Hip Resurfacing #2 with Dr. Pritchett

[catfriend]

I finally went bilat and had my left hip resurfaced with Dr. Pritchett this past Monday, March 1. Yay! I was bone on bone. It had been five years since my right hip was resurfaced, and there were changes, accelerated by Covid. Not that long after my first resurfacing Dr. P began performing resurfacing as day surgery, for one. Thanks to Covid you don't even go to a room.

Saturday I went to Swedish for my Covid test. Negative. Monday I had to be at the Swedish Orthopedic Institute at 5.45 for my 7.45 surgery. Before that, at 3.45, I had to drink 12 oz of Gatorade. I met with the anesthesiologist and Dr. Pritchett prior to surgery. I woke up in recovery before 10. My epidural had worn off, so I was in pain. They had to add in drugs to take the edge off. I also had ice chips, water, and cranberry juice. The only food I ever got was some graham crackers. I was starving by the time I left! I had PT, and then OT. I was ready for release by 2pm.

My neighbor picked me up. We went to Rite Aid to pick up my prescriptions. They didn't have oxycodone! They told me that the other local store didn't carry it, either. I was shocked. Is this new? Is this a policy response to the opiate crisis? We drove right through that drive through and right on up to CVS.  They had it.

While we were waiting we drove to another strip mall and he ordered us some Thai food. Since it was warm out - for Seattle - he left his door ajar and I opened my window. It didn't take me too long to nod off. I was awakened by these two women who came out of a business to check on me and make sure I was all right! They were concerned that something might actually be wrong with me or the situation I was in. Touching, but I would rather have stayed asleep.

When we got home another neighbor supervised me getting into my house. I had dinner and drugs and fell asleep in my recliner.

Day 1 post op: I woke up and was lucid. I was in much better shape after this surgery than the first. I had no problems with basic care. I made myself breakfast, fed my animals, and didn't drop anything. I have neighbors on standby if I have any problems, but I didn't. I walked up and down the hall several times. Generally speaking I was in much better shape after this surgery than the last one.

The one negative is that I did experience more pain. When I spoke with Dr. P's assistant (regarding another matter), I mentioned this, and she wasn't surprised. Close to half of all patients do experience more pain with the second. I suppose this makes sense: half more pain with the first, half with the second.

Day 2 post op: the extra pain was a bummer, but I didn't have any problems getting around or taking care of myself. I had a neighbor come help me bake a pizza because of the 90 degree rule.

Day 3 post op: oh, what a difference! The pain greatly dissipated overnight. Not quite Tylenol ready yet, but I didn't nearly as much oxy as before. I felt good enough to take a full body sponge bath, and change nightgowns and slipper socks. Walked back and forth across the house many times.

I feel good about my recovery so far.

[blinky]

Welcome to the bilat club!

Do you prefer the no hospital stay model? Wish I could have done that.

So how many differences between one and two? No hospital stay, COVID (ugh), harder to get opioids.

Look forward to reading more.

[Pat Walter]

Congratulations on your second hip resurfacing. Sounds like you are doing well. Always a little rough in the beginning. Looking forward to following your progress. I wish you the very best.    Pat

[catfriend]

Days 4 and 5 Post Op: Both similar. Not really a lot to report. Yesterday I took Tylenol during the day. In the evening I felt the need for something stronger, so took an oxy. Nothing but Tylenol today, but if I feel the need for an oxy tonight I'll take it.

I'm doing my exercises and walking around the house a lot. I'm doing some light cooking and cleaning as well. Oh, and lots of tv viewing.

I prefer no hospital stay over staying in the hospital. The exception is I would really like to have had something to eat, and if they had taken me to a room I would have got some food. Because of Covid you're discharged directly from recovery, so no food. Lemme tell ya: after a night without food and a day of surgery I was ravenous.

Before my first surgery every person I knew that had had hip surgery had been in the hospital for at least three days. When I got told it was one night only I was shocked. So if I had been told it was day surgery back then I might have balked! I was concerned with same day discharge that I would have a couple of bad days like my first full day home after my first surgery. This turned out not to be the case. In fact, overall I would say I felt better after this surgery. Yes, I experienced more pain, but everything else was better.

So far as I can tell I am healing neither faster nor slower than before.

[blinky]

Food is a good point. I would not have thought of that.I had a little in patient surgery years ago, not hip related, and my first thought was COFFEE and second was FOOD.

[imgetinold]

As someone else said, welcome to the bi-lat club!  I too had a much easier go of it than the first time around, and I am 9 years older.  Weird.  I had equal or maybe slightly less pain this time.  I was done with all pain meds at day 5 this time around, vs. day 7 the first time.

I wish you well for the rest of your recovery!

[PistolPete]

I find it crazy that so many surgeons are doing this with Day surgery.  My surgeon does the same but kept me overnight because I live a few hours away and I had a mid/late morning surgery.  Glad you're on the other side.  I made a log of my recovery.  I had surgery last month.  Wishing you a speedy recovery and a new pain free life.

[catfriend]

I'm now at Day 9 post op. I make progress every day. Nothing record setting, but each days builds on the last.

I did have a scary experience earlier today when I was getting up. Somehow I slipped and twisted, and everything went sideways. The way the new hip felt was scary. I sat back down for a minute to make sure everything was ok. Seems to be.

I'm really itching a lot around my bandage. This is driving me crazy. Can't wait for it to be removed Friday.

[jimbone]

Those little slips can be scary but you had one of the best do the work- should be built to last.  Glad to hear you're getting better.

[Saddlepal3]

Congrats Catfriend. Glad to hear that recovery is going (mostly) smoothly. Send regards to Dr. P from his fans:)

[PistolPete]

I'm glad that you're OK and hopeful you aren't having any more issues like you had.  As for the itchiness it is AWFUL.  Mine got WAY worse when the bandage came off.  The skin under it gets SUPER DRY so it is crazy itchy.  I'm 4 weeks post op and at night it is still itchy but not nearly as bad.  I wanted to scratch my leg off.  haha

I'm now at Day 9 post op. I make progress every day. Nothing record setting, but each days builds on the last.

I did have a scary experience earlier today when I was getting up. Somehow I slipped and twisted, and everything went sideways. The way the new hip felt was scary. I sat back down for a minute to make sure everything was ok. Seems to be.

I'm really itching a lot around my bandage. This is driving me crazy. Can't wait for it to be removed Friday.

[catfriend]

I would say that little slip yesterday has set my recovery back a couple of days or so. As last night progressed it got more and more sore. Finally had to pop an oxy. Did not attempt any abductor/adductor exercises because of the increased soreness. Oh well. If that's the worst thing that happens I should consider myself lucky.

I washed my hair today and cooked a multi course dinner, so there's that for achievement today.

At least I'm all clean for my first follow up tomorrow.

[catfriend]

I had my first post op visit with Dr. P yesterday. All went well. The x-rays looked good. It was remarked that I was walking well. The bandage came off, and I am no longer itching. Whew! I mentioned my incident to both Dr. P and his assistant. Nobody was perturbed.

The hardest part of yesterday was the ride. The seat belt buckle was against my incision area. No matter how much I repositioned I just could not get comfortable. I was in pain by the time I finally got home. My walk up the stairs was slow. Apparently the pax seat of the Honda CRV was not designed with the hip patient in mind.

One thing I've been meaning to mention. With the last surgery a few days after I got home my right leg swelled into the Log Leg. I even had a cankle. Ugh! And, of course, I had to pee that thing out. No fun at all.

But not this time. My left leg never swelled up like that. Any swelling was minor and limited. I can also say the bruising is less as well.

I continue to do my exercises and walk around the house.

[Sleeker]

Hi Catfriend,

I would turn out to be Dr Pritchett's patient 24 hours after your surgery!
Same time, 7:45am, on March 2nd , outpatient, ok'd to head home around 2:30pm, back home in my "lazy boy" by 3pm, I live 20 minutes from Swedish hospital

I am a Male, 57 and this is my first hip surgery. Left side. I'm told I have narrowing on my right hip and hoping I have many years left. No pain at this point in the right hip

Some notes on my recovery

My post-op is tomorrow, March 15th and looking forward to getting the bandage off, it's been a little itchy. I am walking with 2 crutches, not ready to give one up yet. I'm putting 50% or 75% on my new hip depending on how things are feeling. Today is Post Op Day 12

My friend had the same surgery a month ago and provided me some good tips and advice

1. If in Seattle area, Rent a Power Lazy Boy chair. You can rent for a week or a month, I chose a month as two weeks was about the same as 4 weeks. The folks  on Aurora area great  (Access Medical Equipment). My chair had 1 week on it, I'm going to buy it for my father-in-law. They discount it it every time it's used. I slept in this chair nights 2, 3 and 4. A lifesaver

2. rented a walker for the first week, I really just used it for the first day and the shower I took the first week.  I am using my 2 crutches and prefer those over a walker

3. Pain Meds, I went into this with the goal of noting any Oxy and that is what I did.   Using the guidance from Dr P, I combined Tylenol with Advil and  would max out the dosage for the first 3 days

Days 1-3 , 4x per day, about every 4-5 hours during the day (2 x 500mg Ext Strength Tylenol + 2 Ibuprofen) . 4000 mg max per day of Tylenol

Day 4 ---> 3x per day, about every 6 hours,  (2 x 500mg Ext Strength Tylenol + 2 Ibuprofen) . 3000mg max per day of Tylenol

My plan is to manage with Tylenol, 2x a day,  after post-op

4. Swelling - My foot was swollen for a few days, Day 5-7? and would get relief with ice and laying back in lazy boy flat with a pillow under my legs. I found myself alternating ice between my thigh and hamstring and foot. The Gel Ice Pads I got off Amzn are nice, my PT person recommended.

5. Toilet Riser - big fan of getting toilet higher. Mine is 4" higher and I don't know what I would have done if I didn't have this. I have a cane next to the toilet which is a nice aid

6. Exercises - to be honest, the first week, I really didn't try and overdo it. Getting up every hour and walking seemed to be enough for me. I think I walked around the block on Day 4. By Day 8 I was doing the exercises that Dr P sends you home with. My first PT is scheduled 3 weeks from the actual surgery.

7. Sleep - the first ~5 days post op, I'm up every 2-3 hours to urinate.  I didn't get good (5 hours straight) , things got better around day 6 or 7. I have been sleeping on my back with a small wedge under legs and then I put pillow between my legs as not to cross. I find it's hard to actually cross your legs but did this just in case. On Day 7, I was able to turn on my side for a few hours and that felt great! pillow between thighs and a foam wedge between feet worked out great.  These foam pieces I ordered off amazon a few days before surgery and nice to have them for the bed

8. Other aides - a grabber for picking up everything you drop plus helping with putting on clothes. The strap they send you home with to lift your leg into bed! and lastly, the sock aide to put your socks on!!

To sum up, the first week is not a lot of fun but it seems like every day after that, things get a little better  :)

I'm looking forward to starting PT in 1 week

[catfriend]

Sleeker - glad you're doing well. I broke down and bought a cheap recliner off Amazon. I didn't feel renting one was all that much cheaper. Plus, I have cats, and I knew I would be liable for any damage they caused. It's a definite improvement over the regular chair I had to rehab with after the first surgery. If you're contemplating hip surgery (or knee surgery), but a recliner, even if they're not you're style. They really help after surgery in ways you don't understand beforehand.

My walker is from my first surgery.

As for drugs, my philosophy is take 'em if you need 'em, don't if you don't. I needed them for both surgeries. There were a couple of times when waiting out those three hours were tough. Then the pain dissipated to Tylenol, and then nothing at all. Everybody's physiology is different, and everybody experiences pain differently. I'm in awe of people that manage on only Tylenol. I couldn't have done that, and that's ok, too.

It really does get better every day. Today, 13 days post op, I decided to take advantage of a Pi day special, and drove into town to pick up a couple of pizzas. I left the house and got into my car all on my own, and then realized I couldn't shut the damn door. I was pointed downwards in my driveways, and the door is just too big and heavy too far out for me to lean and pull shut. Had I realized this in advance I could have brought a tool down for this, but noooooo. I had to call my neighbor to shut my car door. The roundtrip was around an hour. I was so stiff when I got out of my car. At least my seat belt clip didn't dig into me like my Friday experience.  It was tough to stand up when I first got out of the car. But it was so worth it. I enjoyed the pizza, and I enjoyed the bottle of wine I washed them down with. This was my first post surgery alcohol. Yum!

[blinky]

Best Pi Day!

I enjoyed hearing about the car door---the best laid plans and still surprises. I am glad you kept your sense of humor.

[catfriend]

Time - and healing - marches on. At this point I'm either walking around the house with a cane or no aid at all. The exception is when I stand up from my chair. My muscles are really stiff around the freshly resurfaced joint and it takes me a few moments to steady myself and get past it. My gait is better with the cane. For outside walks and trips I'm still using the walker. I need the protection, especially as I move further from the house. Also, I can walk a lot further with the walker. This probably won't last much longer. My stamina improves each day.

My healing incision sometimes bothers me. I had this experience with the first surgery as well. Some muscles bother me on some days, and others and others. Par for the course.

The weird thing I had happen with this surgery is a few days after my last entry my left lower leg started itching like crazy. It was unbearable. Seriously, it was so bad I wanted to attach some 220 grit to a palm sander and go at it. But alas, the 90 degree restrictions kept me from reaching my lower leg. Since I had an itch I could not scratch I sent for a long handled loofah and some spray on cetaphil. These helped, but it still itched for a few days. Disgusting. Serious dandruff leg. I didn't have that experience with my right leg.

So, steady and uneventful progress.

[imgetinold]

80 grit would have garnered more sympathy...... ;D ;D ;D ;D

[catfriend]

Ooops. I guess I got the grits backwards. Considering how much sanding I was doing before I had my resurfacing you wouldn't think I'd make that mistake. Yes, 80 grit. I really just wanted to sand off all the skin on my lower leg. I cannot understate how unbearably itchy it was, nor how disgusting it was to watch the dead white skin just flake onto whatever was underneath it. It was nasty.

[MarvinB]

Hey Catfriend!  Glad to hear you’re making progress.  It’s interesting to see how the healing process is different for everyone.  Dr. Gross uses an AquaGel silver-impregnated bandage that stays on for a week after the surgery.  You can shower with it the day after, which I thought was amazing.  It didn’t itch at all.  My urge to scratch came at about 6 weeks, but the itch was UNDER the skin as the sutures started the slow disolving process.  Even the little k-wire suture about 3 inches up from the surgery wound started to itch.  The AguaGel bandage peels off like a Command strip:  pull laterally all the way around, little by little until it comes off.  Otherwise, that sucker would probably be there to stay!  :). Still no itching on almost 3 months.  Wound looks like a brown magic marker line.  Hope you heal as quickly and get back to fun stuff with no pain.