2 wks Post Op with Dr. Brooks - WOW

[Manofword]

Hernanu,
I had the same approach - antero-lateral. No muscles cut that I'm aware of. Hence, a speedy recovery. I also started to drive today. Nothing heavy, just around town. Makes it much easier on my lovely wife rather than dropping me off at Starbucks (Daycare) early and then coming to take me to the office etc. I have a Jeep Wrangler which sits kind of high so I lift my operated leg with my hand then into the vehicle. Since it is my right leg, all I have to do is rest it on the floor and hit the gas and brake while I use my left for the clutch. Being very careful, but it sure makes things easier.

Still amazed at recovery and post op flexibility!

[hernanu]

Same here, got back to driving at two weeks each hip. I live alone, so I really stocked up on things beforehand and was going out of my nut by two weeks.

My surgeon's guidance was that if I could get in the car and out without major problems, and was able to move my foot correctly between the brake and accelerator seamlessly, then I could drive. I also wanted to make sure I wasn't a menace on the road, so tested it parked several times before going on the road.

Being back driving was bizarre for the first ten minutes or so. Afterwards, though it was as usual and I had a stoopid grin on since there was no OA ache on the hip, just the receding surgical discomfort. Ice and short drives eventually took care of that.

The only caveat is that at four months after getting my right done I was rear ended at a stop light at full speed by an octogenarian. I stomped on the brake to prevent going into the car in front of me; the impact lifted the rear of my car off the ground. You can read my post if you go a year and a half back, but long and short of it, the hip withstood that with flying colors at four months.

There is need to be careful, which I was, but who can predict an oldster in a big car pulling an illegal u turn and plowing into the rear of your car. I didn't even pay attention to my hips after pulling over, just wanted to scream at the driver, until I saw that he was an older gentleman who was distraught. After the police, everything, twenty minutes later as I was getting back into my car, I thought... my hip!  I walked around, tested it, called my surgeon, they looked at it and said... fine..!?!!

[Manofword]

That has been my only concern driving as well. Not so much concerned about me as someone plowing into me. But I guess whether that is me driving or someone else, the end result would probably be the same as one would normally hit the floorboards with both feet putting stress on that BHR.

Just started to use a cane instead of crutches since a PT nurse I know, who works with BHR patients said it was fine. Still use the crutches for long distance walking though. Wound is completely healed and sleeping is easy and comfortable now.

[hernanu]

You're right about being a passenger or a driver, but as I found out, given the luck of not having an accident early on, it's hopefully not a problem. 

I was actually pretty confident after the crash; finding out that it could withstand the impact that early on kind of cleared the decks for me mentally.

[Manofword]

4 wks post op this week! Can't believe how I can tell the progress is moving forward daily. Muscles are gaining strength. Still have a little limp that is simply due to stiffness being worked out. Stretches are going well and I'm still not pushing it. Well, maybe pushing it a little. I did use the snow blower to clean the drive today...with no problems. Just took it nice and slow and let the self-propelled snow blower do the work. Looking forward to my follow-up visit on Jan. 8th when I can toss the crutches er, I mean cane! Should I go in with a cane or use crutches and make them think I used them the entire time? LOL

[obxpelican]

Be ever so careful, the first 6 months you are apt to break your femoral neck if you take a bad fall.

Please, let someone else do the snow blowing.


Chuck

[hernanu]

I'll back up Chuck on this. This is a marathon, not a sprint (even if you want to get back to sprinting, right Arrojo?). 

Patience now will give you a huge payoff; conversely, there's plenty of stories of reversals if you push too much. Your bone is just barely growing into the device right now, you want to support that.

There'll be plenty of winters where you can take care of business, this one you might want to hire a kid to do it.

[fenceman]

Man, 4 yrs ago I switched to 1 crutch after 4 weeks because I felt I could easily keep the 75% rule and it was much easier to get around.  I walked into Dr Brooks office with 1 and he told me it was time to get rid of the crutch.

Chuck and Hernanu are right.  You will feel like you can do so much more but you must invest in patience.
Bill

[Dan L]

Gald to hear you are doing so well.

Watch out for ice, if you do more snow removal, would suggest the risks of falling at only 4 weeks into the healing process may not be worth it.  Just my .02 cents. 

Continued wishes for a great recovery.

Dan

[Manofword]

OK, guys, I get the message! Thanks for all the input. I truly am being careful even though I am ambulating quite well.

[Manofword]

Had my 6wk post-op follow-up with Phil Gollnick at Dr. Brooks' office today. X-rays looked perfect he said. Everything is still in position just like Dr. Brooks left it and no problem with bone/femoral neck.

I didn't even try to pretend I was still using crutches so I went in with my cane, which I stopped using 5 days ago. I still have a tiny limp which will be fixed with a little exercise. I can return to swimming laps (limited at first) and I can also start riding my bike as long as I limit it to about 15 miles. 15 miles is a warm up! This weekend is supposed to be warm so I will probably get on my brand new Blue Triad EX. Will ride on flat ground with minimal effort. I can also get back in the gym and now finally the whirlpool, all without pain!

He said to take it easy, which I will. I will try to listen to my body except when it craves a full workout! LOL.  He wasn't worried about my activity but stated that maybe 5% of all BHR patients who have problems have them in the first 6 months and admitted that their office, compared to others who do BHR, is VERY conservative. Even Dr. McMinn has folks off crutches after 3 weeks so I guess I'm in good company.  Once again, couldn't be more pleased with my procedure and outcome!

[obxpelican]

Be careful on that bike (using my best nagging tone) a fall could cost you your resurfacing.



Chuck

[phillwad]

If you are Cleveland - have you riden the new Cleveland Velodrome?

[Dan L]

Manofword

The need to be very conservative is designed to prevent you from having a revision to a THR-- think being opened up again, the top of your femur sawed off, a 6 inch spike being driven down through your femur, months more of healing, and lifetime restrictions you don't have now.  Worse yet, think of the THR being revised, lather, rinse, repeat, except an 8 inch spike the second time.

I totally get the cabin fever, champing at the bit, need to do what you love etc, and need to feel normal, but exceeding the conservative approach that has lead to so many successful patients of Dr Brooks is very, very short sighted versus the rest of your life.

Your outcome is unknown until 1 year out, and one fall from your bike and you're in trouble.  Giiven you are smaller boned with smaller impants you are also more at risk versus others.  It is truly a marathon, not a  spint.

Dan

[Manofword]

Thanks for the "picture" of misery & agony, Dan! LOL I want no part of it and don't think I don't think about that when walking on snow or ice or stairs or anything potentially dangerous.

You're right, and I don't intend on doing anything I haven't been cleared to do. I've been cleared to do anything but run as long as I build up to distances and keep resistance to a minimum. I swam & was in the pool today for the 1st time. Went extremely well and since I'm a triathlete, I don't rely on legs much for swimming but they were working very well w/o the feeling of any stress being put on my new hip. For biking, I will find nice flat routes with little traffic when the weather is nice and then on my trainer when it is not. Also, interesting that when I asked if the size of my implant was on the small side, Phil stated that it was in the mid-range and he didn't think it was considered small. I was surprised at that since I'm only 5'-5.5".

Thanks for all the encouragement everyone and advice! It is greatly appreciated!

[Dan L]

Manoword

Thought you might be interested in this thread, in case you had not seen it yet.

Check out Spencer's xrays from his fall off his bike and trocanter fracture following HR, http://surfacehippy.info/hiptalk/gallery/?sa=view;pic=15

Good news he is doing great and had all that hw removed http://surfacehippy.info/hiptalk/recovery-issues/update-metal-plate-out-after-intertrochantric-fracture/msg42655/#msg42655.

Be careful out there.

Dan

[Manofword]

Wow Dan! I feel for Spencer! Sounds like his crash and injury had nothing to do with the BHR but sure messed his leg up for sure. I've never had a crash, fortunately. When I race, I'm an age grouper who believes that the extra speed I'll get from throwing caution to the wind on a downhill s not worth the risk of injury. I'm competitive and can deal with training and racing pain, but I don't want to have deal with crash & burn pain OR the time it will take to recover. Reading his story gives me the chills. May God help, heal and bless Spencer!

[Manofword]

I'm now 12 weeks post op and almost all tenderness is gone. No more limp. No more uncomfortable sleeping positions at all. I have my full walking stride back. Am back in the gym but only doing leg presses with an empty sled mostly for ROM exercise. Still resisting the temptation to jog and am swimming 1 mile workouts 3 times a week. No noise from the BHR, no catches, no weird feeling. Have been massaging the incision to break up any scar tissue and it is working well. And taking ZERO meds!

Overall, still 100% satisfied with everything!

[hernanu]

I'm now 12 weeks post op and almost all tenderness is gone. No more limp. No more uncomfortable sleeping positions at all. I have my full walking stride back. Am back in the gym but only doing leg presses with an empty sled mostly for ROM exercise. Still resisting the temptation to jog and am swimming 1 mile workouts 3 times a week. No noise from the BHR, no catches, no weird feeling. Have been massaging the incision to break up any scar tissue and it is working well. And taking ZERO meds!

Overall, still 100% satisfied with everything!

That's awesome. Keep up the patience and the good work, your payoff is coming soon.

[Dan L]

Manof word;

Did Phil OK the leg presses with no weights?  Reason I ask is Brooks has had one femoral neck fracture out of more than 1500 done, and that was caused by a patient doing leg presses.

If no, you are asking for trouble.  If yes, cool, enjoy.

Just curious.

Dan