Hip Talk Forum About Hip Resurfacing

Hellooo all,

I have started this subject in the hope it will give some insight into my a-z journey of my LBHR, i found Todds posts really helpfull.

I have just had my pre-op prep and clerked ready for admission 10.30am tomorrow with my surgery scheduled for 1.30pm tomorrow 23/01/09. All seems very professional and the staff surgeon i have just left was helpfull and i feel comfortable.

I intend to post daily... i'll try not to bore to much.

Cheers

Terry ::)

Good luck, Terry.  I look forward to hearing all the details that are fit to print (and maybe some that aren't).

Terry,

Good luck with your surgery, please let us know when you are up and ready.

See you on the other side soon to be walking straight lines again.


Chuck

Quote from: tekka on January 22, 2009, 01:28:26 PM
Hellooo all,

I have started this subject in the hope it will give some insight into my a-z journey of my LBHR, i found Todds posts really helpfull.

I have just had my pre-op prep and clerked ready for admission 10.30am tomorrow with my surgery scheduled for 1.30pm tomorrow 23/01/09. All seems very professional and the staff surgeon i have just left was helpfull and i feel comfortable.

I intend to post daily... i'll try not to bore to much.

Cheers

Terry ::)

Hi Terry

Glad you started you own topic to feature your own story. Many people are interested in McMinn patients.

I want to wish you luck with your upcoming surgery.  I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

I look forward to all your post op postings and won't find them boring at all.

I wish you the best!  See you on the other side!

Pat

Terry,

Congratulations on reaching this point!  I will follow your story closely and offer any relevant advice and support I may have.  Chin up and relax.  I mentioned in my first post on this site what an enjoyable experience this has been so far.  To be fixing the pain of the last several years is a great feeling.  I hope your experience proves as enjoyable!
Take Care!
todd

Hello all,

I'm sorry i have'nt posted until today but i was wasted for a day and a half....this is it so far.

Surgery was 1.30pm Friday and i came out at 3.30pm, but i was kept in the recovery room for three hours, my left leg would not show any signs of movement and concern was starting show, the xray was good so no concerns there, slowly movement started to show in my foot, i think it was the epidural...my wife was more concerned than me because she was waiting in my room for three hours wondering what the delay was.

The next twenty four hours were constant monitoring, bloods, tubes our ect.

But day 3 "today" FANATASTIC...i feel a lot better, been on crutches done some bed pt.

I have got to dwell on other peoples advice on this site... always search out the best SURGEON, it is so correct...Mr McMinn is " you know in life...occasionlly you meet someone who is special" well thats him", everything has to be spot on and his detail is amazing and he expects that from all around him. All the people i have met all say the same, clients and staff.

So i am officially on the other side, i'm glad i have read so many peoples experiences on this site, i have decided to take my time and i have also decided to give up some of my activities....i want to carry on with my MMA but i want to relise that limitations must also
be applied.

Now that i'm feeling better i will continue with my posts.

Peace

Terry

Terry,

I was wondering if we were going to see you on the other side.  It's wonderful to hear that everything went well and you are on the road to recovery.  Be sure to celebrate the small milestones you reach every day as it will help you to keep plugging along.   Give your body some time to heal and keep up with the bed PT.  You will make progress steady and slow, and I want to hear all about it!  Great to hear your story!

todd

Terry,

You're awake!  Must be around 8pm where you are? Are you still in the hospital, or home?  I had my laptop at the hospital which was great to kill some time and keep up with the world around me.  How are you feeling?

Todd man,

It's 7.20pm here in wet n windy England....Birmingham. Still in the wonderful BMI hospital, they are treating me so well...nothing is to much trouble, got no choice with the laptop Todd, got plenty of communication to do with the business, your right having the laptop is brill...i think we forget just how wonderful the internet is, me and chatting thousands of miles apart.

Terry

I understand.  I was answering emails from our business while still in the hospital.  Give yourself a few days without the stress though.  You need to rest both physically and mentally.  So, how's the food?  Do you Brits eat Peanut Butter?  There's no better comfort food here in the states! Good to hear from you!
todd

Terry

Congratulations on the new hip - you are an official Surface Hippy.

I hope you recovery now continues to go well for you. Hopefully you are over the bump of problems now.

Good Luck and keep in touch.

Pat

Terry,

Welcome to the other side, glad to hear you are being treated well.

Things will be getting better and better.


Chuck

Day 4

Just had pt, stairs ect...i have been told i can go home tomorrow. Feeling a little low today, don't really know why!! i had a great pt session and i stopped the tramadol yesterday...made me feel whoozy. I was amazed at my pt session, already i have a greater range of movement than i did on Friday morning...this really is a wonderful bit of metal.

This site has ben invalueble to me " being a controll freak"..but nothing prepares you for the operation, it is major deal and i relise what you guys mean when you say one day at a time...loads of respect to all of you.

Terry

Terry,

I recall the whoozy feelings well.  I think it took a few days to get some of the anesthisia medication out of my system, and combined with pain meds, you make the best of it.   It truly is a day at a time.  You'll be amazed at the strides you make each day!  Keep it up!
todd

DAY 5

I arrived home today, after a very busy morning before departure from the wonderful BMI hospital, all the following happened in military fashion...

a/ Four viles of blood...for all the necessary testing

b/ PT came by to give me my dates in February

c/ Xray

d/ Ultrasound scan on both legs for clots

e/ Back to room for lunch

f/ Pain meds and instructions

g/ Nurse checked staples...all fine

Then my beautifull wife arrived, packed all our stuff and wished everybody well, which seemed to take another hour...its amazing how much you get to know people in such a short space of time...common issues and all.

Home in thirty minutes...i know i know how lucky i am to be so close to such a wizard of a surgeon.

Just a thought, if your surgeon was a mechanic what kind of vehicle do you think he would work on...McMinn = Aston Martin.

Also while i was in hospital i met alot of guys and gals 50/50 who Mr McMinn had done a BHR on many years earlier 8,9,10 and they were in now for the other hip, with no problems at all...thats got to make us feel good eh.

Home now, just had a chinese with the family, cup of tea and off to bed, the hip feels good and stable and i'm really happy....but i'm not gonna rush anything.

nighty night or is it morning

peace

Terry

That is a good idea them doing a scan for blood clots, that is something I've wondered why docs don't test for that post-op.

Sounds like you've had a good experience and you sound like you're going well.


Chuck

Good to be home I'm sure!  Glad you're feeling well and now you can focus on recovering. 
take care.
todd

Post-op Day 8

I've not posted for a few days, just been sleeping and letting the hip do its thing.

I am surprised how tired i am, my wife is so used to me rushing and being full with time that she can hardly recognise this guy dozing in the afternoon " man i hope i don't dribble"

Apart from the pain from the operation i have no pain in my hip, this is so nice after many years of living with the bone on bone. The hip feels solid when walking with my crutches "McMinn says a minimum of four weeks"  any discomfort is specific to the hip and thigh, I have very little bruising or swelling but as I have said in previous posts I am not pushing it at all.......nice and easy.

For the last two nights I have slept straight through and thats with having an afternoon nap, I take co-dydramol twice in the day and just before bed and that seems to hold the pain ok.

My scar is starting to itch, which I take as a good sign...staples are due out this Tuesday, but the whole area is clean and dry.

Regards

Terry

Day 9

I had a full and good nights sleep.

Did all my PT and getting easier

Walking seems to be getting more natural, I still can't beleive my leg is moving in a straight line.

I'm having my staples out tomorrow

First day...i did'nt have an afternoon nap, although I am a liitle tired early evening

I intend to go into work tomorrow for a couple of hours...let you know how i get on.

Generally feel good and really bored at home.

Best wishes to all

Terry

Good to hear you're feeling up to go to work.  The afternoon nap was really important for me during the first couple of weeks--don't give it up until you have to. 

Your so right Todd, the only reason I missed my nap today is because my son was off school, and he is a full on thirteen year old.

Cheers

Day 11

Went to GP and had my staples removed, the scar is seems fine, all very tidy although for some reason I went a little woozy...not like me but it only lasted for ten minutes.

From my Doctors my wife drove me to work, I had a catch up with the guys and had lunch with them, stayed for about two hours and went home...I am only ten minutes from work!!

As soon as I got home, straight to my electric re-cliner and off to zz land for thirty minutes.  My leg feels good, I know I have said this before but it's great to be pain free and with each day I see an improvement, I made the early decision not to push the pt..i'm taking it gently and I am happy with my progress.

When I broke my femur 23 years ago, the overiding factor was not to be weight bearing for many many months and because I had an 16" pin through the centre of my femur I had the same muscles cut and disclocation of my hip to centre the pin....I have the same monkey fist in my hip as I did all those years ago, but this time I can be full weight bearing !!! this is so weird and it's taking some sorting in my little mans brain.

I hope my rambleings are of some help to somebody.

Oh...I met a couple of guys who had the Mid Head the same time as me...if anybody is interested let me know and I will post what the said.

peace

Glad to hear you are getting out to visit the guys at work.  Good to have something to do besides sleeping in the recliner all day.  You will soon be getting active again.

I would be happy to hear about the patients that got the BHMR or Mid Head Resection if you get time to write sometime.  I am sure everyone would be interested.  I have a few stories from BHMR patients on the website.

Good Luck and enjoy your zzzzzs in the recliner.

Pat

Terry,

You will continue to find improvement from day to day.  There are muscles that you didn't know existed that will start to work again.  Just stay patient. 

Day 12

Had a full nights sleep, and went to work for three hours, felt good but I knew three hours was enough, I mentioned I had my staples out yesterday, today I have a little ooze on the one end. It's amazing how any little things seems to play on your mind and out come the worry beads.

I felt my walking today was alot more natural and smoother, the protocols vary so much from doctor to doctor...I'm on crutches for four weeks when I know alot of you guys are using a cane...not complaining though.

Hope everybody is well

Terry

Day 18

Hello all

I went to work today and did six hours, all was ok just a bit tired so I came home and had some zz's. My scar is healing well and I am amazed how little swelling I have had...nearly zero.

My walking is getting more natural although I do have to concentrate, I am happy with my leg and my home pt but I will be interested when I go to PT at BMI, so I can get a feel for how well the leg is doing.

I am going to try sleeping on my un-operated side tonight, almost looking forward to going to bed and trying it out.

Cheers

Terry

Day 20,

Hi everyone, I have done a full day at work today and I feel ok...I want to point out that I would not choose to go back to work so quickly. I have been very very careful at work and I am able to take the breaks I want etc etc.

I slept on my un-operated side for the first time last night, with a pillow between my legs...it was so nice!!!

It is the small little improvements that make you feel good, stability has got a liitle better and my strengh is improving.

I musst mention to anybody considering a re-surfacing, it is so major...I was not prepared how much it wiped me out. But the reason it is so worth the journey is because we become PAIN FREE. It is really easy to read some stories and think yipee this is easy peasy and I suppose it is but be prepared for the downs as well as the ups.

I thank this site for it's support and all of the different points of view, I have read so many topics and they have been so helpfull and without this site I'm not sure if I would have found my surgeon...thats sounds so weird I know, living in Birmingham but until I came across this site I knew nothing about this procedure.

Thanks Pat for this site.

Regards

Terry

Good to hear you're still progressing Terry!  20 days already!!! Time flies---It's pretty amazing how much we learn along the journey, and how much information and support there is for us.  Keep at it!
todd

Hi Terry

Glad to hear you are doing well.

Thanks for the kind words about the website.

Posting your story will help others too.

Good Luck.

Pat

Day 30

I had my first external pt two days ago, I was not at all impressed with my instructor, he new nothing about birmingham hips and he contradicted the protocols I was given by the McMinn centre. If I was reliant on direction and help from the pt, then I don't think I would progress very well. Because of the research I have done and the help from this site I am able to progress at a steady rate doing my own pt...at least untill I get my six week check up  and then hopefully I can get on my static bike and start to work the leg a little more. Maybe my pt instructor thought I did'nt need to much help...who knows !!!

Well..thats my moaning out the way, I feel the hip is making good progress and I could push it more but as some of you are aware Mr McMinns protocols are conservative and I will keep to them " bloody hard for me".. .another two weeks and I will be able to drive, although it's been nice being collected and dropped off to work.

I read Bionc's progress and you are doing really well mate, it's really great to read the progress people make at different levels and time scales.

I am walking on one crutch and with only a little limp, the progress is every day and with small but obvious milestones, I no longer take any medication and I have been sleeping soundly for 2.1/2weeks.

It is important to note to anyone thinking or about to undergo a re-surfacing, read all the post's...not just the quick recovery ones, you may well have a faultless recovery but prepare yourself for what may be a slower recovery, lots of little things can set you back a day or two...be PREPARED and don't get to down about it, we all recover at different rates.

I was doing my leg swings this morning and I called to my wife to show what I could do with no bone on bone pain, "she said I know...you tell me every day", it's so amazing to be free from that piercing pain, I'm still in awe the way my hip feels.

Terry

Terry,
You're wife's response makes me laugh.  My wife and kids keep reminding me that I already showed them my new trick for the day.  That's what is so great about this site.  You can explain some simple milestones and know that those reading actually care and understand what the achievement means as we recover!  So on behalf of your family--great job and keep at it.  I'm very proud of you.

take care.
todd

Cheers Todd,

I hope your taking it easy mate, I read you last post and you felt you had pushed it a bit.

How's it going now.

Thanks for your kind comments.

Best wishes

Terry

Quote from: tekka on February 22, 2009, 12:00:27 PM
I read Bionc's progress and you are doing really well mate, it's really great to read the progress people make at different levels and time scales.

Hey Terry,

You seem to be doing great!  One thing I didn't mention about my own recovery and the apparent speed of it is that I am totally pampering myself and allowing others to pamper me!  It's not my usual way to accept so much help, but these are special circumstances :).

I feel a little bad posting about my successes day after day, but I promise it is a real and true account of how I perceive my progress.  I would hate to think I was discouraging anyone and don't think you are discouraged at all, or should be.

I was expecting my recovery to be much worse.  I don't know whom I have to thank, but I'm happy to thank everyone, including and especially the people on this site, to whom I owe a great debt of gratitude for getting me where I am today.

Bionic,

I know what you mean, my wife has been so good to me...she has made my recovery seamless. I told her this morning that I don't really need any crutches and it's just the attention I like....she nearly kicked it from me.

I do feel I could do more...really, but my protocols are different to yours and I do have to follow them, I think this site shows a true reflective of what to expect post-op from a re-surfacing.

Well my son has just cooked pan cakes and put them on my tray for me...I think I'm going play this for as long as I can...kidding of course ;)

Terry

Day 38

I had my second PT today...I have had my restrictions lifted and I am now on one cane and can walk for good periods without it. The use of the static bike with a high saddle is now permitted, so once I got back to work I went into the the dojo and raised the saddle and away I tried to go...

This is what happened...with zero resistance the pedals started to move and has I raised my left leg I automatically winced....but why, I had no pain!!!! it was an automatic reaction to that position of the leg, it was surreal, really.

Off the bike I get and check all feels ok, then I have another go, once again no pain. I look at my left leg and it's in that fixed outward position that it's always been in, but I think hey I have no pain..so thats good enough, but I try to bring it inwards when I peddle and it does'nt want to know...but I apply a little more pressure and the leg moves inwards a little, it feels freaky, not painfull just strange and I apply some more pressure and has another peddle goes by, in comes the leg a little more..I stop, get off the bike and make sure the leg is ok...everything is fine " I don't know what I expected really".

I get back on the bike again and after thirty or forty peddles the left leg is nearly as straight as my right leg, years and years of soft tissue and muscles were re-alined in minutes, it's not as simple as it sounds, I have to concentrate on re working the leg but this is the most physical staggering experience I felt more years.

When I get back to the dojo it makes me wonder how my movement is going to feel, god knows how I have adjusted my body to compensate for my hips, my body mechanics must have been all over the place !!

I share this story because it feels like a miracle has happened, that may said a wee bit dramatic but it feels that way. The funny thing is I not that big on bike riding.

Terry

7 weeks tomorrow

I am still posting in the hope it is of interest to others who are thinking of going down the HR road. I will be seven weeks tomorrow and I have improved, but I still limp and I do have to use my cane as the day wears on at work. Not sure if this would have any bearing but maybe because of all my previous operations on my left leg....maybe that is slowing things a little..who knows, just glad to be free of pain and I do feel generally strong in my body doing pt and my upper body doing light weights.

I am doing two small sessions twice a day on the static bike at work and that feels very comfortable, maybe I'll start to up the resistance a little tomorrow. I am do to see Mr Mcminn on Monday for my follow up xray. Also because of my obsession with the bhr, my wife bought for my birthday the book, Modern Hip Surfacing by Derek Mcminn, the whole book really aknowledges the pioneers from Charnley and how he nearly gave up on hr and for his work we are here today with hr, the early prototypes of MOM and how the were hand lapped and made from hand made bespoke machinery, even in the late eighties Mcminn was dimissed by orthopedic manufacturers on the idea MOM as being insane and ridiculous, really if it were not for a few gutsy guys like Mcminn, Heinz Wagner and Ronan Treacy we may not have this procedure today.

Also its worth mentioning, yes we are the wave of hr, but it is worth noting all those guys and girls who allowed these sugeons to cut there teeth on an un-known outcome..those people were the real guinea pigs.

Oh...where is Todd, let us know how your doing mate.

Terry

Hi Terry & all.

I'm out here, just been busy the past few weeks.  I'll post some updates soon.  Sounds like everyone is doing well in each stage of recovery.  I'm still improving and will provide some details on the latest soon.
todd

FOLLOW UP XRAY 7weeks-4days

Hello everyone,

I had my follow up xray yesterday with the Mcminn team and all was fine, and that is it, I shook hands with Chandra and he said he would see me in ten years. I now have all restrictions lifted, " i have been conservative with my stretching" and I can start back at the gym being sensible, obviously no impact.

I have found the whole process really enjoyable and this site has been great, thanks to Pat and to all of the folks that have posted and shared experiences to us all.

Best wishes to everyone

Terry

Tekka, I am happy to hear that everything is going great. I am from England but I moved to Canada 20 years ago. After doing loads of research I decided to fly back to England to have Mr. McMinn perform the surgery. It was a wonderful experience as far as the quality of care goes. I had my surgery on June 18th 2008. I was in pretty good shape leading into my surgery, I worked out, within my limits, 4 days a week, swimming, free weights and the cross training machines. It only took me to 10 weeks post surgery for me to reach what I was able to do at the gym before the operation. I am now 9 months post surgery and counting the days before I can start to jog on the treadmill. People around me cannot believe that I have even had surgery. Mr., McMinn is a genius.

Trevor.

Trevor mate,

Your right he is a genius, so you wont be back for another 9.1/4 years for you next xray.

Terry

I may be back before then for the left hip, hopfully not though. Take care pal.

12 weeks and four days.

Hello all,

A brief update, my recovery has not been the fastest but I am now back in the dojo and working with my form and taking my body through a full range of movements and I have to say it feels great to have my body back, no impact or massive load is being applied but speed, movement and flexibility all feel pretty damn good. I share this information because two weeks ago i was getting a little frustrated with my progress and I thought well maybe this is my lot...and don't get me wrong I was happy not being in that bone on bone restrictive pain that I had before.

I'm a little sore today from my stretching yesterday, but all I have to do is take a day off tomorrow.

Best wishes to all.

Terry

Hello all,

Not sure if this thread has run is course but I will continue for now, I will be 17 weeks tomorrow and I have been through a huge period of reflection....I have my life back and yes I know the BHR gives the patient a more active lifestyle but I am questioning some of the activities that I want to get back to. I am back in the dojo with form and movement but that is all I am doing, I now cycle more, walk loads but now in a straight line. I'm not sure how much I want to risk/test my implant, because that is exactly what it is an implant, a piece of metal on loan in our body.

I'm still aware of my new hip but nobody else would ever realise what has been performed on my body, nobody asks how I am doing.. etc and that is the testament of how brilliant the procedure is.

I have always had been pretty flexible and I have worked on that and enjoyed feeling the progress over the weeks, each day brings a little surprise.

well thats me,

Best wishes to all

Terry

Good to see you are still among the living Terry!  Prior to having my second hip done, there were many days that I didn't have to think about how my new hip was feeling--it was normal during normal activity.  I've been feeling more tightness and soreness on that first hip during my second recovery. I suppose it's due to compensating and having it take the bulk of the load.  Looking forward to recovering to that point of not thinking about it.  Take care.

Hey Todd man,

I'm glad your recovery is going well mate, I don't need my other hip doing any time soon but I won't hesitate to go have it done. You take it easy..

Regards

Terry