Steve Lee Hip Resurfacing Dr. Su 2008
9 Year Update
Nine year update: X-rays look great. Chromium 1.6 ng/ml; Cobalt < 1 ng/ml.
Retired May 1, 2016. Skied at least 40 visits last winter. Playing racquetball during the winter/spring.
Bagged 6 blue grouse last spring. Bagged forked horn moose 10 days ago and packed entire moose out in quarters over 1/3 mile. Used combination sled over several inches deep water and backpack. Moose backstrap ate like tenderloin as moose was young at 1 1/2 yrs. Also bagged 6 Canadian Geese. Just turned 64 and very pleased with performance of LBHR with no issues.
7 Year Update
Seven year update: X-Rays look great. Chromium 1.2 ng/ml; cobalt < 1 ng/ml.
Next exam in 2 yrs. Didn’t ski much last year. Local resort was only open for a few days due to lack of snow. Played racquetball and won 2nd place in 40+ age division at Alaska state singles tournament in April even though I was 61 years old playing 40 year olds.
Also hunted for blue grouse, moose and canada geese. No grouse or moose but got several geese. Will retire in May, 2016 and have more time to travel and recreate.
Steve’s complete story available here:
Steve’s Original Story
I am 55 years old and reside in Douglas, Alaska. I recently had a Left Birmingham Hip Resurfacing Device (LBHR) installed by Dr. Su at the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) in New York City on 9/29/08. At ten weeks post-op, I am doing great. I ride the exercise bicycle and elliptical machine for 20 minutes each daily for a total of 40 minutes aerobic training. I do stretches twice daily and leg strengthening exercises with cybex and nautilus machines every other day. I walk outdoors for about 1 ½ miles daily during the work week. My leg length discrepancy is returning to normal and I have been doing gait training. I expect to resume impact activities such as downhill skiing, racquetball and hunting over rough, mountainous terrain after 6 months post-op.
The history of my left hip began with an injury from a motor vehicle accident in January, 1988. X-rays did not detect any distress in the hip and the injury was diagnosed as a left hip abductor strain by my local orthopedic surgeon (OS).
In January, 1995, I strained my left hip playing racquetball. The injury was painful and I limped about afterwards. I recovered after a few weeks rest. In October, 1995 an evaluation by my local OS indicated recurrent left hip strain, probable rectus femoris.
I stopped playing racquetball in April, 1996 but continued hunting in mountainous terrain.
In October, 2002, a pelvic x-ray showed bone on bone contact at the outer edge of my left hip. My local family practice physician advised to limit impact activities such a jogging but otherwise the condition was not disabling.
I resumed downhill skiing after several years of doing other sports and continued hunting in mountainous terrain.
In August, 2007, a left hip x-ray showed severe osteoarthritis with bone on bone contact and numerous bone spurs. I did not experience much pain or loss of function. My local internal medicine doctor advised a total hip replacement (THR). He referred me to a local OS who also advised a THR comprised of an oxinium femoral head and shaft, metal socket and a polyethylene liner. He said I could still ski with the THR, although I was concerned about dislocation. He said I wasn’t a candidate for hip resurfacing since I had bone spurs in the hip socket which also extended down to the femoral neck.
I hunted moose in September, 2007. I shot a 42 inch bull but I needed assistance by two other hunters to pack out the moose for a distance of 1 mile. I cleaned, skinned and quartered the entire moose by myself. Needless to say, my left hip throbbed for two consecutive nights and I didn’t sleep much.
I downhill skied the entire 2007-2008 season with no problems.
On May 15, 2008, I hunted blue grouse on a ridge in the snow and bagged two male grouse (hooters). Afterwards, I limped across the meadow at the base of the ridge and used my 0.22 rifle as a cane. My left hip noticeably deteriorated after this hunt. I used a cane throughout the Summer and cancelled field work for my job. After mowing my lawn, my left hip was fatigued and I limped about the house, although I never experienced severe pain. At most I had moderate pain.
Meanwhile, I researched hip resurfacing and hip replacement on several web sites, including activejoints.com, surfacehippy.info, aaos.org and several hip resurfacing doctors websites.
In July, 2008 a left hip x-ray showed about the same extent of severe osteoarthritis as the previous year. My local OS said he didn’t do hip resurfacing and that I was on my own to pursue this option.
I sent my x-rays to several prominent hip resurfacing surgeons such as Dr. Bose, Dr. DeSmet, Dr. Mont and Dr. Su. They all said I was a candidate for hip resurfacing.
I participated in three chats with Dr. Mont and one chat with Dr. Bose on the surfacehippy.info website. They answered many of my questions. I also received a lot of information from Vicky Marlow.
I decided to have my hip resurfaced by Dr. Su at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York. The hospital was ranked no. 1 for Orthopedics in 2008 by the US World & News Report for the second consecutive year. Dr. Su had done more than 700 hip resurfacing surgeries and had trained with the best in the world e.g. Dr. McMinn, Dr. DeSmet , Dr. Amstutz and Dr. Gross. My local doctor (Internal Medicine) referred me to Dr. Su and I had pre-op tests (blood chemistry, urine sample, chest x-ray, EKG) done locally. My insurance would pay for nearly the entire amount of the surgery.
So I had my left hip resurfaced on 9/29/08. Dr. Su initialed my left hip with a marker in the pre-surgery waiting room (to ensure this was the correct hip to be operated on). I was wheeled to operating room no. 2. The room was cold – it seemed about 55 F. I saw several assistants preparing for the surgery. They lifted me onto the operating table. Dr. Greg Liguori administered the spinal/epidural anesthesia at about 12:45 PM. I never did see Dr. Su. I woke up in the post anesthesia care unit (PACU) two hours later at about 3 PM. I spent about 5 hours in the PACU until my feet were no longer numb. I spent 4 days in the hospital and 3 days in the Belaire Guest Facilities, which is next door to the hospital. The service was great at HSS. Numerous visits by nurses, nurse’s aides, physical therapists, physician assistants and physicians insured I received great care. On many occasions I was asked what my date of birth was (to ensure I was the correct patient). I had an epidural catheter connected for pain relief for a couple of days. I could administer a booster dose as needed. The dose was regulated so I could not over medicate. The physical therapist helped me use a walker to the door of my room the morning after surgery. In the afternoon, I used the walker around the nurse’s station. The following days, I used crutches to walk around the hallways, twice daily. I also practiced with crutches climbing a short prop stairway in a training room.
Dr. Martin Nydick (Internal Medicine) visited daily in the AM. An anesthesiologist visited one day. Dr. Su visited one day and his physican’s assistant Blaire Biase visited a couple of days. I promised I would mention nurse Jane in my story. She asked if I had a bowel movement a couple of days after surgery. I replied I had a most satisfying movement that AM. It was the first movement after surgery. It was about 12 inches long, firm, split in two and averaged about 1 ½ inches in diameter. Dr. Su and the team at the HSS were great as my recovery has been rapid with no complications.
My two sisters stayed for a week two days before my surgery and one day after my discharge from the hospital. They visited twice daily when I was in the hospital. They shared a room as I reserved a two bedroom suite at the Belaire Guest Facilities. They were great company. They were tourists in New York City and had a great time.
I saw Dr. Su on 10/6/08 for a one week post-op, prior to flying home on 10/7/08. I sat in first class on Alaska Airlines. The leg room was great and a flight attendant even put on my TED stockings. The trip from Newark, NJ to Seattle is about 5 ½ hours non-stop. I had a 1 hour layover in Seattle prior to returning to Juneau on a 2 ½ hour non-stop flight.
I began outpatient physical therapy on 10/10/08. I sent my 4 week post-op x-rays to Dr. Su and they look great. I returned to work at 5 weeks post-op on 11/3/08. I work as a Bridge Engineer for Alaska Dept. of Transportation/Public Facilities. At 10 weeks post-op, I’m nearly back to normal. I still have a bit of swelling near the incision after an aerobic workout. My gait is returning to normal. I’m continuing physical therapy for four more weeks, twice weekly. I do not notice the implant. My left hip feels as normal as my right hip. I have had no squeaking or clunking. I’m looking forward to next Spring and Summer when I can resume my active lifestyle. Ski season will be nearly over but I will hike and climb the trails into the mountains and I won’t suffer from left hip joint pain afterwards!
March 9, 2009
I am attaching three photos of my hike yesterday. I hiked about a mile along the groomed ski run, climbing about 500 ft elevation before climbing another 750 ft elevation. I snowshoed from the groomed ski run across a meadow, before climbing the hill. The first photo shows the hill I climbed in the foreground. My hip did fine. My hamstrings in my left leg tweaked a bit, halfway up the ridge, but I continued on to the top. No aches or pains this AM.
I’m delaying downhill skiing until 6 months post-op, according to your protocol.
I’m delighted with the results of my new hip implant. Last May, after I climbed a nearby ridge to hunt grouse, my left hip was very distressed as I hobbled across the meadow to my truck. Yesterday, after my climb, I traversed to the ski lodge without any discomfort.
March 30, 2009
I celebrated the end of a three day weekend with a few beers with fellow skiers. Monday was Seward’s day which was a holiday commemorating the purchase of Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million in 1867. What a steal!
8 months post-op update:
I bought a pair of excellent running shoes (Asics Gel Kayano 15) and I fast pace walk (4.8 mph) for 15 minutes, followed by 7 strengthening exercises (instructed by physical therapist) on Nautilus or Cybex equipment (3 sets of 15 reps each) followed by running (6 mph) for 15 minutes on the treadmill. I feel great afterwards. I planned on running on the dirt shoulder of a highway today to celebrate my 8 month anniversary (I haven’t ran outdoors for at least seven years due the deteriorating condition of my left hip), but its raining and I don’t want to dirty my new shoes. I’ll run on the treadmill instead and run outdoors on a sunny or cloudy day.
Life is sweet. I feel like I’m 30 years old again 🙂
August 29, 2008
I had my x-rays taken locally and sent them to Dr. Su for review.
I received his response this AM and and he said “Absolutely perfect! Enjoy it!”
So I’m going to enjoy it. I haven’t had any change in activities since my 6 month date, when all restrictions were lifted.
I feel more confident about doing very aggressive activities now that I have passed the one year mark and my bones have fully densified and my muscles and tendons should be fully healed.
Other than a minor ache after strenous activities, I haven’t had any symptoms. The left hip feels completely natural.
Hat’s off for perfect placement! For future surface hippies, I recommend you push, pull or drag your body to the most experienced hip resurfacing surgeon you can go to and pay a portion out-of-pocket (travel and co-pay) to ensure perfect placement and no future problems.
I won’t have much to post about my recovery in the future since I feel fully recovered but I’ll continue to monitor this website and post comments as a “one year plus veteran.”
October 3, 2010
Two year anniversary:
Dr. Su evaluated my hip x-rays taken at two years post-op and said “X-rays look terrific. Bone and implant are SOLID!!
So I celebrated today by running outdoors along the dirt shoulder of a favorite stretch of road.
I ran 3.6 miles in 34 minutes which is about a 9 1/2 minute/mile pace.
I haven’t ran this leg for about 10 years due to the deteriorating left hip.
This matches the workout on the treadmill.
No problems during or after the run.
I am attaching a photo which shows the view along this stretch of road.
Sure beats the drudgery of the treadmill.
I feel completely rehabilitated and expect to enjoy active sports for years to come.
October 9, 2011
Three year anniversary:
I am attaching a photo of a 6 x 5 Roosevelt elk I bagged on Mt. Shakes, Etolin Island, SE Alaska on October 1, 2011.
The hunt entailed hiking up a 60 degree forested slope to the alpine, then hiking a mile across the top of the mountain to bag the elk.
My partner and I each staged 3-4 loads (80 pounds plus) to pack the meat, cape and antlers to the base camp at Lake 1314 (elevation).
We completed the pack on October 6 and returned to Ketchikan.
My hip squeaked a bit after the kill, then the sqeaking diminished over the next couple of days and didn’t squeak at all on the last pack.
I had no discomfort in the muscles and I didn’t need any ibupropen.
So I am completely rehabilitated for the new left hip as I have accomplished the most rigorous feat to date.
October 28, 2012
4 year, 1 month anniversary update:
Hip x-rays look great!
Chromium 1.7 ug/l
Cobalt 1.3 ug/l
Metal levels are also great, indicating that the joint is functioning well and not creating much debris, even though I’ve been very active.
I’ve been playing racquetball, downhill skiing and hunting (blue grouse, dall sheep, moose and ducks and geese. Local Dr. says my chloresterol levels are good (below 200) since I’ve been eating a lot of wild game meat and Alaska seafood.
Attaching a couple of photos from a recent dall sheep hunt in the Wrangell Mountains, near McCarthy, AK. Didn’t bag a sheep, since none were legal size (full curl) but snapped some photos of dall sheep (one with a 7/8 curl) and a hawk.
October 26, 2013
5 year, 1 month update:
Bone is solid when reviewing x-rays.
Chromium 1.4 ug/l
Cobalt 0.9 ug/l
Next x-rays and blood metal test at 2 year intervals instead of 1 year, for awhile.
I’ve continued to play racquetball, downhill ski and hunt with no problems and have basically ignored that I have a left hip resurfacing device.
September 29, 2014
Six year update:
I’ve continued to be active downhill skiing, racquetball and hunting with no problems or discomfort noted.
No x-rays or blood metal ion test this year as the tests are on two year intervals for a while.