Surgery - too soon??

[Ross]

Yes.  I agree with you Mike.  The first two weeks were pretty difficult for all the reasons you and Dan spoke about.  I can't really say if someone was inappropriately speaking as people have a different thresh holds for pain.  Definitely, in house rehab facility for 1 week minimum after a bilateral.  Any doctor that says differently has never had it done.  For a single, I could have left the next day as a double I new that I was in for more than I imagined.  Am I glad that I had in done and its over?   Pretty much. 

Ross
Bilateral Dr. Gross
11/26/2012

[hipgirlatheart]

 ;DI will. I'm totally feeling GOOD right now after reading more on this site and successful recoveries with BHR by this same surgeon. Woohoo!!! I have some insurance questions..if the second is covered too when performed say 8 weeks later..but can't really think any more about that right now.
I balled my eyes out not too long ago and here I am feeling positive again. It's just time.

Off the rollercoaster,
Margi

[Miguelito]

"I wish I would've asked why he prefers to do them 6-8 weeks apart instead of at the same time, but it's a little late for that now. Does anyone know why it is a good idea??"

Hi. Good luck tomorrow if I don't chime in again.

I think the answer to your question (if I understand it - I'm a little slow today) is very simple (though I too am not an expert): My operated leg was like a log for several days. I think most doctors just want you to have one serviceable leg post-surgery and not two logs. And when I say like a log I really mean "was a log". Two logs would have been tough.

I only needed the one hip a year ago at my surgery so I didn't have to think about bi-lateral at once. Pluses and minuses to both sides. I do not have an answer to what I would have done if bi-lateral at the same time was an option. Tempting to just have it done and over with, but I'm sure that makes for a very tough few weeks.

Regards,

Mike

P.S. I forgot to mention the ice thing. Glad Dan picked me up. I still have my ice machine sitting in my closet, waiting. Love that thing.

[hernanu]

Hi Margi,

I think some surgeons prefer to let some time elapse for the reasons Mike talked about. I know mine left 3 months between surgeries despite knowing both needed to be done.

Either way, the recoveries are challenging at first, but improve afterwards. The one thing that was great for me was that the OA pain was gone. I could deal with the recuperation pain, knew that was not staying.

Good luck tomorrow!

[hipgirlatheart]

Ok peeps I'm in the hospital Lobby. My surgery got canceled!!!!!
Prior 7am surgery so who knows? I'm waiting for my ride. Wow.
Reschedule.

[kimberly52]

Oh wow!  I am so sorry to hear that. So much mental preparation involved and now cancelled.   :-\

[Miguelito]

Oh! I am very sorry to hear that. Hopefully they can re-schedule very soon. I imagine they can?

If you got yourself mentally ready once, I think it will be easier the second time. I know actually having gone thru the surgery once the mental part will be much easier the next time. Disappointing to be sure.

Mike

[Dan L]

Damn, premature admission, what a PIA, after prepping emotionally for the big show.  Here's hoping the real day is very soon.

Dan

[hernanu]

We had a couple of hippies who got cancelled / rescheduled at a late date. It's a pain, but they rescheduled within a short amount of time and things went fine.

Hope they reschedule quickly and you get to go soon.

[hipgirlatheart]

I hope so too. This week yet would be nice. It is what is it I guess. A little disappointing, to be sure. Yes, I think it might be easier the NEXT initial time as the jitters have come and gone. Was all prepped and receiving a hydration IV in a comfortable easy chair with an electric "blanket" -ha- on (plastic, not complaining, was warm), with prior visits with the MD anesthiologist, nurse anesthesist, when the nurse returned to take out my IV.

[Miguelito]

Ouch! They cancelled after the IV? That stinks. I was as apprehensive about the IV as I was about the surgery (with no good reason of course).

[hipgirlatheart]

Oh- NOT yet the intravenous narcotics. Just water. They like you to be fully hydrated. Even tho I drank extra water all weekend.. oh well. The nurse was so skilled and plumped up my little blue vein with her blue band, slipped in the IV needle, taped it tight and hooked it up to the water bag. Really- it was not bad and that's a tribute to her skills.

The anesthesiologist, when he arrived, explained that the needle he will use to numb me from the waist down (when I move into the next room) was smaller than the hydration needle used and I would not feel it as much. I'd be given other muscle relaxants, nothing I'm breathing, and I wouldn't be totally "out."

So all was going well in my prep room sitting up in my "cozy" easy chair in two robes, my left butt cheek marked by the surgeon who stopped in to say hello before his first surgery. I was being fed pure water, read the new People with Michael Douglas and Matt Damon on the cover and feeling my sinuses clearing. Not bad at all.

[hipgirlatheart]

Oh - sorry - you probably knew it was not yet the narcotics. I'm tired. Long day. :)

[mustang4172]

To all on this post-

I apologize for the glib statement regarding my days post op.  Perhaps "uncomfortable for only a couple of days" was a poor choice of words.  It was not my intention to offend anyone.  I'm sorry if my remarks sounded irresponsible.

Having said this, my first few days post-op where really not as bad as I thought they would be.
I credit the nurses and aides at the Hosptial for Special Surgery for keeping me as comfortable as possible, being particularly concerned with my pain management.  Sure, I used the pain "panic button" while it was available, had difficultly sleeping, had little appetite, and was very tired towards the end of the day.  But, considering that this was a fairly invasive procedure, I was pleasantly surprised that, for me, the pain was very manageable.  I had the surgery on a Monday and went home 3 days later on Thursday.  I stopped the Percocet after my first day home because it was giving me headaches - 2 to 3 acetaminophen tablets every four hours were enough for me to manage the pain.

I also attribute my good post op experience to the fact that I did some form of exercise (lap swimming, stationary bike, eliptical machine, upper body and core routines) nearly every day the three months prior to my surgery.   Dr. Su told me that core and upper body strength were critical for the post-op mobility of bilats.

When I first joined SurfaceHippy after my surgery was scheduled, I read about both the positive and negative experiences that others had in their first few days post op. So, in my original post, I was just hoping to convey my positive post-operative experience to hipgirl and Kim while they were anticipating surgery.

[hernanu]

mustang, I wouldn't worry about it. You felt what you felt and you need to write that.

Like you, I had very little pain after both surgeries. It doesn't mean everyone or even most will encounter that, but it is my experience. I think many people here have posted their honest experience and hopefully the range of recoveries from difficult to farly pain free is represented correctly.

This is major surgery, and will have a serious recovery attached to it. Having said that, some will have easier and some harder recoveries.

The main thing to note, in my opinion is that we all uniformly come to this in pain from a serious condition, and that despite our path to recovery being easy or more difficult, we hopefully arrive at a good functional pain free level.

Some of us don't and need revisions, but the hope (supported by some good odds) is that on the whole, we will reach that goal.

[Miguelito]

Mustang4172,

I apologize to you for using the term irresponsible and being a little harsh. I was tired and cranky that day (my second hip appears to be going much faster than I had hoped or anticipated, plus I had two feet of snow in my driveway waiting to be shoveled). I should have just stated what my experience was. My concern with your post was that there wasn't much else on this string about experiences, and I believed that most are significantly more challenging than the one you (very briefly) described, and I knew that the poster was having surgery very shortly...

To Hernanu's point there are posts on this site from the entire gamut of recovery experiences. I am sure the original poster has seen ones ranging along the entire spectrum.

Wow! My co-workers could get a lesson in acting like adults and problem solving from this board.

Mike

[hipgirlatheart]

Surface Hippies unite!!  :)  So much to gain from this site. When your friends are tired of listening or just can't relate, one can always share with the happy post-op Hippys! To be honest this site of very talented and respectful individuals has helped me more than anything else to solidify this next step in the healing of the hips.

I'm hoping for the best, trust my surgeon, and feel as prepared as I'm going to be physically and mentally. Surgery is this Friday morning now. Had a few more days of limping around.. So I'm taking it as Life giving me more time to prepare.

Here's an interesting link to someone's experience with Dr. Palmer. It's a few years old and I don't know if Dr Palmer has since posted something on his technique. From what I've heard, and seen, he gets his patients up and on their feet. I've asked Pat if she might add him to the Doctors list. For us in the upper Midwest U.S. or similar, he appears to be an excellent choice for hip resurfacing.

http://surfacehippy.info/hiptalk/hip-stories/the-saga-of-a-bad-hip-and-bhr-surgery-w-dr-palmer/msg18360/#msg18360

I'll let you know how it goes and post in the Post Op area when I'm up and running. Or, at least up. Lol. Thanks for listening and ALL the support in sharing your own way through. It helps us Newbies more than you know. Be well, peace out and see you on the other side.

[Boomer]

I am down here in Costa Rica walking miles a day on the beach nd getting thrashed by big waves. Every day leaves me sore and exhausted, but my hips are holding out just fine. I am here with my best buddy who has his natural hips and I am having no trouble keeping up with him. Two 58 year olds hanging with the surfer dudes all day long.

Two weeks ago I visited another Hippy Johnemd and hiked to Yosemite Falls. We also did a seven mile hike in the mountains around Fresno. No issues for either of us.

Two weeks from now I am heading for Europe to do some hiking and climbing in Germany, Switzerland and Italy. I never thought twice when booking my expedition because my hips are no longer an issue. Less than two years ago I had to pay a neighbor to mow my lawn. The improvement in my quality of life is nothing less than astounding, and I am just an average Hippy.

Hipgirlatheart you are going to love you new pain free worry free life. Relax and think positive about what the next stage of your life holds for you. Imagine doing anything you could before, and it can come true. Good luck. Live strong.

Boomer

[hernanu]

Boomer, that's great news. Nice to know the only sign of your hippyness is at the security checkpoints   ;D

[hipgirlatheart]

LOL...

Boomer, that is WONDERFUL. That is as active as I could hope to be. I'm an avid hiker, upper Yosemite is a favorite. Used to live in Montana. Damn. I'm glad I'm not putting this off any longer. Today walked the MOA and the "Mayo Mile" - not a big issue. Tonight they're both toast. And it was one tiny mile! 

So out with the old and in with the NEW. I'm 8 years behind you Boomer and in 1-2 when both hips are resurfaced, I'm looking forward to creating some new hiking adventure memories.