June’s Hip Resurfacing Dr. Engh 2010

I had a left BHR on November 11, 2010 with Dr. Andy Engh. I was 48 (almost 49) years old at the time. I am a small boned female and I was bone on bone arthritis with AVN and several cysts, including one large one.

I just had my one year post-op appointment with my surgeon. The x-rays (taken from several different angles) looked fantastic! Everything looks good…I go back in a year and then if things still look good, I go back in 5 years. He wrote a prescription for a metallosis test to get baseline numbers but just to serve as a baseline for the future…no problems that he could see.

I have had no pain (except for the post-op surgical pain) since the surgery and no limp. My ROM has come back and I feel better than I have in years. Running feels fantastic! I am a triathlete and he cleared me to go back to racing the long distance races I love!

I turn 50 on November 25th and I have to say it will be the best birthday I have had in 3 or 4 years because I feel so great! I truly feel like I was given my life back. Those who have been through this surgery know what I am talking about. I think people can see it in my face…no more pain!! I think I am just a happier person these days and a much better Mom to my two boys and wife to my husband.

Just had to share my success story. Can’t wait to get back racing….I think it will be like when I first started…very fun!!

Dec. 9, 2010

I am 4 weeks post-op today from a LBHR. Although I have had no joint pain since the surgery, my night pain in my leg sounds a lot like yours. My operated leg is still bruised down the back (some of it I think is due to the fact that my surgeon requires coumadin in order to avoid blood clots) and still has some swelling, although each day is less and less. But I am a small person and really notice it! Days are great! I have never had a problem during the day when I am up and moving, etc. and I have tried to be as active as possible. My surgeon’s protocol required 50% weightbearing with crutches for the first 3 weeks and then weight bearing with one crutch started a week ao. I’ve been walking with the crutches since the day after surgery. It sounds like some people though are allowed a lot more activity.

At night, I wake up and am very uncomfortable. It is the pressure on the bruising and swelling and being in one position. I was allowed to go on my side but with the leg feeling so heavy and swollen, that too is uncomfortable. I change pillows, positions, etc. so many times at night but still can’t get comfortable for long. So I know what you mean.

I think everyone is different. I was in excellent shape prior to the surgery. I am a triathlete and fitness instructor. My surgeon did tell me that my muscle tissue was dense and my bone was strong. I am not sure how that correlates to the swelling, etc. but I do know they put your leg through a lot during the surgery.

I had my 4 week post-op appt today after a LBHR on 11/10. Things looks great! What a difference in the x-rays pre-op (end stage arthritis caused by AVN from a bike crash) compared to my new hip! I was cleared to walk without any crutches now. My surgeon is very conserative and limited me to 50% weight bearing with 2 crutches for the first 3 weeks and then one crutch, no weight bearing limitations. I am an athlete so it has taken a lot of resolve to listen to my doctor’s orders. But I have and will continue to be conservative because I am a small female and therefore there is more of a risk of a femur neck fracture. Luckily my bone is strong! I look forward to getting back to racing (I am a triathlete) eventually, but I figure I have the rest of my life to do that…so now the real rehab begins! I am truly excited to get back in the pool swimming and back on the bike (but I will stay indoors until spring). The last four weeks, I have been walking with crutches working up to 2-3 miles a day, but it has felt like nothing compared to my former self! I will find out at my 4 month appt when I can run again.

I can’t say my recovery has been easy though. Days are great, but nights have been hell due to the bruising and swelling in my operated leg. Apparently a few people (and I was one of those unlucky ones) get bleeding through the tissues which causes the bruising. It is very painful! It mainly bothered me at night so my husband could hear me crutching the house until I felt better! Laying down for long periods and sitting was very uncomfortable and has just gotten better the last week. It isn’t completely gone, but now that the doppler showed no blood clots I am cleared to stop the coumadin (another protocol of my surgeon) which I think will help matters. Now that I have no degree restrictions and i can do more, I think things will progress very well.

I would highly recommend my surgeon, Dr. Andy Engh, of Anderson Orthopedics in Virginia. The website only shows him as having done 100 resurfacings but I think his number is near 1000. First class all the way from the first visit, through the surgery, etc.  jun

Dec. 28. 2010

I will be 7 weeks post op LBHR on Thursday. I am 49 years old (was 48 on surgery day). I was just prescribed Calcium Plus Vitamin D supplements last March. I think they have come to realize the importance of it…I too had never been told to take calcium and being an athlete I figured my bones are strong (which luckily I found out they were after surgery). I was able to continue those up to surgery and am still taking them and was told nothing negative about them. At the time they prescribed it at my annual checkup, I too was very surprised. It is very important to get it with the Vitamin D so have your physician write a prescription. Luckily we are military and it is covered.

I was anemic after surgery as well. I had donated a pint of blood a few weeks prior to surgery which they gave back to me after surgery, but was still anemic. I had taken Iron, but I don’t think it was the best kind. After surgery they would have done a second transfusion but I was up and walking around. They told me to take Vitron C, which is Iron with Vitamin C. Best way it is absorbed. I took that for 4 weeks and never felt the overwhelming tiredness I have read about post surgery. My husband picked it up at the grocery store or drugstore for me. With that said, if you take it, get some Colace!!!!

Jan 12, 2011

I was allowed to go off of crutches at 4 weeks (by then it was one crutch). I too felt wobbly at first, but by the next day it got better and within 2 days I was walking normal with no limp, first time in a few years! The wobbly feeling goes away the more you walk. I am a fitness instructor and personal trainer so I did not go back to work until after week 7. I have been back teaching now almost 2 weeks (will be at 9 weeks tomorrow) and feel that each day I get stronger. Your PT will give you great exercises to help with the muscles that were affected by surgery and in some cases, pre-surgery, if you were unable to do some activities.

 

March 15, 2011

I am a triathlete, and therefore, a cyclist. I too got to the point, prior to my left BHR, where I had no range of motion left and couldn’t lift either leg over the bike when dismounting. I could lift the right one over to get on and then needed friends to lift it back off for me! Or else I could lean against something and push away…it got to the point that I just stopped riding. I had my surgery 4 months ago. I plan to ride outside again probably at the 6 month mark when the chance of a femur neck fracture reduces. I see my surgeon at the end of this months and will find out when I will be allowed to ride and run again!

April 6, 2011

 I am around 4 1/2 months post-op, so no triathlons yet!! Saw my surgeon for my 4 month follow up last week. He said I could start gradually running and cycling outside again. I really thought he was going to say 6-12 months! He said to start very slowly, as in no more than 10 miles a week of running until I hit 6-9 months. He said to consider this year as a rehab year. That is fine…it will take awhile to work back up to it by walking and running. I started by walking to warm up, then walked a minute, ran a minute, etc. NO PAIN and was very happy just to move!!!! I haven’t cycled outside yet because I need to get my donkey into the shop for a tune-up. I hadn’t expected to be able to ride for awhile. I know I will be nervous about falling once I do get back out there!!! I am really in no rush because I don’t plan on racing this year. I want to be 100% and take things slowly…although I might consider the aquavelo, if not at Eagleman, then later in the season after getting back out on my bike.

April 27, 2011

I am 5 months post-op now and my teenage son said to me yesterday…Mom, when you race in Kona again I will cry!!!! It shows our families know what we have been through and are there every step of the way. I told him that I would cry when I raced again…doesn’t matter if it is Kona, an IM, or a shorter triathlon, I will be happy to toe the line again!
 

May 8, 2011

I am a petite, 49 y.o. athletic female (48 at time of resurfacing), 6 months post-op LBHR. I also had AVN. I got my life back!!! Prior to surgery, my hip had totally collapsed and had some rather large cysts along with the AVN. My surgeon was able to handle it and due to my strong bones (even though I am small!!) the surgery was a success. I too was limping prior to surgery.

No limp after surgery and completely normal gait…it is amazing! I find myself smiling everyday.

June 14, 2011

I am a triathlete as well, 7 months post-op LBHR. I too have done many Ironmans, including LP (which is so beautiful and you are so lucky to be there year after year for camp!) and I have raced Kona 3 times (my favorite of all of them!). My problems started after a bike crash at my last Kona race.

Resurfacing is amazing!!! I feel better than I have in 4 years!! Believe me when I say you will get back to running and racing!!!! All of us have our sports on this site, and I think that has been the main goal for all of us…to return to our sport that we enjoy so much.
 

June 24, 2011

I am at 7 months post-op and can’t remember at what point in my recovery I could touch my toes and bring my knee to my chest….I should have written it all down! If I recall, once the 90 degree restriction was lifted at 4 weeks, things happened really fast and I just keep improving. I think it was at about 5 weeks that I could touch my toes, tie my shoes, etc. At 7 months my ROM and strength on the operated side are better than they have been in years, since my bike crash in 2007.

November 8, 2011

I go back for my one year post-op tomorrow! I am a small female and my surgery was a success and I am back running. I race the IMs so I will definitely get back into longer distance running eventually. I have been very conservative getting back into running, but I was cleared to start slowly at around 5 months post-op. I will be back racing next season.

November 9, 2011

I just had my one year post-op appointment with my surgeon. The x-rays (taken from several different angles) looked fantastic! Everything looks good…I go back in a year and then if things still look good, I go back in 5 years. He wrote a prescription for a metallosis test to get baseline numbers but just to serve as a baseline for the future…no problems that he could see.

I have had no pain (except for the post-op surgical pain) since the surgery and no limp. My ROM has come back and I feel better than I have in years. Running feels fantastic! I am a triathlete and he cleared me to go back to racing the long distance races I love!

I turn 50 on November 25th and I have to say it will be the best birthday I have had in 3 or 4 years because I feel so great! I truly feel like I was given my life back. Those who have been through this surgery know what I am talking about. I think people can see it in my face…no more pain!! I think I am just a happier person these days and a much better Mom to my two boys and wife to my husband.

April 1, 2012

I am 16 months post-op Left BHR and I think about my hip almost everyday…but not because there is any pain, but because there is none and I am so amazed at how fantastic I feel! I don’t feel like I have an implant and I feel so thankful that the few years of reduced range of motion and pain are completely gone. I feel like I was given a new lease on life. I feel happy all the time and that is what makes me think about my hip.