Blinkys Hip Resurfacing with Dr. Gross 2015

[blinky]

Kingrob, that is amazing. If you have the discipline to do that, you will run again.


Third run and first PT in the books. The running gets easier and easier each time. I am not a speedster for sure, but I look like I am running. The PT was an evaluation. I did get some exercises, but most of it the meeting was to see what I needed to do. She was pleased overall with my strength and flexibility. (I think  she was surprised!) The weaknesses? My glutes, no surprise, and my rotators----all the little pieces that were cut or detached or stressed during surgery. We are starting to work the big muscles and then going to focus in on the little ones.


I talked with the PT about how far I might be able to run and she was intrigued by the question. I will have an ally with access to a medical library when I start looking to see how much is too much. Anecdotally, people do run far with resurfaced hips----Cory Foulk and soon the columnist for IRunFar, not to mention Arrojo and the folks who post here under runners stories.


JD, I am glad Dr Gross told you to go forth and conquer. I got that vibe, but I didn't get as strong a guarantee about running. Like I said, he didn't tell me not to do it, seemed more focused on me not getting my hopes up, on managing my expectations. There are some older statements from him in writing, including on this site, in which he says light jogging is okay but marathons are not encouraged.


I suspect there isn't that much data about people with fake hips who go out and run far.

[jd]

Yeah, I think I might not have been too clear on my earlier post, sorry! He told me that everyone can try and that from the perspective of the implant he has zero concerns. He did say that a significant number of people can't manage it due to un-diagnosed groin pain though (which I took to be soft tissue issues).

[blinky]

Yeah, that is what I understood. I was free to try, but might not be successful due to soft tissue issues.


Running is still going well, but I couldn't do it more than three times a week, every other day at the most. I was sore and a bit swollen after a day of running and PT. I feel like if I take it slowly, though, I will continue to make progress.


The next big challenge will be losing weight. I love to exercise, never have trouble getting out, but I also really like to eat. Kingrob, that is why I have so much respect for your losing weight. I am up ten pounds from my pre OA weight, so it isn't awful, but I can't seem to lose more than five. (And then we go to New Orleans or my son sends me cookies for Mother's Day, and the five come back on.)

[jd]

Weight and diet are obviously inflammatory topics and I don't want to push anything on anyone, but for what it's worth, I'm down 30lbs (~200lbs to ~170lbs) from my peak post-op. It's primarily due to cutting back to a very low carb intake (only carbs come from lots of leafy/fibrous green veggies). It's not for everyone, but I'm definitely someone whose metabolism and hunger go bonkers in the presence of (particularly refined) carbs.

I don't really do any cardio exercise at this point, but as I've mentioned elsewhere I am doing barbell strength training (which, if anything, should be adding some muscle weight).

[catfriend]

I'm sure you'll start losing weight, if you haven't already. Since my hip problems began I gained about 3-4 clothing sizes (I don't use scales) due to my reduced activity/inactivity. Now that I am able to up my activity level I have lost about one clothing size without really trying. This is strictly through activity, not dietary changes. It doesn't seem like much to me, but it's enough so that people at the pool have noticed, other people have noticed, and the shorts/pants I bought last summer due to my expansionary program are now so big I can pretty much pull them down without using the zippers. :D With your swimming and now running I'm sure this will happen for you, too, if it hasn't already.

[Kingrob]

Blinky,

You are doing really well - take a deep breath and enjoy your progress so far. Look how far you have come.

There came a point a few months ago I realized that I needed make my weight the main focus. I could at least try to look more like a runner before I get started. I needed to spend more time looking at what I was eating and when I was eating it. I had to pay attention more to eating healthy. You don't need to read a book to know what is healthy. So I made that more my focus than trying to do a lot of things at the gym. Walking and now swimming is more than enough exercise for me to be able to maintain a good weight. Less I eat the less I need to do these things. I do belong to a gym and have some weights at my house I occasionally play around with. I want to be rested and my legs fresh when I start running. I don't want to go into running on tired legs.

I have set my goals at a year out. So I have six months to get myself in some kind of race shape. I have not raced a 5K in 30 years. I am going to start slow and work my way blah blah blah. I am a larger male and have set my goals at 1 year. If I had both my hips done I would probably set it at 15-18 months. If I need to get my other hip done I have to go through this all again. You will be done - so it takes a little longer on the return - your done!

You seem like a person who can get done what they focus on. Focus on the most important thing and make it happen.

Good luck 

[badbone]

Yeah, that is what I understood. I was free to try, but might not be successful due to soft tissue issues.


Running is still going well, but I couldn't do it more than three times a week, every other day at the most. I was sore and a bit swollen after a day of running and PT. I feel like if I take it slowly, though, I will continue to make progress.


The next big challenge will be losing weight. I love to exercise, never have trouble getting out, but I also really like to eat. Kingrob, that is why I have so much respect for your losing weight. I am up ten pounds from my pre OA weight, so it isn't awful, but I can't seem to lose more than five. (And then we go to New Orleans or my son sends me cookies for Mother's Day, and the five come back on.)

Blinky


I love reading your updates. Always positive and always informative.
How did it feel to run the first 100 yards? Everything feel good?
Before you know it you'll be at the 1 year mark.
I'm still amazed at you and Quig and all the others that go bi-lateral.
Major props.


I tried to do a leg lift and I couldn't move it very high.
I look forward to seeing what dr. Gross has to say about my rehab plan for phase 2




I don't plan on running with mine but I do plan on deep powder runs in Utah.

[blinky]

I appreciate the votes of confidence. After a trip to see my folks, I have to rededicate myself to eating right. My diet was about 80% pie last week.


Suffering a set back in the running, too. I enjoyed four great runs, each one better than the last, then runs five and six...ugh. Some outside of the knee pain. (My internal dialogue during those runs: 1) Anger. WTF! This can't be. Suck it up buttercup, push through this pain. 2) Despair. OMG! I am broken. I will never run again. Why didn't I wait to try this? 3) Sang froid. Okay, let's analyze this. What have you done differently between runs four and five that could cause this issue?)


And so here are the potential causes of the outside of the knee pain:


1) new shoes. I had been running in my old ones and feeling fine, but a new running program is a great excuse for a trip to the running store for new gear. I got shorts and a bra, too. Now hill the salesperson did a good job fitting me for a new bra (ten pounds more and 80% pie, remember?), she may not have done such a good job fitting me for shoes. I did bring my old ones, I did try them on, but I wonder.


2) the ten pounds. Kingrob may be on to something trying to slim down before running.


3) all the other new things I am doing now that I am six months out. Okay, I think  this is the likeliest culprit. After the first few runs, I started doing some other Woohoo No Restrictions things as well, like pushing off the wall in swimming and some real stretching. I think the more intense swim starts in particular stressed my hips and knees in new ways.


4) living without restrictions BUT still having some muscle weaknesses. My glutes are still not doing their share.


So I decided to embrace this latest out of town trip and use it to rest (imagine that). No swimming, no running, just walking and the PT exercises. (And eating lots of pie and barbecue). I will report back on how the next run feels.

[chuckm]

Hi Blinky, too much too soon. It's a repetitive injury. Your internal rotation of the hip is probably not what it needs to be yet and so each stride puts a slight twisting motion on your knee until it finally tells you to stop.
Then, the gluteus medius needs strengthening. It controls the iliotibial band which is a tough strip of tissue that runs down the outside of your leg and attaches below the knee. It works to stabilize the knee.

Knee pain post hip replacement / resurfacing is common. You might want to return for PT specifically to strengthen the gluts and improve range of motion. It is also common on here for many who are feeling good to suddenly increase activity and intensity resulting in a set back which is most likely what you have here.

If you haven't already it might be time to use the foam roller to help massage the hip muscles and IT band.

Chuckm

[catfriend]

Yes, outside of the knee pain sounds like a weak iliotibial band. This is typical for people like us. I struggle with this as well, but my PT has a wonderful way of massaging where it connects up around the knee. There's no short term fix. You just have to strengthen your iliotibial bands and glutes. It's a struggle, I know.

Are you putting full strength while pushing off the end of the pool? I accidentally did that Monday and, well, that was the end of my workout. But it was much better than when I did it several weeks ago. That time it hurt so bad I worried that I had actually hurt myself. So, uh, progress. I'll be back in the water in about 20 minutes.

[Gazza2]

My experience from 6 months to 18 months is that I needed to work the smaller muscles and glutes to get 'balanced' and stronger overall. As chuckm said lots of rolling the muscles on a foam roller (In my experience nobody will massage those glutes :-) you have to roll them yourself initially very painful)  Same with ITB  and also I needed to spend extra time at gym with adductor and abductor exercises.  I also found benefit from leg balance exercises using a Bosu ball  (At first I could not even stand on it for a few seconds,  with practice I got to doing tree pose on an upside down Bosu ball).


For me it was around 18 month point that I felt fully recovered/balanced that when I pushed myself at my sport (Soccer)  and did not any experience niggling issues.  At 6-12 months I felt fully recovered but it seemed every time I pushed myself I got a niggling injury like sore knee from ITB or a pulled hamstring.

[blinky]

Thanks. And I welcome other input.


MY PT didn't tell me not to run (years of working with hard headed runners) but did say that I might develop problems because of weak glutes and rotators. And here they are. I was hoping that the run plan was so gradual I could escape trouble, guess not. So I will take a few more days off running, stay with the PT exercises (and the diet), try again. I am using my foam roller again. I do have a hot spot on my ITband, so maybe once I work that out it will get better.


Catfriend, I am pushing off hard maybe 75% of the time now. I didn't do it until post six months per Dr Gross. How I missed it! I am sure I overdid it at first just because it felt so good. The pushing off didn't hurt so much in the early weeks, not as much as the twisting to change directions. I couldn't do flip turns either for six months, so would change directions by turning to one side or the other. Lordy, that was hard at first!


A friend who just had one hip resurfaced asked me what I wanted to do more: swim or run. Maybe I have to choose which to emphasize. I said run. Problem is, swimming is more accessible and fulfilling to me right now. I can swim more than I can run and I can swim with other people. I can't wait until I don't have to be so careful.

[blinky]

Seven months out.


Took almost two weeks off running. I had travel and family stuff going on, so I just let it happen and didn't try to do more than walk. I returned to running....and it feels great. I ran twenty broken minutes today, so more like a real runner. My it bands felt fine. Yay! Looking ahead, pretty soon I will run 30 broken minutes. That seems so normal!


To help with my weak glutes and quads, and to manage the crazy rainy weather we have had, I returned to spinning. I have only been twice, but so far so good. I can stand on the bike no problem. I worried about this, wondered if it would hurt and wondered if my core strength would allow it. Boy, it is clear I have lost strength, though. I have about thirty good minutes in me, then limp to the end of class. (A side benefit is my husband is going with me. He is very fit and healthy, but is an all or nothing guy---worse than me. We can do this together and it will help him ease back into outdoor cycling. I am not so all or nothing. I don't mind failing or looking foolish or trying something new and being slow or bad at it.) If we can do this twice a week, that would be great.


Swimming is going well, except for all the rain and storms. Missed because of travel and then weather. Ugh. I can report that my fly feels better all the time. My core/hips feel both more supple and stronger. The breaststroke is still slow, but becoming less robotic and forced.


PT is also going well. I can see progress, doing things I couldn't do. We are beginning to focus on the little muscles that are weak. It is fair to ask how much of that is due to exercise and how much is due to time and healing. Probably a mix. It is worthwhile for me  to know which muscles aren't firing.


So overall progress! Slowed down by IT bands and weather, but generally moving forwards.


Oh! My weight: stable. Going down would be better, but stable is okay after a week of eating pie.

[blinky]

Eight month update.


The theme is the same as it was back at six weeks: how much is too much. I was hoping to report I had figured it out, but no such luck---but I am getting better at it.


Running: Still following the schedule. I am running better, faster, more evenly, moving through the whole foot. I feel less beat up the day after which is a big plus. Getting in the water later that day or the next helps with my recovery. I did have to take a few days off, but not due to running. The biggest issue is the heat right now. If I get out mid morning it is already in the upper 80s. Ugh. That means getting up early---double ugh. The benefit of running so slowly is that I don't overheat.


Spinning. This is what got me in trouble. I am still going twice a week to a spin class, scheming how to fit in a third day, but fighting for a car with my son and somehow I always lose (if it weren't so hot, I would bike to places). One evening, running late due to our car sharing, I jumped on a bike and didn't adjust it carefully. Sitting on a slightly too high seat tweaked my left glute and knocked me out for a few days. Back to normal now. I can tell I am still pretty weak pushing those pedals, though, a long way to go.


Swimming. I am getting to do a lot of swimming and it is going well. Upped to four-five times a week. It is the best outdoor activity to do in this South Texas heat. Some days I am slow and have niggles and hang out in lane one, other days I feel great and move over to lane three and push it. I am going to do a 5k pool swim in a few weeks, really just to have a goal to train towards. Also added a little open water swimming on weekends. Now that got me trouble, for an unexpected reason. About a dozen people meet to swim in a nearby lake early in the morning. All levels, all degrees of comfort with open water, different people all the time. Because of that, we swim across the lake, then wait, count heads, assess how everyone is doing, swim back. Repeat. That count heads period can take a while. Turned out it was too long for me to comfortably tread water. My hips weren't ready for that movement performed so long. I had some new niggles and had to take a few days off. (But I did come up with a solution until I am strong enough: I tie a noodle to my ankle so I can rest on the noodle instead of treading water while we get organized.)


PT. Also going well. Glutes and rotators still weak, especially rotators. I need more core work, too.


The niggle report: tweaked left glute that was alarming mostly because it was new. Right glute is lazy as is right rotator. That right knee wants to fall in. This was true pre op as well. My PT can make them fire, though.


Overall feeling great. I really don't think about my hips except when I over do it. Even then I can still walk and swim and get through the day doing what I have to do. Being more active and feeling more normal is putting my weight back in line, too. Yay!

[Ljpviper]

Nice updates, seems all positive, enjoy your new hips!!!


Larry

[Quig]

Awesome report Blinky! I can't believe how time flies. 8 months!? Seems like yesterday I was reading about your surgery. Keep up the good work and I hope the consistent progress continues!

[jd]

Sounds good blinky! Glad to hear you're doing so well. Crazy to think you're at 8 months -- that means I'm at 9!

[blinky]

Nine month update.


So I managed to miss only one running day this month! It wasn't because I was any smarter or more careful, as you will see, I think it was because I am further along and more healed. We are away from home for a few weeks which has slowed me down in some ways.


Running: following the schedule and finally at the point where my runs feel like real runs (10 minutes of running, three of walking, repeated 3 times). It all feels fine, but I  cannot run two days in a row yet, however, without feeling beat up. Currently running on brick sidewalks which are tougher, so I hope I don't blow up.


Spinning: I have been riding a cruiser bike around to run errands and for fun. I did a crazy amount of spin classes before going out of town and hips held up. I explored a boutique spin place and was twice as old as the other exercisers (!) but managed to hold my own.


Swimming: I got to swim a lot before we left town, and my swim summer culminated in a 5K pool swim. It will be hit and miss for me getting to the pool until September.


Misc: ah, this is where I get in trouble. 1) We went to a wedding and I danced too much. It started with some vigorous folk dancing. Fun, but not too fast and not high impact. After dinner was dancing to pop music and that is where I went too far. People knew I had both my hips replaced and were commenting on how well I was doing. A born show off, I had to show them how well, so before long I was jumping up and down and twisting and shouting. That took the place of run #3 for the week, and yes, I did have to ice my hips the next day.


2) I tried stand up paddling. It isn't that hard, not with a wide board and a still lake, so I recommend it. You will use those little balance muscles and your quads. But I didn't do it in a lake or on a wide board, at least not at first. I tried it in the sea, so had to work with the waves, and the young man handing out the boards gave me a light but narrow board to start with. (He saw my husband, who is very fit and coordinated, but was dressed like a nerd, and gave him the easy board.) Nonetheless I managed to get up a few times on the narrow board before switching with my husband to get the wider board. The worst part was falling. Let's just say I was thrown abruptly into more extreme positions than I am normally in...It made me nervous, but didn't hurt. I will be icing my hips tonight. (More work on the bosu ball before the next time I do this.)


Hey, this is a pretty good report! To be fair, I do have niggles and my right side rotators are pretty weak. Those rotators felt stretched and tweaked after the dancing and again after the SUP.

[Quig]

Go Blinky, GO!!  8)


9 Months!? Crazy how time has sailed by...


I'm very happy to hear you're feeling good enough to show off your dance moves. Great stuff! Keep up the good work and keep enjoying those ever-improving hips. Congrats!

[badbone]

I continue to be impressed by your recovery.
It always a pleasure to read your posts.