Just got home yesterday from Mt. Shasta. I am so grateful that decisions were made to cause me to travel that far for surgery. For anyone with a liking to persnalized service, strong spiritual support, and the beauty of outdoors and small towns, I highly recommend it. From my very first phone call to Denise at Dr. Ure's office, to my very last goodby to John at the hospital, I can't say enough good things. EVERYONE from the motel manager to the hospital nutritionist were extremely personable and very supportive. I really am impressed. ;D
THANKS TO ALL!
Now for my little surgery story: I had severe OA in my left hip, but held on to my own joint over 20 years hping it would go away or technology would improve. I used a lot of alternative and western medicine therapies and the orthopods that looked at my xrays were impressed that I was still as active as I was. But this June after a surfing trip the pain never relented, and I ended up with a bad limp and a cain, and knew the time had come.
Dr. Ure performed total resurfacing surgery using Birmingham BHR on Monday afternoon. I was surprised when I checked in for surgery I had a slight fever. I'd had some sinus problems leading up to that but it was assumed to be viral. So I woke up about four hours later in my room with no pain (epidural and other dope still in strong control). Dr. Ure checked me out that afternoon as did the PT and they all said I was doing fine. That night my fever flaired up to 101 and I felt really shitty, like I had the flu. I used a couple of the morphine drops for comfort and I think they gave me something for the fever. The next morning I felt better and was able to eat breakfast. Still very little surgical pain. The PT cam by that morning and we did some movement things. Tha afternoon/evening my fever flaired again and I felt really bad. They controlled it with tylenol and a couple of more morphine drips. Really hard to sleep just due to fever thing.... So the next morning I felt much better again and we took out the morphine button. As the fever this came back each afternoon I tok tylenol and percoset..and some ambien at night for sleep. Sleep was the magic that was so hard to get....I'm a side sleeper and usually not very good at it anyway. With the fever and lack of mobility sleep was very difficult to achieve.
On Wednesday I got blood in my urine...another complication. These ancilary complications were much worse than the surgical pain. We decided to stay at the hospital another night.
By Thurday the blood was gone from my urine and my fever was starting to go down. I checked out of the hospital Friday mroning and we flew back to Solvang on Saturday.
It is so good to be home!!!! I slept 12 hours last night and fever is gone. I feel more surgical pain now and my incision looks more black and blue. I'm using celebrex,tramadol, and tyenol for pain, plus now I've kicked back in some great supplements like fish oil, SAME and alph-lipoic acid.. Pain at rest is 0-1. Pain when walking is 3-8. Two crutches. Having never had major surgery or illness before, the concept of being so dependent on help and imobilized is still something for me to grasp.
So if this helps ayone just the tiniest bit, good. If not, it's a great place to hournal my story.
Is there a spell checker on this page?
Kevin L-BHR Dr. Ure 10-8-07
Hi Kevin
Thanks for posting your story. There is not a spell checker on the software, but I will see if I can add one.
I will also post your story on my Hip Stories Page where more people will proabably see it. I will also post updates. I will send the the link when I get your story up.
Please keep us updated on your progress.
Hopefully, things will get better and better each day. I did not sleep well for a long time since I am also a side sleeper. By about day 8 I was able to sleep on the unoperated side with a pillow between my legs so I did not put my operated leg past the middle point of my body. When I could finally get on my side I felt better. I did not take any sleep aids since I don't like them. I also did a lot of sleeping in my Lazy Boy Recliner. That seemed to help a lot. When I was on my back I had 3 or 4 pillows under my legs. It felt better and it helps the swelling to keep your toes above your nose - as Dr. De Smet says.
Again, I am glad things are going better. Good Luck
Pat in Ohio
Kevin,
Don't forget to ice the operated site and surrounding area on/off for 30 minutes at a time. I neglected to do this the first week and I could kick myself... Once I started using ice I found I felt a lot better. The biggest thing is to NOT get the incision site wet until the area is completely closed, usually after the staples are removed about 14 days post-op. This might sound silly, but get a cheap bag of peas, put it in a zip lock bag and apply. They don't melt, so no water leakage. Just throw it back in the freezer til you need them again. They 'mold' nicely and aren't TOO cold. No chance of freezing any tissue. Pat's idea of the pillows is sooooo true. you might also try different amounts of pillows under the leg(s) at different times of the day. This way the leg is in various positions, gives you a 'change' of pace, so to speak. Laying on your back to sleep is tough. Side lying is a nice change, too. I also recommend tucking another pillow or blanket either in front or behind to 'support' the upper body, you'll sleep like a baby!! ;D
Hope this helps. Hang in there it gets better. I'm almost 4 weeks post-op and every nite gets better.
Karen
LBHR 9-18-07 Dr. Barba
Thanks, good advice much appreciated. Coming more out of the blur today I realized that I hadn't been doing my PT since I got home, and I had a rought time getting a good start with them in the hospital due to my fever complications. Anyway, I got my notebook out from Mercy Medical Center Orthopedic Mt. Shasta, and reviewed and started with the routine. I knew something was missing.... I've got a 20 minute set to do 5-7 times a day...that will for sure keep the swelling down and also help me sleep. Also guidance is to walk at least 200' every two hours....
But the ice tip is great. I've got some neck pain associated with the crutch use and so I'm icing it too and am going to try changing to a walker.
Hi Kevin
Dr. De Smet always told us to listen to our bodies. Never do more than you think you can - always do less. You will recover in time like everyone else. Your PT is good, but if for some reason you miss it, it won't make that much difference. I only did PT once a day and did my walking several times a day.
We used the elbow crutches which were much more comfortable. In fact, we just used one crutch on the unoperated side. It went forward as your operated leg went forward and touched the ground just before the leg did. It was much more comfortable for me being a 61 year old woman to use only one crutch. My shoulders and neck were sore too.
You have plenty of time to be active and do a lot of walking. Give yourself time to get better. If you do too much walking and exercise - it will cause swelling. So there is a happy medium. Mostly, listen to you body and what you feel like doing. Only you know how you feel, no one else can tell you.
Some people have not even done PT and just lived a normal life and they ended up in the same place as we all do -healed and walking without pain.
I was able to go out to eat and walk a few blocks in Ghent at 6 days post op. By the time I flew home about day 10, I was actually able to walk about 3/4 of a mile with the one crutch. Things got quick much better after that point.
You are still feeling the effects of major surgery. Take advantage of the resting time and do what feels right to you.
Keep up the good work.
Pat
Hi Kevin
I just posted Melissa's story with Dr. Ure. She is 4 days post op. Did you see here when you were there?
I thought others might be interested in her story too. She sent me her story via email.
Dr. Ure is a very popular hip resurfacing surgeon.
Pat
Hi Kevin:
Boy, I wish I knew you were at Mercy the same time I was; no one mentioned it. My surgery was on Wednesday afternoon and I left Saturday morning - my story posted below yours.
It would of been fun to converse and compare notes. Like you I was totally impressed with Mt Shasta and everyone.
Hope your recovery continues smoothly and will swap stories again soon I'm sure.
Melissa
L BHR Ure 10/10/07
Merced CA :)
Hi Melissa....yeah too bad no one connected us at Mercy but I think they were a little freaked out over me with my fever and blood in the urine. I read your post; sounds like you are doing very well and comparing to me, maybe I'm expecting a little too much out of myself. I was getting in and out of bed myself and walking on day two; day three I was walking down the hall. Maybe Pat is right; I'm overdoing it. I had some heavy thigh pain kick in Saturday that has not receded and I called Paul Swarz about it.....he said to back off on stuff too, and to not let movement pain exceed a 4. I've been pushing movement pain to the 7-8 level.
It sure it great to have all the support from the web hippys and from Shasta.
I'll send you this via email so we can chat offline too.
Kevin
Kevin and Melissa,
Glad to hear my two friends are doing well. I should have connected you since I was aware that you both were there. I thought Mercy was so small that you surely would have know each other. It was amazing that I discovered posts from you both on the days you were having surgery. I thought perhaps even at the time it was occurring. Since I am heading for the same surgery I felt very concerned and hopeful for your well being. I am thinking the seeming coincidental discover of your posts on your surgery days is guidance to use Dr. Ure for my surgery. Hearing of your experiences makes it easier for me to go through with my own. Thanks and continuing best wishes and prayers to you.
David
Hi David
Welcome to the group. I hope that you will post your story when you decide to have your hip resurfaced. The stories are a great help to people.
Thanks for joining.
Pat in Ohio
Pat,
Glad to be here and thanks for the site. It should do really well. Yahoo Groups, which I am a member of three pages worth, is very hard to use. I find that people tend to be kinder and more helpful on private boards.
I will certainly keep everyone updated. I now have an appointment with Dr. Ure and then I will make a decision if to send X-rays to Dr. Gross and Dr. De Smet.
Hi David
I belong the the Large Yahoo Group too and often tell people they should join it when they have unusual problems. I thought that a smaller, perhaps, more organized discussion group could also be helpful. I am trying to put things into categories and hopefully the search function here will work a little better.
I am hopeful that as it grows it will remain useful. And yes, we will all agree to diagree - but be kind about it. We are not going to have any verbal boxing matches here. Just a kind exchange of info to help each other.
Thanks again. Good Luck. If you need extra info about De Smet - he's my man, just love him. If you need extra info about Gross, Pat Dukes will also help out here. If you decide on Bose - Vicky will also post here. So we are all here to help as much as we can and point you in the right direction. Then it is all up to you.
Pat
Day 8: This is a running journal entry but I'm going to copy and paste in different categories to see if I get help.
I downshifted yesterday and even more today, trying to come to terms with movement in a pain level of less than 4, as . I think I was trying too hard. It is not a race, it is a healing.
One observation that I've had since I was in the hospital and for which the continued refered pain in my knee and thigh (my hip and the incision area feel ok) may be responsible for is increased leg length on the operated side.
My operated side had been about 3/8- 1/2 inch shorter and I was wearing a lift in my shoe to compensate. Interesting over all the years how different professionals would measure and come to conclusion about where the shortness was..some said leg, some said due to the deteriorated joint, some said pelvis structure. Anyway, I had discussed this with Dr. prior to surgery and it was apparent on my xray that the left hip socket was distinctly higher than the right. Dr. Ure said he thought he could change that through the surgery, which I agreed to.
Now my operated left leg feels distinctly longer (seems like an inch) than the right when standing up. If I stand up to what feels straight my right foot is actually off the flor or I'm standing on the ball of the right foot in a lifted position. If I put all the weight on the right side, my left leg must stay bent. This is not a good feeling, along with the pain.
Anyone else have a problem with this?
Hi Kevin
I have read about a lot of people with the same problem on the Yahoo Gorup. Even people that did not have their leg lengthened swore that it would never be right. It was too long. It takes a long time for some people to start to feel normal and balanced.
In your case, you really did have your leg lengthened. I am sure Dr. Ure did a very good job. There is a lot of swelling and "stuff" going on in the operated hip. You will have to give it time to feel right. Many people have spent a great deal of time trying to even measure the difference at home. In the long run - everyone that had the problem finally had it resolve.
I think in your case, it may take longer than normal. Almost 1/2 " is a lot and you body will need a great deal of time to adjust. You might have back and knee problems along the way. Your whole body needs to become healed and balanced.
I had a lot of problems with my back. My hip had become a little shorter from the OA and that knocks your whole body alignment out of wack. That is why I spent so much money at the chiropractors. I had 2 really bad back incidents since my hip resurfacing. Dr. De Smet said eventually, your body will work things out and become balanced again.
If you need to talk with others, I again, recommend joining the large Yahoo Surface Hippy Group. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/surfacehippy/ (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/surfacehippy/) I think someone will hopefully read you post and talk with you. The problem over there is there are hundreds of posts a day and sometimes new people get ignored. Not on purpose, but becasue of the volume of posts.
Maybe you need to also ask the doctors office how long this strange feeling will last. I know it lasted months for some people. You are going to experience a lot of pain, I assume, from the muscles now starting to stretch to accomodate the new leg length too. Be patient and ask questions of your doctor when you are not sure about something.
Pat
Pat
Kevin,
Well - I am happy that someone else has this issue, I thought I was the only one! I even asked my doc at my post-op visit. He chuckled and said that I was perfectly symetrical and that I needed to give it about 4 more weeks. I too felt like my other leg shrank. I was really freaked. Now that it is 4 weeks post-op, my standing feels almost perfect now. As the weeks go by, you'll feel 'balanced'. Good luck.
Karen
Day 9:
What a difference paying attention to my body made. By slowing down and keeping moving pain always under a 4, I feel a huge jump in welfare in just one day. I think I got a handle on this now. Only thing is, I felt so good today, I may have overdone the walking...but it sure was fun! This morning was so beautiful I actually drove through the valley with my wife taking pictures of the fall scenery.
I think my issue with leg length will resolve....seems to be common complaint that usually goes away...and I've noticed that posturally, my stance and balance are radically different than with the funky old joint. So I think I just have a lot of unlearning and relearning to do. Also, some people have said it is a physiological thing with surgical recovery, swelling, etc.
PS: Karwn, thanks for the positive words on leg length! Glad you are doing well.
Glad to hear things are better.
Marc, the PT, in Belgium was always telling me stand up tall and throw your shoulders back. You get so used to walking out of balance and with pain, your body forgets how to stand up normally.
I feel so much better now when I walk. I can stand straight with my shoulders back and my head high.
It is amazing what a new hip can do for you.
Every day will be a little better. There will be plateaus and sometimes big jumps. I found 6 weeks made a difference for me.
You body knows what's best for you.
Pat
Hello all:
Well for those of you who are newly post-op, I am 4 weeks and 3 days myself and I walk unassisted, except when I go out into the community. I still bring my cane just in case. I walked 2 miles on Wednesday and barely had to rely on the old cane. Keep up the rehab, especially Kevin, and don't overdo it. Listen to your body.... In a couple weeks you'll be feeling so much better.
Karen
Pat: Thanks again for your work and wisdom.
THANKS KAREN! POSITIVE VIBRATIONS!
Kevin L-BHR Dr. Ure 10-8-07
Day 11:
This note to Dave Kelly who is also considering Dr. Ure sums it up:
Hey Dave...how's it going? I'm doing a little one day, then I do too much and the next day I'm tired. So goes life huh? Anyway today I feel good, I walked two blocks with just barely the assist of a 4 5" wheeled rollingwalker on part of my stride. I find I can stand up straighter and work on balance and stride by kinda letting this walker roll along with me and only touching it as needed. Got my house routine down now and also this was the first day I didn't wake up with a nasty headache. I think the headache was due to neck complication (more calcification) and the crutch use. I started a routine of upper body/neck/shouder stretches yesterday, and applied heat and ice before bed and walah!! no headache.
Oh and I can't say enough good things about Denise at Dr. ure's. She helped me yesterday track down some durable medical goods (I'm getting a different kind of crutch) in an instant..ordered and paid for through insurance, when I'd spent half the day in frustration dealing with insurance and trying to find the thing. If you choose Dr. Ure, rely on here heavily for all help...she comes through with simplicity and she loves it.
Have you made any decisions yet? Give me a call if you want to talk.
I'm really stoked to have a joint that doesn't keep telling my body how to move....just gotta get all the tissue happy now.
Hi Kevin
I have your story posted on my Hip Stories. Here is the link
http://www.surfacehippy.info/kevin07.php (http://www.surfacehippy.info/kevin07.php)
Let me know when you have any updates.
Pat
3 week update:
Well, days seem long when you don't have to work and small things seem larger. Overall I'm stoked with my progress. I just have to ignore the little stuff and give it to the bigger power of the universe....and of course to my surfacehippy support group.
Dr. Ure was kind enough to reply to my email of two weeks ago regarding leg length....as we already figured out...it is most likely perceptual.
I had some interesting questions for Dr. Ure regardng his view of PT. He really doesn't recommend it for 6-8 weeks post-op but when you leave Mercy Medical they give you a a set of exercises to do 5-7- times a day. I'm going to my PT once a week and I find that he really helps my stay right with the exercises and explains healing and the muscle stuff which is very reassuring. So I'm waiting for a response from Dr. Ure on this issue. It's so great that he is accessible by email.
Also, I've had a really bad time getting a much needed forearm PLATFORM crutch. I need it because I have a bad right wrist and the regular crutch is causing pain and swelling, and probably screwing up the little bone I have left in there. Apria health care tried to deliver a Forearm crutch to me....NO WAY....this has been a constant problem.....no one seems to uns=derstand that a PLATFORM crutch supports you weight with your elbow, not wrist. Anyway, after a lot of research, I've found that there are safety concerns with the PLATFORM crutch....but I think it's BS. They are available on the market for about $170, but I can't get my insurance to pay and I can't afford. None of the local loan pools have one. If anyone out there has one, please let me know.
So I ordered some trekking poles today for $35...maybe that will help.
I'm getting around pretty well. Able to walk a couple of steps with no crutch. Walked about a mile today with the walker. It's better than the crutch..I just kinda push it in front of me and only touch it on part of my stride.
I've cut the tramadol in half but still taking 200 mg celebrex. I'll be happy when I'm able to get off that crap. The pain level in my wrist is as bad as the hip at times. The pain in my hip is mostly around the groin..and down to the knee...unfortunately some of the same pain pathway I had before surgery...It will take some manipulation (massage, accupuncture, yoga) probably to get my body to forget that pain channel.
Kevin:
Have you had a follow-up xray since your surgery? I'm a little concerned when you say you still have groin pain. I was told that groin pain could signal a serious problem....... ???
Karen
Thanks Karen...only the film that was taken post op at the hospital. I'll email Dr. Ure and see what he thinks. I appreciate your concern and knowledge. I'm probably a bit complacent at this point with pain..I just think it's natural and willl come and go. Thanks for waking me up a little.
Kevin
Kevin:
I was a little suprised to hear that your doc doesn't want PT for 6-8 weeks. Is there a specific reason why he would have you wait so long? Did I miss something in your bio? Anyhow, my doc had me start at 3 weeks post-op. At first I really didn't see the point to having PT, but after my first visit I couldn't believe the exercises and balance things that I was shown. (I also had the 'exercises' to do at home from my discharge after surgery. These were a great help, too.) However, I have had 7 PT visits now and I feel that they have made a HUGE difference. Shows that even us nurses can be wrong!!! I also walk 2-4 miles a day, depending on my other activities. I have only had limited PT in the past for a back issue so I wasn't familiar with all the 'cool' equipment they have and use with me now! :D I am currently 6 weeks post-op. I have been walking without any cane for the past 3 weeks. We all progress at a different rate and you had extraneous issues prior. However, I really can't believe that you should prolong PT this much. ??? Are you doing major balance and range of motion stuff at home? I would especially be concerned with exercises that retrain the abductor and adductor muscles in the thigh. These are really critical to hip stability. Hope I'm not being too nosy....
Karen
Don't be concerned about nosey Karen, we're all on the same boat trying to help each other.
Yes, this is an odd thing with Dr. Ure. When I say he doesn't prescribe PT for that period, I mean he doesn't recommend you going to the professional. Now, when you go through the Mercy medical center pre-op and post-op routine, the PTs are ever-present..They meet with you prior to surgery and give you a set of exercises to do (actually to start way before surgery if you're there in time), and advice the same set of exercises post surgery 5-7 times a day. Each session takes about 15 minutes...so that's a lot. I end up with about 3-5 times a day to keep my pain level where I want it.
So even though Dr. Ure doesn't send you to a PT for several weeks, you start PT exercises in the hospital on day one and continue from there. In the hospital, a PT comes in twice a day to help you.
So, as I explained, there is a disconnect here. I have asked the Mercy medical PTs and Dr. Ure's surgical scheduler about it and they are both now aware of the disconnect, but until we hear it from the horses mouth (Dr. Ure), we aren't sure what's up. Anyway, upon my request, Dr. Ure wrote me a script for PT once a week. Like I said, my PT helps me with stuff and explains things in laymans terms, and that helps. I also go in there every day and ride the sitting eliptical exerciser for 10 minutes.
Sounds like you are getting much more aggresive PT.....I don't know if that's cause you are healing faster or if the PT is actually causing healing....Chicken or the Egg thing.
You are inspiring me to ask for more PT....I'm sure Dr. Ure would probably go along with it...although I wrote him about the groin pain this morning so he may come back and say to rest more again.
When you say balance stuff, what types of things...I'd like that..as I'm a surfer anyway.
Thanks a million for your input.
Kevin,
I am going to see Dr. Ure tomorrow, as you know. I will ask him about delaying PT. Does Melissa have the same restriction?
avid
Cool, Thanks David...that's a great idea. Denise is supposed to ask him for me too, but I know how busy they get. I'm sure he'll get to my email eventually. TO tell you the truth though, I wish I was going to PT a little more now that I'm more "on the mend". See if you can find out what his logic/strategy are.
I don't know about Melissa..she has been out of touch...hope she's OK.
Quote from: kriyamon on October 30, 2007, 01:41:01 PM
Cool, Thanks David...that's a great idea. Denise is supposed to ask him for me too, but I know how busy they get. I'm sure he'll get to my email eventually. TO tell you the truth though, I wish I was going to PT a little more now that I'm more "on the mend". See if you can find out what his logic/strategy are.
I don't know about Melissa..she has been out of touch...hope she's OK.
Check on all that and will do! Actually it is not till Thursday. :-[ I have been a little concerned about Melissa as well. Didn't want to write until after I saw Dr. Ure. Hope she is doing well.
Kevin,
For balance my PT has what looks like a fatter 'noodle' (like the ones used in swimming pools). It's about 3 feet long and it's cut down the middle, so that it's flat on one side and rounded on the other. She had me balance with both feet the first time--now I'm up to balancing on my operated foot only while bouncing a ball off of a mini tramp. that is tilted to 45 degrees. This is a really good balance exercise! Also, have you tried just balancing on your operated foot? The first time Terra had me try this I couldn't balance for more than 5 seconds (3 weeks post-op). Yesterday, (6 weeks post-op) I balanced for more than a minute (I could've gone longer, but she said 60 seconds is the 'norm' for people). For variety sake, she also will have me balance while playing catch with her. She tosses the ball to the left, right, higher, lower, etc. while I balance on one foot on the noodle. Sounds easy, but it actually is pretty tough. :o They also have a round piece of wood that's about 12-14 inches across with some sort of ball in the middle (underneath). You balance on one foot (holding on at first) and rotate your foot to the right until the wood meets the floor then to the left. Then forward and backward. I had to stop doing this particular exercise cuz it was giving me foot pain (plantar fasciitis). I've had trouble with this in the past when I used to power walk.
Most of my pain now is still in the middle of my left butt cheek and outward. Does anyone else have this type of pain? The quality is not stabbing, it's like a slow burn the longer I exercise.
On a side note--I also went to the rehab people in the hospital both BEFORE and after surgery. I actually got a 3-ring binder with tons of info and lots of exercises. We were all instructed to do them in the 7-10 days PRIOR to surgery so that we would be familiar with them. I also did them at home twice a day until I had outside PT. In addition, I had a visiting nurse PT gal who came to the house twice after discharge to be sure all was well and to work with me.
Let us know what the doc says about your groin pain.
Karen
Wow Karen thanks for opening my eyes to real PT. Of course you are a few weeks ahead of me and my PT may be waiting for more strngth build first, but I want some of that balance stuff. I used to live in a town where the PTs were mostly kids right out of school working for big business and so it was an in and out factory experience. Now I live in a smal town with a PT and his wife who have 30 years experience, are very personable, but have little equipment. I'm going to print this out and take it with me...I feel confindent Joe will fix me up...he's very good at improvisation to. The board with the ball sounds something like a surfer's toy called an Indo board, bbut it is a board with a cylinder under it.
Funny, started trying to balance on my operated leg yeserday after I read your post. I can do it for a while.
Thanks for your great input. Oh I have the same type of pain you do...it's kinda near the incision so it seems very normal. Worse after exercise and when I'm tired. Don't forget the ice!
I may have been a little off when I called my pain groin pain. It is near the groin but when I reallly feel it it stays on the inner thigh and doesn't cross that bridge. It is just so much like the pain I had pre=op, which was in the groin at times, that my brain just thinks it's the same old thing. I wrote my Dr. anyway and we'll see what he says. I had a really strong feeling day yesterday. I was able to do the laying down leg lifts for the first time. THey were so painful at first the PT said don;t bother but had me doing them standing up. Yesterday I got through three sets of them....maybe only a couple of inches but what the heck. I thought three weeks ago my thigh muscle would never triggeer again! .can't wait to get my trekking poles.
Kevin:
Doing much out of house PT before 3 weeks post-op probably is not worth the trouble since your muscles are still not 'talking.' I remember the first few days post-op when I couldn't lift my leg (out straight position) AT ALL. Felt really bizarre. Of course, the rehab people told us this would be the case, but until you experience it..... I'm sure your PT guy can 'fabricate' something quite easily. Just make sure if you do it at home that you have something stable to grab if you lose your balance! Falling would be a disaster.
Had my 6 week post-op today. Dr. Barba was very pleased. Took off all restrictions--well, except for high impact like jogging, tennis, etc. I have to wait til I'm 6 months post-op to run safely. That's mid April which is fine cuz the weather is really cold here until April anyway!! :(
Keep up the good work, but listen to your body..... don't overdo it!!
Karen
Great for you Karen!!!!!!! 6 months to running, huh. mmmm, I guess I read about someone who was abnormal who was surfing in 3 months....I guess I better not count on that.... although it's not really high impact, it seems risky,except on smaller good surf. I guess I'll wait and see.
Thanks for all your great advice.
Kevin:
Surfing aye! I've never had the opportunity to surf, but I wanted to try water skiing again. We took my daughter and her friend skiing this past summer on the lake. Of course I couldn't attempt it, but then I thought next summer after surgery I can. But now that I have my 'new' hip, I'm not sure I want to risk skiing. When I think of how you wipe out, get thrown around..... I think I might just have to skip it. I really don't want to dislocate or fracture my femur. I sound like a chicken, huh. Being the lookout and taking the video/pictures may have to be fun enough.... Be careful with the surfing!! :D
Karen
I am 4 weeks out plus a few days and I also don't do any PT, my doctor (Treacy) said I could go back to pilates and ballet at 6-8 weeks. I have a set of 10 exercises that I do that work all the major muscle groups around my hip, I do simple knee bends of 50 degrees with my bum tucked under my hips for 10 seconds and the go up and balance for 10 seconds on my tip toes no holding on to anything while I do 10 sets of these. I walk about 2 miles a day with 2 canes and my doctor says no more than 2.5 miles.
Of course we all have different issues regarding our surgery, I have a very large scar and apparently had a difficult surgery due to my dysplasia and cysts on the femoral head. I only do my exercises 2-3 times a day and walk 2 x a day 1 mile each walk. The pain in my glute has gone away over this last week as I work on having an even stride and ballet like posture, shoulder back, head up looking up not down. Ballet and pointe prior to this were very helpful. As a figure skater I don't worry about balance, my right leg is weaker due to another surgery last year, I am focusing on getting both legs equally strong.
Suffice it to say taking it easy seems to be helpful. I stop doing my exercises if the pain breaks to high a level and while it is great that some get to walk without a cane at 3 weeks I will listen to the doctor and stick it out for 6 weeks.
So just listen to what your body says, I have a cadillac and reformer in my basement and have done pilates for years I actually just use them to stretch gently which seems to make things better. Just don't twist too much.
Take care,
Leslie
R BHR
Treacy
10/2/07
Interesting..did Dr. Treacy actually not advise or prescribe PT? I mean, we're doing all the exercises at home, which IS PT, but are our doctors actually not wanting us to? The exercises I was given were from the hospital PT group and they are for THR. I'm confused. I was talking to my PT this morning about it...his guess was that there is no established approved criteria for PT post re-surfacing, so to CYA, the Drs may be shying away from saying anything except what the restrictions are. He's older and he said the same thing happens when any new surgical technique gets approved. The PT exercises we are doing are actually for a total hip replacement. He could be on to something. I hope we get to the bottom of it. I have a friend going in to see Dr. Ure today for pre-surgical evaluation, and he said he would be sure and get his opinion of post surgery PT.
I'm tired today..did too much yesterday...unfortunately life has granted me the opportunity to move in the next three weeks...uuuggghhh. Moving is rough enough when you're well. Tell you one thing...all those friends who offer help are going to be surprised when I sign them up for an 8 hour shift!!!!!!!!!!
Rest today....a little anyway
Hey Kevin,
Just got back from Mt. Shasta and my visit to Dr. Ure. I asked about PT. His thinking is that everything in there needs time to heal. That needs to come first. He said the exercises you are given is PT and you get PT in the hospital. Once the major healing is over (six to eight weeks) then it is time to slowly begin with stretching and strengthening. I asked if PT would be prescribed and I believe his answer was no or it wouldn't be needed. When I was ready I could return to Yoga gently to begin with. Insurance companies are really down on PT; at least mine is. I wonder if that is one of the benefits of this surgery as the Insurance industry sees it, no PT.
I had a good meeting with Dr. Ure and he explained everything completely and answered my lengthy list of questions. He said a Smith & Nephew BHRS for an active 55 year old is a "no-brainer." The waiting room was full of Dr. Ure Patients or Patients to-be. One man who had his done a week ago was walking amazingly well and pushing his walker in front of him. There was a woman on one crutch after two weeks. There was a guy with the 500th hip that Amstutz had done. He now lives in Mt. Shasta and is a skier. He wanted to have Dr. Ure available in case he had a problem. Dr. Ure said the x-ray of his hip looked great. He said he hasn't been gentle to it either.
Edit: Re: PT
IIRC Dr. Ure said that after six to eight weeks the chance of dislocations goes to zilch. That is more of his reasoning for not prescribing PT in the first 6-8 weeks.
My PT received a note from Mr. Treacy saying my PT should match that of a total hip. I was warned about walking too far and given a limit. I did go to Mr. McMinn's site and added a few of the 0-6 week exercises which looked like they would balance the others, I have quickened the pace of my walks so a mile started at a half hour and now takes 20 minutes and I get a slight cardio benefit. I did conact Mr. Treacy at 4 weeks and he said I could go on the bike. All of this is very minimal for me at my peak I would skate 3-4 hours a day and then do an hour of either pilates, ballet or weights depending on the day. I am currently looking forward to just 20-40 minutes on the ice 2 days a week in January. Slowly, no impact for me until about 9 months to a year out.