Wow. It’s hard to believe it’s been a whole month since I updated this. I continue to progress. I came off my 90 degree restrictions. Those last couple of weeks seem to take so long! In the past couple of weeks I’ve started regular physical therapy, and I’m back to swimming. I have overdone it a few times and paid the price, but overall I’m getting stronger. Looking back at my previous recovery between weeks six and ten I made a huge amount of progress. That same scenario is repeating itself.

The PT and the walking and the swimming are all feeding on each other for increased strength and endurance. I’m not all the way there yet by any means. My lateral hip muscles are still so weak that I walk like a penguin if I don’t use a cane. But since starting PT and swimming two weeks ago this has improved dramatically. I expect the unaided penguin walk to disappear shortly. I can control it completely with the cane, and reasonably ok without it. So I use it on walks around the neighborhood, but not at home.

After over a year away from the pool I decided to start small with the swimming. I started last week with 4 sets of 100 yards each followed by PT exercises. (OOOOH, boy, did I ever overdo it with the pool PT exercises at first.) It wasn’t much, but ya gotta start somewhere. I added 100 yards to my swimming yesterday, and it felt good. I hope to add another 100 in another week.

Having made so much progress in the past two weeks it’ll be interesting to see where I’m at in another two weeks.

Thoughts about my Surgery

I live alone, only once in both of my recoveries did I need help getting up, and that was because I was on too soft a foam to get up from post surgery (you’ll understand if you experience this). I just called my neighbor who was over in seconds to help. You do need to prepare your area for success. You need to make sure your bed is a good height, and not too soft. If you’re using foam toppers you’re going to need to remove them, or you might not be able to get up. May patients choose to spend a few nights in a power recliner because they make it easy to get up. A walk in shower is not a problem, but a tub shower is all but impossible. They teach you how at the hospital, but it was a while before I could do it. You will need everything in a deluxe hip/knee kit from Amazon. You want slip on shoes. You want all your foodstuffs, and anything you need regularly, to be where you can grab it without bending over. As long as you properly prepare you can manage with minimal help.

Thoughts about Synovo Preserve Hip Resurfacing Device March 29, 2025

I have also had both of my hips resurfaced by Dr, Pritchett, my R in 2016 and my L in 2021. If you’ve read much about the Synovo recall you’ll realize my 2021 resurfacing was most likely one of the affected. Except, as it turned out, it wasn’t. After reading that there might be issues with devices implanted in 2021 I called his office. Dr. Pritchett called me back from his personal cell phone within an hour or two, and we talked for a good hour or so. I can’t recall every detail of the conversation, but I’ll try and hit some of the highlights. If I recall correctly the problem was some changes by Synovo manufacturer that were essentially minor (Dr. P gave me the details, but I’ve forgotten), but the company didn’t spend the $$$ necessary to conduct studies and have it recertified by the FDA. It had been certified before this, but any changes, no matter how minor, require testing and recertification. The Synovo manufacturer didn’t notify physicians of this, and it wasn’t something obvious. When the FDA caught wind of this they revoked certification, etc. They didn’t require removal of the devices. As part of this recall Dr. P (and all other surgeons using the device) were required to contact every patient with an affected device (serial numbers were provided), check them out, etc. Not a single one of Dr. P’s patients had experienced any adverse events. Probably nobody else’s patients had any problems either, as the change was insignificant, but that wasn’t germane to our discussion. Since the Synovo device is no longer on the market he is no longer using it. He’s using a device that is the same as the Synovo, but produced by another manufacturer, and it is FDA approved.

As for the original Synovo, I’ve never had a single problem. What I always say is that my hips both feel like completely normal, natural hips that were never diseased. There is not a single activity that I want to do that I wouldn’t do. I could not be happier with the results. What’s more, I know that if I were to have any issues or concerns I could call him on his cell. I don’t see me ever needing to do that, but I know that option is there for me. I’ve never had another doctor make that offer.

I hope this puts your mind at ease. Like I say, I can’t remember all the details, although Dr. P did give me the specifics. You should definitely ask him about the Synovo story during your consultation. You won’t be receiving one of those devices, but he can give you the story better than I can.