I've joined this exclusive club!

[MPH]

Well, this morning Andrew Shimmin fitted a Birmingham 52mm head and 58mm to my blown out right hip. A morning spent shopping with Mrs H got rid of any doubts about surgery it ached so much.
The journey has begun, and to be honest, the worst bit was waking up from the surgery!
Pain is minimal at the moment ( I know that will change ) but the ice feels great. The whole team here at The Avenue Hospital, Melbourne have been awesome so far.
I'll have to change my signature block on here now!
This site not only helped, it really inspired to get the right surgeon and the correct procedure for me and for that I'll always be grateful.

[toby]

Congratulations my friend-a great start to 2015 life will continue to get better and better with your new hip!
Best
Toby
LHR Adept-Prof Cobb 30-1-10
ps Also, good to see that the sizing is higher than expected-additional excellent news

[Pat Walter]

Congratulations!  Take it easy and you will have a great summer.  There will be some ups and downs, but you are on the right track now!

Good Luck.

Pat

[jss]

Congratulations MPH and welcome aboard!

I'll be a week post-op tomorrow. As much as you can, stay ahead of the swelling. Like with everything else, it's easier to keep up than catch up.

[MPH]

Thanks for the kind words. It's been on ice since I came back to the room so, swelling is the main enemy as far as I'm concerned. I'll keep posting the recovery, hopefully it goes to plan and helps others on a similar path. Now time for a bit more💤👍

[Sandspinner]

Welcome to the club and best of luck with your recovery.   I found using ice almost round the clock to be very useful keeping the swelling down for the first week.  As Pat said take it easy be patient and give your body a chance to heal without over doing it.  I truly hope you enjoy your new hip as much as I have. 

[hernanu]

Congrats and welcome to the walking healed. Take it easy and work hard.

[JHippy]

Congratulations!

[Jason0411]

Congratulations.

[MPH]

Thanks all. Day 1 has been ok. Ice, PT, ice, ice and ice. Yes it aches and there's meds that help that but I'm really enjoying the challenge!
But as they say, it's a marathon recovery, not a sprint.  :)

[dfox]

Congratulations, glad to hear you are doing well.

Remember to drink lots of water.  They may require you to urinate on your own before releasing you.

[MPH]

All good, have completed both the 'requirements' on day 2!! My surgeon is quite conservative regarding letting me fly so I'll be a few days yet. Only an hour flight but he's concerned. I've no problem staying here, the food is great and I haven't stopped laughing with the team! Pain is 1/10 at best, managed with OxyContin so far. Really pleased. Hip pain wiped out, just the surgery muscular type pain to contend with. I'm enjoying it to be honest, that's a bit weird though!

[lgbran]

All the best from a fellow Aussie
Welcome to the club. Have to agree what a great hospital . Im at the 14 month mark now and my hip keeps on improving. Listen to your Dr and to your body . It will let you know when you do too much. It's early days but trust me life is so much better on the other side
Cheers

[MPH]

Thanks Len. All good so far and doing what I'm told and no more! Came off the OxyContin today and it feels ok so just maintaining the icing regime. Thanks again.m

[Dannywayoflife]

Eww I hate that OxyContin horrible stuff! Still needs must. Hope your recovering well buddy

[MPH]

Thanks Danny. Don't think it could have gone any better. Pain is minimal, if any, just stiffness and swelling so ice is current trend! Finally got the ok to fly home, Andrew Shimmin really concerned about infection rate etc, so a couple of extra days being fed and pampered here is probably a bonus!!
I still can't get over how easy a process it's been, just shows that if you find the right surgeon and facility, you're in a win win situation.
Once again thanks.

[MPH]

Well, day 9. Been on one crutch for the last 2 days. Flew home on day 7.  Zero pain, just stiff ache and swelling that is controllable with ice. Can't get over how, after major surgery mobility returns. I put it down to the skill of the surgeon, his peri-operative physician and encompassing team. Pat, you may want to move my thread to 'stories' now rather than 'topics'. I'll keep a regular update on the recovery just in case it answers some questions those yet to choose this path may have.
Walked 2x 600m with 1 crutch in 32 degrees today! The TEDS stockings are the worst when it's warm!

[MPH]

Almost 4 weeks now and recovery is going really well. Walking 4 miles a day in 2 sets and it feels fine. I've been doing all the stretches and exercises from my PT and see differences every day. Really pleased so far. Start spin bike and hydrotherapy this week so looking forward to that.
I'm only taking panadol now if required and that's normally at the end of the day.
The only slight niggle I get is first thing in the morning when I get up. I have a numbness down my hamstrings on the operated leg. I know the sciatic nerve is isolated in surgery and wondered if anyone else has experienced the feeling and how they dealt with it? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

[Pat Walter]

MPH Great News.  Thanks for the Update.  I hope you run many more races.

Pat