Recovery from Bilateral with Dr. Gross

[mountaingoat]

TwoForOne,
I had a similar experience with Phillipon which is why I chose to go out of state to California to the much-esteemed Dr. Thomas Sampson for my previous hip scope surgeries. I only live 2 hours from Vail but I was never very enthused by Phillipon. He was never able to tell me what exactly was wrong with my hips- just that I needed a second surgery. I too did the 3 hour wait for an 8-minute appointment. I was very impressed, however, with his colleague Dr. Peter Millet who is the Steadman Clinic's top shoulder surgeon. He fixed my shoulder this past October and will hopefully do my other one in the next few months. It was a whole different experience with Dr. Millet thankfully.

Yeah, not so sure what is going on with me right hip at night. It could be soft tissue pain or it could be bone but its odd that it is consistently only in one hip. Now that I'm getting out and about more during the day my back isn't so stiff and I'm actually sleeping a little better finally. I  used a "regular" toilet yesterday for the first time and did just fine.

I am actually thinking I'm going to try and schedule my shoulder surgery for late April which will be 3 months post-op for my hip. That way, just as my hips are feeling better and I'll surely be tempted to push it I will be forced to slow down a little and take it easy. Plus, I really want to limit the amount of carrying and lifting I do with my baby girl at the 3 month mark when the fracture risk is highest so if I have my arm in a sling I can kind of get that recovery over with at the same time.

[obxpelican]

Amy,

I had times when if I was just laying in bed and I shifted a certain way I would get a shooting pain, that went a way after 2 or 3 weeks.

Your body is still healing, you will have a twinge every now and then, just feel assured that since you picked a very experienced surgeon you will have the best chance for a great outcome. Patience for now though.


Chuck

I still really struggle with paranoia about every little twinge. Just this morning I was out walking just a short distance and I stumbled a bit at one point and landed too forcefully on my left hip. I felt a sharp twinge that made me say "Ouch" and now my leg is pretty sore although I can still put weight on it.

[mountaingoat]

Not having a great week and I'm not sure what went awry (other than the fact that both of my hips were recently dislocated, sawed open and banged up with a sledge hammer ;)

Right Hip is doing quite well - really no complaints at this point, seems to be healing consistently and feeling smoother every day. The left has been the slow hip. It was doing ok and then this week just began to get really stiff, sore and tight as hell. I described it to my husband as "Feels like someone punched me in the butt really hard 20 times" whenever I walk. Hamstring is also quite sore. I called Lee this morning on her cell and told her my situation, said that I was a bit nervous as this hip had always been giving me problems since the first week. She told me (again) that if I had done something to the implant or fractured anything, I would know because I would not be able to put any weight on it and would be in extreme pain. Seems reasonable enough and I'll take that as a good rule of thumb except it doesn't get me out of my current situation, unfortunately.

Would like to be back walking my dogs on a regular basis in another month but I know not to set arbitrary goals like that at this point. Its really true what everyone says about how much recoveries vary. I was in great shape beforehand but I know that doesn't necessarily  mean I'll have an easier recovery.

[hernanu]

Yeah, Amy - I would chill out as much as you can about it. It really is pretty normal to have one side chugging along and the other not so much. Each side is doing its own recuperation, so treat one or the other as the more favored, but slightly slower child.

What you describe may be either the tissues healing at their own pace, muscle spasms or just tiredness. Remember you did have the hips exploded and then put back together, so just let them heal at their own pace. I've had freak out moments with each side, and yet it turned out fine. I always watch out for anything serious, but like they told you, a real issue would be a hell of a lot more painful.

[Two4One]

Amy, 'nanu is right.  I'm sorry you you're not feeling so hot, and I hope you feel better soon or have an accomplishment that helps lift your spirits.  Just today, my PT says that every bilateral case she's ever seen, knees or hips, one side always takes longer to heal than the other. 

For me, it's the R hip that's hanging on to a level '5' pain, and the L hip is the resurfacing poster child that usually hovers around a level 2-3 pain.  At the end of the day, before my last bedtime pill, I lurch and lumber up the stairs.

I meant to tell you earlier that at the beginning 2010, that I also obtained Dr.Sampson's opinion.  He is wonderful.  When I sent my films out for 2nd opinions all over the country, two surgeons correctly diagnosed me right away.  Dr. Sampson gave me the correct diagnosis of end stage OA within 2 weeks of receipt of my films even though he called it as a blind spot too and described my anatomical issue in great detail.  Dr. Sampson was so kind to call me, send me a his opinion and diagnosis, and furthermore recommended I get my hips resurfaced or replaced immediately.  Unfortunately, Dr. Sampson doesn't accept insurance, or I would have flown to him immediately. 

The 2nd correct arthroscopic only surgeon, Dr. Kelly, New York, also gave his opinion of immedidate THR or BHR in writing to me.  When I took those findings to three more Midwestern surgeons, they had the temerity to say if they didn't see anything on my films then I most certainly did not have end state OA and completely discounted the TOP two and three surgeons in the United States!  These Midwestern hacks also joined the chorus labeling me a drug addict with nothing wrong with menother than a drug addiction.

2fer

[mountaingoat]

Hi Everyone,
I'm 9 weeks out today. I feel badly that I only tend to post when I have a question to ask or when I'm looking for reassurance...need to be better about that for sure.

Generally, I'm doing ok. I've taken a few 2-3 mile hikes around the trails by my house, some even with incline. I'm still using hiking poles and will probably do so at least for another week or two. Sometimes, I push my daughter in the jog stroller (not jogging of course!) and use it as kind of a walker for support. I'm up to about 1.5hrs walking every two or three days but not every day as my life just doesn't allow it at the moment.

Oddly, the hip that was initially a problem (left) has now seemed to heal and feels generally good. My right hip is still quite sore when I walk although I am trying not to worry about it too much yet since it does not seem to be anything catastrophic as I can clearly walk for a couple miles and don't have pain at rest or at night. But I am still really hoping I will be pain-free in that hip soon. My right hip has been surgerized now 3 times in 3 years (with resurfacing being the last) so I'm sure the soft tissues are none too happy with me at the moment. But it still amazes me that the soreness and inflammation I feel when I walk can be all muscle-related.

On some level, now that I am more than 2 months out, my biggest fear is not so much a catastrophic event like femoral neck fracture which I think is still a very small risk but more that perhaps the lingering pain will always be there to some degree and this is as good as its going to get...which isn't good enough. I know its rare but there are a few people out there who for whatever reasons just have on-going issues that aren't debilitating but are still very limiting and I just hope to god I'm not that unlucky person. It seems to be pretty uncommon with the top surgeons but even Gross, Su, et al have patients out there who have problems. SO, being the constant worry-wart that I am I have this nagging fear that it will be me...and having been through 3 major hip surgeries (plus 2 shoulder surgeries) in the last 3 years doesn't give me a lot of confidence as you might imagine.  :-\

Still, I'm trying to remain positive. I'm finally carrying/lifting my chunk-face baby around (she is 11 months and 22lbs!) but I do make her crawl up and down the stairs...I pretend its a game where she has to crawl up in front of me...she seems to go for it anyway ::)

Sounds like most are doing well these days. I'm so looking forward to spring in the mountains when I can enjoy some longer hikes.

Amy

[hernanu]

Hi Amy, I think you're still pretty early in the recuperation. Your hips will be healing for a while (1-2 years), but as you know, you will be seeing marked improvement as you go.

At 2+ months, I was just barely exiting PT and happy to be mostly limpless. I think you're putting too much pressure on yourself - I had pain / twinges / discomfort for a while after where you are. You sound like you're doing pretty well with the walks, you don't have pain when at rest or at night, which to me says muscles / tissues.

Remember also how long your body bent itself to accommodate the OA, not only are your muscles / tissues healing now, but your body is restructuring itself back to the way it was before the OA hit. No wonder you have twinges. I understand, given your multiple surgeries with unimpressive results that you are afraid that this might not help, but it is IMO way before you should worry about that. Give it a few more months and you'll be much happier with the results, I think.

When you're carrying chunk-face baby, how does it feel compared to before the surgery (remember she weighs more now)?

[WTW15]

Amy - I was feeling the same way, and we are just about the same post-op time.  Still have muscle pain, still not full ROM, still not very strong, even with PT, and I've been battling a stomach bug to boot - needless to say I am worrying.  My glut is so weak - they have me doing one-legged squats and I was almost in tears cuz I could not get back up the first couple of times without help.  I was in pretty good shape going in to this.  I ride a 225lb motorcycle and could pick it up when I fell without any problems, and I'm only 5'6" 130# - now I doubt I could pick up my kid's little bike. 

But reading up here helps so much.  We are still so 'fresh' into this.  I'm looking down the road for the 3 month mark, 6 month mark and 9 month mark and reflecting back to where I was at the 2wk mark and 4 wk mark - yes, I am making progress!   And everyone's support sure helps!

[John C]

Hi moutaingoat and WTW15,
I want to encourage you guys (gals) to remember how early in the healing process you still are. I know that 9 weeks feels like a long time to you, so lets put some numbers to it in order to help your perspective. The bone takes 6-12 months to heal and remodel. The soft tissue takes 12-18 months to heal and fully replace scar tissue with final tissue. You guys are at less than 3 months; your bodies are just getting started on this healing adventure. There is a lot of wonderful progress during those first three months, but I was still feeling progress out to about two years. You can look forward to much continued improvement, so don't let yourselves become too worried about things that are not perfect yet. It is so easy to worry during those first few months; believe me, I did more than my share. As everyone on this site always tells each other: be patient. Things will keep getting better, and the worries will fade away. :)

[Woodstock Hippy]

Amy, I'll see your ''3 major hip surgeries (plus 2 shoulder surgeries)'' and raise you 2 major hip surgeries, 2 shoulder surgeries, 2 knee surgeries, 1 elbow, possibly 2 carpal tunnel surgeries coming up and I'm worried about my left foot when I start running again in May.  Just kidding, but that's the count right now.

I was still  having inflamation at the three month mark and my doctor prescribed an anti-inflamitory, once a day for two weeks.  Bingo! I've been feeling fine since even though I'm pushing harder than ever.  I had been taking things as needed and my usual ''heat and ice'' but I think the two week cycle of anti-inflamatories got to the core of the problem.  Give it a try, it might help.

[mountaingoat]

Thanks Hernanu, John and Woody. Good tips. I asked Nancy from Dr. Gross' office to prescribe some Celebrex and I'm going to try that for a month. I know that the healing time for soft tissues is 12-18 months...in my case it will probably be on the longer side because of how many past surgeries I've been through.

WTW15 - I'm amazed that you're doing one-legged squats. I'm still on such basic exercises in PT - bridging, clams, etc. I cannot imagine doing a squat right now.

When I pick up my baby now it feels pretty lop-sided and awkward compared to pre-surgery. For whatever reason, my OA did not really seem to impact my ability to carry her comfortably or even to carry a pack on my back when hiking or skiing. Now that my husband is finally back from his 3 week sojourn down the Grand Canyon I am making him do most of the carrying is for sure.  :o Even though Dr. Gross does not want us on road bikes for 6 months I'm planning to break mine out and set up the trainer this weekend so I can at least bike outside in place. Weight-bearing activities like hiking are still not really agreeing with me yet.

Thanks all.

[imgetinold]

Hi Amy,

I'm a Gross hippy a few weeks ahead of you.  I just re-read this whole thread, and if you look back, it does seem like you're healing on schedule.  Just today, I felt a little groin pain....similar (but not as intense) as the pre-surgery pain.  Sometimes my Psoas area is really tight.  My IT band sometimes lets me know it's sore.

I find that I still modify certain natural movements because of the surgery.  When I sit on the toilet, I put most of my weight on my non-operated leg, for example.  I know you're a bi-lat, but I would guess that many natural movements of yours are still modified, and so your body is adjusting and letting you know what it doesn't like.

Your recovery sounds pretty normal.  Don't sweat the small aches and pains, and enjoy the spring and your new baby daughter!

[mountaingoat]

Well some good news finally. I feel like I may have turned a bit of a corner in the last week. I was able to walk a lot further last week without pain. And then yesterday, I went on a 4 mile legitimate hike on the trails by my house. It wasn't super steep or anything but had enough incline to be noticeable. I used hiking poles the whole way and today my shoulder is more sore than my hip.

I'm finally at Week 10 where all my slow protocol Gross restrictions are up. I will admit to having cheated a wee bit on this as I sort of ditched the cane around week 8.5/9 when I just stopped needing it. I started carrying my baby girl around about two weeks back and finally last week was able to carry her up and down stairs ok. Not carrying her around on my back yet or anything but at least we are self-sufficient once again.

When  asked how I was feeling at the end of our 4 mile hike I responded that I was mainly a bit stiff and needed one of those oil cans like the one used by the Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz ~ you know, when he gets all rusted up and Dorothy has to oil his parts to get him working again. Can I get one of those please? ???

Hope everyone had a good weekend and is doing well.

[mslendzion]

I bet your baby is thrilled to be back in your arms. Your over the hump. :)

[hernanu]

Great to hear that you're getting to the good part, Amy. Nice hike and just a bit stiff? excellent.

[WTW15]

Congrats Amy!!  And now today sidelined only by a little foul weather/snow, albeit needed moisture!  I missed my walk today and feel it.  I did a bunch of clams last night and paid for it, too.  And I am still struggling through one-legged squats, but not using as much help as I did last week.  Glad to hear you can carry your daughter up/down the stairs. I am still having trouble carrying anyting too heavy.  But it's all slowly getting better, day by day! 

[Aerial]

Wonderful news on getting back to the things you like.  Time really does pass by more quickly than you might think after this surgery!