Bilaterial hip resurfacing coming soon.

[newdog]

hernanu,
Sounds great! You're done and can now look ahead like you said. You know, that made me think about showers with tubs. A couple of years ago I noticed that when I stepped into my shower (it has a tub), I started to stub my toes on the side of the tub. That is because  my range of motion was decreasing. I couldn't figure out then what the heck was going on. Now I hate the idea of stepping in and out. Just another observation of mine. Anyway, good for you, have fun!

Steve (newdog)

[hernanu]

Right, Steve, I still get a kick out of clearing that tub wall by a good sx inches now... you know, before this surgery. Good luck, I know things'll go well for you.

[BrianROC]

Good luck with your recovery hernanu.  I'm glad to hear it is going well. 

I am in Columbia, SC now.  I met with Dr. Gross this past Thursday.  Everyone was very friendly and Dr Gross was was more than willing to take the time to answer all my questions. He told me I have De Cam FAI in both my hips which caused them to wear out.  He said this condition usually causes hips to break down in the late 40's or early 50's in active individuals.  I was just lucky to wear out my hips at 38.  Damn you sports, lol. 

I have to be at the hospital tomorrow morning at 6:30.  Surgery on my right hip will take place at 9:00am.  My left hip will be done on Wednesday at 9:00.  Getting nervous now for sure.  Wish me luck.  I will update tomorrow after surgery if I feel up to it.  Thank you everyone.

Brian

[newdog]

Brian,
I know I will be nervous too. I was hoping to hear how the meeting was with Dr. Gross. I can't wait to meet him.
Just think, in a few days you will be done. Then things go the other way, the good way. I'll be thinking of you tomorrow, hang in there. 38, heck you're a kid! LOL! I'm 55. You should heal a lot faster than me. Good luck.

Steve (newdog)

[obxpelican]

Good luck, you're in really good hands.  Don't worry, that what Dr. Gross and Lee are there for, to worry about making you perfect again.


Chuck

Good luck with your recovery hernanu.  I'm glad to hear it is going well. 

I am in Columbia, SC now.  I met with Dr. Gross this past Thursday.  Everyone was very friendly and Dr Gross was was more than willing to take the time to answer all my questions. He told me I have De Cam FAI in both my hips which caused them to wear out.  He said this condition usually causes hips to break down in the late 40's or early 50's in active individuals.  I was just lucky to wear out my hips at 38.  Damn you sports, lol. 

I have to be at the hospital tomorrow morning at 6:30.  Surgery on my right hip will take place at 9:00am.  My left hip will be done on Wednesday at 9:00.  Getting nervous now for sure.  Wish me luck.  I will update tomorrow after surgery if I feel up to it.  Thank you everyone.

Brian

[hernanu]

Good luck with your recovery hernanu.  I'm glad to hear it is going well. 

I am in Columbia, SC now.  I met with Dr. Gross this past Thursday.  Everyone was very friendly and Dr Gross was was more than willing to take the time to answer all my questions. He told me I have De Cam FAI in both my hips which caused them to wear out.  He said this condition usually causes hips to break down in the late 40's or early 50's in active individuals.  I was just lucky to wear out my hips at 38.  Damn you sports, lol. 

I have to be at the hospital tomorrow morning at 6:30.  Surgery on my right hip will take place at 9:00am.  My left hip will be done on Wednesday at 9:00.  Getting nervous now for sure.  Wish me luck.  I will update tomorrow after surgery if I feel up to it.  Thank you everyone.

Brian

Good luck and keep us posted.

[BrianROC]

Thank you everyone.  See you on the other side. 

Steve, if you would like I can send you a PM or email with more information about the meeting with Dr. Gross and what to expect. 

I was hoping to hear how the meeting was with Dr. Gross. I can't wait to meet him.
Good luck.

Steve (newdog)

[BrianROC]

I'm happy to report that my right hip surgery is now in the books.  The staff at the hospital has been great.  They are all very friendly and willing to help out with anything I need.  

My surgery was at 9:00 this morning.  I was Dr. Gross's second surgery of the day.  I like the idea of being second.  It gives the doctor a chance to get warmed up and in the zone, but not too tired as if I was number five.  

When they were preparing me for surgery the put something in my IV to relax me.  It really worked well, lol.  When they brought me to the surgery room they the gave me a second drug though my IV to prepare me for the epidural.  The next thing I remember is waking up in the recovery room around 12:15.

I was told that everything went well.  I am in  very little pain.  I feel a dull ache my right hip, maybe like having a Charlie horse from being punched in the leg.  I'm sure that will change went the drugs wear off though.  

PT met with me this afternoon and went over some daily exercises. After that, they got me up and I walked down to the end of the hall and back with a walker.  They said it was great.  I had a limp but it seemed easier than I thought it would be and not too much pain.  

I was even given a copy of my x-ray showing my fancy new hip.  That is the short and sweet update on my day.  If anyone wants more details or has questions I would be happy to answer them.  

[obxpelican]

Brian,

Do us a favor, keep a log on your pain levels if you think of it.  If you do it as it happens you won't let time change your memory.

I never had any pain till the next day and it was that dull pain.

Chuck

[newdog]

Brian,
It's really good news from you. I have been wondering all day when you would post after your surgery.
I have one question for you for now. That was hip number one. How do you feel now about going back in on Wednesday to have the other one done? Maybe it's too early to answer. That's O. K. if you're not sure what to say. Are you drowsy or anything from the stuff they give you? I'm all for that stuff they put in the I.V. LOL!
I'll get your email address and email you. If you zonk out and don't answer, that's O.K., I understand.
Way to go, it seems only yesterday I read your first post. This week will fly by, I'm sure.

Steve (newdog)

[hernanu]

Good news, Brian! Thanks for keeping us clued in. Good luck on the second. Sounds like the first one went great.

[Dayton96]

One down, one to go Brian.  Did you have any problems getting online with your computer when you got to your room?  Are you pretty clear headed after the medication?  Like Chuck, I'm kind of curious how your pain levels fluctuate after your surgery.  Since i'm scheduled for March, I'd like all the information I can get before hand.

Mac

[Pat Walter]

Brian

Great to hear everything is going well for you.  Good Luck with your recovery.

Pat

[BrianROC]

Hello everyone.  I was really quite nervous going in for the first surgery.  As of right now, I am not nervous about the second surgery.  If it goes as well as this one has so far it will not be anything to worry about.  As far a pain goes, I would say my pain level has been about a one so far.  I'm sure that will change at some point, but it has been almost pain free to this point.  Being stuck in bed all day long has been the bigger pain.  I have been taking the pain meds they having been offering me though.  I remember someone on this site saying it was best to stay in front of the pain issue rather than playing catchup, so I have tried to do that. 

When I woke up in recovery I did not feel as out of it as I expected to be.  I was drowsy and dozed off a few times before I work up, but I did not feel like I was in a fog. Even once I got to my room I dozed off one or twice.  I felt fine and then suddenly I couldn't keep my eyes open.   

There were no problems getting connected to the internet in my room.  The only surprise is that the hospital seems to have Skype blocked.  I even tried to access it from some proxy sites, but they were blocked too.  I was able to video chat with my wife and kids through Yahoo Messenger though. 

Let me know if anyone has more questions that I did not answer.

[Dayton96]

Hope you were able to get some sleep last night.  Will you be checking out of the hospital on Friday or will you have to stay longer after having two hips done? 

Mac

[obxpelican]

Brian,

Get up as much as your body will allow, if you can sit in the chair for a while, keep up the foot pumps, you will be doing your PT again today.  As I said before, you're in really good hands.

Bone pain from surgery can be very severe if you don't have a surgeon like Dr. Gross who has adopted modern pain protocols.  There is no reason anyone should be in agony post op, yes you might have a little throbbing later today but it should not be agony at all.

Pain was one of my first concerns I had and Dr. Gross told me not to worry and I myself would not have a problem having my left done by Dr. Gross.


Chuck

Hello everyone.  I was really quite nervous going in for the first surgery.  As of right now, I am not nervous about the second surgery.  If it goes as well as this one has so far it will not be anything to worry about.  As far a pain goes, I would say my pain level has been about a one so far.  I'm sure that will change at some point, but it has been almost pain free to this point.  Being stuck in bed all day long has been the bigger pain.  I have been taking the pain meds they having been offering me though.  I remember someone on this site saying it was best to stay in front of the pain issue rather than playing catchup, so I have tried to do that. 

When I woke up in recovery I did not feel as out of it as I expected to be.  I was drowsy and dozed off a few times before I work up, but I did not feel like I was in a fog. Even once I got to my room I dozed off one or twice.  I felt fine and then suddenly I couldn't keep my eyes open.   

There were no problems getting connected to the internet in my room.  The only surprise is that the hospital seems to have Skype blocked.  I even tried to access it from some proxy sites, but they were blocked too.  I was able to video chat with my wife and kids through Yahoo Messenger though. 

Let me know if anyone has more questions that I did not answer.

[BrianROC]

Hi guys.  Just a quick update.  Yesterday was mostly a good day.  I did two PT sessions.  The first was just going over the daily exercises and walking to the end of the hall and back on crutches and a walker.  The second session was with the other four guys here who joined the surface hippy club this week.  One other guy here is also joining the very select bilateral club.  In the group we talked about our restrictions for the next six weeks and practiced going up and down stairs. 

When they got me up to take a shower yesterday I was very much looking forward to it.  By the time I walked to the bathroom I was pale and very lightheaded.  My blood pressure had dropped quite a bit and that was the end of my shower before it started.  I am happy to say that in the afternoon I was able to take a shower without any problems. 

I had my left hip surgery this morning.  I went from recovery back to my room.  Lunch was waiting for me when I got here.  I am not in any pain at the moment.  My left leg is still pretty numb from the spinal.  I will update when I have more to report.  Thank you everyone.

Dayton96, I am going to be released on Friday and will fly home on Sunday.

[hernanu]

Glad you're through! Congrats on joining the bi-hippy club.

[newdog]

Brian,
That's really good news! Just think, you're done! In four weeks I'll be a member.

Steve

[BrianROC]

Hello everyone.  I just wanted to provide an update on my recovery.  I am four weeks post op on my left hip today and four weeks and two days on my right hip.  My left hip surgery was December 15th.  After my surgery I was on two crutches until about December 29th.  I remember thinking that it felt like I would never be able to move to one crutch and the next day I felt like I took a big step forward in my recovery.  I started using one crutch around the house and kept to two when I went out.  By December 31 I felt pretty comfortable using one crutch, but still used two when outside my house due to the ice and snow.  Boy to I miss living in SoCal. 

The first week of January I started going to the mall or Target to walk around some each day.  I tried to go a little farther each day.  On January 7th I went out for the first time without crutches.  I was able to go into a store, buy something and come out on my own.  I was pretty excited about that.  At that point I still kind of waddled when I walked without crutches, especially when I was tired or first get up.  Today, January 12th I feel like I made another big step forward walking on my own.  Today I feel like I am able to walk much more normal.  I still waddle some when I get tired, but I feel like I am improving more each day.  My incisions have pretty much healed and my scabs are gone.  I still have pain when I try to stand up, but it is much better than it was.  I have my follow up appointment with Dr. Gross on January 20th.   I'm hoping I continue to improve each day through then and get good news from Dr. Gross.