November 23, 2009

I’m now a hippie for one week. Here’s my story.

11-13 Met with Dr. Gross and Lee Web. Lee Webb said my left hip was one of the worst limitations of movement she had ever seen. 11-16 Day of surgery. The worst part by far is the anticipaction leading up to this day. We arrived at 8:00 am and went smoothly into admisson. They started an intravenous and got oxygen going. I was given some sedative that calmed me down nicely. I was also given anti-nausea meds that worked perfectly as I never once felt sick. I recieved a spinal (painless) and then ‘lights out’. It seems like I immediatly awoke and the nurse said “all done, time to wake up”. This was around 3:30.

My lower body was completely numb and had no pain or discomfort what so ever. Back in my room still groggy but they brought in dinner around 6:00 and it was meatloaf with mashed potatoes. I was actually hungry and ate about half. (I could never pass up meatloaf!)

11-17 Still no pain. Taking hydrocodone and tylenol for pain. Removed the cathiter (easy and fast) then got me up on crutches and went for a walk. No problem and NO pain.

11-18 Met with Dr. Gross and he said everything was good and I was discharged by 12:00 noon. My wife and I checked into the hotel in the parking lot. We had reserved the handicap room with a walk in shower. I felt dizzy and Light headed so I decided to stop taking the hydrocodone. I had no pain and wanted to see if I could go just on the tylenol. 11-19 Felt much better without the hydrocodone in my system. Did my exercizes and took a shower. Feeling much better.

11-20 Still no pain. Drove to a hotel closer to the airport stayed the night and flew home the next day.

I’m amazed at how pain free the whole ordeal was.

I believe Dr. Gross has a system down that works wonderfully. The entire event went as smoothly as it possible and I highly recommend Dr. Gross and his team.

December 22, 2009 Left hip done November 16. Everything was going exceptionally well. Last thursday Dec. 17 I had reached my goal of 1 mile using a cane only. That evening I felt a pain in the calf of my un-operated leg. The next morning the pain persisted in both my calf and the inner thigh. My operated left side had no pain at all. I became concerned and by 11 am I decided to have it checked. My Doctor said it did not seem like a clot but sent me for an ultra sound just in case and did both legs while we’re at it. I was shocked when they said I had clots in both legs. I was instructed to get up off the table and go straight to the emergency room!!!

I was released from the hospital today, December 22. (Just in time for Christmas) I was given Lovenox injections combined with Coumadin. I’m now Taking just Coumadin and will continue for 3 to 6 months. Leg is pretty painful and walking is once again difficult. (still pain free in my operated left side).

January 15, 2010 They don’t keep you awake when you’re given a spinal. As I discussed with the anesthesiologist during my procedure with Dr. Gross, they first give you a spinal that completely numbs the lower body. I sat up on the operating table and tried to bend over as far as possible to spread the vertebra apart to insert the needle. I was so stiff with arthritis that it took two nurses pulling down on my shoulders to achieve the position. Then, they carefully administer just enough anesthesia to keep you asleep and allow you to breath on your own. Had I been given full anesthesia I would have had a breathing tube inserted and recovery time extended. I fell asleep talking to the nurse at approx. 11:30 and woke up around 2:45 feeling quite alert and no pain at all. I ate dinner with my wife at 6:00. Severe constipation was another problem I had experienced in the past due to heavier anesthesia and had no problem during this procedure.

I experienced no nausea or headache. Dr. Gross administered anti nausea medication prior to surgery. I have had 6 prior orthepedic operations and this was by FAR the easiest and most painless.

February 17, 2010 I’m at 12 weeks. I switched over to a cane at about 6 weeks and I’m just recently began walking short distances unassisted. I do walk with a cane 3 to 4 miles a day. I walk perfectly with a very small amount of weight on the cane. The muscles need to get stronger so I don’t limp when cane free. I played golf for the first time this past weekend.