Are there any lifetime physical limitations after resurfacing?

[hippyinboulder]

Hi,
I'm a new member and I've been using the site as a resource and it's been very helpful. Thankyou all!

Now I have a question. I'm almost 2 weeks post-op, had my right hip done. I'm 53, in good physical shape, active, athletic, etc. I got my hip done by Dr. John Gargaro in Denver. The surgery went very well and once I got off Percocet (which was making me really sick) things have gone great. Pain is low, swelling has done down a lot, my mobility is good.

Today I went to get the staples out. I showed up on one crutch, since at my last PT session, she suggested I was ready for that. The nurse said she thought the doc wanted me on 2 crutches for 6 weeks. Also, it came up that the limitation of not bending more than 90 degrees, along with the not crossing the legs were lifetime restrictions. I was pretty shocked. The 90 degree issue is the main catch.....I thought that was just for the rehab period.

The impression I've gotten from everything I've read here is that there are virtually no limitations, once the hip is healed. I realize different doctors think that happens at different times....3 months, 6 months, a year. I'm thinking that my doc is very conservative - 2 crutches for 6 weeks, no major athletic type activity for 12 months, and then this idea that there are lifetime issues like not bending more than 90 degrees. Is that true, or is that just one person's opinion?

I'd greatly appreciate some feedback on this. Thank you in advance!

Tom

[UPwingnut]

Hi,
I'm a new member and I've been using the site as a resource and it's been very helpful. Thankyou all!

Now I have a question. I'm almost 2 weeks post-op, had my right hip done. I'm 53, in good physical shape, active, athletic, etc. I got my hip done by Dr. John Gargaro in Denver. The surgery went very well and once I got off Percocet (which was making me really sick) things have gone great. Pain is low, swelling has done down a lot, my mobility is good.

Today I went to get the staples out. I showed up on one crutch, since at my last PT session, she suggested I was ready for that. The nurse said she thought the doc wanted me on 2 crutches for 6 weeks. Also, it came up that the limitation of not bending more than 90 degrees, along with the not crossing the legs were lifetime restrictions. I was pretty shocked. The 90 degree issue is the main catch.....I thought that was just for the rehab period.

The impression I've gotten from everything I've read here is that there are virtually no limitations, once the hip is healed. I realize different doctors think that happens at different times....3 months, 6 months, a year. I'm thinking that my doc is very conservative - 2 crutches for 6 weeks, no major athletic type activity for 12 months, and then this idea that there are lifetime issues like not bending more than 90 degrees. Is that true, or is that just one person's opinion?

I'd greatly appreciate some feedback on this. Thank you in advance!

Tom

Tom:
Sounds like they gave you conservative hip replacement information. I was done with crutches in exactly two weeks. I was on one crutch, fairly early on, in my recovery. My surgery was May 11th and at my last appointment a couple weeks ago, my doc gave me the "go" to do anything that didn't cause me discomfort. I am golfing fully. I have started back skating, although I'm not trying pivots to backwards yet, and I've started back biking, with the guidance of some folks here, about how to start slowly. I feel great, it's great to be exercising again, and yes, I do tie both shoes with no tools, now that my PT has given me the confidence and flexibility to do so. Man, I would be crazy by now (or crazier)  :) if I had been held back to that extent. Frankly, I don't think any doctor can predict what will be okay for a given patient. I think if you break down whatever you want to do, into baby steps, stop the activity at any point that you even start to feel discomfort. Anyway, I hope others give you their opinions as well.
2 crutches for 6 weeks...Man, if you needed 'em fine, but otherwise, that's nuts!!
Take care,
Joe

[CeeJay15]

Hi Tom -

I am 13 days post op. I had my right hip done on July 15th by Dr. Rector in Boulder. He told me that went I'm comfortable with one crutch - do it (so at 9 days I did it). He told me when I'm comfortable with a cane - do it (so at 11 days post op I did it.) He told me that if I'm comfortable on a stationery bike at 3 weeks do it (and I will! - next week.)
He used glue to close the incision so I don't have the staple issue. My incision is healing rapidly and I have hardly any bruising. I attribute that to the fact that I was sent home with a "Game-Ready" machine which ices and compresses the hip. They put in on immediately after surgery. I kept it during my entire hospital stay, only taking it off to get up and walk around. I got to take it home and used it religiously for the first 10 days. I have had NO swelling AT ALL. It's an amazing machine and I almost cried when I had to send it back today. However, I started using it less and less. Now a frozen bag of peas works well after PT.
I think my boss used your Dr. in Denver - he is 8 weeks post op now and loving life - biking, hiking, golfiing - he is a new man.
Best,

cj

[John C]

As far as the six weeks on crutches; I would check with the doctor to see if there are some special considerations due to the nature of your case. Some doctors whose patients are normally only on crutches for a couple of weeks or less, will specify six weeks in cases that involved special concerns such as bone quality, or issues during surgery. I would check with your doctor to ask why he wants six weeks, rather than going by what other patients were told.
Regarding the 90 degree rule and not crossing the legs; one of the main reasons for getting resurfacing is that it normally does not involve these restrictions. Dr. Gross was very clear in telling me that after six months, I had no restrictions at all. He does ask for the 90 degree restriction for the first six weeks, until the soft tissue has healed enough to stabilize the joint. Range of motion restrictions are usually to prevent dislocations, which are a big concern with small head THRs. After the soft tissue has healed and strengthened, most resurfacing specialist consider the dislocation risk after a resurfacing to be about the same as a normal hip,  in other words, almost none. At just past one year, through stretching, and sports like skiing, surfing , and windsurfing, I run my hip every day through all the ranges of motion that would be expected from a normal hip, and often under fairly extreme and uncontrolled situations. Dr Gross gives all of this his blessing.
We all must use our own judgement based on our doctor's instructions, but you nurse's advice does not seem to be in line with the majority of resurfacing specialists.

[hippyinboulder]

Thanks for the feedback. I will follow up with the Doc and ask if there are any particular reasons for the conservative plan for the rehab. I'll also ask about the 90 degree bend limitation, which seems to make no sense after the initial healing period. What I'm hearing confirms what I thought and I wanted to check in with other people before I brought it up with Dr. Gargaro. Hopefully the nurse is just communicating some wrong information.

Thanks again for the responses and I'll be interested to hear what anyone else has to say.

Tom

[fedup]

I thought the only lifetime ban was sky diving and bungee jumping...

[sunny]

Hi there.  I also was told I can't cross my legs, run, stop and pivot quickly.  That is fine with me.  I can move now and enjoy going to the store, cleaning (believe that one), and just doing normal day to day things.  However, I am 65 years old.  I am thinking that is the reason for the different limations.  I had surgery 8 months ago, and was a bit slower getting back to normal than others I read about on this wonderful site.  I was not out walking 3 weeks later, had trouble for quite sometime with sneakers and bending (now I can).  Everyone is different and Doc's are different.  This web site was very helpful for me after surgery and still like to keep up.  Good luck