Badbone's Resurfacing Story

[badbone]

Badbone, what were the most challenging parts of being a tall person and living with the 90 degree rule?

Hi Blinky


How are your hips doing. .?


Hmmmmmm to answer your question ........ Here is what I found challenging with a 36 inseam


1) getting in and out of a car.  I have an SUV so I recline the seat almost in a horizontal position and then use the handles along the roofline to lift my body up and position it so that when I swung my legs around I could get them inside the vehicle and not break the 90° rule   




2) toilet.  I bought a raised toilet that has six or seven different settings I think the Highset is about five or 6 inches taller than my regular toilet seat   For some reason I still could not get comfortable on the toilet seat until I was about two weeks out. It was painful if my knees rotated inward so I had to make sure I was aware if my feet were sliding causing my knee on my operated hip to move inward.


Before I was comfortable (2 weeks)  I would use the hand rails on my toilet  to support my weight and almost hover above. Sorry for the graphic nature but it helped with the pain of being in a seated position.


3)  One advantage of being tall is that I have long arms as well and I can reach things easier


4) putting pants on was difficult because my legs are so long and trying to get them through the pants while using the grasper was challenging


5) haven't worn socks yet.


I think that's it.

[imgetinold]

Hey, Badbone.


I've been gone from HipTalk for a while (years?).  Mostly because, at year 4+, I don't even think about my hip, mostly. 


One thing you mentioned early on is that you hope it will give you your life back.


It will.


By year 2, you will hardly remember it.

Good luck.


Andy

[badbone]

Hey, Badbone.


I've been gone from HipTalk for a while (years?).  Mostly because, at year 4+, I don't even think about my hip, mostly. 


One thing you mentioned early on is that you hope it will give you your life back.


It will.


By year 2, you will hardly remember it.

Good luck.


Andy

Andy


Thanks for the encouragement.
Glad to see you are doing well!
It's mind boggling to me that I'm walking without a limp at 3 weeks post op.

[badbone]

4 weeks post op.
Wow how did u get here?
All I can say is wow.
I'm up and downstairs with no issues
On my feet for 4-6 hours and just a hint of soreness


I'm becoming more limber.
Can't tie my shoes yet but close. ( told not to til 6 week mark) But I have long arms so I can reach without stretching.


I have intermittent clunking but I hear that's normal.
Happens when I shift weight or apply body weight.


Anxious to get my 6 week review with Dr. G
I want to hear that nothing moved

[Tri Hard Alan]

It was 6 weeks before I could tie my shoes. In fact did it for the first time on the morning of my 6 week check up. This is the milestone event that has made me most happy, even more than running pain free. Strange eh.


I am now at 6 months and still get that clunking sound, although its a lot less often now. And like you it seemed to happen most regularly when standing still and shifting my weight. Have to say, rather strangely, I found the sensation a little enjoyable. Am I the only one?


Been following all your posts and enjoying your journey, keep up the good work.

[chuckm]

Badbone, you can relax on the implant moving. When that happens it is almost always accompanied by extreme sharp pain. And if somehow it migrated slowly without pain, you would not be going up and down stairs with no issues.

Chuckm

[badbone]

Thank you for the reassurance.
Do we know what causes the clunking,,?
Is it related to dehydration ?


I also look forward to driving a manual   Two more weeks

[chuckm]

There have been many theories tossed out there as to the source of the clunking.

One was that, as a result of this surgery where the hip needs to be dislocated, there are ligaments that "twang" across the ischial tuberosity (which is part of the pelvis). That could be the source for some of the clunks.

But the theory I like best is that there is a sudden shift in the synovial fluid. The diameter of the femoral part of the implant is not exactly the same as the cup. When you move the hip the device draws fluid in so it can ride on a fluid film. If you move quickly it will create a fluid film almost without you noticing. But if you move very slowly, the implant resists until suddenly it clunks as the fluid shift between the parts.

Early on after surgery the viscosity of the synovial fluid is different and so the clunks can be greater. But as the fluid returns to normal the clunking tends to dissipate.

I can reproduce clunks any time I want. But they rarely happen on their own unless I am standing and shifting my weight very slowly. It has never clunked before for me during any movement other than very slowly shifting.

Chuckm

[karlos.bell]

 :) :) Clunking is typically a mechanical device that has been asked to do a human replacement that has been around for millions of years. Clunks due to probably may variables. My opinion is the resurfacing device as you know is designed to have a small amount of fluid between the ball and the cup. Load shift, excess fluid, muscle imbalance, angles in correct, paralysis, incorrect muscle length (too short). The list could keep going on and on. Basically the clunking could get negligible or non existent later on if these all improve. That is what I have found. Hey but I can walk!!!!  so that is a bonus.... :o Good luck with rehab.
Twangs are different than the clunks those maybe due to purely muscle shortening - tendon length sliding across structures due to old hip instability. That is the muscles contract to hold the worn hip. This is a process that normally is a long drawn out process and to reverse it sometimes is near impossible.
Example is iliopsoas. As long as it does not cause pain it should get better maybe never normal but better than being in pain. Hope that helps. Cheers K

[blinky]

Late to this discussion since I was out taking my hips on a trip.


I don't think I have clunked in a few months. I had a sensation that wasn't so much a clunk as a tendon moving over the hip in the early weeks. Later I had a sensation that felt more like popping or cracking, like it feels when you crack your knuckles, but in the hip. So I have had weird feelings, but nothing that felt as large or harsh as a "clunk." It felt more like popping or cracking.

[badbone]

5 weeks on May 4th.


It truly is amazing how my hip has progressed in only 5 weeks post op.
I did get some soreness today. Not pain but soreness.


I might have overdone the walking.
If anyone else has experienced this please post.


I did my walk this am. It was 1 mile. Made breakfast and ate.
Then sat down in my office chair and did work.
It was upon getting up from a seated position that I experienced soreness and stiffness.
It felt like I was hit in the operated hip's butt cheek.
I can walk okay but I can feel but when I go to sit down its at that time that I feel the sore sensation.
It is in the mid to upper buttock.


I'm guessing I over worked the muscle and its letting me know.


Anyone else feel that sensation?

[Quig]

Hey Badbone,


I'm getting the same kinda pains and I too have had that one in the but cheek. I can't help but constantly be attempting to walk a little further or faster or be on my feet longer, etc... As a result I'm constantly having a muscle or a tendon that reminds me, "Hey, take it easy I'm healing!" In fact, I haven't taken any pain meds in quite some time because I think I NEED to feel those little pains to keep me in line and from truly overdoing it.


Generally, I feel great but I am still stiff after sitting for a while and upon getting up in the morning. I also really paid for my big day of work at the cabin Sunday. My hips didn't bother me a bit like the old bone on bone arthritic pain but yesterday I was really exhausted and sore. Even the day after the actual hips didn't bother me at all, it's all the stuff around my hips and also my legs. I think my leg muscles are learning to walk a whole different way now that my hips are working well again. It's an interesting and bizarre process to be going through and I chalk it up to all 'part of the process'. It's a bit of a roller coaster and in general I'm enjoying the hell out of it.


I did do an easy 10 minutes on the spin bike yesterday evening and was pleasantly surprised at the complete absence of pain. Headed into the gym here in a few to attempt another limited workout.


Me? Overdo it? Never...  8)

[Ljpviper]

Same here, I stood in a line for 30 minutes on Saturday, no crutches. In the evening and all day Sunday i was sore. Had PSOAS pain, dosed it with alot of ibuprofen, went away by Monday.

Its real easy to do too much at this stage, I am really just limiting to walking a mile and the basic excersises.  I see Dr.Gross for the follow up in 3 weeks.

I cant complain, this was major surgery, so all these niggles are expected. Good healing to all.

Larry

[blinky]

Those odd aches and pains...


I do still have some start up pain, that stiffness you get after you have been sitting for awhile and then get up. Makes you want to not sit down. It didn't feel like a knot in my butt, just like a needed some WD40.


And clunking...so I hadn't clunked in a while and then I went to swim today to an IM practice. I did all strokes and did them with more vigor since the coach was watching. Afterwards i was clunking! Just the left side and just for a while. I think it is from moving my hips in new ways, new directions: in my normal life i don't make breaststroke type movements or fly type movements. Why does it happen? It feels like my hip is loose, but it could be that it is chuck's explanation, that the fluids aren't distributed evenly. It also feels like it could be that, and that when the fluids even out, I feel a clunk.

[Ljpviper]

Also, let me add i am real stiff in the morning and sitting as well. I guess its a common after effect of the surgery.

Larry

[badbone]

Thanks for all the replies.
After analyzing it for awhile. I think the soreness is coming from sitting too long in a chair.
I also think it has to do with the way I'm sitting or the cushion is pressing on the incision. Or both.


I guess I am just being greedy because the progress has been amazing and this little hiccup even though it's a little hiccup we want everything to be perfect but as Larry stated we just had major surgery and this should be expected


Glad to hear that we are all in the same boat.  In that these are normal sensations that we are feeling


I look forward to swimming soon. Need the pool water to be a little warmer.


Happy Healing

[BozemanHip]

Hey Badbone,

I've enjoyed following your story. I'm scheduled for HR on my left hip in just over a month. Have to admit that I'm scared shitless, not just about the surgery, but mostly about not returning to the things I love to do (e.g., skiing, climbing, backpacking, etc.). Just curious... Do you plan to ski hard again?  Did you do any pre-op PT that you think helped in your recovery?  I posted earlier today, asking these questions to all hippies.

Keep up the awesome recovery!

-TK

[badbone]

7 week update.

I had my x rays taken last week as well as visiting with a PT to get measurements on my ROM (range of motion) as well as filling out the questionnaire provided by Dr. Gross.  I am waiting for them to get back to me about scheduling my phone consult.  I didn't want to fly to SC for the consult  (no time) but I will fly back for my 1 year post op.

I am walking 1 mile in the morning and 1 mile in the evening.  I am almost down to my college weight.
I am pretty excited at the prospect of having some good abs for the summer.  LOL   I am also back to the gym full time (nothing except above the waist exercises aside from stretching- until Dr. Gross gives me the OK to get on the abductor/adductor machine and begin Phase II rehab.

I am very happy with the progress.  I will admit that I am still stiff after sitting for awhile and then getting up again.  My hip is stiff and takes a few minutes to warm up/losen up after I commence walking.  I see it more when I come back from my 1 mile walk and then sit down at my desk for 45 mins.  I am sure once I am able to stretch those forgotten muscles, I am hoping I will be back to normal.  I will ask Dr. Gross and get his feelings about that.

The weather has been cold here in So. Cal so I haven't entered the pool yet.  I am anxious to go swimming and to see how weak my leg is. I don't even have a tan, which I had at this same time last year.

I am putting on socks and tying my shoes with no problem.  I am lucky as I have been blessed with long arms which makes the task easier.  But I do see a huge improvement in m ROM and flexibility when leaning over to tie my shoes.

One thing I did notice when I am walking, (operated hip is my LEFT) is that my leg is fussy when turning RIGHT hand corners and LEFT hand corners.  I am sure it has to do with the tight ad/abductor muscles and my flexibility.  It really isn't that big of a deal, just something I noticed.  Uphills also taxes the upper buttocks...but it feels good to work those muscles again.

No pain and my "clunking" seems to have lessened......not sure why but maybe because my muscles are getting stronger???

I will follow up once I speak with Dr. Gross after he has reviewed my x rays and paperwork.

[badbone]

Hey Badbone,

I've enjoyed following your story. I'm scheduled for HR on my left hip in just over a month. Have to admit that I'm scared shitless, not just about the surgery, but mostly about not returning to the things I love to do (e.g., skiing, climbing, backpacking, etc.). Just curious... Do you plan to ski hard again?  Did you do any pre-op PT that you think helped in your recovery?  I posted earlier today, asking these questions to all hippies.

Keep up the awesome recovery!

-TK

TK

I (just like everyone that goes thru this) was in your same shoes 7 weeks ago.  Scared, anxious, concerned...etc.  You name it, I was experiencing it.  I plan on skiing ABSOLUTELY!!!  Obviously, I will wait til I get the OK from Dr. Gross.  And that is the reason why I moved forward with this procedure....is that I wanted to get back to all the things I was doing PRIOR to my hip going south.

Just walking 2 miles a day without pain is a HUGE step for me.  I was usually in pain a 1/4 mile in...
My PRE-OP Pt was my normal gym activity..weights/cardio (PRECOR) so I was in pretty good shape going in.
I highly recommend that you exercise right up to the day of surgery. 
Do all the research that you can, and reach out to people on this site......
Feel free to PM me and I will answer any questions you have. 
The surgery has be LIFE ALTERING for me !!!

[blinky]

Hey BB! That start up pain/stiffness and the soreness after a big walk, it will go away. I am on a trip and was ready to feel it when I stood up after being cramped in an airplane seat...no stiffness. I guess I felt stiff from the arthritis, then stiff from the surgery, so my mind expects there to be some resistance to standing up.