Been living with pain for 12yrs. I'm now at the point where I can only walk a block or two. Not much rom, can put on my left sock barely, can't do the right one at all. Surgery is being done by Dr. Marchand at South County Hospital in RI.
The stories and personal experiences on this site have been a great precursor for what to expect. I'm so grateful there is a site like this to help people with info and what to expect. I know it's going to be a long road to recovery but I will be so glad when I can walk again. The one thing I want to do (besides get in and out of a car normally), is be able go on a horseback ride with my family. Tried doing it a few years ago and thought my leg was coming off. Scheduled to have the right hip done near the end of December. I will try and post progress of my recovery as I go.
Joe
Good luck and keep it posted. Sounds like most of us numpties on here you have suffered too long. I don't know why but there seems to be a recurring theme of people putting it off again and again. 12 Years is a long time to suffer mate hope all goes really well and take it easy afterwards, don't try and run before you can walk.
Jas
Good luck Joe, I hope it all goes well for you. I will look forward to your updates when ou reach the other side
Anna
Good luck, Joe. You've put up with the pain for a long time. You're going to love your new hip.
By the way, at first it may seem like a long road to recovery (particularly with having both done). But if you've been dealing with this for 12 years, I'm putting down 10 bucks (7.71 Euros for our friends across the pond) that your recovery will seem like a blink of an eye. You'll probably be more capable by March than you've been in years.
Keep posting!
Good luck Joe! I had mine done the same way (left, then three months later the right), I can tell you that it's the best thing I've done for myself. Two years down the road and things are going great.
Dr. Marchand has a good reputation, you're doing good things.
Thanks all for the support, and yes it's been a long time coming. When first diagnosed in 2000 I was told, you need a hip, but you're too young. It will need to be replaced in 10yrs. Well, Thank God for advances in medicine. Based on advice on this forum I placed my Amazon order for supplies:
Loo extension - Check
Picker Upper thingy - Check
Play Harder 110% Compression Shorts with Ice packs- Check
Bed wedge - Check
Sock Aid - Check (why have I not heard of these things? I could have been using this for the last 6mos instead of struggling or having my wife help me).
Hospital will be supplying walker so all set there. Now it's just the waiting til Wednesday.
Joe
Ha, that sounds like an excellent list Joe. I was just wondering myself whether there was an easy way to ice .... compression shorts sound just the thing! Big ice blocks and T towels are just faffy. :)
All the best for Wednesday Joe.
The picker upper thingy is awesome! I feel a bit disappointed that I don't need it anymore, so still use it to play with cat. Ka
Joe, keeping you in mind for Wednesday, good luck.
Getting close now. Slightly nervous, but glad that the arthritis part of the pain will be gone. Got some of the stuff in today. I still can't believe I didn't know about the sock aid gadget. It works like a charm! Thanks for all the well wishes. Hopefully I can post some good post op results for those still thinking about it.
Joe
Think you will, Joe.
Nervous is normal, one thing we all seem to agree on is the arthritis pain is gone. Not less, not hmm? it was gone for me.
The thing I found the first time was that once I got in and was in the waiting area, you are in the chute and ready to go. A little nervous, but the care and professionalism takes you through; before you know it, you're beginning sedation and (for me) immediately waking up with a very nice nurse telling you everything went well.
It was that quick for me both times. The first time I woke up (pretty quickly and not groggy), in my room bed. The second time, I woke up in the post op area, with three very cute nurses (around my age, no less) busily taking care of me. I expect and hope that for you.
You'll have pain from the surgery, managed with meds, be up and about and work through the initial walking and exercise, but the thing that kicked me right out of any funk about that is - NO FREAKIN' OA PAIN!! it was aMaZing.... all those years with that pain kicking my behind... gone.
Nervous is human. You'll be good and eventually, in a year or so... better, so much better.
Just my opinion, but at two years, I can tell you the future is good.
Joe - think long term, I am 1 year after my second, range of motion has been a huge improvement, working hard to stretch and increase, love my foam roller to help loosen everything. My goal is 10 hours of exercise a week - love to bike but I less picky about what, I do work hard to make sure I do. With work travel I have been to about 20 different YMCA gyms this year so I can attend a spin class or swim in a pool. You ill be glad when its over - Phill
Hi Phill,
I am just curious as to when you started to get some ROM back, I am 4 weeks today and I have been happy so far that all the old pain is gone and I'm dealing with the new pain as they say. I have been walking without a cane for the last week but have been dealing with some serious lower muscle back pain and I still can't lift my leg up enough to put a sock on. I will be starting out patient pt again tomorrow, my surgeon does not normally suggest any more then is needed but I seemed to have leveled off and feel as I need more.
Cliff
Hi Cliff
I suspect that you are bang on schedule and probably further ahead of many. It is easy to think that your progress is slowing down when the reality is that you're just being naturally impatient!! I am 5 weeks post op today and still can't get my socks on even though I'm walking miles and miles without a stick. My surgeon is very conservative about post op PT and 'warned me off' having any local physio and advised me to just follow the simple exercises given by the hospital physios. The only additional work I've done is on the static bike where I'm gradually lowering the saddle and handle bars to normal so that it is very gradually encouraging my leg lift to increase which gently improves my ROM. I have my 6 week follow up appointment on Friday and I am hoping that I'll get the all clear to see my local physio to work on that final push to get my knee towards my chest (not sure I've ever been able to do that though!)
Nice and easy does it...... taking it gradually now ensures that the joint will be fully functional for the next 10 to 20 years, or longer, so what is an extra week or two without socks now?!
Thanks lycraman, as I have followed all the home excercises to a tee and pool therapy as scheduled the thing that has me really concerned is that my lower back is really so sore after a day of activity that when I sit down I cant even get back up without severe stiffness in the back. The hip joint feels real good I just hope that this back stiffness subsides because I have never had this feeling before and i figure maybe there are some stretches that can be done to help it it along.
Hi Cliff
That is tough as back pain can be so debilitating. My physio warned me about that sort of problem whilst she was pounding me prior to the surgery. Apparently the sacro-illiac joint can seize up as the bad hip is protected by muscles to avoid the pain. When the hip is replaced then the it is no longer in pain so the pelvis tries to move normally but the sacro-illiac has seized up with adhesions etc. Maybe you need to get a bit of work done on releasing the s-i joint and the lower back. I always felt fantastic after a 30 minute session with my physio (pre-op) when she had been freeing off my lower back.
Of course it might be something completely different!
Good luck.
Good luck Mañana, Joe - check in when you're partially metallic.. ::)
OK, 4hrs post op and I have to say I feel pretty good :). Have seen PT already and was able to stand up and take short side to side steps.
Pain- not really much at all. Some discomfort in the groin area but nothing serious. All in all I feel pretty good, about a level 1 or 2. Some light stinging where the incision is but otherwise pretty good. I'm sure this will change as the initial surgery Meds wear off. haven't had a chance to try out the parts, but that should come tomorrow. Tonight is sleep night. Thanks to all of you for your support, kind words, and guidance.
Joe
About 12 hrs post op now. Very little pain really. I have a dull ache on the backside where the hip is, but I think it's because I've been in one place for awhile. Nurse gave me a couple Percocet to help. Sounds like Dr Marchand is being conservative for the first night and limiting movement while the drain is in place. I had asked about bending my knees up to bring my feet closer to my bottom or rolling over on the opposite side but the nurse did not recommend it. The care here at South County Hospital has been great. The nurse has been able to answer any question i have and also explaining in detail what is being done or what i am being given. So far I'm very happy and without the sharp groin pain I normally have when I'm laying on my back in bed. I had a message on my phone from a company that will be setting up a cooling/compression machine when I go home per Dr Marchand's request. That is above and beyond what I expected.
My 12hr summary so far - 2 thumbs up!
Joe
That is great, Joe. You're having a good recovery so far, all sounds good.
The first set of meds do take most of the edge off, but it sounds like you'll do well after they've gone. Dr. Marchand sounds like a good man; the cooling compression machine sounds great, you'll really benefit from it.
Take it easy, ice, rest, eat well, keep up with your fluid intake and do the exercises. Simple, huh?
Isn't the absence of that pain something awesome? Two thumbs up right backatcha, brother.
Sounds like everything went great Joe keep us posted.
Jas
Excellent news Joe. It sounds like all is going very well :)
Congratulations, Joe! "Partially metallic ....." Good one Hern ;D ;D ;D
Call'em as I see'em Sal.... 8)
Okay, today was a tough day. No pain overnight. PT came in this morning to get me up and walking. Now that I have to actually move the leg the pain is there. Was able to stand up with the walker but got lightheaded and had to sit back down. Ate breakfast and tried a couple hours later and was able to slowly walk. PT was very good at directing me on how to do it correctly.
My first impression is that after some practice I will be fine. The issue I have right now this soon after surgery is moving my leg forward. I am still unable to lift the leg straight up leg raise style off the bed. PT gave me some exercises to do to help with that. Once I can lift the leg a little I think I will progress much faster. I have to remember to bend the knee forward while in the walker instead of just trying to lift the leg up. I had some groin pain following the "stroll", but an ice pack quickly fixed that.
I will also say that the staff at South County Hospital is fantastic! I'm so glad I had the procedure done here.
Joe
Pretty standard, Joe - keep it up and you'll be fine. Make sure you keep up with the meds, they'll help you get going; you'll be off them soon enough.
Keep going Joe! Ive heard alot of peope say that lifting your leg up and off the bed is hard at first. You will get there im sure :)
WOOHOO! Took my second walk with PT. right now I'm just under 24hrs post op. what a difference on the second walk. Went only a couple hundred feet total but NO PAIN. Felt some clunking, but no pain associated with it. PT assured its normal. I can't tell you how positive I feel right now. Thank You to everyone for their kind words and support.
Joe
:) You'll be up and down for a bit (mostly up), glad you got a good one in without pain. :)
Congrats Joe on your new hip, follow the program, ice, rest and stay ahead of the pain over the next couple of weeks and you'll be smiling alot in no time. It is very early and you will have good and not as good days, all part of the deal.
The leg lift straight off the bed is one of the restrictions I had following surgery, as it presents some risks. They gave me a "dog leash" device-- a wire-backed woven leash type device with a loop at the end, to facilitate raising the leg to/from bed-- pull your leg up with your hand is the idea.
Best of luck with your recovery. The folks here are incredibly helpful in many ways, so keep the updates coming.
Take care,
Dan
Now about 48hrs post op. still some groin pain, especially after walking or doing the PT exercises. Did some stairs this morning. Started with two steps then after a break did a flight. Going up easier than coming down. At one point coming down I twisted wrong and got a sharp pain on the inside of the groin. Fortunately PT was right there to get me straight. PT also got me a leg lifter to help with sliding my leg to the side so I can get out of bed easier. Still feeling positive and kind of surprised with how much mobility I have after such a major surgery. I should be going home tomorrow if things keep going well.
Joe
Sounds familiar, Joe, there'll be some ups and downs the next while, but sounds like you are taking them in stride and already noticing some tangible benefits which is ahead of the curve for some. The positive additude will also really help: the depression bug bites a number of people that go through this, which is normal and expected (it sure did me, particulary a couple weeks after the first one was done), but by keeping positive and noticing the improvements and incremental changes, it'll help with the down moments.
One trick I learned for getting in/out of bed was to also use the other leg: place your toes on your non-operated leg under the ankle of the operated leg and swing up/in to get into bed, and out/down to get out of bed. while at the same time pivoting your midsection. After a couple days doing that, I no longer used the leash thingee.
Best regards,
Dan
Good idea! I think I'm going to try that. The one thing I learned from this site is patience. While the benefits of OA pain are immediate, the healing process is going to take time. Everybody is different also. Some people are up and walking around the block in a week, others are still struggling to get out of bed 2wks in. So far my PT has told me I'm doing fine and am on a normal track. I expect in a couple weeks to be doing much better. I am unlucky enough to have had 3 Rotator Cuff surgeries in the last few years so I'm ready for a long recovery.
On another note the surgical supply place just delivered my shiny new walker. Looks like I got the mag wheel option. Now to try it out!
Joe
Well, released to home today. Good to be back with my family. Hip still feels good only pain is when I'm sitting or if I don't get it moving before trying to walk somewhere. Still using the walker to get around but putting more weight on the new hip. I find that if I do some heel slides before getting up to move around that there is much less pain and stiffness when using walker. A little more difficult to get out of bed and off the couch as my home furniture is more squishy than the hospital furniture so I have less support when lifting myself out of bed etc.. Still no complaints though as I'm only 3 days post op. I can definitely feel a slight improvement every day. Think I'm going to get a cane tomorrow to help with getting up.
Joe
Great news about getting home and the progress Joe. I can relate to your comment about the heal slides helping with your mobilisation after rest. My biggest post op problems came in the second week when my inner thigh muscles felt like steel cables and any movement from rest (especially at night) was agony. A day of concentrating on heal slides and finally getting on the static bike helped to ease that problem and got me through my low point. I also found that one day I'd feel great but the next day (or even within the same day) I'd be absolutely shattered, often just falling asleep during the day.
Good stuff, Joe. I think this is where the work really begins, you take your body's advice, do the things that work. As lycraman mentions, there will be good days and days when things stall, but all in all, life gets immeasurably better.
One thing I found is that any time you change things you challenge your body.
While that is the way to grow, it is more difficult initially. Right now, it's the move home, with different environments than the hospital. That will make it harder for now, until you grow into that. Then more exercise, maybe PT and the challenge changes, you grow into that. The length and breadth of your recovery will take you many times into that cycle, but each one makes you stronger and returns you to life the way you deserve and want it.
Little growths, big ones will get you to where you want to be, but each requires overcoming a challenge. You're going well and you will wind up much, much better.
Cliff
My range of motion came back slowly - I have added stretching to my exercise program and I now believe that is "OK" to go to the gym and stretch for 45 min and never get my heart rate about 85 - I try to include stretching 3 time into schedule a week. That has resulted in less time on cardio or strength (there is only so much time I can go to the YMCA) but sometimes I will stretch in-front of the TV in the evening with the kids around or at the airport between flight - I do not care what people think, just glad I am slowly getting better and better ROM
Phillwad,
That is great, I actually started back to work today on light duty status until I go for my 6 week post op check with the surgeon next Monday. I don't feel to bad but we will see what the night brings when the body calms down, but surprisingly I don't feel to bad, hopefully we will stay on the forward trend.
Cliff
So I am just a year out from my second hip (Aug 2011). I was camping this weekend - boy scout stuff - in a little tent. Prior to my hip resurfacing I would have struggled to put my socks on, sleep on the floor in the cool and damp. This weekend I remember pulling on my socks - I can reach down, not easy but not to bad - move around in a little 2 person tent and have 2 good nights of sleep - A year ago - big tent, sleeping cot and struggle to put on socks. Carrying a rucksack/backpack (trying to use both English and American) was a pain - it hurt and I thought it was my lower back. Now I can carry a good pack, built up to 10 miles - I am sore probably from age but it dos not hurt.
IT IS SO MUCH BETTER NOW - you will get there - keep stretching
Freakin' awesome!... you're hitting those amazing milestones. Glad for you.
Ok, one week post op now. Everything still going well. Able to put more weight on the left leg now. Still using the walker per the home PT but I think that will be changing soon. Only pain now is muscle pain, but in a good way. Those of you that lift weights will know of what I speak. It's the pain you get a day or so after you worked out too much, muscle soreness in a nut shell. The compression and cooling machine is awesome! I think it's making the recovery process much faster. Had to go to the Doctor Monday to get the dressing changed as it was soaked. Dr said the incision looked good with no active drainage. My first official follow up is tomorrow. All in all, pretty happy one week out. Definitely welcome the muscle soreness pain vs the OA pain. Can't wait til out patient PT when I will get some ROM back and get back to walking again.
Joe
Sixpack - thanks for the update - great news good steady pace - keep it up - Phill
Sounds good, Joe - good progress, keep it up.
Excellent progress, Joe, you just have to ride the first 6 weeks or so. Sounds like you're doing well tho. :)
Great to hear everything is good. Once you are fully unplugged thats when you will feel totally human. My drains were taken out really early before the epidural wore off.
Jas
Glad to hear you are making such excellent progress Joe. Small victories! Each week will see gains for you. Keep on moving. Ka
Great to hear you are doing well Joe :)
Joe, Thanks for your updates. I am headed in for my right hip resurfacing this Wednesday (11/7) with Dr. Mont in Baltimore, MD. As I mentioned to Pat a few weeks back in an email, this website has been a great source of information and has really made me more comfortable with my upcoming surgery. I am headed down to Maryland from the Philadelphia area. When I saw the experience that Dr. Mont has and only being an hour and a half away it was a no brainer. I will try to post some updates after the surgery because there hasn't been a lot of recent posts from Dr. Mont's patients. Scott
Hey, good luck, Scott and welcome to the site. Keep us posted.