June 14, 2008

I am a 41 year old soccer coach from ireland and would like to share my last few days experince with you all. It is now 9 days after my resurfacing and starting to really feel that progress is here.
I had surgery in Blackrock clinic , Dublin, Ireland. I arrived in the hospital on wednesday midday, checked in at noon and was brought to my room. It was top class and very clean and all the medical staff were professional , and very caring. During the afternoon I went for last hip and chest xrays, had bloods taken and filled out all the appropiate paperwork. My Doctor Paul Nicholson came in that evening and had a good chat an told me all would work well after op.
The anesthestice also paid me a visit to explain what she would do before and during the op and it was all very reassuring. I was going to have an epidural which would really help with recovery.I had to shower with surgical disinfectant that evening and once again the following morning pre surgery.
I was taken down for the op at 9.30. Met surgeon & crew again in theatre and we had a final chat before the medication kicked in. I honestly cant say i remember much. Then The next thing I knew I was fully awake and aware 3 hours later in my room. I was being monitored for blood pressure, heart rate and oxygen. I also had morphine on tap for pain but this was limited to a certain amount for obvious reasons.
The pain was all from the muscles and wound and the joint really felt pain free. Next morning the Physio had me out of bed and walking down the corridor and back also started muscle strenghtening excercises. Rough work. The following 6 days in hospital were spent on crutches and doing strenghting excercises. It was a good experience but the beds can get your back after a few days.
On returning home I have surgical soreness and muscle soreness particurlay in the quads and even sore bruising in the groin area but it is getting better by the day. I am continuning my rehab at home with strectchng excercises 3 times per day, 3 x 10 minute constant walks per day, plenty of stop start walking around the house. All on crutches. I do have swelling particularly in my right knee but hopefully this should subside soon.
Today it all started to feel a bit easier but I know the next 4 weeks are the main time I must concentrate and work on rehab without overdoing it.

June 21, 2008

I know i am still in the very early days of recovery from my right BHR. I had surgery on June 5th. I have seen great progress over the past 2 weeks and have found myself able to do many things. Walking hasn’t been a problem at all and I can walk with one crutch around the house. I have been very sensible with my exercises and walking and most of my swelling is generally gone.The scar is also healing nicely

Yesterday I suddenly started to get some darting pain in my groin area. It is really very uncomfortable.This pain also hurts me now when I try to walk. As you can imagine I have all sort of thoughts going through my head.

July 2, 20008

Well I am now officially 4 weeks post -op from my BHR right hip and just felt like sharing my progress to date.

Let me first tell you what a typical day is at 4 weeks. Today I got up at 8 am, showered, dressed (It still takes time as I cannot bend fully) and had breakfast with my wife and kids. When I got up I was a little stiff and immediately did my excercises before showering. Once up everthing loosens up. I still use one crutch as my doctor has been cautious and told me to do so until week 6.
At 9.00 I got into my jeep( slowly) and drove 4 miles to have a meeting with a work collegue over coffee. Driving is fine but I have to be careful getting in and out of my jeep. When I returned it was 11 ish. I then went for a 30 minute walk ( one crutch)with my 6 year old son. No pain at all from the joint but I still have a small tender feeling where the incission is. On my return I did my excercises again and relaxed. At 4.00 pm I went for another 30 minute walk. On my retrun I had a small nap and woke about 6.30pm for dinner. I have no problem at all walking around the house , picking up the kids, I even played a game of pool with one of my sons yesterday.
After dinner I went for a 15 minute walk and did my excercises on my return. The rest of the evening was spent watching TV and short walks around the house. At 11.30 ish I headed off to bed. Sleeping is still a little troublesome, I can normally sleep well but wake up every 2 hours or so and have to shift around.Sleeping is getting better.

If I compare this to a couple of weeks ago I really feel the progress now is great. It was really around 3 weeks when I noticed the big, big difference. The slight pains that had me questioning if the op was totally successful subsided. Walking , moving, everthing became easier.

In week 1 after my op I did feel “what have I done to myself” as I was uncomfortable particularly with swelling. The great news for anyone in the early stages is that this is all normal and things will get a lot better. I have slowly progressed to week 4. Certainly not as fast as some stories but I now feel comfortable, pain free, no swelling and more importantly I have a desire to walk more, longer distances and I am really looking forward to enjoying this summer with my family.

August 11, 2008

I would like to give an update on my progress at just over 9 1/2 weeks to anyone who is travelling along the same path as myself. I would consider my recovery to date as slow to moderate. I was on 2 crutches for 6 weeks and 1 crutch for a following 2 weeks. I am now walking and working very hard on a technique Vicky mentioned ,head up shoulders back and heal to toe strides. It is amazing how difficult this is after years of incorrect walking but I am getting there.

I have been swimming daily for the past 3 weeks and love it. My pool session lasts for 45 minutes and includes water walking, stretching and swimming. I would be lost without it. I have noticed a great improvement in the srtength of my quads and this is definetely helping my walking .  I also always start my day with dynamic stretches  (strecthes with movement ). Sometimes my 10 year old daughter and sons 9 & 7 put on some up beat music and its becomes great fun in the kitchen but I have to admit I can’t keep up with them. Yet! !

This has been a tough journey for me as I didnt expect not to be able to walk unaided for 8 weeks however my body knows what is best for me and I do acknowledge that. This web site have been brilliant. I was and am able to read fantastic recovery stories which gives me great encouragement. Well done to all who have sent in and replied to topics

I manage and coach a soccer team and I am happy to say I am officially back managing my team this friday. Our season starts in Sept and we have a friendly match this friday evening. This is a major step in my recovery and I am now getting back on track with life and my activities. I know I have a way to go and will be sensibly. As a slow healer post op I know some people may feel progress is slow and fustrating but I am proof (as a slow healer) that time is what is needed to heal.

September 2, 2008

I am now just 3 months post op walking and moving fine, pain free. The groin pain you have sounds exactly like what I experienced in the first few weeks. It lasted for approx 6 to 7 weeks in total but decided to go nearly as quick as it arrived.

January 10, 2010

I had a femoral fracture 16 weeks after my resurfacing. I was absolutely devastated at that time and I had to have a revision to a metal on metal THR. I am now one year after my revision and my THR works really well.