HR Dr. Snyder, October 7, 2010

[Zamas]

I'm 58 and a life long athlete, running almost daily since college and martial arts for the last 11 years.  In early 2009 I awoke one morning to pain in my right hip and thought I had a torn labrum.  The pain subsided after about a week, replaced by stiffness that got worse with time, finally diagnosed with osteoarthritis in both hips in later in 2009.  Since I didn't have a lot of pain and the stiffness was tolerable, I thought surgery in fall 2010 was a good time, and sought a second opinion from Dr. Snyder summer 2010.  I found Dr. Snyder after a lot of research.  He operates from Newton-Wellesley Hospital just west of Boston.  He has done over 1,000 resurfacing and trained with McGinn. 

On October 7th Dr. Snyder resurfaced my right hip, the worst of the two.  I was out of bed with a walker within hours of the surgery, and was on crutches walking the halls on day 2.  Never really had much pain, but still I had some Oxycodone the first 24 hours, but after that took only Tylenol.  Home on day 3 with in-home PT twice a week since and a regimen of exercises 2-3 times each day, along with two 15-20 minute walks each day.  No restrictions on movement from Dr. Snyder, my hip feels good.  The only problem I have had is swelling in my lower thigh and knee, most of which has now subsided.  After each exercise session and walks each day, I ice my thigh for 20-30 minutes which has seemed to produce good results.

I am returning to NWH this coming week on the 28th for the left hip.  My left is not nearly as bad as my right was, but I just decided to get it done and deal with a bit longer recovery just once instead of repeating the whole thing next year.  I expect the two weeks after the second surgery will be a bit of a challenge as my right side is still weak, but looking forward to getting on the way back. 

Dr. Snyder and the NWH staff were terrific, and the NWH facilities are second to none.   Dr. Snyder assures me I should be 100% by spring and could even resume running if I want to.  I don't think I'm going to run, but plan on cycling and swimming as my main activities once healed.

Will post back after round 2.  Best to all.

[resurface]

Great to hear.  Dr. Snyder and NW are a hidden gems.  He resurfaced my hip on May 6th 2010.  My recovery has been fast.  Good luck with the other hip.  From my perspective, if you are in the Boston area and considering a HR, you should interview Dr. Snyder.

[hernanu]

I am also a Dr. Snyder patient, have had a great recovery from left hip replacement (8/24). I'm in outpatient PT now, my left feels stronger than the right, and am scheduled to have the right done soon (11/29).

We seem to mirror each other, I had 35 years of martial arts (53 now), also soccer and lots of basketball on pavement.

Dr. Snyder and the staff at Newton-Wellesley are great. I also received home nurse visits and PT from the Milford visiting nurses and am getting outpatient PT from Bay Stat Physical therapy (Franklin office).

Great luck with your surgery, seems like you beat me by a month.

[Zamas]

Two weeks yesterday since I had my left hip resurfaced by Dr. Snyder - five weeks since the right hip.  As with the first surgery, I cannot say enough about the care and treatment provided by Dr. Snyder and the entire Newton-Wellesley staff.  The place is second to none.

Everyone asks me if the second surgery is easier or harder than the first.  It's neither - it's just different.  The swelling and soreness manifested in different areas than the first, and the first day or two while in the hospital my movement was a bit more challenging as my right hip was (is) not 100%.  Otherwise, at about day 4 I began to feel noticeably better each day and at two weeks the swelling is really subsiding and I am walking much better - still using two crutches as the right side is still not optimum.  I am doing in-home PT twice and week, exercising 2-3 times each day and walking regularly and there is daily improvement much the same as the first time.  I will be returning to see Dr. Snyder week after next, and hope to be moving to outpatient PT at that time.

Overall, I am glad that I went ahead and had both surgeries close together.  Recovery is slow and sure, but my decision to get it all done at the same time seems a good one at this point.  I am taking things one day at a time, and I'm confident in the future.  On day two, Dr. Snyder told me that the xrays show everything went perfectly, and I am hopeful that I can resume normal activities before the holidays. 

Pass the word.  Dr. Snyder and Newton-Wellesley are TERRIFIC.  He's done over 1,000 hip resurfacings and anyone considering this surgery should seriously consider Dr. Snyder for their surgeon.

Good luck everybody!

[resurface]

Zamas

Great to hear you are doing well.  Good luck to you.  Agree, Dr. Snyder should be considered will all the top resurfacing surgeons.  If in NE, he need to be on ones list.

Resurface

Dr. Snyder - May 6, 2010.

[Zamas]

Just wanted to update my recovery following my bilateral surgeries with Dr. Snyder.

My right hip is at 12 weeks and is probably 90%.  It got slowed a bit the first 10 days or so following my left him since my activity went down for a while after the second surgery.  My left hip has been a bit slower than was the right - the trauma was more local to the front of the hip area and these muscles seem a bit harder to strengthen.  At around 8 weeks I am walking without any crutches around my house and for short distances.  When I walk distance daily I am taking a cane with me and usually engage it every other step for my left hip.  The outpatient PT has been very helpful, especially the pool work which seems to produce good results as does the stationary bike.

I am very pleased with the recovery.  It's about what Dr. Snyder told me it would be and I am confident at 12 weeks after my second (left) surgery I will be at around 90% which is what Dr. Snyder predicted.  I find that in addition to the PT, walking produces best results and I have extended my daily walks as time passes and will continue to do so.

Once again, I cannot say enough about Dr. Snyder and Newton-Wellesley hospital.  Anyone considering hip resurfacing surgery should also consider Dr. Snyder.

Best to all for 2011.
;)

[hernanu]

Great news, I'm at 16 wks on the left hip and 4 weeks on the right. The left is in great shape, the right still has a limp, but I'm mostly walking without aid.

Great recovery, from another Dr. Snyder patient. Sounds like you'll have a great 2011.