On Tuesday I had a LBHR by Dr Gaston in Edinburgh. Today I went for a quiet walk with my crutches by the Clyde in Glasgow without a limp for the first time in 3 years.
When I first went for an X-ray at the start of the year I was told that THR was the best approach but the more I read this site and the more research I did the more I was convinced about HR. I insisted on a BHR and 6 months later after switching surgeon here I am.
I am 47 male and very active. I swim, cycle and play most sports. I have so many hopes for my BHR but also an understanding of the journey I face. The most incredible thing is not even knowing it is implanted in me. My muscles are sore but my hip is as quiet as can be.
Dr Gaston's registrar was from Switzerland and confessed that they do almost no HRs. It amazes me that such a great device is not used more. This site is a god send to many people out across the world. Please keep it up.
Congrats jono. Glad to hear you are feeling good.
Best wishes for a great recovery.
Congrats and welcome, Jono - I'll echo Rob, best wishes; you have taken a great step for yourself.
Congrats Jono hope that you have a full and swift recovery.
Danny
Welcome to the other side, Jono! Wishing you a speedy recovery.x
thanks for all the support. I will let you know how it goes.
Day 3 post op, still feeling very sore at hip, cut my pain meds to paracetemol and starting to learn how to live without bending the left knee. Is sleeping on your back the only solution?
I don't sleep too good sleeping on my back either, but to be honest I'm not even going to attempt to sleep on either side as it doesn't feel safe too and i'm 8 days post op now.
Nice one Jono. Very pleased for you ;D
Hey Jono, I'm struggling with sleeping on my back too. Woke up continually desperate to try and move onto my side or face down. I'm now banked up into almost sitting up and taking a sleeping pill. Can't wait to lose the restrictions. There is a big wedge you can buy, I almost ordered one. Its on a futon website. http://www.futonsfirst.co.uk/productinfo.php?product=227&PHPSESSID=9d672aea70cd74cc7ab244cec31d5760 but I figured I might be able to live without it. Not sure if that really was the right move but we'll see. They can only be delivered in the uk though. Cheers. Sal x
I just put one or two pillows under both knees and that made things tolerable. It is a pain; it has also ingrained itself on my habits, I now wake up to find myself sleeping on my back quite a bit.
Hi Juno, try two pillows under your knees, one between them, if necessary one beneath your heels. I found when knees were bent was more comfortable. A firm bed helps too.
Hi Jono, congratulations and well done for your walk 2 days post op. Sleep is so important to recovery, its no wonder that we struggle to get as comfy as possible. Advice I was given was to sleep on my back but most importantly to make sure not to cross my operated leg. Early days, just getting in to bed and into position is challenging but make use of pillows etc to make sure your position is comfy. I found that one of the squishy travel cushions helped.
Ka
Well it is my first week anniversary today. Thanks for all the mesaages of support.
Hip still sore but getting better every day. Use 1 stick around the house but still on 2 when outside. Go for two walks of about 1 mile each day.
Sleeping better each night and have my regime in place. Take paracetemol before bed and water. Take ice pack surround with towel and place next to hip. Sleep on back only. Every 2 to 3 hours I wake up and move my legs about to get circulation going, drink water and adjust ice pack. In morning I eat an apple before I get up to avoid nausea.
I was wondering if there was any advice on stretching exercises I could do for the next couple of weeks?
Well done on progressing to 1 stick so soon! I'm on strict orders to remain partial weight bearing on 2 crutches for 6 weeks, or until I see Mr Treacy again.
I have the exercises that I was discharged from physio with, if you'd like those?
Stand straight, holding on to a solid support
Bring your operated leg backwards, keeping the knee straight. Do not lean forwards. Repeat x10
Stand straight, holding on to a solid support
Lift your operated leg sideways and bring it back keeping your back straight throughout the exercise. Repeat x10
Stand. Hold on to a solid support
Bend your knee on the operated side and lift your foot off the floor. Hold for 3 secs. Repeat x10
Stand. Holding on to a solid support
Bend your hip and knee up (no more than 90 degrees) then return to the floor. Repeat x10
Sit on a chair.
Pull your toes up, tighten your thigh muscle and straighten your knee on the operated leg. Hold approx 5 secs then return to the floor. Repeat x10
Hope that helps somewhat.
Congrats, Jono. I'm late to the party here, but don't get too worried about pushing the exercise too early. Dr. Gross has his patients do only the following for the first two weeks:
Foot pumps (to help prevent clotting) 3-4x per day.
Heel slides, 2 sets of 10 per day. (While laying on your back, slide your heel towards your buttocks on the operated side).
Clamshell: On your back with both knees bent, open your knees to a comfortable amount, and return together.
Walking: Up to one mile.
After six weeks, he adds leg lifts to this, plus allows walking as much as you want.
At 4 months I went to PT, and - for me - one of the BEST exercises that helped "tighten up" the hip capsule was this: On your back, bring your heels together and towards your butt, so your knees are up. keeping your feet in place, lift you pelvis up until your thighs and torso are straight, and hold for a count of five.
I wouldn't do that at two weeks, though. Does your surgeon suggest PT?
Well here I am almost 2 weeks post op. Thanks to everyone for the advice.
Getting stronger every day. I had been so focussed on my hip I forgot about the surgery itself which knocked me back with the immune response. My brother who is a surgeon says this response takes 2 weeks to complete and then you need to watch your weight as it will balloon very fast.
My hip is fine and I walk on 1 crutch all the time. My leg is still swollen though and my knee bend is 15 degrees at best. Keeping my leg up for a bit and hope the swelling will go away as other posters suggest.
Both excited and scared about the future. So want it to work well but don't want to set expectations too high. Just taking it one day at a time.
That's a very good attitude, jono. I'd raise that leg as much as possible initially, the elevation really helps the swelling, etc. as long as it's tied into icing. Are you icing regularly?
Good to read you`re doing well jono, slow and easy is the best way :)
Well here I am almost on 3 weeks. Life gets better every day.
Slept through the night for the first time and apart from small nap at mid afternoon feel alive all day. My medicine is down to three 500ml paracetemols a day plus the indometacin. Using 1 crutch all the time now and can stand up without crutches and shuffle about.
Managed to get dressed today by myself without the grabber as I can bend my knee enough. Then went for mile walk with crutch to my local coffee shop. I have a little back pack I carry with me all the time when out to hold things such as the Sunday paper I bought.
Still sore around the incision point but no itching. The wound is healing well and no redness. I am told the sutures were done well but cant see for myself obviously. Knee is still blown up but going down each day. Still wear a compression stocking all the time.
Next week big changes. I get an automatic 4*4 with high seat to drive on Monday as my doctor and insurance company think it is OK. I also can start physio at my local health club. Taking it seriously and going to used a trained professional with all the qualifications plus taking it easy. Going to tell him to look at this site first before setting up my program.
Starting back at work as well on phased return. I work in the medtech industry and it is interesting seeing it from the other side as a patient. The industry is in a state of flux at the moment and the problems of the Depuy ASR are a hot topic. I am a great believer in open information and this website is a great tool in that regards in telling the whole story both good and bad. How many other surface hippies would not have had the courage to go ahead without this site? I am definitely one.
Another happy hippy. Sounds like you are doing well Jono, congratulations
Congrats, jono - enjoy the new hippy life!
Congratulations, it sounds like you are making good progress..lyn
Well done on the activity levels Jono. Interesting to hear how we make different use of our crutches. I can go about the house for a little while with one crutch but find that I ache down my unoperated side. I can stand without crutches but find that moving about withouth support even for a few steps is painful in the hip joint. Am four weeks on from surgery tomorrow so was hoping that walking unaided would be less painfull. Will have to be patient I guess.
Backpack is a good move. I sometimes feel like a pack horse, loaded up with all my stuff - just in case - when I go for a walk :)
Ka
Here I am on almost 4 weeks and it seems like a age since my operation. Over the last week I have moved from one crutch to no crutch in my flat and fast crutch walking outside. I can sleep on my front partially and my drugs down to 1 or 2 paracetemol a day. Tomorrow I meet with my physio and the real work begins to get back into shape.
Had one bad day last week when I went out to dinner and sat on hard stool for an hour or two. My hip just blew up and I started to feel quite ill. Ice plus paracetemol and a good sleep got me back into shape but now cautious not to sit on hard chairs or stools for long.
Got an automatic 4*4 so can drive around but my leg gets tired after an hour or less.
Went to see a friend this weekend and took a short flight. Set off the security scanner both times. :-)
Feeling more positive than ever now. Cant wait to get back in the pool this week and stop feeling like an invalid. Been watching the paralympics this week and just amazed with how the participants handle their disabilities. So glad that I can go back to being able bodied.
You're doing wonderful Jono! Keep up the good work x
Thanks ruby you are a great support for the newbies on this website
Sounds great jono - this is when you get more and more emancipated. The work on the muscles will take a while (I'm still doing some), but the improvements are pretty incredible. Keep it up!
Now almost 5 weeks post op and time is flying. Started physio this week and felt better immediately. My physio has treated at least 10 HRs before. My ROM improved with every tweak.
Following my physio approval I also started swimming every day for about 500m - 1km at the health club. Getting my muscles to start working again is such a relief. Can walk about house without crutches but still use one outside. Sleep fairly normally and can get dressed by myself using slip on shoes no problem. Swelling has now gone, and take no drugs except odd paracetemol. Hip has slight twinges but no clunking.
Here are the comments on my physio and wondered what others thought.
1. Swimming is good but no breaststroke
2. Cycling OK but make sure of riding position
3. No golf for 6 months due to stress on hip
4. No drinking. Most accidents happen after drink. (This is Glasgow)
5. Dont go too fast or too slow in your recovery.
6. Stay walking with crutch until 6 weeks so you dont develop limp. Stand up and walk with straight back.
Sounds like solid advice. I think you've got a good physio. Listen to your surgeon first, but I had some very good enthusiastic PT people; I was their first HR, but they had done plenty of THRs.
Jono, as I myself am heading to the hospital tomorrow for BHR on my left hip you are an insperation. Hope all continues to go well.
Cliff :)
Great guidelines. Except for the drinking. ;D
Agree Andy... is that even legal? certainly immoral to impede the natural progress of the virgin hops on their natural path.
If it's not illegal, it ought to be.
Not to mention, the health benefits cannot be ignored.
http://health.yahoo.net/experts/dayinhealth/10-surprising-health-benefits-beer (http://health.yahoo.net/experts/dayinhealth/10-surprising-health-benefits-beer)
Damn! I KNEW that beer drinking was a very positive health step. I'll lift a tankard to that! 8)
Hi Jono - Glad to hear your are getting on and thank you for sharing the physio's comments. 'No drinking' though! Bit mean not to let you celebrate your progress :) Ka
Thanks for all the comments and last night had 2 beers to celebrate being able to walk without a crutch. :D
It is now 6 weeks and reading other people's logs I guess I am pretty standard. This is what my tough Physio says too. My scar is healing well, I take almost no painkillers and I can walk straight and fast with one crutch and slow without any. I can climb stairs with alternate legs and swim every day. For the first time I am confident that at the end of the journey there will be sunshine. Even in Glasgow. LOL.
My phsyio has me doing gentle weights in the gym. My biggest challenge is to lie on the mat and raise both hips with just my bad leg on the floor. This is impossible at the moment but I am working on it. Other exercises include standing on alternate legs and doing heel raises, squats with a ball no weight and only down to 50% plus using a pulley system with 4kg of weight on it for leg exercises. Finally lying on my back and pushing my knees as far apart as possible.
Next week I have my X-ray and hope like Ruby to be signed off and back to the world of those living without pain.
I will avoid running or heavy lifting for the next 3 months but I have my heart set on a gentle ski at the start of next year with my sons.
Thanks for all the comments. The motivations they provide is amazing.
Sounds like your doing really well mate ;)
Lovely, Jono, thanks for sharing. Am envious of your physio, my "urgent" appointment came through for 29th of Sept!
Really nice to hear, Jono - keep it going...
So good to hear Jono!!
I wish I was offered physio, I still feel like I need it but when I asked they said I didn't. That was the only thing I wasn't really sure on, so I will give things another couple of months and if I feel i'm not improving with strength/ROM etc I will see if I can get a referral via the GP.
Wonderful news, Jono. About the beer that is. ;D
Oh, and good job on the rehab of the hip as well! Isn't it fantastic?
Had my X-ray and Mr Gaston told me it looked great. To me it looked just like the photos on the website. So the doctor has signed me off until next year.
Today was crossover day for me. I am now in better shape than I was before the operation. Still a slight limp and my range of motion not perfect but no pain.
I have so many plans for next year. Skiiing, road cycling, golf and getting back to dancing salsa. I am like a kid again. I am just an ordinary guy but I feel special to have the opportunity to change my life so radically as an HR allows.
Thanks for all the great support. I hope in some way each one of us motivates someone else to improve their life.
Sunshine in Glasgow??? Hmmmmm, well I like your optimisim :)
Thats excellent news on your check up Jono. Congratulations and thanks for sharing your story. I was just thinking the same today, we are all so blessed that these operations are possible and give us the oportunities to get back on track. Now go get your life back and enjoy every minute of it!!!
Anna
jono, I'm glad you are cresting that hill. Keep it up, life awaits.
Here I am onto 8 weeks and life gets better on a daily basis. No crutches, no pain at night and yesterday went for a walk up a big hill with no problem. Still taking things easy including the beer. :D . I do find driving can cause pain after a while and dont try running yet but just do swimming, walking and exercise bikes. As an added bonus I have lost 5 kg since I started preparing for the surgery a few months ago.
PS A massive storm heading Glasgow way so weather back to normal.
That's great jono. One thing that helped me while driving was using a thin ice pack that I was shown to improvise.
- Take a thin face towel, wet it and wring slightly.
- Fold it so it slips within a zip lock bag flat.
- Put it into the freezer, usually freezes within 15 minutes.
- Apply liberally.
This was (and remains) my favorite ice pack, it is thin enough to fit anywhere comfortably, if was definitely good for car rides, just slip it under the hip or leg until it thaws. It allowed me to lower the discomfort during rides.
It also thaws in about 10-15 minutes, which is about the right time to avoid trouble with frostbite.
Thanks for the tip Hernanu and I tried it and it worked well.
Now 9 weeks post op and life moves on fast. I sleep normally. I walk normal. I swim. I go the gym. Yet to start running but that can wait until after Xmas. My next ambition is to restart dancing which I used to love.
Oh yes and also back onto beer but only in moderation! Unlike many others in Glasgow on Saturday night. ;)
Hi Jono - Glad to hear you are doing so well with your recovery. Running! That would be great but don't know if I will ever get back there. But life does feel normal so it is hard not to go for what feels right for you.
Jono, sounds like you are doing amazingly well! Keep it up :)