Resurfacing W/Dr. Gross on April 25th...

[Miguelito]

JB,
Congratulations on making it through. I was exactly two weeks ahead of you at Providence Hospital. Saw your comment about sleeping. The only thing that really works for me (even now) is on my back with a long pillow under my operated leg from just below the glute all the way to my foot. It really keeps the pressure off the incision site (which seems to be causing me more pain than it does to a lot of other people).
Mike

[jb46]

Have stepped up walking a little bit each day outside w/crutches. Don't always use the crutches, mostly for balance vs. weight now. Started walking short distances around house w/out crutches.
Still no swelling, still mostly what I'm calling incision pain.
Have had a couple of oops moments that my body let me know about. Stepped w/wrong foot coming down the stairs, let hip "fall open" after sitting down on a chair...wow, that sharp pain lets you know right away you've gone astray.
Still following the program...baby steps. Will have to go back to work next week, at about 12 days post op. Trying to gear up stamina to that level. Still feel more rundown/tired than anything else. Weaning off of pain meds, have only been taking before bed but will try to go without tonight.

Got a good reminder from a friend who is a PT. He said so many people see the surgery date as the end of the road...but then you wake up feeling crappy and have therapy/rehab to get back past where you were before. Easy to get depressed/down after the surgery, but looking forward to the payoff down the line. Hope everyone is healing well...jb

[Rob6297]

Hey JB,
I' m a bit ahead of you at day 11 post op.  You will find a big difference between day 6 and 11.  Strength has really come back to hip and I'm finally able to pick the leg up while it's extended out.  That was my last hurdle for PT.  Walked about a mile and a half total today (short walks multiple times) and all feels great!  I ice like a madman, and it really helps me.  I never needed any pain meds after the second day home and I feel it was due to icing.  Great to hear you're moving about without crutches already, I have only fooled around the kitchen and living room without them.  I do feel I could shed them but my doc has rules!  Hope to hear you're rocking next week!  As sleep gets better you will recover much faster too, I finally can sleep ok on my back.  I do ice during the night too!  Recover well, you will start getting better in leaps and bounds!
Joe
RBHR Dr. Su 4/20/12

[hernanu]

Guys, you are both doing well, keep it up. It is definitely not a sprint, but read other hippies accounts, you can see the payoff.

[jb46]

I'm at Day 12 post op and thought I'd add some updates/comments so others may know what to expect/look forward too.

Totally off crutches at around day 8. Take one with me if I'm worried about uneven ground or crowds...good to beat back kids with. Dropped pain meds pretty early, day 4 or 5 maybe. Using a muscle relaxer to help me get to sleep, probably won't need after working most of day today. Yes, I started back working today. Hardest part is in and out of car and the driving. Have had what I can only call spasms, shoot thru leg...like big muscle being pulled taught, similar but not quite like cramp.

I wish I had...worked on stretching/building up core muscles better before surgery. Found myself turning and reaching for things and almost pulled muscles straining while trying not to move the hip. Should have prepared more for after surgery, instructions on ice machine are an hour at a time, not leaving it on all night while your sleeping...but maybe that was why I didn't have much swelling?

Something has got to be done about creating/inventing a decent toilet seat option. I have read several comments by others on this same issue, almost willing to say it is the hardest part of the whole process. Dropping down, never far enough back and feel like I'm squezing in when I'm pretty thin to start with....but enough potty talk.

Walking pretty well. When I go for longer walks each day I focus on small straight steps, no limp or "hitch" in hip. Don't feel any pain while walking or after. I live in Atlanta area so there is no such thing as a totally flat area. I go even slower whenever there is any kind of incline to reduce the distance/amount of incline...don't know if that makes sense or even helps but it lets me justify it. Increasing distance day by day, was doing 3 walks daily but now that I'm working will be pressed to get in two, one early and one late.

Thrilled with progress so far...if any specific questions please feel free to inquire...hope everyone is healing well...jb

[hernanu]

All sounds great jb, sounds like you're doing the right things. I wouldn't stress not having done X or Y before surgery; what counts is what you do now.

Once the healing is done, and in conjunction with it (wisely and patiently), you'll be able to do the things that you wish you'd done in the right way since the pain and bad hip architecture is gone. Give yourself time to heal and suppress those type A impulses that have served you so well 'til now.

Patience and enjoy the ride, then you'll have the right basis for getting back to building yourself up.

[jb46]

Hernanu...I only mention what I would have done differently for those still awaiting surgery. Want to pass on as much as I can, maybe something will help make it easier for someone down the road.

Also made huge misstep today...reached down to fix my shoe on my operated side. DON'T DO THAT, it hurts.

Always think about your next movement...at least until you can't hurt yourself with a simple misstep.

One question...I have been "cheating" when I have to pick something up off of the floor. I will stand on good leg, reach down and move my bad leg up so that it stays "straight" in relation to hip. Is this okay? Any reason not to be doing this...let me know if ya know...thanks...jb

[hernanu]

I did it all of the time jb. Also committed some venial and some cardinal hippy sins, like a good ex-catholic, like picking up more weight than I should have (50 lb stereo speaker).

I think the guidelines/restrictions have to be respected, but what you describe sounds all right to me.

[imgetinold]

Hey, JB....sounds like you're doing great!  I've been absent a while, so good to catch up with your progress.

I quickly learned the kick-the-operated-leg-back and bend over to pick something up routine.  If the operated hip is not going past 90 degrees, you're fine.

And, yes, the toilet seat is the WORST part of the recovery, in my opinion.

Glad to hear of your success.  I still can't believe you're back to work so soon, driving everywhere.  Wow.

[LAB123]

JB you and others have recovered so quickly that  I'm wondering if anyone else has been on the "slow train" with me! Today was the 6 week mark for me and today is just my second day walking with no crutch or cane. Part of the challenge has been that my non operated hip has gotten sore, but I still have lots of stiffness and achiness in the one I had fixed, and I have a pronounced limp.

I'll be doing the 6 week review w Dr. Gross' office one I get the report from the PT tomorrow, and I'm hoping I'll be released to start doing some exercise to help loosen things up.

Anybody else have a recovery that matches this timeline?

Thanks!

[mslendzion]

One question...I have been "cheating" when I have to pick something up off of the floor. I will stand on good leg, reach down and move my bad leg up so that it stays "straight" in relation to hip. Is this okay? Any reason not to be doing this...let me know if ya know...thanks...jb

I asked the same question to the PT in the hospital post op and they said not to.  I'm not sure if this would have been OK after a few days, a week, or ??  Perhaps he was just overly cautious as well.

[jb46]

Andy, Trust me...I'd rather be at home. Driving and getting in/out of car is the absolute worst part...except of course the toilet seat. Decided that's how I'm going to get rich, design a hip friendly extended seat.

Have to keep reminding myself slow and steady wins the hip race. Don't think I could chew gum and walk at this point, have to be very conscious of every move to avoid missteps. Have also broken their rule about hills. There is a steep hill to get into our swim club. Took kids to practice and decided if I took very short steps, my hip wouldn't be able to tell I was really going up a large incline. Is that enabling (can you enable yourself?)? I think the hip "pirouette" to pick something up is my favorite part...getting one of my kids to help with socks would be the worst.

Hope you are healing well...and not starting on any major physical tests yet...talk to you soon...jb

[Rob6297]

I'm at the 3 week post surgery point tomorrow.  I can walk without any aid ( probably 40 steps) but that leads to limping if I do it too long (so I stop and use 1 crutch or a cane).  Again, I think, as others do, everyone heals differently and at different rates.  I'm still not happy with my BM's, very difficult and not a part of my day I look forward to LOL!  So we all have some type of recovery issue that was not a problem for another.  I am very pleased with my recovery and feel blessed to have not had any serious issues or setbacks yet.  My PT tells me if I can't do an excercise with correct form to stop and try again a different day and I totally agree.  Every day you seem to get stronger and be able to do what was sometimes impossible the day before.
Good luck to all
Joe

[jb46]

First, Joe..I'm sorry about the difficulties you're having. But I've read many of these threads were some folks have struggled early and then gone on to have great rehabs/results...so I hope you are on that path soon.
You may not want to read this next part though.

My surgery was 3 weeks tomorrow, and I did a 2 mile walk today...kind of by mistake. Thought it was about 1/2 mile or so to our pool, so I did an out and back. Turns out it's a mile to get there, my wife clocked it on her way back. Felt great, nothing more than an occasional twitch when dealing with an incline or a misstep. Did a little ice afterward (which I haven't been doing much of lately).

Still only trouble I'm having is in and out of car and driving. I'm often in my car and on my laptop, which can cause some uncomfortable moments/cramping. And the next time I get my sock on straight the first time I put it on will be a monumental moment. Feeling awfully lucky with how things have gone so far...can't wait to start working out in the pool in about 10 days...jb