Luanna's Hip Story w/ Dr. Pritchett

[Luanna]

Week 17: GREAT News on two fronts. The MRI showed normal wear and tear on lower discs - all good. My surgeon suggested accupunture and chiro as well as continuing PT with a therapist who is specifically familar with and who works with hip resurfacing patients.

Started at new PT clinic yesterday: GREAT time. In just one session she said - "hip capsule is very, very tight, ROM sucks, scar tissue is deep and needs to be released". She said that if we loosen up the hip capsule, loosen the scar tissue, and adjust for a significant leg length difference I will start making excellent progress again. She stretched the hip capsule yesterday and did it only very lightly because she didn't want me in discomfort for the New Year parties! I like her already.  :)

Lesson Learned: If you have a PT who specifically works with hip resurfacing patients and not just THR patients it will most likely make a huge difference. My first PT was very reluctant to stretch the capsule and treated me as though I was recovering from a THR.

Also, leg length differences can impact and create such an imbalance that it can put your back out. Sigh.... My leg length difference may be the result of my having the new implant with a signifcant acetabular cup - and very little to no cartilage on my "good/bad" unoperated leg. Or it might straighten itself out when the muscles are toned and things settle out. We'll see.

That's it. I'm back on track and walking well again. Not lopsided.

Luanna

[Two4One]

Make tracks, Luanna!  :D

[Aerial]

I can see how a leg length difference would keep your back messed up.  Was your leg lengthen or shorten during the surgery?  Mine was lengthened 4 millimeters which seems like very little but seems to have made a difference.

[Luanna]

When my PT (the new one) measured it the first time at the beginning of the session the operated leg appeared to be between 4 and 5 mm longer and when she did it again at the end of the session she said that it was even longer. She said that it was a "significant leg length difference".

She also said that we will continue to measure it each week and see how PT impacts it. It may level out as things settle.

I can see on the x-ray that there is a lot more on the acetabular cup where cartilage would normally be than on my "good/bad" unoperated hip that has very little cartilage left. That must make some difference.

The other Luann (Lu) on this site also posted about a leg length difference. So - now there are 2 Luann's here on the forum with leg length differences. 

Luanna (The other Luann)

[Luanna]

Hi Two4One -

Big tracks!!!  Hey - I was wondering does Two4One mean Two$One? Did you get a discount for having two hips done at one time? Seems like it should reduce costs somewhat.

Luanna

[Aerial]

When my PT (the new one) measured it the first time at the beginning of the session the operated leg appeared to be between 4 and 5 mm longer and when she did it again at the end of the session she said that it was even longer. She said that it was a "significant leg length difference".

She also said that we will continue to measure it each week and see how PT impacts it. It may level out as things settle.

I can see on the x-ray that there is a lot more on the acetabular cup where cartilage would normally be than on my "good/bad" unoperated hip that has very little cartilage left. That must make some difference.

The other Luann (Lu) on this site also posted about a leg length difference. So - now there are 2 Luann's here on the forum with leg length differences. 

Luanna (The other Luann)

Mine was lengthened during the surgery, no idea how but the surgical report said 4 mm.  I did have back pain prior to surgery that has vastly improved post surgery. So I think if PT can help the length lenth difference that will help your back.

[Two4One]

Hey - I was wondering does Two4One mean Two$One? Did you get a discount for having two hips done at one time? Seems like it should reduce costs somewhat.

Cute, Luanna :) 

Dr. Sampson, out of Cali, clued me in that surgeons love to insist on doing bilateral THRs or resurfacings in two separate operations, even if they're only a few days apart.  Yes, the doc's make LOTS more money that way.  Sampson explained that my insurance, BCBS, paid half what the surgeon ordinarily charged per hip if both hips were done at once.  We've met our deductible, so it doesn't really matter to our finances, Thank God; when we get the statement, I'll publish it.

I respected Dr. Schmitt that he was confident of his skills and income that he didn't need to be greedy and require patients to have one hip resurfaced at a time.  To quote Schmitt, "Your call if you want both or one at a time."  I chose Door Number One; why would you want to go through 2 recoveries and extend your time of healing?  Why postpone all the ways you want to help your body back to fitness and robust good health? 

I'm thrilled I did both & don't care that my pre op weak upper body is getting a crash course in fitness again.

FYI, I chose "Two4One" to both express killing 2 birds with one stone and also simultaneously comment on the duality of almost everything we experience.

[Luanna]

Almost 5 months post op:

I'm doing pretty well these days. Making lots of progress with ROM. My hip feels great. My back was doing well for a while and then yesterday - bent over to make the bed and WOW! Tweaked out again.

But that's ok. I know that it isn't a disc and that my hip is fine. It's just those pesky weak muscles!! Nice to know that it's nothing to get totally discombobulated about.

Back to chiro and massage and PT next week. Moving forward slowly but surely! Think it was Hern who said that the "Turtle wins the race"..... ?

Luanna

[Davinai]

Five months, wow that went by fast!  It sounds like you are in control and know your body well.  I am at 5 weeks and finally feeling some progress.  But thanks to you, I have learned that this is when I could easily overdo it, so I am taking it slow.  Thanks Luanna for your guidance!
Davina

[ScubaDuck]

Luanna-

There is a lesson in there.  DON'T MAKE YOUR BED!

I hope you are doing well.

Best wishes.

Dan

[Luanna]

Great to see you posting Davina! 5 weeks already for you. That's super. Glad you are feeling some progress. It's a weird thing - progress comes and then goes...and then comes back again. Fleeting sometimes but constant and always working behind the scenes.

Dan - Exactly!! MAKING BEDS IS DEFINITELY ON MY PERMANENT NOT-TO-DO LIST

Luanna

[Aerial]

Luanna, nice to see your are doing well.  Good luck for a continued upward trajectory!

[Luanna]

Hi Aerial,
Thanks so much for posting and wishing me well. Onward and upward for all of us!!

You've made a really great recovery and I'm headed there - just on a bit slower track!!!  ;)

Luanna

[hernanu]

Luanna, it's great to see you doing well; maybe making beds should have been one of your restrictions  ;D

[Two4One]

Wow!  Luanna, I'm getting a little paranoid about 'making the bed' now!  However, in my case it means straightening the duvet, pulling up coverlets, and fluffing pillows. 

This week my PT told me I have a ten pound weight restriction of what I may lift.  I had been breaking that regularly, and now I feel a lot better, like you, when I take it a bit more easy.  I won't be lifting mattresses or turning them anytime soon!

2fer

[Luanna]

Thanks so much Hern. Your support means a lot to me. I'll ask my doc to add the no bed making to his restrictions list for all his patients. It's the least I can do to help promote wellness.

2fer....good to hear from you. No worries....duvet fluffing is a job for hubs!!  I never fluff my duvet. Just let my dog puff it up when she buries her cookies under my pillow!!!

Luanna

[Two4One]

I'll ask my doc to add the no bed making to his restrictions list for all his patients.  It's the least I can do to help promote wellness. - Luanna

Lol, you're so droll!  Thanks for the laugh!

2fer

[Luanna]

Just for fun. My BHR femoral component with my Stryker titanium/poly lined cup - with a screw or two. You can see only one of the screws in this view. Not much bone but I've got a big heart!



Luanna

[Two4One]

Very pretty!

[Davinai]

That looks perfect!  But why a screw or two?  I don't even know if I have any screws.  I guess I should ask Dr. P.

Davina