New Hip For Summer

[akat01]

I am scheduled to have my left hip resurfaced May 9. Ive already endured a labral repair surgery with 8 months of pt.I have not been without pain a day since the injury occurred.I stopped taking all pain meds back in October. At the time I went through terrible withdrawals for 5 days followed by another week or two of being depressed and not wanting to do much at all.It seems as though some barely need narcotics at all and some do for an extended period post-op.I do not want to endure the after effects of withdrawals ever again. Any idea of an average time people are told to stay on them in order to get some sleep and endure pt.And any alternatives that anyone could suggest would be greatly appreciated..

[stephen1254]

Pain seems to be very individual and I don't know that anyone can compare their level of pain with anyone else. In my case I went off the pain meds at 24 hours because the meds didn't seem to effect the pain all that much, so I figured why bother?

I still have issues with sleeping, as I don't stay asleep more than 2 hours at a time. I'm just accepting that for now, as the pain lessens a bit every day. In fact at this point, 20 days post op, the issue is less the pain level and more the stiffness with sitting or lying in one place for an extended period.

[WTW15]

Aka - I was paranoid of that issue.  But I took my meds to stay comfortable and can say that I was down to taking them just to sleep by 4 wks and completely off them by week 8.  I still take tylenol every night, sometimes two times a night.  It's so personal - and depends on how your body reacts, but if you are of the mindset to just use them to get through those first few weeks, you will find you dont' need/want them after a while. 

Good Luck.  There's a lot of people to help on this site. 

[ScubaDuck]

I didn't take the OxyCodone after leaving the hospital.  I did take the OxyContin for three days but I am not sure I really needed it. (or maybe it was the other way around?) I took some aspirin for anti-clotting for about 10 days I recall.  I took some acetaminophen for pain but rarely.

I found that ice and elevation was my best friend for pain and swelling.

Best wishes.

Dan

[Skilly]

Great topic.  I'm actually getting ready to go into surgery TODAY for my left hip.  I was turned on to this site by a coworker who also had a BHR last year.  I've been reading the stories and taking in as much advice as I can.  Ready or not, here I come!  I'm doing my best to mentally prepare myself for the recovery pain, depression, and work I will need to put in, and this site has been a great help.  Thank you to all the contributers.  I hope to be posting my story soon after I get back from the hospital. 

[hernanu]

Good luck, Skilly, and hope to hear from you soon! It's gong to be great for you to be away from that pain. 

Akat01, everyone is completely different, even hips on the same person are different. I can understand you being leery of the meds after your experience. I was given morphine and oxycodone (IV) for the first day, then went off the meds the second and was ok with Tylenol.

Both times, I was prescribed oxycodone for home, but was really only having 0-1 level pain, so stayed with tylenol and did not use the oxycodone. I still filled the prescription just in case, but used a large dose of extra strength tylenol and aspirin for clotting. I was immediately on PT (the next day after release) and graduated to outpatient PT after three weeks or so. The tylenol continued to about three weeks, which I think along with whatever effects were there from the hospital anesthesia caused some severe night sweats.

After that was done, I was basically down to Tylenol as needed (usually long trips, extra activity, etc.) and kept up the aspirin for about six weeks or so.

To my mind, there is no right or wrong on this, just whatever helps you get through the day moderately comfortable and lets you do your rehab work.

[stephen1254]

3 weeks post-op today. The recovery is still gradual, but continual. I've been off all walking aids for a week now, and the 90 degree restrictions were lifted today. The potty chair is in the garage and all the pillows from all the chairs have been put away. I feel so much......shorter.

This past week I added the spin bike and some light upper body weight work to the routine. I started with 15 minutes at no resistance, and have worked up to two 30 minute sessions at a moderate resistance, about 60% of what I used to do pre-op. I've also gradually increased my weights, to where I am doing 4 sets of 12 reps of 140 lb flat Smith machine bench presses, and 4 sets of 10 reps of body weight chins, nothing approaching failure yet, but enough to get me breathing a bit harder.

At my level of recovery that is about as hard as I want to push the bike and the weights. Yesterday I got just the slightest light headed and nauseous, which indicates to me not to push any harder. I also felt some fatigue in and around the hip joint for the first time.

I alternate the hard days and the easy days, with the bike, weights, and a shorter walk one day, and then several longer walks with the basic rehab exercises the next day. I feel stronger, and my leg feels better, on the mornings after the hard days, but I still feel the need for a break between those days. While walking has been undoubtedly beneficial, I still feel that the spin bike has accomplished more in terms of strengthening the leg. The combination of the two is dynamite.

The last 3 nights I've been able to sleep more on my side, and this morning felt pretty good on both sides.

The biggest issue I am still dealing with is weakness in the glute and hamstring of the operated leg, and stiffness in the upper leg and glute after sitting for any length of time. My instincts tell me I'm doing enough on the exercise front, and I just need to wait for further healing.

For anyone contemplating this surgery, 10 days ago I couldn't imagine ever walking properly, and pain free, again. The last 10 days have convinced me that I will now achieve that goal, and sooner rather than later.

[akat01]

Although I scheduled surgery I go back and forth daily on whether to go through with it.As many success stories that I hear about,theres that one nightmare that makes me think I can just continue limping through life. Those of you that have had success are a great source of inspiration.But the other side scares the hell out of me. And being 40 with the reality that I will most certainly need a revision at some point is making me second guess this decision......

[stephen1254]

Nobody can make the decision for you, but I think most of us came to the realization that our hip was not going to stabilize, but was going to continue to deteriorate. I was to the point where I needed a cane to walk and was more than willing, even eager, to get a BHR. Even at 40, I think the jury is still out on whether a revision will be needed in the future, but even under the worse case scenario, a THR is still going to put you in a better physical position then you are now.

Before I learned about resurfacing, when my Dr. recommended a THR, I was adamantly opposed to the idea because I would have to give up running. In hindsight that was silly, because I couldn't run anyway - I could barely hobble around. If a BHR gives you 15 years of pain free activity, and a later revision were to give you many more years of pain free reduced activity, you are still, IMHO, well ahead of where you are now.

[stephen1254]

A few more additions to my earlier post. I started doing my rehab exercises (toe and calf raise, partial knee bend, side leg lift, front leg lift, balance on one leg) on a bosu ball this morning. As I suspected, as weak as the larger muscles are, the stabilizer muscles are even weaker. Where I could comfortably hold a 30 count or longer while balanced on the recovering leg while standing on the floor, balancing on the bosu ball is a whole 'nother thing. I think you need to be very careful on the bosu ball - I use it next to the doorway so I have something to grab onto - but it should aid in the recovery of those stabilizer muscles.

The other thing is that even though the 90 degree restrictions are lifted I am still being very careful in moving my leg. I am doing some gentle stretches, and only to the point of tightness, not pain. No pivoting on the heel, no squatting down, keeping the movements calculated and under control.

With those cautions in mind I have to say I am thrilled with the progress to date, and am looking forward to my first walk through the forest on a beautiful spring Tahoe day!

[Dan L]

Congrats on your progress Stephen.  Getting out and walking where you live to be is an excellent goal to strive for; my first walk in the snow here in Ohio in our National Park was a huge, really huge, milestone and morale boost.  It made a huge difference in my outlook and recovery. 

Best regards for a continued recovery, just take your time and all will be well before you know it.

Dan

[stephen1254]

3 mile hike yesterday, and while I was pretty stiff last night the leg feels better than ever this morning.

[stephen1254]

Day 23 and a bit of a setback. I woke up this morning a bit stiffer and a bit more sore then the prior day. Can't really pinpoint why, but in the last 2 days I've had the 90 degree restrictions lifted, leading to more range of motion, I took a 3 mile hike in the woods, and drove for the first time post op.

Best bet I think is to take the day off and rest. REALLY tough when it is in the mid 60's and so clear it dazzles you. Maybe lay out in the sun a bit....

[hernanu]

I think that's wise, Stephen. It's a tossup - some times activity will get you better, other times rest. I usually try to see what I've been doing, and if more, I downshift a bit. Of course some times the sun wins.

[Skilly]

Hi all.  Well, I made it home, and I'm................64 hour post operation.  I'm walking better than ever now!  HA, just kidding.  I'm lying comfortably on my couch resting after a short visit from the nurse.  Surprisingly, I've had no really bad pain to speak of.  I was getting headaches when sitting up at the hospital, but that seems to have faded today.  I haven't used any of the oxycodone the doc prescribed, but am getting by on tylenol.  PT starts tomorrow, so I'm sure that will take a lot out of me.  A brief history:  I'm 43, male, and USED to play ice hockey--goalie specifically.  I've read a few of the stories on here from the goalies, and I literally feel their pain.  If you watch ice hockey, you'll notice that the goalies put great stress on their hips with the way they have to go down for saves.  The newer pads developed over the last 15 years have helped with the ergonomics tremendously, but nothing helps when a 200 lb defenseman lands on you as you are sprawling to grab a puck!

I can say that I've had my fill of playing hockey, and am ready to move on to other things in my life.  I desperately want to get back on the golf course next summer, but even more than that, I'm looking forward to just being able to walk around normally without a limp.  Anyway, today my spirits are high, and I'm taking it easy.  I have a month off of work with disability, which was a great relief to be able to get.  I hope everyone has a great day!

[hernanu]

Great news, Skilly! You're just starting out, you'll find that despite the soreness that progress comes at a good pace.

[stephen1254]

Four weeks post-op today and a bit of a breakthrough. While the healing process has been gradual, every day has started out pretty good, with a slight increase in pain and stiffness during the day. Yesterday I did a 5.25 mile hike in the woods, with no increase in pain or stiffness. No real increase in stiffness through the balance of the day either. It's a little thing, but this whole recovery is about little things.

Another interesting thing about yesterday's hike was for the first time I felt some fatigue in my quads and hamstrings, just a little bit, but it was in BOTH legs, with no real difference in feel between them.

I liken this recovery to the large pile of snow on the north side of the house that accumulates through the winter from the snow blower. As it begins to warm the pile begins to melt, and every day it is just a little bit smaller. The area of pain and stiffness around the incision (because the hip no longer hurts) is just a little bit smaller each day. Of course the snow is long gone and the stiffness in the hip is still there but you get my drift.

While I've increased the mileage on my hikes I've kept the balance of my exercise at the same level, with two 30 minute sessions on the spin bike at 60% of my pre op resistance level and light upper body weights, alternating days with hikes in the woods. This Friday I see Dr. Callander again and I have a list of exercises and activities to go over with him. I will stick to his recommendations as to when to begin certain activities with the exception of running - he has patients starting jogging at 3 - 4 months and I'm going to wait a full year.

On Saturday we are leaving for a 15 day cruise out of San Francisco to Hawaii and back. We stumbled on to cruising awhile back, and after several years of saying "it won't work for us" we gave one a try with terrific results. The biggest plus for us is that we actually relax - like many people we used to come back from vacations more tired than when we left. Since all the stress is removed - the driving, where we are going to stay, where we are going to eat, what we are going to do - we actually relax.

Our approach to a cruise is to work on our fitness. We usually figure on 4 - 5 workouts a day, beginning with an hour long run - which is now a walk for me - a cardio session, a weight session, some pool work, and another walk. We enjoy the cruises with a lot of sea days as we have no distractions from those activities. In between workouts we eat - like we do at home - but we have always lost weight by the time we get back.

This cruise is a little different because we set up the timing of it to coincide with my rehab, thinking that at 4.5 weeks post op I would probably still be on crutches or using a cane. I've been off both assistance devices for 2 weeks now, so instead I will look forward to getting a slew of new activities to try from Dr. Callander.

Looking back on the four weeks since surgery the progress is pretty amazing. Initially I had to wonder whether I would ever walk normally again, or if the pain would ever go away. I can confidently answer yes to both questions now, although I'm not quite there yet - I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. To all of you that had surgery after March 27 hang in there - it does get better!

[hernanu]

Great post, stephen. Congrats on the rehab and on the cruise. Relaxation and exercises sounds like perfect recuperation.

[jb46]

Stephen,
I might be able to help with one of your questions. You asked about waking up pretty sore one day and wondering why...and the day before you posted about a 3 mile hike. I'm guessing you had a sarcasm implant when the hip was done, maybe?
3 miles plus at 3 to 4 weeks post op sounds impressive to me (at least something I'll strive for).
I'm only at 2 weeks but have done nothing more than walking and light leg exercises they give you after surgery.
Enjoy the cruise...maybe you can race some of those "mall walkers" around the ship...good luck...jb

[stephen1254]

Just got back from our cruise to Hawaii, with some excellent results from the increased workout load. A couple of interesting things, and I hope they help others reading this.

While I realize some of these postings from those that have gone through this operation can sound self aggrandizing, my posts and I believe most others are not intended that way at all. Once I determined that I needed a hip replacement, and once I settled on a resurfacing and a particular device and doctor, I stopped the research and spent my time reading the posts on this forum. I felt the best source of information was from others that had gone through this operation, and through the posts on this forum I began to understand the recovery process and began to set goals for myself.

I am an athlete. I've been an athlete for decades. I fully anticipated recovering from this surgery at a rapid pace, and I fully intended to push my body as hard as I could to aid in that recovery. Note that part of being an athlete is knowing what you can and cannot do, listening to your body and knowing just how hard to push.

Also it is necessary to draw a distinction between the healing of the implant, and the healing of the muscle tissue and ligaments damaged in the surgery. The former has to be handled delicately. The latter is what gets pushed.

I'm just shy of 7 weeks post op. I saw Dr. Callander at 4.5 weeks, the day before we left on the cruise, and he turned me loose on all upper body weight exercises, and light leg weight exercises. I have a restriction on crossing my operated leg over my knee for another week, and from running for another 5 weeks, although running and other impact exercises - basically anything done with both legs in the air at the same time - are going to wait for some time to insure that the area around the implant is healed.

So going into the trip the goal was to work on walking completely normally, and resuming all of my weight lifting. The trip was divided into 3 parts - 4 days of intense work, 4 days of playing in Hawaii, and 6 days of intense work, with a 4 hour stop in Ensenada on day 5.

I started every morning with a brisk walk on the Promenade deck. Each lap of the ship was 1/3rd of a mile, with 2 flights of steps going up at the bow on the starboard side, and 2 flights of steps going down at the bow on the port side. On day 1 I did 1 hour. On day 2 through 10 I increased the walk to 1.5 hours and added 2 more flights of stairs going up and 2 flights going down on each lap. I pushed every day to walk faster, always trying to complete more laps than the day before. There was a lot of wind and a lot of boat movement which really worked the stabilizer muscles. When I was done I found a lounge by the pool and slept.

After lunch I walked another 30 minutes, at a slower pace but incorporating all the stairs. I then went to the gym and did an hour of weight lifting. I did a half body split, working legs, calves, back and triceps one day, and chest, shoulders, biceps and abs the second day. I usually do 18 sets per workout with very heavy weights, but for this period I did 24 - 26 sets per workout, with slightly lighter weights and higher reps. I did every set to absolute failure, except legs. Legs consisted of assisted deep knee bends, and light leg presses, nothing close to failure and just lightly working the muscles. I completed the workout with 30 minutes on the stationary bicycle, and ramped that up by day 3 to the resistance I was doing pre-op. I then took another nap.

The goal here was to push as hard as I could, and then get as much rest as I could. The training volume was way in excess of what I normally do, which is to alternate walk days and weight days. I really wanted to induce as much fatigue as I could, and measure how I recovered. I pushed 4 days, took 4 days off, and then pushed 6 days.

The results were in line with what I anticipated. By the end of each day I was pretty whipped, but my operated leg felt better, and dramatically stronger each day. One trick I use is to stand when dressing, and balance on the operated leg to put on underwear, trousers, and socks. At the beginning of the trip it was difficult to balance and still a bit painful. The first day after doing knee bends it was almost a non-issue. By the end of the trip it was a non-issue, with little difference in strength or balance. On the ninth day of the workouts I walked about 6 miles on the ship, and another 5 miles in Ensenada. I was fatigued, but both legs were equally fatigued. The operated leg was a complete non-issue.

That is where things stand now. I'm still a bit stiff after sitting for a long time, but Dr. Callander said that should go away in another month or so. I do a 1 leg knee bend to gauge the relative strength of the operated leg, and while there is a difference, it isn't much. Tomorrow we start on the road bikes, which should place a different load on my leg, but I don't think it will be an issue.

For all intents and purposes I consider the muscles and ligaments (not the implant) fully healed, with no limitation on non-impact activities.

It is important to note that 10 days post-op I was doubting whether I would ever walk normally without pain. The pace of recovery from that point on has been rapid. At 7 weeks I am no longer recovering from surgery, but just rehabing a minor injury.

So that's my story to date. No self aggrandizing, but simply an accurate reflection of my recovery. Push hard and you will see results. If you push too hard one day, and you are sore the next morning, just back it down a notch, but keep pushing - the results will come.