Hi
My name is Kate and I have just had a resurfacing to my right hip at age 41.
13 years ago I was walking down the road in London where I lived at the time and felt my hip 'go' along with a very sharp pain completely out of the blue. I had always been sporty doing everything from tennis to netball, aerobics, hockey etc! It didn't happen again for about a month and then only once in a while - I just put it down to being one of those things!
After the birth of my son the pain started to be more regular and I visited to doctor who did various xrays and MRI scans to finally discover arthritis in the right hip joint. I have no family history or previous injury on this hip so I was very surprised! my first op was to have a cyst removed from the top of the femur and bone graft applied to smooth the joint in the socket. this lasted a couple of years and then started to get worse.
6 years after having my son, i was pregnant with my daughter and the pain disappeared completely even though I was probably the heaviest I had ever been in my life. But as my doctor said at the time you can't be pregnant for the rest of your life!!
After my daughter was born in 2011, the pain has just got worse and worse and I was starting to take regular ibuprofen before and after any walking and sport just became too painful. Then I knew I had reached the end of the road and that a hip replacement was the next step, that was until I visited my doctor and he explained the idea of resurfacing to me.
This seemed like the logical next step to me so I decided to go ahead and have the operation. I had this done on 17 May and a week later I am sitting here typing this after a day where I managed to walk to the local park with my kids (with crutches and very slowly!). whilst I know there is a long way to go and i keep getting soooo frustrated as I am usually a busy working mum running all over the place,i know in the long run my life will be, fingers crossed, improved no end.
This website has already given me some very useful information in the short time I have been on here and I cannot thank you enough for providing a forum for something which is quite frankly quite scary! Talking to others in the same boat helps no end and I look forward to sharing my progress with you all across the Atlantic!
Welcome Kate! The best thing about this site is that it has many people from all over. There is a good sized contingent of folks from the UK, so you have many compatriots on here with you.
Congratulations on having it done, take it easy and well on your recovery and you'll hopefully have great results.
Welcome kate! Wherein the UK are you? Who did your op for you?
Danny
I am in Haslemere - had the op in Chichester, west sussex by Mr Moss
Ah I know haslemere! I'm near Brighton
Glad you're doing well.
Interesting story leading up to your operation - lucky you had a helpful GP who was knowledgeable about resurfacing.
Best of luck with your recovery.
I do feel very lucky that my GP knew about resurfacing as an option - since then I mentioned to a friend who had said his GP had said his only option was a THR and he was younger than me! I suggested they ask for a resurfacing instead and this is what he has now had done. Thanks for your friendly welcomes to the group :)
now day 10 and feeling better in my hip area by the day:-). however my knee and ankle are still really swollen and painful and my lower back is agony every time I lie down in bed. Has anyone else experienced these symptoms and any suggestions to improve them?!
Ice Ice and more ice. Sounds normal to me
Rest, Ice and Elevate - it helped me to put a pillow under my knee when lying in bed. Usually both knees, it helped me to relieve the stress on my back.
If I was watching TV, I would make sure my leg was elevated, resting on a bench or ottoman. When lying down on the couch, I would take a couple of pillows and raise my leg on them.
The soreness will pass. You are early on, and it is not easy early, but the more you walk and move, the better for your body. Then rest a lot (I know, complete opposites).
You need a good balance. At two weeks, I walked three to four times a day (with crutches) for as long as I could, then walked about in my place. Rested in between, took a scheduled nap every afternoon.
thanks so much for your advice - i have been walking more on crutches and enjoying being out of the house!!i will try your suggestions and report back! had staples removed yesterday and all good so feeling like I have made another landmark to recovery! next step to relieve the back pain so I can sleep :-)
Thanks so much for the pillow under the knees tip - it worked a treat and I have now had a couple of nights where I have not woken up at all! THANK YOU!!!:-)
now day 16 - walking with one crutch in the house - still 2 crutches outside but feeling stronger and can walk further. Getting very frustrated and as I feel better its so easy to forget to not bend over and pick something up or not leaning forward to stand up. reduced painkillers to just ibuprofen 3 times a day.
my new motto: slow and steady wins the race!! thinking about having a t shirt made!!
Kate, I just replied to your kind post on my own thread...
I grew up in Petersfield - just down the road from you.
You've already had some great advice in response to your post, but let me reiterate:
it takes time. you must do what your consultant and physio tell you to do.
Be patient, even when it drives you mad!!!!
In the early days everything seems SO slow.
But here I am after 4 months walking for miles and playing a bit of tennis.
It can be done!!
But don't rush it. Build those muscles slowly and steadily.
I walked 13 miles yesterday (4 months in). I wouldn't have believed that was possible 4 weeks in!
Best.
Martin
Hi Martin
Small world! Thank you for your support - I am so grateful for your kind words and everyone's support on this website - it really means so much that people just get how you feel (when everyone else is a bit bored of hearing you talk about it!!!!!) - I am so pleased I found it!!
I will keep remembering your words and take it slow...cant wait to play tennis again and be able to run around with my kids.
Look forward to exchanging achievements!!
Kate
hi all
coming up for 3 weeks on friday, but still getting a lot of pain in and around the hip joint - is this normal? I am completely paranoid! but Mr Moss had said to me when he did the HR the bone was quite soft as I had not been weight bearing properly on this leg for a few years. so this worry is what is in my head.
logically I am sure the muscle around the joint is going to hurt as much as anywhere else, but it hasnt been hurting as much until now??? I did do the longest walk so far on Sunday but would this be affecting me now?
Any thoughts anyone? much appreciated!
We all heal differently Kate. Have you done anything that could of damaged the device? If not I'd rest and ice and I'm sure it's just one of those weird recovery things that happens to us all. If your concerned tho speak to your surgeon.
Danny
Hey Kate!
Congratulations on your new shiny hip!!
Sounds like you are doing just great. I hope you have a speedy recovery and get back to being the busy mum sharpish.
Keep updating us
Anna x
Hi Kate - yes I would think that a long Walk Sunday could manifest itself in subsequent pain 2-3 days later. Depends how you supported yourself - I would think by now you are cane/stick?
I know I gave up the crutches and went to the cane/stick just before week 3. For week 3, I was pretty heavy on the cane for support until beginning of week 5 when I started doing maybe 100 yards without the cane/stick followed by 300 yards with it, and GRADUALLY working myself up. The important thing is your gait balance and letting the walk flow naturally. If you feel a limp or wobbles, go back to the cane/stick until your leg strength improves.
Sounds like you had little to no pain during the walk itself which is a good sign but ice baby ice and do not try to fight thru any pain but rest is best. The consistent advice on this site, is for YOU to listen to your body and be patient as you will get there at your own pace. Yes - you will have numerous doubts as to not measuring up vs. someone else's story or expectations - Don't fall into that trap of thinking you are "Abby normal" or slow - ev1 is different
Bonne chance!
thank you all for your wise words and support - resting today and getting a friend to do the school pickup for me!
will keep you posted! :)
Hi kate, you've gotten some good advice, I'll just add that there's nothing wrong with going back on the crutches for a day or two to let your body catch up if that makes things easier.
Any time I did an exercise further or more intensely than before, I knew there was a chance of soreness, so unless it persists, that's probably the cause.
Good luck and keep it up, you sound fine.
Kate, Congrats and best of luck on your recovery. It does seem almost like a miracle to walk again, doesn't it? Welcome to the club. Jeff
so 3 weeks tomorrow. feeling like I have hit a bit of a plateau with no real change over the last couple of days. I know deep down that the initial fast recovery from completely unable to move in hospital to being able to walk down the road on crutches is amazing, i think i just expected to carry on recovering at the same pace week on week!
so trying to rationalise with myself today, always fun walking down the street talking to yourself!! :o and also trying to tell myself not to tense my thigh muscles before my foot touches the ground (obviously my old in built technique to brace myself for the pain that was due to come with every step) because when I do this it hurts now.
not a great day today but taking strength from all your great stories on here :)
Sounds like you're doing fine kate. I think this idea of linear progression on anything is an urban myth. My recovery was in fits and starts, plateauing for a bit, then progressing quickly and repeating at will.
I think that the body makes progress, then needs a respite to feel comfortable, to accept the improvement and work it into the environment. Once it's set in and become second hand, then progress can happen quickly again.
Just my opinion, based on my nonlinear recovery.
thank you so much...you talk so much sense! I honestly dont know how I would be feeling without this outlet to talk (well type!) and get advice. :) onwards and upwards!
Hey Kate,
Been reading your emails and wanted to let you know that everything sounds pretty normal. I am 7 weeks out and had the same doubts and questions you have expressed and i am in the medical field ,so you are not being paranoid.
I had an average recovery similar to yours. My expectations were a little too high. I thought i would recover faster but dont make the mistakes i made which are exactly what everyone is advising you.
I tried to get off the crutches too early. Stay on them until you are no longer having alot of pain walking.Dont overdo it. i started feeling good at 4 weeks and rode a spin bike too long and walked too much and was laid up for 2 days. There were so many times when i took 2 steps forward and 1 step back. Dont push it and soon enough you will be off and walking and with less pain. My big jump came around 5-7 weeks. You need to let the injury heal and it was major trauma to your hip.
God luck.
Eman
Thanks Eman - more wise words. Much appreciated.
I have tried to manage my expectations and decided to look at my improvements week on week rather than day by day.
Its also really good to know its not just me that has had these feelings. Much as I try to explain my feelings to other people it really is difficult for them to understand vs a group like this who have 'been there done that'.
:)
My first 4 weeks my progress was measured in weeks with baby steps along the way but once the 5 week time frame came around it was measured in days. I made significant gains after that. I just walked about 3 miles on flat ground without assistance with minimal pain. jsut 3 dys ago i was doing maybe 1.5 miles . I hope i dont pay for it tomorrow. I also swam 1200 yds and rode stationary bike for 30 minutes. It will get better but try to not have too many setbacks by doing too much. i think that delayed my recovery too.
eman
hi all - so here I am at 4 weeks tomorrow - not sure where that week went! been doing some work from home which has taken my mind off things a little. but the major achievement has been to walk to my son's school to pick him up for the first time yesterday - his smile when he saw me made all the effort worthwhile :)
pain is better today, it's still there with full weight bearing and still using 2 crutches outside but the movement is feeling more natural and people say I am walking faster than I was. I also think the swelling in the joint must be going down as I dont feel so much like I have one leg longer than the other.
Have to battle with my brain now to stop making me limp - so hard to do! will update again next week. :)
Hey Kate,
Sounds like you are making progress. Your recovery sounds very similar to mine. I was still on 2 crutches at 4-5 weeks.Keep walking and icing!! My leg felt much better when the swelling went down. I also developed a limp which took me a while to get over. For me it was like 1 day i woke up and i could walk with limited pain. Keep your spirits up and at 6 weeks you will be doing much better.
I am making alot of progress daily but every now and then somehow i irritate my hip and get this nagging anterior hip flexor pain/tightness. If i can figure out how to avoid that i would feel great.
Keep it up and hopefully i can give you advice as you progress along since i am only 4 weeks ahead of you, so maybe you can avoid the mistakes i made.
thanks for your support. Glad to hear you are progressing well with your recovery too - have you had any deep tissue massage on the muscles - a few people have mentioned this is good to do at your stage in the recovery to help with the range of movement?
any advice gratefully received :) I have my appointment with the consultant early July so it will be good to know what I am allowed to do next and what not to do as well!
Kate
I have not had massage but i have been seeing a physical therapist that kind of releases trigger points with manual therapy. For me personally i havent felt like i was ready for massage. It is getting to the point where alot of my incision and lateral pain has almost resolved. My thinking is i want the pain to be minimal and my hip feeeling stable with internal rotation before i do massage. That is just my opinion.
You are right on schedule so keep at it.
Hi Kate
Congratulations on the new hip resurfacing and for sharing your story.
If you do a bit too much, your body will often complain with pain, swelling and stiffness. If you listen to your body, you will learn when to back off. I know people like to really get going and push in the beginning, but it is best to be conservative. If you get a lot of swelling or pain going, it will actually slow down your recovery.
You will have lots of time in the coming months to really give that new hip a work out.
Good Luck.
Pat
Thanks for your kind words Pat and thank YOU for this wonderful website! :)
hi all
5 weeks yesterday and what a difference a week makes! I might be speaking too soon but the pain has been so much less this week, the movement in my leg is so much better too.
longer walks are actually enjoyable and can now do more movement in the PT exercises.
I can see the light at the end of the tunnel now!!
still on crutches outside (more fear of falling than pain ;)) but inside have done quite a lot of walking with none at all!! practising walking without the limp and occasionally get it right which is so satisfying as I havent walked normally for about 3 years!!
hopefully back in the car at the end of the week and no more surgical stockings as of Friday - happy days!!
keep you posted and hope everyone is doing well this week too... :)
Way to go Kate - great patience - your indoor practice and confidence will tell you when to drop the crutches plus gradually lengthening your walks
Remember there is no conventional schedule or need to conform to others expectations - it is up to you to make the call as to what you can or cannot do
That is great, Kate! It is amazing how much progress can be made so quickly.
You've got a lot more progress to go... Enjoy it as it comes, this is the payoff for doing good work on your recuperation.
Welcome Kate! I am 6 days post op and dealing with some issues. I love all the support here. I've learned so much and know that what I am experiencing is not "just me". Keep healing!
hi all
Just had to share my walk today I did 1.5 miles! i know its a small thing but I am so proud of myself and it didnt hurt!!! :) :) :)
Cannot really believe I just did that distance when such a short time ago i couldnt walk more than a few steps without pain - I am one happy person today so sending out my good vibes to all of you at the beginning of your journey - just like the rest of you experienced hippys did for me!!
Also I found this really cool (and easy to use ) app for tracking my progress its called mapmywalk and it keeps records like a pedometer.
Have a good day everyone!
That is great, Kate! It is such an amazing thing to be used to continuous pain and then see it gone.
Keep it up, and your app sounds cool. 8)
Hi all 7 weeks today and my big news is that I walked outside with no crutches! Felt very odd to be out without my friends (as I like to call them!) but it was ok. This morning was easier and for about 5 minutes I actually forgot about my hip while chatting to my son on the way to his school. I actually got goosebumps when I realised I had forgotten!! :)
This afternoon the heavy leg was back as I had got tired but now I know I can feel no pain without any assistance I feel so positive.
Check up with mr moss on Wednesday next week so will be good to see the X-ray and find out if all is ok in there but it feels ok so fingers crossed.
Hey Kate,
That is a great feeling walking without those damn crutches. It sounds like you are moving right along. You will start progressing alot faster now. I am just over 10 weeks and other than a little pain near the groin area i feel alot better than 2 weeks ago. I am exercising alot more and got on my bike for the first time and rode 20 miles. it felt great but it was hurting after. I still have a long way togo. Just remember try to not overdo it. If i had to do it over again i would definitely do less and rest more and let it heal. keep me posted.
Great stuff Kate! You'll have many more aha! moments. Enjoy.
Morning all
had my check up with my consultant ( I am 9 weeks this Friday) and all good! He is pleased with how my recovery has gone and has given me the ok to break the 90 degree rule and just do everything normally - except running or any other impact sport. Had soft bone when he did the op due to lack of activity over the last years so need to build up the density before I am allowed to do more.
so can swim, bike at the gym, walk, cross trainer - all the non-impact things - which is great! Managing to walk with no crutches all the time now and almost not limping - although it sneaks back when I am tired or stiff after sitting for too long in one position.
driving is ok but after an hour or so need to stretch leg out as get pain in my knee!i think this is fluid building up as it seemed to go after elevating the leg.
So all going really well, hope you are all ok too...
Congrats Kate - welcome to the world of resuming and increasing activities. The sitting and tightening after being in one position was common to me, and occasionally still is at 3 months, but disappears in about 30 seconds.
I am on similar restrictions until a 6 month check but do look forward to some lunges / squats exercises and being able to lift more than 50 lbs. at that point but am savouring everything else.
Sounds like you did everything quite right
nearly 11 weeks now and feeling better every day. almost forgetting I have had anything done as i run around starting my new life! I cannot honestly believe I have no pain on walking in my hip - its amazing.
Went swimming this weekend and managed pretty well just a bit stiff the next day but looking forward to doing this more and more and getting back in the gym.
happy days... :)
That's great Kate!
Keep your eye on the prize. The healing is still significant now, maintain your patience.
Thanks Kate! Great to hear you are doing so well!
Thanks Lauren - had the odd pain in the last weeks but due to doing less exercise as work gets busier! Must get back in the routine of regular exercise - easy to miss days when you feel better and forget that the muscles still need to work hard to support the joint.
Back to the gym tomorrow!
Thats great and so wonderful to hear that your doing so well, I have my HR sone on Thursday and im nervously anxious!!!! This gives me so hope and faith thanks :) Ellen
Good luck to you Ellen! The best advice I was given on this site was be patient and let your body tell you when it's ready to do. Keep us all posted how you get on. :-)
Now at just short of 5 months and enjoying my new lifestyle - in the last 2 weeks I have been swimming lengths of front crawl and breast stroke. Joined a ballet class (no jumping though so improvising at the back!!) and joining a Pilates class in the next week.
Week one of the swimming and dancing caused a slight burning sensation in my muscles and my lower back was painful. This week so far so good! Just can't believe I am back doing things after such a short time really.
Looking forward to next year when I can add the impact sports -already planning the tennis matches, hockey and netball!!! All I can say is thank god I did this when I did - my life has transformed and I am so much happier in my self - oh and I have set up my own business as well! Having time to consider my life work balance as I recovered made me realise this was the way forward.
Hope everyone else is doing well. :-)
That is really great news, Kate!
Ballet, huh? Excellent workout, will strengthen your lower back and hips well. As you know, new sports or increased activity can cause some strains, but they will go away.
Great report...
not having a good week - now 6 months post op feeling great and suddenly started getting a very strong pain in my hip when weight bearing on it - ROM is still fine and hip does not hurt when sitting but as soon as I walk a shooting pain in my hip. Really worried I have done something stupid and got a fracture in the bone - although cant think of anything in particular.
I am limping again which is really annoying - like going back in time to pre -op. Have booked an appointment to see my surgeon and will no doubt get an x-ray to check all is ok. really hoping its possible this is a muscular thing or bursitis in the joint again and not anything more sinister.
if anyone else has had anything like this please let me know i think its going to feel like forever to get to wednesday afternoon for my appt.
It would be most unusual for there to be a fracture without a memorable fall etc. it's most likely to be a soft tissue problem but best to get checked out.
I agree with Danny, not likely a fracture - but just for your peace of mind, get that checked out and eliminate the structural part as an issue.
If it was a fracture you would have discomfort when not weight bearing so I agree with the others, most likely soft tissue.
Thanks you three! Have appointment tomorrow so will report back. Feeling slightly better I think today, one minute ok the next really hurting.
We shall see...watch this space!
Happy New Year one and all...
so good news had x-ray and no fracture - Mr Moss thinks the pain was caused by bursitis around the scar tissue - apparently not uncommon. Had a cortisone injection in the scar (ouch!) and this seems to have helped but definitely getting more pain when I don't move the joint enough so managed to get lots of walks in over the festive season! now back to work so really need to make sure that I make time for exercise. Have another appointment on Thursday to check everything again. Hope you all had a good Christmas and new year?
Hi Kate, glad to hear no fracture and you're making progress... Good luck on your next appointment.
Hi Kate,
I believe I might have suffered the same fate, a little earlier on though. At about two months out I experienced sudden pain on the side of my hip around the incision area - couldn't think of what I did to bring it on. The pain took over the whole upper leg area so at first couldn't figure the exact site of the pain. Once I rested, iced over a couple of days, the inflammation settle and could feel with my fingers painful tenderness where bursitis would be. When I started my physical therapy, she thought the problem could be the gluteus muscles that attaches to the femur bone.
Has the cortisone shot helped for you? I've been putting off looking into that because I know how painful that will be :-[! I'll watch for your progress report on Thursday.
The physical therapist said my muscle strength is really low - now on both legs - because of this so I know this will be a long, uphill battle. Exercise is imperative! Once I slack off, it gets worse!
Good luck! Hope things are much improved!
Hi there keepmovin! the cortisone has definitely helped - it was quite painful but in the general scale of things it was ok! if you've been through arthritic hip pain you can do it!
at the appointment he said that i need to keep stretching the area which is hurting - he says what he thinks is happening is that when the scar tissue heals it tightens the muscle which then in turn rubs on the bursa causing the bursitis. so by stretching (gently) through the pain and then hold for 10 seconds then release and do this again another 9 times a few times a day this should slowly but surely stretch the scar tissue to the correct length and this should stop the rubbing. I am doing a pilates class which is really helping with the stretching, my teacher is a physio too so she is aware of my operation and is really helping me address this problem - would recommend looking into this.
good luck and let me know how you get on!
Kate;-)
Hi all - so coming up for 10 months now and things going well. Really looking forward to getting hold of a tennis racket very soon and testing the hip a little more. Had little pain at all in the last month, following the cortisone/stretching and have noticed a real change in range of movement especially in the 'putting on socks' movement. Thinking back to this time last year and I could hardly walk without being in pain all the time. It's quite frankly a miracle and I hope in 2 months time my year checkup will all be ok. :) not been allowed to do full impact exercise till I have reached 12 months post op, so life is going to get better and better and it almost makes me cry to think I can play competitive sport again after 10 years.
Hi Kate,
I'm a little over 3 months post -op. I was thinking about Pilates and I read your email about how much it has helped you with flexibility. At what point did you start Pilates? I wasn't sure if I needed to wait until I was about 6 months out.
deb
Hi Debcoco I was about 5 months post op when I started Pilates. My teacher is also a physio so she was very aware of all my restrictions and what I should push more. Everyone is different but if you trust your teacher to do all the right things then I would guess its fine. I did check with my consultant and he was supportive of Pilates as a post op non impact exercise.
Good luck hope all is going well for you.
Kate :)