Confused

[Woodstock Hippy]

Frank, I spent 9 days total at NYU Langone.  The first 3 days were on the surgical floor with PT twice a day.  Then I was moved to the Rusk Rehab part of the building.  Rusk is the number 2 rehab facility in the country, the only better is Kessler in NJ.  I now had serious PT twice a day and occupational therapy once a day.  Occupational is like PT but they also teach you how to do things like getting into the bathtub and the car.  Staying at Rusk was one of the main reasons that I chose to go bilateral.  I would not have wanted to go home on the third day.  I had all of this help and my pain was managed so well that I don't remember being in pain, just stiff.  I forget Dr Marwin's secretary's name, but talk to her about staying at Rusk for your rehab.  On the 9th day after my surgery, I was able to walk with just one cane, from my room, down the elevator, out the door and got into the car like a pro.

My conversation with Dr Marwin was something like this;

''Do you want to have it done bilateral''

''Are you nuts, I won't have a leg to stand on''

Then he explained about staying at Rusk for my rehab and it sounded much better.  After I thought about it, I called the office and agreed to go bilateral.

I was in the old hospital that the nursed called ''the joint''.  The nurses couldn't have been better.  We got plenty of food, 3 meals and 2 snacks a day.   When I left, I was confident that I could handle it with ease.  And they handled my pain like the professionals that the are.

Try to stay at Rusk.  It  worked out great for me and I'm sure it will work for you also.

Good Luck

[frankx99x]

Woodstock, contacted the surgical coordinator yesterday. She said I am a candidate for post rehab at Rusk and will be contacted 2 week prior to surgery. If by any chance they are full I could go to Kessler being that I live nearby to a couple of their facilities but I would like to stay put at NYU. My journey seems identical to yours. Hopefully it will be as successful.

[Saf57]

Frank--I believe that you will be having your surgery with Dr. Marwin next week, so just wanted to wish you the best. I am now 19 days out, and doing well. Dr. Marwin and staff at NYU were great, spent two days there, left the hospital with only a cane, and recovery is progressing nicely. You're in good hands.

[frankx99x]

Saf, that is good to hear. I'm still scheduled for Tuesday but I doubt I'll be in such good shape as you after a bilateral but I'm hoping for the best and confident with Marwin's and NYU's expertise. Good Luck!

[Woodstock Hippy]

Congratultions Saf.  It's like a miracle, isn't it.  If not for my fake hips I'd probably be in a wheelchair by now.  Instead I ran 5 miles this morning and I'll go swim 2000 meters later.  I'm going to San Diego tomorrow, racing an Olympic distance triathlon on Sunday in San Diego harbor Sunday, then a 5K running race the following saturday in Coranodo and a 1.2 mile ocean swim race in Oceanside sunday.


Frank, best of luck on Tuesday.  Once the stiffness goes away, it just keeps getting better.

[frankx99x]

Woodstock, thanks for the well wishes! Check your inbox, I PM'd you about Rusk.

[hernanu]

Best of luck, Frank - the best is yet to come.

[Saf57]

Woodstock--I love what you're doing with those hips! The whole point of getting resurfacing, from my perspective, is to be able to resume those athletic activities that we did before. I'm now bilateral, having had my other hip done 12.5 years ago. I played basketball, ran, and did many other things on that first resurfaced hip for at least ten years until the other side gave out. I fully intend to resume those activities at the six month mark. Frank--again, best of luck to you. Be patient those first few days after surgery, and you'll be golden.

[frankx99x]

4 weeks Post-op


Surgery went as planned, both hips were resurfaced. Spent two days in the hospital, NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases. Started doing PT within 24 hours of surgery which consisted merely of forcing myself out of bed with help and using a walker to drag myself 15 feet out of the room and back. Did the same routine the second day traveling a little further and then was transferred to Rusk Acute Rehab two floors down.


At Rusk, rehab PT consisted of a full 3 hours daily. 1.5 of basic PT and 1.5 of Occupational. It was grueling and sometimes painful but I am glad it was made available to me.


By the 5th day after surgery I was using 2 crutches to get around. Before being discharged after 7 days in Rusk I was able to climb 2 flights of steps with 2 crutches and comfortable in my ability to take a shower, dress myself, and get into and out of a car.


I made steady progress that I could measure almost daily since. I'm currently going to outpatient PT at Kessler in NJ, walking without crutches, driving, and started going back to work yesterday.


I have to say everything has went as well as can be expected except I am still experiencing slight drainage from the incision wound on my right hip.


At my post-op appointment last week with Dr. Marwin, he inspected the wound and does not believe it is infected. He prescribed an antibiotic for 14 days until I see him again.


Any thoughts about drainage at 4 weeks??

[Saf57]

Frank--I'm glad to hear that all went well, and that you are progressing nicely. I can't sat that I can offer any advice on the incision drainage issue, since I did not experience that, except a bit the first week or so. But, I would trust Dr. Marwin, and what sounds like just a precautionary use of antibiotics.

[frankx99x]

I specifically asked him if the antibiotics were just a precaution and he said yes. I'm not stressing it, yet...

[frankx99x]

It seems as though the drainage is ending with only minimal drainage in the last 24 hours.


Now I'm concerned about my limping. Everyone says that it is normal. Dr. Marwin said to discard the crutches when I felt I was ready, and I do feel ready, able to get around including up and down stairs without them.


Has anyone else had the experience of walking with limps on both sides after a bilateral and if so, did it go away or how long did it take until you got back to normal walking?

[jd]

It seems as though the drainage is ending with only minimal drainage in the last 24 hours.


Now I'm concerned about my limping. Everyone says that it is normal. Dr. Marwin said to discard the crutches when I felt I was ready, and I do feel ready, able to get around including up and down stairs without them.


Has anyone else had the experience of walking with limps on both sides after a bilateral and if so, did it go away or how long did it take until you got back to normal walking?

The advice I was given is to use walking aids until you do not limp without them as you really want to focus on regaining a normal gait. Do you have two canes you can use? Particularly since it's bilateral, using two crutches isn't exactly conducive to normal gait. I would try two canes, then maybe one. Focus on walking without a limp and you should notice that over time you naturally place less weight on the cane(s). It'll be obvious when you're essentially not weighting them and that's the time to ditch them. I'd say this is particularly important for going on your daily walks and if you're just walking across the room then maybe a single cane or sometimes none is fine.


But, if you ignore the above and simply focus on trying to walk without a limp it'll probably get better too. Is your PT taking it seriously?

[frankx99x]

MY PT said to use a crutch if I felt tired or in pain. She said that the limping was normal.


In the meantime I will focus on walking normally, even if it means walking slowly.

[jd]

MY PT said to use a crutch if I felt tired or in pain. She said that the limping was normal.


In the meantime I will focus on walking normally, even if it means walking slowly.

Absolutely. It's far better to take your time walking but walk well than to rush about limping. Good luck!


Having said that, it likely *is* normal to be limping still, just something to work on from here.

[karlos.bell]

 :) 8) Hey Frankx99x !!!  your quote........

"Has anyone else had the experience of walking with limps on both sides after a bilateral and if so, did it go away or how long did it take until you got back to normal walking?"

Yep I could not get out of bed for 5 days........ crutches for a long time. Left leg still weak and issue with but can run on it!!! wow that is run on it. So don't worry too much about your stuff at this stage. Do what your body tells you as I do not know your age..... Ok 6 months time look back and see where you have come from.... you may have no issues! Cheers K

[frankx99x]

I'm 51. I also was practically immobile for days after the surgery. Urinating in a plastic container can get you down. At that point I thought I would be on crutches for a long time. As the days went on I was somewhat amazed at my progress. From walker to crutches to 1 crutch, and then to none within 25 days.


I'm glad to hear that you can run. I'm looking forward to playing basketball, lifting weights, running,hiking and coaching my son's pitching from behind the plate.


It just seems there is a long way to go but if things go according to plan it will be happening in 5 months time, which is really not a long time at all.

[karlos.bell]

 :) 8) Hey Frank... Don't get to down about stuff and or others that read this post. Hell man I was on crutches for 7 years. I was hooting around behind my mate on my Trance Giant bike yesterday then before that a 20 min run thinking this is a big change from what happened. I am going to have to throw all those things over my shoulder the years of chronic pain and being down about it. Try and get the most out of life and what I want to still do and keep trucking on.... You may have some small issues in life but they may never cause you as much problems  as not being able to walk.
Be honest my goal is to wear these things out cause if I make it that far I will be a real old man.
Yep put those things up on the notice board as they may come around then you can tick them off. Wow now that would be cool and a great achievement.
Cheers K

[Woodstock Hippy]

Congratulations Frank.  You are on your way. 

Now my advise: DON'T LIMP!

If you start to limp, you'll have to unlearn the limp.  When I first started using the walker in the hospital they told me to focus on a spot at the end of the hall and not let it rock side to side.  You can do this at the supermarket or better yet Target or Walmart.  Use the shopping cart and practice walking without the limp.  Look down the isle and don't let it rock.  Keep working on your recovery, it's all great once you are recovered.

I've been on a roll.  Went to California an did a Olympic Tri, a 5k running race and a 1.2 mile ocean swim race. Got age group 1st, 1st, 2nd.  It was great!
Ran 5k races the past 2 weekends; age group 1st and 1st.  No issues at all with my hardware!

[frankx99x]

During the last session with my PT, I was given instructions on how to stop limping. If I concentrate and take the time, I can walk practically normally with some difficulty. I'm making progress. It seems that once the swelling goes down further and I build up my muscles it will be OK.