Tom Craig RBHR Dr. Snyder January 13, 2009
RBHR Dr. Snyder January 13, 2009 |
I am a 65 year old working attorney in Manchester, NH. I am an active athlete. Dozen marathons in the distant past. Active crew racer, bicyclist, down hill and cross country skier. In the past year I have religiously followed a weight training program. I was scheduled for right THR in July of 2006. I had disc surgery in May of 2006 which seemed to reduce the hip symptoms. So I cancelled the THR. The hip symptoms returned. Google brought me to your site. I became strongly interested in Dr. Su’s services at HSS. The difficulties in getting in and out of Manhattan on multiple occasions put me off. I continued researching and learned that Dr. Daniel Snyder at Newton Wellesley Hospital in Newton, MA did more resurfacing procedures that any one else in New England. The hospital has an extremely low infection rate. I met with Dr. Snyder in late November and I was very happy with what he had to offer. He told me my bone on bone hip symptoms were the result of an old athletic injury. Course this is huge because it means I should not need surgery on the left hip. On Tuesday 1/13/09, I underwent right hip resurfacing. He uses BHR and Cormet materials depending on what you need when he gets in there. He uses a posterior muscle sparing approach and estimates you are “open” for an hour or so. After general anesthesia, I woke in the recovery room and brought to my room. My therapist, Amanda, arrived within 1/2 hour to an hour and told me she would like me on my feet weight bearing as soon as possible. So we did so. Then. Right then. We disconnected the intravenous and off we went with a walker. No pain whatsoever. Stiffness? Yes. But no pain whatsoever. No pain medication. Up and down the halls a few times. She left and every few hours or so I would get disconnected and do the same thing. My wild guess is I walked a mile within 24 hours of the surgery at first with a walker but mostly with crutches. No pain. No pain medication. The next morning Amanda taught me how to go up and down stairs and gave me a home therapy protocol. Dr. Snyder came in and assured me he in fact really did do a surgical procedure and released me to go home about 28 hours after the surgery. My wife and son came to get me at about noon and I was home about 1-30 PM. The surgery was Tuesday. Today is Saturday. Still no pain whatsoever. I was given an Rx for oxycodone but didn’t bother getting it filled. One of the instructions is weight bearing as tolerated. I spent part of the day walking with just one crutch. My guess is I will be walking next week with just a cane. Had a bunch of friends over yesterday. They talked me out of going to my local YMCA today for a stationary bike ride. Weather is cold and icy. I couldn’t be happier with Dr. Snyder and the facilities and personnel at Newton Wellesley Hospital. I am only a few days out but so far things could not have gone better. Fear is nearly eliminated if you educate yourself with what to expect. For this knowledge, I sincerely thank you and your web site. Tom Craig <kup5849@yahoo.com> |