The saga of a bad hip and BHR surgery w/ Dr. Palmer

[DakotaDocMartin]

The way my life was degrading, it was as if I were in a downward spiral.  I figured if I didn't do something about the hip I'd be dead in a couple of years.  I've seen it happen to some friends and relatives.  Sit around inactive long enough and things just get worse.

I have a lot of things I still want to do and now the door is opened wide again for me.  I have so many hobbies and interests and I intend on getting back to doing them again. 

You just don't feel like doing much when walking across the room seems like it's miles away.

[John C]

One thing that did surprise me because I had assumed the posterior approach involved severing the small external hip rotators was that Dr. Palmer doesn't.  The muscles are spread apart enough to gain access to the femoral head.  That in itself literally gave me a "leg up" in the healing process.

Hi "Dakota",
Did you ever have the chance to confirm this with Dr Palmer? Dr Gross, Dr Su, and Dr. Bose, all have replied that they do not think this is possible, and that there must be some confusion in communication. They all seem convinced that the rotators must be separated (cut), and reattached in some way. Maybe it would be possible to get Dr Palmer to submit a brief report on this approach, so that the other surgeons could study up on this option. It would seem a shame not to let a new approach like this get out into the resurfacing community. Maybe see if you can ask Dr. Palmer to help out with this.

[DakotaDocMartin]

Did you ever have the chance to confirm this with Dr Palmer?

I did confirm this with Dr. Palmer on my last visit and final checkup with him in Stillwater.

[John C]

Doc, thanks for checking up on that for us. I would really love to see Dr Palmer put something out there, maybe just on one of these web sites, so that everyone can get up to speed on his approach.
Also, I wanted to apologize for an oversight on my part. I forgot to give Vicky Marlowe the credit she deserves for using her time, and her contacts with the top surgeons, to help in investigating this and getting some other top opinions on the subject. She and Pat are such wonderful assets for those of us out there trying to find our way through the maze of what is available.

[DakotaDocMartin]

She and Pat are such wonderful assets for those of us out there trying to find our way through the maze of what is available.

Yes, they are!  And, many thanks to them!

I think everyone should educate themselves as much as possible before making such a decision as having a prosthetic joint installed.  Most people blindly take whatever their local doctors have or do when there are so many other options out there.  After all... you don't go to a car dealer and tell them to give you a car.  You want to know what you are getting.  :)

[DakotaDocMartin]

My insurance is down to paying for one PT visit per week now but, my PT says I should come in and work out on the machines three times per week anyway.  They aren't charging me for the self-directed days and it does seem to be doing me good.  So, that's what I've been doing.

I'm to the point now that I can walk around the house and yard without a cane.  Even when I use a cane it's mainly there for a psychological boost I think.

The hip feels perfect.  If I hadn't gotten so weak with the bad hip I'd probably be jumping up and clicking my heels by now.  ;D

[hernanu]

Great news, Dakota! Good to see you're putting the effort in. The strength will come, you are doing it the right way.

[Tin Soldier]

Nice job Dakota.  Keep up the good work.  Feels good to walk without pain, huh?

[DakotaDocMartin]

Feels good to walk without pain, huh?

Yes!  Too bad I waited so long and wasted away some of the muscles.  They are tougher to get back again once they are weak.

[DakotaDocMartin]

I've been so busy doing things I haven't done in years the past few months have just flown by. 

Things like walking all over the grocery store doing my own shopping without an electric "gimp cart"... I'm doing it all under my own power. 

I was able to compete in the 13th Annual Minnesota Bordertown Shootout.  I haven't been able to do so for the past few years.  I used my electric scooter to take away a good portion of the stress of a two-day competition.  But, I was able to compete and I took a 5th Place! 

I've been out at the gun club range shooting a rifle I've owned for about four years but had been unable to go to the range.  I have even been walking out to the 100 yard backstop to post and pick my own targets.  I use my cane just in case I might need to catch my balance if I were to trip.  But, I've been doing it just fine.

Bits and pieces of my life are coming back together and I'm looking forward to doing more of my hobbies next summer.  I have an old BMW motorcycle I'd like to get back to riding.  And, I used to have a lot of fun flying radio controlled airplanes.  I want to do both of those next summer!  ;D

It's amazing how having a hip fixed can literally change a person's life.

I'm looking forward to another fishing trip to the Lake of the Woods with my son and grandson.  There's so much to look forward to now!  :D

[hernanu]

Great to hear from you, Dakota. Nice to see you're starting to get back to life. Keep it up, good things will keep coming.

[DakotaDocMartin]

Thanks!  I keep going to the gym 3 times per week and even have my wife going with me the past 6+ weeks.  She's getting to feel a lot better from it also.  :)

[DakotaDocMartin]

It will be a year next week since my BHR surgery.  My walker and heavy duty cane have been stored away for so long I don't even think of them anymore.  I have a light weight cane in my van but I never grab for it and haven't for months.  I tend to walk carefully if I get on ice but other than that... I'd say I'm as "normal" as a person can get.

The next step in the tune-up process is to go to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN and have a cervical spinal surgery.  Snowmobiles, motorcycles, car wrecks, whiplash twice and a nasty fall 8 years ago all added up.  Both arms and hands go numb a lot.  But, Dr. Krauss is listed as the No. 2 neurosurgeon in the USA currently and Mayo is "only" a 6 1/2 hour drive from here.

It's so nice to have the BHR I can't express how wonderful it is.  I'm so glad that Pat has this website and that I did my homework.  Otherwise, I would have just taken what was handed to me out of ignorance.   :D

[Dan L]

Congrats doc,

They taking bone out of your hip for your c-spine surgery?  They did when I had them done 20 years ago. Just curious.  Good luck with it also. 

Dan

[DakotaDocMartin]

By the sound of it, they will use donor bone from a cadaver.  It's basically just the bone matrix and no organic material left in it at all after it's been processed.  It's basically there to allow your body to grow over it with new bone.

[hernanu]

Well, now that your hip is helping you out, your back will be done soon, all good things. Congrats on recouping that hip well, Dakota. How's the walking?