Marilyn Cave RBHR April 21, 2008 Dr. Evans
I am 48 years old and had my right hip resurfaced on 4/21/08.
Prior to surgery, my right leg was about 1.5 inches shorter than my left and
quite a bit smaller from lack of use. My back and most everything else hurt from
the way I walked and my limited ROM. After surgery and after the post surgical
issues have settled down – I have regained total height to be almost 6’1″. My
right leg is getting more muscular, walking is better, and pain is MUCH better.
I still have a slight limp, but feel it is in my head somewhat and a bad habit I
am trying to break.
Dr John Evans also did my surgery on April
21, 2008. I am VERY pleased with my results and also with his nurse Chris Madrid
who has been wonderful. I would not change a thing!!! I was 48 years old at the
time of my surgery.
I had been in constant pain for about 1.5 years prior to surgery. I have
rheumatoid arthritis and was misdiagnosed with sciatic nerve pain for a while
and went through PT prior to having x-rays performed which showed the severe
damage to my right hip (most likely from a skateboarding injury from years ago).
I was basically bone on bone – something about hearing your bones scrape
together is VERY disheartening! I was told by many people to wait and have the
surgery when I was older as I would have to repeat the surgery. I just couldn’t
see myself sitting around waiting to get older, while I felt so old already and
could not do many of the things that I enjoyed. My hip would hardly hold me up
and I was limping very severely, which really puts a lot of stress on your back.
I was having to take pain meds and did not want to live this way. My right leg
was shorter and smaller than the other (which is all better now).
My rheumatologist referred me to Dr. Evans. He told me about the Birmingham Hip
Resurfacing. If my bones were in good shape, I would be an excellent candidate,
especially with my young age Now, that made me feel really good!
Everything went very well and I was in the hospital for 4 nights and received
excellent care at the CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Northwest Hospital in San Antonio! I
had much less pain after surgery than before (with the exception of surgical
pain, which was very minimal). I was the first patient at my Physical Therapy
clinic to have this surgery, so I had to do some educating with them to make
sure I received the proper care and rehab. I have been very proud to share my
story with anyone that is experiencing pain and want to make sure they are aware
of all of their options.
I am so happy and feel great at 3 months post-op (today in fact)!!!! I look
forward to a whole new lease on life with my new hip. I love this website and I
would be honored to call myself a “surface hippy”. Thanks Pat for the wonderful
website!!! You did a great job! I just found you today and look forward to
reviewing the postings and information on this site!
Sorry this is a little late, but thought I’d offer some
encouragement to anyone reading. I’m 3 mos. post op. My doc probably had a
conservative approach, which may be due to other medical conditions.
I was in the hospital for 4 nights with an ice pack on my hip and the cool
massing booties on my feet with the TEDS hose and wonderful nursing care. Then
on to home where My Wonderful Husband (know referred to as MWH to avoid typing)
you really find out how wonderful they are during all of this – took care of me.
The first night home from the hospital was the worse night ever. Although MWH
took great care of me, you can’t out perform those booties and special ice packs
they use. I had a bunch of swelling, my leg felt hot and I felt like I had a
fever. I think I probably overdid it a little. Ice packs, elevating the leg, and
wearing the hose really seemed to help the swelling. After that night – things
to really get better and they get better every day!!!
I used 2 crutches with touch weight bearing only and began physical therapy
right away – PT 3x a week for 4 weeks. I wore the hose – which MWH put on for me
– which was really difficult – bless his heart. I told him he could be secure in
his manhood as it was obvious he had never put on hose before! I used 2 crutches
for 6 weeks, then 1 crutch for 2 weeks and a cane for 4 weeks. I ditched the
cane after about 2 weeks. I was starting to trip over it rather than use it!
I really did not mind the hose, as I could not shave my legs. I am 6’1″ and have
a lot of legs to shave . Anyway, so as not to scare anyone, I kept BOTH hose on.
I figured with all the other things MWH was doing for me, that might be pushing
my luck to ask him to shave my legs too! A dear friend bought me a pair of light
blue Crocs to wear during my recovery. I joked with the Physical Therapists that
I looked like Swiss Miss with my blue Crocs and white hose and whatever shorts
and shirt that was clean – with MWH doing laundry… sometime’s I looked like
Barney or other cartoon characters, but I was clean
For tennis shoes or other tie shoes. Those curly shoelaces are wonderful. You
don’t have to get someone to tie your shoes. My MWH could rest after yanking on
those hose and not have to worry about shoe laces. Plus the curly shoe laces
went better with my Barney outfits anyway.
Needless to say, I am without hose and cane and walking with a little bit of a
limp. I really think it is a bad habit I have picked up and I need to work on
getting my old walk back – which I guess will come with time. I am excited and
happy with the quality of life and getting back to being normal – whatever that
is!
Marilyn Cave