July 29, 2011 Had my consult with Dr. Su on 7/20 and all went well. Found him to be extremely intelligent, likable, approachable and compassionate. Thanks to you all he said I had surely done my research in asking the right questions and voicing my concerns. All pointed to me being the “perfect candidate” for the BHR…wonder if I’m alone with that status.

He was booked for surgery dates through the end of December, but I’ve already been bumped up twice to my currently scheduled 8/29. Thank you all again for alleviating some of my anxiety leading up to this decided point in time. Looking forward to 8/29 and beyond.

August 30, 2011 I’m on the other side!

According to my wife, Dr. Su said all was great with the surgery. Legs were a bit slow to come back from the nerve block/epidural, spent 7 hours in post op, so missed pt and getting out of bed yesterday. Slept a couple of hours last night and am ready to go today. Food, glorious food, that’s all that is on my mind… Had my first pt session, got out of bed and did the entire loop around the floor. Wow that felt good to be moving again. Got the spinal epidural and the catheter out…freedom is coming!

August 31, 2011 They got me on the crutches for my 2nd pt session yesterday afternoon…had a lot of food for dinner…then slept like a baby for 7 hours…longest in months. . Hope to be going home today…but a pizza stop first Kirk. September 5, 2011 Came home 8/31 from my 8/29 RBHR. Walking outside twice a day, pt exercises twice a day. I had my first in home pt session on Saturday and I think the therapist was a little too aggressive with me. Was able to do all he asked, but was blown out afterward with swelling, lateral quadricep soreness/pain. Was able to get on my bike yesterday for 15 minutes and that increased my range of motion, I tried biking before yesterday but my swelling was just too much to comfortably get my right leg through the spin cycle.

September 18, 2011 3 weeks post-op today…

What a difference 1 week makes! I started PT 10 days ago and that made all the difference for me. Been on my bike on the trainer comfortably up to 30 minutes and got up to a 1 mile walk yesterday morning.

PT has me on the recumbent elliptical and added some light ankle weights for leg curls and extensions.Hope to jump in the water today, but am going to call the Dr’s office first to make sure I’m good for that.Have my 4 week follow up with Dr. Su next Monday and am looking forward to seeing how the device is looking.

September 26, 2011 Had my 4 week follow up with Dr. Su this a.m. He said my x-rays and the device looked great…that was very reassuring. Walked a couple of miles in NYC…a little pooped now.

Took my son to the driving range yesterday, yes I did sneak in a couple dozen wedge shots and some putting too. ROM and strength really does come back quickly by the day, just keep up with the pt, exercises, biking and walking. Got my operative report today too…”firm blows of the mallet”…didn’t know that was a surgical term.

October 1, 2011 Agree totally with Pat…”everyone is different”.

I am at 4 weeks right now. My first 2 weeks sucked. I had extreme pain and immobility in my operated leg. I started outside PT right away at my request from Dr. Su and that has been my savior. What a difference 14 days makes. Let me tell you I’m working my ass off though, at least 2-3 hours a day of exercises and bike and walking. Just started the elliptical today 1 mile.

I work from my home and with all of this pt work I get very little real “work” done because I am exhausted after my exercise. I am for sure making my rehab precedent so I am fortunate I don’t have a schedule. I would not like to have a defined schedule at this point. Energy levels are not back to 100% at this point for me anyway, but my determination is at 250% for sure. This is probably the first week in 5 years I have not taken some kind of pain medication.

October 5, 2011 At 5 weeks post-op cautiously ventured outside today on the mountain bike (on the road) with my 9yo son for an easy 3 mile ride. Felt great! My boy was psyched to be able to lead Dad and point out trouble on the road. This ride is much more memorable than any I can remember.

October 10, 2011 6 weeks post-op today…weather has been rediculously nice for a NY October… Lots of firsts after surgery this weekend… Sat….First swim followed by a 2 mile Stand Up Paddle. Sun…15 mile MB ride on the road followed by some ocean swimming. Mon…20 mile road bike for the first time. I’m really starting to like this NO PAIN thing… I think I’m still listening to my body…it’s saying tired now.

October 26, 2011 8 weeks post op… goof ball…did an 8 mile stand up paddle… felt great…worst part was falling in the 55 degree water once with no wetsuit on… last half hour was chilly.

November 8, 2011 10 weeks post-op…I’ve been doing a lot, pushing it a bit, but think I’m good at listening to my body. Walking at least 2-6 miles a day, did a 7 mile hilly hike at a fast pace Sunday with my ski poles (they are awesome to take a bit of weight off of the hip up and down hills). Golfed two days in a row, yesterday and today, am a little sore but that’s probably just muscles I haven’t used in a while. Getting 2 bikes of 30 miles each a week in too. To say I’m giddy is an understatement. I need to get some work done, but the weather here in NY has been great and I am taking advantage.

My buddy who is a Veteran is doing a 24 hour race this Wed. to Thurs. to honor all Veterans and I am going to join him for 8 miles of his venture walking. What better way to honour my Dad, my friends and all for their service and celebrate my new life

November 28, 2011 Had my 3 month post-op appointment with Dr. Su today…thumbs up…all looks good… He gave me the go ahead on a January winter hike…just have to keep the pack light… Laid out my mid and long term goals and liked the way his face lit up…he must have been mirroring mine. December 12, 2011 here’s my winter hike. Grand Canyon Rim to Rim to Rim… January 13-15…2012 Dr. Su gave me the go ahead with a big grin… There will be some snow on the rims and yes some snowshoeing. It’s 45+-miles of some elevation… I’ll be at a little over 4 months post-op from my RHBHR… I’ve been slowly gearing up… I’ve been hiking my ass off with progression. January 12, 2012 At 4 months post-op, packed and getting ready to head out to AZ for my Grand Canyon adventure… Rim2Rim2Rim 50 miles 22,000+/- elevation change. Very excited. Very emotional. This is just the start to some big plans toward total recovery.

February 28, 2012 I am testament to doing too much too soon, or too far too soon at least. Was able to do as much hiking as I wanted, 45-50 miles/week with no problem at 3-4 months. Introduced running at 5 months and initially all was good until I pushed envelope. Up to 8 miles, no problem.

March 7, 2012  started picking it up a bit at 4 months and I’m now a bit over 6 months. It certainly has not been a straight line of progression for me. I am getting stronger for sure but there have been many days when I have overdone it and have not realized until after the fact. My device and strength are feeling good, but when I break down I feel soreness/bursitis in the Trochanter area. What has worked best for me is the run/walk routine. Started off 2minutes running/1 minute walking. I’m now up to 4-5 minutes running/1 minute walking. I’ve been doing all of my runs on trails. Up to 6 miles seems to be my comfort zone. Body is not ready for more than that (although I have explored it). My opinion is that you surely should not be running everyday. At this early point I need at least 2-3 days of active rest in between (walk, cycle, swim, pool run, elliptical, yoga, whatever). Your body tells you it’s sore for a reason…too much too fast. Even though my Dr. said it’s not necessary for another xray until the 1 year mark, I scheduled for one in a few weeks just to assure myself that I’m not more of a dumbass than I already know to be.

March 14, 2012 Biked 34 miles today. First time I’ve felt almost like myself, with pace and strength. Most importantly, no soreness afterward. The 6 month mark is definitely the point of real turn around.

March 24, 2012 Closing in on 7 months post-op. Been running outside 2x a week 4 mile run during the week and 8 miles on the weekend. One more elliptical/treadmill combo workout during the week as well, so about 16 or so miles. Down to a 10:43 pace and that is with taking a 1-2 minute walk break each mile. Strength and speed have been comfortably improving each week for the last 8. Only doing about 10-20% on the road, the remainder is on trails. Biking on the days in between too, did 43 today, my longest yet. About 100 a week. Going to see Dr. Su this Wednesday just to make sure all is good. Only thing bothering is a little bursitis flare around the trochanter, but that has gotten better in the last two weeks.

April 6, 2012 Had the Graston Technique therapy for the first time today… What an immediate release I feel from the “grasp” I have felt in the trochanteric area of my operated hip. I love the feeling of finding something you know is just right for you. Looking forward to the net few weeks of this to propel me forward in my recovery. Could really feel the breakup of the scar tissue and fascia happening.

April 22, 2012 Just returned from this crazy 16.4 mile trail race in PA hills. My GPS had 5669 ft. of elevation gain. It was wonderful and such a re-birthing for me. I admit I was a bit apprehensive about holding up to the distance and difficulty of the terrain. Comparatively any road marathon I ever did was a lot easier. The hip was just fantastic. I respected the downhills as many sections were 20-45% grade and covered in loose rock. Thankful I brought the hiking poles for planting support on those sections. Have a half marathon trail race near home in two weeks, should be a breeze after this adventure.

May 15, 2012 After a mile 9 minute pace warm up, was able to maintain a smooth pace and finished with the last mile at 6:30 pace for an average of 7:45 for 5 miles. The last 3 weeks I’ve averaged 20-25 miles a week, haven’t been able to do that in a couple of years without pain and hobble. That included 2 trail race runs of 16 and 13.1 miles too. Bike strength and speed are inching up as well. At 8 months post-op each week still continues to feel better and better.

July 13, 2012 What you all (athletes & not) need to consider with this procedure is much more than the eye sees. There are many muscles being detached and reattached during this operation. When you start to rehabilitate they all don’t cooperate in order. It is a slow process for these neurons to come back and learn the process once again. Slow running is one thing, fast running is another. Other muscles take over and compensate for weaker ones when you are trying to do more than is tolerated, thus, weakness, soreness, fatigue, pain and all that comes with that. Injury to a muscle that is overworking to compensate for another and such. Listen to your body is the main key. You are not supposed to be at any one level of recovery at any one time. There are many variables involved, pre-surgery fitness, nutrition, stress, weight, etc. Overall strengthening is a big key. Do other things to strengthen your stabilizing muscles and your hip will be great.

July 24, 2012 10+ months now and starting to turn the corner…putting in some good distance biking and holding a good.pace. Running has really improved…very hilly 11 mile run today in LP at 7:30 pace…no residual pain but my lack of fitness. Don’t try minimalist shoes at all in your comeback.

July 29, 2012 All went pretty well. Steady push on the 25.6 mile bike with a 22.6 mph avg. 6.2 mile run was a 7:52 pace. Thought the soreness pain was done when I ran, but not so. Still difficult transitioning from a hard bike to get the glute muscles firing. Had to stop and stretch out 3 times during the run. Really happy to be out there competing again and actually got on the podium. Happy Hippy. 11 month anniversary tomorrow… Next stop is a half Ironman in Michigan next month…planning on some run/walk routine to be safe.

September 19, 2012 Had my 1 year follow up with Dr. Su today. X-rays look good, blood work done. He says I’m entering the unknown with the running… I like that.

October 1, 2012 Did my first stand alone half-marathon this past weekend. Was planning on this being my first race where I did not walk at all and was going to keep an 8:00 minute per mile pace. The course was not very flat, but rolling hills. I got caught up and ran a 7:05 first mile which was way too fast for my fitness. I settled into a more comfortable pace and was able to average 7:29’s with only the hilliest off road mile going to a 7:55 pace. 1:38 overall time. I am very pleased based on my fitness and my hip was perfect. A little soreness today in my hamstring on the non-BHR side, but that’s from running a pace I haven’t seen in a few years. I am going to stick with my plan of running 3X a week this fall and work on increasing my cadence and strength.

March 3, 2013

Did my 25K run today…ooooh cold & windy…and a wee bit hilly…(all on road)…
Managed sub 8 pace through 11 miles and finished @ 2:07 8:15 overall pace.
Stiffened and walked a litlle in the last 4 miles.
VERY happy with the Hoka shoes and with the hip as well…
Slowly crawling to different plateaus feels good.
I’d say these shoes make a big difference in lessening the impact, especially as you try to run longer.
May 16, 2013

I’m at a good point 1 year + 9 months.
2 13.1’s this year and a crazy 16.5 trail race as well as the Whitney climb…
Going into a 70.3 race in a few weeks then gearing up for the 70.3 Triathlon World Championships in Las Vegas in September…
Strengthening is absolutely the key to getting back and using your new hip to the best.

June 5, 2013

Finished the HOT Raleigh, NC IM 70.3 race this Sunday.
Based on my running improvement up to date, I was hoping for better.
Swim was good. 32′
Bike was good. Rolling hilly course and tried to be conservative on the uphills to prevent the glutes from fatiguing too quickly. 2:38
Knew the run was not happening from step one. Glutes were seizing the entire 13.1 m. Walked all of the uphills and ran the flats and downhills. Averaged 10:15/mile. When running I was good, but was unable to sustain without 3-4 minute walk breaks each mile. 5:29 finish.
I don’t know exactly why, but I’m thinking the lack of heat training and acclimatization contributed a bit to the early fatigue. It’s a weird feeling, it’s good, it’s good, it’s good, then bam, the muscle firing just shuts down and have to walk to get it firing again.
Going to concentrate on more strengthening and shorter distances for the summer until I attempt the WC 70.3 in Las Vegas 9/13.
Going to keep at it, try to listen to the body and not go beyond what it wants to do comfortably. Push when I can and rest when needed.

June 18, 2013

Everyone is so jazzed about what they can do and when they can do it after the BHR surgery.
Believe me so was I.
Forget it.
I think I’m doing a lot at this point 20+ months later.
But, the biggest thing if I were to go back, would have been to listen to my body more.
You WILL need strengthening in certain areas, I know I still do.
Push when you can, rest when you need to and you will progress.
Yes at 6 months+ you probably won’t F it up unless you fall, but you are still not WHOLE.
Don’t give up hope though, you will get back to where you want to be with time and dedication to strengthening.