Gary O’Neill
60 year old fairly sporty lawyer from London

Off piste Skier sailor and road biker

 

I had a slightly deformed right femur from the age of approx 11 years old either from injury or just natural – not sure- this has worn the cartilage on outside of right hip so I have bone on bone there. I found this out from Mr Treacy.

Discovered this 18 months earlier in April 2018 when I fell in snow powder and got pins and needles down my right leg next day. Had a knee scan and found it was my hip.
Was offered a total hip replacement in Harley St then saw Mr Ronan Traecy in May 2018 who recommended resurfacing.

I have kept on with road biking 60 km per week
Light Training in gym cross trainer and rower. No running

Sailing small dinghies and big boats. Hip hurt but could still do this to a good level.
Physio exercises for 15 mins per day to strengthen hip muscles. This seemed to help.

Pain in my hip and knee for last 18 months. No pain below knee. Occasional pins and needles in right foot

If I skied for 3 days I would have a week of pain after each time. Was skiing 4/5 weeks per year

I can still road cycle 50 km with not too many issues but feel pain in my hip and knee every day. Sleeping was becoming tricky and never really got a full months sleep in last 18 months

Probably had the osteo in my right hip for a number of years and noticed I could not snow plough about 5 years ago when skiing.

I’ve just had my right hip resurfaced at Lille CRHU University Hospital in France. October 1 st 2019

Professor Julien Girard performed the hip resurfacing operation. He has done a fantastic job of my hip.
The operation took about 45 mins. I was given general anesthésie as Mr Girard prefers this method for 2 reasons.
He uses a short lateral incision to side of hip which a common method for full hip replacements in France I believe.

He stretches but does not cut any muscles on the hip so recovery time should be quicker.

Also the vibration from the tapping when the metal cap is fitted to patient is not felt at all

Lille CRHU is a public hospital I think ranked No 2 in France

It has an excellent very low infection risk.

I had a private room and paid privately for the operation

I checked in to the hospital on Monday 30 Sept at 1300 for an operation on Tuesday 1 Oct 2019.

I saw the anaesthetist on Monday pm and he explained the method he uses ie. general anaesthetic.
I had an x Ray of my right hip done also on Monday pm.

My blood pressure was taken every 2 hours and had the usual health questions.
I was shaved on my thigh at 7.30 am. I went down to recovery room at 9 am and had general anaesthetic. I was told to think of my favourite beach.
Boom.
I woke up in the recovery room at 1230 Midday.

A little groggy and dull pain in my hip for an hour or two. They adjusted the drugs constantly and kept watch over me in the recovery room until 1330 pm. Then I went back to my own room

I had a morphine drip in my hip and a drip in my hand for the whole time.
Very little pain during the evening and night. Slept a few hours. Nurses came every 2 hours and asked me level of pain between 1-10. Adjusted drip if I had pain.
My pain is mostly 2-4 on scale. Not to bad. A dull pain rather than sharp

Pain all from the wound not anything else
The hospital and nursing care is first class. Super clean hospital.
I have paid approximately €8500 Euro for the entire operation including stay and 4 days physio. They recommend you stay for 4 days and have physio every day

Day after operation today I will be walking with physio later this am.

Mr Girard seems to perform approximately 8 hip resurfacings per week and is the No 1 surgeon in France for this operations believe

Hope this helps.

Gary O’Neill

Day 2
CHU Lille Hôpital Roger Salengro.
October 2nd 2019
1940 pm.
Had a restful day in bed. Very little pain still have drips for painkillers in but they will come out tomorrow.
Red blood cells were low today which is normal after bleeding from the operation. They gave me a mixture to make up for this in a drip. Had a physio visit and explain how to use crutches etc and help me walk a little.
Managed to walk three times today with 2 crutches in the corridor. Pretty difficult getting out of bed but gaining confidence to walk again. Surgeon thinks I should be on 2 crutches for 7-10 days then 1 crutch for 7-10 days then freedom.
He said the best rehab is walking in the short term but that I could if I wanted return to cycling and skiing after 2/3 months. I will probably wait until month 5 and see how it all goes.

Day 4
Slept more last night probably 6 out of 8 hours

Had a blood test for my kidneys this am.

The tablets are controlling the pain fine. Just need to take them every 2/3 hours to make sure pain doesn’t return.
Pretty comfortable in bed.

Feel pretty good but tired this morning so will take it easy after a brutal 4 days.
Drinking around a litre of water per day. Eating fruit and salads mainly.
Constipated but peeing regularly.

Had some coffee. Not much nausea apart from day after operation.
Walked this morning in corridor for about 100 feet. Feeling more confident so all good. Pain at a fairly low level in hip wound.
Tired this pm no pain though.

My kidneys are all good after tests so going home to London tomorrow by Eurostar 1.20 mins on train. Taxi to train station which is 10 mins from the Hospital.

They will change my dressing bandage tomorrow and It needs changing every 5 days until stitches come out in 2 weeks.

I will be injecting my self in stomach for 30/35 udays for anti blood clot solution.

So far all good.

I have attached a photo of the dressing for wound with 2 smaller plasters where drips went in

You will see it is a lateral hip scar with no muscle cut and not too long a cut in skin and tissue. He just stretches the 2 muscles at side of hip then goes in between. They have special table and equipment to do this here in Lille.

Tired pm but in good shape otherwise walked again for 5 minutes pm and it’s coming on

Just crutches used here no walker frame or anything else.
Saw the surgeon and anethetiste again they confirmed all the rules for the next two months:
Specialised hip physio the week after next. Just walk next week.
Can walk swim and bike in next 2
months.

Full return to sport skiing etc after 2/3 months
Wear dvt stockings but not compulsory

Can use stairs with crutches.
Need to Change dressing every 4/ 5 days with a nurse.

Take blood test once a week for 4 weeks to check hemaglobin levels.

Ok pretty much ready to go. My wife and a girlfriend are here to help me to Lille station to St Pancras London and the 35 min drive to our house.

Hope this helps.

Day 8

Didn’t sleep a lot last night.
Feeling pretty good today
Still on string opioids tremedol etc
Coming off these on Saturday
Having my dressing changed tomorrow and a blood test to check red blood count levels.
Injecting myself every day with blood thinning drug for 35 days after op. Very simple.

Slight pain from wound and thigh but hip and back pain / stiffness seems to have gone.
Start my physio next Weds.

Walked over a mile today on 2 crutches. Could go further but just building nicely.
Video of me walking on day 8.