Aerial's post-op story

[Aerial]

Had a great Christmas and talked up the benefits of hip resurfacing to everyone.  I took a print out of my X-ray to functions because everyone wants to know how it is different that a conventional THR.  A picture is worth a thousand words.  I had a full walk to today including some hills and left the cane at home for the first time (I was still using it on some hills last week). I also can make it up and down a full flight of stairs foot over foot at this point with no assistance from the railing (I haven't been able to do that for about year prior to surgery).  I started trying some stairs last week. Celebrating three weeks post op today and amazed at how good my hip feels feels and how much a pain free hip does for my spirits.  Dr. Gross' conservative recovery is a challenge as I start to feel better.  I am going to go to the gym this week and start some upper body work, keeping everything below 50 lbs as dictated by Dr. Gross' recovery protocol.  :)

[Two4One]

Aerial, How good did that feel getting outside and walking hills!  Good for you!

[Luanna]

Wow! You are making a really amazingly quick recovery. Keep up doing whatever you are doing. It's working for you. I'll be interested to hear how your upper body workout goes and what machines and exercises you decide to do.

Luanna

[Dannywayoflife]

I think that dr gross's conservative approach to recovery is pretty much the same as my surgeons. It may seem slightly ott and long winded but don't for get it takes a full 12
Months for the hr to heal fully and bone density to normalise so I think it's the smart play!
Glad your recovering well!
Danny

[imgetinold]

Congrats, Aerial.  I am scheduled for Jan. 11th, so it's great to hear of your quick recovery.

[Aerial]

Imgetinold- I will be thinking about you on the 11th and look forward to your post op story too.  I am really pleased with how smooth recovery has been.  For me I really think the yoga I kept up with as best as possible prior to surgery really helped.  I think I maintained decent flexibility in everything but my bad hip.  This allowed for things like getting my sock and shoes of very quickly after surgery. 

Luanna- It has been a blessing to have three weeks off work so far.  I will be just short of 4 weeks post op when I return.  I have really been able to focus on my walking and the 4 exercises Dr. Gross prescribes.  It had truly been a low stress recovery, in fact, I did about 3 hours of real work this morning for the first time.  I plan on going to the gym tomorrow for the first to see what kind of trouble I can get into!   :)

[Aerial]

I went to campus today and did my walk there.  After a walk I went to the fitness center.  It was an absolute joy to be able to walk up the steps to the fitness center like a normal person and walk up more steps to the second floor of the fitness center.  I used to dread going to the fitness center due to all the stairs I had to navigate.  It is fabulous to not have to dread stairs!  Only the people on this site would probably understand just how much of a joy!  I did some upper body weights for the first time post surgery (back, arms, triceps and biceps) and found an ab machine that doesn't require breaking the 90 degree rule. Snuck in 10 minutes on an upright stationary cycle which breaks my recovery rules  :-\ but it did seem to loosen my butt a bit.  I also made stops at the grocery, eye doctor, Starbucks  :) and for gas.  All in all this was my biggest solo outing since surgery.  Getting into and out of the Z4 is notably easier this week than last. I do feel tired and will probably ice to be on the safe side.

[OtterDriver]

Hello Aerial!

You Go Girl!  Glad to hear things are going so well for you!

I just noticed you're a Senior Member.  How long have you been on this site and/or how long did you know you needed some hip help?

Bruce

[Luanna]

OMG - Super Woman!!!! :) I'm very happy for you. You are doing soooooo well!

Didn't take you long at all to be able to get into the seat and drive it. You'll be cruisin' in style on campus when classes start up again!

Don't think you'll have to worry about getting a handicap sticker.  ;D

Luanna

[Aerial]

OMG - Super Woman!!!! :) I'm very happy for you. You are doing soooooo well!

Didn't take you long at all to be able to get into the seat and drive it. You'll be cruisin' in style on campus when classes start up again!

Don't think you'll have to worry about getting a handicap sticker.  ;D

Luanna

I'm thinking about you.  Did you get the results of your MRI?

[Luanna]

Hi Aerial,
Yes. It's all good. No ruptured disc. Just normal wear and tear to be expected of someone my age....sigh. Made me feel really old.

So, Dr. Pritchett wants me to build my core muscles to support my back and new hip and try acupuncture and chiro and continue with my PT sessions. Did not realize that I was so out of shape. I was unable to exercise from April 2011 - Aug. 30th when I had surgery. Lost a lot of muscle tone in just 4 short months.

I'm really thrilled to know that I'm ok and things will sort themselves out in the next few months.

Thanks for thinking about me.
Luanna

[jon]

I went to campus today and did my walk there.  After a walk I went to the fitness center.  It was an absolute joy to be able to walk up the steps to the fitness center like a normal person and walk up more steps to the second floor of the fitness center.  I used to dread going to the fitness center due to all the stairs I had to navigate.  It is fabulous to not have to dread stairs!  Only the people on this site would probably understand just how much of a joy!  I did some upper body weights for the first time post surgery (back, arms, triceps and biceps) and found an ab machine that doesn't require breaking the 90 degree rule. Snuck in 10 minutes on an upright stationary cycle which breaks my recovery rules  :-\ but it did seem to loosen my butt a bit.  I also made stops at the grocery, eye doctor, Starbucks  :) and for gas.  All in all this was my biggest solo outing since surgery.  Getting into and out of the Z4 is notably easier this week than last. I do feel tired and will probably ice to be on the safe side.

Love the report.  Go get'm.  Motivates me for today...

[Aerial]

Hello Aerial!

You Go Girl!  Glad to hear things are going so well for you!

I just noticed you're a Senior Member.  How long have you been on this site and/or how long did you know you needed some hip help?

Bruce

Bruce- Hip troubles for me started in winter of 2008-2009 when I began to have a lot of pain playing tennis and running.  I would rest and things would improve, then I would go back to activity and I hurt again.  In December 2008 I was playing tennis and had a sharp abrupt pain in the hip area.  I simply could not continue playing.  I limped off the court.  Took some time off and eventually went back to playing and running but at a really reduced volume.  I knew something wasn't right.  I finally got an X-ray done in late spring 2009.  It showed very mild degenerative changes, my doctor prescribed PT to improve flexibilty and I started some massage.  I did PT through summer 2009 which provided some relief and also started yoga.  By early 2010 I was still having increasing pain which was stabbing and I had some catching in my hip.  After visiting a new ortho in summer 2010 I finally had an MRA done.  I had a severe labral tear and FAI was diagnosed.  I still had joint space so we decided to do arthroscopic surgery to fix the labral tear and shave down the impingements in the hopes of buying some time.  The long and short is I went downhill quick in the year after that surgery.  At my one year follow-up my doctor finally took an X-ray (I should have insisted this happen earlier as I was miserable) and I was bone on bone.  This was in summer 2011.  I was recommended for a THR at that time, however, living in SC it seemed reasonable to get the opinion of Dr. Gross on HR.  I had an appointment with him in September 2011 but waited until December 2011 for surgery due to my job.  It was a miserable fall semester pain wise and just wanting to get on with things.  So, I have been dealing with increasing hip pain for three years!  Perhaps this is why walking up stairs and walking in general gives me a tremendous high at this point.  I pray for a continued recovery and I am thankful to Dr. Gross and his team.  I am indeed lucky having him so close to me (I don't know if I would have went the HR route without access to a highly rated surgeon).  If I can get back to tennis and running after recovery that will be the greatest blessing ever.  I am an active person and a professor of physical education (teacher education focus) athletic training so am very active in my job too.  I definitely wanted a solution to my OA that would provide me the best chance of being active (I am 46 years old). 

[Two4One]

I know how it is, Ariel.  Walking and using stairs feels amazing compared to you previously walking with knives stabbing into your hips each time you took even the smallest step, (like the original 'Little Mermaid' tale).

Going from being an athlete and a PE teacher must have been so hard that you really appreciate your body's revival.  Keep it up, but hold back enough to protect your hardware to the one year mark.

Wonderful news!

[OtterDriver]

Hello again Aerial-

Thanks for your response!

Keep up the good work and have a great New Year!

Bruce

[Aerial]

26 days post op today.  I put the potty seat raiser away! Got back into the gym several times this week for upper body work and continue to feel stronger walking.  I had a very tight groin and that seems to working itself well with simply all the walking and a little extra stretching (I did the hip abduction and adduction machine at the gym with very light weight and just going through the motion feels good on the muscles).  I'm not sure if I am supposed to do that but it sure feels good.  I also sat cross legged very briefly last night for the first time sort of testing my hip.....yoga calls but I will certainly have to wait a while yet.  I'm hoping at my six week appointment I will be allowed to start back slowly.  Undoubtably my hip has much bette ROM! Back to work starting January 3rd (feeling very ready).  Happy New Year's Eve to all!  I hope 2012 is the year of the pain free hip for me (and all those on the board)  :)

[Two4One]

Yay!! No more potty riser!  I look forward to gently letting go my personal toilet paper Valet, "Coleman".  Fabulous news, Ariel!!

My mat is calling me too; I'm just stuck for awhile working on meditating when, really, all I wanna do is Tree Pose and do me some Triangle Pose too.  It's funny when you think about yoga is supposed to be about preparing your body for enlightenment.  I always just liked the pretty poses and the cool clothes and the people and the way it made me feel.  The wheel is so round.

'One

[Luanna]

Super report Aerial. Just fyi - I was cleared to do leg press, abduction and adduction machines at my 8 week check in. My surgeon checks in at 8 weeks instead of 6 weeks. No restrictions. I was surprised but each surgeon is different and yours may have different rules.

Happy New Year!!!

Luanna

[Aerial]

Luanna- Quite certain I am breaking the rules with the ab/adduction machine but it really feels good to work the range of motion.  I kept it on the lightest resistance possible which is 11 pounds!

Twoforone-  I miss yoga tremendously.  It took me awhile to realize that it is more than simply poses, I love the philosophy and the principles of alignment that go with it.  I really find myself missing the community and the whole "experience" of yoga.  Its hard to explain to people you don't just "do" yoga! Now that's not to say I don't love the poses too....especially inversions.  I loved handstands and have a goal to do them to the day I die!  Oh, and yes, totally cute clothes. Lululemon is a dangerous place $$$  ;D

[Two4One]

Ariel, I see us all well, trading yoga vibes and, for lack of a better word, 'accomplishments'.  I went at yoga a very western way; I wanted a good workout because my knees wouldn't let me do plyometrics anymore - flying over the aerobic step and getting air - God I loved being in the air. 

Accomplishment is the wrong ego word for yoga.  I see a Yoga Corner here on the board; Universe and Pat Walter willing.