June 3, 2013

I have chosen Dr. Joseph Jankiewicz from the Sharp/Coronado Hospital and Healthcare Center. My backup surgeon if this falls through will be Dr. Ferro from Arroyo Grande.

I chose Dr. J as they call him because he has a track record with getting law enforcement and firefighters back to work. I am hoping that after the surgery, he will simply tell me to go get what I want. I only need this hip to work for 10-15 years.
 

September 3, 2013

Surgery went very well. I only have pain on the staple line. More later.

September 4, 2013

26 hours post-op. Nerve blocker has been turned off, so I can do PT. Fought through the stiffness and pain to walk 70ft. Tonight after PT I get the nerve block back.

Joint has zero pain. Pain is at incision site and swelling. Joint feels good. Doctor said this will be the worst day. Also said to make sure not to overdo anything so that there is little chance for dislocation.
 

September 7, 2013

This has been an emotional and physical fight.

The staff at SHARP/CORONADO have been amazing. They also said that, in their experience, the younger patients have a tougher time in post-op do to the fact they have more muscle density than older patients.

So here is my story…

Post Op Day #1:

Hardest thing I have ever done. My hip hurts, you cant sleep, and the swelling was bad. I also went into “A-fib” for 8 hours, which the doctors weren’t expecting with a 42 year old patient. So here cam the echocardiogram. It shows I have BAV. Bicuspid Aortic Valve. Meaning, I have 2 leaflets in the valve instead of 3. They said I have had it my entire life, and since there was no leaking, etc, I’m fine for now.

September 8, 2013

Post-Op Day #5:

Last night I didn’t need as man pain meds to sleep. My swelling is going down and the staple site doesn’t hurt as much.

Re: Bicuspid Aortic Valve. The cardio docs at the hospital said that there is no leakage and my heart is not enlarged. Told me that it really shouldn’t bother me for another 10-20 years…

Today is a good day.

September 16, 2013

I am at Post-Op Day #12 and I can tell you that the chrysalis is amazing. I have zero internal hip pain where that constant sharp pain used to be. I can sleep through the night with little pain medication and walking is no longer painful. This surgery so far is a modern day miracle for me.

The only problem I am having now is finding out information on what sort of rehab activities I should/need to be doing. I am so ready to do some physical activity.

Thank you to PAT! Who has been absolutely amazing with this site and personal emails. I will be donating money so that this site remains the beacon of light it has been for me and I am sure many others. I am grateful for all the people that have responded to my questions or simply read my questions and offered up a few prayers.

We are blessed in these times and I for one will remain a part of this place in an effort to help out anyway and every way I can.
 

December 13, 2013

3 months, 1 week post-op. Took a spill and had to catch myself. Felt pain on the outside of my hip immediately (has lasted 2 weeks). I have zero pain in the joint. However, it still feels really weird.

February 23, 2013

I travel quite a bit and let me tell you something unbelievable: I have yet to set off a metal detector with my metal-on-metal Cormet resurfaced hip! True story. I have done full body scanner and regular metal detector… nothing.

Quick story: Walking up to one of security checkpoints, I told them I had a resurfaced hip. They walked me through the detector and it went off. They put me in a holding area and I waited. When the male TSA agent walked up to search me, I walked through the detector again and… NOTHING. It was my jacket that set it off, as I had taken it off after the first walk-through.

So… I don’t know why, but my hip doesn’t set off any of the devices used.

February 23, 2014

I am 5 months post-op and am have been fully released. I will be testing with the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department for a Deputy Sheriff position. I am 42 and had my right-hip resurfaced due to wearing out the cartilage in playing volleyball in college. I feel great, but have some range of motions issues I need to get resolved.

I played baseball for the first time since my surgery and NO PAIN!

My surgeon has given me his 100% release to pursue this career. He thinks I can survive an academy with all its rigors. My biggest hurdle will be the medical exam from the county doctors. I hope I can show them that I am able.

April 3, 2014

I am in the process of becoming a police officer. The reality is the only hurdle in my way of realizing my dream is convincing the doctors that do the medical examine that my hip is good to go. My hip is in fact 100%, good to go and fully released by my surgeon (Dr. Joseph Jankiewicz). This may not be enough.

I want to create a portfolio. Studies, athletes, people in law enforcement, and more.

May 16, 2014

I passed the first portion of the physical abilities test for LAPD which consisted of…

Side-to-Side 10 second timed shuttle (8 ft) (I was 1st in my group)
2 minute bike endurance with resistance.
Cable pull

ZERO hip pain during and after.

This surgery has been a life changing event.

November 24, 2014 1 year, 1 month post op

I am still in the process of going back into law enforcement.  I have passed all the physical testing!  The only hurdle now will be if the county doctor wants to DQ me because he doesn’t like the hip.  But there is more….

I took a job as an assistant coach at a Division I University for Women’s Volleyball.  Guess what?  I play volleyball everyday on this resurfaced hip and I mean PLAY!  I jump, I dive, I run all over creation and I can tell you, I have ZERO hip pain.  There is one thing that does happen every now and then… I squeak when I walk. Sounds like somebody is whistling at times.  I think this happens when I am dehydrated and when the joint swells a little from all the pounding.  Note though:  There is no pain.

Just wanted to tell you what an amazing doctor I worked with Dr. Joseph Jankiewicz from Sharp HealthCare. He specializes in Firefighters and Law Enforcement types.

Still working on the range of motion… but that will come, right?

Love this surgery and am sooooo happy.  I hope all of you will feel the same.