July 26, 2015

I was diagnosed with mild-to-moderate dysplasia at age 38- totally shocked. I have cartilage wear on both sides (my MRI index numbers aren’t great despite decent joint space- 387 on left and 420 on right) and two big cysts on my acetabulum on the right. Been to a few great PAO docs (Millis, Santore, LaReau) who say I’m borderline at best and that they couldn’t guarantee a good outcome. And the PAO procedure is horrid with a brutal year recovery and tons of risks.

Dr. Gross thinks I’m an excellent candidate for HR, but Dr. Bose turned me down, mostly because of implant size. I have my films in to Dr. Su but haven’t heard back yet.

I’ll admit, I have my heart set on HR. At 41, I was resigned to a THR and sick about it. I know Dr. Gross is an expert, and I trust him, and my gut tells me he’s my guy. When we talked on the phone, he answered all my questions, had really kind things to say about other top docs when I said I wanted other opinions, but he also had that “great surgeon sort of confidence” that I really liked and set me at ease! I talked with Nancy and set a date and I’m so excited!

May 16, 2016

I had a right hip resurfacing with Dr. Gross on March 30th. I have osteopenia at 42, perhaps in part because of being hypermobile and not having great collagen. So I am on the slow recovery program- crutches for 2 months and a cane for another month after that and big time restrictions with walking and activity until 6 months. So far, my hip feels fabulous and has since the moment I woke up in recovery. But I have not put much weight on it yet, and won’t for some time, so I can’t report any success stories yet. But I am similar to you, and have had good results so far. It’s REALLY frustrating having to crutch around for so long, but I’m determined to have a good result, so I’m going to do this right.

May 19, 2016

I’m 6 weeks out from RHR with Dr Gross. I met with my PT to start Phase 2 exercises, and I can’t do a side leg lift from lying down. My PT had to scale me back to a clamshell and even that was very difficult. There’s pain in what feels like the glute med. I know these muscles get cut during surgery, but they’re barely working at all.

On standing, I tested it again- same thing. Can barely lift my leg out to the side.

May 31, 2016

UPDATE: Dr. Gross’s office suggested that I try the side leg lifts while standing up for a while until the abductor got a little stronger. Just lifting the leg out to the side while standing. This worked very well, as I could manage about 5 or 6 of them with out as much pain. So I did that for a week and worked up to 10.

Last night, I tried some lying on my side again and got to 15!!! YAY ME!! It still hurt, but it wasn’t nearly as painful as when I first tried a week ago.

June 17, 2016

I’m finally moving to a cane. I have low bone density, and I’ve had 6 doses of Fosamax so far, but I’m still scared. How do I know that what I’m feeling is normal? At first I had no pain, just some glute weakness. Now I get a little soreness in the hip joint after 10 minutes. Is that ok? Not really limping too much, but I’m not walking a ton yet.

I’m using the cane for maybe 10 minutes twice a day. I’m being VERY DELICATE with it. I’ll increase it slowly, I just want to be on the lookout for warning signs of a femoral neck fracture.

June 27, 2016

I’m at 3 months and feeling good. I’m on the slow protocol, low bone density, and had a stomach infection post-op that delayed my Fosamax until May, so I’m on one crutch right now and using a cane around the house. I love the freedom of having a hand free and I REALLY want to do more, but I know I shouldn’t. This is prime fracture time, and I know I have to take it slow. Phase 2 exercises are good- I’m back to full strength supine and almost there with the side lifts.

July 13, 2016

At 3.5 months, those side lying leg lifts are pretty easy. It does not feel like the muscles have recovered completely, and from posts here, it looks like that will be a while. I do get some “startup stiffness” when I first begin the lift itself. But I’m at 30 lifts with 2 lb ankle weights with no problem. I’m on my cane full time, and probably will be for a couple more weeks. But things are progressing nicely. Will probably see a PT at 6 months like Blinky did to address any residual muscle issues.

August 26, 2016

I’m at 5 months and I’m finally off my cane, walking and doing stairs “the normal way.” It feels really good to be moving around and productive again.

I’m more of a tortoise with my recovery, but I actually don’t mind. I have low bone density and I just refuse to rush things or feel bad that it’s taken a little longer. I even slowed things down further than Dr Gross suggested, and I think it’s worked well for me personally. Just wanting to make sure my green bone is nice and solid.

I actually don’t have much pain, just that “startup pain” in the outer thigh for the first few steps after I get up from sitting for a while. My thigh is pretty mushy, but it seems to be a little tighter every day.

So nice that even after a day of walking around, that old hip crease arthritis pinching is completely gone. Ahhhhh!
I kinda miss my cane a little. It was pink with rhinestones. Saving it just in case the left hip goes later on.