Left Hip Resurfaced in July 2011, Right Hip is shot now!!

[ecchastang]

the equipment

[Miguelito]

Hi ecchastang,
Good call on the two crutches. I was a fan of using the two crutches for safety and comfort reasons, as much as for necessity. No need to rush coming off the two, certainly in the first week (or even two).
Mike

[JHippy]

Yea I'd stick with two crutches for a good bit more.

I'm glad you posted the before and after x-rays. Fascinating. To my untrained eye it looks like the leg is closer to the center of your body now, making it more symmetrical with the other side. It's quite a change. I'm sure it's going to be an adjustment, but worth it in the long run.

Ice, rest, meds, and don't push it. :)

[ecchastang]

I am really surprised at how little pain I am feeling.  More of an annoyance in the soft tissue, when I am sitting.  Today I walked about 1/4 mile with two crutches to a coffee shop, then walked back about 45 minutes later.  Before surgery, I would have been aching on the way back.  My arms were tired, as I was probably only using about 50% weight on right leg with crutches, but still, it wasn't a bad walk. 

[gjs]

looking at getting hip resurfaced and I need to find a qualified doctor in Minnesota, any recommendations?

[curtieman1]

gjs
I'm from Minnesota & have had both my hips resurfaced by Dr Scott Anseth from Twin Cities Orthopedics. Had my left hip done July of 2012 & right one July of 2014. Great out come both times. Curt

[ecchastang]

Yesterday, I was mostly on just one crutch, and went for quite a few small strolls.  Still a ton of tightness in the front of the leg, and sometimes its hard to get comfortable sitting but I can still feel daily progress.

[Comfortably Numb]

It's amazing to think you were probably just getting ready to leave for the hospital this time last week!  Now you're home making amazing progress.  I think there's a lot to be said about getting through that first week after surgery.

[ecchastang]

Every day gets easier, but the worst part is sleeping.  Been in the Zero gravity chair every night since getting home last friday.  I don't use it during the day unless I am wanting a nap, but its the best option I have found for sleep.  But I just get restless and want to roll around and can't.  Not much can be done about that, I suppose. 

[Comfortably Numb]

Every day gets easier, but the worst part is sleeping.  Been in the Zero gravity chair every night since getting home last friday.  I don't use it during the day unless I am wanting a nap, but its the best option I have found for sleep.  But I just get restless and want to roll around and can't.  Not much can be done about that, I suppose.

I'm still trying to make a decision about the zero gravity chair.  I already have a large, leather LazyBoy recliner.  I think I'll be able to get in and out of it with the use of crutches, and it is very roomy and well padded.  Now that you've been using your chair post-op, what advantages does it have over the recliner I've described.  I'm not sure people are getting the Zero for a specific reason or mainly because they don't already have a regular recliner.

[ecchastang]

I didn't already have a recliner, so I can't comment.  But for 59 bucks at costco and it is portable, for me it was worth it.  Try what you have and if it doesn't work then get the zero gravity  Also, I think the recliner you have might end up being too soft.  For me, a really soft chair is worse than one lightly padded.

[MattJersey]

I have bought a zero g chair in prep. I used to have a Lazy Boy recliner, sadly despatched shortly after marriage along with several other joys of being a singleton!

If I still had that recliner I would definitely prefer it to the zero g chair. In essence, the zero g chair is a garden recliner chair. Nothing special about it, and definitely not zero g! But good enough to get legs up and cheap. I expect that is why so popular here.

I am now 12 days from op, so about 17 days from using the chair for real ... Gulp  :o

[Comfortably Numb]

I am now 12 days from op, so about 17 days from using the chair for real ... Gulp  :o

Yes, I'm starting to tighten up a little myself as the day approaches.  Decided I need a little diversion so I'm going to see Widespread Panic tonight with a couple of friends.  Should be psychedelically cleansing :P

[ecchastang]

Since the last time I took nucynta was 8pm last night, the fast acting, I decided to do a small drive to the bank and a coffee shop today.  Not bad, the worst part was the comfort of the seat, but other than that, no problems. 

[ecchastang]

Been doing my daily rehab exercises and today is the first time I could actually feel my glute flex post surgery.  Still having difficulty being comfortable for very long in any seat, but most of that is from the cleanup work Dr. Gross did in my old surgery scar area, not in the new area. 

[gregorykent]

I am an emergency physician who retired at the end of 2013 at age 65.  Nine months later I ran into one of life's speedbumps when my R hip became very uncomfortable with modest activity.  An x-ray demonstrated bone-on-bone degenerative arthritis with a femoral neck cam. I underwent resurfacing with the BHR by Dr David Palmer at Lakeview Hospital in Stillwater, MN on Feb 18, 2015.  This site played a large part in helping me decide which course to take and I appreciate the effort and many contributions made to create such a site.

I'm at the upper age end for BHR.  I also consulted about a standard hip arthroplasty and it does look like a 15 year life expectancy for the high density cross-linked polyethylene cup liners was reasonable.  I was swayed to the BHR by several other factors.  I like to hike, backpack, and wilderness canoe--one of the reasons I live in Minnesota.  The thought of a dislocation in wilderness was troubling.  Additionally, the preservation of the femoral neck gives a second chance for a good outcome if something went wrong.  And the whole setup looks just so much closer physiologically to my original hip.

I was pleased to learn of an orthopedic surgeon who had done a high volume of BHRs just 150 miles away.  Dr Palmer's revision rate was consistent with the other high volume surgeons who have results posted at this site.  Lakeview hospital is a small community hospital about 20 miles east of the Twin Cities.  They have a regional reputation of excellence for orthopedic surgery, particularly hips and knees.  Everything went smoothly;  I was ambulating with a walker about two hours out of recovery once the spinal anesthesia wore off.  The next day after demonstrating proficiency on stairs with a single crutch I was discharged.  Total time within the hospital walls was about 26 hours.  I had almost no echymosis and have a subcuticular skin closure for a nice cosmetic result in an area the world will never see.  Dr Palmer and Lakeview are highly recommended.

There seems to be a lot of variation in what activity level is recommended during rehab.  I was told not to adduct beyond the midline (i.e. no crossing legs at the knees) and to go easy on flexion.  I had free reign on walking and within a week could walk a half mile with no crutch.  I rapidly advanced to 4 to 5 miles by the 4th week.  I got on my bike at about two weeks and was surprised to find cycling completely comfortable from the start.  At my 6 week check-up I was advised against repetitive impact (running) but otherwise free to do what felt right.  Currently I'm working with Nautilus machines at the Y on adduction, abduction, quad and gluteal strength.  Range of motion just seemed to return easily with little effort.  Not yet quite fluid on stairs--I keep one hand on the railing, but that is starting to feel better.  Overall, the whole affair has been easier than I thought it would be.  I have been through rehab stints with both knees from ACL reconstructions so I had some ideas of what I might expect.

Again, a shout out to this website. What I learned here without question was the major factor in guiding my decision.  Keep up the good work!

[Granton]

That's all great news. Have an active and happy retirement!

[MattJersey]

Just the kind of positive story I want to read at T-11 days ...

Did you bother with the zero g chair? How has your sleeping been? On your un-operated side?

Hope it continues to progress so smoothly. Best wishes.

[gregorykent]

It took me about 3 weeks to be able to sleep well on the operated side.  Sleep was fitful first two weeks as I normally do not sleep on my back.  I don't know anything about zero gravity chairs--the pictures on Amazon look comfortable, though.  First couple of weeks I would have some kind of intense muscle spasm, likely in external rotators, when I got up from sitting for any length of time.  Only lasted 15-30 seconds but the pain was far worse than the post-op pain.

[Pat Walter]

Great to hear you are doing well.  Thank You for the kind words about the website.  I worked almost 10 years on it now and with the help of hundreds of hip resurfacing patients, it is a great resource.  A combined effort of patients helping patients.

I wish you the very best and look forward to your updates.

Pat