Second Hip Resurfacing with Dr Gross

[Kingrob]

I had my right hip resurfaced with Dr. Gross in 11/2015, and had my left hip done 02/16/22. Up until last year I was very active. I have been playing lots of golf, ran 5ks, competed in the Senior Games doing all the sprints. I was also able to deadlift with the hex bar 370LBS - which is over twice my body weight. I have never experienced any pain in the right hip. I went back to Dr. Gross due to the results of my first HR. I live in Florida and it is about 7 1/2 hours away but it was pretty easy to manage.

The big difference now with Dr. Gross is that it is outpatient. The first hip resurfacing was done at the hospital and I spent the night there. You will now have the surgery at the surgery center and you will need to have somebody there with you. I went back to the hotel after recovery from surgery. Dr Gross came by the hotel the next morning and gave me clearance to drive home with my son.

I am about 10 days after surgery and today is the first day I am not using crutches or a cane. I went out to get something to eat yesterday and I was using one crutch to help me walk. When I got back to my car I realized that I left the crutch in the restaurant. I decided after that I do not need it.

Things are going pretty much the way they did with the first surgery. Funny thing is the first time I had the surgery when I left the hotel to go home I forgot the power supply for the ice machine. I did not ice my leg that much the first time. When I got home from the surgery this time my son was hooking up the ice machine when he realized he forgot the cord at the hotel. I ordered a new cord but took 3 days to get here. I only used the ice machine a couple of times since being back home. I think icing is good right after the surgery but for me all that icing was not needed.

I am just planning on taking it easy and do some walking before my 6 week appointment. The hard part is being patient for 6 months even though you feel you can do more.

I went 8 years bone on bone before getting my first surgery. I did not wait this time -  I knew there was a fix to my problem 

Good luck to everybody!

[Kingrob]

I am at the 4 and 1/2 week mark and my incision is pretty much healed. I was sure to use the ointment that was prescribed; I still have some left and will use until it is gone. I walked a mile today with no problem, I have just a small limp but should be gone by my 6 week mark. I am progressing each day so I am really happy with the results to this point.

[Danlalane]

Great update Kingrob. Thank you for taking the time to keep us up to date. I sent you a quick PM for a question about running. Speedy recovery.

[imgetinold]

Well done, Kingrob.  I, too, had my right done first, followed by my left (9 years later) by Dr. Gross.  I completely concur with the waiting vs. not waiting.  I didn't wait 8 years on my first, but definitely waited a couple years before pulling the trigger.  Hip #2 I called for the appointment within a month of the pain persisting. 

Be patient, and good luck!

[Kingrob]

Just thought I would give an update,

I have been back to running for about a month. I stopped running in March 2020 due to my left hip. I am out of shape but was able to run non stop for 30 minutes. Not sure of the distance. I am planning on running some sprint events in the senior games in October. My go to exercise was the Hex Bar. I am not doing that yet since you are suppose to wait a year before doing any heavy lifting. I was able to do 370LBS (I weighed 178LBS) before I had to shut things down. I did that after having my right hip resurfaced in 2015. I am doing some cable work with my legs and some Belgian split squats with 40Ls of weight. It feels really good to be running again and both my hips feel great.

[Salah]

Thank you for your contributions here Rob.

I’m also a Gross patient (about 13 weeks out from a RHR).

I was told I would have “no restrictions” once I hit 6 months outside of very high impact activities. Were you on a slower recovery plan than the fastest one or was there any additional precautions given age? (I’m 36)

[Kingrob]

No, I was on the fast track. You are able to start back into running at 6 months (I started two weeks early). I feel like I have been somebody who has rehabbed quickly. I am running totally pain free. The only restriction on how far I can run is the shape I am in.

My personal conversation with Dr. Gross was the bone does not completely heal until a year. It makes sense to me because I have had this surgery on my other hip in 2015. I can barely see that scar. I had this surgery on my left hip in February and although that scar is healing nicely just like my right side - It still has some red/purple to it. If the skin has not 100 percent healed than it makes sense to me that bone has probably not either. I think the restriction was on heavy lifting - I am not positive that there is a restriction.

[Hipchallengedone]

Sounds like things have progressed in a fantastic way for you Kingrob.  Just wondering what were the "higher impact activities" that Dr Gross spoke of with you.  I am a bilateral patient of his (May of 2022) and I am on his fast track protocol.  He also mentioned to avoid a heavy flex of bringing your knees up to your chest and no weight training for the legs.   Have you included some other type of training for your recovery?

[Kingrob]

Hipchallengedone,

That was not me who talked about high impact activities - that was Salah. I do not know what is higher impact than running. I was even told I could start playing basketball after 6 months. I did go to the gym yesterday and did the Hex Bar for the first time. I did 4 sets of 185 - 15 reps. I am getting ready to do a short run today before work. What Dr. Gross said to me was that the bone takes 1 year to completely heal. I believe the only restriction is on heavy lifting with squats, dead lifts, and what I use the Hex bar. I am not positive that there is a restriction but you should ease back into activities. 185LBS is my current body weight so I do not consider that to be a heavy weight.

As far as my rehab - I really just did the walking. I was up to walking 8 or 9 hours a week. I really stayed away from any type of stretching. I was always progressing so there was no need to do anything else. Sometimes less is more. The hard part is about the 4-5 month mark and you want to do more. I have waited my time and I am at the 7 month mark now. So now I am at the point I can really start working hard.

Good luck - take it easy - it heals itself

[Hipchallengedone]

Kingrob:

Thanks, so when I went for my six week follow up, I was shown the "fast track" exercises and have been doing them ever since.  Dr Gross relayed the same info to me along with his Nurse.  He spoke about no running and no weight training on the legs.  I am 4.5 months in now, I am not planning to do anything except the bike, elliptical, light weights for the upper body and the isometrics stretches on the fast track.  I realize everyone heals at a different pace so I believe not putting pressure to go faster is a good thing.  I just wanted to make sure I actually heard what the Dr was saying instead of just listening and dreaming about the things that I want to do.  You confirmed it for me.  As it is easy to want to forget things that prohibit you from doing things you really want to do.  Now that the pain is gone, keeping it that way is a priority.  Sounds like you are in the right place too which is a great thing.