As of yesterday, 6/10/2024, I am now a Bilateral Surface Hippie! Another stellar performance by the team at Midlands Orthopaedics and Neurosurgery in Columbia, SC.
First time around the mulberry bush was 1/4/2021 on the right, documented in my previous thread. ZERO pain coming out of surgery then. A little different this time around: pain level didn’t drop below a 3 from our morning 1.7 mile dogwalk to post surgery. Dr. G said mileage may vary. So far, it is responding to the narcotics and tylenol. Didn’t sleep well the night before surgery (brain wouldn’t shut off), then not well at the hotel (elevators next to our room wouldn’t shut off!). :D Pain has subsided a bit, but tomorrow is supposed to be the worst day after what was put in there during surgery wears off. Let the fun begin….
Icing with the polar pack does the most good. If anyone is pondering whether or not to invest in the raised toilet seat, DO IT! I tried it without the first time around thinking 18†chair-height would suffice. Glad I bought the raised for this go-round. It’ll get stored in the closet for future use after all this is done.
I didn’t know what awaited on the other side of my previous surgery. I just wanted it DONE, hell or high water. The outcome was sooooo much better than what I ever could’ve imagined. Post-surgery, my repaired right was taking the load that my already-affected left was giving it. It’s really taking the load now, so I’m glad I strengthened it up. I’ve got the same road to plow for my left hip, but I will follow Dr. Gross’s and Dr. Webb’s guidance to THE LETTER, same as last time. Hoping to have a super-strong matched set!!
I am so ready to get going with the exercises and back to fun! Looking forward to documenting the progress! Cheers!
First night sleep at home was WONDERFUL! Slept solid from about 10:30 pm (zonk!) to 2:30 am when nature called. After the roundtrip potty workout, I zonked back out again until 5:30am. Nothing beats good sleep! Morning exercises in bed were slow. Heel slides are the toughest.
I also invested in an overstuffed king-size pillow for between the legs when laying on my side. I am a side-sleeper. Also works great when lying on my back to prop the op leg on for the toes-above-the-nose. I could barely get that thing into a pillowcase, but it is much more convenient than two standard pillows stuffed in a pillowcase AND it’s long enough to keep my ankles from dangling in midair.
More to come!
Congratulations! Thank You for sharing your story.
I wish you the very best and a speedy recovery.
Pat
Thanks, Pat! Hope you are doing well!
Morning exercises already easier, in just 3 sessions. Went from only 11 heel slides yesterday morning to 17 last night to 30 per side this morning. Walking on the crutches getting easier, but accidentally moving the op leg in towards the non op… that sticks with you for a bit. Yikes! Forgot how important it was to keep the op leg turned out a bit.
Rolling merrily along at lightning snail speed…
Well here we are at Friday already. Didn’t sleep well last night and still need the heavy stuff as well as tylenol. Can’t lie on the op side yet, remembering from the right side being done, it took several weeks to be able to. Sucks being a sidesleeper. The big pillow between the legs is great. I switch to lying on my back and propping my leg up on it. Then back to right side with the pillow between. Back and forth…every hour or so…all…night…long. Grrrrr. >:(
I think the five day mark has all the anesthesia and heavy meds that were put in during surgery gone from my system. Probably the worst night, hopefully the worst night. Staying positive, stretching periodically, ankle pump exercises while in the recliner. Git ‘er done!
Sunday- 6 days post-op. Sleep still rough. Tried turning on my op side twice just to make a go of it, but that only lasted for about a minute each time. Still on the long-acting oxycodone at night and trying to just use the extra strength tylenol during the day. This recovery is very different from the previous. Lots of swelling in my upper leg. Yellowing, black and blue marks come and go almost daily. Polar Cube machine is my buddy! Looking forward to starting .25 mile walks tomorrow.
Monday - 7 days post-op - .25 walkies no problemo! Used both of my arm crutches and took it slow. Tired and hot, but no pain. Gosh it’s muggy today! I’ll remove the bandage in the shower later and get my first look at the 4†piece of chewed, raw turkeybacon I now have attached to my left bun. Joy! 3 1/2 years post-op on the right side and the scar is still there and dark. Well, now I have my two racing stripes!
Tuesday - 8 days post-op - The incision site doesn’t look as bad as I thought it would, compared what I had on the right side. Happy! Decided to go with no pain meds (not even tylenol) yesterday and last night. Woke up several times to reposition and pee (dernit!) but no real pain other than the constant toothache in the hip. Not bad and very manageable. Still waiting for the other shoe to drop with the “good night/bad night†thing. We’ll see.
Wednesday - 9 days post-op - The other shoe dropped. Didn’t sleep well at all last night. Probably woke up every hour to hour and a half repositioning. Tried rolling gently onto the op side again and almost managed to doze off. It got unbearable after 5 minutes and had to roll back onto the right. Then the right shoulder started hurting. My wonderful, long-suffering wife offered the tylenol, but I refused. I’m an idiot. Took 2 after breakfast today before getting on the ice machine for the first icing of the day. Quarter mile walk before breakfast made me tired after shower and morning exercises. I’m pushing, just like after my last surgery. “No pain-no gain†has no place here. It’s a marathon, not a sprint, and I keep having to remind myself of that.
Happy Friday! 11 days post-op - The sleep issues continue. Still no heavy drugs, two tylenol this morning to knock back some pain. Just got up from a 1 hour nap that took 30 minutes to fall asleep. I’m sure this is lack of exercise. Still icing 1 hour on and an hour to 2 off. Swelling seems to have gone down bit. I remember lack of sleep from the previous surgery being the number 1 cause of “THIS SUCKS!!!†>:(
Also, remembering it is not a straight line progression towards full recovery; more like a heartbeat on an ascending scale. I keep reminding myself that the pain is the nerves, muscles and tendons knitting themselves back together…like the growing pains most of us had as kids. Grin and bear it. If it gets too bad, there are still some Oxy’s left!
Monday - 14 days post-op - Couldn’t sleep last night. Pain problems and didn’t take anything, just tossed and turned most of the night. Started 1/2 mile walks today. No issues. Picked up some Tylenol PM, as advised by Dr. Gross. Moved the daily meloxicam anti-inflammatory to evening instead of morning. We’ll see if that makes a difference.
Tuesday - 15 days post-op - Again with the rough night. Tylenol PM knocked the pain back. Dozed for a while on the op side, amazingly. It seems that when I start to nod off, a nerve misfires in my op leg or foot, waking me up. Annoying!!
I distinctly remember from the right hip surgery how precious sleep was. Prior to that first good night about 4 weeks in, I started to question whether or not all this was worth it. After 6 weeks, I was wondering what took me so long to throw down on the surgery. As they say, what a difference a day makes. Or in my case, 4 weeks. Looking back, it was worth every second of missed sleep, aches and pains, night sweats and all. I’m sure when my whining is done this time, I’ll feel the same.
Friday - 18 days post-op - Slept a little better last night. 2 Tylenol PM at 8pm, woke up at 2am and smacked it with another 2 extra strength Tylenols. Slept until 5:30. Sleep is definitely at a premium these days. Walks are going well. Down to one crutch using it more like a cane. Barely need it. Still going up and down the stairs, good up, bad down, not foot over foot yet. Probably try that starting Monday at the week 4 mark. Hope all of you Hippies and Potential Hippies are doing well!
Monday - 21 days post-op - Beginning week 4 and 3/4 mile walks. Tired, but no issues. 2 Tylenol PM before bed and 2 extra strengths at 2:30 this morning. Sleep getting a little better. Can now sleep for about 30 minutes on the op side before it wakes me up. Looking forward to the mile walks next week, as we have a new brewery that opened up right outside our neighborhood: 1.16 round-trip! Close enough! :D I figure I can rest with a pint at the halfway point. Talk about incentive to get your walkies on!
Wednesday - 23 days post-op - Worst pain so far today. Did something stooooopid yesterday: we had a fridge delivered and I knelt down on the floor to shut the water off.. Op leg down first, then good, both knees down… no problemo. When I went to get up, accidentally put my op leg foot down first and pushed. Paid for it all day today. I was so used to my left leg taking the heat for my previously op’d right hip that I just didn’t think. Palm-slap-to-forehead-multiple-times moment. Back on the ice this evening. Dern lucky I didn’t rip something. New Hippies, listen to your Uncle Marv: THINK before you move…for six weeks at least!!!
Thursday - 24 days post-op - What a difference a day makes! Got much better sleep last night after going full steam all day, with a little help from Tylenol PM. Didn’t wake up as much. Woke up ready for my 3/4 mile walk. No issues. Decided to get on ice this afternoon after spending the morning rearranging refrigerator contents. Happy Independence Day, Hippies! To our Hippy counterparts over in England: sorry for your loss! ;)
Friday - 25 days post-op - I was so enthusiastic yesterday… Hardly slept at all last night. Leg pain from the bottom of the incision down to the knee. Couldn’t find the sweet spot. Took a three hour nap through lunch today and actually woke up lying on the op side. No pain. Every day is different and mileage is varying wildly. 3/4 mile walk this morning, I pretty much carried my crutch and hardly used it. I decided to quit trying to do foot-over-foot on the stairs with crutch until next week. I’m pretty sure that and my little indiscretion of two days ago are what is causing this extra pain. Skipped the Tylenol PM last night thinking I wouldn’t need it. Mistake! I’ll be taking 2 tonight before bedtime…
Sunday - 27 days post-op - Slept better last night, still with a couple of Tylenol PM, but I only have one more dose left and determined not to buy anymore. Walked my 3/4 mile this morning without carrying my crutch. It is now in the closet. Looking forward to the 1 mile walks starting tomorrow!
Monday - 28 days post-op - beginning week 5! Throttled up to 1 mile walks today. No crutch. Put off trying to walk up stairs foot over foot until next week. Still not strong enough. When I had my right done, I was walking 3 stories up and down by now, foot over foot. Taking it a bit slower this time. I don’t want to do anything to jeopardize our trip to the mountains of Western North Carolina for a respite from the oppressive heat of South Carolina and some much needed hiking. The mountains are calling and I MUST GO! 8)
Tuesday - 29 days post-op - No Tylenol PM last night and slept well, even managing about an hour on the left side! Did a mile and a quarter by accident in the neighborhood this morning (took the route I had planned for next week…oops!), then decided to even it out to 2 miles with another 3/4 mile on the treadmill in the gym. <grin> No issues, but I’ll see how sleep goes tonight and how I feel tomorrow. My great nephew will be visiting tomorrow, but Uncle Marv won’t be impressing him with his Spider-Man pose like I did a year after my right hip surgery. I’ll have to work back up to that!
Thursday - 31 days post-op - Done with the drugs! (Except for daily baby aspirin for 11 more days). Slept well again last night. A little “log-leggy†this morning, but very little pain. 1 mile walk helped. Running low on the Bactraban (mupirocin ointment) for the incision, which is healing up nicely. Still tender, but part of the line has started to fade already. Skipping the gym today to play in the park with my visiting 9-year old great-nephew. A little cooler today with a northerly breeze, if you can call 93F “coolâ€. Better to be out in the sunshine anyway. I need my vitamin D!
Friday - 32 days post-op - yesterday’s activity helped to yield a good night’s sleep and no pain meds needed! Put the new hip through it’s paces playing with my great-nephew and 6 other kids at one of our city parks, acting as the launch master of the zip line! Didn’t do any climbing on the varied playground equipment, as much as I wanted to. Went for ice cream, then played 18 holes of putt-putt, where we were all bested by my 87 year old Father-In-Law. The man is a machine! I was able to fish my own ball out of each hole, when the nephew didn’t beat me to it, but watching Dad do a full squat to get his made me jealous! Soon, Dad…SOON! :D
Monday - 35 days post-op - Began 1.25 mile walks today, with our doggies. My wife has had double doggie duty since surgery day 5 weeks ago today. They behaved…sort of. Took them for a bath after breakfast. Good to have soft, sweet, good smelling dogs. Should’ve bathed them before surgery. Anyway, no issues. Still haven’t made it to the brewery, scheduling that walk for Thursday, if itâ€s not swelteringly hot. Sleep over the last two nights has not exactly been stellar. Two Advil helped Friday night, so I may try that again.
Wednesday - 37 days post-op - Two steps forward, one step back day. Sore yesterday but even worse today. Took 2 Advil with breakfast. Walked the 1.25 this morning, getting ready to do some yard work, but don’t really feel up to doing much. I remember being all enthusiastic after my right hip was done, but the relentless soreness this time around is wearing me down. Still not walking stairs foot over foot. Left leg/quad just feels weak. Bummer. Hoping to get good news and a much needed recharge at my 6 week follow-up next Tuesday.
Thursday - 38 days post-op - well, another fine mess…. Woke up early this morning and realized my left leg had crossed the big pillow and had turned inward. Paid for it in our 1.25 mile walk this morning. Two Advil with breakfast has not kicked in yet. Tough to be careful when you’re asleep. Heading to the gym in a bit. Maybe I can work it out.
Recovery really is all about ups and downs isn’t it Marvin!
Hope it’s gets better soon!
How were your symptoms before this surgery?
Pretty crappy, Ironman. I’d get zingers in my groin on flat walks. No problems on elevation changes, strangely enough. Lightning strikes down my left leg, sometimes in my sleep, waking me up. Advil and Tylenol would take the pain down, but only for 3 to 4 hours. I was eating those like candy, and I HATE taking drugs of any kind. Not bragging, but at 58 years old, all I usually take is a multivitamin once a day.
Symptoms were the same for my right hip before I had it done 3.5 years ago. Put surgery off for 4 years, wishing the pain away. Still soooo glad I found hip resurfacing and Dr. Gross. He gave me my life back!
Monday - 6 weeks post-op - 6 weeks! WooHoo! Follow-up scheduled with Dr. Webb tomorrow. Pain level still a steady toothache. The only time it doesn’t hurt or is not sore is lying down on my back. Managed to doze off for an hour last night on the op side, but it really hurts rolling over, then vanishes. I’ve been walking upstairs once a day with one crutch and the rail, foot over foot, 6 times but not really progressing. I wish I had done that several weeks before the surgery or used the stair-climber to get in better shape. Left quad still feels very weak. Walked 1.7 yesterday and today with soreness, but no other issues. Heading to the gym in a bit for treadmill and upper body stuff.
Wednesday - 44 days post-op - 6 week followup with Dr. Lee Webb yesterday at Midlands Orthopaedics and Neurosurgery. X-ray was “perfect†in her words. Confessed my indiscretion of July 3 (pushing up from kneeling on the floor with my op leg). She said it wouldn’t have hurt the joint, but I’m still convinced I might’ve set back my recovery a bit with the muscles and connective tissue. Amazing how really tough and resilient the human body is!
I asked about the lack of a K-wire incision for leg length. I had one on my right side. Lee said they have improved the process and now measure leg length from the x-rays. One less incision. I really appreciate the constant improvements being made on this procedure. Drs Gross and Webb do not rest on their laurels!
Had something sticking out from the top of the incision since removing the bandage on week 2, making it very tender and uncomfortable. I couldn’t see it without a mirror, so my wife looked at it with a magnifying glass. Couldn’t figure out if it was a piece of sinew (yuk!) or possibly a dead nerve ending (double yuk!). Told Lee about it, she had a look and said it was the end of a suture, got a set of forceps and pulled it out. YIKES!! Felt like a bee sting! She said it would take 3 months to dissolve if she hadn’t removed it. Suggested I give it 24 hours before swimming, as other scabs were gone already. Won’t be swimming until next week anyway. The pain and discomfort went away immediately. The hour drive home was MUCH more comfortable and I was able to sleep for about 2 hours on the op side last night. Thanks, Lee! You’re the best!! More advice, Hippies: if you see something, SAY SOMETHING! If something doesn’t seem quite right, contact your surgeon or their team. You’re covered under a lifetime warranty! ;)
On to 6-week stretching and strengthening. Heading to the gym in a bit to ride the stationary bike and start some light lower body work.
Monday - 7 weeks post-op - our 4 day trip to the western North Carolina mountains was wonderful! Cool temps and great weather made for a wonderful respite from our mid to upper 90’s with humidity to match. The trip up and back was a lot more tolerable since Dr. Webb removed that piece of exposed suture. Hiked two moderate trails and had no problem navigating roots and rocks. Took my walking stick along, but didn’t really need it. Toughest thing was sleeping in a too-firm bed. I had to fold the comforter and sleep on it. I guess that’s why they call it a “comforterâ€. :D Started leg lifts with last weeks clearance, only being able to do 10 to start, but am now up to 30 already. I’ll do a couple more days of 30, then drop back to 15 with the addition of my 1 pound ankle weights. Started adding light yoga poses to the 6-week exercise regimen. Still taking Advil when needed, but trying to reduce that as well.
Monday - 8 weeks post-op - sleep getting better, progressed to 30 reps on the leg lifts this morning. 2 Advil with breakfast, not because I really needed them, but just thought a morning without underlying, tooth-achy pain might be nice. Haven’t had to take anything for a while, so what the heck. Ridge bump is starting to disappear, leaving the thin purple line. The hip muscles have reached the “itchy sore†stage. Progress!! Light massaging of the affected area helps. Reading (and re-reading) DAC-VAN’s post https://surfacehippy.info/hiptalk/index.php?topic=6985.msg62743#msg62743 under the “Recovery Issues†section is very helpful at this stage, I think. Working on extra light stretching and strengthening movements, not exceeding Dr. Gross’s guidelines, of course. Just throwing in some extra stuff. Hoping this hip turns out even better than my right, although I have no complaints! :)
Thursday - 59 days post-op - Oops! Boy, did I overdo it! Installing shoe shelves in our closet. Started the project on Tuesday. Up and down on the floor (used my exercise mat), multiple trips up and down the stairs. I feel like somebody has worked me over with a bat. Every joint hurts. Hip, amazingly, feels pretty good! On top of that, I must have gotten a touch of the flu. 103F temp last night with all those body aches and nasty chills. Feel better today. Temp is down to 99 with Tylenol. Gotta be careful I don’t get some weird infection that goes to the joint. Rehabbing my right hip surgery in ‘21, I waited 6 months to do a tile job in our laundry room. Still had some range of motion issues then. I’m not quite 2 months post-op on this one. Some day, I’ll learn to take it easy…
Sunday - 62 days post-op - Well, it wasn’t the flu. Went to an urgent care Friday since my primary care physician was booked up. They took a urine sample and vitals and told me to go to the ER. 7 hours of miserable waiting, multiple vitals checks in the waiting room, CT scan, chest x-ray, bloodwork, more urine samples (which had blood in it as of Thursday night, BTW). Finally was taken back to an exam room after walking a groove in the waiting room floor going to the bathroom every 30 minutes. They hooked up an IV with antibiotics and gave me the diagnosis: UTI/bladder cystitis. Drained the bag and they gave me the option of admission or going home and follow-up with my doc. I took the home option. Haven’t done my post 6-week exercises since Tuesday. No energy, major setback. Feeling a little better since Friday. Hopefully, I’ll be back on track soon. Lessons learned: Listen CAREFULLY to what your body is telling you. Ask for help and guidance. Plenty of time for rehab and training LATER.
Friday - 67 days post-op - Looks like I survived! Feeling much better this week and picked up my leg raises with ankle weights like I hadn’t taken a week off. Went back to the gym yesterday and hit the bike, treadmill, stairclimber, adductor and abductor machines. No problems. I’ll be adding extra reps to the leg raises with 1 pound ankle weights to hit 30, then backing up to 15 reps with 2 pounds. Once I work back up to 30 reps, I’ll be freeeeeeee! ;D
Tuesday - 71 days post-op - experienced the “clunk†for the first time on the left hip yesterday doing some light yoga after my weighted leg raises. Up to 2 lbs at 20 reps. Yay! I can’t remember exactly when the “clunk†in my right hip faded and disappeared. Somewhere between 6 and 8 months. Felt some soreness in my left quad this morning, but it went away after our dog walk. I’m finally off the antibiotics prescribed for my bladder problem, which has resolved. No Advil last night or the night before. Progress!
Thursday - 73 days post-op - FINALLY! Two consecutive nights of excellent sleep! I was happy for just one, but two? Whoo hoo! It’s been since mid-May being able to sleep straight through. Woke up this morning ready to dive into a guest bedroom renovation project. Back in the saddle!
Monday - 77 days post-op - beginning week 12 - Two steps forward, one step back… I was so happy that I’ve done a week of 2 pounds on each leg and 30 reps on the leg lifts. Then woke up this morning to find my left leg had crossed over my right. Yikes! Feels like I’ve regressed six weeks! Limped around our 1.7 mile dog walk. Dernit! Decided to start back on my morning yoga routine this morning and leave the 6 week exercises behind. Two Advil and things are starting to settle down. I use a knee pillow, but it seems my leg decided to ignore it. Hard to be careful when you’re dead asleep!
Monday - 84 days post-op - beginning week 13 - Hunkering down and doing a lot of knee work for the guest room reno has my hamstrings screaming and my haunches whining! Hips are doing great. Took the day “off†and went to the gym instead for some cardio. 10 minutes each on the recumbent bike, treadmill and stairclimber. Abductor and adductor machines, 2 ab machines and 10 minutes of standing stretches. The hammies and haunches are still not happy, but laboring on Labor Day is good for the soul!
Hi Marvin.
How does it feel compared to your previous operated leg/hip currently?
As well as I can remember, Ironman, my previous hip was feeling pretty much normal by now. Folks I worked with commented that my limp was gone just after 2 months, but I was climbing 3 stories worth of stairs several times a day. Our two-story house doesn’t get me quite there!
I’ll be 3 months post-op next Monday, and just 3 years older. The muscle soreness is still there, can’t sleep long on the op side and have to roll over to the non-op. I’m starting to find that I can go a while during the day without thinking about it now. The occasional ibuprofen helps with the sleep. At least I’m not eating them out of a Pez dispenser like I was before the surgery. Over all, I feel pretty doggone good. Sights set on 6 months!
Nice.
So if you have to compare both and this stage what would you say the differences are?
A little more steady pain this time, kinda tooth-achy. When it weighs on me too much, a couple ibuprofen does the trick. My fitness level before surgery was better the first go round. I really think that helped with the recovery time being shorter. I feel I’m a little behind the curve this time, but still progressing. The ridge is almost completely gone, which is pretty much same as last time. Not too many differences. I used to see a pain management doctor when I had problems with deteriorating discs. Something he said stuck with me: “Your body works to fight pain. Let it, if you can tolerate it, but if you can’t, let it rest. Take some pain reliever and stay on top of it for a few days. Give your body a break.†Seems to be working for me with this as well. As I keep saying, everybody’s mileage may vary!
Thursday - 94 days post-op - Missed posting on 3 months post-op Monday! Deep in the guest room reno and forgot to update. Still dealing with tooth-achy soreness and weakness. Haven’t been to the gym since starting this project a week and a half ago, but figured the multiple trips up and down the stairs, lifting, squatting (not “heavily†exceeding 90 degrees), crawling, and walking make up for it. Wear myself out every day! Still some pain lying on the op side going to sleep, but found that if I roll further and extend my right knee and foot, it’s much more comfortable. Still learning new things and discovering what works and what doesn’t.
Weathered the storm here in South Carolina. Hurricane Helene really did a number on us! 135 year old red oak in our backyard hit the ground around 4am, squashing our wooden privacy fence flat. Luckily it stayed away from the neighbor’s house, but others have not been so lucky. Lots of damage here in Western South Carolina and a lot of folks still out of power. Power just came back on for us yesterday after 2 1/2 days in the dark. Coffee at the neighbor’s house across the street, who had power return rather quickly. We have great neighbors! The hip gave me no issues, but my back, shoulders, and arms sure felt it! Cleanup pretty much done until the tree companies become available, so off to help the neighbors.
The only complaint remaining at 3.75 months is sleeping too long on the op side. I can go maybe an hour or so, then have to turn over, but that’s it. The clunk is fading, probably with all the moving, stretching and lifting I’ve been doing lately. Haven’t needed the gym in a few weeks, so…progress! :)
Sounds like good progress! Lucky your clunk is fading! Mine is still there at 5 months….always there when bent over.
Ironman mine is like that also when I’m bent over and it’s like I can feel it in my lower back / upper buttocks area. And it’s on both sides for me.
Other that that it’s not often other than sometimes when I shuffle side to side.
How are you doing in general now? How far out are you?
Friday - 116 days post-op - Enjoying the sights, sounds (and smells) of Washington DC with the Mrs. Walked over 10 miles when we arrived and logged 7 yesterday. Probably will do the same today. 57 stairs at the Lincoln Memorial: no problem. 5 flights of stairs at the hotel: no problem. My feet hurt, but the hips are asking for more. Wish we could pedal one of the numerous rental bikes or ride a scooter around town. Two more months! Counting down the days.
Monday - 126 days post-op - Overlooked another milestone: 4 months! Cleaning up the yard, post-Helene and continuing the guest room renovation. Lower back has been bothering me with all the lifting and twisting, but hips are begging for more and starting to yearn for a bike ride. Light yoga stretches every morning ease the back pain. Still being careful not to cross left over right until 6 months on December 10. Counting down the days to “restriction freeâ€!
Sunday - 153 days post-op - 5 month anniversary today! Whoo hoo! Started pushing the stretches a little more. I can now easily do a seated soccer stretch on the floor. A month ago, I could barely get my op leg foot to my calf, let alone beside my knee. Lately, I’ve had charley horses in my right calf waking me up at night. Last night was a bad one. Don’t think it is related to hip, as it’s on the 3.5 year post-op right leg. Just more age-related crapola. Planning to check with my miracle-working chiropractor, who I have not seen in 6 months. Still yearning for the 6-month anniversary bike ride. Hope December 10 weather will allow it. You never know in South Carolina… it could be sleeting and 30F or sunny and 82F!
Quote from: MarvinB on November 10, 2024, 10:04:05 AM
Sunday - 153 days post-op - 5 month anniversary today! Whoo hoo! Started pushing the stretches a little more. I can now easily do a seated soccer stretch on the floor. A month ago, I could barely get my op leg foot to my calf, let alone beside my knee. Lately, I’ve had charley horses in my right calf waking me up at night. Last night was a bad one. Don’t think it is related to hip, as it’s on the 3.5 year post-op right leg. Just more age-related crapola. Planning to check with my miracle-working chiropractor, who I have not seen in 6 months. Still yearning for the 6-month anniversary bike ride. Hope December 10 weather will allow it. You never know in South Carolina… it could be sleeting and 30F or sunny and 82F!
I found taking magnesium capsules really helped this after my THR. Definitely something in it for me and not placebo
If you're getting cramps, increase potassium and see if that helps. Eat more bananas. Potassium helps your muscles relax, when you're short you can start cramping badly. This happens frequently in sports when drinking only water to hydrate, as the potassium gets used up and all the new water dilutes what's left. Which is why the good sports drinks have potassium in them. No guarantee that's your problem, but it can't hurt to try.
Never had a problem with either magnesium or potassium, according to my blood tests. I eat bananas or oranges/mandarins almost every day and usually drink Gatorade Zero when I'm working hard. Always had very tight calves, so adding some extra stretching may be in order.
Well, here it is… 6 months today! Whoo hooo!! :D Today also happens to be my wonderful wife’s 60th birthday. Couldn’t have done any of this without her love and support. She’s amazing!
June 10th of this year, it seemed like such a long road to 6 months and zero restrictions. Looking back, it’s pretty incredible how quickly it passed. Sucks that it’s rainy here today and tomorrow, or I would be out on my bike! Looking forward to next year’s beach kayaking trip and getting back in the gym, although I’m starting another DIY renovation project on another room in our house so probably won’t need the gym. Time to strengthen this thing! I’ve added the “Spiderman pose†back to the yoga routine to impress my great-nephew. No issues! Working on more flexibility and sitting crosslegged… my goal after the right hip operation was to sit under the Christmas tree crosslegged to open presents. It truly is the little things in life!
Happy Holidays, Hippies! Stay well!
1st anniversary of the 2nd hip on June 10! Whoo hoo! All is well, no clunking, tough as titanium and asking for more on hikes, climbs, yard work, doggie walks, etc. Now if I can keep my right knee from complaining and trying to steer me towards another surgery, I’ll be happy. I guess if it does, I know a guy… ;D
Happy Anniversary Second Hip!!! I am glad things are working out well. Usually it does for hip resurfacing, which you well know! Thanks for sharing your story. I wish you the best. Pat
Hi Marvin. I finally collected all your story posts and placed your story on the main website under Dr. Gross Stories. I will watch and try to add updates as time goes on. https://surfacehippy.info/marvin-bs-bilateral-hip-resurfacing-with-dr-gross-2021-2024/ (https://surfacehippy.info/marvin-bs-bilateral-hip-resurfacing-with-dr-gross-2021-2024/) I wish you the best. Pat
Thanks, Pat! Love the new forum format.
Thanks Marvin. I finally was able to get the forum updated and made a lot of changes. Hopefully all for the better!