5 days out from second resurfacing with Dr. Gross

[imgetinold]

Hi everyone.


I'm hoping this post might drive a little more traffic to this site, which was a VERY busy place 9 years ago when I was busy figuring out what to do with my first hip.  I learned SO much here, and the support I received - and the questions that were answered - were invaluable to my decision.  After learning so much, I had my right hip done by Dr. Gross on January 11, 2012.  That hip is still going strong.


Flash forward 8 years, and hip #2 starts giving me the business.  My first hip gave me gradual hints that it was on it's way out.  It would ache for a day or two, then be normal for months.  Then, I would do something (usually tennis), and it would hurt for 3 days and then be fine for a month.  Over about a year period this would flip, and it would be unbearable for 10 days, then fine for 5.  This was when I made my decision to have it done.  Six month later, I was back at it.


THIS hip was totally different.  I had a few indications over the last year, but a day or two only.  Much like before.  Then, in early April 2020, it went from fine to total crap......and stayed that way for 3 solid months.  I had to stop all athletic activity.  In July it started recovering, and then was largely fine up until my surgery.  The caveat to this is that it was fine because the only cardio I got was biking.  I did no HIIT training, no boot-camp......nothing else.  I DID play tennis one weekend - just hitting around with the wife - and after an hour my hip told me to knock it off.  Because if this COVID nonsense, I could not get my surgical date until 10/28/2020, even though I scheduled it in June.


Anyway, I'm five days out from having my left one done.  The recovery is going better than I remember, perhaps because I knew what to expect.  There are certain techniques you figure out on how to stand, how to get into bed and out, (how to poop without pain.......for real).  I started weaning (slightly) from the pain meds on day 3, and yesterday (day 4) I took my last pain pill at noon.  Today I feel a bit more pressure and soreness, but totally tolerable.  I'm keeping it on the ice machine about every hour, and Tylenol is taking whatever edge there is off. 


The nice thing about weaning off the pain meds is that you can poop again (sorry for all the poop talk, but it's a real thing).  Being 8 years older than my first one (I was 45 then, I'm 53 now), I'm making sure to follow all Dr. Gross' protocols exactly.    I want this one - like the first - for the rest of my life, so no taking chances by doing certain activities early because "if FEELS fine". 


If this is anything like the first, in 2 months life will feel completely normal, and then I'll just be biding my time until the 6-month mark where I am released to do whatever activity I want.  Which will be getting onto my brand new mountain bike and riding!


Hope this is interesting to anyone reading.


Andy