I am a 50 year old female who had
suffered hip/groin/knee pain for years, so finally 6 years
ago I went to a sports medicine doctor, thinking the pain I
had been feeling for a year was a groin pull. I am a
firefighter, so that is why I thought it was just a pull, or
a tear. After my visit with him, he felt is was more than a
muscle/tendon issue, so he ordered x-rays. The x-rays showed
bone on bone on my right hip. He then referred me to Dr.
Alan Valadie. After sobbing to Dr. Valadie that I was sure
my career was over, he explained to me about a THR, and that
we could do that, and I may be able to still do my job. He
advised me to hold off as long as I could, due to the fact
that THR would only last so long. He prescribed Vioxx for me
and we kept in touch. Vioxx was a MIRACLE drug for me. I
know it did not work for everyone, but it took away most of
my pain. I kept working and working out regularly to keep my
weak muscles in my right leg from getting weaker. I
compensated at work with my left leg, and worked very very
hard in gaining very strong upper body strength, plus
keeping my back muscles strong as well. A few years later,
the FDA pulled Vioxx, and I found myself crying once again.
My miracle drug was taken from me. I was put on something
that didn’t work, and then finally Celebrex, which I have
been on for 3 years now. Celebrex never eliminated the pain
like Vioxx, but it helped. Finally my poor hip could not
take it anymore. I realized now….that I was putting the
civilians and my crew at risk, due to my weak leg. Climbing
ladders and pulling hose was agonizing, letting alone
climbing up into the fire truck. I went to my Doctor in
August and said…I am ready…I can’t take it anymore. He
told me it was a good thing I waited because I am a
candidate for the BHR, which was approved in May of 2007 in
this country. It was that easy. After new x-rays and
scheduling…I had surgery on November 29th, 2007.

My surgery went well. I had an epidural, because I freaked
at pre-op…and they gave me that option which eased my
mind. For some reason I thought if I was completely under, I
would never wake up. Anyway, the surgery lasted about an
hour in a half. Dr. Valadie told my sister once they opened
me up I was much worse than he thought, but that everything
went well. My recovery was good. 3 days in the hospital,
with in hospital PT. Great nurses, specialized ward just for
joint care, and a good experience. I used a walker for one
day, used extra strength tylenol for pain (narcotics make me
ill), and just dealt with the discomfort. I had 7 days of
shots for clotting, wore my TEDS for 18 days, had in home
PT, walked with one crutch for 10 days, drove at 14 days,
and started outpatient PT, at 17 days. I had no
complications and loved it when I got to the 6 week mark to
BEND OVER!!!!!

At 10 weeks I am doing great. Aggressive PT, for 4 more
weeks as of this writing. I have an excellent therapist who
is working very hard with me to get me back on that “fire
truck”, as he tells me. PT is a key for me to get strong to
get back to the job. I can’t go back to work until the 6
month mark, due to the femur head fracture thing, and heavy
weight lifting. So, until that, I rehab, rehab, and rehab
some more. I am a testimony for this procedure. What a
wonderful thing!!!!

Noreen
Bradenton, Fl

January 31, 2008

Starting last week, I was finally able to
lift my new hip leg, up about 2 inches off the ground while
sitting in a chair. Now at 10 weeks I can raise it a bit
more. It is all baby steps. Everyday, I would at least
attempt to do what I couldn’t do..even if it was just once.
Then one morning you wake up, and you could do what you
couldn’t do last week. Patience, and diligence is the
combination that has worked for me.

PS: Prior to surgery, I could not lift that leg off the
ground while sitting, nor could I cross it over the other
leg…for years. I can actually cross my leg over the other
one now…that was an amazing feat. I am 10 weeks however,
and I know the restrictions of not crossing are for the
first 6 weeks, so don’t attempt to do that until the proper
time.

December 12, 2007

Hi Pat

This forum has helped me, and through this site I have met a
few other firefighters that have had this done. I live in
Bradenton, Florida. My OS is Alan Valadie, and the hospital
I went to is called Blake Hospital, and it has a special
wing called the Joint Care Center. It is more like a hotel
than a hospital, and the care was outstanding. I am lucky
enough to have my Doctor and the hospital, in the city I
live in. I met a guy through your site that lives in St
Petersburg, and he is coming down here, to have his surgery
and Doctor Valadie is also his doctor. My only nemisis so to
speak right now are these TEDS….they are driving me crazy
and I can’t want to get them off!!!

November 20, 2007

Hi. I am having a hip resurfacing on
November 29th. I have severe osteoarthritis, caused by hip
displasia. I had no clue I had hip displasia, or maybe I
would have chosen another career. I am a 50 year old female,
firefighter. I kept going for years through the pain,
thinking I had a groin issue, only to find out it was bone
on bone in my right hip. This was diagnosed 6 years ago.
Thank God for Vioxx and Bextra, allthough we know they are
off the market, but because of those drugs, which I called a
miracle, I could manage my pain….NON-NARCOTIC. Anyway, I
have been on Celebrex for years..and it never worked as well
as the others. To make a long story short, I am looking
foward to greater mobility, pain reduction and day to day
living doing what I like to do and not have this physical
restriction. I have continued to work out daily, except in
the last month because the pain has gone from bad to worse.
I have read many blogs and discussion groups online and
thank goodness they are there. Its nice to see others
function again, so I know that I just have to be patient and
not rush my rehab. I will continue to read in this forum, so
any other pointers anyone can give me would be appreciated.