Hip Talk Forum About Hip Resurfacing

Hi, new member here, have used this web site as one of my research tools into resurfacing.

I just had left hip resurfacing done by Dr. Daniel Snyder at Newton-Wellesley hospital in Newton, Mass. I decided on him based on reviews, his web site and a background check on suits, etc. I decided on resurfacing despite one of my second opinions being against it and for a THR.

I am 53 years old, male and have spent quite a bit of time doing athletics of different types. I've done 35 years of martial arts (mostly Tae Kwon Do), played soccer competitively until last year, and a good amount of weight training.

I noticed about five years ago that my flexibility was declining rapidly. Where before I could easily touch my head to my knees, now I was having trouble touching the floor. The groin pain started around then, so I went into the Doctor's and physical therapy with what I thought were muscular issues. We checked for everything - Lyme disease, all sorts of issues. None of the therapy, massage, etc. seemed to do anything, so we checked for osteo issues. Five years ago, they found my right hip slightly arthritic (they thought) and my left had normal amounts of cartilage.

The pain worsened, to the point that two years ago, I could not walk up stairs (or down) without severe pain. I still continued playing soccer until last year, when my left hip started dislocating when I ran, and I would have to pop it back into place.

I figured it was time to do something about it, so I had the first surgeon look at it. My left hip had no cartilage, and had developed bone spurs. My right hip has very little cartilage, so it is just a matter of time. I scheduled a hip resurfacing with Dr. Snyder on August 24, 2010.

The surgery went well, took about 2.5 hours and was done under full anesthesia. I woke up and was well enough to stand up with a walker about four hours after the surgery. I felt so good due to the absence of pain from my left hip that I didn’t need the Oxycontin they prescribed after the anesthesia wore off. I was on a Tylenol Plus regimen (every six hours), a blood thinner, aspirin and vitamins.  I was up the next day and walking using a walker, walking with the physical therapist. The following day, I was on crutches and being trained on how to use them, stairs, the right way to walk with them, etc. On the third day, I was released from the hospital to my parents, who had decided to help me the first week.

Part of the therapy is home PT and a home nurse twice a week. All of the PT sessions went really well, I had no problems at all, soreness like a recovering pulled muscle, but no real pain. I was asked to use a scale of 0-10 for pain, with 10 being the worst, I consistently was at 0, 1 at worst. I still have used only the Tylenol, changing it to as needed now. I have been on a single crutch for the last four days or so, walking longer distances as possible. Up to about 10 minutes now.

Sleeping is now a joy. I had serious problems before, waking up pretty much every hour for about three years. Now I get a real deep sleep, waking up once per night or so. Blood pressure is good (120-75 average) and the nurse seems happy.

After a week and a half since surgery, the bandages for the incision are off, held now only by steri-strips and the incision has apparently healed well. They did put two drains below the incision, and although those have been effusing clear fluid, that has slowed as well, and everyone thinks that is ok.
All in all, everything seems to be going really well, the only pain comes from the right (not operated) leg. And that’s ok since the pain there is nowhere near as bad as the left was. That will be taken care of in November. Very happy, positive and feeling good. I am going to be conservative about recuperation, will not go back to anything athletic until 1.5 years from now, will go back to the gym before that, but only doing what is recommended. I want to be solid for the next twenty years and not screw it up with my notorious impatience.

Wow.  You are having a quick recovery; great attitude, no doubt, helps.  I was pretty helpless the first two weeks; standing made me very light headed and I suffered through 4 weeks of night sweats, so I am proof that everyone is different.  12 weeks post-op, it all seems like a distant memory and my operated hip is pain free and getting stronger every day.  I too, am now focused on my other hip which I considered to be a minor problem prior to fixing the worst hip.   I expect that I will get it resurfaced within the next year or two depending on how quickly it continues to deteriorate.  Congrats on your new hip.  Take care.

Thanks! I'm pretty excited, seeing as the pain is gone from my left. It's great to know yours has improved in 12 weeks, since I'm hoping for a continued good experience.

Great to hear. Dr. Snyder did mine about 4 months ago.  The guy is an outstanding surgeon.  More people in the New England area should consider him. 

I agree, he was patient, efficient and the results have been very good. It's now 11 days since the surgery, I'm on one crutch, doing exercises (3X) on the bed, but also doing exercises standing up - toe raises, squats, front, back, side leg raises (mild of course), and have been showering since yesterday. It seems like such a luxury to shower now.

I've taken two walks outside with one crutch, for about ten minutes each, fully in control and feeling fairly strong when walking. All in all, pretty amazing and the soreness I deal with by icing the area after exercising. I've cut down the Tylenol to once or twice per day.

Congratulations!  It just keeps getting better!  Like you, I wonder why the heck I waited so long to get it done. 

Thought I'd check in. I'm three weeks into recuperating now, and making good progress. I went out for lunch with family, and tooled around Harvard Square for about three hours on one crutch. I was a little tired (slept for a couple of hours afterwards), but felt fine.

I've kept up with the PT exercises religiously, both on the bed and standing. I am able to walk without a crutch within my apartment with a slight limp, switch to the crutch if tired. I take a long walk three times a day, about 1/4 of a mile (measured it), with one crutch, but am doing stretches of ten paces without the crutch mixed in.

I lie down several hours either on the couch or on the bed, to rest muscles I'm not aware are strained. Still sleeping really well, night sweats have completely gone away and no more changing the bandages since the incision has healed nicely.

I am noticing that the other hip (still needs to be operated on) is getting a bit sore with all the exercising. I make sure that any exercise I do on my operated side is done on the other as well, since I don't want any muscular imbalance to pop up.

Overall, going great so far, really looking forward to getting both hips done and go on with a painless life.

Another update. I am at four weeks, and have been discharged from in-house PT. I am walking without any aids for about a week and a half, now doing about 1 mile per day at a good pace, have full range of motion according to the physical therapist, and have been doing stairs (about three flights, twice per day) for the last week.

I am switching over to outpatient PT, both regular and water, and began driving a week ago. All in all, things are going great, will work to get strength in both legs to prepare for the right hip resurface on Nov. 29.

Thanks for sharing your progress, so glad you are doing well! Luann

Thanks, Luann, just got back from my post-op meeting with Dr. Snyder, X-Rays show the hip is in fine shape, I also got to look at my other, problematic hip. Really happy with the results, now in outpatient PT... very excited.

Hi hernanu

THanks for posting your story.  I am glad you are having a quick recovery.  Good Luck and I will watch for your future posts.

Pat

Hi Hernanu

Great to hear yet another success story.  Please keep us posted with your progress.

Best of Luck,

Steve

Thanks, I am happy with the way things are going. The outpatient PT is doing a lot more stretching and strengthening exercises, including balancing, which I was shocked that I was able to do.

Pat, I do want to thank you personally, as this site has been a great resource for information and a really good place to validate decisions, or just to feel better reading people's experience.

Second week of outpatient PT, can see some definite improvement. I am now walking without a limp on the operated (left) side. I am doing leg raises with 2 lb weights without issue, balancing while doing ball exercises and went on a stationary bike for 10 minutes.

One issue is affecting not the operated side, but the other side that still needs to be done. I've noticed that when active, the operated side is now much more capable in handling exercising than the remaining side. I'll have to be careful, since I've noticed pain on that side from doing too much. I'm more apt to use ice on that side now.

I still want to exercise that side to prepare for the next surgery, but it's a strange conundrum that the operated side feels much more fit than the other.

Well, 9 weeks along now, my progress in PT is pronounced since I began about four weeks ago. I was just measured for strength and flexibility, compared with the beginning, and the results were very encouraging.

In all sorts of measures, my flexibility (ROM?) has increased by an average of 20-30 degrees of motion. This took me into normal to above normal ranges. Strength has increased commesurately, to the point that my operated left leg is now stronger than my right. This was one of my goals, since I wanted the left leg to be at least as supportive for my upcoming surgery as my right was for my past surgery.

Very excited by the results, will be discharged from outpatient PT in two weeks, giving me two weeks of "rest" (I will be continuing the exercises) before my next procedure in 11/29. I just filed the papers with my work for medical leave for that, so I'm very optimistic (cautiously of course) about my final procedure.

Starting my second replacement soon. I am going in to be seen by a nurse (vitals, etc.) in preparation for the surgery on the 29th of this month. I'm both a little nervous and a lot more excited by the upcoming surgery, in that I have seen the progress of the first, and hope for the same outcome on the second.

I'll be talking to Dr. Snyder next tuesday, in final prep for the surgery, and am getting my crutches and sock puller-oner (my name for it) out of cobwebs and in fighting order.

I'll then be out over the holidays, hopefully mobile and driving by Christmas time. Seems like that's when the left hip allowed me to do so.

Just had my second hip resurface on my right hip, about a week ago. I had Dr. Snyder again, and they arranged to have the same anesthesiologist/physical therapist, etc. to satisfy my superstition.

The procedure went really well, the damage was not as bad on the right as the left, but the process was pretty much the same. The difference was that I made better progress, so they let me go two days after the surgery, which was a day earlier than last. The pain management is like last time, extra strength tylenol every 6 hours, and have already started physical therapy at home.

Will report more later, but the pain is now gone from both hips and am on two crutches and very excited to progress.

Figured I'd update this, even if just as a journal. It's been two weeks since the surgery, and things are going pretty well. I've been doing in house PT and have progressed doing both bed exercises and standing execises.

I'm walking about 1 mile a day with two crutches, am using one crutch inside of my apartment, and have incorporated stairs in my indoors walking. The visiting nurse took off my newfangled bandage (more later) after one week and the incision had healed perfectly.

Overall good recovery, and expecting to be discharged from the visiting nurse at the next visit, as well as the in house PT by the 23rd. Then outpatiend PT starts.

The newfangled bandage used was pretty amazing. It was put on the second day after surgery, it was very thin and apparently made of a thin layer of silver. All I know is that the swelling was very low, I didn't have to change it for seven days and I could take showers with it (not allowing it to soak, but it could get wet). In my previous surgery, I had to change my bandages daily and had steri strips to deal with afterwards, but with this, no steri strips, staples, nothing. Pretty amazing and apparently kept any bacteria squashed. It was awesome, and when removed, the incision had healed perfectly. Thank you Dr. Snyder.

Finished three weeks. Discharged by the visiting nurse, and expecting to be discharged from in house PT this thursday (Dec. 23).

I'm walking with one crutch, doing about 3/4 of a mile per days as well as 6 workouts / day as prescribed by PT; 3 on the bed, 3 standing. The wound is fully healed and has given me no pain or problems.

I am off tylenol completely, and the night sweats have gone away. I actually think they may have been made worse by the amount of tylenol I was taking, just seemed to coincide evaporating when I stopped that. Will check in later.

Keep up the good work.  Your going to love the 6 month mark.  I am also a Dr. Snyder alum.  Just cleared at 7 months to get back into skiing.  Something to look forward to as you do your rehab! 

Advertisement:  I always say it, if you are in New England, you need to check out Dr. Snyder at Newton-Wellsley.

Happy Holidays to all...

Thanks for the kind words. I'm happy to hear you're doing well at 7 months. I just got discharged from home PT, looking forward to outpatient PT and definitely looking forward to the summer. Happy Holidays.

Figured i'd check in. I'm in my 6th week post right hip resurfacing, with my left at the 20 week point. Both are doing well, with my left very strong and flexible. I had my post-op appointment, everything looked good and was cleared to return to work.

I just went back to outpatient PT for my right (and left), am walking most of the time without a crutch, still have one more week with one crutch and then I am done with that. I have to focus when walking not to have a slight limp, or when I'm very tired.

In PT, I am doing bike riding, strength exercises (leg lifts to all directions, with weights, stomach exercises and back exercises), stair practice (step up and down), flexibility (stretches both with the leg extended and bent). Overall, feeling tired but good when finished. Just a little sore afterwards.

I set some goals with the PT this time, to achieve enough flexibility to support doing low level martial arts (punching bag, further stretching, stances) after PT is done, and to identify the amount of weight lifting to do right away and in the future. Really excited to get this going.

Can't you swap the crutch for a stick? I used sticks from the outset and found it much more natural, I'm sure crutch would have held me back.

I would, but I only have one more day assisted, then I am done with it. I still get a bit of a limp at the end of long walks, fixed if I stop and smell the roses a bit while my hip rests.

Hernaunu

As a Snyder alum, stay patient.  If I might make a suggestion based upon what my PT person told me at the time, stay with the stick until you do not walk with a limp.  She did not want me to be in a position of getting into a bad habit.  I am assuming that you had an anterior-lateral incision and the glutes still take time to recover from the atrophy.  You are obviously rehabing religiously so it is only a matter of time.  One other thing that helped during my PT was to have the therapist do (1) laser therapy on the site, as well as (2) deep tissue message to break down any adhesions.  You may notice that the skin over the incision "tents" initially but with the above mentioned therapy it will go away and support increase range of motion.

Good luck....

Thanks for the tips, I had been  thinking of getting a stick anyways. Patience is a virtue that I need to work on. I did have that type of incision, and my PT has been massaging that area every visit, just like she did last time.

I have to say the whole process has been really good, from Dr. Snyder, his team, the hospital, the home care and PT(Milford Visiting Nurses for both) and the outpatient PT (Bay State Physical Therapy). I'm not doing laser therapy, what is that?

The laser penetrates the surface and heats the deep tissues.  I am told that it works much deeper than the warm blankets that you may get prior to your PT session.   I am not much for the patience stuff myself!  I do think that it is worth every extra day or so... rather than rushing.  As I mentioned before, I started skiing again two weeks ago (8 months post op) so not bad.  Trying to decide if I want to get on the tread mill... stares at me everyday when I am on the bike! 

I'm keeping the stick handy until I get my round kick working ;)

And you can get get a stick that makes you look debonair, so, as I need all of the help I can get in that direction.... I'll have to ask about the laser, sounds like it would help.

I got on the treadmill after about two months into my previous hip experience, not running, but fast walking. It seemed fine, although when I tried to run by mistake when my daughter and I were rushing to a movie, I was quickly notified by my hip that I wasn't quite ready yet.

I finally got a stick at my local drugstore (CVS), and have to admit, I was amazed at the variety available; some are very fun... some psychedelic, others with different visual themes, and one was camouflage (if you don't want people to know you're using a stick  ;D ).  I settled on one that folds up and is extensible, black with a copper ring just below the handle. Very cool.

Walking with the stick (my first experience with this) is fine once you're used to it, and it seems to be just the amount of support I need with longer walks. Thanks for the advice, will keep it for a bit.

The physio told me to be careful with the fold up ones as they start to get a bit wobbly after a while. Hopefully, you won't have to use it for that long!
Andy

Thanks Andy, I think I'll only need it for a few weeks at most.

A bit bummed. The hips are going great, I will probably be discharged from PT after next week, I'm doing a ton of exercises, leg lifts galore with 5 pound weights on the ankles at all angles, other step and leg lifts (30) with 205 pounds. All good.

Somehow I've injured the top of my left foot. I think either stretching, doing some of the step exercises, or smacked it on something. My regular doctor looked at it and didn't look worried, so probably something that will go away, just annoying that the only limp I have now is completely unassociated with the hips.

I can still walk fine, just gingerly when pushing off the left leg. Oh, well, I can still work out.

I'd think that it would be reassuring to have some pain in your leg and realize that it doesn't come from your hips.

Congrats on your successful surgeries and recovery.  I'm a few months behind you and hoping to follow a similar path.

I know - I was feeling a bit self indulgent, but it is true that it's kind of reassuring to have a normal twinge kind of injury instead of what we've dealt with. Overall really excited to walk around with no pain and only a bit of stiffness left in the hip.

I've noticed that despite the leg healing quicker than the last, the actual walking has taken a bit longer. I attribute that to the really heavy snowstorms we've had in the Boston area, which has forced me to do my walking in my apartment building instead of doing it outdoors as I did for my other leg (August, September). Still, the recovery has been great.

Wow, glad to hear so many successful outcomes.  I just had my 4 year checkup with Dr. Snyder; RBHR.  I still have the same complaints since the surgery in January 2007.  Whenever I do something physical, I feel a tightness around my upper thigh and a sharp pain when I do lunge type exercises.  I can't run, bicycle or even do my elliptical workout without constant pain.  At the checkup he had me do the blood tests for excessive metal ions, because he said something must be going on.  Said he would call in one week, the PA called and said the metal ions are normal.  I asked him how his other patients were making out, especially the ones he performed the Ganz procedure on...and he said that made no difference and maybe you should not get a BHR done on your left side when needed.  He told me he did the Ganz on me because of my large muscle mass, this would incur less damage. 
Pat, I think it is time I get my xrays and get a second opinion on my operation.  How do I go about that again?  Also, isn't it true the bursa could have been damaged badly when the screw holding my trocanter together became loose?  Currently, I am only doing Yoga exercises and skipping cardio all together.  It is really killing me to be so inactive sports wise...workwise I am very active with a lot of manual labor.  Please don't tell me to swim...I can't...my legs sink horribly...must be my large muscle mass.  I am trying to decide on a surgeon for my left hip, as it probably has one year left, but I don't know what road to take or if it even matters.
Anybody else out there experiencing similar results?

Sorry to hear about your pain; I still have some tightness in my hip, but it doesn't prevent me from working out, so it is not the same as yours.

I asked Dr. Snyders' office for my X-Rays, just to have them, and they are going to mail me a disk. If you are having these issues, definitely have someone else look at them. I've had good luck with Dr. Snyder, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't look for another informed opinion in your shoes.

Can you tell me something?  How did your PT go when you only had the one hip done and your other hip was not at 100%?  Did you feel that this limited progress on the done hip?  Sometimes I think, if I just get my other hip done, then everything will come together and get stronger, because I am definitely limited due to the pain in my left; undone hip.

Definitely was limited. I think I've talked about it earlier. Especially in the outpatiend PT, which was much more aggressive. One example was on the stationary bike, in the beginning, my operated leg and my butt (for lack of a better word) hurt a bit because of the weakness of the muscles. Those, and the lack of conditioning due to my decrease in activity in the years leading up to it, went away with number of visits to PT.

The stronger the left leg got, the more smoothly it would move, the faster I could bike. The right side tended to turn in wards and would sometimes clip the pedaling mechanism, or it would just get sore at the hip; there was also some muscle impingement on the bone spurs that I had there, I could feel that. So the more robust the left leg got, towards the end of PT, the more issues I started to have on the right. I got to the point that I was looking forward to the second HR, since I knew (optimism here) that it would feel much better. Thankfully the optimism was rewarded, since now the bike riding is so smooth that both legs feel really good after riding. I didn't have much time between the two surgeries (3 months), so I could deal with the pain from the unoperated leg for the two or three weeks from the time it really started acting up to when the second HR was done.

One thing I have to say: the physical therapists spotted something that I would never have considered. I've always thought of myself as a physically strong person, and in many ways through weight lifting, and other athletics, I am, but I got the shock of my life when the therapist tested me after my first procedure and found my lower abdomen to be very weak. They promptly got about fixing that, to the point that now they are satisfied. The point of this is that I had no idea that my hip problems had brought on that kind of issue. The strengthening they did was IMO a huge part of making the recovery from the second HR easier. I just felt stronger. I don't know why people who will have one of these procedures are not encouraged to have PT for at least a month before the surgery. Just my opinion.

Quote from: hernanu on February 17, 2011, 01:24:52 PM

One thing I have to say: the physical therapists spotted something that I would never have considered. I've always thought of myself as a physically strong person, and in many ways through weight lifting, and other athletics, I am, but I got the shock of my life when the therapist tested me after my first procedure and found my lower abdomen to be very weak. They promptly got about fixing that, to the point that now they are satisfied. The point of this is that I had no idea that my hip problems had brought on that kind of issue. The strengthening they did was IMO a huge part of making the recovery from the second HR easier. I just felt stronger. I don't know why people who will have one of these procedures are not encouraged to have PT for at least a month before the surgery. Just my opinion.

I agree hernanu.  I am on a much stronger recovery track than first time around, and I'm sure that my pre-op state has much to do with this.  Last year I did a lot of pilates (before hip pain stopped me) and my "core strength" was much better going into my most recent op.  Of course, the hip problems put significant limitations on many prospective hippies, but I agree that "pre-hab" PT is well worth considering pre-op.

I agree with what you both are saying, I just want to be sure I go the right route with my second hip, either THR or BHR.  I actually did some new exercises from the other Surfacehippy site, had Pre/Post Op exercises, and I feel quite good.  But, as soon as I start to feel really strong, I get the pains in my rightside knee and the undone left hip.  So, maybe it is just my other bad parts pulling me down.  It took 4-years to figure that out.  I went to PT at two different stretches in the first and second years and I got very strong and then I just got way too sore with no chance of recovery until I stopped.  Maybe I am just getting too old, 52.  If I can clear the pain in my RBHR hip in that one spot, I will get another one.

I sure hope you're not too old.   :-\


Mike (55 and counting)

Definitely not too old - I'm 54.

Big Day! I was discharged from outpatient PT. I got a list of exercises which I've been doing in PT and will continue those. They say to do these 3 - 4 times a week, which I planned on, then add other activities as well. Really psyched about this, ROM and strength are at normal or better. I had a physical yesterday, BP is 105 over 65 even now, will probably get better as my fitness increases.

Now to drop the weight I've put on over the last 5 years.

Quote from: hernanu on February 25, 2011, 11:48:20 AM
Now to drop the weight I've put on over the last 5 years.

Hey Hernan, I hope you're doing well getting your fitness and svelte figure back.  ;)  I'm thinking we maybe need a post-op, post rehab weight loss group on here!  I'm down 5, maybe 10 to go.  It might go a little quicker if I could just give up those beers I reward myself with after a good workout.  ;D

Quote from: hernanu on February 20, 2011, 10:02:56 AM
Definitely not too old - I'm 54.

LOL, I'm now 56 as of yesterday.   I could definitely afford to shed a pound or 30 at this point. 

Hippy Birthday Mike!  ::) ::)

Hey, half - don't know how much I've dropped, figure about 10 now,  but definitely reforming myself. My 18 year old daughter is keeping the pressure on, tells me I have to get back to what she remembers. Cruel kid.

Happy belated birthday, Mike - I have some new math: if 50 is the new forty and the resurfacing makes us 20 years younger, we are in our mid 20's effectively.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

I been trying to lose 20 since the surgery. Got addicted to Potato Chips. Keep on

LOL hernanu,  I've decided to just start counting backwards.  I'm now at 49 and should be the same age as my oldest kid by the time I reach about 35.

BTW, I lost about 10 lbs in the 8 weeks or so after surgery without knowingly changing my diet at all and not really getting much exercise.  I think the body may burn a lot of calories and need protein in the healing process.

YESSSS !!!!!!   I went to the gym, had a good one hour workout (yoga, bike and elliptical, weights) and then hit the punching bag!!!! 

One of my goals; I had to give it up before the surgeries . Too much pain, especially on roundhouse punches, where you launch the strike from the rotation of the hip.

I started slow, being just a bit reticent of the pressure on the hip. I was able to swing the hips, hit a hard punching bag correctly and get that nice pop with a full roundhouse punch (not full strength, but pretty strong). I hit the bag for a good 15 minutes, stopping when I ran out of breath. Awesome.

Still feeling good now, I had no problems with it.

A tip:
Try 'punching' with a bungee for resistance and coordinate turning the ball of the foot with the hip motion to minimise pain in the hip; I found I could use the last vestige of pain to correct my form.

Thanks Gary - will try that.

My trainer had me doing an exercise with the cable crossover machine, where the two pulleys had 50 lb (22.5 kg?) weights attached, and I got into a front stance, one cable to the hip and the other out in a punch, then do my punch motion, with one pulling back and the other going into the punch. 20 reps.

The bungee sounds good for the home, since I want to make sure I get the most done even on days absent from the gym.

Bungees are great! I even take them on holiday, with simple home made handles; just make sure the other end is secured - they can do a lot of damage if they come loose.

The main advantage is that resistance increases and momentum decreases towards the end of the range of motion, unlike kettlebells which work the other way round.

 ;D :D 8)

Ok - I'm calling a two year anniversary (wooo hooooooo !!! )

I had my two year checkup; almost two for my left, three months short on my right. There is no description for how psyched I was walking into the office and realizing that even compared to my one year visit, I was feeling awesome on my hips. I walked without a hitch, smiling and feeling like the greatest thing since sliced bread.

I had my XRays, scanned them mercilessly as they came up on the viewer, and grilled Dr. Snyder about the bone connection, my angles (40 degrees and 15, respectively). We then talked heavily about exercise and whether he thought my going into the really heavy impact Tae Kwon Do kicks was advisable (he had no problem with it), weight lifting and of course that most demanding of physical endeavors - the panoply of latin dances!

The good Dr. was very pleased with my progress. I still need work on balance - he had me on one leg, bending down and holding it in that position, which apparently needs more work.

Dr. Snyder now does routine blood work for metal ions at two years, so I went for that. Not concerned, as I haven't had symptoms and look for them to be in good shape.

To mark the day, I'm posting my pre HR hips, and my two year hips. And now to get a bit maudlin, I want to thank the surgeon, staff and therapists galore whose efforts got me to this point. I also want to thank Pat, whose site has been both a research library, a refuge and a place to find friendship and solace while walking in hard places. And a great thanks to all of the hippies who are both here now and who have left (I think it's great you're loving life); in the words of Anna (who I think is great), you are all awesome!

Hern that's wonderful!!

I bet you're over the moon and completely content and happy with life  :D

My hips definitely are, ruby -thank you.

Hern-
that is one good looking skeleton!
Great picture.
I hope my path to recovery is as good as yours.

I try to keep in good skeletal shape, Mike. I think you'll be fine as long as you're patient and treat yourself well.

Well said Hern!!!! 

What a great achievement. 2 years and everything is going good. Best get working on that balance though Hern .... lets go for perfection!  ;D

Anna

Will do, Anna....

Good for you Hern, may you have many more. Your advice and insight is always spot on.

cheers

moe

Happy 2 year anniversary, Hern!

I'm happy to hear your recovery is going well.  You have done a lot to pay it forward to all of us that have come after you so thanks for all that YOU have done.  Hope it continues to get better each day.

Happy two years Hernanu :) Thank you so much for all your help too  8)

Thanks a lot guys, each individual hippy is a treasure to me.

Hern,

What a blessing and inspiration you are, and have been to the rest of us from the time we were terrified Newbies. During the difficult times, I replayed your quote to me. As you said, the whole Hippy experience is about going back and picking up the pieces of our lives that we had to let go of when the OA got too bad. I'm still working on it. And still looking for ways to pay it forward the way you have.

Thanks for everything.

Live strong Hern.

Boomer

2years? Wow, congrats Hern and may I just echo the thoughts of the others, you are a stalwart presence full of great advice and I really appreciate all your help.  Sal xx

Wow only just seen this post. Hern that's awesome news. I pray that your colbolt chrome molybdenum hips carry on serving you well for the rest of your days mate.
Danny

Happy 2nd Hern, best regards for continued success with your hips.

Your contributions here to virtually everone, is such a tremendous help, that has made a difference in many lives during difficult times.  I can't thank you enough, karma is definitely on your side, as well as the smooth hip mojo.

Just awestruck with the knowledge and time you so unselfishly share. 

Thanks again

Fantastic report. Happy anniversary.  You contribution on the discussion group is also fantastic.  You have helped many others in their journey to find solutions to their painful hip problems.

I wish you many, many more anniversaries.  May your great hips go to the grave with you!  ;D

Thanks for your kind words about the website and discussion group.

Pat

Thanks, guys - I celebrated by going to the no name restaurant in Boston Harbor for fish chowder (best in the freakin' world), walked the waterline in the sun for a couple of hours, wound up at a waterfront tequila bar for a beer, went to my car, drove to Providence (about an hour), had a 'make your own' burger at a Burger bar with both mushrooms and jalapenos and a dos equis, then got home to re-watch some Olympic moments.

A full day of walking, enjoying - no hip soreness, tightness, tiredness or pain. It's been great so far, and thanks Danny and Pat, hope to take my metal wingmen with me on my final flight.

It really is there, for all of us who are early on, just take care of your healing hips, and you can get back to life fully.

Good stuff hern. Those bionic hips of yours are looking great. My father in law told me today that he knows somone who has has had his HR for 12yrs now and still going strong. Many more anniversaries to look forward to. I hope you celebrate it like a second birthday.

A sigh of relief where there shouldn't have been one, given how good I feel....

My levels are:

Chromium - 3.4  ;D
Cobalt - 3.1      ;D

My surgeon is happy with anything under 7 for both, but to use the most stringent study to date, the latest accepted upper limits for both are:

(from this source: http://www.hipresurfacingnews.com/categories/20-Metal-Ion-Issues (http://www.hipresurfacingnews.com/categories/20-Metal-Ion-Issues) )

Chromium - 4.6 for one hip, 7.4 for bilats
Cobalt - 4.0 for one hip, 5.0 for both.

The levels tend to drop over time unless there's a problem, so good.... sounds like time for another Dos XX, if it wasn't Monday and I wasn't at work.

Celebrations all round for you Hern!!!  ;D

Glad to hear everything is great

Anna

Thanks Anna - just livin' the hippy life...

Great news Hern :)
Made me remember results of a blood test I had before my surgery. Vit K level was low. Mr Mcminn said new hips would automatically raise it, so not to worry, Just thought I`d mention it

Great news Hern.  Always feels good to get positive news, even when that is what you are expecting.  I think for most of us the news that we needed to get a hip replacement was so awful, and so shocking that we ( at least me ) have become hypersensitive to hearing anything negative.

And don't let the fact that it is Monday and you are at work stop you from grabbing a dos xx next time! 

Felicidades!! Great story!! Love to read good news,,,,
Piedad

Muchas gracias, Piedad.

I'm going for my 2 year x-ray this week, if I've got any concern, it's over the other one, which does get a bit stiff after a workout - watch this space
G

Good luck, Gary - I've got all sorts of good thoughts winging your way.

If the other one needs anything, you know that your first is in good shape. Hope you don't and you stay a happy single hippy though.

Quote from: gary2010 on October 08, 2012, 04:38:46 AM
I'm going for my 2 year x-ray this week, if I've got any concern, it's over the other one, which does get a bit stiff after a workout - watch this space
G

Good luck Gary - I am seeing Mr Latham tomorrow for a first appointment
David

Glad to hear all is well Hern.  I am definitely going to write my correspondence to Dr. Snyder now and find out what my options are as...on my last visit with me he basically said "there's nothing more I can do for you".  He has a way of doing that to his "unsuccessful patients", out of sight out of mind.  Maybe he just has more experience now.
Rolls

Maybe he does, Rolls.

I have had good luck with both, I know you had a horrible time with your HR that he did and a great result with your second with Dr. Marchand.

I hope you straighten out the bad one, and follow up with Dr. Snyder, you need to do what's necessary for you.

Well, it has been three years today and some light observations:

• It is the best thing I've done for myself. Ever.
• The recovery is not easy. But like most things that are worthwhile, the work pays off handsomely.
• I am back to most of my activities, martial arts, sports, just walking, parties, picnics without any pain and no fear.
• The people I've seen here both now and in the past are brave, proud and inspirational.
• This is a necessary option and a great treatment for a truly dire disease.

I am just enjoying life. My hips are in very good shape. I can feel there are still some small improvements to be made, but that's true of anything in my life.

Hip resurfacing has been a complete life changer, and I want to again thank Pat for this site and all of the services and hard work that she has painstakingly gifted us with.

Keep up all of your efforts for current hippies and for those considering it - if you're a good candidate, I can tell you that it is worth it.

I am glad to hear you are doing well and have no regrets. I hope I have the same experience-- I have talked to so many people, prior to my surgery, who had had it done and said their only regret was waiting as long as they did.

That's great to hear Hernan - well done.

Thanks for helping me and many others here too.

Congratulations on the three years, Hern.
You've given a lot of good advice to a lot of people here, I reckon you've put many people at ease with your informed replies, including me-thanks.
Just wondering, three years down the line, how often you think about your hips?
As you have no issues to deal with and remind you, has the whole Arthritis/Resurfacing part of your life faded at all instead of dominating life?
Cheers,Mike.

Hern,
From a very rainy London, congratulations and thanks for your much appreciated wise postings and support for your fellow hippies.
Keep enjoying
Toby
Also 3 years-left Finsbury Adept Prof Cobb

Congratulations, and many thanks for all of the wonderful, caring, and thoughtful advice that you have offered to so many people through this site.
You are the best!

 :)

Thanks guys...

Mike - I think of the hips several times a week, usually because I'm doing something that would be impossible before the surgery. It is less and less something that happens.

The last few times were:

• once during yoga, when doing a stretch where you tuck one leg under you and you lean forward on it (don't know the name). I did fine with it and afterwards, but I thought it would have been impossible before.
  
• We had a family reunion, where I was in charge of the tug of war. I was in front of my team, the other team had some large people. I pulled hard, was slowly dragged across along with the teenage girls that made up the rest of my team. That was something that would have killed my hips pre HR.
  
• Kicking the heavy bag, I did a combination of punches then jumped sideways, twisted my hips in the air and slammed a roundhouse kick into the bag as I drifted past it. None of that would have been possible.
  

I think of my hips intellectually, but really haven't worried about them at all lately. The above situations were more reflecting on what I could do now.

Happy birthday Hern!!!

Here's to lots more pain free, bendy, walking, tug or war, martial arts years to come. Don't forget you are "riding these babies into the sunset"!!!  ;D

Anna

Thanks Anna! You're just starting your ride, hope the same for you.

Hern, we all needed to hear that......

Great recovery, happy anniversary!  Thanks from all of us for staying the course on this website.
Mike

Thanks Mike, I'm happy about it.

Hern:

Congratulations and thanks for all the thoughtful responses you have contributed to me and other hippies on this Board!

Three years is great Hernanu! Thank you for all that soccer specific advice  ;D
Much to my chagrin there is a chance I will be changing from single to bilateral in the future so please keep posting.

Chuckm

Congratulations on 3 years!  I hope you have many, many more.  I am sure you will. Thank You for posting so new perspective patients can learn how great hip resurfacing can be.

Thank You for helping others during those 3 years.  I know many people are very grateful for your help and suggestions. I appreciate your input and help also.  A discussion group needs great members to make it grow and offer support - you are one of the best!   ;D

Good Luck!

Pat

Hi Hernanu!!!  We are old "recovery buddies" having had (your fist hip anyway) our surgeries a couple months apart! Isn't three years great!! Congratulations!!! Makes you feel like you really made it!! I am doing great too! You are the real hero, having gone through it twice. Thanks so much for l your posts and support over these three years! Keep on going!  Lu

Thanks Lu and everyone.  It does feel excellent.

Permit me to add my congrats and thanks from a neighboring state hern. I'm sure you will have many more. moe

Thanks moe, hope everything is going great.

Hern, congratulations on reaching three years on your 1st resurfacing. I second what Pat said about helping all of us that have come after you. Thanks a lot you've been a great source of comfort in your reply's to all of us. Thanks again Curt

Hey curt - you're just past your one year, so will be hitting your stride   ::)  this year!

Thanks Hern, it's amazing how well my hip has been feeling the last few months. Been ramping up my exercise to push myself more to be free of pain is a wonderful feeling. Thanks again, Curt

Hey Hern, Congrats on the 3 years. I went back and read some of your first posts in Sept 2010. Looks like you had a very good recovery, although I only read to about 2 weeks post op for you.

Anyway, congrats again.

Bob

Thanks Bob - how's the shin?

Congratulations on three years! You are a complete inspiration to us all.

I personally cannot thank you enough for your kind and wise words along with your enthusiasm and encouragement you sent to me through the first hard months. Thank you thank you thank you!

I have now just passed 3 months and feeling very happy!

Happy 3 years Hern!

Thanks David & Kate - be great to see where you guys are at three years.

Hi,

This is a sort of four year anniversary with an asterisk.

A couple of months ago, I wiped out on an icy entryway, doing a very picturesque fall and right on my resurfaced right hip.

I worked out later that week hard, punching bag kicks for about an hour, lifted weights, some good amount of time stretching. Pretty usual.

That laid me out. I think now I pulled something on my lower back, twisted, sprained... you enter your malady.

The problem is that it was on my lower back, on the left near the center right above my hip. As it persisted, I had trouble walking. Not like with the arthritis, but it was pain.

So I started to worry a bit. I thought - pain, lower back... maybe something was up. It kept up for a month, so I started (as I do) to make plans in case it was the worst case and I needed a revision... for some evil reason.

It improved, but I didn't want to lie to myself, so thought... Ok - this is the time to check it out completely. I had a 4 year checkup coming in August, but even without that, I've always felt that you need to clear the fog and face the good or bad.

So I called my surgeon and made the appointment for about a week ago. I went in, prepared either way, got my XRays and waited. My surgeon came in, immediately told me that everything was great, showed me my pictures (I looked very carefully for any telling lines above the cup).

Huge sigh of relief. He then said that he now does a metal ions blood test for every visit. I would have insisted on one anyways, but was glad not to have to press for it.

This past Friday I got a call from the nurse. My blood levels have gone down from the previous Chromium 3.4, Cobalt 3.1 to Chromium 1.7, Cobalt 1.1.

I was ecstatic. Only ecstatic because of the release of my fears, otherwise it would have been in August and I would have been very happy.

My take is that even at four years you can freak out (slowly in my case), but the best thing is to clear the fog and go forward, these hips are strong when put in right.

Sweet!

Good to hear that the understandable fears were not substantiated ... And the metal ions keep coming down, fantastic!

Thanks, guys - it is sweet. The ions result was unexpected but had me doing a jig (which in a car on the highway is not easy).

Google Kelley Starret for back stretching.  Does wonders for me.  Joe

Thanks Joe - will do.

Nanu, I am so pleased you can samba the night away!!!  This is wonderful news. ;D

Thanks, 24... samba is on the menu.

Good for you Hern, I'm sure you'll have many more. Cold ones are called for.

moe

Quote from: moe on April 21, 2014, 04:35:23 PM
Good for you Hern, I'm sure you'll have many more. Cold ones are called for.

moe

I believe you're right moe. It is a moral imperative.

Awesome news...Congrats!!

deb

Congrats on your 3 year/4 year anniversary!  Must feel good to know "you're good to go"!  My left hip celebrated it's 3 year anniversary April 11 - very happy with it, feels like a normal hip.  You're blood levels look great.  I had mine done last year before my second hip surgery and levels were good.

My Chromium was similar to your's 3.2, but I found out later that vitamins can affect the levels - the vitamin I take has Chromium added, as do most vitamins, so I was told to refrain from taking them before having the test done.

Take care of the back and stay off the ice! ;)

Thanks Debbie! It does feel good, and now that the pain is mostly gone, I can go back to working out. The levels were good to see.

Take care and keep movin'

Excellent news Hern!!!!! So pleased for you. I remember you once saying you were going to ride those babies into the sunset ... and I think you just may will!!!! Enjoy, and I hope your back is feeling better soon  8)

Anna

Thanks Anna! Back to working out full tilt, with only a bit of soreness, so ... life is rolling again.

How was the skiing season?

Glad to hear all ok with hip and levels - happy days  :)

Thanks kate!

Awesome to come across this update mate - how time flies post op!!
Great update & inspiring, as always.
Cherz
Kiwi

Thanks Simon - how's life?

Hi Hern,

Life's great thanks, very busy as always with our young (growing fast!) family.

Hip is great & still managing to play squash 2-3 times a week. Actually played in the NZ doubles championship recently & took out the over 35s plate... I was happy with that considering where I was just 2.5 years ago. just happy to be able to play and run around with kids, pain free. Not taking it for granted and have only had a 1 year check up, nothing since..2.5 years on. Feel no need to at present  :)

Anyway, as you probably noted, I do not frequent surface hippy site these days, but still pop in from time to time. Great to hear your hips are doing well and you're still supporting so many folk. Invaluable.

Hope all is well in your neck of the woods..?

Cheers
Simon

Great to hear all of that, Simon - part of the joy of this is to re immerse in life. This neck of the woods is coming out of a rough winter into a very nice summer - very brief spring.

Enjoying the heck out of everything.

I have officially reached my five year anniversary (for my left hip, my right will be 11/26).


Everything is just fine and dandy. I've gone through all of the ups and downs of a recovery, including many an assumption that somehow I've mucked up my resurfaces.


Luckily, those scares turned out not to be an issue. The hips are strong and have faded into normalcy. I am physically active and any physical challenge does not involve my hips.


The world is good, I can heartily recommend a hip resurface to get your life back.

Hernanu

Congratulations! Good to hear everything is working well - as it should be!

I would personally like to Thank You for helping others on the discussion group.  You have hung in there and helped many with support and suggestions! I know they appriciate it and I certainly do.  My BHR is almost 10 years old and I have forgotten a lot of the details of the experience.  Maybe it is because my 71 year old brain is slowing down! People with more up to date experience are very helpful to new perspective patients and recent patients.

You deserve a Number 1 Helper Award!

I hope you have many, many more anniversaries! 

Pat

A heart congratulations to you Hernanu! I will raise a glass to you tonight to help celebrate your five years of good fun. Many thanks to you for helping me down the road with my two new hips.

Boomer

Congrats!! You were so helpful answering my posts about 2 yrs ago when I had my left hip done. I'm also back to full activity, still get the occasional twinge but nothing like what it used to be.
Thanks for everything and here's to many more years of pain-free activity.

Good for you Hern. I remember when it was new. Hope you have many more good years.


moe

Hernan

Good on you - glad all is well.

Hi Hern,
Congratulations from over the pond!
Keep up the good work buddy!
Best
Toby

Great news and congrats, hernanu! And thank you for your participation here, your posts and responses have definitely helped me quite a bit.

Good news, hernanu. When it comes to being a hero member, you are the real deal. Thanks for keeping it positive around here.

Congrats! And please keep checking in and adding to the conversations.

Ditto! So glad you are well. Thank you for your support. I'm now 2 years out and truly appreciate the help and words of wisdoms you've offered over those years.

Congratulations Hernanu, a wonderful milestone to reach. Thanks for all the support you have offered & all the insight you gave you gave about your journey.
Curt

Best wishes for another five, and then ten or twenty after that too!


As others note, your posts are very supportive. Thanks.

Thanks everyone and especially Pat. This site has been a major help in getting through the arthritis. Hip resurfacing has been a godsend for me, but also all of the members, past, present and future are the real gems here.


For five years, I've seen very real and strong improvement on both hips.



This procedure offers real hope for anyone who has to face this nasty disease. Clapping for all of you and thank you for your notes, it means a lot.

Hernanu,
Congrats!  And like everyone else, a big Thank-you for being there!
deb

Hi Hernanu,
CONGRATS ON THE HUGE MILESTONE AND ACHIEVEMENT.!! ;D ;) :D . Its very special to know that all your knowledge and experience is passed on to us "youngies" , and that you readily make yourself available thru this Website.
Most Definately and Inspiration to 1 and All.  :) 8) .
Cheers,
Kiwi Boy from Down Under.

Hi folks,


Checking in on my sixth year of enjoying life without pain and living at full throttle.


I want to thank Pat and all of the hippies before me who made this a much easier path to take - knowledge and kindness helps a lot when taking a fearful step.


To all of the hippies that are here now and have passed through, I admire your courage and tenacity.


To those who are on their way to taking this step, go at your own pace, you'll know the right time to go. I can only tell you that this has been the best decision I've made for myself, to let me roll forward with a joyous life.


I just drove from Boston to Mobile, Alabama in two days - 1500 miles which would have been unthinkable without my bionic hips. I question my mental capacity in doing this, but physically was perfect.


So thanks and congratulations to all, particularly to Pat, who has had the motivation and strength to maintain this site in the face of many challenges. There doesn't seem to be an appreciation for service to the common good any more, most people choose only what is best for themselves and build a distance from their fellow humans.


It is a pleasure to know and have benefited from a selfless person who seeks to help us without recompense and with full dedication.

Congratulations on your 6 year anniversary

Thanks for stopping by and letting us know how well you are doing. The anniversary stories are so inspiring for perspective patients.

I hope you have many, many more anniversaries.

Hernau's Story is here:  http://surfacehippy.info/hipresurfacing/additional-stories/274-hernan-bilateral-hip-resurfacing-dr-snyder-2010 (http://surfacehippy.info/hipresurfacing/additional-stories/274-hernan-bilateral-hip-resurfacing-dr-snyder-2010)

I also want to thank Hernau for helping and supporting many, many members on this discussion group. He has posted 3781 times on the discussion group.  I think we all should Thank him for his help and support, too.

Thank You for the kind words.  I still feel it is so important for people to have a source for information and a great discussion group to share their stories, problems and recoveries.

As everyone can see, there are ads on the website.  They help me keep the site updated along with software and hardware.  The ads also allow me to work on the website as a full time job.  There were no ads for the first 3 years and I worked as hard then as I do now.  I think it is good for people to see the ads and the support from the medical companies, hospitals and surgeons that support and promote hip resurfacing.

Good luck.

Pat

Congratulations Hernan. I am this week one year out on my left hip( BHR, Dr. Marwin), and more than 13.5 years on my right hip(Cormet 2000, Dr. Gross), still going strong.

Glad to hear you're doing well Hernan.

Thanks hernanu for some good advice and encouragement.  I think your informed replies have helped hundreds of people  cope better with their surgery.
Congratulations on your anniversary, Mike.

Thanks folks - it does feel great. saf57 - awesome on that 13.5 ... hoping to check in at 13 myself.

Just passed six years myself, nothing to report!

Gary  Congratulations on you 6 year anniversary.  Hope your shoulder is doing OK and you are back to being active in your Martial Arts.

Good Luck.

Pat

Hi hernanu,


Big CONGRATS on your "birthday". 6 years and trucking along nicely with life so good for you.
Sure does inspire all of us. Keep up the top work , always very helpful with support and knowledge, plus just being there and caring.


Cheers,
Kiwi Boy Down Under. ;) :)

Checking in - August 24th was my 7th anniversary of my first HR, with November 26th coming up as my 7th for my second.


Feeling great, can do anything I want to do on it and have gotten back to all of my activities with a vengeance.


To all current new hippies, keep going and follow your surgeon's instructions - pretty soon you won't even notice you've got a new hip.


To those considering the surgery, it is major surgery and as such needs to be thought about well, but from my perspective, it is the best decision I ever made. There is an alternative to living in pain.


To more experienced hippies - congrats and I hope all turned out well. All of you inspired me in one way or another.

Hi Hernan


Good on you - 7 years is great - I wish you many, many more good years to come.


Evant

Quote from: evant on September 05, 2017, 05:03:09 PM

Hi Hernan


Good on you - 7 years is great - I wish you many, many more good years to come.


Evant

Thanks Evan. You've got four years now, right?

Congratulations and Happy 7th Anniversary hernanu.

Thanks for stopping by and updating us.  Always great to hear how well people can do with a hip resurfacing.

I wish you many, many more.

Pat
 

Thanks Pat - and thanks for providing this forum. It was a real lift before, during and after the surgeries.


You're doing a great service.

Congrats Hernanu! Here's to many, many more happy hippy years. Keep it up sir!

Hernan


Yes I'm 4 years post-op coming up for my 5th anniversary in Jan 18.


Of so much good advice you gave I remember being puzzled that (from your own experience and advice given to you) you said hippies continue to improve as years 1, 2, and 3 etc go by. I was sceptical but I've found it to be true for me too - something I'm really pleased about.


Best regards.

Quote from: evant on September 08, 2017, 03:33:06 PM

Hernan


Yes I'm 4 years post-op coming up for my 5th anniversary in Jan 18.


Of so much good advice you gave I remember being puzzled that (from your own experience and advice given to you) you said hippies continue to improve as years 1, 2, and 3 etc go by. I was sceptical but I've found it to be true for me too - something I'm really pleased about.


Best regards.

that's great evan - the hips are good, the rest of the body can relax now, I've found. 

Hi fellow hippies.

Checking in for my eighth anniversary (of my second hip, my first one's anniversary was August 24th).

My hips are now and have been for a long time feeling perfect. I'm grateful for the new life this has given me and the opportunities to both take up old joys and to explore new ones.

I want to thank Pat in particular for providing this wonderful site to people who are seeking and in need. I also want to let the hippies who advised and encouraged me when I first joined, it is a particular kind of relief to find that you are not alone.

There is a truly great benefit from this surgery. It may not be perfect, but it has been so far for me. I'll be checking in next year with my surgeon to have my metal levels tested, but they came out well a few years ago, so I am hopeful that it will continue.

To all of those considering this surgery, it is not perfect but gives you a very good shot at being rid of pain and back into life. Good luck to all.

Congratulations Hernanu! 


Thanks for taking time to share your update.  I always appreciate the large number of posts you have made to help others.


Thank You for the kind words about the website.


I wish you the very best and many, many more anniversaries!


Pat

thank you Pat... hope everything is going well, you're doing good work here.