I've posted in several areas on the forum but I thought I would start a topic in this area, and regularly update it. Reading other stories here has been the single best thing to prepare for the surgery, and to prepare for the recovery.
I'm 58, super active, and live in the Lake Tahoe area. Among other activities I've run for 35 years and that, combined with other activities and some suspect genes (thanks Mom) led to the deterioration of my hip. I got the OA diagnosis in September, had to stop running in November, and scheduled surgery for March 27, 2012, at the end of the ski season. That way I would have a new hip in time for our glorious (but short) Tahoe summer.
Pre-op I worked on upper body strength, and concentrated on bar dips - you spend a lot of time lifting yourself out of chairs after surgery. I also worked on balance with a bosu ball and an Indo board. I tried to keep as active as possible leading up to the surgery and walked 5 miles in San Francisco the day before surgery.
Post-op I wasn't prepared for just how sore and weak my leg would be. Mentally I was thinking I would start off in less pain than pre-op. That isn't at all the case. The good news is that the progress, while never as rapid as you want, is steady. Hydration is important and I would drink as much water as possible. When the catheter is removed the nurse will make you pee three times before you are released - I made sure to produce quarts of the stuff!
People will talk about icing and elevation and both are important. I made up some ice bags with 1 part rubbing alcohol to 3 parts water and they work well. Your recliner will be your best friend and, at least in my case, I am still sleeping in it at night at 8 days post-op.
There are two separate factors in recovery. The first is healing from the surgery - everything that was cut away and reattached, plus the trauma of the surgery itself. The second is the healing of the bone around the implant. The distinction between the two is important, because I expect to feel pretty much normal before I am completely healed.
Most doctors focus on walking as a primary exercise in rehab. I've done the same. It's a little difficult to strike the balance between pushing hard and pushing too much. My first walk at 3 days was about .5 miles. My second walk at 4 days was 1.2 miles. That caused considerable swelling that came down with ice and elevation. I went to 2.4 miles in 2 walks, 3 miles in 3 walks, 3.6 miles in 3 walks, and 4 miles in 3 walks. My longest single walk has been 1.6 miles. I ice and elevate after every walk. My goal at this point is 5 miles over 3-4 walks, at which point I think I will be ready to start some light upper body weights and the exercise bike. All my walks are with crutches - I've done a couple with just a cane but that has caused a little too much pain.
My immediate goal is to walk without a limp and with a proper gait. I don't know when I will get there, but the progress is steady so I know its coming.
To end this initial post, I want to emphasize the difference between the healing of the trauma from the surgery, and the healing of the bone around the implant. The former I will push; the latter I will not. I want to compete in triathlons again, but I do not anticipate running for a full year. I want to work on rebuilding my leg strength - I have a complete weight lifting gym at the house - but I will take that very slowly. I think hiking this summer will produce the most stress on the new implant and I am planning my hikes around that. My first "impact" sport will be skiing next winter and I should be 8 months post op by then. Till next week.....
Stephen
Great post Stephen. I am at 11 wks tomorrow and am really trying to keep up on my PT and walks. However a little snow set-back in the Rockies thwarted that effort today. But it'll melt and be gone by tomorrow. I have the same focus that you do. Good posture, good form, step through, and keep moving. I am frustrated how weak my op'd leg is, but I am already seeing some good progress, so it's easing the frustration a bit. I know that I have at least till the 6month point before doing anything with impact (bone healing) and by then hoping the strength and muscles will be good to go as well. I was also reminded by another here that this really can be up to an 18month recovery, so trying to take everything in stride and if I have setbacks or delays, not to be too upset.
The O/A Pain is gone. The muscles still ache at times, but it's that good 'I've been working out' ache.
Great post stephen. Really pointed out some important things to consider.
Good post stephen. I think your quite right about the bone healing it takes a long time! And I believe that is the deciding factor of how long a all placed device will last.
2 weeks post-op today. Progress has been steady, never as fast as I want, but steady. I've tried to do a little more each day, either in walking distance or in reducing use of walking aids. It's worked pretty well, as I've only had 1 day where I woke up more sore than the previous day, and I just backed down my activity a bit.
Today is actually a big day for me, because I had Dr. clearance to start on the exercise bike and do light upper body weight training. I was on the bike before I digested breakfast and the bike went really well. I did 15 minutes at the lowest resistance, then I alternated 4 sets each of 12 reps with a 100 lb flat Smith machine bench press and 8 reps of body weight chin ups. I then went back and did another 15 minutes on the bike. When I got off the bike I was walking better than I have at any point since the surgery. I expect things to tighten up a bit during the day, but I still see a net positive from the bike.
In summary I am off walking aids within the house, and am using a cane to walk outside with brief periods of no aid. The criterion is my gait - I will walk without aids as long as I can without limping.
To those who haven't had the surgery yet or are still in the early recovery stage I wanted to mention depression. I am an incurable optimist, but this is a tough surgery. There are times when I wonder if I will ever be free of pain again. Last Saturday my wife and I went over to Squaw Valley just to enjoy the weather and listen to a little music. A friend asked my wife if I was skiing on the new hip yet. Her reply was "Are you kidding? He can barely walk." That was tough because it was a beautiful day and I couldn't be out on the slopes. That night when I went to bed I took a close look at myself in the mirror and I can see the affects of pain in my face. I got in bed and I wanted to cry - I was so tired of being in pain. The next morning I got up and felt the best yet, so I put the optimist face back on. I know I will get through this - primarily from reading all of the stories on this site of people who have had this surgery and have fully recovered - so I know it is just a matter of time.
Still can't come soon enough.....
Stephen, you want to check out the posts on depression.
To some degree we've all had it, at different times. It's just normal especially for the type A's that we all seem to be to hit the skids a bit when we hit the unavoidable reverses along the way. The best thing is to understand that this is not just a physical recuperation, but a mental and emotional as well.
We all spiraled down on the OA whirlpool, and now that we've escaped it, we still need to get back to our own particular brand of still waters. It takes time and a lot of strength that many people (like your friend) have no concept of.
To really prosper, you need people in your life like your wife, who have seen the struggle, and while they don't get the whole thing, are definitely clued in. I had a counselor that I was already seeing for marriage therapy and folded in my challenges from the HRs, but the issues are real and you should know that they are fairly common.
Keep it up, you're doing great, but as with your walking aids, you are benefiting from the folks in your life that are offering a helping hand. Sounds like you've got a great wife, she's going to also see the emotional difference in you, I know I smile a lot more now, and the sight of my kids wincing along with me when I walked before the surgeries is gone.
Be patient with yourself in more ways than just physically; I know I needed to.
Stephen,
Thanks for keeping us posted. Your experience and the advice you're getting from your doctor are much different from mine! Tomorrow I'll be two weeks post-op from a left hip resurfacing with Dr. Gross and I'm still using two crutches and feeling pretty significant pain, although it gets a little better each day. I had a set back a week ago when I had some muscle spasms that really floored me. Today I spoke with Dr. Gross's assistant Lee Webb and she told me not to walk more than 1-1.5 miles per day until after my 6 week check up, and I believe this is their normal program. Dr. Gross's advice to me resonates...for the first six weeks "less is more." I do wonder if more aggressive PT and activity would speed my pain reduction and improve my mobility, but I went to Dr. Gross for a reason and I'll stick with his advice. I look forward to comparing notes with you.
All the best,
Larry
My Doctor is fairly aggressive in rehab, although he has two partners that do resurfacing as well and he is the least aggressive of the three! I am trying to listen to what my body is telling me, but I think we are all a bit in the dark as to the best way to proceed. I feel positive about getting blood flow to the injured body parts, and working through a normal ROM to prevent excessive scar tissue buildup. There is a fair amount of pain and a lot of stiffness after sitting, but my daily measurement is how I feel when I first wake up. If I am less sore than the day before then I continue pushing.
Having said that, I firmly believe we will all get to the same point, just at different times.
Just curious Stephen...Dr. Callander, Dr. Cox and who's the third surgeon at CPOSM doing resurfacing?
Thanks and congratulations again, Bruce
Hi everyone, you were all right it gets easier.I've been crutch free for 2 wks, I'm 13 wk post op and had a 9 day set back. I've never has surgery before( hopefully never again) so recovery has been interesting to say the least.
PT has been become more intense, I hate that I'm so out of breath but I haven't done anything in 10 mos. Ice is still my best friend. Really the only pain is occasionally when I'm walking backwards. I will say I'm extremely tired ,exhausted. I start work on the 16 th the extra week has help tremesly .
I have a mounted training in 2wks, 10 days before I'm cleared to ride. I set my horse to Amish bootcamp he will be ridden everyday till I pick him up.Because I know how easy set back can be, so if I have any doubts I'm off my horse.
But I will say I'm sitting in my saddle when I'm watching tv and it feels WONDERFUL. I will and am getting better! Hmm riding pain free is going to be fun. :)
Now if work doesn't kick my butt. But that's what happens when your single. Bye for now , all you new hippys hang in there .
Just curious Stephen...Dr. Callander, Dr. Cox and who's the third surgeon at CPOSM doing resurfacing?
Dr. Gilbert
Blkhank,
Nine day setback sounds tough.
What happened and to what do you attribute it?
Thanks
Quote from: blkhank on April 11, 2012, 12:07:45 AM
Hi everyone, you were all right it gets easier.I've been crutch free for 2 wks, I'm 13 wk post op and had a 9 day set back. I've never has surgery before( hopefully never again) so recovery has been interesting to say the least.
PT has been become more intense, I hate that I'm so out of breath but I haven't done anything in 10 mos. Ice is still my best friend. Really the only pain is occasionally when I'm walking backwards. I will say I'm extremely tired ,exhausted. I start work on the 16 th the extra week has help tremesly .
I have a mounted training in 2wks, 10 days before I'm cleared to ride. I set my horse to Amish bootcamp he will be ridden everyday till I pick him up.Because I know how easy set back can be, so if I have any doubts I'm off my horse.
But I will say I'm sitting in my saddle when I'm watching tv and it feels WONDERFUL. I will and am getting better! Hmm riding pain free is going to be fun. :)
Now if work doesn't kick my butt. But that's what happens when your single. Bye for now , all you new hippys hang in there .
You know, it all sounds good to me. You're having the usual ten steps forward one back. 9 days is a bit, but I had that long a setback before. Glad to see you're set to go. (blkhank rides into the sunrise to 'back in the saddle again' ;D )
Day 15 and my leg feels the strongest to date. Could be the bicycle, I'm not sure. Ironic as last night was the stiffest I've felt to date.
Stiffness - I'm fortunate enough to work out of the house but I'm a 1 man show with deadlines so I was back to work part time on day 3, and full time on day 6. The most difficult thing has been sitting at my desk. I try to periodically move around but it still contributes to stiffness. I just need to deal with it.
Pain meds - an interesting story. I stopped all pain meds 24 hours post-op but about day 8 I was pretty sore one afternoon and decided to take 2 pills. Almost immediately my wife's shirt began changing colors and I fell asleep in the recliner. I then got up and went to lie down in the bedroom. I became aware of something going on in the great room and got up to investigate but my path was blocked by a black cloth. There were three people there doing some sort of modification to the fireplace. I went back to bed and my wife started talking to me. I couldn't see her in the pile of bedding so I had her put her hand up and I grabbed that just so I knew I wasn't hallucinating. I then had a very earnest conversation with her until I woke up as she came into the bedroom, back from her daily 7 mile run. The worst part was I spent 4.5 hours hallucinating and the pain meds only lasted for 4 hours, so my leg felt no different then when I took the pills! No more meds for me.....
Wow. The worst I got from the extra strength tylenol was a torrential attack of night sweats.
Wow, what kind of pain meds did they give you?
To Lab 123, I was in week 10, had been off the crutch for 3 days ,my PT told me this was going to be a tuff time for me trying to figure out when I've done enough.
I was pain free decided to clean the barn. It's about 1 hr job. It took me 6, between taking breaks icing every hour,petting the critters. When I started to feel sore I quit imediently went to the house ,iced, and went to bed.
Next morning felt great,no pain ,no limp. I went to the current pool to walk against the current . I had been doing it 2-3 x a week for a hour no big deal.When I got done used the whirlpool , stretched felt fine.As I was walking out to my car my hip and leg cramped and hurt so bad I could barley get to my car.
Ended up on the crutch for 9 more days and had to get extension for going back to work. I was very upset,I'm running out of vacation time and I'm sole income.But its something I can't change, its done. Now I limit myself, instead an hour in the pool I do a half an hour,chores around the barn, 1 stall not three.
Work has me a little nervous, so the days I work no barn work.its all good.
The pain med is called Hydrocordone, or something like that.
Oh, and at day 16 I have been completely without walking assistance for 3 days. Upped the time and the resistance on the exercise bike today just enough to start breathing a bit harder. The bike seems to have the most effect on overall leg strength. Today was the first day I honestly felt like I am turning the corner, and will walk normally and pain free in the foreseeable future. Still very cautious around the hip joint, with very deliberate moves and no sudden loading of the joint, but certainly feeling better each day.
I had that prescribed to me, but didn't need it, as my pain was 0-1 after my release both times. Are you doing physical therapy? If not, there's a list of exercises that can also help with the sideways and groin muscle strengthening in addition to the bike that you're doing.
From the McMinn center : http://www.surfacehippy.info/exercisesmcminn.php (http://www.surfacehippy.info/exercisesmcminn.php)
From this site: http://www.surfacehippy.info/exercisesearly.php (http://www.surfacehippy.info/exercisesearly.php)
There was a list of early exercises that I gave curt a while ago that worked for me, will have to dig that up.
I'm not doing any PT now but I've been doing those exercises since I came home. Beginning next Tuesday, which will be week 3 post-op, I'm going to start doing the same exercises on a Bosu ball, which will recruit more stabilizer muscles. One exercise that the PT gave me the one time she came out was to balance on one leg. I've been doing that for a 30 count on each leg, and will move that to the Bosu ball next Tuesday.
I am scheduled to have my left hip resurfaced May 9. Ive already endured a labral repair surgery with 8 months of pt.I have not been without pain a day since the injury occurred.I stopped taking all pain meds back in October. At the time I went through terrible withdrawals for 5 days followed by another week or two of being depressed and not wanting to do much at all.It seems as though some barely need narcotics at all and some do for an extended period post-op.I do not want to endure the after effects of withdrawals ever again. Any idea of an average time people are told to stay on them in order to get some sleep and endure pt.And any alternatives that anyone could suggest would be greatly appreciated..
Pain seems to be very individual and I don't know that anyone can compare their level of pain with anyone else. In my case I went off the pain meds at 24 hours because the meds didn't seem to effect the pain all that much, so I figured why bother?
I still have issues with sleeping, as I don't stay asleep more than 2 hours at a time. I'm just accepting that for now, as the pain lessens a bit every day. In fact at this point, 20 days post op, the issue is less the pain level and more the stiffness with sitting or lying in one place for an extended period.
Aka - I was paranoid of that issue. But I took my meds to stay comfortable and can say that I was down to taking them just to sleep by 4 wks and completely off them by week 8. I still take tylenol every night, sometimes two times a night. It's so personal - and depends on how your body reacts, but if you are of the mindset to just use them to get through those first few weeks, you will find you dont' need/want them after a while.
Good Luck. There's a lot of people to help on this site.
I didn't take the OxyCodone after leaving the hospital. I did take the OxyContin for three days but I am not sure I really needed it. (or maybe it was the other way around?) I took some aspirin for anti-clotting for about 10 days I recall. I took some acetaminophen for pain but rarely.
I found that ice and elevation was my best friend for pain and swelling.
Best wishes.
Dan
Great topic. I'm actually getting ready to go into surgery TODAY for my left hip. I was turned on to this site by a coworker who also had a BHR last year. I've been reading the stories and taking in as much advice as I can. Ready or not, here I come! I'm doing my best to mentally prepare myself for the recovery pain, depression, and work I will need to put in, and this site has been a great help. Thank you to all the contributers. I hope to be posting my story soon after I get back from the hospital.
Good luck, Skilly, and hope to hear from you soon! It's gong to be great for you to be away from that pain.
Akat01, everyone is completely different, even hips on the same person are different. I can understand you being leery of the meds after your experience. I was given morphine and oxycodone (IV) for the first day, then went off the meds the second and was ok with Tylenol.
Both times, I was prescribed oxycodone for home, but was really only having 0-1 level pain, so stayed with tylenol and did not use the oxycodone. I still filled the prescription just in case, but used a large dose of extra strength tylenol and aspirin for clotting. I was immediately on PT (the next day after release) and graduated to outpatient PT after three weeks or so. The tylenol continued to about three weeks, which I think along with whatever effects were there from the hospital anesthesia caused some severe night sweats.
After that was done, I was basically down to Tylenol as needed (usually long trips, extra activity, etc.) and kept up the aspirin for about six weeks or so.
To my mind, there is no right or wrong on this, just whatever helps you get through the day moderately comfortable and lets you do your rehab work.
3 weeks post-op today. The recovery is still gradual, but continual. I've been off all walking aids for a week now, and the 90 degree restrictions were lifted today. The potty chair is in the garage and all the pillows from all the chairs have been put away. I feel so much......shorter.
This past week I added the spin bike and some light upper body weight work to the routine. I started with 15 minutes at no resistance, and have worked up to two 30 minute sessions at a moderate resistance, about 60% of what I used to do pre-op. I've also gradually increased my weights, to where I am doing 4 sets of 12 reps of 140 lb flat Smith machine bench presses, and 4 sets of 10 reps of body weight chins, nothing approaching failure yet, but enough to get me breathing a bit harder.
At my level of recovery that is about as hard as I want to push the bike and the weights. Yesterday I got just the slightest light headed and nauseous, which indicates to me not to push any harder. I also felt some fatigue in and around the hip joint for the first time.
I alternate the hard days and the easy days, with the bike, weights, and a shorter walk one day, and then several longer walks with the basic rehab exercises the next day. I feel stronger, and my leg feels better, on the mornings after the hard days, but I still feel the need for a break between those days. While walking has been undoubtedly beneficial, I still feel that the spin bike has accomplished more in terms of strengthening the leg. The combination of the two is dynamite.
The last 3 nights I've been able to sleep more on my side, and this morning felt pretty good on both sides.
The biggest issue I am still dealing with is weakness in the glute and hamstring of the operated leg, and stiffness in the upper leg and glute after sitting for any length of time. My instincts tell me I'm doing enough on the exercise front, and I just need to wait for further healing.
For anyone contemplating this surgery, 10 days ago I couldn't imagine ever walking properly, and pain free, again. The last 10 days have convinced me that I will now achieve that goal, and sooner rather than later.
Although I scheduled surgery I go back and forth daily on whether to go through with it.As many success stories that I hear about,theres that one nightmare that makes me think I can just continue limping through life. Those of you that have had success are a great source of inspiration.But the other side scares the hell out of me. And being 40 with the reality that I will most certainly need a revision at some point is making me second guess this decision......
Nobody can make the decision for you, but I think most of us came to the realization that our hip was not going to stabilize, but was going to continue to deteriorate. I was to the point where I needed a cane to walk and was more than willing, even eager, to get a BHR. Even at 40, I think the jury is still out on whether a revision will be needed in the future, but even under the worse case scenario, a THR is still going to put you in a better physical position then you are now.
Before I learned about resurfacing, when my Dr. recommended a THR, I was adamantly opposed to the idea because I would have to give up running. In hindsight that was silly, because I couldn't run anyway - I could barely hobble around. If a BHR gives you 15 years of pain free activity, and a later revision were to give you many more years of pain free reduced activity, you are still, IMHO, well ahead of where you are now.
A few more additions to my earlier post. I started doing my rehab exercises (toe and calf raise, partial knee bend, side leg lift, front leg lift, balance on one leg) on a bosu ball this morning. As I suspected, as weak as the larger muscles are, the stabilizer muscles are even weaker. Where I could comfortably hold a 30 count or longer while balanced on the recovering leg while standing on the floor, balancing on the bosu ball is a whole 'nother thing. I think you need to be very careful on the bosu ball - I use it next to the doorway so I have something to grab onto - but it should aid in the recovery of those stabilizer muscles.
The other thing is that even though the 90 degree restrictions are lifted I am still being very careful in moving my leg. I am doing some gentle stretches, and only to the point of tightness, not pain. No pivoting on the heel, no squatting down, keeping the movements calculated and under control.
With those cautions in mind I have to say I am thrilled with the progress to date, and am looking forward to my first walk through the forest on a beautiful spring Tahoe day!
Congrats on your progress Stephen. Getting out and walking where you live to be is an excellent goal to strive for; my first walk in the snow here in Ohio in our National Park was a huge, really huge, milestone and morale boost. It made a huge difference in my outlook and recovery.
Best regards for a continued recovery, just take your time and all will be well before you know it.
Dan
3 mile hike yesterday, and while I was pretty stiff last night the leg feels better than ever this morning.
Day 23 and a bit of a setback. I woke up this morning a bit stiffer and a bit more sore then the prior day. Can't really pinpoint why, but in the last 2 days I've had the 90 degree restrictions lifted, leading to more range of motion, I took a 3 mile hike in the woods, and drove for the first time post op.
Best bet I think is to take the day off and rest. REALLY tough when it is in the mid 60's and so clear it dazzles you. Maybe lay out in the sun a bit....
I think that's wise, Stephen. It's a tossup - some times activity will get you better, other times rest. I usually try to see what I've been doing, and if more, I downshift a bit. Of course some times the sun wins.
Hi all. Well, I made it home, and I'm................64 hour post operation. I'm walking better than ever now! HA, just kidding. I'm lying comfortably on my couch resting after a short visit from the nurse. Surprisingly, I've had no really bad pain to speak of. I was getting headaches when sitting up at the hospital, but that seems to have faded today. I haven't used any of the oxycodone the doc prescribed, but am getting by on tylenol. PT starts tomorrow, so I'm sure that will take a lot out of me. A brief history: I'm 43, male, and USED to play ice hockey--goalie specifically. I've read a few of the stories on here from the goalies, and I literally feel their pain. If you watch ice hockey, you'll notice that the goalies put great stress on their hips with the way they have to go down for saves. The newer pads developed over the last 15 years have helped with the ergonomics tremendously, but nothing helps when a 200 lb defenseman lands on you as you are sprawling to grab a puck!
I can say that I've had my fill of playing hockey, and am ready to move on to other things in my life. I desperately want to get back on the golf course next summer, but even more than that, I'm looking forward to just being able to walk around normally without a limp. Anyway, today my spirits are high, and I'm taking it easy. I have a month off of work with disability, which was a great relief to be able to get. I hope everyone has a great day!
Great news, Skilly! You're just starting out, you'll find that despite the soreness that progress comes at a good pace.
Four weeks post-op today and a bit of a breakthrough. While the healing process has been gradual, every day has started out pretty good, with a slight increase in pain and stiffness during the day. Yesterday I did a 5.25 mile hike in the woods, with no increase in pain or stiffness. No real increase in stiffness through the balance of the day either. It's a little thing, but this whole recovery is about little things.
Another interesting thing about yesterday's hike was for the first time I felt some fatigue in my quads and hamstrings, just a little bit, but it was in BOTH legs, with no real difference in feel between them.
I liken this recovery to the large pile of snow on the north side of the house that accumulates through the winter from the snow blower. As it begins to warm the pile begins to melt, and every day it is just a little bit smaller. The area of pain and stiffness around the incision (because the hip no longer hurts) is just a little bit smaller each day. Of course the snow is long gone and the stiffness in the hip is still there but you get my drift.
While I've increased the mileage on my hikes I've kept the balance of my exercise at the same level, with two 30 minute sessions on the spin bike at 60% of my pre op resistance level and light upper body weights, alternating days with hikes in the woods. This Friday I see Dr. Callander again and I have a list of exercises and activities to go over with him. I will stick to his recommendations as to when to begin certain activities with the exception of running - he has patients starting jogging at 3 - 4 months and I'm going to wait a full year.
On Saturday we are leaving for a 15 day cruise out of San Francisco to Hawaii and back. We stumbled on to cruising awhile back, and after several years of saying "it won't work for us" we gave one a try with terrific results. The biggest plus for us is that we actually relax - like many people we used to come back from vacations more tired than when we left. Since all the stress is removed - the driving, where we are going to stay, where we are going to eat, what we are going to do - we actually relax.
Our approach to a cruise is to work on our fitness. We usually figure on 4 - 5 workouts a day, beginning with an hour long run - which is now a walk for me - a cardio session, a weight session, some pool work, and another walk. We enjoy the cruises with a lot of sea days as we have no distractions from those activities. In between workouts we eat - like we do at home - but we have always lost weight by the time we get back.
This cruise is a little different because we set up the timing of it to coincide with my rehab, thinking that at 4.5 weeks post op I would probably still be on crutches or using a cane. I've been off both assistance devices for 2 weeks now, so instead I will look forward to getting a slew of new activities to try from Dr. Callander.
Looking back on the four weeks since surgery the progress is pretty amazing. Initially I had to wonder whether I would ever walk normally again, or if the pain would ever go away. I can confidently answer yes to both questions now, although I'm not quite there yet - I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. To all of you that had surgery after March 27 hang in there - it does get better!
Great post, stephen. Congrats on the rehab and on the cruise. Relaxation and exercises sounds like perfect recuperation.
Stephen,
I might be able to help with one of your questions. You asked about waking up pretty sore one day and wondering why...and the day before you posted about a 3 mile hike. I'm guessing you had a sarcasm implant when the hip was done, maybe?
3 miles plus at 3 to 4 weeks post op sounds impressive to me (at least something I'll strive for).
I'm only at 2 weeks but have done nothing more than walking and light leg exercises they give you after surgery.
Enjoy the cruise...maybe you can race some of those "mall walkers" around the ship...good luck...jb
Just got back from our cruise to Hawaii, with some excellent results from the increased workout load. A couple of interesting things, and I hope they help others reading this.
While I realize some of these postings from those that have gone through this operation can sound self aggrandizing, my posts and I believe most others are not intended that way at all. Once I determined that I needed a hip replacement, and once I settled on a resurfacing and a particular device and doctor, I stopped the research and spent my time reading the posts on this forum. I felt the best source of information was from others that had gone through this operation, and through the posts on this forum I began to understand the recovery process and began to set goals for myself.
I am an athlete. I've been an athlete for decades. I fully anticipated recovering from this surgery at a rapid pace, and I fully intended to push my body as hard as I could to aid in that recovery. Note that part of being an athlete is knowing what you can and cannot do, listening to your body and knowing just how hard to push.
Also it is necessary to draw a distinction between the healing of the implant, and the healing of the muscle tissue and ligaments damaged in the surgery. The former has to be handled delicately. The latter is what gets pushed.
I'm just shy of 7 weeks post op. I saw Dr. Callander at 4.5 weeks, the day before we left on the cruise, and he turned me loose on all upper body weight exercises, and light leg weight exercises. I have a restriction on crossing my operated leg over my knee for another week, and from running for another 5 weeks, although running and other impact exercises - basically anything done with both legs in the air at the same time - are going to wait for some time to insure that the area around the implant is healed.
So going into the trip the goal was to work on walking completely normally, and resuming all of my weight lifting. The trip was divided into 3 parts - 4 days of intense work, 4 days of playing in Hawaii, and 6 days of intense work, with a 4 hour stop in Ensenada on day 5.
I started every morning with a brisk walk on the Promenade deck. Each lap of the ship was 1/3rd of a mile, with 2 flights of steps going up at the bow on the starboard side, and 2 flights of steps going down at the bow on the port side. On day 1 I did 1 hour. On day 2 through 10 I increased the walk to 1.5 hours and added 2 more flights of stairs going up and 2 flights going down on each lap. I pushed every day to walk faster, always trying to complete more laps than the day before. There was a lot of wind and a lot of boat movement which really worked the stabilizer muscles. When I was done I found a lounge by the pool and slept.
After lunch I walked another 30 minutes, at a slower pace but incorporating all the stairs. I then went to the gym and did an hour of weight lifting. I did a half body split, working legs, calves, back and triceps one day, and chest, shoulders, biceps and abs the second day. I usually do 18 sets per workout with very heavy weights, but for this period I did 24 - 26 sets per workout, with slightly lighter weights and higher reps. I did every set to absolute failure, except legs. Legs consisted of assisted deep knee bends, and light leg presses, nothing close to failure and just lightly working the muscles. I completed the workout with 30 minutes on the stationary bicycle, and ramped that up by day 3 to the resistance I was doing pre-op. I then took another nap.
The goal here was to push as hard as I could, and then get as much rest as I could. The training volume was way in excess of what I normally do, which is to alternate walk days and weight days. I really wanted to induce as much fatigue as I could, and measure how I recovered. I pushed 4 days, took 4 days off, and then pushed 6 days.
The results were in line with what I anticipated. By the end of each day I was pretty whipped, but my operated leg felt better, and dramatically stronger each day. One trick I use is to stand when dressing, and balance on the operated leg to put on underwear, trousers, and socks. At the beginning of the trip it was difficult to balance and still a bit painful. The first day after doing knee bends it was almost a non-issue. By the end of the trip it was a non-issue, with little difference in strength or balance. On the ninth day of the workouts I walked about 6 miles on the ship, and another 5 miles in Ensenada. I was fatigued, but both legs were equally fatigued. The operated leg was a complete non-issue.
That is where things stand now. I'm still a bit stiff after sitting for a long time, but Dr. Callander said that should go away in another month or so. I do a 1 leg knee bend to gauge the relative strength of the operated leg, and while there is a difference, it isn't much. Tomorrow we start on the road bikes, which should place a different load on my leg, but I don't think it will be an issue.
For all intents and purposes I consider the muscles and ligaments (not the implant) fully healed, with no limitation on non-impact activities.
It is important to note that 10 days post-op I was doubting whether I would ever walk normally without pain. The pace of recovery from that point on has been rapid. At 7 weeks I am no longer recovering from surgery, but just rehabing a minor injury.
So that's my story to date. No self aggrandizing, but simply an accurate reflection of my recovery. Push hard and you will see results. If you push too hard one day, and you are sore the next morning, just back it down a notch, but keep pushing - the results will come.
Good description, steven. I'm sure you'll see more improvement as time goes on. Your workouts sound similar to what I did around that time.
Awesome...maybe that should be prescibed trip/timing for surgery and rehab. That's great that you had the time/opportunity to focus on working out at the perfect time.
I'm 21 days post op tomorrow and was happy with my two mile walk today. Now I think I may need to up the work level.
Seriously though, glad to hear you're progressing so well. I'm champing at the bit for my 6 week appt so I can be "released" to increase my work out level...practicing my patience...continued good luck...jb
I've mentioned before how impressed I was with Dr. Callander, and particularly his confidence in his ability to perform his surgery. At my 4.5 week check-up I asked him about cup angles. He said he likes to see 40 degrees, and suggested we look at where mine came out. We walked down the hall and pulled up the x-ray that had just been returned - the cup angle measured right at 40 degrees. He does nice work.
Good to be in the care of a skilled craftsman or woman.
8 weeks post-op today. We did our first three road bike rides this past week, and the bike fitness is coming back quickly. Yesterday we did our first big climb, with 30 MPH cross-winds posing a real challenge. No issues at all with the operated leg - it actually felt stronger than the non-operated leg.
We also paddle boarded on Lake Tahoe for an hour and a half on Sunday. I had some concerns about falling off my race board because of poor balance but it was again a complete non-issue. Saturday we hiked a 2.5 hour stretch of the Tahoe Rim Trail. At one point I felt some mild tightening in the operated leg but that went away before the end of the hike.
No soreness and any stiffness after sitting goes away in about 3 steps.
Upper body weight training is now full tilt and I am nearly back to my pre-op poundage's - maybe another week.
So at 8 weeks I am doing everything I was able to do pre-op, with the obvious exception of running and avoiding any impact. While the recovery will seem slow when measured day to day, every day builds on the previous day so you are always getting better.
As I've mentioned before, the better your pre-op fitness the quicker you will recover from this operation. IMHO, the two keys are to push yourself within your capabilities - never to the point where you are more sore the next day than the previous day, but always pushing to what you are capable of - and balance work that recruits the stabilizer muscles. The bosu ball helps in this regard but walking on uneven terrain, like a trail instead of a paved path, also helps quite a bit.
As I've also mentioned before you may have doubts early on about whether you will EVER walk normally again. The operation fixes your hip but leaves your muscles and tendons in your leg starting over from scratch. You WILL recover and YOU will walk normally again. Think of it as that one class you dreaded but you had to take to graduate - you just get through it and when you are done you are home free!
9 weeks post-op today and had the biggest test to date - yesterday we did a 12.5 mile hike along the west shore of Lake Tahoe. Not a very difficult hike as it had very good footing the whole way but like all hikes in the mountains it is rarely flat, but meanders from lake level to maybe 200' above the lake and back down.
No hip or operated leg issues. I am tired, but my whole body is tired.
As I look back at it there is some difficulty in separating the benefit of exercise from the natural recovery process, but these are the three exercises that have helped me the most:
1. Walking. Initially on the street until the balance and stability came back, and then on the trails, where the uneven footing brings more of the stabilizer muscles into play.
2. Deep knee bends. Walking up steep hills revealed the lack of strength in the operated leg. I started at 5 weeks doing assisted knee bends, using a bar to assist me down and back up, and then at 7 weeks went to unassisted with my heels on a 2 x 6 to keep my back as upright as possible. Leg strength came back pretty quickly.
3. Riding the road bike. Started this at 7 weeks and the endurance aspect plus climbing seems to leave the greatest fatigue in the legs, but feels the best after recovery the next morning.
At 11 weeks post op I wanted to post a brief update. While the muscles in the operated leg are largely healed they are not completely healed. I don't feel any pain in that leg but I do feel some minor discomfort from time to time. We did a 6 mile hike Sunday - 3 miles out and 3 miles back - that included 2500' of elevation gain and a lot of climbing up (and back down) over large rocks. I felt some discomfort at the incision the next day, nothing that I could really call pain, but enough to let me know that the muscles are still not fully healed.
Of course at my age (58) something always hurts.....
A quick update at 4 months post-op. To a large degree I don't even think about the implant anymore. The momentary stiffness I felt after sitting for a long period went away at about 12 weeks, and there really aren't any issues anymore, save one.
I've got very long legs - I have a 37" inseam. As a result I have relatively poor leverage - my leg muscles are a long way from their fulcrum point. I have always relied on weight lifting for leg strength in other activities, like hiking and biking. I can't do that now, and won't be able to do that for some time.
On Sunday we did an 11 mile out and back hike that included 1300 feet of elevation gain in the last mile and a half. That left me pretty fatigued in both legs. That is a factor in recovery - not pain, not stiffness, not ROM, but just less strength because of the inability to train legs with heavy weights. That will come back in time, but it's still quite a ways off.
There are no complaints though - zero. I did a very similar hike one year ago, and I was limping so badly at the end I didn't know if I would make it back. This was after several doctor visits but before I got the OA diagnosis - I didn't know what was wrong with me. Now there is no limping and no pain. The heavy weight training will resume at some point, I just have to be patient.
Good attitude, stephen - you're at a good spot at four months, to do an 11 mile hike at that point is excellent. The leg strength will return, once the bone has grown in correctly and you resume your activities. I went back to more serious weight (about 1/2 of what I did before on the legs) at about six to eight months, cautiously.
Have you talked to your doctor about when and how to return to weights?
Sounds like you are doing well Stephen! Very pleased for you ;D
Really enjoyed reading your posts Stephen and all the responses to this thread. Eleven days to go to my op. Your recovery is inspiring and I will, as you say listen to my body post op. Amazing to hear that you are back on your exercise bike to soon after the hope. Something to aspire to.
Ka
Wow, surprised at the exercise intensity shortly after hip resurfacing. I'm a bilateral who is 10 days post surgery. My last surgery was October 2011. Shortly before my recent surgery, I sat through the 2 day FDA Advisory meeting concerning MoM hip implants. Although most of the discussion was focussed on total hip implants, there was a lot of revealing discussion on resurfacing. Most memorable was discussion about revision rates and their causes, many of which were due to "over-achieving" patients trying to quickly return to their former level of activity. Example: patient at 3 weeks post-op jogging on incline treadmill who fractured his femur head. Like many of you I researched this procedure to death and learned that the surgical sites where the bone is shaped is very susceptible to trauma. My surgeon encouraged sustainable, low impact training for at least 6 mos, followed by gradual return to heavier weight bearing exercises. My first hip is 9 mos and strength is still returning, and thankfully no problems to date.
Great to hear of your recovery Stephen.
Long steady hikes were the key to my recovery during the first four months as well.
Gave myself a goal to hike the Grand Canyon at four months. Working up to that and the strength it gave me, I believe has allowed me to return to running relatively soon.
Keep on...
D.
I agree, David. I did a lot of good PT for both sides, even hired a trainer after my second hip's outpatient PT was done, so I could integrate my new and amazing core stuff into my overall workout plan, but I really think the walking was the best for getting and keeping the improvement during the early months.
The impact is low compared to other things, and the right muscles are being strengthened and developed.
Jogging at 3 weeks post op seems crazy - I don't think anyone on this forum would disagree. My exercise is all of the low impact variety. I will start VERY light jogging at 6 months, and I won't increase my leg training beyond body weight deep knee bends until the doctor says OK.
Still, that doesn't mean I can't push other things. I've trained with weights for 35 years and in the last 4 days I set PB's in the bench, incline press, standing barbell curl, weighted chin ups, and weighted dips. The fact that I can't "over achieve" with my hip recovery doesn't mean I can't over achieve somewhere else.
Who is jogging at 3 weeks? I'm too lazy to go back and look at the thread. I was probably the biggest doof starting too soon at everything after surgery and I am OK...don't worry.
D.
5 months post op and I have......nothing to report. I'm not even aware of the new hip - it's just part of me.
OK, one thing to report. My balance, which was never very good, seems to be a little bit off. I notice it when out on Lake Tahoe on the paddle board. I have a race board which isn't all that stable to begin with, but I seem to be more affected by boat wakes than I was in the past. I've put the Indo Board next to my desk and I need to work on that daily.
So I'm one month away from beginning to run again. I printed out a suggested program that someone else posted for easing back into it and I intend to follow that. Running does concern me just a bit, because all of my other activities have come back at their former level without issue. Running, especially, the balance part, may be a bit different. I have a month to worry about it.
Yesterday morning the temperature was about 5 degrees colder than it has been all summer, and this morning was another degree colder yet. Winter is coming - although it is still a good 2+ months away - and I am giddy at the thought of skiing again. The last 3 seasons have been severely compromised and this year there are no excuses. We perused all the used ski racks at Squaw Valley's ski sale yesterday, but we need to demo skis before we buy - they are so different than what we bought just 4 years ago. I can't wait!!!
Stephen, I've re read your story, it's great to be able to see your recovery go from strength to strength. Thank you for all your enlightening posts! Whilst not an athlete, I'll be following in your footsteps for a bit of the way at least. Sal
Hey stephen, congratulations on your Seinfeldian recovery. I ran into balance issues all over the place, which is why I did a lot of exercises to strengthen just that.
I use (in no order of importance):
- A balance board like this one: http://www.amazon.com/Reebok-05-55101-Balance-Board/dp/B003PAZ7B4/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1346172800&sr=1-1&keywords=balance+board (http://www.amazon.com/Reebok-05-55101-Balance-Board/dp/B003PAZ7B4/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1346172800&sr=1-1&keywords=balance+board)
- A slide board I bought on ebay - simulates ice skating, really good for the side to side motion: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Slide-Board-6ft-x-2ft-NEW-Ultimate-Skating-Trainer-/150511428458?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item230b2e236a (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Slide-Board-6ft-x-2ft-NEW-Ultimate-Skating-Trainer-/150511428458?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item230b2e236a)
- Juggling with beanbags for those little hip movements, overall retraining of the small muscles: http://www.amazon.com/Loftus-Juggling-Bean-Bag-Set/dp/B00020UWLK/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1346172961&sr=1-1&keywords=juggling+bean+bags (http://www.amazon.com/Loftus-Juggling-Bean-Bag-Set/dp/B00020UWLK/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1346172961&sr=1-1&keywords=juggling+bean+bags)
- Terrifying shaving while balancing on one foot. (Just my own way to try to force some balancing focus, may not be the best idea)
- Balancing on one foot and lifting up on the ball of the foot.
- Clamshells and adductor machines (lightly, I did them first with a very attentive PT).
I just put the links in as an example, as long as they are functional, used or local is fine.
I started doing these at about 4-5 months, first very lightly, ease into it, but later they become rote.
I think (my own theory) that we should work on these in addition to what we do, since some activities tend to strengthen one set of muscles but leave others behind. I still need some balancing work on both sides at two years (not too much), so the work is ongoing and I expect will be so for a while - not a problem for me, as I want to improve things and give as much support as possible to my Chromium/Cobalt life-changers.
I like the idea of the balance board. Those are exactly the types of exercises my PT had me do, without the more interesting stuff like shaving. I should do more of that again. Once I got pretty far along in recovery I started doing some slack-lining (before it was popular) and on 3/4 webbing, not the wide stuff they do tricks on.
Hern - Those are some great suggestions. I've been intrigued by the slide board for some time. We took up X-country skate skiing a few years back and it would be much more enjoyable if I could learn how to skate! Growing up in San Diego the only ice we saw was in the cooler.
So a question. The slide boards come in different lengths, all the way up to 10'. How do you determine the correct length to purchase?
I did it by how scared I was to use it, not being a skater, so I chose a 6 foot, which forces you to slide, but doesn't expect a huge push off at first.
It is very slippery once you slip the 'booties' on top of sneakers, so at first I was as stiff as a board ( ::) ) and wasn't sliding at all; a little confidence and I was going completely across. The length is just enough to force you to push off the starting edge (right or left) and slide, controlling your body, then be stopped by the opposing edge - then repeat until your body dope slaps you and says enough.
I first learned how to use one when doing PT to treat my 'muscular condition' before my OA was correctly identified. I used an expensive version which I was unwilling to pay for when a rompin' stompin' hippy.
The prices vary all over the place, some are over $300, the one I found on ebay does the job and cost about $100. It's not as fancy, has wood edges instead of some contoured plastic edge, but it does the job well and has not been an issue.
One cool thing about it is that it comes in a bag, you keep it rolled up until it's needed - the bottom of it is meant to stick to floors (some kind of heavy carpet like material) so no slippage. Very compact when stored, doesn't take a ton of space when unrolled.
You will have to bear smirks and comments from your significant other and kids since the booties just look plain silly, but once you get going, it's kind of exhilarating.
(http://skatingblade.com/slideboard/1animoboard.gif)
Thumbs up on the slide board. I got the 8' model and it just took a few minutes before I was sliding from one end to the other. Interesting in that this device showed the most imbalance between my operated and non-operated hip. I think you mentally - instinctively really - determine how hard to push off on each side. I was a foot or two short initially when pushing off with the operated hip. I had to force myself to push harder on that side to slide all the way to the other side. I don't think it's a muscle weakness issue as much as a re-learning or re-programming the mind - muscle interface. Anyway, by the end of the session I was sliding end to end with both legs without thinking about it, so it comes back quickly.
All of that sounds exactly the way it was when I started it, stephen - glad that you got it.