walk, run, play, ski, chase my dog all pain free and with no limitations, couldn’t be happier with the results and the product.