35 year old, hip resurfacing scheduled

[JCon13]

Hello all,

What a wonderful forum and website this is for information regarding hip resurfacing, I've spent the past few weeks reading and watching videos to determine how I want to approach my future.  Thank you all for allowing me to be a part of this community.

After a little bit of contemplating I am deciding to move forward with the decision to have my right hip resurfaced.  I was wondering if anyone could help me with my expectations, especially compared to the procedures I've had done already (labrum repair).  I know everyone is of different ages and different scenarios but any advice or input would help to ease my mind. 

Quick backstory: At 23, I tore the labrum in my left hip and had it repaired.  At 28, I tore the right one.  I'm 35 now and almost all of the cartilage is gone from my right hip, the left hip is 5-10 years behind.  I have arthritis that is extremely painful and limiting my range of motion as well, it's difficult to tie my shoes.  My options were PT and receiving shots or to have surgery.  I felt like "putting a Band-Aid" on it would only prolong the inevitable so I opted for surgery.  I have FAI in both hips and my active lifestyle of playing hockey and lifting weights has accelerated the degradation in my hips.  I recovered quite nicely from my other procedures with the second one being a bit more challenging and am very concerned on how I will be able to recovery from this one...will I be able to get back to doing the things I love? Should I approach my recovery differently?  I've read a lot of positive feedback from other's stories but I also want to be realistic. 

Any advice, input, feedback, etc. would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks again!

- Jesse

[imgetinold]

Hi Jesse.  Welcome to the forum!

I'm going to answer briefly, because a little bit of searching this forum will answer all of your questions, as they've been documented by hundreds of people.

You sound like the perfect candidate, and from the many hundreds of posts I've read, labrum repairs and all that just help briefly.  Plus, too many cortisone shots can (from what I've read) degrade the bone to the point where you can't have a resurfacing.  Again, type "recover" into the search box, and there are hundreds of stories.  Tip:  read the title to find the ones most relevant.


In MY experience (right done in 2012 at age 44, left in 2020 at age 53):


I was off pain meds by day 7.


I used crutches for about 10 days, then moved to a cane.


I was done with the cane by basically 3-4 weeks.


I was back to work in 6 weeks the first time (because I had short term disability), and in 3 weeks last time because I now own my own company.  Plus I was in better shape.  I can't stress enough how much lower body strength pre-surgery contributes to a faster recovery.


I followed my surgeon's (Dr, Gross, South Carolina, THE BEST) restrictions religiously, so no impact allowed for six months.  Other doctors have different protocols.  I was back in the gym using weight machines (upper body only) at six weeks.  After six months (for Dr. Gross patients) all restrictions are lifted.  It still take a long time to get all your range of motion back.  I was back on the tennis courts at six months, but it wasn't until I hit the one year mark that I felt I regained my quickness.  It can be done faster, but I had little kids at home and a busy job so no time for hours of rehab a day.

Check these out.  There are many more:


https://surfacehippy.info/hiptalk/index.php?topic=2285.msg15553#msg15553

https://surfacehippy.info/hiptalk/index.php?topic=1249.msg8424#msg8424


https://surfacehippy.info/hiptalk/index.php?topic=667.msg3457#msg3457

[JCon13]

Thank you for this excellent feedback.  The recovery time frame sounds a lot like the labrum repairs that I had.  I shouldn't compare the two or the expectations from either but still hoping to apply some of that experience to help with my recovery. 

I'll have to read up more on range of motion and how to get it back, right now it's awful.  I struggle to do simple things like tie my shoes, does a sit up, cut my toe nails.  I'm hoping that I can get that back.

I work from home so I only took a couple of days off from work but it's understood that this could change based on my limitations and how I feel.  My concern is just sitting or being in a chair/recliner for too long.  I'm sure I'll get more details about this at my pre-op appointment.  I also have 2 little boys that always like to jump up on me so I have to be careful with them and around them too...

Thanks again!

[imgetinold]

I spent most of my recovery in the recliner for the first 2 weeks.  That's the perfect position.  You just need to get up every hour and walk around a bit.  And ice.  I highly recommend the Polar ice machine, but you really need help to keep it loaded with ice.  If you don't have help nearby (my wife works from home, so she could re-load the ice machine as needed), then get a pile of ice packs/pads.  Ice is your friend for the first two weeks.

[JCon13]

I made a mistake during my last hip surgery and rested TOO much.  I was home alone most of the time and stuck upstairs in a bedroom in a bed.  My circumstances are a bit different this time so I want to safely push my recovery and of course listen to my body.  I'm also in a bit better condition as far as leg muscles so I am hopeful that that will help me as well. 

Do you remember when you started PT?  For the labrums it was not long after at all, I was curious if it was a similar timeline for resurfacing.

Thank you!

[JCon13]

Today is the 10th day since my right hip resurfacing surgery. All in all things have gone pretty well. I was actually in a lot of pain the first 2 days or so and it’s gradually gotten better but still 2 steps forward 1 step back with the pain. I ended up taking the week off and since I work from home I’m going back on Tuesday after the holiday, the rest and recovery has been much much needed.

Most of the pain I feel is from muscle tightness and from cutting through muscle and having been stretched out I’m sure. Oddly enough though I do have considerable pain in the knee on the surgery leg, mostly outside but also inside and in front a bit. Has anyone had this experience and if so was there anything that helped?

Thank you!

[Alex]

Hi Jesse,

I am one month out from hip resurfacing and my experience the first ten days was pretty similar I think. At some point my knee was causing more pain than the hip. My physio told me its because the knee is compensating for instability in the hip and changes in mechanics going on... I put a lot of ice and diclofenac gel on it and it got a lot better over time. In bed, I found that putting a pillow under the knee helps to reduce the stress a bit.

Good luck!!

[JCon13]

Hello Alex,

Thank you for the feedback on your experience.  For better or worse, I'm glad I'm not the only experiencing this.  I started using the diclofenac gel yesterday and today as well.  The pillow under the knee helped relieve a bit of the discomfort as well and I was able to get a bit more sleep.

During my PT session this morning I told the therapist what was going on and she noticed my knee cap wasn't sitting correctly (years of compensating with improper walking).  She massaged and shifted a few things around, which caused extreme pain, but since then I've noticed a huge dip in my pain and discomfort.  I'm hopeful things are heading in the right directions so I can get proper rest and focus more on the hip recovery. 

Thanks again!

[Hipchallengedone]

Greetings JCon13.

So I had bilateral resurfacing done this May 9 and 11th.  I am 61 and was in what I consider very good physical condition before the surgery.  I am a tennis player and the pain stopped me the last year or so.  My thoughts are I wish I did it 5 years ago when the problems / pain became acute.  I had shots, bought all kinds of therapeutic devices (Vibration Plate, therapeutic massage gun, a variety of different sleeves and straps for the groin pain) took the cortisone shots with the hope in not having to get cut.  All of it didn't work, just extended the pain. I can say  three weeks and a few days later, I wish I did this years ago.  So, after having the second hip done, I used a walker for two days, then crutches for a few days, then a cane for a few days and since last week, I was walking a solid half mile (I carried a cane just in case).  I was off the pain meds after 7 days.   I am walking up to about a mile now, and all I can say is not having pain is an awesome thing.  Before the surgery, I spent time stretching and working on conditioning (riding a bike) but the pain really limited me.  My Dr's protocol (Dr Gross in SC) is to limit activity for six weeks.  He has specific isometric exercises and a limit on how far you should walk daily.  I am following his protocols to a T.  After my six week follow up, hopefully I will be able to get on an elliptical or exercise Bike and work on cardio.  Being younger and having this done is wise, I wish you well and of course to be pain free.

[Domer]

I had my left hip done May 4th, 2022.  So a little over 4 weeks out.  Right after surgery I had shooting pain down the outside of my operated leg all the way down to the outside of my knee.  When I moved the wrong way, bang, really bad pain.  Think it was a nerve that was irritated during surgery.  I've continued to have pain on the outside of my knee getting progressively better.  It trasitioned from shooting pain to a kind of constant tight feeling on the outside of my knee and mild pain when moving the wrong way.  Now it's mostly gone.

Sounds like you might have something different considering the kneecap issue you describe and the pain in moving that (unless that movement is also hitting that nerve).  But thought I'd chime in just in case it helps.

[JCon13]

Thank you guys for the wonderful input.  Bilateral I imagine to be quite the challenge!  Having just the one done was very difficult for the first week or so and then got exponentially better as the pain went away and function started coming back.  I know the other hip will need it done in the years to come so at least I can take away the experience and apply it to that when the time comes.

I'm progressing pretty well and it will be 2 months on Thursday this week.  I still have a fair amount of issues with my knee, inside my knee cap but mostly along the outside of my knee down into my calf as well.  I notice it every day but certain things I do really irritate it and I have to sleep with a pillow under my knee or I wake up with dull pain in my leg.  The lack of mobility is a struggle but it's SLOWLY improving.  I am able to get a bit deeper on my leg press therapy exercises every week but still have a lot of irritation in my glute and knee when I get to the peak of my range.  The pain feels like general tightness and maybe some issues from having the muscle cut so deep.  If you've had any success or additional experiences please let me know!

Outside of these issues, it's amazing that the arthritis pain is gone and I actually have better mobility everywhere except for being able to hinge back to tie my shoes, bring my knee to my chest, those kind of movements...but it's progressing.

[jimbone]

Jcon-

At two months and being close to you in age, I'd say you're doing well with recovery.  Retained swelling took 3-4 months to completely dissipate and it felt concentrated in my knees [I'd done bilateral surgeries over a 2 month period] especually when trying to sit kneeling on the floor, butt to ankles.  I use that position to lean back and get a good stretch on the quads and ankles.  The restricted glute and knee raise was similar at 2 months for me as well.  I found two practices that helped me get past that.  1st was simple hill and or stair climbing.  2nd was balancing on the platform of a Bosu Ball and working up to deep squats- first with a balance pole and eventually without.  Also the IT bands on the outside of the leg are commonly tight for most people, add in years of compensating for a compromised hip and those tissues can have issues.  Both a foam roller and deep tissue massage helped me to resolve that problem as well.  It was at least 4 months before I was able to completely release that stubborn "knot" in my glutes.  Best wishes.

[JCon13]

Hello all!

Now about 4 months out from the surgery. I can do most of the things I did before the surgery but I am limited by my range of motion, or lack thereof. It’s still a struggle to get socks on, for instance, but I can do it. My right hip was operated on for reference, I am able to bring my left one to my chest without issues while I am just past 90 degrees with the right leg and feel incredible tightness in the front of my hip where the leg meets the hip. It just feels like a bunch of super tight tendons and no matter what I do I can’t get it to loosen up at all.

My surgeon was happy with my progress in general but felt my mobility was lagging behind, he mentioned that he might have been able to ream the joint a bit more but it would have been a matter of just millimeters. He suggested yoga and more stretching.

I was curious what others experience with this has been. I’m slightly frustrated and discouraged but I keep working at it regardless. Thank you all for the responses along the way so far!

[Alex]

Hi JCon,

I am 4.5months out and it sounds like we are going at the same speed :). Like Jimbone suggested before, I feel that deep tissue massage makes a big difference. I only had two 30 minute sessions so far and things improved quite a bit after. My PT also noticed that my glutes are not really working again yet... I usually get incredibly tight in the front of the hip after just taking a couple of stairs or doing just a few squats (usually followed quickly by lower back pain). Now if I really focus on having the glutes active before every step, it works a lot better in the sense that I can do more without getting this tightness.. its extremely slow and takes a lot of effort and concentration, but it feels like this could make a difference.

Hope you are getting better!
All the best,
Alex

[JCon13]

Hey Alex!

Thanks for the response! Interesting what you mentioned about the glute as I do find it kind of hard to activate it, I have to really focus to get a good squeeze. I am going to have to try deep tissue massage, especially now that things don’t “hurt” as much. In the front though, it just feels like I have a bunch of tendons that are in the way and don’t know how to get out of the way for me to move properly.

Thanks again! I’ll report back soon after trying some different things, good luck in your recovery as well!

[JCon13]

Hello all,

I am a little over a year (May 19, 2022) post op. Naturally, the arthritis pain is gone, but I still have the same lack of mobility in the hip that I did before the surgery. I’ve worked at it a lot to the point where I actually hurt my back. I also have had awful sciatica down my good lack, probably because of the imbalance and the way I’ve been stretching and bending. This is my first issue and main issue I’d say. I’ve tried a bunch of different things, my doctor basically said the mobility might be a bit better if he reamed the joint more but we’re talking maybe a millimeter or 2. I’m not sure if anyone has any suggestion or found something that seemed to promote more mobility.

The other issues are just general pain and discomfort around the joint and tendons. It’s not severe and almost feels like maybe tendinitis in the front, the muscles and tendons used to raise the leg.

Last, it’s just general weakness compared to my good leg, I can’t seem to build that strength back no matter what.

I was curious to see if anyone else had similar issues and if anything they did was helpful. Thank so much!