Newbie

[cgraves]

My name is Chuck.  I am a truck driver.

How do you evaluate your hip resurfacing operation ?
What are the measures of success ?

My hip resurfacing operation was performed on May 22.
The hip resurfacing operation was performed in Denver Colorado.
The doctor was very candid about the fact that he had performed about
12 hip resurfacing operations. 
At the time I did not know enough to ask the proper questions.

For over twenty years I lived with right hip pain.
The last two years was constant. Pain killer were my constant companions and
my best friends.
People always said that I walked and ran "funny" with my right hip and leg
going out and in.

The doctors I had seen in the past recommended that I live with the
condition until the pain becomes too great then get a THR operation.
I did that and this spring decided to have hip surgery.
Just a few weeks before the surgery I read an article in a newspaper about hip resurfacing.  It seemed like good alternative.

My hip pain is gone.  For that I am thankful.

I am walking with two crutches. I can manage with one crutch, but lean to the
left (good) side.
The physical therapist has me walking "heel toe". I practice that all the time.
It feels good.
The physical therapist measured my legs.  It appear that the new right hip is
39 inches abd the left hip is 38 inches.
Putting a couple of shoe insoles in my left shoe appeared to even thing out.
The walking feels better.
I do all the PT exercises as proscribed.

I hope and pray that my hip resurfacing operation turns out for the good.

Since the surgery I have been home recovering.
I have never spent this much time at home or this much down time.

The Surface Hippy site has been very interesting to read.
Much of the information has actually sacred me a little.
Maybe I should have done more "homework" before the surgery.
But that would not have happened being on the road all the time.

My goals:
To live without hip pain.
To be improving rather than getting worse.
Be able to go hiking and biking with my grandsons.
Be able to go back to work.

The Surface Hippy has been informative.

Thanks for the site.

[Pat Walter]

Hi Chuck

Congratulations on your new hip.

Your measure of sucess should be how much better your life will be after you heal.  Most people with hip resurfacing return to an active, normal life without pain or restrictions.  Can't ask for much more than that.  Sometimes if people had more complex problems or had their leg lengthened, it takes them longer to recover.  The muscles have not been working properly for much of their lives.  Muscles can take a great deal of time to retrain.

Meanwhile, you are not even 3 weeks post op. Your hip pain is gone - that's something to be thankful for.  The rest will take some time.  Some people are running marathons at 6 months while others are still limping or on crutches.  We all have different bodies.

It sounds like you are having a pretty normal recovery.  Your leg may not actually be longer after your hip heals.  Sometimes the surgery makes everything swollen and it takes time for the muscles and tissue around the area to get back to normal.

Who did your surgery?   People always want to know that.

At least your doctor did suggest a hip resurfacing instead of a THR, that's more than many orthos would have suggested. 

I hope your recovery continues to go well for you.  Hopefully, all the info won't scare you.  It is always good to know all the possible good and bad - along with the odds.  That's why I post everything I can so people have a realistic view of what should happen and want can happen.  There is nothing in the world that comes with a 100% guarantee - but the odds of a hip resrufacing working well for most people is 96% and even higher with the most experienced surgeons.  I think that's good odds.

Good Luck and keep in touch.

Pat