Left Hip Resurfaced in July 2011, Right Hip is shot now!!

[petemeads]

I didn't enjoy the first night but after that things got better quickly (and you do get used to sleeping on your back).
Glad to see the op went OK and you got the resurfacing you wanted, soon be back on the crags!

[ecchastang]

I arrived at Providence Hospital at 10:30 am yesterday, and was scheduled for surgery.  Got taken back to pre-op,  where they set up IV, give you some meds, and get you ready for surgery.  I got wheeled back at 1:30, where I received the spinal.  That's the last thing I remember before waking up in recovery. around 6:30.  Apparently surgery didn't start until 2:41. 

Cup Angle is 31 deg, he did have to use the displasia cup with spikes to get a good fixation, and he had to do some bone grafting at the top of the cup.  Head size 52, cup size 58.  He lengthened my let 1.6 cm so I am even for the first time in 25 yrs. 

When I looked at the bandage covering the incision, it seemed really long and was covering my old scars from 23 yrs ago, so I asked him about that.  The old scar was about 1 cm wide, and he didn't like that so while he was in there, he cut out the old scar so that he could suture it back nice and tight.  I was very impressed with that.  Also, he said that he was able to normalize my hip more than he thought and that he did better on my surgery than any of his previous  Legg-calve-perthes patients.

[Pat Walter]

Great to hear you are doing well and got everything fixed up, renovated and working well.

Dr. Gross is the best.

Good Luck.  Looking forward to your updates.

Pat

[NYRFan19]

I was wondering if anyone has any experience/advice/recommendations for an overall diet post op and if there is any particular food or particular nutrition plan to follow that might help speed up or assist in recovery.  Obviously I'm sure eating healthy in general is a start....although I find myself eating a lot of junk food sitting round the house all day and giving in to every little craving.  Looking to try and build up a post op nutrition plan to help the recovery process. Thanks!!

[JHippy]

Congrats! Great news about the outcome. He's a brilliant surgeon. Very happy for you. Get lots of rest and stay up on your meds. :)

[einreb]

I arrived at Providence Hospital at 10:30 am yesterday, and was scheduled for surgery.  Got taken back to pre-op,  where they set up IV, give you some meds, and get you ready for surgery.  I got wheeled back at 1:30, where I received the spinal.  That's the last thing I remember before waking up in recovery. around 6:30.  Apparently surgery didn't start until 2:41. 

Cup Angle is 31 deg, he did have to use the displasia cup with spikes to get a good fixation, and he had to do some bone grafting at the top of the cup.  Head size 52, cup size 58.  He lengthened my let 1.6 cm so I am even for the first time in 25 yrs. 

When I looked at the bandage covering the incision, it seemed really long and was covering my old scars from 23 yrs ago, so I asked him about that.  The old scar was about 1 cm wide, and he didn't like that so while he was in there, he cut out the old scar so that he could suture it back nice and tight.  I was very impressed with that.  Also, he said that he was able to normalize my hip more than he thought and that he did better on my surgery than any of his previous  Legg-calve-perthes patients.

Awesome!  I have that same spiked cup.  He may have learned a lesson on mine and applied it to you. ;)  the perthes hip 'ball' tends to flatten out and not allow for much of a socket so there isnt as much surface area for the porous in-growth and thus the spiked version.  Last time I looked, there had been zero failures of that cup and that's cool since its used in tough situations.

If you talk to Dr Gross, can you ask a question?  At one point, if the resurfaced ball side fails (loosens, fractures, etc) he would have had the option of leaving the acetabular side and using a biomet magnum metal thr.  Its my understanding that device is no longer made. I'm curious as to if there are any other thr ball/stems that fit the biomet acetabular cup.

[ecchastang]

@einreb - I have already left the hospital and won't get a chance to ask about that.  I believe you are correct though about Biomet pulling the MOM THR off the market. 

My hip flexors feel so tight after he lengthened the leg.  I am in more total pain than I thought, and walking makes my leg feel like a log.

[einreb]

My hip flexors feel so tight after he lengthened the let.  I am in more total pain than I thought, and walking makes my leg feel like a log.

Mine was lengthened about 1cm to the point that the leg length ended up nearly identical.  I suspect this made my recovery a little more difficult with tendons/muscles etc, but it was worth it.   Its just something to be mindful of as you work on stretching and strength work over time.

[Miguelito]

The first 5-7 days were very hard for me, both times. You are smack in the worst part. It gets better. In particular Fri and Sat (today and tomorrow) were hard, take the meds, ice a lot.

Yes, I call it log-leg. Not like a log, a log.  They really wrench your femur around and there is a lot of trauma (my opinion). I had log-leg for about a week both times.

Lastly, the best method for getting in and out of bed is from the bottom. Skooch up as far as possible, lay back, and wriggle your way up using arms and good leg. The side of bed method is for shit unless you have a bar, and then it is still hard.

Just get thru the first 5-7 days and it gets better steadily from then on.

Mike

[oldsoccerplayer]

I was advised to take extra calcium, though I don't remember the specific quantities. Most of the calcium supplements you get at health food stores are like eating chalk and not good for your arteries. Lee Webb from Dr. Gross' staff recommended algaecal (www.algaecal.com) as a better option.

[jss]

stang, congratulations on being on the other side!  Ditto everyone else; you're in the most difficult part of recovery now; the first week.  I vividly recall getting up at night to pee.  It took 3+ minutes to get back into bed and was very painful.

Expect a very unpleasant week.  After the first week you'll probably notice that you get a little better every day.  Most of us on this site are very active and have a hard time sitting still for any length of time.  Even so, I did enjoy sitting with my leg up and the cooling pad running.

I know you've read enough outcomes on this site to know what to expect.  Good luck!

[Dannywayoflife]

I think the key is Just proper healthy eating mate. I know Mr McMinn recommends eating extra red meat. I've made the effort to eat more veg as they contain vital nutrients. Like I say I think it's best just to eat as healthy as possible

[Miguelito]

Get out of bed to pee?!? I used the plastic bottle they gave me for a good while post-surgery. I am sure I would be embarrassed by how long post-surgery I continued to use it, but I don't recall exactly. :-)

[MattJersey]

Presumably have Now discontinued use  :D

I have two weeks to go, trying to focus on positives but there seem too many admissions of how serious the first week is here ... Any super heroes out there to lift my spirits pre-op?

(Well done though stang, you're on the plane to painless city, best wishes!)

[ecchastang]

Thursday night was awful, but once I got moving Friday, it wasn't as bad.  Had the long drive from Columbia to Atlanta and the the flight to Denver, then another 45 minute ride home.  All of that was not as bad as I expected.  At home I slept last night in the zero gravity chair from Costco and actually slept really well.  I even woke up during the night and not being in any pain at all.  I still can't use my leg much except for just standing straight.

[Comfortably Numb]

Glad you made it back home and that things are improving.  When you feel up to it, can you tell us which oral pain meds you were given in the hospital and which you were sent home with?  My surgery order calls for 20mg oxycontin pre-surgery, but I'm not sure if that drug is continued until the end or beyond hospitalization.  I know that Mobic (anti-inflamatory) is on the list, and I've heard that Nucynta is started at some point.  I want to avoid anything containing Tylenol.  Thanks and hope for your continuing improvement.

[ecchastang]

Nucynta Extended release every 12 hours and Nucynta fast acting every 4-6 hours.   I did have to get a morphine shot Early thurs morning in the hospital.  Remember, my case was much more invasive than a normal Dr. Gross case.  So the trauma to soft tissue was worse than normal, plus he cleaned up an 8 inch surgery scar from 23 yrs ago, and reattached the deep tissue there that was not done correctly back then.   

[ecchastang]

I was able to take about 10 steps without crutches.  Huge breakthrough.  Then I walked about 100 ft with just one crutch.  Felt better than I expected.  Also, I managed to sit on the toilet  (still haven't had a bowel movement) but just getting comfortable on the seat was progress. 

[hernanu]

All sounds good. Stay ahead of the pain, keep active and ice, ice, ice.

[ecchastang]

By yesterday evening, I was mostly just using one crutch to get around, as I liked having the free hand, but last night sleeping (in the zero gravity chair) I had a little more pain than I liked, so I might stick with two for a little while longer.