Bilateral Hip Resurfacing with Dr Gross May 9, and 11 2022

[Hipchallengedone]

A general statement â€" I believe Dr Thomas Gross is an outstanding Orthopedic Surgeon and his support staff are equally impressive and professional.  I would have never found him without the help of this website - so my greatest thanks to you Patricia Walter.

Here is a synopsis of the first few days before and after surgery.

Thursday (4 days prior to surgery May 5, 2022). 61 year old male in very good physical condition.  Bone density scan showed I could do both hips without waiting six months in between.  Had Preop with Dr. Gross, met with his support staff and PA Lee. Dr. Gross was very thorough and thoughtful about how we would proceed with the Surgery.  Was going to do the Left Hip on Monday and the right hip Wednesday so one day in between. I selected that I wanted to do the lumbar plexis block (hip) for the anesthesia, instead of the spinal block, I am personally happy I selected this type of anesthesia.   During the Preop, was able to purchase suggested mobility items to help expedite the surgery recovery, such as a cold therapy unit (Polar Cube) and other assorted items which would aide in picking things up of the ground (to avoid bending) or a device which helps to put socks on, or to help lift your leg. 
Sunday: Received call from Surgery Center from my assigned contact liaison.  She went over again what I should or should not eat, specific drugs I should take with me in the morning prior to surgery and to reiterate not to have anything to eat or drink after Midnight.
Monday (4 DAYS LATER) May 9,2022.  Left hip resurfaced in the AM, surgery went great.  Was in the OR for about 1.5 hours.  Once out, and awake, they fed my wife and I, and within two hours was up and walking.  From this point on my wife acted as a care giver and listened and wrote down all guidelines to follow and made sure I followed guidance given.  The physical therapy folks at the Surgery Center showed me how to move around on crutches, walk up and down stairs, how to sit and get out of a car.  Well thought out and to the point.  Was then able to leave by car to their hotel facility where Dr Gross does his rounds the following morning.  Was able to walk to the room with the aid of crutches.  Medicines plugged me up some (no bowel movements).  Took all recommended drugs at the appropriate time. Applied Ice every other hour to left hip.  Got some good sleep.  You will also get an XRAY souvenir to show how great the resurface joint looks.
Tuesday, Dr Gross visited me in the Hotel, checked me out to see how I was doing.  Was able to walk with the aid of crutches.  Still no bowel movements.  Applied ice every other hour to left hip.  Walked about 800 lineal feet.  Was able to move around a bit more freely.  Left hip sore, but responding.  Was able to sit down and get up with the aid of crutches.  As the day progressed, the constipation gave me a very unsettling feeling, but no pain.  Ate a light dinner with plenty of fluids.  Surgery was to be at 1 pm next day so staying hydrated was important.  Evening pain was nothing, I did not take any pain meds (did not have the need).  One has to remember, pain to some people is not the same to others.  Plus, the pain that I had in my left hip from being bad was really gone!  Very lucky.  Decided instead of leaving Thursday morning after discharge and driving directly home, to extend the stay at the hotel another day.  So discharge from Surgery Thursday morning, then stay over night one more day and leave in Friday Morning.

Wednesday May 11, 2022, you can’t drink or eat after midnight so, I am glad I hydrated the heck out of myself.  Reading these blogs they talk about older folks have urination issues, I did not thankfully, but the constipation was another issue.  To say it is an unsettling feeling is being kind. The full feeling of not going for almost 3 days while not painful(thankfully) was not something I ever want to experience again if possible.  Anyway, Dr Gross’s PA, Lee, spoke with me before surgery and asked if I wanted to go through with it.  We spoke of my concerns and then I asked the question, would you do this surgery knowing what you know about the issues of it â€" and the other physical issues I was dealing with.  She looked at me and without hesitation said yes.  I AM GLAD I TRUSTED HER.  I did the surgery.  Doctor came to visit afterwards and was pleased.  Because of the surgery, they switched me from crutches to a walker because they wanted more stability for me.  I did take the walker for a spin and also crutches.  Based upon the ride back home (over 5 hours) I opted to buy the walker just in case.  Was told afterword that the left hip was almost as bad as the right one, and the XRAYs simply didn’t show how bad it was.  Anyway, stayed at their surgery center overnight.  Iced as much as I could on schedule and followed all orders given.   Did not take supplemental pain medication, (short term), but did take the long term longer lasting stuff (MS Cotton).  Still hydrating.  Drank one bottle of Magnesium Calcitrant to subside the constipation.
Thursday, did all exercises prescribed, was discharged.  While getting into the car from the surgery center, I moved my right leg in a way I have not moved it in a long time. Instead of feeling pain, I felt like the artificial joint moved in a way that made a click, but nothing else.  Took it easy.  Did not walk much.  In order to get up, I did need to use my arms to push up and hold myself.  The hotel room while nice and roomy, did not have a good temperature balance to it.  Very difficult sleeping because of the air temp.  Also, was very sore.  It was difficult moving the legs.  I did take Tylenol, and the long term lasting pain meds, but did not do the short term pain narcotic.  (It did not make me feel any better taking it).  When I got to the hotel, we just relaxed and tried to get some sleep.  Got most of the items packed and ready to be put into the trunk of the car.  A few things about the room we had, it was a king bed with a pull out.  If you have this surgery, the toilet seat is going to be very low, unless you have a handicap accessible room.  Also, the shower was not handicap accessible, making it impossible to shower with the surgeries. At check in, we arrived a bit late, we could very well have had a handicap room set aside for us, but more than likely, it was given away.  I would suggest that anyone attempting this surgery make sure your hotel room is handicap accessible and bring.
Friday â€" two days after surgery.  Check out of hotel, drove home to Florida.  Left around 845 am.  At 9:45 am, the magnesium citrate kicked in, thank god there was an accessible rest area that we could easily get into.  I was easily able to access a handicap accessible toilet and the rest is history.  We stopped a few times along the way on I95 to get out and stretch.  Midland Orthopedics did an outstanding job helping us how to get in and out of the car.  While sore, I was able to move about while my wife filled the car up with gas â€" or at a restaurant, move around to work the soreness out.  We arrived home at 5 pm.  I iced during the car rid home and while at our home.  Was able to sleep for the first time in 7 days.
Saturday â€" Not nearly as sore as I have been on both sides.  Am able without any help to get up and move about, can use the bathroom without and hesitation.  Doing all the isometrics prescribed and trying to move around in the home as much as possible without over doing it.  Strength level is coming back in legs, but will not push it.  Going to listen to Dr. Gross’s instructions to a T.
Sunday â€" left leg coming around.  I am able to push up without any weakness.  Right leg â€" some strength coming back slowly.  Doing all prescribed exercises.  Walking in side the home with crutches, but not venturing outside yet.
Monday May 16, 2022, Able to get in and out of bed easier and sit.  Can move around much easier with the crutches.  Took a shower on my own, but still need help with certain things.  My wife is awesome to help me the way she has.  Again, doing all exercises prescribed, feel like I am still getting stronger.
Wednesday, May 18, 2022, Walked almost a ¼ mile with crutches.  Did all the isometric exercises prescribed.  Still icing, still not easy getting up out a chair without aid.  No balance issues walking or traversing the house.

[imgetinold]

Wow!  That's amazing.  Both at the same time?  I don't know how you do it.  For me, getting on/off the toilet with one surgery at a time was challenging enough.  Well done, sir!

[Hipchallengedone]

Fortunately the home we have has been modified and lavatory areas widened to deal with ambulatory issues.  Grab bars, door openings are wider, pocket doors, the toilet is raised a bit (along with the raised seat I purchased).  But I would not have done it had I not been in good physical shape.  I am so glad I did the two at the same time.  I just switched to a cane today.  So 8 days after the 2nd hip. No pain meds, no nothing.  I know how fortunate I am.  Thanks for the comment.  Dr Gross is simply outstanding.  So glad I decided to head to South Carolina.

[Hipchallengedone]

June 6, it has been approximately 2 weeks since my last entry.  All in all, I am most happy that the constant pain I had experienced prior to surgery is GONE!  Part of me thinks at any moment while I am walking around the pain will come back, but thankfully I know that is not possible.  I can now easily walk 1 mile without any aids.  I am following Dr. Gross's post surgery guidelines, so I will cap walking at a mile, even though I feel well enough to walk a few miles a day.   I have noticed I am not sore after walking which I am grateful for.  Getting in and out of a car is now a piece of cake, no pain what so ever.  I am following the instructions given by Dr Gross's PT staff on how to get in and out of a vehicle.  Also while bending and doing things which could put overt pressure on the joints.  There is still some soreness where the stiches are, but it is more of a tightness than anything else.  Scabs that had formed where the stiches were are now falling off.  I am looking forward to my six week following up and hopefully Dr Gross will tell me I can get on an elliptical or a exercise bike after the visit.  Will obviously take it slow at first, but I do miss the activity of exercising. Sleeping also has improved, I can sleep on either side, or stomach and not feel a thing.  So I am very pleased with the progress thus far, being pain free is pretty awesome.

[Desert Tortoise]

Thanks so much for the updates!  I’m scheduled for bilateral on July 8th with De Smet. 🤞

[Hipchallengedone]

After it is done, you are going to say what the heck took you so long to get it done in the first place.  I am so glad I had both  of mine done at the same time.  Wishing you a fantastic pain free better life! 

[Hipchallengedone]

10 weeks out from my bilateral surgery.  I had my 6 week follow up with Dr Gross and his PA Nurse Lee Webb.  I was told that the X-Ray films they took that day looked excellent and that if I continue to follow their protocols, I should have a permanent fix to the problem I had.  Nurse Lee went over additional strengthening exercises that I could start.  Unfortunately, I was going to be traveling and getting on a stationary bike or elliptical would be difficult, so just had to stick with the walking and new exercise piece until a few days ago.  Instead of getting on the Stationary Bike, I used an elliptical.  It has been a solid two months since I did anything as physical.  I was pleasantly surprised by how much flexibility I now have along with NO PAIN whatsoever.  I can easily do 20 minutes on the elliptical and will increase that to 30 minutes by next week along with continued walking ,light weight lifting for the arms, chest and isometric exercises for the hips.

As I consider where I am in the process right now, I simply cannot believe I let myself live with the kind of pain I had.  Amazing what a human being can tolerate, but the difference between I how lived 3 months ago, vs how I am living now is mind blowing.  I can easily get in and out of my car without any pain whatsoever.  The stiffness associated with where the surgery was performed has subsided substantially over the last week.  I also noticed that the ability to get on and off of the elliptical was far better now that I ever can recall.

Not that everyone has an outstanding experience with this sort of thing, I never dreamed I would be in this place right now as the pain does so many negative things to you.  Just happy I did something about it.  As for the choice of Dr's.  This website has much information about most if not all of them.  I am partial to Dr Gross, as he did my surgery.  One thing that sticks with me about about him is that everything he said, he did and the results he explained to me have been spot on.   

[Hipchallengedone]

14 weeks out from Surgery.  I am still doing the isometric exercises prescribed by Dr Gross and added an elliptical or stationary bike for a daily workout as well as weights.  I noticed in week 12, that the stiffness that I had felt since the hip problem began 5 years ago, started to go away, this week, far more flexibility without stiffness is making my life even better.  As good as I could get into and out of a car a few weeks ago, now without the stiffness, it's like I am 18 again.  The hard part about the isometric stretching is doing it twice daily - and that is it.  So I do it in the morning and mid evening and do the bike and weights in the after noon.   Can't wait to getting back on the Tennis court.

[Salah]

Thank you for blogging your recovery. I’m 11 weeks post surgery with Dr. Gross as of today and share your experiences for the most part.

I was curious if you ever get general “achiness” in the operated leg? After a lot of walking or working out, the next day I have psoas/groin on each stride and some knee irritation.

Also I was found out bodyweight lunges were a “no go” until 6 months yesterday. Had been doing those since about week 7-8 (albeit mostly assisted). Hope I didn’t do any damage but wanted to see if you’ve been doing them or have had other restrictions come up you weren’t initially aware of?

[Olin001]

Have you tried breaststroke swimming?

[Hipchallengedone]

Greetings Salah,
I have not had any pain whatsoever in both legs, just stiffness since the surgery that I can recall.  And that stiffness would pop up at the oddest times, but since week 14, it has gone away. Any true soreness I had I believe was associated with the the surgery - where the stitches were on the sides of the butt.  What I have found is in week 14, my flexibility levels really has improved substantially.  And this week, there is no need to push off anything to get up or worry about getting up from really any type of seat.  I really have been concentrating on doing the exercises prescribed and spending  at least 35 minutes a day on an elliptical or stationary bike.  Sounds like you are doing great.  Can't believe how lucky we are to be pain free! 

[Hipchallengedone]

Olin001,

I am not a pool person, but all I have done since the stitches have healed was sit in a hot tub after doing the stationary bike or elliptical.  I know I should get in the water more, but I prefer the gym.

[Hipchallengedone]

Week 15,

So a couple of things.  In week 14, I was going to have a dental procedure.  Hip resurfacing surgery requires you to pre medicate 1 hour prior to have a dental cleaning.  I never had an allergic reaction to any medication before, but when I took the prescribed amoxicillin before the dentist appointment, about a 1/2 hour after, I had to go to the emergency room. The side effects were bizarre, but thankfully, I could breath.  In the ER, the gave me a steroid, Benadryl, and Pepcid, but also prescribed a six day course of prednisone.   All the swelling subsided over the course of the next few hours.  Anyway, be aware that you do have to take some type of antibiotic before alternative medical procedures.

Now onto the recovery -  I have noticed that there is no need to push off to get up from any seated position, it became force of habit, but now, it is being second nature to just get up.  I also noticed after taking the prednisone, that my flexibility was exceptional.  We'll see how it is after I stop taking it - two more days, but I have not been able to be as flexible on the ground with stretching exercises in years.  My hope is this flexibility has nothing to do with the steroid.  I am doing limited weight lifting and strengthening.  Went on a cruise and worked out everyday on their equipment.  Strength levels have come way up which I am most pleased with.  Just going to continue to stick to Dr Gross's protocols and hopefully things will continue on this great course.

[Olin001]

Olin001,

I am not a pool person, but all I have done since the stitches have healed was sit in a hot tub after doing the stationary bike or elliptical.  I know I should get in the water more, but I prefer the gym.
[It's the overall lower limb movement of that particular stroke that really helps with the rehab]

[Hipchallengedone]

Olin011

Thanks, will try it soon!  Just have to find the time.

[Hipchallengedone]

Week 17.

There is no sign of pain or stiffness except on longer car rides. For those, there is no pain, but a little stiffness when getting out of the car.  I have noticed that the high thigh stiffness which I had for years doesn't exist anymore.  It is like the brain remembers it because the body hurts.  I keep on thinking it will be there, but when I am stretching or doing some cardio on the bike, I have a gear back that I have not had in a long time, because that pain is gone.  There are movements which I used to make years ago, but stopped because of the pain and now I can easily move again.  In week 16 I  was able to easily cut my toenails on both feet.  Putting socks on hasn't been an issue for at least a month   The flexibility I now have is better than I can remember.

During daily limited work outs (typically 45 minutes to 75 minutes), I have gradually increased stationary bike or elliptical machine use to 45 minutes a day and increased the resistance to a moderate level (12). Light weight lifting is no problem either.  Again, following the Dr's protocols.  I really believe I could get on a tennis court and go, but am going to wait until at least Nov 7th before going at it.   At this time there are no issues completing the prescribed isometric stretching exercises from the Dr twice daily.  I also am doing limited modified squats during the stretching.  Going no lower than sitting in a chair and when doing isometric exercises adding modified core stomach work and lower back strengthening being careful not to put any pressure on the hips.  As for the butt scars healing, they are noticeably fading and are not as bright red as they were even two weeks ago. 

No pain is a great thing!

[Hipchallengedone]

Week 38 - almost 9 months:

Since my last entry of 17 weeks post surgery, there are plenty of positive things to say about the recovery.  I was able to start playing tennis 6 months post surgery.  The process has been slow going, but I am able to move pain free.  The aerobic piece early on has been difficult, but instead of jumping right in, I actually decided to go at it a bit slower and work more on fixing the technical flaws caused by years of  being in pain.  Now, after playing for 2 solid months, the speed which was mostly non existent moving forward or sideways has been steadily increasing.  I also can move to hit overheads and jump with ease.  I continue to do all the isometric exercises daily and work on keeping both hips strong.  Now, the day after playing or practicing there is very little stiffness if any.  I also now find I walk far better and am far more balanced.   Not being in pain 24/7 is a great thing, but now, not having any restrictions in daily activity is even better.

[jimbone]

Well done and congratulations.

[Hipchallengedone]

Thanks Jimbone - back at you!  Still have a ways to go, but we are so lucky to have had the good fortune of finding out about hip resurfacing.

[Hipchallengedone]

Celebrating my 2nd anniversary post op.  Before I begin, I want to again thank Dr Gross, his surgical nurse Lee Webb and the entire staff there at Midland Orthopedic for the results.  They are simply amazing. Not being in pain is a beautiful thing, but being able to do physical things without pain puts the frosting on it.  As for recovery, I noticed right around the year in a half mark post op that I had a second and third gear on the tennis court which I have not had in years.  Also, I still am doing the isometric exercises prescribed post op, and do light weight lifting in the gym, but I can go for 3 hours on the tennis court and get up the next morning like nothing ever happened the day before.  The hardest thing to overcome was the thought of pain when moving a specific way.  That pain was there for years so even though the pain was gone, the mind sometimes would think it could be.  But now, that old painful episode is in the rear view mirror. How fortunate we are to live in a time where movement can be given back to you without any restrictions.