Help about tape on the incision!

[Meaghan]

Lol MPH hopefully it is locked in  - perhaps I should have got it writing  ;)  and Toby I appreciated your detailed response and UK perspective.  I am 165 cm (5 foot 4 inches) with a large skeletal frame.  My surgeon is unaware of the Synovo Preserve device but stated he will research it.  Evidently it takes 2 years for a device to be therapeutically approved for use here so would not have been an local option for my surgery...

[toby]

Hi Meaghan,
That's excellent news and it's great that you are going with an excellent surgeon who has tremendous experience. 5 foot 4 inches with large skeletal frame-vg. As I mentioned in addition to my friend who is 5' 3'', I've communicated with several active UK females who have been of similar height and small frame who've had brilliant results going back 8-10 years. Mr Mcminn has no hesitation still resurfacing women. Additionally, it's worth noting that Dr Bose in India has around 98% success rate with small women having developed an expertise resurfacing very petite Indian women. Hence, you've everything to be confident about in the hands of Mr McMahon.
After such a long wait, I really looked forward to my surgery. I went in totally relaxed and had a fantastic experience. Hope you do too- get everything in place for 2 weeks time and  then relax and enjoy what is a fantastic experience and wonderful new hip that just gets better and better!
Best Wishes
Toby

[toby]

Any updates Danny

[Dannywayoflife]

Throat infection slowly lifting thanks to the antibiotics still very immobile

[HippyDogwood]

Matt

Let me come at this from a slightly different angle. My circumstances are very similar to yours and golf was the biggest cause of "payback" pain for me, still playing off a 5 handicap but literally 40 yards shorter off the tee than I was pre-issues causing very poor range of motion.

I went down a slightly different route of trying stem cells, FAI removal, microfracture, labral repair etc. and had one hip done last October and the other in December.

I could easily have gone down the BHR route too and may have to in the future and I'm not posting to suggest BHR is the wrong thing for you, its a great procedure when done properly

I just wanted to share what I have found in recovery, since there are some major similarities between the two procedures as I literally had every repair you could imagine and have probably been put on a more cautious rehab program than you will with BHR (6-8 months rehab before I can return to the course)

First up I'm glad I've tried something - I might have got it wrong going stem cells vs BHR but I feel it is better to have done something than just accepted a bad situation. Carpe diem

You still have a couple of months to your surgery and use it as best as you can. The better shape you can get yourself in ahead of surgery, the stronger you will be to recover. Buy yourself a Reebok step and some therabands. Get the whole lower body unit strengthened as for instance your knee will need to be rock solid to lend a hand to the hip when you are recovering. Work hard now on flexibility, as you will have significant restrictions imposed on you post op, so getting things stretched out now will stand you well for when you have to take things easy.

And get yourself a good physio that knows how to rehab a BHR. I was amazed at the different advice from one physio to another and found one that has specialised in hip rehab for 30 years. Stick to what they say to the letter and listen to your body - rehab is as important as the op itself.

Assuming you play golf right handed, you should be back on course pretty quickly. I had my left done first as it was far more painful bracing against the left hip on the follow through than turning into the right hip on the backswing for me, as who swings at 100+ mph on their backswing. Good luck with everything and remember golf is a (nice) hobby, doing things with your 8 year old daughter who will grow up and move out one day is far more precious, so getting this fixed now to make the most of that time is something you owe yourself.

David

[hernanu]

Good stuff, Danny. It'll be good to see you doing regular recuperation instead of this.

[MattJersey]

Thanks HippyDogwood, it does help to have some balance and alternatives to look at. I saw physio and local surgeon back in Oct/Nov, and I'm not a candidate for the "scrape and clean" micro fractures option. I would have been 10 years ago he said, but that wouldn't have lasted 10 years, so I would be back where I am now, certainly no better off. Although stem cells wasn't an option 10 years back. He thinks biological advances in next 10 to 20 years are where the hip treatment options are going.

Stem cells is interesting, but I have reached a tipping point now: I can't wait 5 or 10 years trying things out, at time and expense. I'm fed up, have put up with nearly 20 years of limits, and see BHR as a shot at freedom.

I hope the stem cells works out for you, and at least pushes any more invasive stuff off in to the future. Who knows, maybe when my left hip packs in, it will be on general availability, and an option for that one.

I've started a (yet another!) new fitness regime, including swimming a bit (breaststroke), to help my all round "butt fitness". I will add stretching in to it, but ROM is quite limited on the right side. Will work on back and hams and quads as best I can.

My aim is to strengthen upper body, lose a few pounds, maybe half a stone, and be aerobically strong by the time I go under ...

[petemeads]

Hi Matt,

I'm new here, having found the site after my BHR op three months ago. My main worry after doing all the research was that I had left it too late - 63 years old and a slight cloud over bone quality (DXA scan after breaking my wrist in a small cycling fall showed substandard hip density for age). I found a consultant who operates at the local Spire hospital who I knew had performed successful resurfacing (family friend, 10 years and still going strong) and who was also a hillwalker and told him I wanted a BHR to allow running, climbing and cycling etc. Having examined my X ray and DXA results, and given me the stern warning about all the risks (to which I replied that he was talking to a climber and motorcyclist!) he agreed to do the operation. Then I spent a month wrestling with the pros and cons before committing myself - and it has worked out really well, so far. 

I originally just ran to get fit for climbing but running became a habit so I ended up doing marathons and eventually longer events in the hills - I was never as fast as you, best half of 1:23, marathon 2:54 - and when the kids came along and my job changed I backed off regular training for years but restarted about 6 years ago and surprisingly quickly got back to sub-1:40 halves. But the near-permanent aching and stiffness in my groin and quads would not go away so for the last year I resigned to just doing parkrun on Saturday mornings and hobbling around full of Ibuprofen, with less and less speed until a month before my op.

In theory I must wait a year to run again but with the miles I have walked since day 6 (nearly 200) breaking into a jog has proved easy and painless so I have already done a few gentle parkruns and can beat my wife again. Being very careful but no regrets at all at the moment. The other hip has about a year of use yet so another op is imminent but I would heartily recommend the procedure and my surgeon, who has only done a couple of hundred resurfacings but seems to have placed mine perfectly and done minimal damage in the process.

Of course, being older means that the prosthesis does not have to last as long as yours but I am still hoping for at least another 15 years of activity - and I have been cycling with a chap who had a Treacy BHR in 1997 who is still very happy that he had the op and continued fell running etc until recently (age 70 now, can still out bike me).

And eventually I expect to go back to playing golf, for which I have always been temperamentally unsuited but maybe as I get older?

[shoraztri]

HI GUYS ,
Just chipping in with my 2 pennies worth  on recovery etc and sport. I am 33 weeks Post Op., and am Swimming 100% Road Cycling 100% and Running at about 65-70% , of what I was Pre Op.
Am keen to up the anti on the Run , but realise that PATIENCE is the key , even though I reckon i could go a bit faster. Run wise i can do about 5km @ say 05:20pkm to 05:35 pkm ,pace. No doubt the speed will increase later , as my fitness improves . I am lucky as my Tri season [New Zealand ] is all but over , so resisted the urge to race , and just settled back . Over the winter months here in NZ , I will try to increase my Run Speed , as in July are 12 months Post Op.
Thanks Petemeads for your update, and Matt , you will be backing whacking the ball plenty. Just give it time .  :D ;)
Cheers ,
Kiwi Boy from Down Under.  :)

[Pat Walter]

Glad you are starting to feel better.  Still thinking about you.

Pat

[DirkV]

Returning member, giving you best wishes for recovery and encouragement to keep up the good attitude. I'm approaching 7-yr anniversary as bilat. I hope yours turns as well - after your initial challenges.
-Dirk

[MattJersey]

Pete, golf has a habit of making us all feel temperamentally unsuited, quite regularly  ;)

My hopes for the season are pretty dependent on having a good recovery versus a "normal" one and I think being in shape beforehand has to help. But, if it doesn't feel right, I won't try. I'll be happy enough being out of pain, and if I only get to start chips and half-/three-quarter swings by end of season (4-5 months post op) that's where I am now. I can then concentrate over next winter and come out fighting in 2016. (And, as they say, drive for show, putt for dough - I can practise putting as much as I like ...)

Taking it easy and gradual now surely will pay dividends, as Shoraztri is playing it - you'll be leaving them in your dust next season!

[MPH]

Hi gents, thought I'd share my surgeons views on running too early. He stressed that the well conditioned patients seem to have better recoveries and that makes them confident in their ability to run again. On the face of it thats all good, in fact its how I feel almost 6 weeks post op. However, his concern in a stress fracture of the head. He stressed it would come from repeated impact on the bone before full healing and urged me to wait for that 6 month period and stated I wouldn't even know it was happening until it went.
So for me its bike and swim and anything else to get the heart in the right zone. Just thought I share and would be interested in other's views on his advice?
Thanks and good luck to those still healing.

[Dannywayoflife]

Thank you guys your thoughts and prayers mean a lot to me.

I now seem pretty clear of any infection which is good as that was really really dragging me down! The newly operated side though is still very very very painful to touch and very very very swollen. I am icing probably more than I should go try and get the inflammation down. I am still very immobile and rely on my parents waiting on me hand and foot for most things. I haven't left the house as yet and could count on the fingers of 1 hand the times I've been down stairs!

I was told by Mr Treacy and several other surgeons that due to the size of my legs that it would be a very painful recovery. Add to that my suspicions about why the surgery was so difficult and I think that explains the pain. Atleast now I can eat and drink and not be in pain now I've kicked the oral infection. I'm not having terrible sweats either and have more energy.

I fullu expect this recovery to be longer than my last but don't really mind as I know the end result is well worth it! :)

[MattJersey]

Sounds very sensible based on my research to date MPH. 6 months or more before running.

My running days are long behind me although it would be nice to get back in to it: an easier more pleasurable way to keep in shape, i can't imagine what.

For me though, I don't imagine wanting to do any high impact stuff. Golf and walking the dog I think, and some rowing, for two reasons: fear of accelerating wear of the device, and I am hoping for 20-30 years from it, and fear of accelerating  damage already showing signs in my left hip.

Sounds like the guys who're out running in no time are super skinny, carrying virtually no excess baggage probably BMI of 22 or lower ... I'm right up around 25, the top end of OK. Would like to see that in to sub-24 by time of my op.

I would have though having good legs, quad strength and squat strength, will help protect the femoral neck load too.

Good luck with your running when you get it going!

[shoraztri]

Hi MPH,
Was catching up on your latest thoughts and replies. As a very keen Tri boy , I waited out the full 6 months before starting to Run again . Even then it was more of a up-beat jog, than actual full running. My Specialist cleared me after 6 months , ,but I am easing into the Run for the next 6 months ,.
Am doing all my running on soft grass surfaces-ie football grounds etc ., and using the HOKA SHOES.
Am not having any troubles at all , so low impact so to speak , being on grass and Hoka Shoe.
All the Best, and as said before , by the real "older" experienced Hippies - PATIENCE -is the key. :D

[moe]

Good to hear you are making progress Danny.

[John C]

Danny, your positive attitude is fantastic, and I am sure that it will get you through this in good shape. It sounds like you are now through the worst of it (can't imagine it having been much worse). If the recovery is a little slow (mine was), that is nothing that you cannot take in stride and come out strong in the end. As you know so well, rehab is just like training; you just have to keep finding the right pace for where you're at at any given time, and keep appreciating each small step forward.
After all you have done for others on this site, we are all rooting for you.
John.

[Granton]

Hang in there, Danny. It will all be worth it in the end.

[lgbran]

All the best in your ongoing recovery. The only way up up and your attitude is fantstic. Was floored when I read your initial post. Glad you on the mend chees from downunder👍