Bilateral with Dr Gross

[fenceman]

Dee is correct about the core exercise.  As someone that has wrestled with lower back problems I found a core exercise routine by Corepreformance.com. that I do twice a week.  It has kept my back in check and feeling good.   I have been afraid to do it since surgery and I can feel it in my lower back.  I will wait until the 6 week checkup by my Dr. before I start again.

I have also been ready to get back to exercising because I have added a little weight and I know it is not muscle.  You must be tough to have both hips done 2 days a part.  That will be double the work to get back in shape.  It will be worth it.
Bill

[Ross]

Whow I slept through the night.   6 week follow up with The Gross crew in 2 days.  Was at the beach yesterday setting in the Lafuma.  Life is good.

[Dee Dee]

Hey Ross!  I am jealous of the beach time.  Glad you slept through the night. I have had a couple of those myself now.  I end up in my chair most nights.  But those at getting less and less. 

Give us the report when you get back from the doc.

Dee

[Ross]

Got my clearance.  Devices look great.  Going to start PT and see if it feels like it is worth it.  New exercises make me stiff or a little sore.  Thanks to all for sharing your stories, heart aches, and dark secrets.  I am very happy to be out of the tunnel on the other side traveling on a slow steady incline to the top of mountain. 
Ross

[hernanu]

Excellent, Ross - nice to reach this goal - now next one is up.

[Ross]

Eight weeks postop
I can walk the mile without a lot of pain but I have some very sore hip muscles upon use.  They do not like their climate after stage 2 PT.  My hip is definitely causing my back pain as the groin gets sore so does the back.  Using the pool for light swimming and helps out tremendously.  I am gonna start PT as I want a gait analysis and target the muscles that have atrophied.  I feel good and am grateful but I am coming into a new phase, what I really am after.  Returning to work is extremely important to me and without good use of my legs I will never last 12 hours in a high paced ER.  It is coming.  I have not tried any of my hobbies like golf, fishing, or weight training but they are on my mind.  Keep you posted of further progress.
Cordially,
Ross

[Ross]

Nine week postop

Stage 2 PT was to much for me.  My abductor/adductor and piriformis muscles are atrophied.  The psoas and IT band locked giving  me bad back pain.  Steering off Stage 2 and are strengthening the atrophied muscles before my limp gets worse.  Can feel the scar tissue breaking up and it is a little uncomfortable.  Bumps in the road.  I was hoping to be further along but what can you do.  Any helpful advice from the seasoned hippies.  I am a bilateral simltaneous.

[hernanu]

We all hit setbacks, Ross - nine weeks is still very early. If that's too much, simply step back and let it rest a bit.

There's no deadline on this, just a prize of full function and a well healed hip. If you reach that at two years, you've done a good job. The scar tissue breaking up is a good thing, but you need to be good to your recovering body. Atrophied muscles need to be babied and exercised in equal doses, you are the best judge, since you know how it feels.

No rush to this at all. I'll use some disco wisdom again "don't push it, don't force it, let it happen naturally". Disco wisdom has stood the test of time   ;D

Here's one opinion on how to resuscitate atrophied muscles:

http://www.livestrong.com/article/88741-build-up-atrophied-muscles/

the overall take on this is to go gently and slow.

[fenceman]

Hern is right, it is going to take time.  I added a few exercises to my self-PT 2 days ago, overdid it, and yesterday I was ready to go back to crutches.  My back was sore, my hip muscles hurt and my calf was cramping all day. I did nothing yesterday and today I feel better.  You will get better.
Bill

[Ross]

Thanks for your replies Hern and Bill.  Really, I appreciate it.  It keeps me from having to complain to the wife.  Are you still having issues with your back Bill?
Ross

[fenceman]

It usually hurts (lower back) when I wake and until it warms up in the morning.  It is something I have dealt with for 15 years.  If I do core type exercises and stretching I have no problems and it feels good.  But then I get lazy for a month or 2 and it starts giving me problems.

It has been sore, on & off, since surgery.  Although I can now touch my toes, everything from my lower back to my calfs is very tight and this seem to pull on my back.  Walking with a cane or one crutch seemed to tilt me and irritate the one side.  I have just started to do some of my back exercises but some involve twisting and they feel uncomfortable on my hip.

Keep up with the PT and I know you will feel better.
Bill

[Ross]

12 weeks postop

Things are starting to feel much better since using the foam roller.  Most of the back pain is gone.  I am trying to get the left leg caught up to the right as it is significantly weaker.Walking is normal and have a little start up stiffness in the AM.  Also, my incisions still don't enjoy being slept on.  Sometimes it feels like the scar tissue is separating and at times it produces mild pain.  I have heard that the sutures inside the hip are acidic and produce a burning like sensation when they dissolve.  I don't know if that is true or not.  Getting massage therapy weekly.  Started PT but dropped it as therapist pushed me to hard and had my 1st set back for a week on the cane.  Scared me in to taking it more slowly.
Ross

[Dee Dee]

Hi Ross!

Glad to hear you are better.  Sorry PT put you back.  I am having a set back of sorts with lots of soreness but I think my anti inflammatory has stopped working so well. I have arthritis in other areas.  My pt said I am not ready for the foam roller since I have lots of old knots in my it band, but I did get a thera cane to treat the trigger points in my neck, shoulder, back and groin. http://www.theracane.com/

I am with you about the night time ache.  I can finally sleep on my side but not without some discomfort that wakes me up.  I get frustrated that I am still sore and tight in the hip, but PT measurements showed significant improvement in flexibility and strength.

Keep reporting in. We love to share our triumphs!

Dee

[hernanu]

Ross and Dee, sounds to me like you're right where you should be.

I'm glad the roller is helping, Ross - it did great stuff for me. Both of you are still early on, all of that gets sorted out as you go. When you get to the point you can use the roller, Dee you'll initially hate anyone who brought it up  >:( and then as things loosen, grow to love us  :) .

Good going and keep it up.

[fenceman]

Glad to hear you both are improving.  8 weeks today for me and feeling great.  I still have to think about my gate but when I do you can't see a limp.  I am thinking your recovery (in some instances) depends on how bad you let you hip get.  The worse it gets, the longer the recovery.

[Ross]

I think that it is probably a number of things that which you brought up included.  Glad you are getting along well. 

Dee
I did not think that I could use the roller because it felt awkward with the lack of mobility from the bilat.  After I convinced myself, I rolled the piriformis and QL muscles out and my back issue dissolve.  All the muscles pulling on my pelvis gave me an anterior pelvic tilt.  I still have problems but I am addressing them.  I only which that I could use the roller over the incision and pull my knee into my chest without risk and I think that I would be good to go.  My It band at the tibia aches when I try to strengthen the glute medias and major.  So, as a point of reference I still have a lot of healing going on inside.  Good luck with everything.
Ross