Got my schedule!!

[halfdone]

Take it a day at a time and enjoy all the small steps forward on the road to recovery!  Good luck sleeping.  Sounds as though all is on a good track. Best wishes.

[FlbrkMike]

I had my first home PT appointment yesterday.  The therapist mostly just took some baseline information and reinforced the exercise instructions, both lying down and standing, sent home from the hospital. 

I hit several milestones this morning, day 4 after surgery:

1)  An almost normal "morning constitutional."  With this accomplishment the sun just seems to shine a little more brightly, and the birds sing a little more sweetly.   ;D

2)  Walked down the driveway with two crutches and picked up the newspaper.  This involves three steps down, outside the front door, and probably 150 feet of a fairly steep driveway.  This was my first outdoor stroll since coming home on Sunday, though I've been walking a lot up and down the hallway.  Unfortunately we are expecting rain tonight through the weekend.

3)  I was actually able to put both socks on this morning with no assistance and no sock puller (didn't bring one home from the hospital).  My doctor said that it was OK to rotate my left knee outward while sitting and put my left foot on my right knee, once I have sufficient flexibility.  I'm not quite able to get the foot up that high but was able to get close enough to hook the sock opening over by big toe.  I find it amazing that I already seem to have better ROM on this side than I did before the surgery. 

[hernanu]

Congrats on the socks! I know I get the biggest kicks out the little triumphs. Putting socks on without a sock puller, the first time I put my foot on the opposing knee without using my hands, the first time I stepped over the bathtub's side without pulling my leg up... The day is full of little things that I had maneuvered around and now don't have to.

Sounds like you're right on track.

[FlbrkMike]

Surgery + 9, one week after discharge.

Went on an extended outing with my wife yesterday.  First to a local pharmacy to pick up a cane, then to the grocery store and then to Costco, which is about a 30 minute drive each way.  I was still on one crutch at the time but used the cart at Costco like a walker.  I've always gotten tired walking around Costco because of the concrete floors and so much space, but everything went fine yesterday.  The store was really crowded, and Patricia had to park at the far end of the lot, so I waited by the entrance while she got the car and pulled up in front to load the fruits of our pillage.  

As of yesterday afternoon I've discarded the crutches completely and am only using the cane around the house.  I actually seem to walk better with the cane because there's less to lean on.  I really can put most of the weight on my new hip and the cane makes me do it.  I'll be going out shortly for a 1/4 to 1/2 mile walk and will see how I do with the cane only.  I'm still planning on going into the office tomorrow morning.  That will be interesting.

I've pretty much weaned myself from the painkillers (oxycodone), except at night time.  I still have significant soreness in my thigh and under the incision, which I can handle during the day but which also makes it very hard to get comfortable enough to sleep.  Sitting or laying in any one position for an extended period eventually becomes somewhat uncomfortable.  Strangely enough the most comfortable position for me seems to be when I'm up and walking around.

And now, I'm starting to count down to my second surgery...19 days.  It'll probably seem like deja vu all over again.

UPDATE: 

I just got back from a 1 mile walk in our very hilly neighborhood, using the cane only.  By the end of the walk my operated hip felt better than my unoperated hip, and no ill effects at all.

[halfdone]

Surgery + 9, one week after discharge.
.....
I'm still planning on going into the office tomorrow morning.  That will be interesting.
.......
And now, I'm starting to count down to my second surgery...19 days.  It'll probably seem like deja vu all over again.

Whoa buddy!  Don't overdo it.  You need a lot of rest to recover from the last surgery and get ready for the next.
Glad it's going well.

[FlbrkMike]

Thanks for the concern.  I know what you mean, and I'm being very careful not to overdo it.  My wife is a former nurse and has no problem letting me know if she thinks I am.  It's just that I'm feeling very strong and want to keep getting stronger.  I figure that the stronger my left leg gets before I have the RBHS, the easier my subsequent recovery will be.  I'm also doing all of the lewft leg exercises given me by the PT with both legs, with the thought that it will help my right leg be more ready when the time comes.

I'm going to the office tomorrow (my wife works in the same office and will do the driving) but probably work from home on Tuesday.  I'm going to do all of my exercises before leaving the house, and I should be able to do the standing moves at lunchtime in the office, and then take a short walk outside.  Planning on getting up from my desk at least hourly for a stroll around the floor.  I'm truly blessed to be living in the San Diego area right now.  It has rained for the past few days but by tomorrow should be sunny and in the 60s, perfect weather for a stroll outside.

Surgery + 9, one week after discharge.
.....
I'm still planning on going into the office tomorrow morning.  That will be interesting.
.......
And now, I'm starting to count down to my second surgery...19 days.  It'll probably seem like deja vu all over again.

Whoa buddy!  Don't overdo it.  You need a lot of rest to recover from the last surgery and get ready for the next.
Glad it's going well.

[obxpelican]

Great job, very nice to hear you are doing well, now off for the second one so you can enjoy your summer.



Chuck

[FlbrkMike]

Day 11...

I went to the office yesterday.  Felt fine until about 2:00 p.m. when I just got really tired.  The wife and I went home a little early, around 3:00.  Decided to work from home today and go back to the office tomorrow.  Took a 1/2 mile walk at lunchtime today and got a nice nap after eating.  Worked about 6 hours and feel really good.  Had my 3rd home PT appointment this evening and the therapist said it would be OK to walk around without my cane, except if I'm out or walking long distances.

Dr. Ball called today to answer any questions I might have.  He cleared me to start outpatient PT, and I have an appointment next Monday.  I'm really looking forward to getting some more intense stretching and strengthening.  I'm also cleared to drive during the daytime (my BHR is on the left) as long as I'm not taking painkillers.  I'm now down to a couple of vicodins at nightime to help me get to sleep.  Most of the remaining pain seems to be around the IT band and around the hip flexor, and only really bothers me at night.  Have to keep shifting positions.

[halfdone]

Great to hear that you are doing so well.  No surprise that you get a little tired from time to time!  My only suggestion is that you curb your enthusiasm for too much "intense" PT in the short term - you can't rush the healing and the bone growth and IMHO it's more important where you are 2 years post-surgery than where you are 2 weeks post-surgery.
Best wishes

[FlbrkMike]

You make a very good point.  I do tend to get a little too "gung ho" at times.  My wife often has to hold me back.

The other thing is, two weeks from Friday I'll be exactly where I was two weeks before...sitting in a hospital bed connected to a bunch of tubes and wondering when I'll be able to stand up again.  I'm going to need to control my expectations because things might not go as smoothly the second time around.

What I'm mostly looking forward to with the outpatient PT is to have access to a stationary bike.  My surgeon said that it would be a really good thing to try, using mostly the non-operated leg to move the pedals, with the operated leg going along for the ride to help with mobility.  It would be nice to be able to get a little cardio in after two weeks of mostly sitting around.

[halfdone]

It would be nice to be able to get a little cardio in after two weeks of mostly sitting around.

Amen to that!  The whole process can make you a little stir crazy and bring on exercise/activity withdrawal symptoms!  ;D

[FlbrkMike]

Day 17 -

I went to my first outpatient PT appointment this morning.  First we went over my history, and then she checked ROM on both legs.  I'm very tight in my hamstrings and quads on both sides.  Pretty much because I haven't been able to use those muscles much for the past few years anyway.

15 minutes on the treadmill, in front of a full length mirror, at normal walking pace to warm up and also to work on my gait.  Once that was done she stretched my operated leg for a while and then used the foam roller on my painful PT band.  The stretching was pretty painful but the PT band thing was excruciating.  I'm feeling pretty good now, though.  Got some new exercises to do as well.

Important milestone this past weekend:  I can put my left foot on my right knee without causing a painful cramp.  This is great because it turns putting on socks and shoes into an almost normal activity.  Actually it's easier now to put them on my left foot than on my right.

On Wednesday I have my post-op appointment with Dr. Ball.  Normally it's a 4 week check-up but since my second operation is exactly 4 weeks after my first, we pushed it up a bit.  Right after my post-op meeting I have my pre-op anesthesiology meeting for my RBHR.  

[FlbrkMike]

3 week anniversary today!!

Had my first post-op followup on Wednesday, followed immediately by my pre-op meetings for next week's RBHR.  I'm set up for a 9:00 a.m check-in on Friday (a little more convenient than the 5:30 check-in three weeks ago).  The doc seemed very pleased with results and rehab progress

I'm now walking 100% without the cane, except on long walks where I take it along for support if needed.  Walked over 1/2 mile uphill on Wednesday (followed by 1/2 mile downhill, of course) after my appointments with no problems.  I had my second outpatient PT appointment yesterday and am continuing to increase the stretching and strengthening exercises.  The stretching done during physio can be quite painful but I think also very effective.  The IT pain is almost gone and the groin/hip flexor pain is getting much better.  I'm still very tight in the quads and hamstring, but getting better with stretching.

I went to the office Monday - Thursday this week and am working my usual Friday at home. 

I just hope I don't lose all the progress I've made on the left side while waiting for the right side to catch up.

[halfdone]

Fab progress Mike!  You're all set for the RH!  Fortune favors the brave!

[Tin Soldier]

Sweet progress.  Mike - I'm almost in the exact place you were in during your recovery 2 weeks post-op.  I saw my PT from before surgery today and set up formal PT.  The guy is awesome.  He's a PT on steroids and he really knows hip stuff.  He worked with Phillipon in CO (the surgeon that wrote the book on arthroscopic surgery for FAI).  All he did was rub my butt today, though.  Kinda funny.  Anyway he did really emphasize the straight walking and focusing on getting a nice symmetrical gait.  I agree, it's to easy to pick up bad habits.

I made myself a cane for fun and I'm stoked about using it tomorrow.  It's got a femur-shaped top (just for fun.)

The PT and my surgeon both said that as soon as the left hip heals well, I'll be noticing the right hip and so I think you're doing it right.  "Just Git'r done"  My right hip isn't too bad, although the PT bent me around in front of his colleague to show her what impingement looks like.  They both said " wow, that's not much ROM".  Anyway, I'm mentally preparing for right hip in the fall and I'll have it all under one deductible.

Keep us posted on no. 2

[FlbrkMike]

Sounds like you're doing great on your recovery.  

The most important thing, IMO, is to keep up on the exercises and stay as active as you can.  Don't get frustrated if you seem to hit a plateau, you'll see more progress soon.  I was getting tired of doing just my home exercises and it seemed like progress was slowing down when I started my outpatient PT.  I've been three times since last Tuesday, and the extra stretching and exercises that the therapist have given me, though sometimes painful, have helped immensely.

I'm really ready for the second one right now because it's gotten to the point where my unoperated leg is holding me back in some cases more than my operated leg.