I am a 52 year old surfer who has been surfing at competition level for 35 years. I am having the BHR op in a few weeks and would like to hear from any surfers who have had the op and their experiences with surfing after surgery. Russ
Aloha Russ,
I just had the surgery 12 weeks ago. I think I might go longboarding soon, when time and waves permit. I have heard of others surfing at around that timeframe too. I think the doctor will tell you 6 months for impact sports, so go figure. If and when I pull out my log, its like a 1972 Liko team rider 9'6" and 23+ wide and 3 1/2"+ thick. (a real log and pretty heavy too) I will only go out in clean offshore stuffs, and I am not really rushing to jump into it, but am ready. I practiced hoping to my stance one afternoon in shallow water, then simply on the sand. I was kind of tight, but that was 2 weeks+ ago, and since then squating down is easier and easier every day. Been painting my house and to get the low spots I find myself squatting quiet a bit.
I will give you an update on my first real session with my log. (I did ride a friend soft top longboard-he teaches and the waves were pretty good, but stopped when I jumped off and found it was pretty shallow, more then I thought, and then I thought..maybe not so smart) Will be nice to get back to my shortboard, I have been paddling it around after my PT snorkle swimming to keep my arms fresh.
Eric
Hey Russ I know a couple guys who surf with thr's, I would think a resurfacing would be even better. Do you know Billy Stewart ? He has a thr and is back in the line-up. Surfing again pain free sounds pretty good, I can't wait 8)
Hey Russ,
Terry Senate had both hips resurfaced two years ago and surfs. I had my hips resurfaced 3 months ago and not ready yet to get back in the water but hopefully in the next month sometime I'll give it a go.
Wayne
This dosen't really have anything to do with hips but I had to go down south today so we went by Blacks and took a picture. It's bigger than it looks, and was a stormy mess, but I bet it's good tommorow morning :D
(http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z263/kelley124_photos/WINTERFORMAL1-09329.jpg)
Quote from: wayne-0 on February 13, 2009, 09:16:13 PM
Hey Russ,
Terry Senate had both hips resurfaced two years ago and surfs. I had my hips resurfaced 3 months ago and not ready yet to get back in the water but hopefully in the next month sometime I'll give it a go.
Wayne
Hey Wayne & B.I.L.L. I see you're both in San Diego. Or I'm guessing you are with the photo of Blacks, & Wayne, the little Dr. Ball with your operation date @ the bottom of your post. I'm in SD too. In fact I'm going to see Dr. Ball tomorrow for the first time. I'd love to talk to you about your BHRs. I suffered a displaced femoral neck fracture last August, skateboarding, and my personal thought is I need either a BHR or THR. I asked my ortho doc to give me a referral for a 2nd opinion & specifically asked for Dr. Ball. Email me if you can. Timdplumber@gmail.com.
I too am hoping to surf again.
Hey Tim,
I went surfing for the first time on Saturday( 4 months post op).The waves were small and weak but I went anyway. I caught 12 waves but couldn't get to my feet yet. I came real close 3 times getting to my feet but I am just not there yet. Soon I hope. The last 4 weeks since I went back to work I sorta stopped doing my PT and I think that has slowed my ROM from returning to where I want it to be. So i have started doing my PT again and hope that will make a big difference next time I get in the water.I'm from south Orange County so Salt Creek,Trestles,San Clemente and San Onofre are the spots. I will keep you posted.Good luck at your consult with Dr. Ball, you can't go wrong with him as I feel he is a great surgeon.
Wayne
Quote from: Timdplumber on March 11, 2009, 04:47:06 PM
Quote from: wayne-0 on February 13, 2009, 09:16:13 PM
Hey Russ,
Terry Senate had both hips resurfaced two years ago and surfs. I had my hips resurfaced 3 months ago and not ready yet to get back in the water but hopefully in the next month sometime I'll give it a go.
Wayne
Hey Wayne & B.I.L.L. I see you're both in San Diego. Or I'm guessing you are with the photo of Blacks, & Wayne, the little Dr. Ball with your operation date @ the bottom of your post. I'm in SD too. In fact I'm going to see Dr. Ball tomorrow for the first time. I'd love to talk to you about your BHRs. I suffered a displaced femoral neck fracture last August, skateboarding, and my personal thought is I need either a BHR or THR. I asked my ortho doc to give me a referral for a 2nd opinion & specifically asked for Dr. Ball. Email me if you can. Timdplumber@gmail.com.
I too am hoping to surf again.
Hey Tim, I'm in san clemente, just had some time to kill in la jolla so we went to the glider port for a surf check and took a picture. I got back in the water last sunday on a longboard at sano's. It was basicly flat but I was able to go from paddling to sitting and back to paddling pain free wich was nice. Never made it too my feet but rode a few little dribblers on my belly and got the giggles haha. Back at it this weekend for attempt number 2. What did Dr. Ball say ? Hope you heard what you wanted to hear. Good Luck.
Hey Wayne-o, I'll call you tomorrow (Fri), I gotta extra 10 footer if you want to go to sano's and go log wrestling :D :D
It's great to see so many surfers out there who have replied to my initial inquiry. All your info, as well as the info from the website certainly increased my understanding of the operation and what to expect.
Am back surfing, but laying down on my board and getting some good rides. In fact, I can pull into smaller tubes which is a bit of a buzz. I started doing this about 6 weeks after op following some practise with paddling. Am aware that if I have a wipe out it could set me back so I choose carefully. I tried to stand up a few weeks ago to see what would happen and the pain was unbearable. I am doing this on my 6' 3" short board in waves about 3'-6' - point and beach breaks. Am also bike riding, walking, mowing the lawn, driving the car etc . My physio
(who is a surfer) has got me on exercises which enhance core strength and am starting to build up hip and leg power. I feel like I am floating - everything is so much better than before the op.
However it wasn't all great for the first 6 weeks. The op went well and only cost a couple of k thanks to Australian health system and private insurance. I was the last to leave hospital of all those done on the same day so when I got home I went a liitle too fast with things and ended up back in hospital . Living on an island off QLD didn't make this easy. Have learnt not to compare my recovery with anyone else's. Was concerned also about amt of bruising all over lower torso and under the toes but this went eventually as did most of the swelling.
Each day brings new things I can do and quality of life has definately improved. Once I can stand up (hopefully I can hold off 'til the 6 mth mark when the surgeon and the physio will say ok) life will be even better.
Russ
Went to san onofre today and got 2 good ones, (out of 4 ;D) I was able to get up a little quicker today but still taking off laying down or on all fours doggie style, then clambering up to my feet after the initial take off, but once I get to my feet its all good !! Keep at it, it will come back. 8)
Went surfing again with Bill at San-0. This time was much better than last time.Got up on six waves and watched Bill get up on just about every wave he caught.I borrowed Bill's 8' fun board and that was much easier than my shortboard. While I'm not able to get up on every wave I caught I am getting closer and closer. Hey Bill even if you call me a hood ornament :-[ I am still gonna go surfing and try ;D.
Wayne
Quote from: wayne-0 on May 27, 2009, 08:32:36 PM
Went surfing again with Bill at San-0. This time was much better than last time.Got up on six waves and watched Bill get up on just about every wave he caught.I borrowed Bill's 8' fun board and that was much easier than my shortboard. While I'm not able to get up on every wave I caught I am getting closer and closer. Hey Bill even if you call me a hood ornament :-[ I am still gonna go surfing and try ;D.
Wayne
HaHa. Tomorrow ???
The winds have been light over here, small south swells are rolling in. This morning I went south and after walking my dogs for an hour, I took out my 9' twin fin log, its a great board, and paddled out into 1-3' surf. I got 10 waves today, I actually tried to surf before today, but I call this my first real session since it was a reef break, and I popped up and landed all my waves. (not as quick as I used to be, but my foot was landing close to the right spot and I was making my drops) I was happy with what I got wave wise, so I paddled in. While walking over to the showers and back I could feel the muscles close to the new hip, not bad, but just slightly tender from the hopping action and the kickout to lowering myself back down the board to paddle back out. Not bad for it being close to the 7month mark since surgery.
Very tempted to stand up paddle now, for no popping needed. Can't wait for the winds to come back so I can kitesurf.
Eric
Good for you Eric, thats cool. I still can't "pop" up on takeoff and am basicly making the drop on all fours and then crawling up, but I can tell I will get there sooner or later, I was close on a couple.
Also was checking out the stand up paddlers at dogpatch and I gotta admit it does look like fun, and no jumping up quickly needed, hhmmm......
Pretty much my new schedule is every thursday after work I'm going surfing. Warm, cold, good, crappy, glassy, blown, whatever, I'm on it no matter what. If nothing else at least I'll be paddling, I want (no wait, "will") surf like a normal dude again, I just don't know when, I'm a little closer every week 8)
Hey Wayne-o you reeeeeeaaalllyy missed it last thursday, the wind stopped, the sun came out, it picked up with the incoming tide, the crowd was just me and 4 or 5 beautiful women who were just learning, they had steaks and lobsters on the grill when I came in and then.....
.........I woke up ;D
Just kidding it sucked. But I did get 5 or 6 little ones. You in for this thursday ?
You shouldn't have woke up Bill. Thursday I'm in, this time I won't flake on ya.
Wayne-0
Ok, light winds so I went down for a sunset session again...this time on my big longboard, 9'6" and like 3+ thick, I think it has a motor on it too but I haven't found the start button so I just paddle it in..got over 10 waves..all good..easier then the other 9'0 log..but yeah, just go and do it for its better then just excersizing da elbow muscles with the 12 oz curls. This session due to the board was way easier...way! So I think I will go back come early morning..love my life.
Just keep doing it and brag when can...
Eric
btw, had that same dream Bill, had to force myself back to sleep when I woke up and realize it was a dream, to recapture it... :P
Quote from: hawaiieric on June 02, 2009, 02:40:26 AM
Ok, light winds so I went down for a sunset session again...this time on my big longboard, 9'6" and like 3+ thick, I think it has a motor on it too but I haven't found the start button so I just paddle it in..got over 10 waves..all good..easier then the other 9'0 log..but yeah, just go and do it for its better then just excersizing da elbow muscles with the 12 oz curls. This session due to the board was way easier...way! So I think I will go back come early morning..love my life.
Just keep doing it and brag when can...
Eric
btw, had that same dream Bill, had to force myself back to sleep when I woke up and realize it was a dream, to recapture it... :P
I'm on a 10'0" tanker that should have cf #'s on it, and Wayne-o's on my daughters 8' thruster/egg/funboard thing. The log is the easiest for me. Off to sleep now, thats where I really rip and hopefully I don't wake up after steak and langostas with the models......I'd like to sleep till morning wink wink... ;D 8)
Were on for thursday Wayne-o, same Bat time, same Bat channel.
Caught and rode a wave today !!! ;D Not whitewater, actually did a couple cutbacks and bottom turns and an off the lip rolla coaster thing when the wave closed out. First "Real" wave on the new hip, Stoked !! Still didn't "pop' right up, but I don't care it was soooo nice to ride an open faced wave and go down the line like a "normal" surfer again :D :D haha I want more.....what a feeling 8)
Sheba...u might have to SUP..lol.......
I been logging and loving it..but the SUP has been interesting me..but would rather kite..or maybe I can get u to kite...
Way to go on your surf day Bill...who has more waves..you or Wayne at this point..
btw, how is your business and your son stepping it up..hope all is well.
Got a beer in my hand and had good wind..so all is good here,
Eric
Quote from: hawaiieric on June 24, 2009, 02:47:19 AM
Sheba...u might have to SUP..lol.......
I been logging and loving it..but the SUP has been interesting me..but would rather kite..or maybe I can get u to kite...
Way to go on your surf day Bill...who has more waves..you or Wayne at this point..
btw, how is your business and your son stepping it up..hope all is well.
Got a beer in my hand and had good wind..so all is good here,
Eric
Whats up Eric ? Funny you mentioned my son, he leaves for Kauai this morning at 8am. He got invited to stay with a friend for a week. They're staying at the Parrish collection in a 3 bedroom house. Are you familiar with those ? They brought their bodyboards and are hoping to find some fun waves. Any hints or secret spots ?? ;D I meant to talk to you before they left but the date snuck up on me. The kid he's going with said there is a good bodyboard/bodysurfing spot near there ??
I've talked to a couple sup guys and turns out a few have new hips 8)
they also said: It's easier to catch waves, it's warmer (not an issue for you :D), it's easier to spot sets and get in position, it's fun cause you can look down into the water between sets and see the bottom/fish etc. They look like fun but I think I get more exercise paddling and I want to surf juicy waves again so popping up will be my main goal for the next couple months. And work is.....well.............work. HaHa it's all good. I can text and call my son, anything they should check out over there ? Thanks ! Bill.
Bill,
Maybe we make our own new sports...like 12oz curls speed run..or double arm 12s...lol...Its funny to think we were not surfing last year and now dealing with it again as in a new..hate popping up, the critical time, so that is why sup has got my interest. When up on the board for me, I am like I was pre operation...so that is good..just the getting in factor. (for those just reading the posts but don't surf, its something of a great feeling to be on a wave and to ride it, a feeling that is unbelievable...) (and I actually one day just took out a belly board to be there in the wave since it was perfect and I had no board with me but had my swim fins)
To all the new hip recoveries, I encourage swimming, I used a snorkel and fins, and it was part of my PT. I healed fast, but let your body be the judge to your recovery. Walking on sand is also great..gives you balance and strength over just just normal grass and concrete. Oh yeah, your mind heals faster when looking at ocean candy and take that as where you want it to.
Bill, check your mail from me,
happy healing everyone,
aloha,
Eric
Hi to all Hippy Surfers,
For anyone dealing with issues about jumping to your feet; before you move to SUP, really consider waveskiing. A 7'4" high performance epoxy waveski will carve vertical bottom turns and aerials like a short board; whereas a 10' long, 4" thick SUP is far from maneuverable, and must be pivoted off the tail, rather than carving off the full rail line like a short board or performance waveski. SUPs are definitely an easy way to catch waves, but if you are into carving hard off the bottom, snapping off the lip, and roundhouses, an SUP cannot begin to come close to a waveski.
I first started surfing in Hawaii almost fifty years ago, and have surfed all over Hawaii, the mainland, and Mexico on everything from shortboards to longboards, from windsurfers to body boards; and for small to medium sized glassy surf, a performance waveski is the best tool that I have found.
To see what is possible, go to this website, and check out some of the videos. http://www.waveski.info/
Lets all keep surfing as long as we can walk or crawl down to the ocean, but don't feel that you need to compromise your performance on the wave by going to bigger and bigger tools.
John
Hey John, the surfski things look pretty fun, as do the sup's, but I think my long term healing goal will be to ride a regular old surfboard :D :D 8)
Went boogie boarding at the local beachbreak today. Pulled into some closeout tubes and got a couple pretty good views haha. Had a nice barrell bodysurfing too. The hip is there as far as boogie-ing goes. I got tossed around pretty good on a couple with no ill effects. Going back for some more tomorrow 8)
Am finally standing up and doing a few easy manoevres on a short board after four months. I choose waves carefully and don't push myself. Leading up to this I did lot of exercises for upper body strength (200 push-ups and 80 chin-ups daily) as well as the exercises from my physio which worked on building core strength. I also practised getting up from the floor into a standing position a fair bit.
I was catching waves by laying down but as my strength returned thought I would try standing to see how it went. Once I was able to stand without any pain I left it at that and lay down for the rest of the waves. The next day I stood up for two waves, and just kept on increasing it. Now I can get up for most waves but amholding back and not doing anything too radical. My time will come.
Had the BHR on my left hip which, for a goofy, is my back leg. Also had a good level of fitness leading into the op and was surfing right up to op date. I think this, as well as the exercises I did religiously, have got me so far. Photos were taken on the first of July.
Russ
Russ,
Most excellent!!! Great photos and way to go! Keep attacking your weakest link and it makes your stronger. I like your drive and desire to get back in there..I know for I sometimes want it then I take the easy path..but yet still having fun! Keep posting and sending in the photos..you might have some of us wanting to surf your break ..but no worries, us resurface hippies won't tell where it is..as in gps...
To all those coming anew, don't be afraid to get it done and then go out and do it...the new hip works great..
Eric,
btw, getting some great surf here and great kite too..
8 months out..
Hey Eric,
Just to let you know Bill and I went surfing yesterday and both had the best session yet on the new hips. I got up on just about every wave I caught, compared to the earlier sessions of standind up 6 times only. I even saw Bill almost jump up like he was a real surfer :o :o :o. Anyways it's getting much easier to stand up and I believe it will just get better in a couple more months. Keep bringing the cold beers Bill they taste good after we surf. Almost 9 months post op and loving life all over again pain free.
Wayne
Aloha,
Way 2 go! I have been surfing some too, but put the small board away and only bust out this big log of mine, waves have been perfect, my landing to feet almost there too. (its my forward foot, so its go so much travel, but needs a few more inches)
Winds and kiting has been doing it. I went almost every day this July, but half into the month, I did stretch strain my groin muscle there in the hip. Too many off the lips with the kite power and then when tacking back out hitting unprepared bumps and landing hard seems to be where I hurt it. Continuous kiting then catching the flu made its feel worst! Just made it back into the winds yesterday and got the day off again today..heading out soon.
When doing your 12oz curls to relax all your surfing muscles..should focus on a Hawaii trip. So far its the best summer in 30 years.
Eric
Quote from: wayne-0 on August 01, 2009, 01:06:15 AM
Hey Eric,
Just to let you know Bill and I went surfing yesterday and both had the best session yet on the new hips. I got up on just about every wave I caught, compared to the earlier sessions of standind up 6 times only. I even saw Bill almost jump up like he was a real surfer :o :o :o. Anyways it's getting much easier to stand up and I believe it will just get better in a couple more months. Keep bringing the cold beers Bill they taste good after we surf. Almost 9 months post op and loving life all over again pain free.
Wayne
"Almost like a Real surfer" hahahaha Yup, almost.
The "go surfing every thursday after work" thing is working out good.
We got some good sized waves (Ca. scale haha) last week and I went bodysurfing at our local beachbreak. It was pretty crunchy and I got clobbered and rolled pretty good on a couple and am happy to report that the hip felt strong and solid, no rattling or ill after effects at all, Stoked ! I took this picture of my buddy swimming out right before I went out and got several nice beatings.....haha good stuff. He's in the left side of the picture about to go for the bottom :o :o ;D
The picture is kinda small but if you look close you can see his head and arm sticking up...
(http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z263/kelley124_photos/JULY09092.jpg)
hi everyone , i belong over on the thr site ,so sorry if you think i am an interloper, i have had two thr/s done the first 18 months ago and the last one 3 1/2 months ago , i never thought i would be able to surf again after the problems i had with the first one but everything seems to have settled down and the last thr has just been a breeze,
i went surfing for the first time in 18 months a few days ago and got to my feet for a couple of waves without any pain or discomfort at all , i did/nt expect it to be quite so easy as it was , it was probally the most comfortable i have been on a board for 5 yeas or so ,
the swell has dropped at the moment so i will wait until we have some offshores and reasonable size before i venture out again but it feels like i will return back to surfing ok , this really is the one thing that wil be 100% return to life for me ,
i make boards as a hobby , check out http://www.seawindsurf.blogspot.com
if you have some time ,
i live in the uk in cornwall , we get quite consistant surf and this time of the year the water is reasonably warm 17 degrees but in the winter it gets down to about 8 degres , 5 and 4 mm suit and hood and gloves , keep surfing everyone , pete
Quote from: peteuk on August 08, 2009, 05:36:29 PM
hi everyone , i belong over on the thr site ,so sorry if you think i am an interloper, i have had two thr/s done the first 18 months ago and the last one 3 1/2 months ago , i never thought i would be able to surf again after the problems i had with the first one but everything seems to have settled down and the last thr has just been a breeze,
i went surfing for the first time in 18 months a few days ago and got to my feet for a couple of waves without any pain or discomfort at all , i did/nt expect it to be quite so easy as it was , it was probally the most comfortable i have been on a board for 5 yeas or so ,
the swell has dropped at the moment so i will wait until we have some offshores and reasonable size before i venture out again but it feels like i will return back to surfing ok , this really is the one thing that wil be 100% return to life for me ,
i make boards as a hobby , check out http://www.seawindsurf.blogspot.com
if you have some time ,
i live in the uk in cornwall , we get quite consistant surf and this time of the year the water is reasonably warm 17 degrees but in the winter it gets down to about 8 degres , 5 and 4 mm suit and hood and gloves , keep surfing everyone , pete
:o :o Wow the veneer boards are unreal !! Those are awesome man, works of art for sure, but dude are you freakin serious on the water temperature ? Keepin the beer cold not an issue for you I guess, and you don't need to ice your hip after a surf either do ya ?? HaHa Just kidding, glad you are able to surf again and your boards look great.
I can't speak for anyone else here but I don't really care if you have bhr's or thr's , the fact your surfing again when you couldn't before is all that matters, doesn't matter what shape your implants are, They're not Tits for crissakes....no one can see em haha :D :D Thanks for posting, your boards look Bitchin, B.I.L.L. out.
hi Bill, thanks for the comments on the boards its just an interest of mine that has got more time consuming over the years , the rest of your post made me laugh ,i never thought of the advantage of cold water in that way,
it sounds lke you surf in warm water, i have done a few times in trips away and it is a good feeling but i do like it in the depths of winter here when its grey and cold, pete
Quote from: peteuk on August 08, 2009, 05:36:29 PM
hi everyone , i belong over on the thr site ,so sorry if you think i am an interloper, i have had two thr/s done the first 18 months ago and the last one 3 1/2 months ago , i never thought i would be able to surf again after the problems i had with the first one but everything seems to have settled down and the last thr has just been a breeze,
i went surfing for the first time in 18 months a few days ago and got to my feet for a couple of waves without any pain or discomfort at all , i did/nt expect it to be quite so easy as it was , it was probally the most comfortable i have been on a board for 5 yeas or so ,
the swell has dropped at the moment so i will wait until we have some offshores and reasonable size before i venture out again but it feels like i will return back to surfing ok , this really is the one thing that wil be 100% return to life for me ,
i make boards as a hobby , check out http://www.seawindsurf.blogspot.com
if you have some time ,
i live in the uk in cornwall , we get quite consistant surf and this time of the year the water is reasonably warm 17 degrees but in the winter it gets down to about 8 degres , 5 and 4 mm suit and hood and gloves , keep surfing everyone , pete
Hey Pete, reading your post is most inspirational.
I go in for a THR on Sept 28th @ U.C.S.D.. I'm so stoked.
Dr. Ball, one of the great HR doctors, is doing my THR.
I'm counting the days!
Hope to join Wayne-o & B.I.L.L. in the water in 6 months or so. Got a new 8'6" Linden thruster waiting to be ridden.
Quote from: Timdplumber on August 12, 2009, 06:36:25 PM
Quote from: peteuk on August 08, 2009, 05:36:29 PM
hi everyone , i belong over on the thr site ,so sorry if you think i am an interloper, i have had two thr/s done the first 18 months ago and the last one 3 1/2 months ago , i never thought i would be able to surf again after the problems i had with the first one but everything seems to have settled down and the last thr has just been a breeze,
i went surfing for the first time in 18 months a few days ago and got to my feet for a couple of waves without any pain or discomfort at all , i did/nt expect it to be quite so easy as it was , it was probally the most comfortable i have been on a board for 5 yeas or so ,
the swell has dropped at the moment so i will wait until we have some offshores and reasonable size before i venture out again but it feels like i will return back to surfing ok , this really is the one thing that wil be 100% return to life for me ,
i make boards as a hobby , check out http://www.seawindsurf.blogspot.com
if you have some time ,
i live in the uk in cornwall , we get quite consistant surf and this time of the year the water is reasonably warm 17 degrees but in the winter it gets down to about 8 degres , 5 and 4 mm suit and hood and gloves , keep surfing everyone , pete
Hey Pete, reading your post is most inspirational.
I go in for a THR on Sept 28th @ U.C.S.D.. I'm so stoked.
Dr. Ball, one of the great HR doctors, is doing my THR.
I'm counting the days!
Hope to join Wayne-o & B.I.L.L. in the water in 6 months or so. Got a new 8'6" Linden thruster waiting to be ridden.
Look forward to it Timdplumber. It's nice to hear that the thr's are improved over the earlier versions, since I'm only 50 and I have the worlds steepest cup, chances are I will get one some day as well....Hopefully not but the statistics are not really in my favor. Wayne-O has nothing but good things to say about Dr. Ball. 8)
I know the photos are not very good and the waves are small but I can not get anyone to take pictures when the waves are good because they would rather surf than take pics, any ways here are a few
That is what I say when I am shredding my waves...
To funny too when ya get a good one and your friends didn't even see it when they on the beach....
Keep em coming! And make it out to Hawaii some day....
Eric
Hello fellow surfers. I had my right hip resurfaced 4.5 weeks ago by Dr. Scott Ball in La Jolla, CA. My main goal in choosing to do this procedure was to be able to surf pain free again. I also love to bike (road and mtn) and play golf. Dr. Ball assured me the operation went real well, in fact he said I was one of the easiest patients he ever did! He thinks there will be no problem eventually getting back in the water and doing all the outdoor things I love.
I just want to caution any of you going through this not to push it too fast. A friend of mine who surfs my regular break at Scripps and had the same procedure said he tried surfing only 3.5 weeks post-op and that it was a mistake and probably set him back significantly.
At this point I can't imagine that I'll be ready to surf again for at least another month or two. I still have significant pain while walking and the leg is real weak in certain moitions. I just started PT yesterday and I think that's going to be a big help.
So, anyone out there thinking if choosing Dr. Ball, I highly recommend him and the Thornton hospital at UCSD is top notch!
Good luck!
Sly
Wow! These posts are inspirational. I've windsurfed and waterskied for years but tried surfing a bit late in life - you dudes make it look rather easier than it is!
Maybe I'll just give it another go, though - have an 8ft 6 board which is pretty floaty. Even just sitting beyond the break watching the sunset here in Jersey, Channel Islands is very beautiful and would merit paddling back in for a beer. At 5 weeks post op though, I think I'll wait a bit - especially as the water temp is about 3degrees c here at the moment!
Keep the pics coming.
Andy
Hey Sly, Another happy Dr. Ball patient here as well. I waited 3 months to get back on my surfboard and I could not get to my feet yet as the muscels in the legs were too weak still. However at the 4 month mark I gave it a go again and was able to get to my feet. It still wasn't easy for me to just jump right up but I did get to my feet and once I got up it was like i never missed a day. I know the operation had alot to do with my slow jump up but i think not being able to surf for 5 yrs prior to surgery (due to deteriorating conditions in both hips) also played a factor. I've since been windsurfing and snowboarding all with no problems. Good luck and I second that statment about Dr. Ball and his team at Thornton.
Wayne
1/22/11 - went surfing at 7-weeks, one day. Took extra precautions and went all the way up to San Ono and got the perfect conditions to try out the hip - knee to waist high, clean and not crowded. Surfed my 9-2. First wave jumped up fine but was surprised at the pain. Next two waves I must have gotten up more carefully and slowly because I hardly felt any pain at all. Then on the fourth wave my right leg slipped off the back of the board and that hurt pretty bad. I was thinking that was it for me but then the pain just went away, so I stayed out. Had about a dozen more succesful waves, rights and lefts taking them almost to the beach. I was so stoked to be surfing again I had this huge grin on my face!! My right foot slipped off the back one more time but didn't hurt as bad as the first time. Also, I noticed that while sitting in the lineup, I didn't feel anything on the repaired side like I used to, only on the left side that still needs to get resurfaced some day. What I realized is that it was harder then I thought and it took real concentration and effort on the take-off, but once up I could ride the little waves just fine. Looking forward to the next surf this weekend!
Sly
since doctor said "no running or jumping" for 6 months and included surfing in that category (pretty sure doctor is not a surfer) i bought a boogie board just so i could get into the water before 6 months. i have been going into the ocean about once a week with it but i really don't love boogie boarding.
yesterday, about 4-months post-op, the wave conditions seemed perfect for my new hips ... waves around thigh high, clean conditions, and warm water. i brought both my boogie board and surfboard to the beach and decided to go in the water with my surf board. paddling for the first wave i thought (quickly) maybe i should ride the first wave in on my stomach and then as i was catching the wave i decided to try to pop-up ... success!! caught and rode the first wave ... which was my first wave in over 2 years. the rest of the day went equally well; i was able to easily pop-up and catch almost every wave.
can't wait to go surfing again (and snowboarding, too).
Nice one Maxx. That must be an amazing feeling after so long.... just keep being careful! ;)