Hip Talk Forum About Hip Resurfacing

Hi everyone. It's done. I am 6 hours post surgery, and have gone for my first walk. A couple observations:

1:  I feel sorry for nurses who have to shave men's butts.

2:  I know what "monkey fist" feels like.

3:  Dr. Gross' team exemplary....the practically ooze confidence.

4:  I think - may struggle with my patience.

Thank you all, and epsecially Pat, for this website.

Andy

Congratulations Andy. Welcome to the other side.

Boomer

Congrats mate! I know patience is really hard after the op but it will be worth it in the end!

Andy;

Woo hoo, congrats!!!!  Your comment about patience sounds very familiar.  Take it slow, use the ice and meds, and enjoy the improvements ahead.  First couple of weeks are not easy, but you will notice a steady progression towards your goals.

Hmmm, I'm not sure if any poor person there had to shave me, also wonder about the great soul who saw fit to remove my catheter before I woke up saved me mucho problemas.

Dan

Congratulations!  Now your new life begins.  Enjoy the ups and downs of recovery and rehabilitation.  And try to be patient.  You will be pain free before you know it.

Best wishes.

Dan

Andy

Congratulations on your new hip!  Glad everything went great.  You often feel really good after surgery because they really keep the meds in you.  Don't be deceived and get impatient.  Be happy you feel good and stay with the slow recovery program.  It will pay off for you.  Better to complain you are bored than hurting!

Good Luck and stay in touch.

Pat

Yeah Andy.  It wasn't so bad was it?  Gee, I didn't get a butt shave ??? Females must be lucky.  Recover well!  Do you get to go home tomorrow?

     Andy, so glad things went well and as expected.  Don't just gush at Dr. Gross when he comes in to see you, ask him what he saw while he was there and how it went.  Write down a few questions if you think about it (between nurse drug visits!).  Congrats!

Curt

4:  I think - may struggle with my patience.

I should be the last person to say anything about patience, but it's true, patience will be rewarded.

Andy, great that everything went well.

Happy for you, I'm glad you've got a good attitude, keep it up, you've already gone through the tough part, the living with OA. Everything else leads to your return to life.

I was only shaved the first time, before the surgery. I had already been filled with happy pills, and this poor orderly started shaving me, so naturally I asked him for a brazilian... then I passed out  :-[  Did not get shaved the next time, maybe the union complained.

Thanks, all as usual, your input is invaluable.  Thanks for the support!

Congrat's mate. Don't listen to me either about patience. I over did it twice early and couldn't exercise properly for the following 5 days each time! Be warned... it's not a race bud.
Good luck with your recovery, listen to your body, your doctor & keep us posted.
Cherz

I'm 2 days in and feel surprisingly well. Just got home today. It gets better each day. As I've been told over and over, remember your 3 restrictions:
1. Don't break 90 degrees on your hip
2. Don't cross your legs
3. Don't twist your hips

As the  PT gut said over and over "your hip will pop out, excruciating pain, trip back to the hospital.

Mslendzion: what is the "twist" rule?  I read about the 90 degrees and the crossing legs rule, but I thought that three was not pointing the toes inward. Are those the same thing?

On an unrelated note.....its killing me when I itch down low on my leg, but can't scratch it!

Hi omgetinold. They told me not to twist my hips, keep both in line. They did say not to let your leg go inward as well. How did you sleep last night?  I felt a little rough day 2 but got better as the day went on. They should bring you to PT today.

What did they tell you about how much weight to put on your new hip?  I was told to put as much as I could tolerate which is pretty much full weight. I think I heard different rules on this site so I was interested in the rules you were given.

In Dr. Schmitt's protocol paperwork, the banned 'Twist' move is further elaborated on to say:

'Avoid reaching across your body' to get something; use 'The Grabber', or 'The Claw' as I like to call it.  When you would normally pivot from the waist side to side, say to reach behind you to grab a bottle from the spice rack, instead of 'twisting' your body to reach it, use little baby steps to slowly turn your entire body to squarely face the spice rack head on, and then pick up the bottle.

Also, Schmitt likes '75% weight bearing until otherwise cleared to walk on your full body weight.'  Instead of leaning on it & letting the walker (or crutches) bear some of my body's weight, that was the hardest of the rules for me to follow because I wanted to carry my walker in front of me or just push it along while I walked to another room or wherever.  Uhm, don't do that.  My lower back started killing me, and I got lectured by my in home OT when she saw me doing that. :-[

Anyway,  again Welcome to the other side, and I'm so happy for you both!!

2fer

Two4one,
Thanks,it is great to be home as im sure you know  I wonder if your weight bearing restriction is because you had both hips done. I was told full was ok as long as tolerated.  This was from the nurses and PT.

Quote from: mslendzion on January 12, 2012, 12:36:48 PM
Two4one,
Thanks,it is great to be home as im sure you know  I wonder if your weight bearing restriction is because you had both hips done. I was told full was ok as long as tolerated.  This was from the nurses and PT.

Glad you're home, I think it's where you make your most visible improvements, since it's the place where you were limited before. Take it easy and stroll your way to a better life.

Okay.....just got back to the house.  I had surgery at 7:30 a.m on Jan. 11th.  I really had no pain all that day, and I slept fairly well.

Today...this morning....I felt good, without any measurable pain.  Walked the hallways a few times at the hospital and did my PT twice.

I was discharged around noon, and we drove back to Atlanta.  One stop for restroom and gas....and BOY had it stiffened up.  By the time we got home, it has really tightened up.  Quite painful when trying to get up or down now.  Just took another pain pill.  I know that the nurses said days 2-4 would be the worst.....it's looking that way.  I'm fine when I'm stationary, and I'll fire up the Polar Ice machine here shortly.

Sounds like you did excellent with the surgery.  Get the ice going and elevate. Isn't the hospital thing quick without incident with Gross?

Yes....Dr. Gross and the staff there are unbelievably good.  Perfect pain management (until the ride home), great hospital, and definitely confidence inspiring.  My inclination angle was 32 degrees.

Did any of you experience more pain days 2-4?  It looks like I'm in for that.  It is also exceedingly tough to lift my foot without the help of the leg lifter.  Again, I assume it is normal, but quite a pain.

Andy

I took the meds until three days post op.  The first five or so days are the worst and then it seemed to get better quick.  I definitely used my hand to assist I getting my leg onto the bed and/or couch (probably for several weeks).

I think that with his pain protocol, days 2-4 have the potential to be more uncomfortable, because he uses quite a multi pain control approach coming out of surgery, but some of that is wearing off by the 2nd or 3rd day. Then its more up to you to find the right balance with the pain meds.
As for lifting the leg out of bed, for the first week or so after surgery, my leg was like a big sausage that I had little control over. Its not that it hurt to move it, it was more like it was somebody else's leg, that I had to move around for them. The simple exercises that he gives you will bring that around.

Stay ahead of pain with your pain killing meds & gradually back off. A little pain is okay & expected, but you're not meant to be in a lot of pain. I didn't get much pain for first two weeks and put this down to keeping up with my pain meds. On third week I backed right off the pain meds, but still took the odd tramadol when needed. I followed prescription for the other meds (anti flam, asprin etc).

Ditto the advice from the others. The first 2- 3 days after I got home was probably the toughest time as far as adjusting to everything. I was on the "hard stuff" for 3 days after I left the hospital then went completely to X- strength Tylenol. After the first 5-7 days things improved very fast. We are all different but that's probably the way it will be with you also. You're doing O.K. Andy.

WTG Imgetinold!   
Ice-Ice-Baby (so I've heard)  8)

Congrats and happy healing. 

I did eventually get it under control.  For some reason, I have significant pain when getting out of bed...during the "lift the leg" phase, and also as I pivot on the bed, I can't control my leg, so when it drops down it hurts a lot. My wife is helping lower my leg slowly, which helps.  What a nuisance.

Quote from: imgetinold on January 13, 2012, 08:16:39 AM
I did eventually get it under control.  For some reason, I have significant pain when getting out of bed...during the "lift the leg" phase, and also as I pivot on the bed, I can't control my leg, so when it drops down it hurts a lot. My wife is helping lower my leg slowly, which helps.  What a nuisance.

Try my leg lifting technique (I'd patent it, but my occupational therapist at Newton Wellesley showed me).

• Sit on the bed
• tuck the unoperated leg under the operated one at the ankles
• Use the unoperated to lift the operated leg as you pivot onto a resting position in the bed.
• To get out of bed, reverse the process

This worked pretty well for me, other folks have used a crutch for supporting the leg instead.

I will try that, for sure.  Today has certainly started out better.  I'm not used to being completely helpless, though.

Quote from: imgetinold on January 13, 2012, 11:50:27 AM
I will try that, for sure.  Today has certainly started out better.  I'm not used to being completely helpless, though.

I think that's the one thing I'm going to struggle with too.  Hubby's been thru 4 knee surgeries, a cervical fusion and a fx'd jaw > I always get to be Nurse Kratchet.  Now the roles are going to be reversed and "I'm scared"... LOL    :-[

WTW,

I don't ever remember being completely helpless. Even the first day home from the hospital I was able to move around with the walker. You'll be able to feed yourself, dress yourself, move around the house, use the computer, watch TV, read, talk on the telephone. You'll never be helpless. There's no reason to be scared.

Boomer

Quote from: Boomer on January 13, 2012, 12:50:22 PM
WTW,

I don't ever remember being completely helpless. Even the first day home from the hospital I was able to move around with the walker. You'll be able to feed yourself, dress yourself, move around the house, use the computer, watch TV, read, talk on the telephone. You'll never be helpless. There's no reason to be scared.

Boomer

Thanks Boomer!!!!   ;D

Okay, so while my overprotective wife was in the shower today, I went for my walk.  I am 5 days post op, and each day she's only let me go one extra mailbox (2 crutches).  I did a 0.4 mile loop today with only 1 crutch!  Other than tightness, it felt great.  I tried to let my leg follow a normal gait, and it felt pretty good.  I really am surprised each day how much better it feels.  I also stopped taking the 4-hour narcotics last night, and went to extended release tylenol.  So far, no problem.  I am still taking the extended-release narcotic, and will taper that off at the 1-week point (as long as I stay ahead of the pain).

Here are a couple of questions for the experienced hippys:

1.  Every once in a while, particularly when entering/exiting bed, and I'm lifting the operated leg with the other, I'll pull the operated leg too close to centerline and feel a "tug" in my groin that makes me fear a displacment.  The movement is fairly gentle, but what are the chances that this simple movement could loosen the cup?  Or, put another way, what kind of activity does it take to loosen a cup?

2. It still feels like my operated leg is longer than the non-operated leg.  Let me preface this by saying that my hip was not totally deteriorated like many here, so I don't think I was "used to" that leg being shorter per-surgery.  Anyway, when I'm walking, it feels like I step "up" onto my right leg, and swing my left (non-operated) leg on by.  I suppose it could be due to swelling that everything is tight, and so not working as "fluid" as the other leg.  Any thoughts?  Any similar experiences? 

On :

1. The muscles in that area are very weak right now. Think of trying to lift a hundred pounds when you're used to 20. It takes a while to get the motions right, the muscles stronger. You're still extremely early in your recovery, I wouldn't worry unless it persists, then talk to the surgeon. You're early Charles Atlas now and there are some things that will kick sand in your face the first week or so.

2. I think it's the mechanics of the leg. I was walking with my foot pronated outwards for so long to protect the OA caused problems in my hip, that walking with a semi normal motion was bizarre to me. Your leg is also stiff due to the trauma of the surgery and the swelling, so now you are probably not flexing the knee as much as the other leg does. All of this normalizes as your body does. If you're really concerned, call the surgeon and ask if your leg length is now different from the other leg  - they may have measured it, so you'll know.

Normal worries for early on, it's ok to worry, but these were my experiences.

Hi imgetinold,

I can relate to everything you are saying. I have a leg length difference of 4.05mm (longer on operated leg) but looking at pre-op x-rays my doc measured the unoperated leg and it was a bit over 7.0 mm longer. So, my surgeon actually made it better by 3mm - but it feels weird and my body is still getting used to it. Lots of muscles have to figure out the new hip - mechanics and changes.

I found that the pull in the groin for me was the hip capsule healing. My hip capsule is also quite tight still and my PT is stretching it out now and working on my scar tissue and it is making a huge difference. Should have started this work much earlier (6 weeks but waited until 5 months) but opted for the "pain is no gain" approach. Didn't work.

Hope you continue to improve at the rate you are! Great walk for 5 days post op!!! Keep up the excellent progress.

Luanna

I was very concerned how tight my groin was after surgery.  It felt like a guitar string.  The more I got up walking and moving around the more it loosened up.  I also started doing the phase 2 groin stretch at about 4 weeks (which is cheating a little since these are supposed to be started at six weeks). Dr. Gross's phase two exercises are on his website. My groin is feeling great now, better than it has in years.  I think what you feel now is completely normal for your point post op.  I was amazed how quickly things improved after the first week!  Good luck!

I also had the sensation that one leg was longer for the first few weeks; it went away, perhaps when all the swelling was gone.

Dan

I was like you in that I was active until the night before my surgery, so I felt like I was in pretty good shape going into the surgery.  When I went for my five week checkup, I was told it was completely normal to feel like the operated leg felt longer, and that feel would eventually go away, which it pretty much has at ten weeks...I don't think about it like I did in the early weeks.  I was also sore all around the top of my leg, and the incision area would occasionally spasm, again, all normal in the first couple of months.

And yes, things feel tight for awhile.  Keep icing and call or email Nancy or Lee with any questions.  They are absolutely fabulous in getting back with you in a few hours, or quicker if needed.

With you in spirit,

Mindi

Quote from: hernanu on January 13, 2012, 10:41:21 AM

Quote from: imgetinold on January 13, 2012, 08:16:39 AM
I did eventually get it under control.  For some reason, I have significant pain when getting out of bed...during the "lift the leg" phase, and also as I pivot on the bed, I can't control my leg, so when it drops down it hurts a lot. My wife is helping lower my leg slowly, which helps.  What a nuisance.

Try my leg lifting technique (I'd patent it, but my occupational therapist at Newton Wellesley showed me).

• Sit on the bed
• tuck the unoperated leg under the operated one at the ankles
• Use the unoperated to lift the operated leg as you pivot onto a resting position in the bed.
• To get out of bed, reverse the process

This worked pretty well for me, other folks have used a crutch for supporting the leg instead.

This is what's working for me right now. Hi Fives for reaching Day 5!

'Gold,

Hang in there.  You are going to love day 15!  Then you'll wax on about the 3 week mark post op, and so on.  Everyday it seems I can do so much more.  Keep up the hard (good) work!

2-4

Congratulations imgettinold!  Now you can change your name to "feelingyoung" !!  I'm not too far behind you - five days to be exact. 

Best,
Jennifer
LBHR upcoming 1.21.12
Dr. Su HSS

I can't answer about the feeling of difference in leg length since I had both done and had only a little over a day with just one hip done.

I asked Dr. Gross about the cup and what it would take to loosen it. He said the cup is hammered in and is really tight. It would take a pretty good hit to move it and the force would have to be directed just right. He told me that if he had to remove it right after surgery he would have to hit it very hard with a hammer to release it. The motions that you are doing wouldn't move it.

Sounds like you are progressing really well. Keep it up! You'll be amazed at how fast things improve.

Thanks all.  Today I decided to "wait" on my narcotic and see how it goes.  I've weaned off the short-release Nucynta, and today I've skipped my extended-release Nucynta at 7:00 a.m. to see how it goes.  I can tell the difference, but it is really manifesting in additional "tightness" and "soreness", but not what I would classify as pain.

I also haven't yet gone for my morning walk, so we'll see.  I have no issues going back on for a few more days, just trying it out.

There have been a few instances where I have leaned my crutch against something and go to take a single step on my new hip.  I don't know if it is my body's defense mechanism, or really just weakness, but the leg on the operated side seems to want to buckle.  During my walks with 1 crutch - with seemingly only 10% weight assistance from the crutch - the leg does fine.  Add the extra 10% and the leg seems incapable.  Could this be my subconscious playing a role?  It never seemed to intervene with the....oh....150 idiotic things I've done to injure myself in the past.

You can drive yourself nuts with this. I'd just trust your body, and if it says "whoa!!" then whoa it is. Mine buckled early on when not on the crutch, let it get that 10% now, you'll be off it soon enough.

I agree you will know when it is time to take that first step. I remember I was out walking and something just said go for it!  I walked only short intervals unassisted the first couple times (maybe 30 or 40 steps) and then back to putting the cane back on the ground.  I commented in my recovery thread that I felt like a little kid on a bike with training wheels and an adult just pushed me an let go.  Not overly steady at first but a wonderful feeling.

Okay.....been AWOL for a few days. I am day 9 post-surgery. Recovery is going so well that I can't believe it.  Today I walked 0.8 miles with a cane....no problem.  I still iced upon returning home, but mostly prophylactically.  I can easily go down stairs foot over foot, though not easily up stairs yet.

I have a couple questions:

1.  Where did you all experience the "monkey fist"?  Mine seems to be on the top of my operated glute....above the incision.  Is that a common location, or are they all over the place?

2.  I have a fairly sharp sting when I do my thigh/buttock isometric squeezes that runs the length of my quad near the outside.  Sound familiar to anyone?  Not sure why it would sting there.

3.  Leg lifts:  too soon to do them?  I find that part of my leg is weak, but I can do them.  Is it bad at this point to do them?

4.  Too much:  Is it possible to walk too much and injure myself?  I DO understand about overdoing it - on Monday I went to my son's first (demonstration) band concert, and after sitting uncomfortably for 45 minutes, I stood with my crutches for another 90.  My leg was like a sausage and I basically sat all day Tuesday.  But, today I walked 0.8 miles, and I feel great and want to do another 0.8.  Dr. Gross said to be up to a mile by 6 weeks, and I could easily do that today.  I know it's not a race, but is there actual risk involved?  I mean, if my body says "no problem", are there other factors I should take into consideration? (I will, of course, not run, and I follow the 90 degree rule to the "T".)

Sorry for the long post.......

Andy

1.  Not sure about the monkey's fist, but I did get a lot of Charlie Horses in my glut during the first few PT sessions.  Sorry, I had to say that.  9 days is pretty early.  I think you're going to have a lot of interesting, new, and weird discomforts in the hip area still.  You might ask the PT about the monkey's fist, might just be some really tight muscles trying to loosen up around the still-existing inflammation.

2.  I didn't have that quad pain, but I did have some real tightness (not a sting) in the front of the hip when doing the squeezers.  Maybe it's the same sort of thing for you, but is a little more noticeable down the leg.  If it's really painful, you might want to talk to the surgeon.

3.  I was told that is was ok to do the leg lifts at that time, but you are right, that is a hard thing to do.  It took a couple days for me and then I gained a lot of strength back, probabaly more likely, the swelling went down and the muscle/nerve connection was able to kick in again.  Remember, your muscles are mad you, they should be mad at the surgeon, but they don't want to cooperate like they used and it takes a little time and some continued exercise for them to settle down and work with you. 

4.  Good question.  I'm at 4 months on the right and at about 2 weeks I over walked and got a lot of sharp pain in the front of the hip.  It took a fee weeks for that to go away.  I thought it was gone, but I recently started doing some more intense walking, some light running, and it's coming back a bit.  I need to back off and let things cool down.  I'd say at 9 days you want to only do a bit to keep the exercise going.  If it feels like you can kick ass, don't do it.  A few weeks from now, I think playing with the amount and testing how you feel, is ok, but not now, too early.  BTW - talk to your PT about it.  Mine was great about testing/pushing it, but that wasn't until easilly 2 weeks, probably more.

Monkey fist for me was dead center very low in my rear end.  It then traveled to more to the outside but still in the lower rear end.  I never really tried legs lifts until my six week appointment so I can't comment on that.  I did "cheat" a bit on walking distances.  Like you, I was able to do a mile quite easily.  In general did 2 to 2.5 miles a day after about 2 1/2 weeks.  My body seemed to tolerate this but you need to listen to your own body.  Sounds like you are doing well which is fantastic.  Keep using the ice!

1.  I never experienced the monkey fist either.  I wonder if Dr. Pritchett does something different.  I have always wondered what people were talking about.

2.  I definitely experienced the sting on the outside of the thigh with the exercises.  It slowly went away and I never worried about it.

3.  I tried to do leg lifts early on.  I kept pushing it until I could do them.  That was probably the hardest exercise to do.

4.  I walked a lot early on.  I don't think you can overdo it and cause damage with walking or the exercises they give you.  I would imagine it would take som severe twisting and pounding to damage the bone/joint.  The muscles would have to be torn to cause damage.  And that would not happen with slow gentle movements.

Best wishes.

Dan

Quote from: imgetinold on January 17, 2012, 08:54:57 AM
Thanks all.  Today I decided to "wait" on my narcotic and see how it goes.  I've weaned off the short-release Nucynta, and today I've skipped my extended-release Nucynta at 7:00 a.m. to see how it goes.  I can tell the difference, but it is really manifesting in additional "tightness" and "soreness", but not what I would classify as pain.

Just curious. Is nucynta the only narcotic you were given? He's doing mine on 3/14 and I'm a little skeptical of nucynta. I'd really rather not be 10 hours away and it not work for me. I'd really rather do a more proven drug.

Just discuss it with Dr. Gross in the Pre-Op meeting.  I'm sure he can either explain its effectiveness relative to other drugs, or prescribe something else you're familiar with.  He's great.  Or, try it, and if it's not working, call them and they'll call in something else.

I've only taked Vicoden and Percoset once (one pill each) until I realized I was allergic.  I can't compare, but I can say that when following the direction on the Nucynta, I was just fine.  I only got in trouble in the first 2-4 days when I was late in taking them.  By day 6 I had stopped altogether.  You heal so much faster than you can imagine.

Oh.....and good luck.

Wow, Andy!

Congratulations on feeling good enough to go without the pain medications!  Have a great Sunday!

'One
aka
2-4

Day 12 Post op update.

No problem walking a mile.  At this point, I don't even need Tylenol anymore, even after walking.  When I'm in the kitchen, I find myself parking the cane and just walking from point A to point B unassisted.  I hobble a little, so I keep the cane for anything over 3-4 steps.

My incision is quite itchy, and it is still not comfortable sitting in a regular chair without a cushion.  Still have the knot in the glute, although it is getting better.  I don't break the 90 degree rule, but even getting close (in a regular chair) is not comfortable.  Feels really tight as I close in on 90 degrees.

You know that feeling (pre surgery and pre OA) when your muscles were tight, and a good, long stretch felt so good?  That's how the operated leg/glute/thigh feel, and I want to stretch it out!  I know I can't yet, but that is quite irksome.

I am chomping at the bit for more rehab, but will stick with Dr. Gross's exercises until he says otherwise.

I still can't get all the black gook off my butt from the surgical dressing.  Blech.  Helping scrub it off is NOT my wife's favorite thing to do, for some odd reason.

And, since my bone density was not great, I have given up all soda and caffeine.  Both are difficult if you are used to them every day, but I've stayed on the straight and narrow since surgery, so all is good.

That black gook was weird.  I very lightly used a body poof (like you would use with shower gel) on the incision area after about two weeks after really letting water fall on the area in the shower.  I emphasize lightly but it did work over time.  I also found that after awhile it peeled off!  I think it is a tiny bit of blood mixed with the surgical adhesives. It peeled off like Elmer's glue!

How Wonderful you are walking a mile!  If I remember correctly, it took about 20 days to get all the various 'glue' spots off my body, and it did peel off like Elmer's Glue!

Hey Andy! Good job man! I too have had what could be described as a "charlie horse" on the outside of my quad  since the operation. It did bruise a few days later on both the outside and inside of the leg and is slowly disappearing...."trauma" (twisting the leg out of joint) from the surgery maybe? I wonder also if its due to the muscles/ligaments being sutured back together causing some tightness. I do just massage it (the quad only)lightly and it seems to help. I too still have the black goo on me as well...its slowly going away 2 weeks later!
J

Week 3 Post op update.

Things progressing greatly.  Well, sort of.  I felt so good at 12 days, that I'm in that same place.  I am stiff in the morning, but loosen up during the day.  I don't even use the cane on my 1 mile walks anymore, but have it handy when I get tired, or when I've been sitting for a while.  Then, it takes a minute of standing/walking to loosen up.

I can walk down stairs foot over foot easily, and upstairs with some concentration.

I noticed a little extra swelling/tenderness after the Celebrex left my system, but that has normalized.  Unfortunately, the tennis elbow I had prior to surgery.....which was COMPLETELY gone while on Celebrex and pain killers, is back 100%.  And I thought that weeks of inactivity would fix it.

I have stopped trying to walk longer each day.......taking the doctor's, my wife's, and this forum's perspective about recovery being a "journey" and not a "race".  The LAST thing I want is a femoral neck fracture because I was impatient.  So, I walk my mile, then sit my arse back into the chair.

I plan on joining a gym for the next few months to start doing upper body work.  I have a workout room in the basement, but it is all dumbells and free-weights.  Since I cannot pick up a pair of 65 lb. dumbells for a long time, I'll need to use some pin-select machines.

Occasionally, I have felt a twinge in the groin reminiscent of the bad hip days, but only for about 1 second.  I'm sure it's nothing.

All in all, great so far.  I just need to find medication for impatience........

You'll feel twinges for a while, Andy, of different types.

They usually go away, it's the ones that persist that need looking after. Even those are usually things you can overcome.

Never feel hesitant to call the doc, though no matter how small something is if it's bothering you.

No medication for impatience!  That made me laugh.  Sounds like you are doing well.  I can't believe you are at three weeks already.  The weird little twinges are normal....I am still getting them from time to time.  I think everything is still stretching out and settling in.

Hi Andy,

Your progress is coming along at a really nice pace!  What is your surgeon's limit to how much you can carry or lift?  I couldn't believe it when Dr. Schmitt's was a measly ten pounds :P.

2fer

Okay......not sure anyone's watching this anymore.  But......

I'm six weeks tomorrow, and back to work for 3 days.  I have taken the doctor's advice and limited my daily walking to 1 mile.  I feel like I'm just getting warmed up by then, but I've been good.  I got in the pool a week ago, and yesterday I swam 1200 meters.  I am mostly an upper-body swimmer, so I'm not over-working the hip.  It felt GREAT to actually get my heart rate up.  I would swim 150 meters freestyle, then 50 meters breast stroke to catch my breath.

I walk totally normal now, save for my first 3-10 steps after being seated.  Occasionally I get a little pang or twinge in the hip, but nothing like before.  I assume that's normal.

I did take my son to the skateboard park the other day, and ended up standing for 3+ hours.  THAT made me pretty sore.  Is that normal?  Is that bad (similar to walking too far)?

I cannot wait for my follow up appointment so I can be cleared for more exercises.

Hey Andy,

Yes, it is totally normal to be sore after standing for 3 hours.

I am so sore today that I just want to dive into my Norco bottle that I've quit completely, as of today.  Today, I had Land PT at 8am, leg presses, etc., sat at a breakfast cafe on my cushion for two hours reading and sipping herbal tea, at noon did Pool PT for an hour, fooled around and chatted up everyone I know at the Health Complex, went grocery shopping, stopped and picked up a book, and finally arrived home at 3:30.  Now, that's overdoing it!☢

Trust, you just don't want to over do it if you can possibly help it!  You are doing great, and I'm totally jealous you are allowed to swim!  My surgeon is making me do lousy pool PT, and I really miss swimming.  Keep up the good work, but don't work too hard ::).

2fer

Quote from: imgetinold on February 21, 2012, 04:23:21 PM
Okay......not sure anyone's watching this anymore.  But......

I'm six weeks tomorrow, and back to work for 3 days.  I have taken the doctor's advice and limited my daily walking to 1 mile.  I feel like I'm just getting warmed up by then, but I've been good.  I got in the pool a week ago, and yesterday I swam 1200 meters.  I am mostly an upper-body swimmer, so I'm not over-working the hip.  It felt GREAT to actually get my heart rate up.  I would swim 150 meters freestyle, then 50 meters breast stroke to catch my breath.

I walk totally normal now, save for my first 3-10 steps after being seated.  Occasionally I get a little pang or twinge in the hip, but nothing like before.  I assume that's normal.

I did take my son to the skateboard park the other day, and ended up standing for 3+ hours.  THAT made me pretty sore.  Is that normal?  Is that bad (similar to walking too far)?

I cannot wait for my follow up appointment so I can be cleared for more exercises.

Didn't I tell you six weeks goes quickly!  ;) Let us know how your appointment goes!

I'm at about 6 weeks and I still get pain in my hip while sitting and when I over do it.  My PT said I should only walk 20 minutes at a time at a slow pace.  If I want to do a 2nd go the same day that would be OK as long as I feel well.  I get sore if I work it too much.  I went to week last week and had to sit a lot, that made my hip sore as well.  Does your hip start to ache later in the day &/or in the morning? That's when mine gets sore.  Glad to hear you are doing well.

Typically later in the day, and only when I've been standing a long time.  Glad to hear I'm "normal".  Not typically a word used to describe me..... ;D

Well, your Purdue symbol does kind of look like Darth Vader's Helmut!

Call me weird, call me 'Abby Normal', just call on your friends here, and we'll be there for you.

2fer

Abby........someone.

Abby who?

Abby..........Normal.

What a GREAT film reference.

Frau Blucher!

My horses just went nuts  ;D

Sounds normal, Andy - the soreness will lessen and go away.

"What Knockers" 
just had to chime in....

Sitting definitely stiffens me up and I have a desk job.  I find myself kneeling at the key board or standing and holding it at various times, as well as changing from my office chair to the exercise ball to sit on.  Good thing I work from home - otherwise the looks I'd get in the office. LOL  I totally have the 3 - 10 step 'warm up' that you mentioned too. 

Good to be part of the "normal" gang here. 

I had my 6 week follow up with Dr. Gross (actually with Lee Webb).  It went very well.

She does a few "tests" to see how strong the leg is when having you do the phase 2 exercises, like having you lift and hold the leg while she pushes down.  I'm not sure if she says this to everybody, but she seemed genuinely surprised at how strong my leg was.

I thought there was some way to determine if the bone was growing into the implant on schedule, but I guess that's not the case.  They just check to see if anything has slipped or moved.

But.....HURRAY.....I can walk as much as I want, exercise bike, elliptical machine (which makes my feet go numb for some reason).  Woooo Hoooo!

Awesome, Andy - you're really coming out swinging there.

Sounds wonderful!  It will improve quickly as you get more active, especially ROM. Did she call you a "poster child for recovery"?  ;). Anyway, I was overjoyed at six weeks to open it up a bit in terms of activity.  Take it slowly, even on the elliptical!  I am itching to run again! And yes, for some reason I thought there would be some indication on the X-ray that your bone was growing into the implant!  Not!

I didn't get the "poster child" comment.  But, if she has that same reaction to most people, then she should get an academy award for best actress!

Wait.....no.....that would mean she's an actress and NOT doing what she is doing.  I want her right where she is!

Aerial and Andy, you two are cracking me up! *snorting drinking my coffee*  I love a good banter early in the morning!

'One

Okay,

Now I'm cleared for more activity and new exercises.

I exercise biked for 22 minutes this morning, walked 1/2 mile on the treadmill afterwards, and walked a bit over a mile at lunch today.

I have a little bit of pain in the hip (similar to the OA pain) when seated at my desk.  I'm sure this is my body getting used to moving again, but have you guys found a little increase in pain/soreness once the "shackles" came off?

Andy

Yeah!  :).

"Whoa!"1

Way to go and Attaboy, Andy!

One



1http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5P_cRpr9RQ "Whoa" - A Joey Lawrence Celebration Mash Up!

That is hilarious.  Simultaneously laughing at Joey Lawrence and OOgling Mya. 

8 week update

I was preparing for a setback, as last week I did 1/2 hour on the exercise bike and ended up with a few sharp pains in the hip later that evening.  I was pedaling pretty fast, as I don't have a lot of resistance yet.

But, I hiked 3.8 miles with my kids near Lake Lanier (GA), which is fairly hilly terrain.  I honestly felt COMPLETELY normal.  I was careful where I placed my feet so as not to trip, but I felt ZERO signs of having had a surgery during the entire hike.  No post hike pain, no nothing. 

Today, easy 1/2  hour on an elliptical machine followed by 1/2 hour of weights.  Sigh.......it's nice to be back to being active.

I also joined Livestrong.com to start tracking my calorie intake and activity level.  I've got a few pounds of blubber that need a new home.  I WILL lose 1.5 lbs per week until I've lost 15 lbs.

I also started a new group on there for Joint Replacement people.  Honestly, I was surprised it wasn't there.

Sweet!!! Sounds great. Looking forward to not paying a price for hiking, walking, tennis etc.

If I sat too long I would get an ache which would cause stiffness which would go away once I got up and took a few steps.  That is something many people have experienced.



Chuck

Quote from: imgetinold on March 05, 2012, 04:44:27 PM
Okay,

I have a little bit of pain in the hip (similar to the OA pain) when seated at my desk.  I'm sure this is my body getting used to moving again, but have you guys found a little increase in pain/soreness once the "shackles" came off?

Andy

Same as Chuck, my startup pain / stiffness lasted for about five months with incremental improvement. Gone now.

Hot Dang, Andy!   

That's fantastic!  You sure are pushing yourself!  Just make sure you know your limits; I know I do.1

1  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3Pwl8jTLK8&feature=related - Women know your limits!

Week 10.5 Update:

I pretty much feel totally normal.  I rarely think about my hip, except when putting on socks and tying shoes:  My ROM in that direction is not back yet, and Dr. Gross doesn't want that pushed for 6 months.  I asked about PT, but he said for strengthening only (which I don't need), but not for ROM.  So, I wait.  It does get better each week on it's own, though, just not where I would want it.

I can walk indefinitely w/o pain.  I exercise bike probably 3-4x week for about 45 minutes w/o pain.  I do an elliptical machine a few times per week, and swim a mile typically 2x per week.  I've lost 2.5 lbs. in the last 2 weeks, on my way to a goal of 15 lbs.

I don't get much start-up stiffness anymore, unless I sit for hours on end.

I can now see where the patience thing comes in.  I SO want to play basketball with my 9-year-old.  I WANT to do one of the Insanity workouts to really peg my heart-rate.  I WANT to go mountain biking.  I WANT to play tennis.  Anyway, I'm happy to be burning calories, pain-free, and in a warm climate!

I actually think my hip flexor strength on my operated side is now superior to my non-operated side!  I've never had good strength in my hip flexors, because I NEVER worked them.  I've been doing my side leg-lift exercises like clockwork, and my non-operated side burns out before my operated side.  I'm not sure if that's because I do the operated side first, and that somewhat fatigues the other side or not.

I continue to clunk here and there, but am not concerned.

Unrelated to the hip, I continue to have elbow tendonitis that won't quit.  It's been over 3 months, with the only reprieve being 2-3 weeks post-surgery when I was taking Celebrex.  Ugh.

Well, thanks to all for your continued support throughout this journey.

-Andy

Sounds great Andy. There's still more progress ahead, so keep it up. You're right - patience is the hardest when there doesn't seem to be a need, but there still is. You're doing great.

Andy - just the post I needed to read tonight.  Thanks!!  Keeping the "patience faith" and working through the get-up-and-go limp struggle.  Glad to hear yours is getting better and look forward to mine waning soon. 

 

Wow Andy, what a difference a few weeks makes.  I'm looking forward to getting back on my exercise bike.  How long did it take you to get up to 45 minutes w/o pain?   

After I was cleared at the 6-week point to get on the bike, I never did have any pain.  At least not while riding.  My first ride was probably 30 minutes, but I didn't really use much resistance.  Maybe set the resistance to level 3 (out of 12 - I have a lifecycle).  That was probably a good thing to do.  Of course, I didn't get my heart rate very high, but that's okay.  I'd say my third time on the bike I did 45 minutes.  I stopped mostly because I was bored.  After a few weeks, I started upping the resistance (5 min. warm-up, then alternate 1 min. on level 3, one on level 7 or 8). 

Occasionally I'll have a little soreness later in the day/evening.  Mostly I feel it on the outside of my quad....is that the IT band?  Other than that, I really haven't had any pain.

That is the IT band - time to get a roller?

I have one.....and I fear it.

I started using it prior to surgery, and remember thinking that it might be more fun to pull out my fingernails with a pair of linesman pliers.

Sigh......

I'll get back on it.  Maybe after a beer or two........

It is like getting a particularly mean elf with a cattle prod on your thigh at first, but after the first week or so, the 'stuff' loosens a lot and it becomes bearable :o then it actually feels good.

     I can only stand the thing (hate it but love it so) by supporting the bulk of my bulk with my forearms and other leg.  I then ease it all down with increasing pressure until I cry with "joy".  Curt

Same here. Going on it without that support would be so Spanish Inquisition 1600's.  :o

This week was a bit of a disappointment.  After 12 weeks, I've stalled.  Not in exercise, but my hip is tighter a bit.....the exercises seem a bit harder the last few days than they were, say, last week.  I have a two-step-hobble after sitting a while, which I haven't had for weeks.

I know, probably normal, but just a bit disappointing.  I think I am probably not stretching enough, and the things I'm strengthening are getting tight.  So, I'll up the stretching (even though Dr. Gross said not to push ROM).

Also, after hitting a point where I didn't often think about the hip, I found a few moments where it becomes obvious.  First, the family and I went for a walk, and we stepped off the trail towards the pond to look at something.  On a short slope, I stepped on one of those "Monkey Balls" - a spikey ball from a tree that I don't know the name of -  and the quick "catching myself" move made me acutely aware of the hip.  Not pain, but I realized that I am far from being "normal" there.  Later, I was squatted down and trying to loosen something, and it came loose.  The quick adjustment to that sudden shift of weight made my hip say, "HEY NOW, what the hell are you doing?". 

Hopefully, this passes and I get back on track.

Andy

Hi Andy,
For me, the "catching yourself" feeling was still a big deal at 3 months, where you are now. That feeling, along with a reluctance to take a big one or two foot step down onto an uneven surface with the new hip, lasted for up to a year. Now, neither one of those is an issue at all.
I know that from where you are sitting, three months seems like a long time, but you are still fairly early in the healing roller coaster ride, and what you are describing sounds pretty normal. From my experience, you have at least another year of seeing lots of improvement. It just comes with little surprises along the way.

I could not have said it better.



Chuck

Greetings.  Thought I'd update for the benefit of future hippies.

I am 5 months out from surgery.  At this point, I hike locally (~4 miles) once a week, exercise bike 45 minutes about 4x per week, lift weights (machines.....not loading the femur) 3-4x per week.  Actually, I will do dumbells (curls, shoulder presses) with maybe 35 lbs, but I put probably 60% on the non-operated leg.

I occasionally get hip flexor and/or psoas tightness, which is typically a result of my not stretching them enough.  No OA pain at all.

I started doing PT at about 4 months out.  Dr. Gross does not normally prescribe it, but I asked for it, and he said "strengthening only, no ROM".  That is fine, and I recommend it highly.  I found that - like everybody says - the big muscles come back quickly, but the little ones do not.  I was getting a lot of clunking.  Also, I noticed that quick, postural adjustments - like when you trip on something or slip a little - would really make the operated hip noticeable.  After two week of PT, my clunking is nearly gone.  I'm really glad I went, and may go for more later in the year, if I can identify a specific shortcoming.

I am counting the weeks until I can run (4 more to go).  I'm not a marathon runner, but I LOVE a good 3-4 mile run.  There's a trail run 5k on my birthday in October, so I'm planning on being ready for that (just to complete...not compete).  And, I'm a bit tired of the exercise bike.  I may, over the July 4th weekend, get out the mountain bike and do some easy trails.  I could do THAT all day long, but still have a little apprehension of a wipeout.  We also have workout videos like "Insanity" that I'd like to get back to, as they get my heart rate to a level that I rarely achieve on the exercise bike.

Anyway, thanks, as always, to all the cheerleaders on this site, and good luck to those about to take the plunge.  It is SO worth it.

Great News Imgetinold!
I've been on the MTB on easy trails and it feels good - I say go for it!
Our 6 month check ups are coming fast.  Hard to believe~~  :)

Quote from: imgetinold on March 26, 2012, 10:34:13 AM
Week 10.5 Update:

I pretty much feel totally normal.  I rarely think about my hip, except when putting on socks and tying shoes:  My ROM in that direction is not back yet, and Dr. Gross doesn't want that pushed for 6 months.  I asked about PT, but he said for strengthening only (which I don't need), but not for ROM.  So, I wait.  It does get better each week on it's own, though, just not where I would want it.

I know that is old news, but still weird to compare with Dr. Su, who not only doesnt do the 90 degree rule, but had me banding over in a chair on day 2.  I am now 10 weeks out and almost all ROM is back because of mandatory 3 x a day stretching of all the hip muscles in all directions. 

I wonder why two great doctors have such very different protocols on this.

Yea.....I'm not sure.  It would be interesting to hear the actual clinical reasoning behind each approach to rehab.

Great stuff Andy, it's good to hear your progress at the 5 month mark. You are doing loads of stuff.

Correct me if I am wrong but I seem to remember reading that it is the smaller stabiliser muscles which they cut across the fibres, the larger muscles are with the fibres and are parted like curtains. So this and the fact that the smaller muscles are harder to isolate to strengthen, it makes sense I suppose that it requires quite a bit of work to get back to tip top condition.

Hey, Morph.

From what I understand, Dr. Gross only cuts one of the smaller (abductor?) muscles, and "parts" all the larger ones, like you said.  I also think that part of it is the process of dislocation.  They contort, stretch, and move your leg in ways it was never designed to to, so I think a lot of the smaller muscle's weakness is that they have to recover from the trauma of dislocation.  I'm not a doctor, but I play one on this post....

I'm at 8 months today.

Today......I'm sore.  For the first time since surgery, I actually over-did it.  On Sunday, I rode the exercise bike for 45 minutes before church.  In the afternoon, I went hiking/jogging with my son on a 4 mile trail near the house.  Mostly walking/hiking, as my hip (groin) get sore after about 1 minute of jogging.  Then, after that, I played tennis (doubles) for 1.5 hours.  So, now, I'm paying for it a bit.  At least now I know my limitations.  I don't think there's any damage done.....just soreness.

So..........at this time I'm back to almost everything.  I did email Lee Webb today to ask about tennis, and if I should be playing.  It is even hard to remember the debilitating pain that followed most activity before.  Remarkable.

I think at this point, your hip really begins to be able to handle much more activity.

It's when I noticed a couple of "dissimilarities" in the fitness of my muscles. Some (larger muscles, most commonly used smaller ones) were rarin' to go, others (groin, lower buttocks) were nervous nellies.

I also had a setback around that time. I called, was calmed down, struggled with pull like symptoms in my groin area for a couple of weeks, then never heard from it again. Weird - I have had some groin symptoms like that since, but not the predictable twinge of those couple of weeks.

Cool that things are going well, Andy.

Good news on the activity level Andy...but can't say I'm excited about the jogging part. Hopefully you will "break through" that pain issue and be able to get back at it.

I've learned that even basic soccer activity causes days of discomfort...but got to keep up with my girls so hopefully it will get better....happy healing...jb

Thanks, JB.  Yea, I'm a little bummed about the running thing.  I tried again two weekends ago, running for one minute and walking for one minute.  I got to about six intervals and felt the soreness.  The weird thing is, I then went home and did one of the "insanity" workouts, which is easily 3 times more demanding than a run.  Literally 50 minutes of 90 to 100 percent of my maximum activity level, and no hip soreness.  I think it's because running hits the same muscles, over-and-over, whereas - while doing the video - you're changing your movement every minute, so the same muscle doesn't get tired.

Anway, that's a small price to pay.  I'll keep trying....maybe every other week.  It'll come.

As for your soccer activity causing pain.  I found that when I started tennis, I could only do so much.  But, as i kept at it, those particular muscles got much stronger.  I think you'll clear up as you do it more often.  Good luck!

In the event any newbies are going through posts in their entirety (as I did), I'll make one last post to complete the picture.

I'm at just about 10 months now.  Here was today's workout with my wife:

We did a 13-station circuit, 3 times, each station for one minute, no rest (except transition between stations):

1 - Alternating squats on a step, where you jump over, squat, jump back, squat, repeat
2 - Sit-ups (any type)
3 - Push ups on an upside-down BOSU ball.
4 - Toe-taps on a medicine ball (stand in front of medicine ball, tap right foot on top, jump to switch feet so left foot touches the top, repeat right-left approx. every second)
5 - Superman (hold 10 seconds, rest 4 seconds, repeat)
6 - Squat with ~20 lb. kettlebell
7 - Chair dips
8 - Squat with dumbell held in both hands, press dumbell overhead on the way up, lower it on the way down (brutal)
9 - Pull ups
10 - Dumbell chest presses
11 - Exercise Band (heavy) rows
12 - Dumbell Curls
13 - Plank punches (Start in "up" pushup position. Alternate "punching" straight forward with each hand, holding the plank position. This was from an Insanity workout).

We did a total of 45 minutes, so we did a few stations in a 4th circuit. It about killed me.

I'm posting so that any people contemplating getting this done can see how quickly things can get great!

Sounds to me like you're getting younger  ;D

Cool, hard workout.