Well I had my pre op assessment at the royal orthopaedic Hospital in birmingham.
Was just the usual tests blood, height, weight, swabs etc.
I got to Play with a BHR which was pretty cool too.
I am being admitted on the 9th for the op on the 10th.
I'm now feeling confident and I'm looking forward to recovery!
Danny
Awesome. Nov. 10? I'm excited for you. Glad you are looking forward to getting it done and focusing your energy on your recovery.
Luanna
Yeah go in on the 9th for op on the 10th. Touch wood by Christmas I'll be well on the way to recovery!
Congratulations my friend!
10 more days and you are on your way back. You will have a great recovery and I just know you will be back to doing everything you ever wanted to do.
Keep us posted on the recovery. You will be in our thoughts and prayers.
Thanks for the kind words rob.
I'd like to thank pat especially and everyone on here as with out this site I don't know where I would have ended up treatment wise! Probably with sone weird and wonderful THR.
Although I've not gone under the knife yet and am obviously a long way from recovery at least with one of these I have a good chance of living my life again so pat and everyone else thank you so so much I owe you big time.
Now for the easy part getting chopped up! :D
Good Job, Danny!
You might be one of the youngest here, but it doesn't matter. You'll probably recover faster than any of us.
BTW - I get to play with 2 BHRs everyday, when I walk downstairs, make some coffee, sit on the couch, put my shoes on, ride my bike to work, walk to the printer, walk upstairs, walk to the burrito stand, ride home, work on the boat, cut some firewood, do my stretches, cut my toenails, read the hiking book about the next trail I want to walk on, sleep comfortably all night long,....
and I love it.
Thanks tin. I'm looking forward to getting my life back on track!
Great news Danny! Good fight all the way too. Keep us posted, you'll be back on your feet without that d*$@ed pain.
Way to go, Danny! I'm so glad all your persistence paid off! :)
We look forward to your recovery story - I'm sure you will do great!
Danny-
Best wishes on your upcoming procedure. Just remember that you have done all that you can do. Leave the rest to the professionals. You will be in great hands.
I look forward to hearing your progress once you start recovery and ultimately rehabilitation.
Dan
Dan thanks mate. I had a call from the ocupational health people at the ROH this evening and they informed me Mr Treacy doesn't have any restrictions post op ie 90 degree etc which is nice to know.
Good luck, Danny! It's been a long road for you. I look forward to your after surgery posts.
Thanks steve, 8 days to go now. Carnt wait!
Danny
I didn't have those restrictions either, Danny. Obviously I was still careful and did what my surgeon / PT / visiting nurse told me to do.
Hern,
That's good to know mate. I don't really know what other restrictions are normally imposed other than no impact for 12 months etc. I'm assuming that your not allowed to lift anything heavy etc. What restrictions did you have mate?
Not much. I was careful about lifting anything heavy early on (above 50 lbs) with my arms. I started lifting weights with my legs (leg press, about 200 lbs), towards the end of outpatient PT, or about 3months post surgery. I got on a spinning bike within four weeks.
Home PT started the day after I came home, with exercises that mirror the ones listed on this web site. I was on Tylenol for pain and aspirin for anti clot duty. I was careful about twisting the leg inwards and when I could, slept with a pillow either under my knees (when on my back) or between my knees (when I started sleeping on my side).
And I walked walked walked, rest and ice. So I guess not many restrictions, more things that I needed to do fairly often.
Hern,
Thanks for the info. I'm looking at walking as much as I can first then I'll go from there.
Danny
First of all best of luck with the surgery and a very happy recovery! I borrowed Hern's stretching exercises and they have helped (plus they make you feel like you're doing something to help recovery...a good mental side effect). The weight lifting and cycling etc. will come. The walking, stairclimbing, sleeping, standing up and sitting down...those are the things that consumed the early part of recovery for me. Almost no pain to speak of (yay), but the leg felt very awkward and weak when moved in the directions directly related to the surgical dislocations. A wierd example was making right turns in my car with an operated right hip. The leg would swing toward the center and feel kind of unsupported and awkward...didn't like it. Not so much painful as "I don't want to go there".
As I have gotten stronger over the past 4 weeks, I hardly notice the basic movements anymore, but I'm mindful of not pushing my operative leg in the wrong ways (crossing, toe in, knee across centerline). Its getting better, but I figure that stressing it like the dislocation did is the only way I can really injure myself at this early stage. As others have said, your body will probably give you the best advice when it feels you are doing too much...if it causes a twinge, hurts or resists too much....STOP and reconsider! Good luck, Curt
Right my bags are packed and I'm just in bed now I'm ready for the trip down to Birmingham in the morning.
I'm trying to compile a list of questions to ask Mr Treacy. Anyone got any sugestions?
Danny
Start with "Did you sleep well?". I get that all the time as a pilot. Never mind, it isn't funny to me either. Just relax and let the pro handle everything. Save your questions for post op (write them down so the drugs don't do all the talking and blabbering). Angle of the implant, damage seen in the hip and any corrections or extra work needed there during the procedure, condition of the soft tissues and any other pleasant or unpleasant surprises that were found during the operation. Oh yeah, then say "thanks, Doc."
The very best of luck Danny. Curt
Go Danny go! Best wishes to you. I expect to hear good things from the Hippy side.
Dan
Curt covered the questions, Danny. You're set and ready to go. All good from now.
Check in afterwards, I really want to hear how you're doing.
Well I'm all checked in to the royal orthopaedic just got to wait for the clock to tick around to tomorrow now:-/ god I'm inpatient!
On the up side there's some rather attractive dr's and nurses cutting around!:-)
Quote from: Dannywayoflife on November 09, 2011, 02:06:21 PM
Well I'm all checked in to the royal orthopaedic just got to wait for the clock to tick around to tomorrow now:-/ god I'm inpatient!
On the up side there's some rather attractive dr's and nurses cutting around!:-)
Oh no! the zest for life is coming back early! keep focused, Danny... no dancing to impress the medical staff ;)
Ha I'm sure it will be short lived! This time tomorrow I should be hyped up on some good stuff!
;D
Best of luck tomorrow! Keep us posted.
Roger that mate I will do!
Danny
It should be tomorrow where you are. Hopefully you are sleeping peacefully on the last night with your old hip.
Best wishes tomorrow (today)!
Dan
Just been seen by the anethatist and there going to use what seems to be the standard general Plus a spinal. As long as I'm totally out of it I don't care.
Back on ward now. Op took Mr Treacy 25 mins. Still got spinal block on. I believe I've got a 60mm cup and 54mm cap. But will check this with the man.
Excellent, Danny! Welcome to the other side, how do you feel?
Spinal now worn off. I feel fine no pain what so ever. Just taking some morphine just to try and get some sleep but zero pain.
Hoping to see one of the team later to ask some questions.
Wow, 25 minutes! Was that from the time you were knocked out to the time you got out of recovery to your room? I think mine was about 90 minutes and the doctor said everything went perfectly.
Welcome to the other side, Danny. Your recovery and new life begin now.
Best wishes.
Dan
Dan no it was 25 mins from knife to close and 2hrs 30 mins till i left recovery.
Danny
YOU are awesome!! Mine took an hour and a half from spinal to final. Most of that was using retractors to move my gluteous flabimus out of the way, I'm sure! Remember, while its fun, its NOT ok to grab the nurses where ever you want! Curt
Well my mood has just changed some what! For what ever reason I wasn't fitted with a drain I'm now having a f###ing massive hemorage!
Just great!
Keep us posted, Danny. I had a drain for the first hip, are they planning on one for you now?
Don't know mate they've redressed my wound and are just observing me but the doc reckoned I've lost about a litre of blood. That carnt be normal! Gone from being happy to absolutely crapping my self! Will be just my luck!
I'm sure they've dealt with this before, Danny. Let them take care of it, keep your spirits up, buddy, sounds like a bump in the road.
Thanks hern, I've just got so so much riding on this! I don't know what I'd do if this fails!
Hang in there Danny. The bleeding they can surely control. The implant is hopefully a completely separate issue. Try to relax, and believe that you've got good people taking care of you. Curt
You are going to be fine. It is not a cause for concern so do not worry about it.
A liter blood loss is not ideal, but it is not a cause for great concern, still only considered a Phase I hemorrhage. Your doctors and medical staff are the best their is and will take great care of you.
Try to rest and we will catch up with you in a few days once you have had a chance to relax. Keep the faith. You are fixed now and on the way to your new life.
Cheers bro I don't know about tough i think
More stupid! ::)
Well I've been really down hill since the bleed they think I need a blood transfusion awaiting results. Not happy!
Danny,
Hopefully you are getting some rest and have your fluid levels back up. How are things going for you?
How goes it, Danny?
I've had some kind of attack. Was brought on by the physio moving my leg. Was really scarry I was unable to breath properly, I've had 3 ecg's as im slightly taciocardic and had a chest xray.
Dang it, Danny, it was supposed to go smoother than this. Hang in there! They will get you fixed.
Best wishes and positive thoughts.
Dan
I feel more comfortable now the leg is still way too painful go move at all, but Mr Treacy did indicate when I saw him in the theatre that due to my large quads (28"+) that would mean more cutting and pain to start.
They took morphine off me for some reason though and that was working real well.
Hello Danny!
Sorry to hear you're not having a splendid time of it. My only excitement amounted to passing out on a couple of nurses the first time they had me try to stand up...other than that, it was smooth sailing! Left in the afternoon of the second day.
Thanks again for taking time to respond to my dimension question yesterday. Wouldn't have expected that from someone on the day of their procedure!
The Pimm's Cup and Weatabix combo was delightful.
Hang in there! Bruce
Danny - sorry to hear all of this. I was messing about upstairs on the forum and wasn't watching your story unfold. Sounds like things are coming along, though. I too had a major event with the first PT, but it was only due to pain and I didn't have any other cardio issues, but I cried, had a hard time catching my breath, almost puked. Yours could be a combo of blood loss, allergy to the narcotic, pain, and also from being on your back for along period, with low BP. I'm sure the staff can handle this. Hope they get that squared up for you. That's not a fun place to be.
As Lop says, "Soldier on!"
Hey buddy,
Glad to hear you are feeling a little better. I am sure the pain in the leg is not fun but it sounds like the other issues are behind you now. Keep up the good work and try to relax as much as possible.
Take care brother, you will continue to be in our thoughts and prayers.
Sounds like they're stabilizing you, Danny. What are they planning?
Hern god knows mate what there planning I don't get told anything. I'm getting really annoyed now as I've still yet to see a member of the surgical team who can answer ANY questions! I keep hearing from nurses it must have gone well but the great old nhs won't just let me ask someone in the know!
Well it's gone from bad to worse. Since my taciocardic episode they have filled my full of drugs. Which was fine. But I've still not seen any of the surgical team and my telling nurses the fact my operated hit WILLNOT move at all has fallen on deaf ears!
Well I was dosed last night with my oral painkillers that don't work having had my pca taken away from me for some reason!
Well after not sleeping for 3 days I quickly fell asleep only to be woken at 0300 in absolute agony! I was screaming the ward down I pressed my buzzer and eventually a nurse turned up
Saying I'd refused an earlier dose of pain relief. Which was bull she just couldn't be bothered to wake me up! This made no difference what so ever and I continued to litterally scream the place down for an hour and a half. This doctor really didnt understand but eventually put me on a magnesium drip at the request of an aneathatist. She then turned up and I spent another 10 mins explaining that I had been totally unable to move my leg since the op. I can feel it but god knows I cannot move it! I was asked why I hadn't told a doctor sooner and I curtly replied I had only seen one jr doc who I had told but obviously didnt listen.
It's now Saturday I had the op on Thursday at 1200 and I cannot move my leg at all.
I have not seen any of the team who operated on me other than the jr doc who didnt examine me or answer my questions!
I feel like smashing the ward up fight now this Is a joke!
Right well after the worst night of my life I've finally spoken to someone who has set the wheels in motion. I'm having a battery of tests today but the theory at the moment it a severe internal bleed which could be irritating the nerves of my leg.
Mr Treacy told the registrar on the phone that the op went perfectly so all my dramas are likely to be because of my rather muscular 28" thighs.
But the registrar I saw was gob smacked that no one from the surgical side had seen me or examined me. And it's certainly no excuse for me being in absolute agony for 2 hours waiting for uninformed docs to tern up.
I'm feeling a lot better after seeing the guy this morning and he's seeing me this evening after my tests.
Danny
What an awful night, Danny. Sorry you're dealing with this, let us know when you know more.
Had some xrays today and the theory at the moment is that because of my rather large 28" quads there's obviously significant tissue damage. So the doc thinks I may have a blood clot or heamotoma which is pressing on my nerves. They have given me morphine back which is working well. The doc who saw me this morning spoke to mr treacy on the phone and he said the op went perfectly so there should be no device issues.
There are a few other things that could be causing my problems but the clot/swelling thing is apparently most likely.
Good that they have a handle on this, buddy. I'm glad the morphine is doing the job, at least they should know how to deal with a clot. Keep up the contact, Danny, hopefully the worst is over and you can progress.
Apparently any clot or fluid pocket if they are what's causeing this will be left to be absorbed by the body. It's too risky to drain them unless they get infected as the risk of introducing infection is higher than if they leave them to be absorbed.
I figured. This will pass, Danny. How do you feel? How's the hip itself?
I'm still unable to move the hip mate so couldn't tell you!!
I am really, really sorry to hear about the last few days for you. You certainly deserve better care than what it sounds like you have gotten.
The theory about the blood clot pushing against nerves seems to make sense from all the symptoms and pain you are having. I know it probably doesn't help but it NOW sounds like they have you comfortable with the morphine and your clinical situation seems to be improving.
The great news is that the operation itself with the installation of the BHR went perfectly. The x-rays and the surgeon both confirmed this so once you are able to get past this ONE LAST HURDLE, you will be good as new.
You have gone through one hell of a journey over the last few years fighting and getting knocked down at each and every turn. The important thing is that YOU HAVE GOTTEN UP EVERY TIME AND KEPT FIGHTING. Sounds like you have one last battle on your hands. Keep the faith and keep the fight. You'll end up winning this just like you have won every other single time.
Your in our prayers buddy.
Thank you once again rob. You are all constantly in my prayers.
The moral of the story for me is never rely on the nhs! It's a private health plan for me from now on!
You are having an abnormally tough time Danny. I can't believe they are not all over this to find out what is wrong. I guess the liability lawsuits in the States scares hospitals into jumping on any unusual problems.
Best wishes man. My thoughts are with you.
Dan
P.S. what doesn't kill us makes us stronger.
Dan thanks for your support. Yes our health system although free at point of treatment is terribly floored! We do defiantly pay for it with our rediculus taxes however! It's just one of the many reasons I would love to leave this country now!
Hopefully these dam complications will iron them selfs out so I can start recovery proper!
Have you made any progress since earlier?
I've been able to move my leg about an inch now so that's way more that this morning! I'm guessing I'll have the physio around tomorrow so hopefully things are finally looking up!
Excellent, Danny! Great that you can move the leg, I'm sure once the swelling goes down more, you'll see more improvement. Let the PT know what you dealt with, so he/she can set good exercises / goals for you.
Really pleased you are turning that corner.
The poor pt girl is the one who moved my leg initially and started my first episode!:-)
Once I'm out of here I will be complaining about the after care I received.
Definitely should, make it better for future hippies.
Well I slept through last night an so feel quite a lot better.!
The nurse came round checking ops this morning and she said you've use too much morphine in the night! I said really how do u know? She replied your pupils. I oh ok that's funny cos I've not used it all night not had to oh and your machine will show you that as well!
This is AWESOME news for sure!!!! Sounds like things are def. turning around for you. Have the localized the issues you had and are the issues now gone? When will you be going home? How long is it going to take you to get home?
Hay pete&everyone,
The issues are SLOWLY subsiding. I think the anti inflamitorys are now working(although why I wasnt on them from the start I don't know!). I am gaining movement slowly I now have a few inches of movement in the leg and the physio managed to get me to stand up this morning with a zimmet. She thinks I'll be walking tomorrow but being realistic there's NO chance of that! I couldn't even put 5% weight on my op leg! But I'm improving.
There seem to be certain nurses who don't like myself or others being on strong pain killers for some reason! I have had to get quite nasty with some of them which is very unlike me but as far as I'm aware my drug regime is written by the anaesthesiologist not the bloody nurses!
Hopefully tomorrow I'll be moving the leg slightly more and will be able to do slightly more pt.
Pete I think realisticly I'll be out of here Tuesday or Wednesday.
Good to hear things are getting better Danny.
Although you are not where you would like to be, it sounds like you are doing a lot better than you were even 1 day ago. Keep up the good work.
Yes rob progressing day by day. I may have got off to a slow start but I'm putting that behind me. It's not a race and so long as eventually I get back to normal I'm not going to over do it.
I suspect that your post op recovery will be far better as in the USA you guys seem to have better care. My surgical care was world class but the after care was not.
I am alotting 12 full months to then slowly start getting into my martial arts again. I think a long slow careful recovery will pay dividends in the long run.
Danny
Things seem to be looking up, Danny. Real glad to hear it, now you will get into a regular hippy recovery.
Thanks hern,
I'm looking forward to getting back to my mum and dads to recover. I have a few supplements which I am going to take in recovery which hopefully may help sped the process up.
I just prey 12 months from now I can gradually start getting back into my boxing and grappling!
Going to use the next 12 months to rehab and drop the 30-40lbs I've put on since getting oa!
Danny
In the same boat here, Danny. The weight hasn't dropped as quickly as I'd like, but the gym work (aerobic and weights) is coming back, the flexibility and the boxing definitely.
I think you've got a good mind set and you'll make good progress now.
Been out for the weekend Danny, glad to hear that you've recovered from your setback. Best of luck on a more normal and less exciting recovery! Hang in there. Curt
Well today is I think day 4 post op. And I managed to "walk" on crutches with the physio.
They are now regularly checking my pain and altering my pain script accordingly.
The physio reiterated what mr treacy had eluded to tgat young people with strong legs have very painful recoveries.
I think any clot/fluid build up is now delt with as my movement is improving and my general swelling has "normalised".
Hopefully I'll be making big progress in the next two days and will then be aloud back to my parents.
Danny
Awesome Danny. Sounds like you're making some good progres finally. Like I said weeks from now you will look back at the setback and laugh. Glad they are finally keeping up with you with regards to your pain meds. I'm sure you'll have massive gains now moving forward and you'll be back to Martial Arts within the 12 months post op as you'll know you're ready. "LET'S GET IT ON" HAHA
Pete
Thanks pete! Yes I finally feel like I'm getting somewhere. I am now pleased with my general care but some of the staff still have real bad attitudes and I will take it further once I am discharged.
I'm going to use the next 12 months to rehab fully and try and use non impact cardio to drop the 30-40lbs I've put on over the last 15+ months!
But I intend on a big comeback when I'm ready!
How's your recovery coming pete?
Great stuff, Danny - sounds like you're right on track.
Thanks hern. I'm looking forward to the swelling going down and been able to really start rehab.
Hey Danny, how are you today? Has the swelling become less of an issue? Hope everything calms down enough to allow you to get around more. Take care. Curt
Hi Danny
I am glad to hear things are getting better. Glad they finally have everything under control. Hope you will be home soon. Thanks for sharing your story so others can learn.
I wish you the very best and look forward to your posts when you are up and walking - feeling much better.
Pat
Danny,
Things are getting a bit better for sure. Today I'm finally able to walk with 1 crutch although I keep the other one in my hand just in case. I can take 5-10 steps this way which is a huge improvement. Getting in and out of bed is getting easier but I have to pee every 5 minutes so that's a pain in the butt. I cut 2 doses of the Tylenol out of my routine so instead of taking it 4 times per day I'm only taking it twice a day. I take it in the morning and then again before bed. That being said by the end of the day everything is super tight but I don't think the Tylenol has anything to do with that. So glad to hear your progress is finally starting to happen. Maybe some day in the distant future we can meet up for a little BJJ Mat time.
Pete
Well I'm getting kicked out in the next few hours. I'm still not right mobile but I'll be glad to be out of here!
Great news, Danny!!!
None of us were incredibly mobile when we first got out. That changes quick. Are you going to have home care or PT?
Real happy to see you progressing.
Danny,
Glad to see that you are headed home to your mom and dad's. They kicked me out too and were they ever glad to be rid of me!! And I was glad to be rid of them. Like you the surgery care was outstanding but the hospital care lacked. The nursing staff were fine when everything was going well but didn't seem to have a clue when things turned south for a couple of days.
Finally, the physical therapist came in and unhooked me from the IV drip and said "go home...get out as soon as you can".... She was watching the nursing staff and was appalled. My hubby came and got me - and we took off. I was still really ill when we hit the road for home and had a hospital bucket in my lap and a wet hospital wash rag on my head.
Felt so much better to be at home! That's when I began making real progress.
Hope you have a smooth and easy recovery from here on out! You really are a fighter.
Luanna
Danny, good luck and enjoy being in a home without beeps and boops from all those monitors. Curt
Danny, change your signature line... your are an official hippy now, you get to note it ;D.
DANNY !!
Hey man, Congrats on getting released from the hospital. You're probably back at your family place, drinking beers and eating pizza by now. I'm really glad to hear you are feeling a bit better.
Keep us posted.
Quote from: PistolPete on November 14, 2011, 05:10:21 PM
Danny,
Things are getting a bit better for sure. Today I'm finally able to walk with 1 crutch although I keep the other one in my hand just in case. I can take 5-10 steps this way which is a huge improvement. Getting in and out of bed is getting easier but I have to pee every 5 minutes so that's a pain in the butt. I cut 2 doses of the Tylenol out of my routine so instead of taking it 4 times per day I'm only taking it twice a day. I take it in the morning and then again before bed. That being said by the end of the day everything is super tight but I don't think the Tylenol has anything to do with that. So glad to hear your progress is finally starting to happen. Maybe some day in the distant future we can meet up for a little BJJ Mat time.
Pete
Pete you sound like your making awesome progress!
I would love to when were all fully rehabbed have a roll! Perhaps we could do a hippy roll tornament!!
luanna,
Your ordeal sounds terrible! Im so glad you got over it and are now making great progress!
Im happyier at home but i am still fuming at the care i recieved in hospital!
I had to phone Mr Treacy's private secetary today as i was given ZERO info about what to do or what to expect! all i was given was my sick note a shit load of pills and injections and a sheet on how to recognise gangreen!!
Good old NHS!!!! >:(
To tell you the truth Danny, the second and third days in the hospital were the worst of my entire life and that's saying alot. But - at 11 weeks I'm doing great - swimming, leg press, stationary bike, upper body work, and also walking quite well. You'll get there too.
Luanna
Luanna,
That's great! God I hope I start to progress! Mind I'm only 6 days post op!
Right time for my 7 day update!
Well the infection I picked up in hospital has got worse the antibiotics I was given clearly wernt up to the job so I've had an emergency apointment with my mums local gp.
I have been having hot and cold flushes and my temp was raised and my throat is really really sore!
So anyway the gp changed my antibiotic and adjusted my pain meds upward as my pain has been really bad due to all the soft tissue Mr Treacy had to cut through to get the job done!
I'm able to "walk" short distances although I'd hardly call it walking. The swelling is still horrendous so I think this is one of the limiting factors in my progress.
I have noticed the "clunking" to me tho it feels more like just loose stuff and air escaping! It's really hard to describe.
I'm doing my own leg strengthening stuff Ie trying to lift my knee forwards sideways and rearwards when ever I can just so I'm doing something!?
I start physio next week so I'm hoping the swelling has gone down and I can really start to make gains.
Oh I've started my bone supplements today calcium collagen magnesium and I'm starting a hgh growth matrix and GABA tonight.
Danny
What kind of infection do you have? It isn't a skin/incision infection is it? Hopefully you're just dealing with a sore throat or something? WTH!!!! It's amazing that it often feels like when things go bad they go REALLY bad. Hand in there it's all good from here. My progress has been going well. Yesterday I felt really good and today I feel even better. I went for a 1/2 mile walk with one crutch today. I carry the 2nd one although I don't use it. Things felt good and then I had some work to do in the basement so I was standing crutch free for about 45 minutes. I'm actually waiting for my wife to get home as she's taking me to my Martial Arts school. I miss my students so it will be good seeing them tonight. No worries though I won't be doing any sparring. HAHA
Pete,
Thanks for the concern, it's a throat, general cold type thing. Had fevers and cold swets etc. I've been given mega doses of antibiotic so that should take care of it.
I've started having what I think is normally called clunking, it feels like air popping out and sometimes feels like the device is going to dislocate even when I'm just stood up! It's horrible! But understand it's "normal"?
God I carnt wait to be able to do proper rehab and start working towards my goals!
Danny
Danny,
Hang in there brother you're on your way. These past 2 weeks have been some of the most difficult of my life. Life has a funny way of testing us to see how much we can take. Hopefully this will pass quickly. I've had some weird twinges myself. Sometimes I stand up and feel a shooting pain at the top of my hamstring near my groin. I have to just stand there for 2-3 minutes before the pain goes away. I haven't experienced the clunking but I've read a lot about it. I was standing up in my kitchen this morning and lifted my operated leg and just made small circles with my foot. The hip felt really smooth. If I did that presurgery it would click and then stop.
Thanks pete,
It's good to hear from yourself as your just ahead of me so your info is current to me which is great!
I "think" my initial recovery will be slow due to my as mentioned large quads, I was told by a surgeon in the hospital that initial recovery in young people is always slower in there experience as the young people's ligements and tendons are always that bit tighter and so need to be être stretched that bit more. I also think that my neck capsule was particularly tight so it will initially tighten even more.
To be honest I'm not bothered about the speed of my progress so long as in around 12 months I can start boxing again!
Danny
I bet you could easily get back to boxing in 6 months and then get back to BJJ and Muay Thai in the year. Boxing won't put much stress on your hips and if you're concerned you could just not pivot your hips when you punch. That being said the pivoting motion of punching will prob. promote healing. My surgeon said he wants me working out because the mini trauma that you cause to the bone actually allows it to heal faster. By stressing the joing you body tells it to repair so at the end of the day this trauma will help you completely heal faster. You know your body but I truly think you should make some shorter tern goals. Think about it shadowboxing would be excellent exercise and would help get you limber. You might want to avoid the heavybag but light focus mitt work and showdowboxing would be awesome. You could prob. even take a cardio kickboxing or boxing class at around 6 months. That would really help you loosen up AND lose the weight that you want to lose.
Pete,
I know what your saying and aggree that a degree of impact causes micro fractures causing the bone to strengthen but both of the designers of the bhr are saying 12 months and I see logic to both sides of the argument. I certainly will be shadow boxing at the earliest possible time I really find it helps with timing and technique!
My IT band has tightened up so much right now it's sobpainful! I think I'm still way too early for massage tho. I'm trying the gentlest of stretches for it and hopefully as I heal and can do more it will loosen slightly!
Danny
HI Danny,
I too am having the IT band tightness as well. Just behind the outside of my knee it is really tight and sore. I'm trying to get some stretching in but not having much success.
Quote from: Dannywayoflife on November 17, 2011, 10:19:44 PM
I "think" my initial recovery will be slow due to my as mentioned large quads, I was told by a surgeon in the hospital that initial recovery in young people is always slower in there experience as the young people's ligements and tendons are always that bit tighter and so need to be être stretched that bit more.
Danny, finally an advantage of being old! Now I know why my recovery has been so easy! :)
Seriously, I just read your hip story posts, and I am really sorry you had to deal with all these problems, especially after what you went through to get the surgery approved in the first place. Glad things are getting better, but please be patient and make sure you do not do too much! My doctor (Dr. Gross) does not allow any stretching for the first 6 weeks. He gives 4 very easy and gentle exercises to do, plus walking, gradually increasing to 1 mile at the end of the 6 weeks. After that, stretching and other exercises that do not violate the rules he gives you, such as no lifting more than 50#, no deep squats, and no crossing your legs at the knee, are allowed. Also no running or jumping for 1 year. It can be difficult to abide by these rules, especially when you feel like you can do more, but I do it because I do not want to mess anything up and have to have another surgery. So I'm glad to hear you say you're not bothered by the speed of your progress as long as you can start boxing again at 12 months! That should be no problem after the first year.
Best wishes for continued, good recovery!
Danny,
Hey buddy. Glad to see you are still keeping us updated on your progress. You too, PistolPete!
Keep up the good work. Just look at how much better you are doing than you were 1 week ago. Go back and read your posts man, you are going great. Don't worry about the clunking and the tightness. You will get past it and it sounds like a LOT of folks had these issues. No worries buddy, you are on your way.
Since we can't get back to martial arts for a long time, maybe we should take up ballet? What do you think? At least we could wear those cute outfits.
Take care buddy
Quote from: rbt2011 on November 18, 2011, 07:00:15 PM
Danny,
Hey buddy. Glad to see you are still keeping us updated on your progress. You too, PistolPete!
Keep up the good work. Just look at how much better you are doing than you were 1 week ago. Go back and read your posts man, you are going great. Don't worry about the clunking and the tightness. You will get past it and it sounds like a LOT of folks had these issues. No worries buddy, you are on your way.
Since we can't get back to martial arts for a long time, maybe we should take up ballet? What do you think? At least we could wear those cute outfits.
Take care buddy
Yeah always seen myself in a to to!:-))))
Danny,
How you feeling?
Hi Danny, glad to see your through to the other side, sorry to hear you have had so much hassle, can only get better from now on mate.
Mind you has kind of put me off ROH, i managed to get in to see Mr Treacy on 21/12/11 but not sure i want the after care you have just had, might stick with my original surgeon, NHS but in a private hospital own room etc. I have had nothing but good reports about it and him so i am in a quandry now lol.
Quote from: steveallan on November 20, 2011, 07:34:09 PM
Hi Danny, glad to see your through to the other side, sorry to hear you have had so much hassle, can only get better from now on mate.
Mind you has kind of put me off ROH, i managed to get in to see Mr Treacy on 21/12/11 but not sure i want the after care you have just had, might stick with my original surgeon, NHS but in a private hospital own room etc. I have had nothing but good reports about it and him so i am in a quandry now lol.
When I chose my surgeon a lot of people told me not to go to my surgeon because I would end up with nerve damage or a mini-hip or something else. I chose to proceed with him and honestly had the best care possible. I had an issue post surgery where I passed out and because I was at a top notch hospital I received the best care and most thorough possible. Within minutes I was getting bloodwork, EKG, a CT Scan, had emergency room doctors checking me out and I was monitored constantly throughout the night. If I was in another country I'm doubtful I would have gotten the same treatment. That being said I've only heard great things about Dr. Treacy. Good luck on your decision.
Quote from: steveallan on November 20, 2011, 07:34:09 PM
Hi Danny, glad to see your through to the other side, sorry to hear you have had so much hassle, can only get better from now on mate.
Mind you has kind of put me off ROH, i managed to get in to see Mr Treacy on 21/12/11 but not sure i want the after care you have just had, might stick with my original surgeon, NHS but in a private hospital own room etc. I have had nothing but good reports about it and him so i am in a quandry now lol.
Steve,
im sorry that my poor experience is making you think twice.
Please though bear in mind that my complications were and are very unique to me, my 28'' quads which Mr Treacy said would cause post op pain etc due to the ammount of soft tissue he was going to have to cut through/seperate and also the extra force required to dislocate the leg. And the low magnesium in my blood which caused the horendous spasms.
Yes my aftercare was poor but i believe there are reasons for that. The ward was chronicly short staffed and there were alot of bank and agency staff there. The problems were more attitude based i belive the night i had my spasm attack the nurse who had an objection to me being on morphine i dont belive that she paged the on call doctor for quite some time. I dont belive that she is a permenent staff member.
The time i was off the ward sister/manager was off on holiday and i spoke to her on my last day and she to be honest was highly profetional and effictient and i outlined the problems i ha d whilst in the ward and she was shocked and angry.(i think that possible the person who ever it was who was suposed to manage in her place was not a good leader and gave people too much lead). I also spoke to the infection control nurse and complained to her.
I am in the process of making an officail complaint as well.
I belive that 95% of my care problems were down to attitude and lazyness i suspect that is not a problem when the sister is there!
I was on ward with 3 guys who are regulars there and they say the care is normally outstanding.
To be honest to me the most important part was getting the surgical excellence that only someone like Mr Treacy can provide, 3 seperate orthopedic Drs have looked at films of my device and they all say its perfect so long term i should be fine. He did say i would suffer because of my Rather large legs but obviously thats no excuse for the lack of care i was shown.
I am making a complaint and belive that things will happen as a result as like i say most of the issue seemed to be lazyness and bad attitued that is easyly rectified at no cost!
Would i go back and do it again? Yes I got the most experienced man in the world to place the device. Am i Pist at my care yes and they will feel my roth!
In the long term i should have a great out come but my initial recovery is/will be slower than normal.
The decision is yours mate good look.
On the upside my ROM is everso slightly getting better but the pain is sitll bat but its soft tissue pain so that will take a few weeks.
I see the physio on wednesday so im looking forward to that as im just pottering around the house at the moment! which is doing my head in!!!!!
ATB Danny
Good description, Danny. The best decision you can make is the surgeon you choose, since that affects your long term result.
By the way, how are you feeling and how's the recovery going now that the other stuff is done with?
Thanks Danny, great pep talk, I have to go to ROH your 100% right. Just a few weeks until my consultation now. Hope things get easier for you soon mate.
Steve my dad has two mates both of which are nhs consultants one of them had an op done by a really top guy on the nhs he said the surgeory went really well but once again it was the aftercare on the ward that lacked. It's endemic on the nhs I'm afraid. But as I said the 3 guys in my room were regular customers at the roh and they said it's normally brilliant! Just my luck I always get the s##t end of the stick! As I said earlier I also believe the fact the ward sister being off played a large roll while the cats away and all that!
Seriously you will not get a better surgeon in the world for this than Mr Treacy. I spoke with his assistant and she said he must have done around 7000+ bhrs now plus over a thousand revision surgerys and as many thrs. His results speak for the selfs.
I believe my aftercare was a isolated case but obviously I will still stamp my feet over it etc!
On the up side I really don't want to curse it but I have had a better day and I think Ive made progress!:-)
Steve I hope you get sorted and I'd strongly suggest you listen to Mr Treacy and his team you won't get better on the nhs!
Danny
Hi Danny
Just checking in to wish you well on your continuing recovery! I know you've had struggles along the way, but hopefully it gets easier from here. Good wishes to PistolPete too!
HD
Hay halfdone,
I "think" I'm starting to get better. Touch wood. I think my rom has gotten better today, the pain is around the same maybe slightly less. So I'm hoping I've maybe turned the corner?!
Danny
Made a little more progress today. I think I was defiantly trying to do too much too soon initially.
The swelling has gone down slightly and as a result the rom has increased slightly. Although theres some more aching.
I start physio in the morning so looking forward to that!
Danny
Good stuff, Danny. Remember to rest as much as you exercise. Elevate that leg to get swelling down, ice and nap as needed. Then get up and move. I think all of those are needed.
The physio will definitely get you moving. The sideways lifts were the worst for me, so don't get discouraged if there's some aspect that takes longer - you've got time.
Danny - for a young guy, I'd think it would be especially difficult to take it easy and rest. All I can say is the same the others said, rest , rest , and more rest. Don't overdo the exercises, the progress will surprisingly jump here and there. The opposite will happen if you overdo it. Good job!
Healthier my mum keeps badgering me to take it easy. It is hard but I am making more progress when I am so that's my insentive!
Well I'm 2 weeks post op now. And I have made improvement but not as much as id like!(showing my impatience!) I think this is down to the huge amount of soft tissue damage I was warned about due to my large quads. Im still in some pain but far far less then before and what remains is muscular pain. I'm getting more aches in various muscles the must have been yanked and pulled about in the op. No real bruising has come out yet but then it would be so deep I suppose it may not come out.
One thing I am really aware of is when I do over do it I pay! Not with pain but I'm TOTALLY wiped out for the rest of the day.
I started physio this week (I think our physio is some what different over here to yours in the US! Ours is very very remedial!)
Danny
Glad to hear you are doing better than you were and that your pain levels are down. Don't worry if you not where you want to be right now. The ONLY thing that matters is if you are where you want to be in 1 year from now. You will get there, no doubt.
Take care buddy
Thanks Rob right back at ya! ;)
Danny-
I had pain that lasted longer than I thought also. I suspect the more muscular you are the more force it takes them to get the hip out to work on it. It will pass.
Remember RICE - rest, ice, compression, elevation.
Best wishes.
Dan
Danny,
Sounds like you're back on track - I've only just caught up on your ordeal. Hope recovery runs smoothly from here on in.
Simon
Simon thanks and how are you doing?! I hope that your whole experience was more consistant than my paradoxical experience! But that's unfortunately the way our system works! I got the arguably the best surgeon in the world but as soon as I was on the ward the "world class treatment ended!"
I wish you a speedy recovery and hope tgat you regain your life!!!
Danny
Mate, I'm doing really well so far thanks. Only day 4 but seem to be on track. Going for 5 min walk outside today which I'm looking forward to. Yesterday was probably hardest day as I had to catch a plane home, lots of walking either side of journey and even though they gave me a seat at the front I still couldn't move as I'm 6ft4". Long day. All in all couln't be happier with result at this early stage.
You seemed to have done everything right, extrememly thorough & got a great surgeon etc then your public system got hold of you - sounded like a nightmare mate. My wife's English and she wasn't surprised when I told her your story.
Anyway, let's hope you can move forward with out any more unneceesary speed humps! Good luck mate.
Wow simon that's great!! I hope that your progress continues!
Your wife was obviously sensible and got out of the uk!
Danny
So do I Danny... my biggest issue right now is trying not to over do it. Then if I sit for too long I get stiff & a tad sore. I'm finding ice is my biggest friend, but just working on finding the right balance of exercise & rest by listening to my body is my main focus.
My Physio wants me doing a 5 minute walk today & then increasing my walking distance daily, along with stand up ROM exercises (3 diff sets of 10, 3 times per day). Wants me in pool by 3 weeks.
Yeah wife got out of UK many moons ago (ex Hereford) to move to NZ.
How's your clunking now?
The clunking is getting better. My main issue is muscular tightness and aching.
Hereford is lovely nice and close to the beacons!:-)
Danny
Danny
Good to hear you are not getting the clunking as much. The muscular tightness and aching should go away soon enough. I know it is easy for me to say but the good news is that each and every day you are getting better and no longer getting worse. 2 weeks ago you were in a tough spot. 2 weeks from now you are going to feel great.
How often are you icing? Did you get an ice machine or are you just putting it on top of the wound? Just wondering, I need to buy some ice packs tomorrow.
Rob to be honest I just use frozen veg from the fridge.
Rob check your inbox.
Do you guys still ice? How long did you ice for? I've stopped Icing about a week or so ago. The swelling is gone. I'm thinking I should get back to it though as I'm sure at the end of the day when I'm so sore it's because of inflamation.
Danny, did your infection go away finally?
Yea pete the throat infection went as soon as I changed antibiotics.
I've still some swelling even tho I'm on anti inflamitries I ice every so often.
Danny
I iced for a while. At first, just to get the swelling down, help any inflamation from the surgeries.
After that was pretty well down, I shifted to workout mode, since I figured the muscles were getting worked harder than they were used to for a bit, since the OA had limited them.
I also used it not just after working out or walking a fair amount, but when riding a car for a long distance (or after it), to keep any discomfort from that down. I used it for a few months after the swelling went down, when the discomfort from any normal activities died down, I pretty much stopped using it.
I'm taking it pretty easy still as when I over do it I'm totally wiped out for the rest of the day! I'm doing some light leg weight stuff for initial strengthening
Well I'm slowly getting slightly more mobile. I've started occasionally using one crutch around the house. Although I prefer to use two as I can stride better. I'm trying to stride out as much as poss as I'm really really tight in my hip flexors.
Great to hear your progressing Danny! Keep up the good work.
Great to hear you are up and moving around.
Yeah its making me feel more positive! Im likening the experience to the tortouise and the hare race! To be fair like ive said before i dont care how fast my recovery is so long as i get back what i lost! Ive set the full 12 months out in my mind so thats what i am aiming for, i'll start shadow boxing etc and gym non impact before then obviously but im going to heade the advice of my surgeon and wait untill i return to the high impact stuff ie bjj judo boxing etc.
In the mean time im hoping to get involved in my mates mma promotion maybe some judging etc just to keep my hand in the game :D
Well had my second physio session this morning and it went real well. A fair bit of the swelling has gone down over the last week which had helped.
The physio did some assisted stretching and she said that in some plains of movement I already have a "normal" range! So there should be plenty to come!
I've been doing my own strengthening exercises mainly and they seem to be working so I'll continue!
Danny
Sounds good, Danny - I started at about 35 degrees from center on my right, below the 45 the PT said was normal, and walked out after a month and a half at about 55 degrees, which is better than normal. Sounds like it's going well, buddy.
Awesome Danny, keep making progress. Are you still walking with 2 crutches? How has the mobility improved?
Pete, yeah still on 2 crutches I can go with 1 but my form fades so I'd rather not get into bad gait habbits!
Danny
Wow well I feel like I'm paying for the physio yesterday!
Some payment is ok - how are you feeling? Swelling?
The swelling is about the same 50%down on when I left hospital. The stretching has caused some muscular "twinges" and some more clunking but I suppose it's for the greater good!
Danny, you might also be loosening some scar tissue from the operation. I had twinges / clunking also, I was alarmed a lot, but it worked out. Sounds like you're about right.
Hern, your probably right. I'm not too concerned at the min.
Danny
Well i think im slowly improving. Its so hard to see improvement yourself!! But my mum and dad say im getting better! I am definatly getting slightly stronger but some days i make no improvement or very little but thats to be expected.
I have my post op check up with Mr Treacy on wednesday in birmingham, not particularly looking forward to 4 hours in the car each way but what doesnt kill us makes us stronger!
Im hoping to find out some more details on wednesday like confirming my component size, inclination angle anteversion angle etc.
Ive got shed loads of scar tissue in the leg i can feel it but im going to wait til atleast 6 weeks to allow full soft tissue healing before i let my mate whos just quallified as a sports therapist get into it!
Well hopefully on wednesday i can post some more details.
Oh just incase anyone is intersted ive found some really interesting papers on vickys site. If you search Longevity then it brings up a video by derrick mcminn and he discusses the early mcminn resurfacing device and how it evolved to the BHR. Some really really good info in it and made me very confident that this BHR will be in me for a LONG time! And theres also a paper by John O' Hara which i found really interesting as hes been involved in the design of HR devices for finsbury for a long time.
Danny
Let us know what Treacy says about impact sports and the longevity of the BHR.
McMinn says he switched to cemented femoral caps in March 1992.
I haven't found anything which documents cement failures due to impact loadings or cement failures due to breakdown over time.
Danny,
Are you talking about the third video in the series of three on Vicky's site? If so, that was really the video that got me thinking about longevity. It truly is promising data to support a long clinical success rate for these devices. Then again, you and I are a bit biased.
Trust that your mom and dad can see the incremental gains that they see in your recovery. I really think it is hard for us to assess our recovery day to day, or even week to week. We had pain before. We have some pain, weakness, ROM issues right after surgery but they are different. I would imagine that you are getting better each day but probably just can't see it. Your a strong guy and I am sure Treacy will have some encouraging news for you tomorrow.
Let us know what he says.
Thanks for the kind words as ever rob. It really does help knowing that everyone on here has/is going through the same.
The video your talking about isn't the one I mentioned but is a good one! The one I'm on about can be found on vickys site but you have to do a search. Just type "longevity" into tge search box half way down the page on the right and it's tge second video that comes up titled "longevity of hip resurfacing with statistics of cementless resurfacing" well worth a watch mate!!
How are you progressing now rob?
Had my first post op check with Mr Treacy today. I had to bring it forward due to being in quite significant pain(muscular). He assessed me and said i was around 2-3 weeks behind where he thought i would be. He thinks this is a combination of the sheer amount of muscle on my leg he had to cut through/seperate and the muscular spasams i had post op. He also felt that my physio had retarded my progress further by doing the assisted stretches way too early!!!
But on the bright side the device is PERFECTLY placed and he thinks i will make a full recovery it will just take a little longer than expected.
My mind is at ease a little more now as i have now seen my x rays my self and now know that he did a really good surgeory so that gives me the best chance of regaining my life!
He said my op was very routeen the only minor complication being my shallow acetabulum in a anterior aspect.
As i said to him i reallly dont care if im 2 weks behind expected at the min so long as i make a full recovery in time and he assured me in his experience and opininon i would so i cannot ask for much more!
He wants to see me again in January just to see how im getting on then.
That is great! In the long run, who cares if your 2 weeks behind or 2 months behind. As long as the surgery went great and the device is placed well, then that is ALL that matters.
Looks like he also confirmed your 54/60 mm sizing, as well. Did you talk about how long he expected it to last, hypothetically speaking.
Great to hear that things turned out as well as they did.
Sounds excellent, Danny. Like rob says, no worries on x behind, you're right on time for you.
Congrats Danny! So, Dr. Treacy thinks that PT too soon may be a contributing factor? Did he say when it would be most appropriate to start? I'm due under the knife in about 4-5 weeks, so that is an interesting thing to hear.
Yes im pleased now having been told by every ortho doc thats looked at my x rays that its in as it was designed! Yeah i really dont care if im 2 weeks behind if i make a full recovery! ive already set it in my mind that it will take a full year so theres 335 days for my body to heal till then :D
I asked him about longevity at my initial consultation and he explained that theres no way of knowing how long these will last, he explained that with his current stats he could tell me that being a male under 65 with OA been oppereated on by him there was around a 97-98% probability it would last 14 years. He then explained in his oppinion there would be verry little change of those figures out at 20 years and dont forget that a failure could be as the result of a car crash or any other non rellated reason they all go into the figures. He also pointed out that THR's with the same metulergy and same tollerences had lasted 40+ years ad that the HR was far superior to a THR as it loads the femur in a normal way. So in theory it should last way longer than a THR as THR's fail not due to wear but loosening and a large part of loosening is down to the abnormal way stress is transmitted to the femour.
So in a non comital way he basicly is of the opinion it SHOULD last a very long time so long as the surgeon does his/her part.
Quote from: imgetinold on December 07, 2011, 12:32:55 PM
Congrats Danny! So, Dr. Treacy thinks that PT too soon may be a contributing factor? Did he say when it would be most appropriate to start? I'm due under the knife in about 4-5 weeks, so that is an interesting thing to hear.
He basicly said the physio that i was having Ie assisted streching at 3 weeks almost definatly put my progress back. I spent the next 2 days pretty much solid not moving as i felt it had done something. I did say to the physio should i be doing this and she said so, i just took her at her word.
He basicly told me i really didnt need to see a physio and that he just really thinks that walking as much as possible and getting into a hydrotherpy pool were far better. He also said he would like me on an exersise bike with the seat as high as i could safely get it just to gently increase my rom. To be honest and i know this is very generalised but in 15 years of martial arts and 12 years as a night club bouncer i have had my fair share of bad injurys and i have seen i think around 20-30 physio's and EVERY SINGLE ONE has been a total waste of skin!!!!
Im informed GOOD physio's are out there but i am yet to cross one of there paths!!!
It may well be differnet in the US but our NHS is just like a cattle market and i think a money drain!!
Hi Danny,
Thanks for the post about Mr. Treacy's opinion about the longevity of the BHR.
I notice your hip device is the same size as mine 60 mm/ 54 mm.
I'm 5 ft 11 in, 200 pounds but if I was in shape I would weigh about 175 pounds.
You stated you have 28 inch thighs.
What is your height and "fighting" weight?
Hi steve,
No problem. I have a list a mile long of more questions I intend getting Mr Treacy to answer!
I am 5'9" tall and when I was actively fighting I was generally circa 185 but fought as heavy as 200 as a one off when I was badly out of shape and a fighter pulled out.
I intend on trying to get down to 170 when I am back doing fitness so as to take as much stress off the implant as I can. I do intend to return and fight again but not muay Thai just normal boxing. But I first have to walk before I can run so to speak!!
Well I'm nearly 5 weeks post op now and I'm really really struggling. Mr Treacy told me I was behind where he thought I would be last week and I dont really think I'm improving.
I'm now thinking that my post op spasam fits might have done some damage. Im going to give it a few more days and then book a private appointment with mr treacy rather than wait till my scheduled one in mid January
What are you struggling with, Danny?
I'm struggling with walking weight bearing and my rom is horrific.
Walking without aids? I had trouble with walking without a limp by 5 weeks both times.
My ROM measurements by the PT were about 15 degrees away from normal when I started PT at 5 weeks, much better after about two months of PT. Is that what you're seeing?
I struggle to walk with a normal gait with crutches. I have been advised by my surgeon the physio I was going to was doing the wrong things which possibly have caused damage and not to go back. He advocates just walking, pool exercises and stationary bike. To be honest as ive said before I have yet to meet a good physio!
My rom is totally horrific it will flex to a point and it's as though it hits an iron bar it will not move any more.
I've spent hours comparing my x ray to those I can find on line of perfectly placed devices and I must say I'm no surgeon but the placement looks perfect.
I may be worrying about nothing but I've got my entire life depending on a good outcome from this it's hard not to.
Like I said, my ROM was bad when I first started. The place where I stopped sounded like what you mentioned, it just did not move farther.
Mr Treacy looked at your device, and found no problems, right? so if there is something that is holding you back physically, it is probably muscular and something you need to be patient with. Sorry if you ran into a bad physio, I did have good luck with mine, but there are different quality people out there.
My home PT person didn't work too much on ROM, being content to work on strength and some very light stretches. I know you'll be better once the hip gets strong enough.
Now 3 totally separate orthopaedic surgeons including Mr Treacy have seen the x rays and all have said the same thing it's in there spot on so I'm guessing if it wasn't as it should be one of them would have said so.
The assisted stretches my physio did were agony and I did say to her im only 19 days post op. But this was the woman who had never heard of hip resurfacing but knew exactly what to do!(good old nhs!!)
I do suspect that its soft tissue related but surely I should be gaining progress by now?!
One of tge weird things I've only just noticed is that my outer quad muscle seems to have moved further around my leg to my hamstrings. There's no muscle where there was pre op and it's moved round the leg and this outer area of my quad is one of the weak spots when I try to walk.
My PT has told me on more than one visit that he won't do any assisted stretches until after my 6 week appointment with the surgeon. The exercises that I am doing are helping and there will be plenty of time to stretch it out later. My ROM is still narrow, but before surgery I had problems with putting on socks on the bad leg. Good luck with the leg
Yeah pre op I couldn't put my socks or shoes on and struggled putting trousers etc on, so still in the same position really!
Danny,
I really hope that this is nothing serious. If the device is in the right place, then hopefully all the rest of this will resolve itself.
Mr Treacy seemed confident I would just be a late bloomer and from my judgement of hi
I think he would tell me if he thought otherwise.
I may just be expecting too much too soon but like I say my entire life rests on the out come of this so it's hard not to fret slightly when things arent going totally to script.
I will leave it a few more days then like I say pay to see him privately.
Danny
I think you're good, Danny - it sounds like the device is fine, there may be some tissue that needs to heal more. You're still early and like all of us, get anxious and rightly so.
Ice that, relax and do your walking, etc. Maybe get a friend or family member to look at your gait and see how it seems to them, we are sometimes not the best witnesses. Late bloomer or not, you will bloom, Danny.
Thanks hern.
Danny
Hi Danny,
You remind me of me. I'm at almost 15 weeks and I'm still struggling with sore soft tissue and muscle aches and pains and I'm sure half the time that the implants are in the wrong place or slipping. But - it's just that I'm healing at my own pace and it seems soooooooooo slow and like something must be wrong. I overdid a few weeks back and it really slowed me down. So, be careful and let your hip capsule heal as much as possible before attempting any major activities. I agree with the idea of walking, stationary bike, and pool exercises, and resting a lot.
Remember all that muscle that they had to cut through to get to your joint! That's gonna take some time to heal. My hubby has huge quads and I can't imagine what he'd be feeling if he'd had HR surgery. Ouch!
I take each day as it comes and try not to get discouraged when I have trouble with my gait or can't quite reach my toes to put on socks and shoes easily. I've thrown out the original script and am writing a new one. Keep your 1 year goal in mind Danny. When you set that goal it really helped me keep a longterm perspective on recovery.
Luanna
Thanks luanna,
You are of course right. I firmly belive that the 12 month recovery period is the way forward. It makes sense to allow the bone time to fully recover and heal before starting impact activities.
I think my gut feeling that my progress is stunted due to soft tissue issues is correct I mean like I've said before my quads are rather large!
I really am finding recovery more of an emotional battle than I thought I would prior!
Danny,
Really sorry to hear you have been having a rough time of it lately. I do however understand your concerns. I understand first hand how frustrating and downright frightening it is when things don't seem to be going according to plan. Especially with something like this where it quite literally will affect the rest of your life. I have been having my own struggles of late so at least your not alone. :D
The fantastic news is that 3 surgeons, including your operating surgeon who is arguably one of the best, most experienced BHR surgeons on the planet, confirmed your device is placed perfect. Perfect is a rather nice description, don't you think?
Hernanu is right. It sounds like things are good and while it may take a bit longer, you will get there. Just from a layman's perspective, it would seem that your freakishly large enormous 87" quads would take longer to heal than normal human being size legs. That's a lot of meat to get through. :)
While everyone in the recovery process probably has similar feelings I do know that the most important thing to focus on is the things that you have control over. Most importantly, in my opinion, is your attitude. You have to believe that you will get better. Believe and imagine yourself walking again, pain free, in the direction of your dreams. I know that you are going to be do it and I will too.
Keep the faith my friend. This too shall pass.
Hang in there Danny you will be fine. As others have said your massive quads are going to take longer to heal than others. There is more tissue, muscle, fat, etc. that was cut thru so just hang in there. Do things as you can and keep your head up. Walk as much as you can and I'm confident you will be fine. You knew it was going to be a long recovery so hang in there. You're on the right track. We've all had some setbacks so keep your head up and charge forward.
Hang in there bud. We're thinking of you & you're not alone with feeling like you're not progressing as quickly as you'd like. Everyone said there would be some speed bumps along the way - especially the first 6 weeks. You have some huge muscles that are pretty angry at the moment, give them a chance to reunite.
All the best mate,
Simon
Thanks kiwi. I've got to admit this is far tougher emotionally than I thought it would be. It's like a rollercoaster ride!
Hi Danny, in talking to Boomer and frankly, myself, I think that you and I and probably a lot of us here got trapped into expectations that were unrealistically high. I was crippled before surgery and would have been eager to agree to anything that gave me basic mobility, the ability to do little more than walk and sleep. As I got more info, read all of those "great and fantastic" testimonials of guys doing Ironman triathalons and climbing mountains and all just a few months after surgery, I began to get excited about all the great new and old things that I would now be able to do or do again.
Trouble is that I lost sight of the basic stuff I really wanted, and my patience got tested along the way (I don't have any patience so the test failed). Anyway, once I realized that I wasn't going to be running and jumping like the heroes in the example cases, I began to look at what I was getting: very slowly improving ROM, not good but maybe getting better; strength that sucked but was SLOWLY getting better; surgical pain that was surprising, but no deep OA ache and grinding like before the surgery, etc. etc. I think its important to see this as something that is slowly getting better on all fronts with total mobility as the end result. Before surgery I'll bet it was slowly or quickly getting worse with complete immobility as your reward.
Don't get frustrated and concentrate on the positive direction we are all headed even if its too slow for our competitive and over-reaching brains! By the way, had to look up how to spell P-A-T-I-E-N-C-E !!
Good luck and smile, Curt
Danny,
I think a lot of us Hippys had the misperception that we were going to be able to control both the flow and pace of our recovery. I discovered very quickly that although I could attempt the physical therapy recommended by my surgeon and physical therapist, it was my healing body that would actually determine whether or not I could actually do the PT. I was barely able to do a single set of clam shells at my third PT session yesterday, after doing hundreds of them prior to surgery. Some days I walk a little better, and some days I regress to a limp. Some days my healing muscles go about their healing quietly, and some days they squawk at me so loudly that I need to take something for the pain. Every day is different, good and bad.
The only things we can control about our recovery are the mental aaproach we bring to the physical therapy and the physical effort we put forth. The results are not within our control. I start each day with a plan of what I want to accomplish to support my recovery that includes diet, physical therapy and routine activities. At the end of the day, if I accomplished these things, I declar victory, regardless of whether or not there has been any notable improvement in me. Most days, improvement is not there, but I salute the effort I made and share some of it with the Hippys on this blog.
You are having a difficult recovery because you did not receive top care at the hospital or good support from your PT. These issues are outside of your control. Let them go now.
You are much younger and stronger than me, and lots of other Hippys. Your recovery has been delayed, but will ultimately be completely successful because you had a great surgeon who did his job well. Stay positive, block out the issues that are causing you to doubt yourself. Your body is healing itself 24/7 without you doing anything. Strength and range of motion improvements are coming, but not fast enough for you to notice on a daily basis.
Wait for it Danny. The improvements you are looking for are coming, but you have to wait.
We're all pulling for you, especially Hippys like me who are struggling with their own slow recoveries.
Boomer
Thanks curt. I think I may have expected too much too soon but my expectations over all still stand. I believe as dose my surgeon eventually I will return to my normal activities, have asked
Him about future activity and he says the only things he doesn't like patients doing is running marathons everyday and playing rugby but he has patients who do with out problem.
On a brighter subject this morning I decided to grit my teeth and really try to normalise my gait. I can walk about 5 normal paces when I really really concentrate.
It's as draining mentally as it is physically but I think it's progress.
Definitely progress, Danny. All of this is draining mentally, but Boomer and Curt put it very eloquently, can't add much to that.
I've defiantly done enough today now it's telling me to rest now I'll just have to build on it!
Danny;
Rollercoaster is the perfect description, feeling the same as well. The ups and downs are all leading you to the right place, and you'll get there. My first reaction to this web site in the first 4 weeks after surgery was along the lines of me feeling like I was very far behind others at my stage, but as I read more and corresponded with the incredible people here, and time has passed, it indeed is different for everyone and the surgeons post surgical protocols are all different, so you can't really compare one to another. My progress has been consistent despite the relatively small down points (relatively small setbacks physically, but very, very large emotionally when they occur) and it is so very, very true to keep a positive look at the end game to tide you through the rough spots.
Boomer and Curt really hit the nails on the head, as have others in this thread.
Keep the faith, you'll get there without question.
I don't mind a good ride so long as the end destination is worth it! :)
Quote from: Dannywayoflife on December 13, 2011, 05:32:13 AM
Thanks kiwi. I've got to admit this is far tougher emotionally than I thought it would be. It's like a rollercoaster ride!
Me too Danny - it's not easy some days. I'm trying my hardest to focus on the positives - there are many when you put them in perspective as others have done in this thread.
Another thing I remind myself of, is that on a recovery timescale of 1 year (that's the recovery timeframe I'm giving myself before I lift all restrictions) - I'm only 6% through my recovery path post operation!
Yep. That's the spirit. Roller coaster extreme!!! I'm at 15 weeks and am still slogging it out...probably quite normal. My doc says that by about 7 months I won't notice every waking minute that I've had hip surgery. At 1 year NIRVANA!!!
Luanna
Well this morning I have just reached the end of my tether so I phoned and booked a private session with Mr Treacy. At least this way I will get a good 30mins uninterrupted and un rushed for me to go through things with him.
Good, Danny - make sure you get your money's worth.
Hern I have a list of questions a mile long!:-) I may well be being a hyperchondriac but mentally it's destroying me. And if I don't start making progress fast it will financially ruin me too! I allowed 12 weeks to recover before I would go back to work and managed to pay my bills for that period in advance by working 3 jobs and putting in 100+ hours a week. I'm now stuck on statutory sick pay until I return to work and it works out at around $15 a day. And at the rate I'm recovering now it's going to be a long long time before I'm fit to return to work. :-\
Will your work require a lot of the hips / moving or can it be desk work at least early on?
When I went back to work, it was about 5 weeks, but I do have a desk job. I was not perfect at all, and still was pretty beat through the day. I think by 12 weeks you should be in pretty good early shape. Talk to the man and let him know what you're concerned about.
I'm a private security contractor and in one of my roles as a asset protection officer/surveillance operative I need to be able to hold my own against sometimes armed villains until police units can attend. This role can be quite hairy at times. My other main job is as a security officer at a large high security site. This requires 12 hours on my feet performing patrols that are approximately 1.5miles in total 5 of these have to be performed every shift so 7.5 miles roughly of walking around on some uneven ground slipy floors stairs, aswel as other taskings such as room and personal searches. This role is less risky in that I am less likely to have to detain anyone but obviously requires a level of fitness and robustness. The client would not be happy with me returning and not being able to perform what they require. So I think im stuck betwee on a rock and a hard place. The first role can be a lot more surveillance orientated but if my unit has to swing into action and detain 6-8 armed men as we have in the past I'm not the sort of guy who could just stand back and let my mates put there necks on the line for me.
I can completely empathize with the feeling that it will never end and could not think of going back to work in the early weeks after surgery, but it should get alot better, well before your 12 week limit on off time. I went back to work from home after 4.5 weeks (IT-related desk job), and then at 6 weeks after off crutches, was back in the office the day after the crutches were gone.
Being back to work itself was a huge morale boost for me, and others here have noted the same thing. The utter boredom of sitting around was one of the hardest things. Sure there are some recovery aches and pains after week 6, but overall they continue to decrease, now at week 10, and being up and around and back in the normal activity in life itself is very helpful to overall recovery for me. The trend line is consistently improving, despite some minor setbacks and some roller coaster emotions.
Certainly can appreciate the fear about financial issues, and in awe of how much you sacrificed to get ready for this, 100 hours per week is simply amazing. If you do work that does not require alot of physcial exertion of the hip, based on many stories I've read here and my experience, you should be OK to work well before 12 weeks. Being a chair-jockey, it was a bit difficult to sit for extended periods, but that was mostly minor, even at 4.5 weeks. Although certainly understandable to have the fears, try to stay positive and celebrate the little improvements to keep your morale moving in a good way. Little victories helped me alot, and you'll notice perceptible changes in the right direction as time goes on, losing the bruising, swelling going away, incision healing, range of motion improving, etc.
I'm not really one of these overwhelmingly and sometimes annoyingly positive types, so as much as I tended to discount that in the past as a strategy for living, it has been a true benefit to keep positive throughout this non trivial process. I've learned alot about myself in doing so, and it has made me feel better. Posting here to help support others also has been a positive thing for me-- dare I say theraputic as well, that continues to help me move forward.
Please keep it coming here, we all understand and have debt of gratitude to everyone who has assisted us, and there are many sincere and caring people as you have seen here, who endeavor to give back.
Dan
Thanks Dan. Tho as I say unfortunately all of my work is/can be rather physical. So I suspect that i will be off longer than my planed 12weeks.
I certainly dont recommend working the hours I managed to rack up most of last year! The number of times I had close calls when driving were too many to count! And also the wife got pretty pissed off with never seeing me too.
If you are dealing with security stuff and have to be physical and are carrying a gun that you might need to use - I'd say that you'd need to feel pretty confident with your hip before heading back into that role. I used to teach handgun classes for women at a local gunrange and the key idea that permeated the instruction was that you must be prepared to shoot the perpretrator if needed without hesitatation and if there is anything that is distracting you - that's not good. Too often the defense weapon is turned back on the victim is there is hesitation.
Sounds like your work is challenging but very interesting.
Luanna
Maybe a silver lining, after about a couple weeks after walking the worst part has been sitting down, for me. Walking does require effort, but less pain than sitting so maybe the 7.5 miles may be workable, when you are up to it.
Danny,
Sounds like you got some grat advice from others..
Glad to hear you booked a private session. I think that's the best Christmas present you could have gotten for yourself.
It sounds like your job is quite demanding and I understand why you are worried about being able to keep up. You still have weeks and weeks before you need to start worrying. I realize this is the pot calling the kettle black...but......try to not worry. Your implant was placed perfectly by a fantastic surgeon. You had some bad post surgerical care that has set you back some but you are a young, strong guy and you WILL recover.
Take care buddy
Would it be possible for you or your company to rent a Segway? These are the 2 wheeled vehicles like in that movie Paul Bart Mall Cop. My brothers company builds police vehicles and they also rent the Segway units out. This would potentially allow you to cover the 1.5 mile runs with ease and be able to perform your job for the most part. Also, you still have another 7 weeks to go with your recovery before you hit the 12 week mark. That is a TON of time. Are you walking with 1 crutch yet? Could you go back to 1 of the jobs and work part time for a while? Getting back to work is a huge moral booster.
I actually went back to work at 1.5 weeks. I'm a Martial Arts instructor and typically my job is quite demanding physically but needless to say that isn't the case right now. Keep in mind that my first 2 weeks back I only taught 2 classes per day but it still felt awesome to get back in a normal routine.
Will your insurance cover your appointment? When is this appointment? How much will you have to shell out of pocket for this meeting?
Good luck and please stay positive. Don't kill yourself doing research online. If you do everything will seem like it will never recover.
Hay pete, my company wouldn't waste valuable profit margins on something like a segway.
Your probably right, it's still real early days.
I am pottering around the house on one crutch but need 2 when I go out. I just don't have the leg strength yet.
In the uk most of us don't have private health insurance as we pay lots of tax to fund our nhs.
I will have to pay for the consultation my self it will work out around $230.
Im seeing him next Friday the 23rd.
I may well be worrying about things with out cause but it's hard not to. I have ups and downs just been a bad few days.
In the U.S. our health care system is far from perfect but it is SOOOO much better than the socialized systems out there for sure. Our government is trying to switch to these systems and I'm praying it gets overturned. I have great insurance and wish to keep it going. I can't believe a 1/2 hour consultation is going to cost you that much money. That's insane but looking at what you're thinking it's prob. the best money you will spend. At least you were able to get in quickly.
I disagree with the company wasting valuable profits on renging a Segway. I honestly believe it's an investment in their employees and would be the honorable thing to do.
Our system could be so great but at the moment it's just open to abuse from people who have never even contributed.
Yeah I aggree that company's should invest in employees but at the moment I'm just counting myself lucky that there keeping my post open for me while im off. In the current climate here that's a bonus!
Danny, I agree that 7 weeks is a ton of time. If you're doing anything with one crutch, you are making progress, you just have to be patient, buddy.
I think you'll be able to do your job at twelve weeks; if it's possible, I'd just let your partners handle any dust up that comes up, since you won't be at full capabilities for some things until about six months go by.
I saw a huge difference at 3 months, I think you will also. Just keep in mind you're still recouping. As to the slippery / uneven ground, have you looked at good hiking boots? They provide a lot of stability - I used them to walk the icy streets of Boston last winter during my recuperation from my last surgery and they helped me greatly.
That's a great idea Hern about the hiking boots. I might have to pick up a pair myself.
I wear my old military boots to work they are essentially black hiking boots it's still pretty difficult to walk in certain areas though
Another idea is to get a cane or walking stick as you make your rounds. It helps balance you in the tougher areas, and my first instructor (hapkido) trained me on a cane as a martial arts weapon. May help in the tougher spots.
Plus you'll look more elegant and deadly 8).
Not sure about a cane but one of the coldsteel walking sticks could always be handy! :D
There you go... a combination of cool and utilitarian.
I couldn't decide among the City (slick look), the African or the Irish Blackthorne. Any would make a nice holiday present.
I like the The African and the Irish walking sticks I may invest in one! ;D
Don't invest much, Danny, I don't think you'll get your money's worth!!
Curt
Well at last I think I'm steadily getting stronger. I am able to "walk" with one stick now. The main area thats bothering me is at the front around the psoas area. Which is what I will base my questions on with mr treacy next week.
When I go home (as I'm presently back at my parents) I'm going to get my mate who's a sports therapist to start work on my scar tissue at my leg around the incision is just like iron! And I think I'll really benefit from some massage.
So progress is still slow but atleast I'm noticing some now!:-)
Danny,
So good to hear that you are feeling better. I think you'll really benefit from massage. I've just started working on my scar area everyday with some real pressure and it is making a big difference. Start out slow and easy and work up to vigorous as time goes on.
Best wishes for your continuing progress!!
Luanna
Thanks luanna, I'm not looking forward to starting I just know it's going to be horrific but it will be worth it in the end! My mate sam is using me as a case study for his dissertation. One of his tutors helped a national level swimmer who had his hip resurface so he's been given the low down on what worked for him.
Danny,
That's awesome you've progressed to the one stick. I bet within 2 weeks you will be walking solo. Great idea about the massage. Im afraid to touch around my scar ata all. It doesn't hurt but I feel like it should be avoided like the plague. Haha
Thanks pete,
I'm hoping to start progressing now. The only area that concerns me is around the psoas area it's still very very weak there and hurts if I try to lift my leg.
I'm dreading the massage as I know just how painful it can be having had many injuries treated with it in the past. I've never had this level of scar tissue either so it's going to be extra special. But my mate who is going to work on me has just started treating a woman who had a thr 3 years ago and she's struggling now because of the huge amount of scar tissue left untreated. So I hope the short term pain will be worth it.
Great news Danny! Progress will pick up, just keep it up.
I had soreness in the psoas also, it went away with time. Massage is a great idea for the scar tissue as you know. It does bug a bit in the beginning, but it's necessary to get that stuff loose.
The psoas thing will be what I base most of my questions on when I see Mr Treacy on Friday. He did say last time that the only complication with my op was that my acetabulum was slightly shallow in that aspect. And mentioned that there may be some irritation there until my body adjusts. I'm hoping that massage may help that also.
Danny
Danny;
Approaching 11 weeks and seem to be hitting another period of more noticable improvements in gait, walking, pain reduction, so thinking with your background and walking history, maybe the 12 weeks could be doable to get you to 7 miles plus. I feel well enough to walk a few miles, for the first time since the surgery, and still get better each day.
Dan
Thanks for that dan fingers crossed. I'm really looking forward to been able to do some cv in the gym. I'm in the worst shape I've ever been in thanks to now nigh on 2 years of inactivity. Really really want to get back in the gym!
Just done my first session in a pool. I just did some water walking,general strengthening and rom stuff.
Spuriseingly my rom in the water was not that far off my un operated side. But out of the water it's no where near?! I think the pool is defiantly the way to go and I'm going back tomorrow.
Danny
I liked the water too Danny, and my back stomachs from being out of shape really pump up my buoyancy!!
Curt
Ha, yeah I know what you mean curt.! I'm rather bouyant right now! I'm paying for my exertions now tho! I really want my normal rom back! Never mind getting back in the gym, I'm looking forward to been able to put shoes and docks on and tie my shoe laces again!
Hey Danny, I went to pool yesterday for the first time too. Really feels relaxing for the muscles doesn't it?
I just did 30 mins walking & standard ROM, I also went for a 1 mile long walk in the afternoon which probably wasn't required.
It resulted in me over doing it (again) as I had another one hour long multiple muscle cramp / spasm just as i was getting into bed last night. I think I worked a lot of redundant muscles in the pool & like you said, the ROM was much better, but probably should have just done 15mins to start with.
Restful day today for me!
Kiwi
Isn't it weird why the rom in water is way better than out of the water? I wonder why that is?
Well I'm going back to the pool tomorrow as there's a physio led session there I thought I'd give a try.
I'm guessing it has something to with the buoyancy you get in water, therefore your muscles aren't required to work as hard as they would under normal circumstances ...or are they - but there's just less resistance?
Someone else can probably explain it more scientifically / accurately.
Yeah bound to be something like that. I understand that rom is usually the last thing to return >:(
:o Bugger! It hard to be patient when your rehab suffers from severe bouts of testosterone!
Ha yeah I know it's hard. It's like the old army saying hurry up and wait!
That saying explains our situation perfectly. Must be just after midnight up there...? You're as bad as me, I was up until 2am this morning after my cramp episode.
Yep sums up our position fairly well I think.
Man I've just woken up and I'm sore from the pool yesterday!
Yeah I took it real easy today. Are you stil planning on visiting pool again today?
Yeah I'll still go and just try different stuff let my hip flexors rest for the day.
Hi Danny,
Sorry i've not been keeping up to date with your progress. I'm hoping you're starting to see some postive results now.
How goes things?
Ruby
Hows it going Danny?
Just an update, i seen Mr Treacy today, going in next March. Turns out i have AVN in my hip so i might end up with a large ball ceramic on ceramic THR but he wont know until he starts working on me, but as he is doing the op i'll take whatever he puts in lol.
Hi Danny,
I had to back off on pool work a month ago, rest for a week and then start over. I pulled something and it almost felt like a spring boinging up and down. Anyway, (pep talk) I'm back at the pool and working back up to a full work out now. Hang in there.
Luanna
Ruby,
I think I'm defiantly getting better now it's slow progress but slow progress is better than no progress! Hope that you get your problems sorted soon!
Steve,
When I first saw mr treacy I discussed avn with him and he's tackled some pretty severe avn cases such as floyd landis. And I belive he's now done over 7000 bhr's now so you will not find a more experienced surgeon anywhere. I'm sure what ever he installs will do you great!
I've just done my second pool session. I'm still feeling it from the session yesterday but Im finding the water useful!
CLUNK CLUNK CLUNK POP.
Thats been the theame for the last few days. I saw Mr Treacy on friday and had a really good chat with him for about 20 mins(man he knows his shit!!!) he said that my issues that im now having are all soft tissue related and i really need to walk walk swim and really just use my legs as much as i can bear. So ive taken the man at his word and really up'd my activity. And to be fair im getting stronger, but the flip side is im getting more pain and shed loads of clunking!!!! But i know its only natural and its for the greater good! A little suffering is good for the sole!
But once again he reiterated that my device was in a perfect position and told me that thanks to my rather large bones i got one of the largest devices and he said that the bigger devices really are linked to the absolute best out comes which really made me happy! I asked what my bone quality was like and he replied that it was like iron and he put that down to my former occupation and my martial arts training for the last 16 years.
In all although i am still behind where he thought i would be in the recovery curve he says he KNOWS ill have a great outcome and that everyone reacts differently so thats set my mind at ease alot ,more.
Danny
Well I did another pool session this morning and I've got to say my leg strength and rom are getting better:-) the leg endurance is pretty bad though but I'm sure it will get better
It's going to improve, Danny. You're doing the right things.
Thanks hern,
I'm going to get in the gym this week and try to do some real light strength stuff. Also going to start some massage with my mate too
I've just managed 2x5 min sets on my spinning bike! I'm going to build it up one set a day and going to go to the gym tomorrow too just to do some real light strengthening work :)
Hi Danny good to hear you doing better mate. Just a quick question, i have had my date through for pre op which is the middle of Jan so not too long now, did you get any 90 degree restrictions with Mr Treacy and have to get a raised toilet seat, im just trying to get so bits sorted.
Hi steve,
If he installs a bhr then he imposes no restrictions other than no impact for 12 months etc. He doesn't seem to like physio's and to be fair my over zealous physio defiantly set me back doing stretching far too early. Mr treacy told me to sack the physio off and just walk,swim and use stationary bike as tolerated.
If you need to know anything just give me a pm.
Danny
Well im now nearly 8 weeks post op and now making steady progress. One thing i have noticed though and wondered if anyone else has noticed similar? When i wake in the morning i really notice muscle stiffness which does subside though the day but its really annoying first thing in the morning! Has anyone else noticed similar how long did it last?
Thanks Danny
Danny, same with me. Mostly in front but some stiffness in rear piriformous area. Always in morning and usually after sitting for any lengthy period. I'm hoping it is a function of muscle strength, so I'm ratcheting up my leg lifts (size 12s act as ankle weights). Others have said they felt it for many months. We'll see.
Curt
Thats right curt it's in the front. It loosens up once I'm up and about and is fine the rest of the day. I think your right in that it's a strength thing.
Danny
Hi Danny,
Did Mr. Treacy say why he doesn't like physios? I'm curious as I've just started with a new one at 18 weeks as I didn't make much progress with my first one.
Luanna
Hay luanna,
Firstly I'd just like to say I think that physio's here are different to the pt's that you guys have in the states. He didn't really give me any reason for not thinking they are needed but I think that he has had a few patients have there progress hindered by poor physio's!
To be honest I have seen probably 30+ physio's over the years both on our nhs and private and every single one of them has been a total waste of skin! So I have a rather dim view of them to be fair. He did however say he believes that the best way to rehab is to walk lots, use a pool and to use a exersize bike.
Danny;
I know you have a 12 week decision point looming for returning to work, and been thinking about your situation as I passed that milestone last week. Given your age (younger) and fitness (better) and history walking alot at work (far more than me), if your recovery goes as well as mine, I'd think you would be able to do the 7.5 miles by 12 weeks. I've improved hugely last couple of weeks, and amazed how things have speeded up again, recovery wise, so thinking you may see the same.
Best regards,
Dan
Hay dan,
Thanks mate. I'm now progressing pretty fast(as predicted by Mr Treacy last time I saw him!) I am provisionally going back to my regular job on the 17th of feb. I am however in the mean time doing some other work up in London in the mean time as I really can't turn the money down!
I've not been in a pool for a week or so and really need to do so at the weekend as I feel it's probably the best remedial phys in the first few months.
Im now doing around 30 mins a day on my spinning bike and trying to walk as much as possible. My strength and rom is defiantly starting to come back!:-)
WOW!! Today i am exactly 8 weeks post op and now my recovery has really taken off!! My leg is a lot stronger now and ROM is improving daily today i put my socks on in a normal way for the first time in 2 years wahoooooo!!! I am now able to walk about half a mile with no stick until my leg tires and my gait gets funny at which point i just start using my telescopic trecking pole.
Last time i saw Mr Traecy he said he thought that very soon my recovery curve would just go vertical and its deffiniatly happening now!! I cant believe i actually doubted that he was right:-) What would he know he's only done about 7000+bhr's!:-))
I see him next wednesday and i think he is going to be pleasntly suprised!!
Danny, that's obviously great news, and a very pleasant turnaround from your first few days in the hospital! Enjoy the progress, but keep it under control so you don't undo any of your gains. Nice to be in the positive instead of the negative I'll bet!
Curt
Thanks curt! Yeah its awesome! I can finally see a light at tge end of tge tunnel now! I am still going to remain conservative as what's the point of ruining something that could last me a lifetime just to get a few weeks ahead!?
Danny
This is awesome to read Danny. Glad you're now making the gains you've been waiting for. Each week gets better and better. I'm feeling awesome right now and at first it was somewhat slow. I can only imagine what it will be like in another month. Keep up the progress.
Thanks Pete,
its been a while comming but i suppose everyone heals at different rates. I intend to keep the progress up but ill just have to go along as my body tells me.
Danny
Awesome news Danny!! Really happy for you. It's so motivating when you start doing things you couldn't pre-op!
Just great Danny! Really feel good for you, keep the good recovery up... good incremental progress gets you there.
Fantastic! It's great to hear these positive outcomes, especially when the beginning wasn't the best. Keep 'em coming.
Quote from: imgetinold on January 06, 2012, 09:37:38 AM
Fantastic! It's great to hear these positive outcomes, especially when the beginning wasn't the best. Keep 'em coming.
Thanks mate. The begining was a hard time for my but luckily my surgeon seems to have done his job to the best of his ability, that seems to be the biggest factor longterm. I'm sure that you'll be fine. Just think in 12 months time you'll be able to get back to your full activitys!
I'm so pleased you're doing so well, Danny! Patience truly is key.
Hay ruby thanks.
I've just had my 9week check at the roh. I didn't see Mr Treacy but one of his staff. He was quite surprised by my progress since he last saw me on mid December:-). I mainly asked questions about what activitys I should and shouldn't be doing. Basicly I'm now clear to do non impact stuff in the gym(which I've been doing already!) he suggested waiting until 12 weeks for me to get on my new concept2 rower simply because they generally like 12 weeks to pass to allow near full soft tissue healing. Although he said if it doesn't hurt or irritate me then I could row now but I dont think there's any harm in waiting a few more weeks!
Danny, you are making great progress! Best fighting you've ever done, you're coming out on top. Congrats.
Cheers hern! It's up there as one of the toughest mental fights I've ever had!
Well 10 weeks today! And wow how things have moved along! As some of you might be aware from my posts in other parts of the site im now having the problem where i am having to think hang on im still only 10 weeks post op should i be doing that?
Im now able to put my own socks on and tie my own shoes and theres still loads more ROM left to return i can feel it! Im also back to doing stuff in the gym, im doing up to an hour of light cardio in the gym and some light hip strengthening weights. On alternate days im doing 30-45mins on my spinning bike at home.
As i say i feel pretty good at this point. Im still no where near 100% yet but i can now see that i should make a full recovery in the coming months.
Congrats Danny, sounds like very positive progress. Has to feel good in many ways, best wishes for continued improvement.
Thanks
Thanks mate!
Im now 11 weeks today. Progress is still happening. I do however seem to plateu for a few days then make progress suddenly.
Ive just had my mate over who is sorting my scar tissue with the sports massage and some of the releases etc were a lot easyier as my ROM has vastly improved in the last few weeks :)
I still get an ache and twinge here and there but im able to walk totally normally with no pain or limp. I thing the twinges and things i do get are just soft tissue related so as long as im careful they will heal with time.
Danny
So you goal was twelve weeks, how do feel about meeting it now?
I am set to return to work on the 17th of feb. So hopefully i should be in really decent shape by then. :)
Looks to me like you're right in the pipe for that.
Touch wood mate. I cant wait to feel totally normal though with no twinges and a full ROM etc. But each step at a time :)
12 weeks today!
Well i have to say i have come on leaps and bounds in the last 12 weeks. At the moment i am doing fairly well. My walking is fairly normal most of the time but the last few days i have to say i heve had a fair bit of muscular aches and pains.
I think that the main thing that i need to work on to further my recovery is to strengthen all the really small stabiliser muscles back up. I think this is my main issue at the moment.
I still as ive said get stiff and aches and pains but i imagine that this is fairly normal?
My ROM is really coming on. I can bring my knees nearly all the way to my chest but in some planes of movement there is still some discomfort but i think this is also to be expected.
I have recently altered my rehab regimine. I have moved away from the cv at the gym and focused on trying to strengthen my leg back up so ive been doing remedial exersices at home and some light stretching. I feel that this has really made a difference to my recovery.
That's awesome Danny. I'm glad everything is finally coming back together. You must be so excited. Are you still not seeing a PT and just doing it on your own? I've been really lucky because my PT is awesome and really works me out hard. One thing he does with me is using a Bosu ball. I get on that thing and then squat down low and hold a light medacine ball out in front of me and rotate side to side. I hold it for 30 seconds and do 10 of these. It REALLY works the smaller stabilizer muscles because they get overused trying to keep that Bosu ball level. Another thing he has me doing which is great is a slide board. I wear a sock over my nonoperated shoe and then slide out in side lunges and rear lunge. It really gets things going.
Anyways, really glad you're making such great progress and I hope you continue in this positive swing.
All right Pete! I'm doing the slide board too, the thing is awesome. I bought one on ebay, much lower priced than the commercial ones, and set it up at home. I'm doing the slide sock cover over my sneakers and just slide for a bit. I'm doing about 15 minutes (3 X 5) now, started at about 3 minutes. Excellent stabilizer exercise.
I also picked up some juggling balls, which help both my hips (the movement is constant, something I hadn't noticed before) and my eyes (I had lasik surgery about half a year ago).
Another good thing for the smaller muscles, I found is balancing on a pillow or a thick rubber mat, hold for 30 seconds at first - I'm up to 90 seconds now. Once that gets easier, take a soccer ball and holding it with both hands, do figure 8 in front of you as you balance.
Pete's Bosu ball sounds great - will have to try that.
In all, Danny your progress sounds like it's really speeding up. Don't worry about the muscular pains - you had to deal with a lot, now you're demanding more of your body, expanding ROM, more walking, more exercise, of course you'll ache.
Thanks guys. Hern I think your correct. I suppose the muscular aches and pains are to be expected for a while yet. I'll try some of those exresices!
Pete I generally don't get on with physio's indeed I think the over zealous physio i saw early on is partly responsible for my initial poor progress. Indeed Mr Treacy told me to sack her off!
I am really excites that I should be able to get back to my sports in around 9-10 months time!
Well 13 weeks today! I'm steadily progressing day by day. I can walk pretty much normally certainly the most normal for probably 2 years. Getting stronger all the time.
My mind though is a different Kettle of eggs. The report from the aaos is really doing my head in and might just be the straw that broke the cammels back.
Danny- the problem with the internet and when you start doing research is that you will read negative things. A good example is my brother took an antibiotic a few months ago and went online to research it AFTER he took it. He was freaking out because everything was so grim. He never had an issue with it at all but was freaking out because of all the bad things he read online. You have your new hip and there is nothing you can do now but press forward. Live your life now and enjoy your new hip. If you need a revision down the road then so be it. It's not the end of the world. At least next time around you'll be much older so doing things you live wil HAVE to slow down anyways. Don't sweat that report just focus on getting your life back.
I'm in the same boat but I tell you what I expect to have to replace this thing again at some point. If I can make it into my 50's then it's a huge success. If I make it longer then even better. In the meantime I'm going to beat the crap out of this thing and get my life back.
Hey Danny, I understand the feeling, I think all of us want to have this last forever, and maybe it will. If it doesn't though, like Pete, I intend to live my life at its peak.
I got a quick lesson in perspective this week, when my 56 year old cousin-in-law (?) who is an american football and baseball coach at one of the prep schools here had to have a heart bypass. He's doing well, but he is a very fit guy who has been living in the country most of his life, a good life and no extreme pressures. He's being watched carefully, but is expected to make it back fully.
I feel we've been given a gift, to have our problem completely excised and to have the chance to fully return to the life we had. If later in life (and I think it will be much later, but that's me) I need to revise this thing, then have at it and I intend to present them with a comprehensively used up cup...
Chin up, Danny, why worry about one research paper when we've got much larger samples in the registries, and like Pete says, your world will go on just fine. There are plenty of martial artists who go on with THRs. Have at it and enjoy life.
Pete&hern,
Thanks for the replies lads. It's more of the timing of the report than the content to be honest. I am pretty fed up right now with a bunch of other stuff and then read this and it just tipped my equalibrium.
I was sure I'd seen other reports saying that high level sports had no effect on these devices but I could be wrong I often am!
Hi Danny,
Remember what you said in one of your posts about your mum being a major worrier? You may have some of that in your genetic make up so you'll have to fight the tendency to worry even harder than most. Being that I'm a major worrier too, I've found a technique that gets my thinking going in a positive direction.
I get up each morning and say out loud a positive affirmation. You make up your own affirmations to fit your needs. One affirmation might be:
"I am a strong and healthy person. My hip is working perfectly and I am making excellent progress towards my goal of having an active and painfree life."
Cheers,
Luanna
Ha thanks luanna. My main issues at the moment are more mental thing more than worrying. Although you might be right in that my beloved mum has passed on some of her worry gene:-
It's a lot to do with frustration. Im trying to rebuild my aspirations in a career sense and have other crap that's bugging me and causing my hardship and normally I'd go down the gym and go to war with a few guys and feel better but I can't do that. I'm the kind of guy that builds up and builds up then needs a release of adrenaline and feel good hormones. My wife said a few months ago when I had to stop night club bouncing that she thought I was addicted to fighting and conflict and to be honest shes not far wrong.
Hey Danny, did Mr. Treacy say when you could get back to the heavy bag? That's always a good release.
Last appointment I had I asked about return to sport etc (I saw one of Mr Treacy's team not the man) and he said because of my off the chart bone density he thought I could go back to impact @ 6 months. However I still intend on waiting the full 12 as I think it just makes more sense and I truely believe that it will make a difference to the long term
Nothing was lost by being patient, Danny - I went back to it at about 8-9 months. By one year, you should be mostly healed, and like you said, us "hit things" people have pretty good bone density.
That's defiantly one of the hitting things! Bones like granite:-)
I'm already beating the snot out of the heavy bag. I'm doing mostly hands but I have been doing some kicking. Nothing crazy and mostly on the kicking shield and not the heavy bag because it's a lot more forgiving. I've got about 2 1/2 more months before I really ramp things up.
Danny why don't you just go to the gym and pick things up and put them down. You can get in decent shape and it will make you feel better. You can do upper body, and some leg presses etc and start getting back to shape. Don't wait an entire year to start getting healthy. I think that's the wrong thing to do.
Pete,
I'm not waiting the full 12 months to get healthy again. I've dropped around 10-15 pounds already. I'm just not convinced that going back in the gym just yet will do me much good. I am still doing a little CV on my keiser spin bike and have started using my concept2 rower too. I am still very conscious of over doing things though. With my mind set if I don't think about not doing too much I would just ignor my body and smash the hell out of it again.
Wow how time flys! Its now 14 weeks since my op and bar the minor set back i had earlier this week with the thigh pain im now doing great! I am feeling stronger all the time :D
I bought a wobble cushion this week and ive got to say if you dont have one get one!! They are great!!
I also got a foam roller which im sure will be an asset.
Danny, happy to hear your successes. Care to share your weight loss program? I'd love to take off 10 pounds before summer and it looks like you got the trick.
Danny - great stuff mate.
Foam roller - for scar tissue I take it. What's the wobble cushion for - balancing?
Quote from: mslendzion on February 16, 2012, 08:02:17 PM
Danny, happy to hear your successes. Care to share your weight loss program? I'd love to take off 10 pounds before summer and it looks like you got the trick.
To be honest there's no great secret to my weight loss. As with all things to do with your body it's 90% what you put in. The changes I've made are diet. Really being aware of nutrition, I'm motivated by not only loosing weight but also what goes into my body effects the long term health of my bone. As I've said before its my feeling that bone health will be one of the major factors In longevity.
So basically I've been eating lots and lots of fruit and veg, no processed food and good lean meats.
Kiwi,
Yep the foam roller is for massage when my mate isn't about(and my god its painful!) and the wobble cushion is for the instability it really gets all the small muscles working so is great for targeting the muscles that have been damaged in the op.
Just got home after a session in the hydro pool. I have to say my ROM in the pool was way better on my op side than on my other un op side! It's still not quite there out of the pool but it's a good indication of things to come hopefully!
I always thought that the impingement on my hips ment I never had a "normal" ROM and I guess that this kinda proves my theory.
I know what you mean, Danny. Before the operation (and the OA) no matter how much I stretched, I could never do a grownup version of the stretch where you put both feet together at the soles and pull them towards your groin while sitting and then let your knees go down towards the floor.
All the other black belts could touch the ground with their legs on both sides, I looked like a grasshopper with my knees sticking up at 45 degrees. It was humiliating... the comments I got !!!
Now I can do that stretch without much effort. At first when doing the stretch fully happened, I thought I had overdone it, would always have to walk sideways 'cause my muscles were gone, but now accept that that particular limitation is gone.
Ah the butterfly stretch. I have always been totally useless at that one! But it's never effected my abilities. I always just found what worked for me. Some techniques I could never do because of my body being rather an odd shape but it has never really stopped me tapping other people. I was never able to kick above thigh high but with low kicks like I used to have it was never an issue. :)
No problem for me either, although I think maybe it will help my kicks a bit.
Kicks are the thing I feel least confident in being able to perform post resurfacing. I just feel the power and impact generated by a proper Thai shin kick could only damage my new joint.
Hence why I'm going to concentrate on my boxing and grappling.
Well im now into my 15th week of being a bionic man. Well there have been many times over the last 15 weeks when i have thought to myself that my op had gone wrong or i would just never get my old self back. Well all i can say now is that at this point all those feeling seem misfounded. I am now feeling way way better all the time. My leg strength is increasing and my gait i think is pretty much normal or at least 85% of the way there! I am currently still taking it fairly easy just trying to do enough to make progress but not enought to set me back. Its a fine balancing act! My foam roller gets used every few days and is less painful than when i first started using it.
Hope the progress continues and im gagging to get back on the mats and into the boxing gym. But all good things to those who wait!
Danny
Good attitude, Danny and love the progress. You had a tough go of it in the beginning, but you've won through.
Thanks hern, I'm pretty pleased with my progress. I just celebrated with a nice walk with the dog and for the first time in ages felt normal!
Keep it up Danny. You have been playing it smart but have kept your recovery moving. I have been more cautious and attentive to my hips, knees, muscles etc. than I ever was before the surgery. I am conscious of every twinge and ache, and I have to say that I think I'm better than I was by a loooong shot. As you said, its a balancing act to play it safe and still make all the progress that you should.
I am really trying to let go a little and do things like I'm normal and not protecting a new hip so much. When I finally achieve that piece of mind and really forget about it (the hip) I'll consider myself fully recovered. Its coming we will all get there I hope.
Curt
Thanks kurt,
I am trying for once in my life to be sensible! Hopefully I will reap the benefit in the long run! I am though really looking forward to the day when I can get back to doing my martial arts again and I'm dead set on competing again(so long as I'm able to recover enough).
Good to read, Danny.
Following your story, it's obvious that you have the determination to do it.
Great progress.
Your recovery story was the first one I read when I joined here-you've come a long,long way.
Thanks Mike,
Hopefully you too will have a date for your D day and you can start to get life back on track.
Just done 20 mins on my concept 2 followed by 10 mins varied intensity on my spinning bike no problems :)
Great to hear you're making such good progress Danny. Really pleased for you mate.
Kiwi
Thanks kiwi. It's a fine balancing act trying to do enough to rehab and drop the weight(I'm in the worst shape I've ever been in thanks to 14 months of inactivity and depression comfort eating!) and doing too much and setting myself back. Luckily I'm so busy with work right now that often I'm so tired that I have to force myself to do a bit and so don't over do it. I can't wait for January next year when I unleash myself again!:-)
It's def a balancing act & you really need to get into a new routine when you're back at work.
I'm off fishing & diving for the first time since my op tomorrow.... getting my life back!!! Still need to wait a while until I get back into squash tho!
Keep up the good work!
16 WEEKS TODAY! And this week has been a wierd one. I think i have either regressed slightly or stayed the same. The main issue is what i think is a proprioception thing it all just feels weird.
Im in no pain i just feel weird. I have not been doing much in the way of PT though since ive been working like a dog.
Maybe your stabilizers need a little attention - I do some side leg lifts with light weights (5 lbs) while watching TV. Nothing nuts, just 3 sets of 10, seems to keep those little suckers happy.
You may well be right hern I'll try and find some time to do some remedial pt
Danny. I'm feeling the same way. I've worked 12 hour days this week and am feeling like I'm regressing. I have not done any therapy and feeling it. Thinking about the hip more than usual (which is already a lot).
Quote from: mslendzion on March 01, 2012, 10:54:06 PM
Danny. I'm feeling the same way. I've worked 12 hour days this week and am feeling like I'm regressing. I have not done any therapy and feeling it. Thinking about the hip more than usual (which is already a lot).
Yes it's hard when you go back to work! I work 12 hour shifts as my standard rotation and with travel time I only get around 10 hours off each day. So I think that doesn't help. But add on to that all my extra work I do and it really takes a toll.
We should both try to balance this weekend with rest and PT.
Wow, Danny and mslendzion!
I couldn't fathom going back to work right now. I'm so glad you guys are getting through it! I'm filing for 'back disability' to 2009 when the end stage OA occurred and for temporary disability. I read on the US government site that THR's get One Year of disabilitly of post op. If all the above is available, why then I certainly will go that route.
The Dilaudid taper is rough going. I had no idea how powerful and pain masking that stuff was until I started my slow taper and have corresponding increased pain. In the 3 months prior to my 11.01.11 revision arthroscopy, I did a fast taper, pretty much a complete cessation and was sick for 2 solid week. This time I'm going slowly, no hurry, and I need to be well enough to do my PT. Anyway, this is off topic of the post. I'm sorry.
I'm putting up my disability questions on the Questions area.
Thanks again, you two, for showing us their is work after resurfacing!
'One
aka
2fer
Two4 I think the key thing with this is to go back when your ready not before. If you do then you will have problems!
well just thought id do a quick update. My hip now feels awesome the proprioception thing seems to be solving itself with the more i do. My walking is way way better than it has been for probably 2 years. And my flexability is really getting good now! im considering at around 6 months going to my local judo club and asking if i can go along just to do drills and nothing else thats how good im starting to feel!! :)
Happy for you, Danny. Really coming into the home stretch there. Totally deserve it, no MMA challenge bucks up to what you've done so far.
Thanks Hern,
Mentally your right this has been the hardest thing I've ever gone through.
I just hope that this lasts me the rest of my days and I never have to go through this again!
Hi Danny,
QuoteMentally your right this has been the hardest thing I've ever gone through. I just hope that this lasts me the rest of my days and I never have to go through this again! - Danny
As this is my
second hardest thing I've ever been through, i'm seeing the way you write through my own lens and experiences, and your temperament, perserverance, strength, and general stamina leads me to believe you can make it through anything life may or may not throw at you later.
You're gonna be good, IMHO.
Two4
Two4 thanks for those kind words. I have drawn great resolve from the stories of success on this site over the last 2 years and it has helped a great deal!
Well today is now 18 weeks since i went under the knife. And thus far i think im doing pretty well.
I am able to walk pretty long distences without any real issues. I have had the odd issue like yesterday i was getting some stabby and sharp pain around the hip but i decided that it wasnt anything major as it was accompanied by some lower back spasams.
I think ive been slacking off my leg strengthening a little too much but due to the ridiculas hours ive been working i have not had the time!
You do what you can, Danny - it straightens out in the end, you're cognizant of it and will do it when possible.
I also had strange twinges later on, one in particular that lasted about a week (was getting me nervous) which just went away. I think it was scar tissue letting go, but that's my unqualified opinion, just never saw it again after that.
Four and a half months? It seems like yesterday you were having the surgery!
Yeah it's flown by! I'm doing a lot of walking at work but I'd like to be doing more rehab stuff. But I'm doing another 100hr week this week so any down time is taken up by sleep!
I'm really looking forward to been able to train again in like 7.5 months time!
You'll get there, Danny. I've pulled those hours (once for a three month stretch), so I know you just try to survive those. Just focus on nutrition and sleep.
The long hours suck but have to be done! Hopefully I'll be able to finish the second job soon!
Wow, 100 hour week, that would kill me! Hope you get paid good overtime!
Hi Danny. Feeling for you and your long weeks. I hope you get to recover on your off time and have some fun, you deserve it for sure!
Quote from: Aerial on March 15, 2012, 06:59:02 PM
Wow, 100 hour week, that would kill me! Hope you get paid good overtime!
Quote from: mslendzion on March 15, 2012, 07:34:02 PM
Hi Danny. Feeling for you and your long weeks. I hope you get to recover on your off time and have some fun, you deserve it for sure!
Thanks guys. Unfortunately I don't get paid overtime just an hourly rate but inreally need the money right now as the extended period off work after surgery and a clerical error by my main employer meaning my Money was wrong for 8 weeks has really wrecked my finances! But if I keep this up till the end of April then I'll be back on top and can start to enjoy my 4 on 4 off shift pattern again!
You are very strong. Good luck in the upcoming long work weeks!
2-4
Thanks 2-4. It's one of my character floors I work too hard I've always been the same. But as soon as I am financially stable again I'll be working to live and not living to work!
19 weeks today think recovery has slowed down now. Still got some niggles to get rid of but things are better than they are worse. I managed to walk about 3.5 miles the other day over rough farm ground and was fine. Paid for it slightly after but that was the first time I've been able to do that since 2010
Good stuff, Danny. The recovery is still happening, but like you saw, only becomes obvious as you do more strenuous things. Great to hear that you're doing things you'd laid aside.
Hi Danny, 3.5miles.... in awe... at 19 weeks.... Blimey, doing well! Sal
Thanks guys,
The one thing that's bugging me is my ROM in the box splits movement I get a pain as soon as my legs are much more than shoulder width apart which feels like my femur knocking into my cup. I hope that improves with time!
Me too Danny. I'm hoping it goes away but it feels wrong doesn't it?
Sorry I am a latecomer, Danny, but am very happy for you.
Can any of the more experienced hippies shed any light on this side ways ROME thing?
Quote from: Dannywayoflife on March 22, 2012, 12:58:17 PM
Thanks guys,
The one thing that's bugging me is my ROM in the box splits movement I get a pain as soon as my legs are much more than shoulder width apart which feels like my femur knocking into my cup. I hope that improves with time!
Think that might be just tightness in the capsule / muscles. Try side leg raises, they helped me loosen up in that direction. Don't push it, but you know how to stretch without hurting. Otherwise, you really sound good, Danny.
Arrojo - no one's late to the party, just join in!
Thanks hern,
I'll try that. I've been slacking on my rehab stuff thanks to my crazy hours at work. I remember Mcminn said that ROM was the last thing to return.
While I was at work yesterday I did a load of sets of lateral leg raises and I'm definatly still weak in that range and was really feeling it in the glute mead tendon area too. Must do more of them!
It's funny how the big muscles come back no problem, but the smaller ones need more. I'm still doing balancing exercises and see a difference with the right vs. the left (first done).
Well last night i went out shooting. It was on my local shoot which is a golf course. I walked a good few miles carrying a 9lb rifle ammo lamp and several rabbits. Its a hilly course at teh best of times and i managed it with little problem. My opperated leg felt a little weaker powering up some of the steep inclines but handled it pretty well. Was tired by the end but atleast i wasnt limping horendously like i would have been last summer!
makes it all worthwhile Danny, getting back to doing things you love. keep at it! Sal
Thanks sal. I'm now just gagging to get back boxing and grappling again now! A while left to wait for that though!
20 weeks today! Starting to feel better and better. I think my recovery has been slightly slower than most to this point but hell i dont care so long as i get there in the end! Im able to walk several miles now with no real issue and now ive handed my notice in on my second job i will be able to concentrate on fully rehabing soon :)
That is awesome, Danny!
Good that you're off your second job and that you're back on line after missing work and all. You're starting to get the payoff that you sacrificed for. Excellent news.
Keep going dan. I've been following your posts closely. Maybe because I am one of the younger ones (though not as young as you). You give some really good advice as I feel like a novice in comparison! All I can say is keep going and stay positive. I'm day 3 post op and already behind everyone else in terms of PT. I guess everyone has their own pace
Grant
Don't think of it as falling behind, Grant - there's no behind or forward. Check Danny's journey and you'll see some setbacks and many victories. There's no schedule but your own.
Thanks hernan. I'm not thinking of it in a negative way and as you say I'm sure there will be plenty of ups and downs along the way!
Grant
Grant it's a rollercoaster ride alright! But as Derrick Mcminn said in an interview if you have a good surgeon with a proven device like the BHR then you will get a great result.
We all heal differently and while my recovery has been slower than some I am being conservative anyway and I always set out a full 12 months as my recovery time so I'm sure I'll make that. I truely believe that being conservative in the begging will pay dividends in the future!
Mcminn and his staff seem to be on the cautious side. But like you, this suits me fine. I want this thing to last as many years as possible so I'm gonna be cautious no matter what
I've got some slight muscle discomfort today it's right up at the top of my hip on the outside just a niggleing little thing. How long did most of you have little aches and pains for?
Hi Danny,
As you already know, the progress is a wonderful thing, and you will notice little aches and twinges like that less and less. Having said that, I still noticed twinges with certain movements for up to 18 months. If I push it really hard, I will still get a little muscle soreness around the hip, but now it is just like any other muscles after an unusually hard workout.
I would have to say that in my case, I was still subject to lots of little niggleing things like you describe at six months, mostly gone by one year, and not much of an issue by 18 months.
The spot that you are describing sounds just like a regular issue that I had. If it is tender to the touch right on the top of the greater trochanter, you might be dealing with a similar issue. It was diagnosed as trochanteric bursitis, and my eventual solution was using a roller on the IT band. My non-medical way of understanding it, is that if the IT band is tight, it puts pressure on the bursa where it crosses over the greater trochanter. Less tension in the IT band means less pressure on the bursa.
The good news is that you are about half my age, so I am betting that your "niggles" will go away a lot faster than mine. :)
Thanks Jon. It's a weird feeling but you may well be right. I'll have to get on that dam roller again! I hope that at a year I will be able to start boxing again and slowly get back into some judo and grappling again(that will be a gradual process so as to allow my body to adjust to it again). One thing I noticed the other day at the gym was when I did a round of shadow boxing just to warm up ive lost the spring in my leg on that side is this common and will it come back as I need fast feet to box
It'll come back, Danny. I've got that push partially now, just a matter of practice.
I think it's like Nemesis described when he was getting back to some grappling - the muscle memory that combined to get that snappy push from your muscles (in this case, legs, hips, etc.) needs to be relearned; another price to pay, but very cool to see once it's happening. I'm not totally there yet, but I do see it coming back.
Just like everything else, take it easy as you go into it, it gets better as you go. Patience (bummer, I know).
To be honest Hern so long as in time i get back to my ''normal'' then ill be happy! :) Im hoping that now i have left one of my jobs and will now have spare time that my persistance with rehab then i will start to see big results.
Hi everyone. 21 weeks 1 day. This week I've managed to get to the gym several times. Each time walking the mile plus there and back and doing anything from 30-45 mins cv and then some light rehab type strength stuff. I feel good for it. My hip and muscles still are not 100% but I think that they are better for the exercise. I think I may possibly have a touch of bursitis around the throcanter but have used the roller on it and it seems to have helped.
Sounds great, Danny - really good to see you stepping forward like this.
Thanks hern, one day at a time hay! :)
22 weeks today. This week I've been busy on a first aid course for work. But for the most part I've been feeling good. I only really notice anything different when at extremes of rom
Very cool, Danny. That's what I found after a while, only felt 'different' when I pushed myself at the extreme side. Back to doing some deep stretches (still being careful though). Starting to reach full extension on sidekicks at about chest level now.
I've found that since I've stopped stretching as much I've felt better. I think my stretching aggravated things a bit so I'll leave that for a while
I think that's smart, Danny - let your body tell you what it needs.
So cool to read about what lies ahead. I just hit 12 wks and can't wait for 22 wks - how things change and the change becomes the normal. No OA pain, stronger muscles, less thinking about the hip. All Wonderful Things to look forward to. Thanks for sharing! And Congrats on your Healing!!
Thanks mate. Im looking forward to feeling 100% and been able to gradually start boxing and some submission grappling again for the first time since June 2010.'
Just finished reading your thread from start to fininsh, the first story I have read and I got some really useful info. It sounds like you are coming on leaps and bounds now, the hard bit is over keep it up and soon you will be doing all the things you love doing. Hows the lateral ROM, has that improved?
Morph,
The lateral ROM has improved slightly I think. I have stopes stretching and I think that hs helped to behonest. Stretching might have been agrivating something I suppose. I'll leave it a few more weeks and start doing some light stretching and see what happens.
Hi all,
I've been out of coms for a while as I've been away on holiday. Ive been at club la Santa in lanzarotte. I manage to do some light cv while I was there (getting really depressed of all the iron man athletes getting ready for the iron man race in 2 weeks) all seemed to be going ok until I started having some quite bad symptoms. I have been having some wierd feelings in the hip for a while now and even though I'm 6 months post op I don't feel like I'm anywhere near to being able to return to my noel activites. The symptoms included a feeling of pressure in the area and a feeling of having a elastic band around my whole groin area. I also had on several occasions a grating sound (which was herd from an adjacent room) and extreme pain. I'm pretty threaders with all of this now and I want my life back!
I've also just found out that my mum has a quite bad metal allergy! Thought she might have mentioned that before the op!!
Sorry to whine about this but I'm fed up now!
Oh Danny, I'm so sorry to read your last post, this is probably just a setback and you won't necessarily have inherited any metal allergy, but go and get it all checked out which will put your mind at rest. If there is a problem catching it early should make it easier to sort out, Mr Treacy will have the answers! Good luck and will be thinking of you. Stay positive it will get better. X Sal
Danny, "extremem pain", "wierd feelings" "grating sounds", get it checked out mate.
You know it can take up to two years to fully heal, but still, you need to find out what's causing these symptoms.
Will be thinking of you.
All the best.
Booked a private appointment on may 11
Good Danny, no matter what, finding out the real deal is a good thing.
Danny, That is rough. I'm so glad you are seeing the surgeon on the 11th. I'm hugging you in my thoughts and want you to have good solutions and complete healing. We are all here for you.
2fer
Danny, How are things feeling now mate, any improvements?
There's been no more crunching or grinding episodes but I still have the rubber band sensation. I think it may have been something to do with scar tissue or something similar but still going to get checked out.!
I had a couple of weeks of that at about nine months, Danny. I wouldn't call it grinding, but a snap and twinges on my left hip (the first one) - it bothered me enough that I did go to the doctor, then it went away, no issues since. I think I had something that still needed to be opened up and it did.
Sometimes this stuff is like floating down a stream and you get snagged, have to release yourself and resume your trip, toes in the water.
Touch wood hern mines just something similar. Although my noise was definatly a crunching grinding sound the wife would attest to that. But when I've had deep massage on scar tissue from other injurys in the past that's been a crunchy sound when it's broken up
Wishing you the best outcome Danny. I think this is a temporary setback.
moe
Thanks moe I really appreciate it. I don't think it's anything catastrophic anymore but I'm getting Mr Treacy to check me over anyway.
Well today is 25 weeks. Since my symptoms just over a week ago ive been fine. I am still however having some ''pressure'' feelings in the area. But i am still going to see Mr Treacy next friday just to be on the safe side! I am back trying to do some light cv on my spinning bike as well as some strengthening stuff
S'all good, Danny - get things checked, they are there for the purpose of making and keeping you well. They probably miss you anyways :)
Probably something (scar tissue?) let go and the hip is just sorting itself out now. 25 weeks ... wow that would make it 6 months + (I'm an engineer, so I can do the calculation 8) ) and you my friend are into the "I'm beginning to forget my hip is metal" phase.
I'm not aware that my hip is metal anymore but there's still some soft tissue things that need to heal. I'm beginning to think that I don't heal as fast as others do.
Very cool that you're in that mode.
I think we're all healing at different rates, it may also be that since you had about a months lag for real healing to start, you're slightly deferred; also since you have a larger muscle mass to deal with, the scar tissue may be just working itself loose.
Hopefully thats what ill be told next friday! Im so looking forward to feeling 100% again it seems so long ago that i was in tip top shape
Well after having no symptoms for the last week today I woke up and my hip just felt strained. As the day went on I got this feeling of pressue in the groin. It feels exactly the same as when i had the arthrogram when they injected 25ml into my hip joint! Im glad im seeing Mr Treacy on friday!!
I'm on the slow heal train too, Danny, but knock wood some more that's all it is for you. Good Luck this coming Friday!
Although, whatever you do just don't listen to that song "Friday" by Rebecca Black and strain your unsuspecting ears ::)!
2fer
Had to pop by to wish you luck on Friday- am sure all will be well and your mind will be put at ease again :)
Know I`m a slow healer too! Heavy rain sure doesn`t help either for walking!
Good luck mate. Hope all goes well and Treacy puts your mind at ease.
Thanks guys I'm actually sat in the waiting room at Harborne road. I think that I've just had a bad bout of bursitis. Or some other soft tissue problem but touch wood I'll know shortly.
Well im now back home. The consult with Mr Treacy and Christine went really well! But was a bit weird as I was saying that I didnt think I was doing well because of zyx......And he couldnt of been happier! He showed me on my Xrays that infact in terms of Bone healing and ingrowth im well ahead of where he expects to see patients @6months! :).No sign of any movement or femoral neck thinning etc. Also he said that my ROM (although less than it has been thanks to the bursitis) was better than most patients at 12 months and i should expect to see improvements for the next 12 months or so in that department.
He couldnt explain the crunching grinding episodes that I had but did say he has seen a handful of patients with the same and it had never been linked to anything detrimental. He did say that i had a bit of bursitis and that my soft tissues were still ''angry'' and that some soft tissue issues were very common and transitory. He did also remark that because i had significantly more soft tissue than most that said soft tissue problems would be more likely and more symptomatic in me. >:( But he did say that on the balance of the xray and my ROM that he thought that my BHR was one of his best ones!! :) Coming from him that means a hell of a lot!!!!!!!!!
He told me to remain patient and great things were in my future!
He also said that because my Bone had healed far faster than normal I could start introducing impact to my work outs as i saw fit! He said he normally like people to wait 12 months but since my bone was fully grown into the cup that only mega high impact stuff IE road running were off limits and that i could start that in another 12 weeks or so!(Looks like my calcium suplements are paying off!)
Danny
Glad it went well for you mate, he's the man eh. :)
Yep he certainly is the MAN!!!!!!
Man, Danny - all good (except for the soft tissue stuff). Sounds like you're on the way to your reward. Sucks about the soft tissue, but patience and you'll be all good.
So pleased, thanks for posting all in info too- helps all of us.
Bilat,
Thanks so much. It kinda made me realise that it's a long process getting back to "normal" I knew that already but think I'd forgotten! :) love your avitar by the way!
Hip Hip Hooray!!
Soft tissue is a real pain in the, well, you know. :-[ Your info is really applicable to my 'growing pains' as well. Thanks for sharing; I find it very reassuring!
2fer
Great news Danny!
Thanks Sal,
Ive been using ice alot more over the last few days and ive got to say ive used it efore but im now thinking not for long enough as im now icing for anything up to an hour+ and now im really feeling the effect and it really really helps!
Thanks Danny:) (reminds me how much dancing I did before!!) Mind you am taking no chances attemping it again yet!!
Slow is obviously the best way to go forward. I honestly didn`t realise about the soft tissue etc. til reading on this site, all makes so much sense, which as dear 2fer says "all info is so applicable to her delightfully worded "growing pains"!! :)
Kinda reminds me of the hare and the tortoise fable- shall now continue taking my time lol
Bilat you will dance again I'm sure. I remember "growing pains" early on that I knew was bone growth. I genuinely believe that a conservative start is the best way.
Just been out for a ride on a propper bike for the first time in like 10 months with the wife. We did around 7 miles. It was really nice to be able to ride again. But OMG im so so out of shape!!
The great thing is returning to the bike with the wife, out of shape gets fixed in time. Congrats!
Well last night i went to my local judo class. And did a judo session. Obviously i did no throws break falls or stuff like that but i did manage to do some ground work. I was obviously VERY VERY wary of my hip but if im honest it was fine on the ground. Ive never been a particularly technical fighter on the ground ive always used explosive power and strength and the KISS mantra to get by on the deck. I will say though the 2 year lay off has sapped my strength power and endurence!!!!!! My god ive never been so out of shape as i am right now! and last night was a real eye opener!! I didnt disgrace myself though i managed to tap the 2 black belts i rolled with ;D but i also got tapped by them too >:(.
I ache today but its 95% in the rest of my body not the hip. My hip seems to have stood up really well. I wont be throwing my self back into it though bu i will be going back every few weeks to gradually ease back.
But for now i think gradually getting back into the gym and getting generally fitter will make things easier next time.
It's all good, Danny - I've been meaning to talk to you about how you've been slacking off while using an excruciating disease as an excuse. Not proper, Danny ::) .
Good on you to tap them out. If you can do that now, just think about when fitness returns.
Ha I deffo have been slacking! :D touch wood in a year or so when I've got my phys back then I'll really be able to get amongst it again. As I say my grappling has never been aesthetically pleasing but effective ;)
I think I'll try and pop into the judo like once a month just to gauge my fitness and slowly blow away the cobwebs
I just went out and managed a leisurely 9 miles on my new bike :) Ive never been a bike cyclist but i could get into it i think
Today is 28 weeks. I'm slowly starting to increase my activity levels. I'm hitting the gym most days and using my bike a lot more. I did 10miles on the bike on Tuesday on my way to the gym. My only little niggle right now is my ROM laterally(moving my legs apart) hopefully the ROM in that plain will improve in the future. From what I've read rom improves for a long time so touch wood.
Sounds that you are doing great Danny well done mate.
Thanks steve! Long may it continue! I hope that you are doing well also.
Danny, have you incorporated side leg raises in your workouts? They helped me to increase sideways ROM without too much stretching, just the motion helped.
Hern I do them every so often but not every day. I'm counting on the lateral ROM just being a soft tissue type thingy. I'll try and do more lateral raises and see if they help.
Well yesterday i did a 9 hour adhoc shift which involved walking around and standing all day. I must say that by the end of the day my leg had had enough!
At 7 months, it sounds about right, Danny. Still getting there, but good to see that you were able to do it.
Thanks Hern that's good to know.
Just been out lamping and i walked around 2-3 miles carrying a heavy rifle and lamping gear over rough ground and i managed really well. certainly couldnt have done that 7 months ago! :)
Danny, when you next visit York ..... bring your bike! ;D
Anna your on!! :D
Today I'm 29 weeks. I've been down the gym for my daily workout. I did 30 moms walking on the treadmill with walking backwards and side stepping as a warm up/down. Did 25 mins on the hike and 15 mins on the cross trainer. Then some weights. I normally do a bit more cv but my hip is a bit stiff today possibly from the walking on uneven ground last night but hay ho small victories ;D
Its 30 weeks today :) I am starting to notice that im feeling better the majority of the time. I have been doing a few more shifts which have been long days on my feet covering a good number of miles and towards the end of the day i have ached and had some tenderness around my hip area but im sure this will go as time passes.
Just celebrated my 30 weeks by hitting the bag for the first time in probably over a year! The hip did think what the hell is going on at first as I have a unique style where by I close the distance rapidly by switch hitting and do a lot of skipping and lateral movement but after 2-3 rounds the hip was fine. I'd say my power is down maybe 10-15% and I put this down to the lack of bounce in my hips and let's but I'm sure that will return!
It does return, Danny. The hip is kinda surprised the first few times, almost like the windows are being opened and the moths fly out of a dark unused room. Takes a bit to clear those cobwebs.
I hit the bag medium speed for the first few workouts, then started speeding up, slowing back down when (as will periodically happen) I missed the bag as it was swinging and my body torqued past it. My hip kicked my behind for a couple of days after that, quieted down and I went back to it.
You've approached this right, the power will come. I think power comes from both strength and coordination, along with the subtle shifts of the smaller muscles. In my opinion, the muscles that contribute to all of those need to be built up again, plus the muscle memory to twitch quickly.
Good on you to get back to that bag.
Cheers Hern fingers crossed. I basically view what I'm doing right now still as rehab I'm preparing to return to "train" at some point next year.
31`Weeks today. Nothing major of note this week. I think im still improving steadily and getting stronger all the time. I have been doing more specific hip exercises this week loads of latteral lifts etc so hopefuly they will take care of the smaller muscles that still are not 100%.
Nice one Danny. Its good to hear the larger muscles have healed well especially considering your ordeal at the start. You sound happy with your progress. Hows your ROM doing?
Hay Morph,
yeah id say im fairly pleased so far with my recovery. Although ill be extatic when i consider myself fully fit again! I would say that i still have some minor imballances in some of my muscles and some remaining scar tissue but i am still very early in my recovery.
My ROM in most plains is excellent and i think the lateral plain has improved slightly also so touch wood i will get a really good ROM back.
Well 32 weeks today. And i still feel like im recovering. I have noticed that my ROM has definitly got better this week. I have been doing some very light stretching for this though. But also possibly as a result i have noticed some more start up ache/stiffness. I went along to another Judo class last friday and if im honest for some reason when we started the uchi comi(standing throw practice) my hip just didnt feel right and so i had to quit the class early. I thin that it was a ROM and a muscular weakness thing so i have started doing some very light but deep squats and some light dead lifts as these seem to strengthen up the muscles really well. I have decided to leave the judo a few months now as it really depressed me as the class id been to before id done really well. But i am still healing and so i have to still take it easy.
I'm glad you went, Danny - the ROM, strength, etc. will come.
You're at the point where I started working on ROM, now it is in pretty good shape. I think you did right to listen to your own body and counsel and put it off for when you feel better. This careful approach you've taken will pay off well; the kind of twisting stresses that throws, mat work and landing put on our bodies are not typical for most athletes except for people in contact sports. I like the way you've paced yourself despite being super aggressive.
Once the hips are strong, the ROM gets better, you can work on muscle memory and so on. It'll come, even if it is initially dispiriting to not be where you were. You have the tools to get back to where you want to be.
Judo must require great strength from the the hips and all those stabiliser muscles. It sounds good that you have identified some deficiences which you can now work on.
I was very careful not to actually complete any of the throws or be thrown as i still believe its a bit early for that i will deffo be waiting for the 12 months to do that! Hern your as always right the wat that sports like Judo bjj etc load our bodies is very unique and isnt really replicated in any other sports.
I personally think that i still have a fair bit of healing to do.
Ive had my little reality check now so its back to doing my rehab. Ill continue to try and strengthen it up and do the rom stretching and see how i go.
Where was I for the last 22 pages of this thread? This might be the longest on the forum.
Ha what can i say tin HR is now one of my hobbies!! ;D I also want to give future hippies info. As with out all you guys who helped me god knows where i would have ended up! I suspect id now be limping around with some un proven THR had i not come accross this site. So thanks one and all to all the members and especially to PAT!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi Danny
Thank You for all your help. I know many others appreciate it, too. It is all about trying to get the positive word out about hip resurfacing and the great outcomes almost all of us have had.
This discussion group has wonderful people that support and inform others about their experiences. It is all of the great folks here that makes this such a helpful place to visit.
Maybe you could think about starting a new thread that is chapter 2 of your story. It is getting a bit long for new people to come and catch up on. If you don't want to fine, but if you do, I think it might be helpful.
Thanks again.
Pat