On my left hip.... I expect high fives, stomach bumps (as high as you can jump, within restrictions, only if your PT says it's ok ;D ).
Feeling great on the left hip, really good overall. I had my ~1 year once over with Dr. Snyder, everything looks perfect, the only thing lagging is that apparently one of my muscles on the right hip is not strong enough, so need to work on that. It only shows when I balance, so I bought some juggling balls and am practicing juggling while balancing on that foot.
Overall, and I can't believe I'm saying this about major surgery, it is the best thing I've done for myself. The erasing of pain and limitations from my life has been a real healing experience. I have improved greatly from both a physical and emotional perspective.
I am normally reserved about promoting this for people despite being a strong backer of HR, since I believe each person has to make up their own minds at their own pace, but I'll take this post to encourage anyone who is in the kind of pain I knew and in the mind set that I was in to take that step, this has been an incredible boon for me.
Off the pulpit without any pain.
I was talking to a friend of mine whose wedding I was in about a year before my first, and remembered that during the reception all of the ushers had to jump up on a stage about a foot off the ground in front of the whole wedding crowd - the other ushers jumped right up and I jumped as well, but blanched in pain when I got up and almost didn't make it. Then I had to jump down later, very nasty - today, I plan to do the same jump somewhere in celebration. I just have to find a wedding and crash it ::)
Congrats Hernanu!!! I am so happy for you! I totally echo your words...my one year anniversary will be in November. I am feeling so great that it already feels like a year...it is unbelievable! Keep up the good work and thank you for your inspirational post!
Thanks jj, glad you're doing so well, we'll celebrate another one year anniversary (my right) together then.
Congratulations Hernanu! My restrictions require a high-5.
I am already planning events to celebrate milestones. I can already tell this is going to give me my active life back.
Also thanks for your support of future hippies as well. They need voices like ours to balance all the negative press out there on MoM HR.
Dan
Thanks Dan, liked your response on that article.
Congratulations Hernan, may you have many more years.
moe
Thanks Moe, just trying to keep pace with you more experienced hippies.
Hi Hernan, congratulations on your first year. Keep trying to wear it out (I hope it lasts you at least another 50 years).
Glad to hear that you're doing great!! Go crash a wedding somewhere and jump around - you need a do-over now that you're back in the game!!!
Richard
Thanks Mike, I hope to leave my Comets on for a good long time.
Richard, you've got it, I expect to get video for proof. Shouldn't your name be got2newhips now?
Conrats!
Thanks for the update!! I know how excited you are. Too bad mosh (sp?) pits aren't as popular as they once were... now THAT would be a test for HR! Here's to happy healing with the other hip! Lu
Congrats Hernanu. I've never done a stomach bump but for you I'll make an exception. ) (
May you have many more years of anniversaries.
Ed
Mosh pits.... what a cool thought... 8) Thanks Lu.
Awesome stomach bump Ed.
Hey Hernanu, be sure to post the video!! Guess you're right - probably should change the old handle now..... ;D
Richard
Will do if I can get one before I get thrown out.
CONGRATS!!! That is so wonderful to hear!!! I know what you mean about starting to realize I can't do half the things I once did. I think I have finally "ACCEPTED" that this is what it is and I can either do something about it or become more disabled...I am thinking maybe November as it will be my birthday and what better gift to give myself!! I still have lots of questions and am not totally sure how to navigate through these threads, etc. So bare with me...am going to throw them out there and can't wait to hear back from you all...here goes:
1) I saw many recommendations about finding a dr. who has performed at least 500, I had never even considered going out of state, how does that work with insurance?
2) was thinking of taking on a 2nd policy with my husband's insurance, how does that work?
3) What kind of scars do people have? From my arthroscopy I just had two small "puncture" marks, barely noticable...
4) Do these top Dr's people have seen have to have referrals from your Primary dr.? How does that work?
5) There are several Dr's in Missouri I have googled that do this, does anybody have recommendations in Missouri?
I have to plan this down to the penny with my cafeteria plan and all, so want to make sure I cover all my bases~thanks to all of you again for your heartfelt stories and encouragement. I honestly don't think I would be thinking about this if I hadn't found this site!!! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU AND BLESS YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was very fortunate to find one of the top surgeons who was in a neighboring state but a preferred provider. If you have a primary care physician they can certainly help by referring you to the surgeon of your choice. I have wondered if you couldn't make the argument with your insurance that they are better off working with one of the most experienced surgeons because this procedure has higher failure rates with inexperienced ones.
My scar is about seven inches. You can see a poll on this site that shows the various sizes. Really the scar is the least of your worries unless you are a model for skimpy swimsuits or underwear. ;)
I went up to my maximum out of pocket, $5,000, with my high-deductible plan. The insurance covered the other $35,000.
Best wishes as you continue your journey.
Dan
Quote from: Hippychick on September 22, 2011, 12:54:33 PM
CONGRATS!!! That is so wonderful to hear!!! I know what you mean about starting to realize I can't do half the things I once did. I think I have finally "ACCEPTED" that this is what it is and I can either do something about it or become more disabled...I am thinking maybe November as it will be my birthday and what better gift to give myself!! I still have lots of questions and am not totally sure how to navigate through these threads, etc. So bare with me...am going to throw them out there and can't wait to hear back from you all...here goes:
1) I saw many recommendations about finding a dr. who has performed at least 500, I had never even considered going out of state, how does that work with insurance?
2) was thinking of taking on a 2nd policy with my husband's insurance, how does that work?
3) What kind of scars do people have? From my arthroscopy I just had two small "puncture" marks, barely noticable...
4) Do these top Dr's people have seen have to have referrals from your Primary dr.? How does that work?
5) There are several Dr's in Missouri I have googled that do this, does anybody have recommendations in Missouri?
I have to plan this down to the penny with my cafeteria plan and all, so want to make sure I cover all my bases~thanks to all of you again for your heartfelt stories and encouragement. I honestly don't think I would be thinking about this if I hadn't found this site!!! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU AND BLESS YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hey hippychick, thanks for the nice words and congrats on having come to the decision. I don't know many of the Drs around there, but as far as some of the more well known ones, check the list that is on this site for the ones near you that make sense.
I actually looked up some of the Drs who have good reputations, and found some covered by my plan. I have a plan that does not require referral and so I can go to any doctors within the plan. Dr. Gross in S.Carolina is one option many people here have used, there is another good Dr. in Ohio, one in Boulder that several posters have had good luck with.
They look equidistant from Missouri, and I'm sure others will be able to come up with good doctors. My scars are about 6 inches in length, at this point they have faded significantly, so that although they are noticeable, they are not the attention getters that they were. I'll have to actually develop a personality to spark conversation now :o
Good luck with your search, I hope to celebrate my anniversary and see a post detailing your successful procedure.
I didn't have any restrictions, except no contact sports until 1 year and no running until 6 months. As it worked out, I was unable to properly run until 10 months or so. I think your body lets you know what to do.
Plenty of others had some restrictions, as each doctor seems to have their own recovery protocol, so I made sure I paid attention here to the things that made sense, like being careful with crossing the legs early on.
Hern - I must have missed your annivesary since I was in the hospital recovering from no. 2.
Here's a fist bump! I'm looking forward to feb when I can celebrate my left hip annivseary.
Congrats on the year Hernanu. Each day is better for me, so I know you must be feeling terrific. Nothing will ever top the feeling I had the night after surgery when I noticed the deep pain from my hip "toothache" was gone! Have very much appreciated and enjoyed all of your posts so far, enjoy your mobility! Curt
Thanks to both of you (finally saw your responses), I'll add my November 29th anniversary to this note, expect I'll be celebrating then.
Ok folks, ready for some more surgeon approved high fives and stomach bumps..!!!!!
I'm celebrating my one year anniversary for my last done hip (my right)... Happiness is all around and I will do some salsa dancing some time in the near future!!!
I am feeling very good, just capped the day off with a good workout, 15 minutes on the treadmill (7 running, but I am decidedly not a runner) and some weight work, including 90 reps on the leg press with 230 lbs. Feeling decidedly strong and ready to take on the world (or at least go to the local pub). My ROM is getting awesome, I can finally do a stretch I've been pining for - keep one foot flat and squat down, balancing on the heel of the other until you come fully down. It's been a goal and now have done it comfortably on both sides.
Altogether feeling like this is the best decision of my life and in my exhilaration I will unabashedly recommend HR for all of those who qualify. For all of our hippys who are either about to go into surgery or recovering, I wish for all of you the lack of pain, good recovery and joy of life that comes from not having OA to deal with. For all of the Hippys who came before me and at about the same time, I want to thank all of you for your support and courage; you've made the recovery so much easier and calmer than it would have been.
I also want to thank Pat for this forum and for anyone who is doing what they can to make this known to people who need it.
I will have some black and tans tonight and lift them to the whole crew here and to Dr. Snyder and the whole staff at Newton-Wellesley, Visiting Nurses and Bay State Physical Therapy for everything they did.
Heading into surgery tomorrow. Your fabulous post could not have been more timely. Congratulations on getting your life back and offering we Newbies a source of inspiration.
High five from the Rockies.
Boomer
Hern
High fives from NZ & congrats! You certainly inspired & helped me out me along the way both pre-op & continue to post op.
Here's to your anniversary! May you have many, many more :)
Simon
Congrats on such a Milestone again!!! Glad everything has worked out so well. Keep up the great work and things will only get better from here.
Congrats Hernanu! Your posts are always an inspiration!
Congratulations on the second hip. Thank You for sharing your story.
Good Luck with many more anniversaries to come.
Pat
Quote from: Pat Walter on November 29, 2011, 03:17:46 PM
Congratulations on the second hip. Thank You for sharing your story.
Good Luck with many more anniversaries to come.
Pat
But no more "new" ones, OK?!! Congrats Hernanu, and thanks for the support. Curt
Thanks Pat and everyone else - just enjoying my increasingly good luck in having had HR available (and thanks for the high fives).
Boomer - the future is good, my man, you'll be good by tomorrow.
Good thinking Curt - I'm keeping these.
Congratulations Hernanu. It sounds like you are taking great advantage of this new lease on life.
I can't wait until I am at my one year. Actually at six months I can start running again so that will be monumental.
Dan
It's going to come fast, Dan - I can't believe a year is done on my last one.