3 Weeks Post Op Report

[phillwad]

Well I managed 5.2 miles in 1 hr 54 min of walking time

My wife and I went out to a local metro park and walked a loop around a gravel paths, about 2 miles and then we drove back - I got her to drop me off about 3 miles from home.  Another 1 1/5 mile I found a new coffee shop, stopped and had a break and then walked home.

Mac - yes I am still following doctor's orders and using 2 crutches - for me they work - I stride out and clunk clunk clunk along. 

Do I feel I need to be on crutches? - "no" as I feel I could walk OK with out them but I "buy in" to the bone repair needed following the surgery and understand that 6 weeks is reasonable.  For me there is the muscle recovery and the bone recovery - if I pull a muscle as I stride out to far - that will slow me down for a few days, if I mess up the bone because I load it up to early - that puts me in deep trouble - so I clunk clunk clunk around outside.  I have now found two coffee shops that allows me a 3 to 5 mile walk with a destination along the way if I want to take a break.  For me it works.

Cheers - Phill

[JayClark]

I have read this blog for a long time and on April 8th, I came to ' the other side' . 

So far, So good,   Off the walker, no hip pain,  just crutches for balance.  Im 6'4" and still really stiff.

I had a TON of fear with this procedure. Not to mention an UP HILL battle with OKC VA Medical Center that was not interested in whats best for me.  There is a lot of twists with my story, but now its DONE, and I'm soo happy.

So, for me,  I'm really off of the pain killers, walking a bunch, and trying to get my life back.

I have 2 small boys, 8 and 5, who do it all; basketball, hockey, soccer, golf........  so not being active with them was a killer.

Dr. Crofford @ Texas Hip and Knee, was great.  Easy to talk to and that group may be the most experienced group in the South-Central area of the US.

Operation was at The Plaza Medical Center, Ft. Worth.   Just an A+++ for how I was treated from start to finish !!

I'm in Oklahoma, and there is really only 1 ortho who does these, but completed less than 50 I think ( Dr. Tupper), maybe more.

I am excited about the future !  Flying, Cycling,  Coaching my kids in Hockey and Basketball, playing golf and just not walking like a
gangster ! Pimp Limp as my brother says.LOL

Im a 44 yr Male,  6'4" , long athletic life, now looking forward to a bright future !

[jjmclain]

Congrats!!!! Welcome to the other side!!!

[Dayton96]

I like the idea of having coffee shops as rest stops! 

Mac

[Lori Cee]

Hey Jay, our new bits have the same birthdays :D
Sounds like you are doing really well - that's awesome!  A little bit behind you now but that's right for me and where I should be.

Just think, when we celebrate the first year birthdays we won't remember what the fuss was all about!

[phillwad]

Jay - welcome, recovery will take time but I am sure will be worth it.

Again - Congrats.

Phill

[hipnhop]

Jay, welcome man. It gets easier everyday.

I am at 4 weeks and decided to jump up my training. So I swam a mile, deep water ran for 30 minutes, lifted for 35min and made love to my lady. OHHHHHHHHH- S#%@!!!!!! What is my mental malfunction? I was in no way ready for all of that and had some pain in my hip that I never felt before. I got scared.  Rested the weekend and it went away. Felt like my flexor muscle was real sore even to the touch.  My non-op hip is killing me.

OK - just wanted to share what NOT to do for all you "Exercise Heads." 

I am walking without a cane but limping pretty bad. No pain at all when I walk (incredible). Trying to remember my PT advice to march to get my right leg up higher.  Notice a little back pain. Is anyone else having back pain as a result of HR?

[Dayton96]

Hipnhop,

I have a  little lower back pain when I walk too much.  I'm not allowed to run for six months, so I'm not taking any chances.  I'm supposed to gradually increase walking distance, which I'm trying to do.  The knee on my operated side will some times twinge on me, plus inner thigh, plus lower back.  I just ease off for a few hours, then slowly start walking again. 

Mac

[FlbrkMike]

I haven't been a runner for a long time, but I may become one again eventually if things go well with the hips.

I do make a point of walking a lot which, besides swimming, was about all the exercise left to me for the past couple of years before my surgeries.  We have a three mile loop around our very hilly neighborhood which my wife and I would walk on weekends, and a 1.5 mile up the hill and back shortened version which we would do every morning before work.  The thing is, my back would hurt all the way up and all the way back, every time.  The three mile walk was 45 minutes of pure torture.  By the end of last year I was pretty sure it was at least partially caused by the bent forward gait that my OA forced on me.  

Between surgeries I got as far as the 1.5 mile walk in the fourth week and my back only hurt on the unoperated side.  Now, after the second surgery I've gotten as far as the 1.5 mile walk again (I carry my cane but don't use it) with no back pain at all.  This is good.  No more knee pain either.  Just some weakness on both sides - I seem to get tired easily.  The strength and stamina will surely come back, though.

[jjmclain]

HipnHop-

The back pain is probably from the water running. I am sure you do a lot of core work, but because of the surgery and non-use you are feeling it in all of your muscles used. After surgery, I think we all have weakened external rotators, abductors, adductors, hip flexors etc. It is very important to work the glute muscles especially doing the clam exercises which I am sure you are doing. But it takes awhile!!! I am at 5 months and even though my operated side feels much stronger than it did prior to surgery (due to the arthritis, etc.), it is still not as strong as my right side and I can feel it in my left glute at the end of a run. Sounds like rest was the key...good luck!

June