Getting back into running

[larry2458]

glad to see your running is going well , ed
larry

[crofty]

Thanks Ed, what timespan was there between having your first and second hip operations? Did you manage to run after your first op or did the pain of the second hip kick in soon after? My pain has got bad lately, i have a physical job so i can't wait to get it sorted.

[bothdone]

Hi again Crofty

I had my left done in May 2004 and my right in Mar 2008 - so 3 years 10 months.  When I had the first one done I was told I'd probably need the other done in about two years.

I did some running after the first one, getting up to a 14m10s 3000m track run in October 2004.  After that I decided that I'd like to preserve my unoperated hip as long as possible and just did the occasional treadmill run up to about 2000 metres - not at all quick.  I stopped doing any running in March 2007 but carried on cycling and rowing.  After that walking became more difficult and painful.

My lack of running on the unoperated hip seems to have lengthened the time before I needed the operation.    My first hip was worse when operated on.  For the second operation I needed it (I could only manage about a half mile walk at that stage) but it wasn't as far gone as the first one.

I hope you have a successful op.

Ed

For Larry

Are you intending to do any running yourself?

[larry2458]

ed
there's nothing i'd like more than to start running again.
unfortunately,the last x-ray i had showed osteophytes on my other hip.
i'm not getting the same symptoms as i had with my left hip but i have been limping a bit and i get those familiar feelings after i've been sat awhile and try to walk after standing up.
you'll know the ones...........takes a few steps to get going.

                           good luck for your,and every one elses running
                                               larry

[crofty]

sorry to hear about your other hip Larry, take it easy.
Ed , i have a chance to go to see a show 16 days after my operation, in your opinion do you think i would be able to sit and watch it comfortably by then?

[bothdone]

Hi Crofty.   
I would very much doubt you'd be able to watch a show that soon.   Perhaps post your question in the recovery section of this website and get other people's opinions.
Ed

[bothdone]

1 December

A little update for you.

Over the last few weeks I’ve been running 2 or 3 times a week.    Nothing planned, just deciding on the day what I’m going to do.    Sometimes adding or subtracting distance while I’m actually doing it, depending on how I feel. 

The atrocious wet and windy weather we’ve been having in Britain hasn’t helped with running outdoors so I’ve been doing a bit more on the treadmill.    I do notice the difference after runs on the treadmill â€" everything is much looser.  I think it is the regular pace, regular gradient (set at 1.0) and no twists or turns.     Still like to run outdoors when I get the chance.

Weekly mileage has only been in the zone of between 6.5 and 11.5 miles a week.  That will do for me.  It is keeping me in touch with running without getting too caught up in it.   My running fitness is still OK as two treadmill runs last week suggest:

Friday 27 Nov    2 miles 14.55

Sunday 29 Nov   5 miles 40.45 including easy start and finish.

If you’d told me I’d be running those sorts of times when I started running after my two BHRs I’d have been very happy about them.    I am happy about them and about how relaxed my legs and hips are.

I’m hoping the weather stays kind (but cold !) toady so that I can put my boots on and go for a stroll along the coastpath.

Best wishes to everyone.

Ed

[crofty]

Great stuff bothdone, i can see that competitive element kicking into your running already!
Well i've been in and had the op, exactly one week ago today. Everything went very well and i'm feeling pretty good. Went for a 3/4 mile walk this morning with no problems. Sleeping on my back is the worst thing for me and also it is a bit uncomfortable sitting on the loo but is getting easier. I have a slight pain in the groin area but is not too bad.

[bothdone]

Hi Crofty

Welcome to the other side!   Hopefully everything gets better from here.

Did you get a raised loo seat from the NHS?   I did.  It made a lot of difference and was returned to them after about six weeks.

Ed

[Pat Walter]

Hi Crofty

Congratulations on the new hip.

Try putting a pile of pillows under your knees when laying in bed on your back.  It helps a lot.  Also ask when you can put a pillow between your knees and lay on your unoperated side.  I was able to do that about 5 days post op.  It helped a lot.  Also sitting in a recliner chair helps. I did most of my sleeping in my Lazyboy.

Take it easy.  Good Luck with your recovery.

Pat

[crofty]

It does feel like coming out the other side doesn't it! I have a raised seat but the bruising makes it very uncomfortable to just sit on it, saying that, it has been a lot better today.
Thanks Pat, some good ideas there. I will try the towels under the knees tonight and maybe the pillows at the weekend.

[rpurvis]

Happy New Year everyone, I am 8 months post op and had told myself I was done with running as I am concerned about my left hip possibly needing surgery sometime in the future. But last week I decided to go for a quick run with my dog along the beautiful trail in Westchester New York. It felt great to running again and without any pain. I have run my entire life and really missed the early morning runs and my number one stress release mechanism. Well I ran again on day 2 and 3 and now am looking at a stunning day to kick off the New Year, 40 degrees with snow on the ground. I am going to keep it up this year, I decided I cannot let my body dictate what I do in my life. I am in good shape, do occasional Bickram Yoga to try and increase flexibility, and don't intend on over doing the running, just want to feel the 3 miles a day 4 times a week feeling again.

Anyone else out there having success running again? What a great year this is going to be........

[halfdone]

In case helpful, here is my experience. I used to be a triathlete with a swimming background, but effectively stopped running in the late 90s when I was diagnosed with OA - advancing on LHS but eventually to become worse on the RHS.  I remained very active keeping up swimming and cycling.  I finally got the LH done in 2006 because the pain was becoming disabling and the resurf option (which I always wanted) had become well established. I had a good rehab and decided I would celebrate one year on from the op with an Olympic distance tri.  I jogged gently a few times a week for the 3 months before the event, but swam and cycled a lot more. One of the challenges was that my leg length had changed slightly and my left hip had lost a lot of strength due to my protecting it from pain. The real key to my rehab was diligent and varied PT, with a wide variety of exercise (from week 2 I was walking my son to school - I probably looked odd doing sideway steps and walking backwards as part of the PT - and went on from there). I also got new orthotics to help adapt to my slightly adjusted gait.  I would strongly recommend this.
The tri went well (2hrs 30mins which is OK for a 50ish) but my run was very gentle (50+ mins 10k). I don't plan to run regularly because I am managing OA on my RHS, but I have returned to swimming competition (I am as competitive as I ever was, much stronger off the starting block and in the turns) and I cycle.
I plan to do another Olympic distance tri to celebrate recovery from the RHS when that comes around.
Good luck evryone.

[bothdone]

Hi Halfdone

I had a similar approach between my BHRs.    I did a little bit of running after six months but decided that I wanted to conserve my unoperated hip as long as possible and stopped running.   With that approach I delayed the second op by almost two years.   Now, with two BHRs, I can run a few times a week and enjoy the sensation of being out there running without over-doing it.

Best wishes to everyone for 2010.

Ed

ps . I like the Halfdone name.   What will you call yourself after the second op?
Ed.  Bothdone.

[halfdone]

Hi bothdone
I like your name too.  Glad to hear all is going well for you.
I'm thinking of "doneover" immediately after surgery and then "alldone" (maybe hopeful?) when things settle down.  What do you think? ;D
Happy New Year!

PS The possibilities are many:
doneanddusted?
doneupnicely?
allsaidanddone?
but never:
dunroamin'

[bothdone]

Here's some more alternatives for you

leftandrightdone
donebothsides
doneboth
doubledone (shades of Harry Potter?)

I think doubledone is my favourite of those.

;D

Ed

[larry2458]

done and dusted has a nice ring to it.here's hoping

[Bierhead]

Happy New Year fellow hippies!  Just an update...I am 7+ months post op and feeling great. I started back gingerly jogging at 14 weeks. Dr, Mont had seen me at 10 weeks and said I could return to running at 14 weeks (and not before) if I was able to do my hip exercises easily with 8 pound weights. I started back slowly doing a walk/run. Every time I extended my mileage I ended up sore and kind of limping for a day or two. At first, I panicked and was CONVINCED I had done something to my hip. Soon enough (and after discussions with physician friends and my PT) I realized this was all part of the road to recovery.  At six months post op I ran a half marathon (slowly-2 hours). It felt wonderful and completely pain free!!!!  I won't return to marathons, but felt great to run the half and feel fine.  Just want all the hippies returning to any level of running to know that it did "hurt" each and every time I pushed my mileage...but then not again until I pushed it further or tried something new again. My leg muscles just didn't know what hit them. I hadn't run in 5 years, so what did I expect?
Good luck hittin' the roads!

[bothdone]

Hi Bierhead

Congrats on your running.   It sounds like you are really enjoying it.

I'm still tootling along at about 6 to 10 miles a week with some quickish stuff in there but mostly just easy runs at about 8.20-8.30 mile pace.

Now that the weather is better (and hoping it stays that way) I'm looking forward to more runs outdoors and not on the treadmill.  I went down to the coast today to walk an area I want to run round.  I'll have to dig out my off road shoes to cope with the grass.

Happy New Year to everyone.

Ed

[larry2458]

Happy New Year fellow hippies!  Just an update...I am 7+ months post op and feeling great. I started back gingerly jogging at 14 weeks. Dr, Mont had seen me at 10 weeks and said I could return to running at 14 weeks (and not before) if I was able to do my hip exercises easily with 8 pound weights. I started back slowly doing a walk/run. Every time I extended my mileage I ended up sore and kind of limping for a day or two. At first, I panicked and was CONVINCED I had done something to my hip. Soon enough (and after discussions with physician friends and my PT) I realized this was all part of the road to recovery.  At six months post op I ran a half marathon (slowly-2 hours). It felt wonderful and completely pain free!!!!  I won't return to marathons, but felt great to run the half and feel fine.  Just want all the hippies returning to any level of running to know that it did "hurt" each and every time I pushed my mileage...but then not again until I pushed it further or tried something new again. My leg muscles just didn't know what hit them. I hadn't run in 5 years, so what did I expect?
Good luck hittin' the roads!

well done on the 2 hour slow ?!!? half marathon.there are thousands and thousands of  athletes finishing in slower times than that.if i could do it in 2 hours i would be over moon.
again,well done
larry