Jim’s Hip Resurfacing with Dr. Helmy 2009

I went to see Dr Helmy in Merritt Island FL who is very popular for this area. I had to wait weeks to see him. It was worth the wait. He takes all the time in the world that you need during your office visit. My first appt was scheduled for 3:30 PM so I arrived at 3 PM. I didn’t see him til about 6:30 but he stayed with my wife and me until after 7. The couple of appts I’ve had since have always resulted in a long wait, but he takes all the time in the world. Sometimes you can see a doctor who gives you your 10-15 minutes and then is trying to get out the door as you’re still asking questions. I would never go back to a doc like that.

 December 16, 2009

I’m 52 years old and exactly 6 weeks post op for hip resurfacing. I had Dr Helmy here in Melbourne Florida. I started out as a rabbit, used a walker for 3 days, cane for one week and walking on my own since. I missed two weeks of work and then came back. I guess I thought I would continue this recovery rate but I seem to have slowed down. I have a little of the groin pain y’all talk about. I also have stiffness around the incision site. I still can’t put on my sock or tie my shoe. My poor daughter gets that job. Like many of you, I get tired by the end of the day and I’m sleeping longer than I ever have. My wife accuses me of overdoing and pushing too hard and she’s probably right.

December 18, 2009

Had my 6 week follow up with my surgeon yesterday. He told me I can lift my knee above my hip now so for the first time in 46 days I was able to tie my own shoe. He also told me to start walking longer distances and said that if I swam every day it would probably cut my recovery time significantly. He said walking and swimming will help break up the tightness that I think most of us deal with.

January 11, 2010

Although I had a quick recovery I’m at 10 weeks today and have a lot of soreness and stiffness in the mornings. Glad to hear I’m "normal". I walk a lot but have slacked off the PT. I’m guessing I need to get back to it in order to improve. Seems I’ve plateau’d but at least I’m not in pain from the arthritis anymore.

February 10, 2010

Just passed the 3 month point and got the green light to ride from my surgeon. I took two short rides just to be sure I could manage and did fine. I went with a group last Saturday and we rode all morning around central Florida. Very grateful I don’t live up north. Anyway, I was a little stiff by the time we got done and still stiff on Sunday. The good news was that I didn’t have any pain so it looks like my riding days are back.

May 10, 2010

I had a lot of swelling for the first month or so. I’m 6 months post now and still have a very small amount but I have full motion.

August 11, 2010

I’m 9 months post surgery (left hip resurfacing) and I do clunk at random times. If I bend at the waist to pick something up, I almost always clunk. I used to clunk every once in a while when I walked but that doesn’t happen anymore. Sometimes I clunk when making love which is really annoying to me but my wife doesn’t notice the clunking (thank goodness). Not sure this helps but it seems that as time has passed I’m less of a "clunker".

I’m a 52 year old male and Nov 2 will be my one-year anniversary for my hip resurfacing. I wish I had done this years ago.