I'm an Official Hippy, Surgery by Dr. Snyder

[PistolPete]

6 WEEK POST OP UPDATE-  Well, I'm at 6 weeks and things are going awesome.  I met with my surgeon last Friday and he said everything looks perfect which is great to hear.  I start Outpatient PT on Wed. and had my evaluation today and they said I was much further along in my recovery than most so that's encouraging.  They also said I will only need rehab for 4 weeks twice per week.  Nothing wrong with that.  I'm getting my life back more and more by the day.  I was out and about all weekend walking around the malls without crutches or a cane and felt great even at night.  I hit the gym this morning and started on the eliptical machine, added in the leg press machine, and just doing a little more each time.  Everything is right on par and no pain and no meds at all.  Can't wait to continue getting in better shape by the week.

[hernanu]

Sounds great, Pete.

Outpatient PT is very good, gets you focused correctly and addresses the ROM. Tell them what you want to accomplish, so both you and they have a goal. I told them I wanted to work on returning to MA and soccer, so they added a few things to work on that.

Love the results, guy.

[Kiwi]

Sounds great Pete, really encouraging as you're a couple weeks ahead of me.
I hit an exercycle yesterday for the is time - only 4minutes as my butt's still sore, otherwise my legs could have kept going for a bit longer. Today I hit the pool for the first time - wow that was relaxing for the muscles!
You're in awesome shape mate - keep it up!
Simon

[PistolPete]

Thanks Simon and Hern.  I feeling F-ING awesome right now!!!  I'm on top of the world.  I did some light sparring with my kids tonight doing just hands and it just felt incredible to be moving easily again.  Everyone said the 6 week mark was the sweetspot and I was hoping it would be for me as well and I can honestly say it's DEFINATELY TRUE!!!  I'm SO glad I had this surgery and would recommend it to anyone. 

Some others say to never have surgery with Dr. Snyder but at this point am 100% confident that I went with him and would recommend him to anyone.  I will def. repeat with him in a few years when I need my left hip done.

[PistolPete]

8 WEEK UPDATE-  Well, it's hard to believe that it's already been 8 weeks since my surgery.  That being said the recovery is going well.  I'm getting my life back for sure.  Doing PT and trying to build the strength back.  I'm able to do more and more each week which is awesome.  I started doing some light kicking tonight which felt fantastic.  I can see how this will be a long process for sure but I will be dilligent in my recovery so I make the best recovery I can possibly make. 

I'm getting some clicking now that I'm doing more. Some days are worse than others but I started icing again and this seems to be helping quite a bit. 

[hernanu]

I found the rule for me to be that when I started doing more or something new, that I would get a bit of clicking until I was comfortable with it, then it went away for that.

I think I just need to be patient that it will happen, but it is more and more rare as I go.

[Cantab]

Pete,
Great to be on the good side of the operation isn't it? How is the ROM?

I seem to be getting better with strength in some areas and others are much slower. Still weak standing on the operated leg by itself, but quads and hamstrings seem to be almost normal when doing exercises on the machines, except press.  My ROM is what is bothering me, still can't put on my own sock on operated leg.  ROM wasn't that great before surgery.  Had my 6 week (a week late) last Thurs. and got all restrictions removed , except running and the knee to chest movement. Get to start assisted stretching at PT this week I hope that helps, it should.  Gotta go back to work Feb 1. and I should probably wear socks under my boots.

[PistolPete]

My ROM is doing pretty good.  I can tie my shoes and all that but I do have a bit of pain when cutting my toenails on my operated leg.  My ROM when standing or moving my leg around though is so much better than it has been in years.  I'm excited to see where things go. 

I was actually sparring with some of my students last night and was even throwing some kicks which was awesome.  It made me feel like I'm slowly getting back to normal.

Somehow I'm actually going to be testing for my 4th degree blackbelt next month so that should prove interesting.  My instructors knows my limitations so the workout won't be hard so that's def. a plus.

[PistolPete]

11 WEEK UPDATE-  So, I'm now 11 weeks post op and everything is coming together.  I've been doing all my PT exercises and going to PT twice per week which has helped a ton.  I have an awesome PT and he's always pushing me.  He has me doing squats and holding them for 30 seconds on the Bosu ball and a lot of other exercises.  The hip is getting stronger so that's a plus.  I'm also trying to get back in shape with eating healthy again and hitting the gym.  I'm getting stronger but not being stupid.  2 weeks ago I was leg pressing only 90lbs. with high reps for range of motion.   Last week I went up to 180lbs. and this week to 270lbs.  A far cry from the 600+ I use to do but I will never stress my hips with that much weight again.  I will prob. keep the weight here for a few weeks.

I've also been teaching my kickboxing classes and will start training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu again next week but only going about 20%.  I'm feeling pretty good but the hip def. does get sore for sure esp. after I do a lot.  Overall I'm happy with my progress but thought I would be further along than I am.

[John C]

Your progress sounds awesome. As a fellow hippy, I have to admit that I was a little scared by the weights that you are up to. Some surgeons, including mine, limit you to somewhere around 50 pounds for the first six months, due to the danger of femoral neck fracture as the bone is remodeling during that time.
I know that I sound paranoid, but I would at least check with your surgeon to be sure that he is okay with that much weight during the six month danger period.

[Kiwi]

Sound like you're progressing really well Pete. All sounds very positive. I think you should be very pleased with where you're at for just 11 weeks!
Agree with John C on checking in with surgeon re weights. Can't be too safe with what is long term investment.

[obxpelican]

Pete,

I would be really careful, the amount of weight you are talking about is WAY too much weight this early on.  If you fracture the neck of your femur you will end up with a THR really fast.

As Kiwi said, this is long term, don't make mistakes short term.


Chuck

[Dannywayoflife]

Pete,
        ive got to say i aggree with what Chuck,Kiwi and John have said. You are only 77 days after a major op. You are making awesome progress but if i were you id back off on the weight untill atleast 6 months dont forget that it takes a full 12 months for your bone density to normalise.
Well done on your progress though awesom
Danny

[PistolPete]

Thanks, I will take your advice and cut back on the weight and just do higher reps.  I meet with my surgeon oin mid-Feb. so I will talk to him and see what he suggest.  I went to a BJJ torn. as we had some of our guys competing and it killed me not to be able to fight.  Knowing that I can't compete until 2013 is really difficult to swallow esp. knowing that in prob. 2-3 years I will be going thru this again on my left side.  I will dedicate this year to just eating healthy and getting into great shape and "looking" physically fit.  haha.  I will train light BJJ and Muay Thai for the next few months and around November I will really step my training up.  Next Jan. I will be competing in grappling tornaments and will training like there is no tomorrow.  I'm def. happy with the progress for the most part but really thought I would be further along at this point. 

I'm also starting to wear light ankle weight (6lbs. for now) and walking with them and just wearing them around and doing some PT exercises with them.  My PT said to do this because I'm still getting a good amount of clicking and that by adding really light weight will help to build the stablizer muscles to hold the hip capsule together better.

[John C]

I also wore the ankle weights; they are a great idea for many reasons.

[PistolPete]

Well, I did some Brazilian Jiu Jitsu training tonight.  I didn't do the warmup of running or any of that but did very light drilling.  Basically armbar drills which was awesome because it was basically just swinging your legs up and around which felt great without applying any pressure.  Then we worked on some 1/2 guard techniques and again I went very very light at about 20%.  I even stepped out during one of the sweeps because I knew it wouldn't be good for the hip.  I then lightly rolled with my instructor again at about 20% or so.  It was a great day and perfect for me mentally.  I honestly didn't see any dangers and I'm confident doing this at this pace for the next few months will be a huge benefit for my recovery.  It's def. hard going light but it's the perfect solution to dying to get on the mats and fulfilling that desire with easy training.

[hernanu]

All sounds good Pete - you're the judge of it and have plenty of knowledge to guide your way. Must have felt great.

[PistolPete]

Well, I haven't been on here for a long time but figured I would stop back for an update.  It's been about 4 1/2 months since my surgery and time has been flying by.  The 1 year mark will be here before I know it.  First off I feel awesome.  I've been working out and eating right and it shows.  I'm going smart in the gym and teaching kickboxing.  I'm kicking but nothing to crazy just going fairly light but doing lots of lunges etc.  I'm done with rehab and just overall feel great.  I'm not doing BJJ training really at all.  I've done a few classes going really light and knowing my limitations and only rolling with my instructor but even that I just don't feel comfortable enough so I will just give it more time.

I no longer have a limp and I had a follow up with my surgeon a few weeks ago and he was really excited with my progress.  He said my flexibility is much better than it should be for this point of my recovery.  He said my R.O.M. is AWESOME and to keep doing what I'm doing and be smart for the next 8 months.  He cleared me to go up to 250lbs. on leg presses which is a far cry from the 650lbs. I use to do.  No wonder I have bad hips.  I can cut my toenails by putting my heel on the chair I'm sitting on and cut like I did 5 years ago.  I can lift my heel out to the side without issue.  The one thing I cannot do is a runners stretch where my left leg is out and I tuck my right foot in.  I can do this with my right leg out but when my left is out I can't bring my operated foot in and reach forward.  I also can't do butterfly stretched yet but then again I'm not doing any stretches for the hip yet and just doing more for hamstrings etc.

I've been busy setting up my new Martial Arts school and getting ready for my big move but I'm on track to getting this done and opening at the new place next week.  Lots going on and so glad I went thru with this surgery.  I'm hoping I have several more years before I have to worry about the left hip.

[Kiwi]

Excellent work Pete - all sounds really great.
Isn't it amazing how quickly the time flys after those first 6 weeks?

[hernanu]

Great news, Pete. The stretching will come, I can easily do that stretch now - it's just a matter of time and patience. My roundhouse and front kicks are going at full speed now, slowly working on the side kicks - don't know if those are more demanding on the hips, or my lack of confidence in them yet.

My two year reunion with Dr. Snyder is coming up this August, can't wait to see what I look like, I know I feel as good as you sound.

Congrats on the new school, will have to check it out some day.