Right hip BHR - Mr Treacy - 29th March

[Mouse Potato]

Hi Folks,

A quick update at the 2 month mark (9 weeks tomorrow).  I saw Mr Treacy last Friday and he is happy with my progress. He said I am about 2 weeks behind the average, which is what he wanted because of my Osteopenia. I was off the walking stick at week 7 and have seen strong improvement over the last 2 weeks or so. 

Last weekend I went to the golf course and didn’t play, but walked 11 holes with friends.  Then, on Monday I went to the Championship play off final to watch the mighty Aston Villa beat Derby to reach the Premier league.  That was a long day with a lot of walking and standing during the game.  My leg muscles ached on Tuesday Morning but there were no significant complaints from my new hip.

I still get aches and pains when in bed which disrupts my sleep a little but not too bad.  I also get the aches and stiffness when getting up from a sitting position, but this is getting less by the day.  The exercises are getting a bit easier i.e. I can do the clam shell and side leg lifts although they are still a struggle and can be quite painful.  Range of motion is the slowest to improve and am struggling to put shoes and socks on. Shoes I can do when sitting on the stairs and socks I have to bend my foot up behind me and put them on that way.  I just need to keep up with the stretches.  I think limited ROM is the reason for my very slight limp because the leg doesn’t naturally lift high enough on the forward step. 

So, I am pleased with the way things are going and I hope to be back on the golf course in the next 2 weeks.

Thanks for reading.
Russ

[PMac]

Hi Russ


I’m late to your thread as now that I’m three and a half years in and pretty much perfect again I don’t come visiting here as often as I used to. Great news it’s all going well. Sounds like you are making great progress, the worst bit is over now and it should only get better from here.


I genuinely don’t remember the pain and lack of movement 99% of the time.


Keep up the good work!


Paul

[Rn2md]

I also had delays in recovery for the same issue. Just keep working the hip abductors and building the reps, sets and weights as tolerated. Don’t go too quickly, but keep the slow and steady progressive increases. The stiffness and pain will resolve and the limp will go away first, as soon as a certain level of strength is recovered. After that, walking speed and agility start to come back more, in proportion to your lower body strength recovery.
I used the ankle weights and then hip abductor machines in the gym, as soon as I could handle body weight side leg raises.
At 4 months, I’m doing light squats on the smith machine with less than 100 lb for 20 rep sets.
I still feel mildly uncomfortable stiffness and soreness when I push it on abduction, but it seems to be working itself out over time.

[Mouse Potato]

Hi folks,

It's just over 6 months for me now so time for an update. Firstly thanks for the responses to my last post, the advice has been invaluable.

For anyone considering resurfacing, and reading these stories, I can say that the operation, for me, has been life changing. Walking without pain, without a limp, and getting back to golfing without pain has been amazing. I'm not going to say that it is like having a normal hip again because I don't think it will ever quite get there but after 6 months it feels at 80-90%.

Mr Treacy told me I could start running at 6 months. I want to start but 4 weeks ago I did my knee in on a golfing holiday in Turkey (the other leg). I think it's a meniscus tear and it's taking its sweet time to heal. I think because I am swinging without pain now I am putting more power into it, which has taken its toll on my knee. I need to strengthen all my muscles in the gym because I think they have wasted after 12 years of OA.

My range of motion is improving but still has a way to go. I have been a bit lazy and neglected the stretching exercises. Putting shoes and socks on is now manageable though and my wife is pleased she doesn't have to cut my toenails any more!

The best thing is I rarely think about my hip during day to day stuff. I sometimes concentrate on my gait when walking as i have been told by one person that I have a very slight limp still. I'm not aware of it, and there is no pain so it is probably habitual.

My wife tells me that my mood has changed hugely for the better and that I seem to have a much more positive outlook on life. I think she is right.

So, next steps are to get my knee sorted, then get on the exercise machines and start training for that Tough Mudder next year. I'm not sure whether I'll make it or not but it won't be for want of trying!

Thanks for reading.
Russ