Hello,
I have done weightlifting/resistance training since the age of 13. I am almost 60. I will be speaking with my surgeon, however, I would like to hear from anyone out there who has returned to this form of exercise after his or her resurfacing. I would like to know the length of time required before returning to this exercise and the type of program one used upon return.
Thanks,
Stan
Well Paul, I can tell you that I am now 14 weeks postop, and while I myself can lift, only chest, arms, back, NO LEGS, except for your own body weight. You can feel when you overdue it, but you are getting a new lease on life, so don't mess it up. You don't need to "lift" legs. Do other exercises that cause hardly no impact or weight on the hip, bicycling, stair climbers, walking, and own weight squats. Why mess this up, just change your weight program to coincide with your new hip. I can bicycle no problem, stairs no problem, if I walk to much it gets sore, but I do squats with my own weight every day, and lunges. But even at this length of time after surgery, it still gets sore, so you know if you overdo it. Hope this helps.
Hi Stan
I thought I would make the same suggestion that I made to you in an email - take it easy. As jjiam said, you are getting a new lease on life and changing you favorite activities might be a good idea. We all want to return to our loved sports, but if you want to keep your new hip resurfacing, you might have to adapt your weightlifing routines. It is no fun to go thru surgery twice to get a revision.
Hip resurfacing is a fantastic surgery and many people can return to their sports like running, biking, skiing, surfing, etc. Weightlifting might be an exception. If you are lifting heavy weights and get off balance at all, it would be very easy to crack your femur bone - I think. Only my personal thoughts. THis is all about weight loads and stress. How the stress is applied and at what angles could really cause problems for you.
I would be very conservative and really listen to my doctor. You can see all the athletes I have listed that have returned to very active lives, but I don't have any weight lifters. http://www.surfacehippy.info/athletes.php (http://www.surfacehippy.info/athletes.php)
I also posted Jim's story http://www.surfacehippy.info/jimresurfrevision07.php (http://www.surfacehippy.info/jimresurfrevision07.php) as a reminder that we are human and our bodies can only take so much of a beating. He felt his running cause his revision.
I figure I am 63 now and am so glad to be out of pain and able to do normal activities - I don't care if I never play another singles game of tennis or be exceptionally competitive at this point in my life. I had suffered for 10 years with terrible pain and inactivity - I never want to go back to that place. So I am conservative and really respect my new hip and what it can do. I had to give up a lot of activities and sports in my life due to the bad hip and I feel the new hip is now more important that my old activites.
I wish you great sucess with your new hip.
Pat
I actually know of two people that had hip resurfacing that are back to heavy duty weight lifting, Eddie in Florida and Charles who went to Dr. Bose. He signs his name Chawls. I don't have the info here since I am out of town but if you go to the Yahoo message board and post with the title "Any Weightlifters here?"
I know Alan Ray also does leg presses since his hip resurfacing surgery and he plays handball several times a week.
Vicky
heavy squats and deadlifts are one reason I had resurfacing.
May I suggest www.transformetrics.com for a different and better IMO option.
Or if you prefer MA type training then www.greendragonkungfu.com has some exceedingly effective strength programs. 9 strength and power exercises is the beginning level and you could move on to the premier Stone Warrior.
both of these choices will make you stronger, probably far stronger then you can currently imagine, and not destroy your joints, ligaments and tendons. The chance of injury is nil.
Since I love "all things resurfed", I'm more than happy to respond to folks that I may be able to help. I'm an "older dude" ... just turned 51--15 days ago. And, just minutes ago ... one of my gifts to myself just arrived in the mail. That would be a set of two, 70.5 lb. (32 kg) Kettlebells from performbetter.com. As I've spent lots of money on the other Kettlebells that I own--getting these babies for the price I got was awesome! However ... my zeal revolves around this ... yes, I do enjoy doing crazy weight-lifting exercise all the time. My UPS man summed up my post-op progress pretty well when he said, "You ordered some of these a couple of years ago ... you need to quit getting stronger!". And the last set of 2 that I ordered were the 53 lbs (26 kg) and that was PRE-OP! So ...
I do enjoy lifting weights. I kept doing upper body weight training immediately before and after my surgery in The Residency Towers gym (the hotel I stayed in) for my upper body. I designed personal programs using Escalating Density Training by Charles Staley. This kept my upper body from deteriorating and my cardio output high. I returned to weight training for my legs about 90 days post-op. In the meantime after returning home I did my daily walks with arm-crutches and TEDs on (during 110 degree heat in Tulsa, OK. August), did swim-kicking drills, and swimming at the gym; and, continued my EDT upper body training 3 times per week. The biggest thing is ...
That you shall immediately notice post-op that the surgery causes changes in your leg that are new and somewhat surprising. That's why you'll be grateful that you have an elevated toilet the first time you "arm-crutch" yourself into the bathroom. Your operated side will have virtually no strength at all when squatting down from an upright position. I mean such that you'll realize that there is only a small angle of motion and then it's total synapse failure and the result would be falling down--not a good thing. However ... this condition improves a little every single day. It's amazing. I had parts of my leg that had lost total feeling, etc. That, too changed quickly. This is just what happens when a gifted surgeon opens up your tissues ... pulls out of socket your trochanter and puts the power tools to it. What a miracle compared to THR! That's why I call Dr. Bose the "Miracle Man". So ...
Each day progresses and before long you notice that you can squat a little bit lower everyday. I was doing full butt-to-calves barbell squats probably 5-6 months post-op and after a couple of weeks my hip said, "Hey ... we got some more healing to do." No problem ... just back off and do other things that you can do. I was able to do Step-ups onto 14" wooden boxes with dumbbells, weighted lunges, recumbent bike, swimming, within about 90 days post-op. Now ... at about 18 months I'm ready for everything. Believe me ... months ago I was doing double kettlebell front squats with my butt-to-calves here at home! I will start doing Pistols--one legged squats soon (and that is with you butt-to-ground with the other leg extended)!
I have rehabilitated to the point that I am going to put myself through an austere training and nutrition program ... document it ... before-n-afters ... video too ... and write a book for teaching people how to get extremely fit after the age 50. I will be using bodyweight exercises, resistance-rubber-bands, free weights, kettlebells ... andthing I can show folks how to do at home. Does that sound like something someone would open up their passions for ... if they couldn't "do it" anymore?! My future brutha Stan ...
Go forth and prosper with Dr. Bose ... and the world will then again ... become your oyster!
Ever Thine,
Chawls
RBHR, Dr. Bose 7/31/06
Hi Chawls
Great to have you aboard. Thanks so much for posting. I have had several weight lifters write to me personally and as a 63 year old female with a BHR - I don't know anything about weight lifting.
I am so happy to have your help to respond to questions about the sport.
At 63, I can lift my 29 pound accordion to play once again - but that is all I can lift.
Thanks again for joining Hip Talk and helping out.
Good Luck with your lifting and new hip.
Pat Owner/Webmaster of Surface Hippy
James
Welcome to Hip Talk.
I also have to thank you for posting about your sport of weight lifting. I know nothing about it as a 63 year old female and truley appreciate you taking time to post for other weight lifters.
Thanks again for sharing information.
I know others will appreciate it.
Pat - Owner/Webmaster of Surface Hippy
Quote from: Pat Walter on December 31, 2007, 01:10:20 PM
Hi Stan
I thought I would make the same suggestion that I made to you in an email - take it easy. As jjiam said, you are getting a new lease on life and changing you favorite activities might be a good idea. We all want to return to our loved sports, but if you want to keep your new hip resurfacing, you might have to adapt your weightlifing routines. It is no fun to go thru surgery twice to get a revision.
Only my personal thoughts. THis is all about weight loads and stress.
I would be very conservative and really listen to my doctor. You can see all the athletes I have listed that have returned to very active lives, but I don't have any weight lifters. http://www.surfacehippy.info/athletes.php (http://www.surfacehippy.info/athletes.php)
I also posted Jim's story http://www.surfacehippy.info/jimresurfrevision07.php (http://www.surfacehippy.info/jimresurfrevision07.php) as a reminder that we are human and our bodies can only take so much of a beating. He felt his running cause his revision.
I figure I am 63 now and am so glad to be out of pain and able to do normal activities - I don't care if I never play another singles game of tennis or be exceptionally competitive at this point in my life. I had suffered for 10 years with terrible pain and inactivity - I never want to go back to that place. So I am conservative and really respect my new hip and what it can do. I had to give up a lot of activities and sports in my life due to the bad hip and I feel the new hip is now more important that my old activites.
Pat
I am 56 and I absolutely agree. I am conservative and respect my two new hips.
I don't think there is a training modality that I didn't do, except for olympic lifting. Which brought me to the point of my previous post.
I would urge caution unless you want a revision.
And thanks Pat for your site.
I am sixty five and have just had my second hip resurfaced. Two weeks past the operation and going along OK.
When in my twenties I was a competitive weightlifter and subsequently kept training with weights right up to my first hip resurfacing at the age of sixty three. At the time, I was doing full squats working up to 200 pound for 8 reps; I was also doing heavy deadlifts. After each workout my hips would flare up and it was painful to walk. Stupidly, I kept training until my right hip got so bad that I had the Birmingham resurfacing operation October 2007, at Epworth Hospital in Melbourne. Australia. I don't know whether weightlifting contributed to my osteoarthritis but it did aggravate things in the later stages.
Recovery after my first resurfacing went well but I missed being able to do my favourite exercises - full squats and deadlifts - for thigh and gluteus strength. I still train the upper body with weights but really only walk and stair climb for the legs. Although I have read of people doing leg work with weights after a resurfacing, I didn't feel it wise to push things in my case. I want the hip to last the rest of my life if possible.
After eighteen months recovery, I did start doing free half squats down to a bench and back up. That felt pretty good, so I started to very cautiously add a light weight across the shoulders. Then my left hip flared up and I couldn't do any leg work other than short walks. After seeing the surgeon again, I had my left hip resurfaced a fortnight ago.
Since the first op. my thighs and behind have lost quite a bit of muscle mass. I'll probably lose more until I've recovered from this latest op. The losses could be a combination of lack of resistance exercise and ageing related wasting; but I hope I can eventually get back to some sort of leg resistance training to regain a bit of muscle.
Great site here. Lots of valuable information not available elsewhere.
regards,
Neil Murray
Phillip Island, Australia
Hey Neil,
Hang in there I think deadlifts, front squats and back squats are key to recovery and getting the glutes and hips strong.Just go slowly and start light when you get the ok from your doc. I had my right hip resurfaced last June and now am squatting 100kg, deadlifting 150kg, and front squatting 78kg.
As a side note, I recently went to the Tour de France with an Aussie group (Bike Style Tours). Great bunch of folks from all over Oz.
take care,
spencer
Hi Spencer,
Thanks for the encouraging remarks. Impressive progress you are making with the weights, well done. It will be some time before I can do much but I do want to build some strength back in the old legs.
I watched some of the Tour on TV. Must have been a great experience to see it.
best wishes,
Neil
Neil,
Take your time and let your body dictate how much you can do, along with your doc's
advice. Do you know who Dave Mackenzie is? He announced the first ten days of the tour for SBS. He was one of our guides. Him and a recently retired Nick Gates (former leadout man for Robbie McEwan on Lotto) led us on some great rides including MT Ventoux. Take care of yourself and good luck!
spencer
Just an update on my progress since posting last September. It's now nearly seven months since my second(left) hip was resurfaced. It has healed very well indeed. Now, with both hips done and my dickie knee also healed up, I feel better than I have for three years.
I had a bit of a set back last November when I was shifting furniture. I lifted a TV set awkwardly, holding it too far in front of me - I should have known better. Anyway, something seemed to tear/pull in my right hip, which was then two years post BHR. It wasn't severe but the hip got quite sore the next day. It affected the sciatic nerve and I had pain right in middle of the buttock and tingling down my right leg and under my foot. The pain was worse at rest, when standing and lying down. It went away when walking. I did a lot of piriformis stretching, which helped a bit, but the problem persisted for two months. Eventually, I went to a myotherapist who located the problem area, and manipulated the exact spot in the joint where the pain was emanating from. Also, she put some acupuncture needles in the area. Lo and behold I have not had a problem since.
I'm back training with the weights three times a week and carefully doing half squats with a light barbell across the shoulders. I'm taking it very easy but it feels good and I'm adding 10 pound to the bar every week. My chicken legs have now put on a bit of beef and are getting back to looking pretty normal.
Am I glad I got both hips resurfaced? You betcha!
Neil
Neil, fascinating for me to read your story in that it has almost exactly paralleled mine. I too have traditionally done quite a bit of weight training. And like you I hurt my new hip (ASR Feb 2009) carrying a really heavy TV downstairs into my basement. No immediate pain, but hip flexors sore next day. Then after it settled down it was provoked again and that pattern of settling and provocation has ben repeated countless times over the last 5 frustrating months. And each time it is provoked (at least once a week), it sinks to a new, deeper low. Have tried accupuncture, PT, rest, arthrotec and can't seem to lick it. The thigh is now full of painful trigger points, and the other thigh is getting them too in sympathy. Massage seems to help a bit but I just feel caught in a rut I can't get out of. My surgeon says the actual device is fine, though my GP is ordering a bone scan just to double check. I'm still convinced it is a muscle thing, as I've heard those hip flexors can be incredibly stubborn. Anyway it was good to hear your story and its happy outcome - gives me a bit of a lift.
John
John,
That is coincidental that we both injured something lifting TV sets. The myotherapist who fixed me also mentioned a trigger point as she was treating my condition. But it was localized, in one particular spot, and very painful as she worked on it it. I could tell at the time it was the exact location of the problem. I think that what she did there fixed the problem rather than the needles. The improvement was immediate and dramatic. My theory was that the sciatic nerve had got pinched or entrapped somehow when I lifted the TV and that what she did somehow released the nerve from the tension.
I know how frustrated you must be that your own problem persists. I was starting to think that I would have mine as a chronic condition or that it would only get worse. I'm very relieved that it was fixed. I hope your own resolves or you find someone who can get you on the road to eliminating it.
Best wishes,
Neil
I'm about 13 months post-op and started doing light squats 1 year out. Over the past month, I've worked my way up to about 225#. I don't go super-deep and I always stay in good control with much attention to balance.
So far, so good. The squats have been easier than expected. I was a bit worried about edge loading, but I think I've convinced myself that even going deep shouldn't put any excessive edge wear on my implants
I don't know how heavy I want to go. Since I don't want to have to buy all new pants, I'll probably keep it under 300#.
Running still gives me some trouble. I just don't trust the new hip to take the pounding. I may ease into a bit more aggressive running as the warm weather rolls in.
Finally some weightlifting talk. I'm 15 weeks since having a RBHR and can't wait to get back under the bar. I've still a long way to go until 1yr per doctors order. I've been benching for quite a while and walk, swim and elliptical for lower body.
No weight training for one year? That seems really conservative. Did your doc say why?
No heavy squatting or running for 1yr. I see him at 4 months and want to ask about doing leg machines. I have been benching being careful with leg drive during the press. I do bodyweight squat and go really deep without a problem. I guess he is worried about the femur fracturing. I can wait as it shouldn't take too long to get back into it.
I took years off from squats--I mean like over a decade. Yet my response to starting again was almost immediate. My legs started inflating with obvious definition. My pants started feeling tight. I started at 100#, and now, 1 month later, 225# feels light. It's amazing how fast you get your strength back, assuming you had it before.
I wouldn't worry about losing ground from taking time off. The rest might actually be good for you. And it comes raging back as soon as you start again.
Good to hear you're making progress. Keep me posted as I would like to be able to squat and deadlift when the doc gives the okay. I to feel that squatting would be okay after all the surrounding muscle has healed. I don't think there will be a pounding on the joint like running would cause. I train with a small group and we do an occasional powerlifting meet. For me it will be bench only for awhile.
This is a great discussion and really relevant to what I'd like to be doing soon. I am scheduled to have my right hip done by Dr. Su on April 15th. But I have a question: even if you don't do squats, in order to work your upper body with free weights you have to carry the wait to lift it. I mean your legs have to get involved even if you don't do deadlifts or squats when you use free weights. Are we talking about working out with machines only here in this discussion?
Jerry
soon to have right hip done by Dr. Su
Hi Jerry
I started out with 30lb dumbells 2 weeks after surgery doing overhead press. I would grab them off the DB rack so I didn't have to bend over. I then went to light bench press at about 4 weeks being careful not to use leg drive during the press. I also did various upper body machines just to keep active. At 8 weeks during a doctor visit he advised not doing any lower body with weights, machine or free weights. He said deep knee bends and band work that the PT showed me were okay. My flexibility is pretty good now where my operated side is already better than at pre surgery. No problem at all clipping toe nails and putting on socks and shoes. Judging by the way I can go deep with bodyweight squat squats with weights shouldn't be a problem when the time comes. I might not be able to go as heavy as I once could but I'll take whatever I can handle. Joe
Hey Joe,
So I take it there was no weight carrying limit that your doctor gave you, if I understand you correctly. The reason I ask is my doc, Dr. Su, has a 20 lb. weight carrying limit for 3 months, then 50 lb. limit for the next 3 months, then (if there are no complications, I assume) you go unrestricted. I got that from his website. I need to ask Dr. Su more specifically what he means by this but, on the face of it, it looks like I won't be able to carry any free weights heavier than 10 pound dumbbells for three months, then I can go up to 25 pounders for the next three. If that is the case I'll just have to bide my time and do body weight exercises, which can be challenging if done correctly. Maybe Dr. Su is pretty conservative about the weight carrying part of his recovery protocol.
Did you say who your doctor was? I missed that.
Jerry
I didn't walk around with the weight, I just took the db's off the rack and alternated pressing over head. I didn't feel any strain so I just went with it. I definitely wouldn't bend over and try to pick them up off the floor or walk around with them. I now do yard work pushing around the wheel barrel loaded with yard waste and don't feel strained at all. My surgeon was Dr. Della Valle at Rush Medical in Chicago and he really only advised against lower body weight lifting and running. I think you're safe to go with upper body machines. I used to sit on a yoga block to make sure I didn't violate the 90 degree rule when sitting down using them. At 8 weeks he took the 90 degree rule off and I feel better every day. It's a little tight in the buttock sometime but after sitting awhile the stiffness goes away and it really isn't that bad to begin with. Doing the side and forward step with the bands around the ankles really make it feel good after. Also balancing on one leg for 45 seconds at a time doing 3 sets each leg also works well for me. I used to feel the operated side after putting the other foot back on the ground but now I feel nothing! A sigh that the muscles are getting stronger. When you start PT they will show you all kinds of good stuff to do. Don't strain and it gets better and better every day.
I started leg weight training at about 8 weeks, I found lunges much more challenging than squats, even now at 8 months. It's the balance part that's tough but really worth working on. I also like lying down and doing various movements with ankle weights. It really targets those muscles that have been cut. I use the therabands also. moe
I am 12 weeks post op and have been doing upper body exercises since the 4th week post op.
My doc advised 20lb carry limit the first 3-4 months, I see him again in 2 weeks, when I think I will be
upgraded to 50lbs carry limit.
I have a squat cage at home with the weight tree directy next to it, so I have been able to load the
bar without carrying the weights around, and can get as much as I want or can push/pull on the bar. I also have a set of Powerblock adjustable dumbells that go up to 130 lbs each, and have been using them at that weight. I moved them on their stand into the cage and can use them as well. Because I am not punishing my body with squats & deadlifts yet, my upper body has been making some great gains. I am looking forward to being able to start squatting again.
Todd
LBHR, 12/31/09 Dr.Su
Hey Todd
Sounds like you've done a little powerlifting. 130lb db's is a lot of weight to be throwing around so close to surgery. Only my buddy who has benched 500, with good hips can handle that...lol. Keep posting on your progress. It's good to hear from others with the same interests. Joe
Just got back from the 4 month checkup. The doc said no running or squatting until the 1 yr mark which will be when I see him next. He said the bone needs this time to heal completely. I guess it will be bench only for awhile.
I'm seven months in recovery and back in the gym doing what my body knows best; weight training. My endurance is down, but I see an increase in my strength weekly. I'm 50 and had my right hip done last March.
I just got done doing my third workout ofd oing squats and can do 3 sets of 10 with 225 (not a lot since I was once a 500LB squater). I get tighter in my hip muscle with each set, but the next day it feels fine.
I also can jog on a treadmill for 2-3 miles at a slow pace with no pain in the hip anymore.
Stephen, good to see another lifter on here. My doc said not to lift heavy until the 1yr mark which will be Dec 18th. I've been doing a lot of walking and the leg press machine with moderate weight. I too had a 500pr squat in the gym and 451 in competition prior to the resurface. I would like to get back heavy but will wait until getting the ok. I think running would be harder on the hip than squatting? Post your progress so I know what to expect. Joe
Buster,
My year will be March 2011. I probably won't do heavy sets anymore due to age (50+) but I can still train to stay in shape. Power lifting has been out since I was in my early 20's. Gyms don't like you dropping all that weight when you train so I stopped doing it for "etiquete" reasons.
I enjoy weight training now for its benefits and now watch the up and coming young guys and try yo teach them what I learned over my years.
Got the doc ok to lift heavy. Today I squatted 225x8x3sets and deadlifted 225x5x3sets and am feeling it already. Before the resurfacing I was able to squat 500 and DL 450. I will take it slow and see how it goes.
That is great news Buster! I hit my one year mark December 31st. See Dr Su on the 12th of January and hope to be following in your footsteps in regards to the squatting/deadlifts. Keep us updated with your progress.
Todd
Dr Su
LBHR
12/31/09
Second squat/deadlift workout since doctor ok. Did 3 sets of 8 with 245 after warmup in both with just wrist wraps. Weight feels heavy on shoulders during squat but ok during deadlift. Taking it slow going one workout a week. I was really sore for a day or two after the first workout last week, mostly back stiffness. Will see how I feel tomorrow morning.
I have done 2 powerlifting meets since getting the okay to lift heavy. The last meet on March 5th I did a 365lb squat, 308 bench and 385 deadlift. After today's workout I actually think I might be able to hit my pre surgery pr's of 451 squat and 441 deadlift. Time will tell and I'm taking it slow.
Congrats on the post-op meets. As an ex-competitive powerlifter it's great to hear of guys training and competing after surgery. What wt. class did you lift at? Best of luck down the road.
Train hard - train smart,
Craig
Hi Craig. I lift in the 198lb class usually weighing 195 at 5' 10", pretty skinny for a powerlifter...lol. I lift for fun and never come close to what others lift. I entered my first meet at 50 yrs old and turn 56 in June. Had the right hip resurfaced in Dec 09. The weights are feeling pretty good. Take it slow during your recovery. Joe
Amazing - just amazing :o
Thanks for the story - not sure I will be taking up power lifting but will stick with getting back on my mountain bike
Again - "wow"
Did another meet last Saturday 3/10. 420 squat, over 400 for the first time since the resurface. 452 dead lift, had 463 above the knees but couldn't lock it out. Hips are a little tight now but overall not too bad.
That's excellent, Buster - not at all a competitive lifter, but I also want to know the limits to reach. Thanks for posting, it's encouraging that you got back to your previous numbers.
Awesome!!!!....what did you bench?
Benched 303. Locked out 314.5 but the butt came up.
Gotta love the 1175 total !! congrats
Thanks! My best before the resurface was 545kg/1201.5lbs. I'm still not up to my old squat which was 205kg/451lbs and I've benched more. The dead lift was more than I ever did, even before the resurface by 5kg. The best news is that I don't have any aches and its only 2 days since the meet! If training goes well I will lift again in July.
Congrats on all of your lifts, Joe. Looks like your training is really progressing. I've started squatting and deadlifting along with upper body stuff. A lot of muscular pain, but the hip is great.
Keep up the good work and keep us posted.
Craig
Wow - I just lift light weights to keep tone - what you describe is amazing
Tripled 385 in the squat today and dead lifted 340 8X Wednesday. Knock on wood but I think the hip is holding up nicely.
Buster WOW! that's awesome!!!
Great results, buster!
Hello Buster (Joe), or anyone else who can help with information. My name is Eric Mickley and I sure would appreciate it if you would help me by answingering some questions about your experiences with the resurfacing. I'm a former California NASA Drug Free State Powerlifting Champion way back in 1991, and started up again about five months ago at the age of 48. Even though I hadn't lifted in a long time, my totals are getting back up near where they were when I competed, but the old hip injury just kept getting worse and worse. It has gotten so bad I can't tie my shoes and I am walking with a very bad and very painful limp, doing everything hurts. I can stand up quicker with 455 than I can with no weight. Just getting up out of a chair is excruciating, so I went to a doctor and was told my hip was beyond repair. Cartilage worn through, labral tears, osteoarthritis, bone spurs etc.. Two doctors, and two identical diagnosis' later, I am contemplating a hip resurfacing. I am extremely concerned that I may never Powerlift again. Today, my doctor told me that I wouldn't be able to do squats and or deadlifts ever again, after getting the resurfacing, but almost any other activity would be O.K.. Needless to say, I felt gut-shot. I thought I was going to throw up. Reading your story gave me some new hope, and I am curious to learn the details about your procedure, which device you had put in, BHR? Cemented or not? My Doctor does cemented, but I've heard it's not as good. Which procedure/approach, Superpath? Etc.. And most importantly, if you have had any problems with the heavy iron. I'm currently squatting about 455 for five reps in training with my labrum torn, which puts my squat around 500 for a single, even when injured. I would like to be able to go up to 600-700lb squat and DL, and I am concerned about the hip holding up, neck fracture, etc.. I suspect my doctor is being cautious because 1. it's unknown ground, as no one he's heard of has gone that heavy with a hip resurface, you are the heaviest to my knowledge. and 2. fear of liability. Your story gives me some hope. Do you know of anyone who has gone that heavy? Have you heard of anyone getting a pelvic neck fracture after 6 months? I've worked so hard, It's my passion and I don't want to quit. I don't mind taking a year off, as it comes back pretty quick for me (about 6-9 months to go from beginning to my pr's). I just don't want to do this resurfacing if I have to quit lifting forever. Sorry for the long email, I guess I'm still upset by what the doctor told me. Thank you for your advice and information, Eric
Eric welcome mate. I can't really shed much light on the poundages that you want to lift. But on the device side personally I'd go for the BHR it's the most proven device out there with the best track record. The cementless debate to me is a bit misleading as the BHR has no problem with cement failure. Cement is used differently in the BHR than other HR's and thrs and McMinn has never had a femoral component come loose! In theory.I can see the cementless has advantages but that's in theory. In theory the ASR was better than the BHR and we all know how that turned out!
The recipe for a good outcome with hip resurfacing is simple, get THE BEST SURGEON YOU CAN FIND, use A PROVEN DEVICE, then ALLOW YOUR BODY TO HEAL. If you do this you will have a great result!
Danmy
I think the jury is still out on this. As I recall Buster didn't start squatting with weight until one year. I would think at one year that you would be pretty safe with the cup, but I'm still not comfortable with the cap on the femur neck. Since bone was removed from the center there is less bone even after healing. The addition of the metal spike in the center may strengthen the femoral neck - after it fully heals - or create some additional loading in some other area. I don't think anybody really knows. I have read on this site that Dr.'s haven't seen a femoral neck fracture after 6 months. I assume there are HR patients that are doing heavy squats.
I've been doing 100 deep knee bends and 100 very light leg presses on leg days since 7 weeks - with my Dr.'s approval. At 4 months he cleared me to do squats with just the barbell, but he was concerned about the ultimate amount of weight I could squat. There wasn't a number given; just 45 lbs was OK and 200 lbs seemed to be too much.
I'm at about 5.5 months and yesterday I squatted with weight for the first time, holding 25 lb dumbells. I'm going to limit the weight to 50 lbs or so for the foreseeable future and see how it goes. How much weight I can ultimately squat is a real unknown right now.
As far as the operation is concerned, you can't tie your shoes now and everything hurts. It isn't going to get better so your choices are not being able to walk, or being able to walk without any pain at all, but maybe not do heavy squats. When you look at it that way it isn't too tough a call.
Again, my doctor told me I could do whatever I wanted after 1 year. My 3 yr check up is due in December and I will tell the doc how its going. Wednesday I dead lifted 395 for 5 reps and today squatted 400 for 1. I have chatted with Ed Coan who is considered the greatest power lifter of all time and he is up to 700 in the squat. Ed had a total hip done in Norway about 18 months ago. I squatted heavy up until the night before my surgery wanting to make sure the surrounding muscle was strong to help in recovery. At 57 my dead lift is stronger now then before the resurface.
hey guys,
Had my left hip resurfaced 10-2-12 by Dr Christie in Nashville. Before surgery I was squatting 405 for 5-8, Leg Pressing 700-800 for about 6 reps and stiff legged deadlifts 225 for 6-8. I had about stopped regular deadlifting because of back issues. Dr Christie said I could get back to heavy squatting after 6 months. I gradually started back and now am up to 295 for 8. Every time I go up in weight the hip hurts a little bit but that seems to be normal. I only go parallel. I'm shooting for 315 for 10 reps or so at some point. Don't really feel the need to go any heavier.
My question is: since squatting, leg presses and hamstring work isn't a pounding movement does it contribute at all to wear? Also shouldn't building up all the muscles and tendons around the implant be a really good thing?
thanks,
Donnie
Donnie, I agree and my doctor said the same. I squat and dead the heaviest I can. In fact my dead lift is higher than before the resurfacing. Squat is lagging but I'm working on it.
Squatting will probably contribute to wear but in such a small way not even worth mentioning. How ever remember that real deep squats do edge load the device so personally I'd only squat to parallel
I had my left hip resurfaced by Dr. Gross two years ago
I've been lifting weights the last six months very aggressively including heavy leg presses leg extensions and leg curls.
I'm also doing extensive jump roping
Every once in a while I'll get a little twinge in my hip, but most of the time it feels better than my UN-operated hip!
If I jog after about a mile I start to get soreness in my soft tissue around the incision so I pretty much avoided running- cycling ellipticals even basketball doesn't seem to bother it at all
Good luck!
I was an elite, drug-free, super-heavyweight powerlifter for many years and was inducted into the USA Powerlifting Hall of Fame in '09 at the age of 55. My best lifts that year were a Squat of 771 lbs, Bench Press of 505 lbs and a 705 lb deadlift.
I retired from competition after the '09 IPF Masters World Championships in the Czech Republic, as I could hardly walk afterwards, due to the severe osteoarthritis, which crept up on me over a 2-3 year period. I had bilateral hip resurfacing on Monday & Wednesday of the same week in April of 2011. I walked out at discharge without crutches and at day 13, I was hitting balls at the driving range and playing racquetball at 90 days.
I came back to weightlifting a bit too fast and within 6 months I was deadlifting well over 500 lbs for reps and squatting rep sets of 315 lbs. I decided to play golf for the next couple of years, doing hundreds of miles of walking and letting the bones heal. I returned to the gym 6 weeks ago and am doing low (12") box squats, 5x5 at 275 lbs with a wide stance. I began deadlifting last week and I've been warming up, then doing pulls of 5x5 at 365 lbs, just enough to break a sweat. I'm doing bench press sets at 5x3 at 275 lbs. I could easily deadlift over 500 lbs my first month back, but for what? I intend on training my usual 4 day split (Monday/Bench, Tuesday/Squat, Thursday/Bench, Friday/Deadlift) but try to keep with intensity at a moderate level. I may come back as a Masters III ('60-'69 age group) in a year and a half but am unsure if I want to flip that switch back on again.
I walk and lift without any pain and I came home on Ibuprofen-only and that's all I ever use, mainly after playing 36-72 holes in a day, golfing.
Hi Roger. I follow the usapl and recognize your name. I usually do the Wisconsin Open and lifted at Masters Nationals when it was in Milwaukee in 08. We are the same age and I don't have a problem lifting as much as I can. My right hip is resurfaced not both like yours. It looks like you came back faster than I did. Joe
Anyone from this thread still lifting, now that its been a couple years?
Prior to my BiLat I was running the 5x5 program. Only thing that bothered me was the arthritic hip
I still squat, bench and dead lift once a week. I turn 60 in June and still go as heavy as I can.
Just checking in, as I am a competitive powerlifter with USAPL, but relegated to bench only due to the bad right hip. Hope to be able to do full meets again sometime. 1 week from today I see Dr. Rector to see if I am a candidate.
Thank You for everyone's input. Great information.