Joined the Bilateral Club today - Dr Ihekweazu

[BSarchet]

Good evening, I’ve been reading this forum for nearly a year and have replied on a couple of threads, but today is my first post. As of about 12 hours ago I became a bilateral Surface Hippie!  My first surgery was on February 21st of this year.

45 YO / M that was formally diagnosed with severe OA in March of 2023. Years of hard court sports (basketball and tennis) and long distance running, along with finding out I was born with cammed hips finally caught up with me.

Both of my procedures were posterior BHR’s done by Dr. Ihekweazu (trained with Dr. Su) in Houston, TX. The first one went outstanding and my recovery at four months on my right side was feeling great.  So far the left seems to be going pretty well also. Had a lot of pain and the normal side effects when I came to in recovery but they quickly gave me some tramadol and my pain has been well controlled the rest of the day. I’ve mostly had muscle relaxers since and don’t actually think I’ve had a pain pill since noon.

Ive been up to the bathroom about 10 times as expected and have done a few unassisted laps around the floor in the hospital as well. They keep me overnight for observation as I live about 550 miles from Houston.

Texas Orthopedic Hospital staff and Dr. Ihekweazu have been great. Here’s to starting my recovery journey again, hopefully this time for the last time for a long while. 

[MarvinB]

Welcome to the forum, B!  I’m a bilateral myself, on week 4.  I have you by a few years at age 58.  Had my right done 3 1/2 years ago.  As we used to say where I worked, “No Regerts!”  :D  May your recovery be swift, but don’t make it too swift!

[BSarchet]

I had my three month checkup (actually closer to 4) today and the doctor said everything is looking perfect.  He specifically said the angle of implant and head size should make me able to “last for the long haul” whatever that means, LOL. I hope he’s right though.

He prescribed me PT sessions to help build strength and said I’m free from all restrictions.  He said “don’t go train for a marathon, maybe wait until 9 months for that, but you can start running if you want”.

So that’s pretty exciting as I’ve really been struggling to not get more active as I’ve felt good.  And I’m glad he asked me about the PT as I’ve felt some formal exercises to work on all the stabilizer muscles could be helpful.

I feel like I’m on to the next phase in the journey!

[IRONMAN]

Sounds positive. What is the angle of your cup?

How has your rehab been so far - certain symptoms etc.

[BSarchet]

Great question on the angle and unfortunately I didn’t ask that question.  I have no idea if I can look at that on the Xray or not, I’ll try to look at that later. 

Symptom wise I really only have some soreness in the front hip flexor area when I’ve been sitting for a while or when I’m trying to work on knee to chest flexion.  That and still some discomfort in the incision area when I’m sitting for a while (like on the two plane rides today).

But for the most part I feel that I’m progressing well and am ready to take the next step in building up my activity level.

[IRONMAN]

Does you get the moving/clunking sensation?

[BSarchet]

I get a little bit of shifting / clicking particularly when if shifting side to side or when I’m bending over and messing with something on the ground.  I don’t get it much other than those times. 

But I’m just writing it off as normal at this point. I think I just assume that I still have a ways to go on strengthening all my stabilizer muscles to make that continue to lessen.

[IRONMAN]

Very similar feelings to me. I just wish I didn’t feel it all the time as it makes me paranoid!!!

Can I ask what your height is? I’m 5ft 8.5 and had a 52mm head size. (BHR)

[BSarchet]

I’m 6’2” and mine are 54mm head and 60 mm cup.   

[IRONMAN]

Ah yes definitely larger than me! I was surprised at 5ft 8 I had a 52mm. Initially through the x-rays he thought I’d be a 50mm.

So you know what component? BHR, Adept, biomet etc

[BSarchet]

Smith & Nephew BHR.

[IRONMAN]

Nice.

How is the pain at the moment and how far out are you?

Can you get your knee to your chest when lying flat on the floor? How is bring your leg flexed across your body?

[BSarchet]

I am 8 months on my right and four months on my left.  Most of the time I would say pain is near zero.  It’s a little sore when I get up from sitting for a while but usually when I’m doing any activity I don’t have any pain.

I can pull my knee basically nearly to my chest without any discomfort. If I’m just using my muscles without intervention then I’m probably more like 90 degrees on the left and 110 degrees on the right. I have never been particularly flexible and I still do feel it in my front hip flexors when I do that.

I’m not sure what you are asking on your last question about bringing the leg across my body.  I finally can cross my ankle over my knee and sit with my right. On the left I can cross to put on shoes, but it’s too tight to comfortably sit like that.  I still have a lot of work to do on strengthening of all the stabilizer muscles and working on my flexibility which wasn’t great before. 

[fakelord99]

The fact that your right side is already more comfortable shows you’re getting there. Keep focusing on strengthening those stabilizers and working on flexibilityâ€"it’s all about consistency.

[BSarchet]

I had my one year checkup this week and was told my labs are looking good and my X-rays were perfect. I'm feeling great and have really been ramping up my activity levels the last few months.  I'm averaging about 15,000 steps per day, riding my bike up to about 15 miles, and have been playing pickleball.

Before the arthritis got bad I was running about 3-5 miles per day and I think I'm about to start kicking the tires on jogging again.

I asked my ortho if I should consider limiting my running if I want to try to maximize the life of my hips. He said that in well placed, well functioning prosthetics that 96% are still functioning at 19 years and I should do what brings me joy. I have to navigate what that is I guess because I do think about being on 45 when I got these and realistically what the life expectancy will be.

But until that time I'm feeling great and remain happy I found out about hip resurfacing.  I was told my next checkup would be X-rays at 10 years and to call with any issues.

So far this has been better than I could have expected.

[MattFL]

Congrats on the almost 1 year!  I just hit 10 months myself. 

Regarding this: 

I get a little bit of shifting / clicking particularly when if shifting side to side or when I’m bending over and messing with something on the ground.  I don’t get it much other than those times. 

But I’m just writing it off as normal at this point. I think I just assume that I still have a ways to go on strengthening all my stabilizer muscles to make that continue to lessen.

Are you still feeling this?  Is it on both sides?  This is almost exactly what I'm feeling!  Riding my bike, walking, running, etc.. the hip is spectacular, but when bending over such as loading the clothes washer, or vacuuming, those things that have you bent plus moving left and right make it feel like it's clicking or clunking; zero sound, zero pain, just feels like it's a tad loose.  My only fear is hurting the implant.  Did your doctor say anything about it?  I see my doctor in 2 months for the 1 year checkup.

[BSarchet]

I really do not feel that at all anymore. I will say I really felt like I "caught a gear" with progress from 10 months on. It's really when things began to feel more normal for me.  I also ramped up the activity and started pushing my recovery as far at more exertion and activity.  Remember that my right side is at 18 months now so it's a bit ahead of you. I still have a little more crankiness in the left that's at a year from time to time.

If I recall, you've been on a more conservative plan from your doctor, maybe that causes it to be a bit delayed but you are close.  I think that clunking and shifting is directly related to muscle and tissue strength coming back and holding everything together.

Hope it keeps improving for you!

[MattFL]

Thanks for the info.  Yes my Dr. had me on more of a conservative plan, but the last couple of months I've been really turning up the mountain biking and it feels great.  It's good to know the clicking/clunking thing went away for you, that's the only thing that has me concerned about longevity of the implant.  Mine comes and goes but seems to be trending away so hopefully I'll follow your trajectory.  It does feel like the soft tissues aren't holding the parts together firmly enough to me too.  Are you doing any weight lifting with your legs at this point (squats, RDLs, etc.)? 

[BSarchet]

I don't have a gym membership. I just do stuff non-stop around the house like use a manual reel mower on my 3/4 AC yard three times a week and stupid things like that LOL.  I'm averaging like 15k steps a day in July getting the activity like a caveman haha.