Well my surgery with Dr. Gross is quickly approaching. I'm scheduled for November 13 and freaking out a little bit. I thought I'd be ready but I find I'm getting cold feet. Ironically my pain levels are very low right now. I've been working on a building project carrying 80 pound bundles of shingles up a ladder with no pain. I do have some stiffness and pain at night but really nothing like I've read about or even experienced in the past. I hate that my pain levels are so low right now. It makes me question if I'm pulling the trigger too early.
To balance this out, when I spoke with Lee Webb this week she looked at my X-Ray and said my hip looks "terrible" and I need the surgery. I still would like to have the reassurance that only a painful hip can provide. Anyway, I know this is a common concern people have expressed out here. I just need some good feedback from others out here that have been down this road. Is this a common thing? What are your thoughts?
Too add to the pressure. I do feel pressure to get it done before the end of the year. We had some other unrelated medical expenses this year and hit some limits on our insurance. Basically if I get it done this year it will save us about $2000. After January 1st everything on our insurance resets.
Bosox, I had same concerns a year and a half ago after I scheduled my surgery. My pain decreased considerably, and I was questioning why I was having surgery. Than I would have a bad day at work that had wanting surgery ASAP. In the end was glad to get surgery done with and Having no more OA pain from my LBHR. Only you know how bad the pain was when you mAde the choice for surgery and if you want to go through that again when it comes back cause you know it will. Good luck with your surgery and have a good recovery.
Curt
Hello Curt
Can relate . My surgery scheduled for November 11. My pain levels have decreased too. Feeling good but apprehensive. Finished work today and made myself unavailable until February 11. Working in the garden today and doing other tasks made me realise the enormity of the operation and the simple things I won't be able to do for a while. All I know is that long term post op,things will improve and I look forward to being pain free and active once again. It will be worth it and it's a normal reaction to be a tad anxious prior to such an occasion. Good luck and all the best in your recovery
Cheers
Scott --- I questioned myself as well. Don't just gauge your pain levels, but look at your ROM and movement. That will only get worse. Two months before my HR I was only taking Advil and an occasional diclofenac when I needed help sleeping. I worked out up until surgery and even walked disney world. Just remember we all have different pain thresholds so our stories are all different. If Lee told you your hips are terrible, she meant it!
In 3 months time you will be wondering why you waited so long to get the surgery! Yes the recovery is tough, but so worth it. At 4 months out I am working out, walking miles and have no OA pain in my right hip. It feels so good that I am counting down the weeks until I see Dr. Gross and have my left hip done! 6 weeks and counting!
Best of luck. You will do great. No regrets.
It seems ironic that once one has planned the surgery, the pain seems to ease and you question your decision. I can certainly put myself in that bracket. BUT then I went from being OK-ish to being a virtual cripple in a very short space of time. One thing is for certain and that is the OA is NOT going to go away nor is it going to get any better! Everyone seems to live in denial for a while though until reality checks in. People tell me that I look 10 years younger because before the surgery I had PAIN etched into my face. It has all now gone and I feel as though I have undergone a renaissance! You will be back gardening and doing all the other things that you love VERY soon in fact look forward to bending down and picking those daffodils!
Sharleen,
You are so right. I have had coworkers tell me they can tell I'm in pain by the look on my face and I didn't even realize I was looking particularly different than ever before. I'm 8 days from my surgery and like others, I'm not experiencing as much pain. In fact, I'm off the pain meds I had been taking and doing quite well. But, I'm not exercising nearly as much as before. I'm doing enough to keep my muscles toned and that's about it.
You are also correct that we have no other option. The OA is only going to get worse and I can't wait to get the surgery over with and know that I am on an upward trend of healing rather than a downward trend of pain and despair!
Thanks for the responses.
This has been a very difficult year for our family. We've had some other very serious medical issues and it about used up any spare energy we had. This hip surgery seemed like more than I could handle at this time. Frankly, I also think I've been in denial about needing the surgery as well. I've never really been fearful of the surgery. What I fear is the permanent nature of this decision. Once done, I will forever have some sort of prosthetic device in my hip. It's in my nature and training to account for the worst case scenario and that's a scary thing when facing something like this at the age of 41. I have a 3 year old son and if this device lasts until his 20th birthday I will consider it a success. I'm hopeful that all of the optimists out here are correct and it will last much longer.
Surgery quickly approaching in 9 days and I'm trying to keep my courage up.
Scott, you are so close. All us hippies are hoping you see it through. Don't worry about the permanency because OA is permanent until you do something about it. OA of the hip has a much greater effect on you besides the pain levels. You have no idea of those things until after surgery. Once you get through you will be very happy that you stuck with it.
chuckm
I did my surgery with Dr. Gross in June, and maybe I'm just lucky but so far I've had no regrets. The first few weeks were a bit scary with limited ROM on the op side but once I got that back I've been feeling great. Of course I can't speak to how it will work over the long term but as they say "I believe there is room for cautious optimism."
You're in good hands with Dr. Gross and his team.
Hey Scott, I understand your reluctance, no one wants a prosthetic hip, but then no one wants OA either.
It is a permanent committment, but it does address the OA, (which is permanent) in a hopefully complete way.
So far in three years, I have no complaints about both of my hips, the HR's positive impact on my life and those who love me.
In carrying difficult loads, I think it helps to resolve the ones you can. I know this will be more difficult at the start, but fairly quickly becomes a positive once, you're in a healing mode.
Once you're past the early stages, I found that I felt really optimistic despite the limitations. The pain is gone and becomes one less thing to deal with. I think you'll find it a plus even in the midst of other challenges.
Well tonight I drive down to Columbia in preparation for my surgery with Dr. Gross. I sure hope I'm doing the right thing. I'll admit I'm a bit scared but still moving forward. I know I will need to do something sooner or later and it seems as though this is the time for me to go under the knife. My hope and prayer is that this will last me the rest of my life. At the very least I hope it will at least last me until my son is out of high school. (15 years from now). While my pain levels still are not really bad, I have had some more pain recently. I have prayed at length about this and the door hasn't been closed so I will try my best to walk by faith through that door and trust God in this.
I will be doing the outpatient option and staying in the Residence Inn after the surgery. I haven't seen a lot of info out here about the outpatient experience with Dr. Gross. I will try my best to share my experience with everyone out here. I have a good friend coming with me to help during the first night and drive me home the next day while my wife will have to stay home to take care of our 3 year old. Let's hope all goes well and I can be up and running soon.
Good luck, Scott, and I wish you an uneventful recovery.
I'm almost 5 months post-op with Dr. Gross and so far so good, though I didn't do the outpatient thing, I was two nights in hospital.
The first few days aren't that rough because you're still in a daze from the anesthetic. After a couple of weeks it gets frustrating because you feel well but you're body won't let you do things like reach down to get your socks on. Hang in there, things will improve over time.
Send us an update when you come to the other side.
Good luck and good decision Scott. It's not easy, but it is worthwhile.
Keep us posted, I'd really be interested in your impressions of the outpatient treatment.
Well the deed is done. I had the surgery this morning. I'm now in the hotel, already had a visit from the nurse and had some pizza. My pain levels were fairly high when I first got to the hotel but the oxycodone has helped that. I've already learned it is best to stay ahead of the pain. I was very nervous going into this and probably won't feel completely settled until the recovery is done and I can start being active again. I truly hope this new biomet lasts me well into my senior years. Lee Webb assured me that it was very likely I will take this with me thru the rest of my life. I will try to share my experiences with the outpatient option for those of you that are interested. I was one of three that were getting thier hips done today as outpatients. The outpatient option was the one part I was more nervous about because I didn't have much intel on it. I asked every nurse and staff member I ran into about how this option has gone and they all say they've been very surprised at how well the patients have done. I'm not sure of the exact criteria Dr. Gross uses to offer this option to a patient. Obviously you need to be in otherwise good health and have a good friend or family member that can take care of you while your in the hotel.
Anyway, I just wanted to let everyone know I'm here and doing well. I do have some pain on the incision area and groin pain. I've been told this is pretty typical.
Scott welcome to the other side. False it easy the next few week, & don't try to over do it. Give your new hip time to heal, especially allow for bone in growth. You've picked an excellent surgeon follow his protocol for post op exercises & you will do great. Don't be afraid to take your pain pills if needed, you don't recover faster when in pain. Listen to your body if it hurts stop what you were doing & next time back off a bit. If you have any concerns call your Dr. It sounds like he has a very good team & will answer any questions that comes up. Good luck with your recovery.
Curt
Interesting comments about the outpatient option. I think I met those criteria but still wasn't asked if I wanted to do it. Probably just as well, my bladder wasn't functional for the first day or so after the op and needed some help - which was why I stayed the extra night.
Like others have said, you're in good hands with Dr. Gross and his team. Sounds like you have the right attitude, ease yourself off the pain meds slowly and don't expect too much too soon. In retrospect I was worrying about things that have since cleared up. I guess that's part of the anxiety that we go through before and after major surgery.
Great news Scott! Good luck with your recovery. You have discovered the number one secret to making it through the first week. Stay ahead of the pain with the medication. Don't try to be a hero.
I am considering the outpatient option for my next surgery with Dr. Gross but I know either I would strangle my brother (who would be my helper) or (more likely) vice-versa.
Personally, DVD's of the Sopranos and Sons of Anarchy (my guilty pleasure) got me through the first week. Just hour after hour of mindless television. But you're probably a better man than I and are going to be doing something productive. :-)
And your quoting Lee Webb brought a smile to my face, because I know Dr. Gross didn't tell you that. I asked him the same question (how long) and he refused to bite; he would only cite the empirical data. He's the best. Love that guy.
Anyhoo, good luck over the next few days. Just get through it.
And it's a little premature, but that glue under the (amazing) bandage will resist any attempts at removal. It will just come off in its own sweet time.
Regards,
Mike
Scott: Welcome to the other side! You picked a great surgeon. Stick with Dr. Gross' recovery protocol and soon you will be back to the acivities you enjoy.
Congratulations Scott! I am happy to hear that everything went well. You are braver than me with the out-patient option! Dr. Gross offered it to me in July with my right hip and I just knew that I would want the catheter in place to get me through the night (LOL! Being female I will say sitting on the toilet each time is an incredibly tedious situation at first!). Between that an my low BP, my poor husband would have been freaked out :) I already told them I'm staying one night in the hospital in 4 weeks with my left hip. We will do the 3 hour drive home the day after surgery.
Please keep us posted on how it all goes. Sending you good thoughts.
Hello everyone,
I'm laying in bed at home after sleeping off some of the pain killers and I thought I'd give everyone an update. My pain levels and stiffness are definitely worse today. I suspect this is a combination of the two hour drive home and the pain killers Dr. Gross injects into the surgical sight wearing off. I'm curious to see if others have experinced this increase in pain before thing started to get better.
Having never done this before it's hard for me to compare the outpatient option to the inpatient option. I imagine that in the hospital you would have more help getting in and out of bed. I've found that getting into bed on my own is just about impossible right now. My wife has to lift my leg as I swing it onto the bed.
These are just early impressions but I think the main difference with the outpatient option is that you better be prepared to be more independent earlier. Yesterday I felt pretty good about getting about the hotel room but today the pain and fatigue is catching up with me and it's hard to get myself out moving a little. As Juno mentioned going to the bathroom to urintate is much easier for us guys since we can stand, I'm not sure if I would want to try that if I had to sit every time.
When I left the surgical center I had all the post-operative instructions and a large bag of drugs to keep track of. That can be tough to keep track of when your head is cloudy from the pain meds. It absolutely nessecary to have a good helper with you. We have a three year old son and there is no way my wife could have helped me and kept track of him. I had a good friend come with me instead and fortunately he was able to track all the drugs and doses. Also as part of the outpatient program I have to measure my urine output for the first two days post-op. This is very important and they said if I didn't have any urine output for 12 hours I needed to go to the ER. Fortunately I've been drinking lots of water and I'm good in that department. Unfortunately like many out here have shared, I'm still waiting on my bowls to wake up again. Hopefully lots of water and fiber will help that soon. I have my precious raised toilet seat waiting for me. LOL I really felt old ordering that thing on amazon a few weeks ago. Another accessory I would recommend in one of those suction cup hand holds for the shower. It just sticks to the smooth surface of the shower and is a great help here at home and even in the hotel. If you do the outpatient option I would definitely recommend it. My wife picked one up at Lowes for $15 and I am very glad to have it. You just want to be sure it is securely fastened before you put any weight on it.
Anyway, here I am at home about 36 hours post-op hoping I'll feel better soon and be able to run and play with my son soon. Any advise or experience some of you veteran hippies can share with me would be greatly appreciated. Thanks again for all the support and advise. I'm constantly hoping that Lee Webb is right with her optimism about this device.
Scott,
Glad you're home. You will feel better being in your own bed and home. I do recall the pain being worse before it got better. Day 2-4 were the worse and it got better from there. One thing that I struggled with for about 10 days was muscle spasms -- especially in my calves. It never happened during the day, but at night when I was trying to sleep it was like the muscles would just start twitching. Just know it is normal and it does eventually stop. Also, sleeping sucks for the first few weeks -- I found it hard to find a comfortable position. Do the best you can.
My recommendations are to elevate, ice, drink lots of water, take your meds, eat as healthy as possible and do your phase one exercises. Walk, but don't push it. Try not to over do as you will feel it when if you do. You will feel all sorts of strange twinges -- your muscles, tendons and ligaments were all pulled, strained and manipulated. It takes several weeks for everything to feel semi-normal. Try not to worry too much -- you will be amazed at the progress you will make between week 3 and week 6!
Ice, keep it cold, elevation (if you are swollen) but don't lay around too much, get up when you can as soon as you can, listen to your body though.
Also, keep up on the pain meds, don't let it get ahead of you.
Your body has gone through a lot of trauma, it takes a couple of days for the pain to subside.
Chuck
Quote from: bosoxgordon on November 14, 2013, 08:30:31 PM
Hello everyone,
I'm laying in bed at home after sleeping off some of the pain killers and I thought I'd give everyone an update. My pain levels and stiffness are definitely worse today. I suspect this is a combination of the two hour drive home and the pain killers Dr. Gross injects into the surgical sight wearing off. I'm curious to see if others have experinced this increase in pain before thing started to get better.
Having never done this before it's hard for me to compare the outpatient option to the inpatient option. I imagine that in the hospital you would have more help getting in and out of bed. I've found that getting into bed on my own is just about impossible right now. My wife has to lift my leg as I swing it onto the bed.
These are just early impressions but I think the main difference with the outpatient option is that you better be prepared to be more independent earlier. Yesterday I felt pretty good about getting about the hotel room but today the pain and fatigue is catching up with me and it's hard to get myself out moving a little. As Juno mentioned going to the bathroom to urintate is much easier for us guys since we can stand, I'm not sure if I would want to try that if I had to sit every time.
When I left the surgical center I had all the post-operative instructions and a large bag of drugs to keep track of. That can be tough to keep track of when your head is cloudy from the pain meds. It absolutely nessecary to have a good helper with you. We have a three year old son and there is no way my wife could have helped me and kept track of him. I had a good friend come with me instead and fortunately he was able to track all the drugs and doses. Also as part of the outpatient program I have to measure my urine output for the first two days post-op. This is very important and they said if I didn't have any urine output for 12 hours I needed to go to the ER. Fortunately I've been drinking lots of water and I'm good in that department. Unfortunately like many out here have shared, I'm still waiting on my bowls to wake up again. Hopefully lots of water and fiber will help that soon. I have my precious raised toilet seat waiting for me. LOL I really felt old ordering that thing on amazon a few weeks ago. Another accessory I would recommend in one of those suction cup hand holds for the shower. It just sticks to the smooth surface of the shower and is a great help here at home and even in the hotel. If you do the outpatient option I would definitely recommend it. My wife picked one up at Lowes for $15 and I am very glad to have it. You just want to be sure it is securely fastened before you put any weight on it.
Anyway, here I am at home about 36 hours post-op hoping I'll feel better soon and be able to run and play with my son soon. Any advise or experience some of you veteran hippies can share with me would be greatly appreciated. Thanks again for all the support and advise. I'm constantly hoping that Lee Webb is right with her optimism about this device.
Hi there,
the fact that you have some urine to measure means to me that your bladder has woken up. With me there was nothing to measure so if I had done the outpatient thing I'd have ended up in the ER.
For the meds I wrote either an "M" or an "N" on each of the bottles so I'd know which were Morning pills and which were Night. Are you icing? You don't mention that but if you aren't you definitely need to. That will help with pain and swelling. I think it was about 5 days post-op when my leg puffed up, which is scary even though the handout says to expect it. After that it turned all shades of red blue and purple all the way down to my ankle but (in my case, at least) wasn't painful.
I didn't even try to stand up in the shower for 2 or 3 weeks, I sat on a plastic chair and got help getting in and out for fear of slipping on a wet and soapy surface. For sleeping, I propped my leg up on a couple of pillows; keeping it elevated as much as possible should also help.
I think you're right about the pain. Once the anesthetic wears off it's more likely to hurt so take the pain meds as often as is allowed for at least the first week. After that maybe try to go without and see what happens but definitely take one at bedtime or when you start feeling it.
Easy for me to say with hindsight but it's important not to stress over things. Like other hippies report, I was worried about all sorts of things, most of which are now behind me, though I'd say I'm still a way off from a full recovery.
Keep us posted.
I am using the polar care ice machine. Seems like I'm having a hard time staying ahead of the pain tonight. I'm a little paranoid about over dosing but I may have to go with the max recommended tonight. The pain meds seem to give me the shivers and it causes some light spasms in my operative leg. Trying to find a comfortable position is tough. My eyes are heavy from the pain pills so I may try to get some shut eye. I have to admit I'm a bit surprised at how difficult the recovery is. Of course I'm only one day out from the surgery. I'm looking forward to the upward trend starting. I've been trying to move around more but maybe it's best for me to lay low tonight and just elevate and ice.
Hi Scott,
It's very early days yet!
For me there was an increase in discomfort after the first couple of days, I think it's for a couple of reasons. First, anesthesia wears off and stronger meds (directly going to your blood stream) work better than pills. Second, you start moving (walking, sitting, early mobility exercises), and this upsets the incision and all the tissues that have been cut and twisted. But is good!
Yes, getting in and out of bed is tricky, for a few days I needed help to raise the leg into bed, I couldn't do it with the other leg holding and pushing underneath. And any little unexpected twist could cause some pain. Even when I was able to do it by myself, you need to move slowly and controlled for a good few weeks.
Swelling bumped up after 6 days (and it lasted for a couple of days) so don't be surprised if it happens to you. The activity brings it up at first, but eventually is what it brings it down.
My bowels weren't moving at all, and after 5 days the visiting nurse finally gave me some laxatives, it wasn't pretty but it worked. I hope you don't need that.
Regarding urine, I couldn't do it and they inserted the dreaded catheter after 12h...
Sleeping wasn't easy, and as others I had spasms down the leg 2 or 3 times every night (this lasted until 6 or 8 weeks post surgery, but the first few days are the worse as you're much more sensitive, later it doesn't bother that much).
I had daily naps for the first 3 weeks or so, this made up for the bad sleep at night.
For a while the best way to rest and reduce swelling is to lie down in bed with the leg elevated (use a couple of pillows or cushions), as sitting down is uncomfortable after a few minutes. This seemed to work better for me than ice sometimes.
So you do your walks etc, and then if you feel sore (normal) rest in bed for up to 1h or so and it gets better. Then you're ready to do a bit more, sit for a while, another walk, sit or lie down, ...
Try focusing on the improvements made from the previous days, rather than dwelling on how much is left...
Hi Scott,
For getting in and out of the bed. Here's something that worked for me very well (I live alone).
To get in bed:
Sit at the bed, making sure you're almost to your knees at the edge. Tuck your unoperated leg's ankle behind your operated leg. Use that leg to raise the other leg as you pivot onto the bed.
To get out of the bed:
Reverse. Tuck the unoperated ankle behind the operated as you're lying flat. Sit up and pivot, use the unoperated for support as you bring your leg to the floor.
Ta da!!! ::)
Scott, early on with all the meds I kept a small journal (on a note page on my iphone) and recorded every time I took a med. I also have a timer feature on my wrist watch that I set for four hours (the interval for my pain med - Norco) that would chime when the time was up so I knew I wasn't over dosing. I still have the journal and the first week I just sat in my new recliner and was only taking a pain med in morning and one at night. By week two I doubled to 4 doses a day and I'm sure that was because I was crutching around and just being more active. Week three I was totally off all prescribed meds and just took two Ibuprofen 200mg per day. My surgeon told me to keep up one ibuprofen per day for a couple more months to help with swelling around the psoas tendon.
Chuckm
Well I got up and walked around a bit with the crutches and boy am I stiff and sore. The pain isn't too bad lying in bed with the ice machine going. I'm just not sure how much I should be trying to move around these first few days. Moving around definitely aggravates it and makes the pain levels pretty high. I instinctively want to get out a moving but I wonder if it would be better to just lay low until the soreness subsides. I can do my exercises in bed without too much pain.
As far as tracking my meds, Dr. Gross has a journal I'm supposed to keep track of several things. Anyone that has met Dr. Gross knows that he loves to collect data to try and improve the treatment. I think he is particularly interested in collecting data from the outpatient folks. I think he said they've done 80 of the outpatient option so far.
I can say that I think I got a better nights sleep in the hotel than I would have had in a hospital bed. Whenever I've been in a hospital there are always people coming into the room all hours of the night.
I'm also surprised in that I've been drinking lots and lots of water and I'm still urinating but it seems as thought the pain meds dehydrate me. Is that a normal reaction? I'm definitely not urinating as much as I'm drinking water.
Hi Scott,
I'm coming in here late and spent a few moments reading through all your posts and everyone's comments and advice. You have received excellent advice from everyone - I really have nothing more to add - everyone did such a fine job! :D
I would like to say is your deserve a surface hippy award or medal! You are two days out of surgery, already home, and dealing with issues we left up to the nursing staff, in the hospital to deal with! Wow! Sounds like you are doing great though and rest assured, all your frustrations and concerns are completely normal and will behind you soon enough!
The stiffness and soreness is typical early on. You are resting more than moving around but it is important to get up and walk to get things moving for a few minutes a couple times a day gradually increases that each day.
Do you have home physical therapy assigned to you? I found it very helpful especially for your first time around. Use your pain meds as needed, but I think you will feel a lot better, more in control, once you can wean yourself off of them. They’re definitely dehydrating and also increase constipation. I found I couldn’t drink enough water when I was on them.
Be patient with your healing. Some heal quickly, others a bit slower, it will not help to try to rush it along. This will only slow things up in the end. Find you’re your pace and work with that. Before you know it, you’ll be running around and playing with your son before you know it!
Hi Scott,
I really don't have any advice on the moving around versus not. For me, personally, only moving the bare minimum was the way to go, but different strokes. I was just a lump for that first week. And my leg was just a log for a solid week. Not sure what good too much walking around would have been. I'm sure a little is good (blood clots, etc.) but you can definitely overdo, plus you really don't want to fall. I'm of the opinion that they really wrench things around while you are under, and while the scar is small, there is a massive amount of muscular trauma and that just takes time to heal itself.
I did want to comment on Providence Hospital. While I had a couple of issues with them (for one, my catheter was kinked, I had to pee like a racehorse and the nurses never noticed, then they let it fill up and didn't empty it so I again had to pee like a racehorse) That being said, I distinctly recall the opposite experience of what you feared about being woken up at night. It's a new hospital with spacious, solo rooms, so you don't get the overcrowding you do with a Boston hospital; so, you don't get woken when they come to check on your roommate, you don't hear them rattling around outside your door (which at this hospital is much farther away than it would be in Boston). Moreover, I'm not sure they bugged me at all over night. They might have, but I suspect that Dr. Gross knows that hip surgery is not heart surgery and what patients need post-surgery is rest. They handle so many of his patients there that they know that is what he wants and so that is what they provide.
Hang in there, this is the hard part.
Mike
Scott,
Missed a few of your posts, sorry. Want to comment on the one about the meds and recovery being a little harder than you anticipated.
My first week post-surgery was very, very tough. It was just about getting through, nothing else. My leg was a log. I am sure I took the "maximum" meds recommended. Probably all otherwise-healthy people should that first week. I did get the night-sweats post-surgery, probably from the medicine, and that sucked. I know that other people have had an easier first week than I did (and many others have had far worse), but whenever I read on here about how easy things were for some people immediately post-surgery I try to balance that out with my experience, which I think is more the norm. I also think people's minds are wired to not remember very physically painful experiences. You forget how much it sucks immediately after surgery.
Completely anecdotally, I also believe that males (younger males) who have alot of muscle to slice and dice have a rougher time post-surgery. It just makes sense to me that the more muscle to cut through and to wrench a femur through, the more trauma. I base that anecdotally on my own experiences: My hernia surgery when I was 28 and thought I was a big tough guy really laid me low for 4-5 days; my older aunt and mother who had hip replacements both seemed to have a lot less problems in the first days after surgery than I did.
All that said I hope you are one of those lucky folks who heal really quick. But don't get discouraged if you are not. There are probably going to be (minor) setbacks. If I remember aright (don't quote me on this as my posts are out there somewhere for fact check purposes) I felt worse at a month as I did at two weeks. But I felt great at those two weeks.
But this first week should just be about getting by. Do whatever you have to to make it easy on yourself and don't hold yourself to any standard.
Mike
Most of my memories from Providence Hospital aren't my own - they're what my wife told me after we got back that I'd either forgotten or was too drugged at the time to remember. My favorite was that a nurse came to check on me around 4am and asked if I wanted anything. I told her I'd like some ice cream - and a few minutes later she came back with one.
I don't remember being constantly woken up during the night, but my wife does. :(
It did peeve my that after a few weeks they kept sending me letters asking for a donation when the charge for my stay there was more than my entire net worth.
To be honest the outpatient option was the only part I was a little concerned with. However, with my insurance I have to pay 5% of the total costs. Well a stay in the hospital would be at least twice the cost of the surgery center. I heard nothing but good things about Providence hospital and I'm sure they do an outstanding job. However, the financial part was a factor for me. The other big factors were that Dr. Gross reccomened it for me. He said a hospital is often not the best place for a healthy person to be. I talked with him at length about that and I also talked with Lee Webb (Dr. Gross' assistant) about the outpatient option and they said they have had very good results. Of course they have stricter criteria for the outpatient folks. I think Dr. Gross is also committed to keeping the costs down for his patients. I was one of three that did the outpatient option and all went very well. I have to admit the thought of being taking care of in a nice hospital like providence sounds nice but I was willing to go with Dr. Gross' recommendation while also saving me some money.
On another note, I also have the "log leg" thing going on. It seems to be slowly getting better but I still struggle with afew things. I think I'm gonna just lay low for most of this day to give my body a chance to recuperate.
D day becomes a dim memory,
Isn't it great Scott, had my surgery on the 11th and such a great relief. All the best with your progress
One thing about providence, you will never get lost in that hospital and if you are a Dr. Gross patient it usually goes like clockwork.
Chuck
Hi Scott,
I used a strap to move my operated leg until it became stronger. Another suggestion: The Polar Care machine is an ice consuming beast! I froze little bottled waters instead of loose ice and was able to reuse them for weeks.
Mindi
Has anyone gotten a fever shortly after surgery? Tonight I felt like I had a fever so I checked it. It's 101.4. The instructions the doctor gave me said to call if the temp gets above 102. They also mentioned the breathing apparatus they gave me and to practice my deep breathing with it. It mentions that if I don't do that it could cause a fever. I've not been as good as I should have been with the deep breathing. I'm not too concerned. The incision seems fine and there is no drainage or unusual pain. I saw someone mention that after surgery it is common to get a fever. Just wondering if anyone has experience with this. If it doesn't get better by morning I will probably give the doctor a call.
Hi Scott,
Yes, I was feverish for about three days from about four days after surgery. Didn't check my temperature but bedclothes and pyjamas were soaked in sweat. Lasted, maybe three days.
What is it, effect from anaesthetic?
David
It's very common to have night sweats, watch that temp though, any sign of infection needs to be treated quickly.
Keep in mind, this time of the year there are many viruses hanging out in hospitals so you may just have caught something.
Chuck
Quote from: bosoxgordon on November 16, 2013, 12:26:19 AM
Has anyone gotten a fever shortly after surgery? Tonight I felt like I had a fever so I checked it. It's 101.4. The instructions the doctor gave me said to call if the temp gets above 102. They also mentioned the breathing apparatus they gave me and to practice my deep breathing with it. It mentions that if I don't do that it could cause a fever. I've not been as good as I should have been with the deep breathing. I'm not too concerned. The incision seems fine and there is no drainage or unusual pain. I saw someone mention that after surgery it is common to get a fever. Just wondering if anyone has experience with this. If it doesn't get better by morning I will probably give the doctor a call.
Hi Scott,
As Granton, I had some fever (around 38C, or 100.5F) not immediately after surgery, but about 4 days after, and it lasted for 3 days or so as well. It wouldn't last all day, just towards the evening I would feel feverish and then it would be ok in the morning again.
The first day I used the thermometer just to confirm, but I knew. The visiting nurse told me it was quite normal.
I guess if the temperature persists through the day and tends to be high, it's no harm to check with the medical staff.
Well the fever broke this morning. My temp is normal now. I'm still feeling pretty weak and queasy. Haven't been able to eat much today. Been laying down most of the day. I haven't taken any pain meds today. I thought the pain meds might have been contributing to me not feeling well. My pain levels are actually pretty low right now. I just feel like I've been through the ringer. My appetite is almost non-existent. Anyway, that's where I am right now. I'm able to move my leg more now but am just feeling a little sick.
Scott....I am. RN (28 year of ICU experience). A fever post op is not unusual, especially later afternoon time frame. As long as it doesn't last and you have no other symptoms you are likely ok. If it is stilly aging around after a few days or is greater than 102, then I would consult Dr. Gross or your primary health care provider.
Chills and night sweats are common after surgery as your body responds to the anesthesia and narcotics.
Sounds like you're doing well. Lay low and rest.
I wasn't very hungry for a few weeks after surgery, i.e. I ate without appetite most of the time. The NSAIDs (Non-steroidal anti inflammatory drugs) I think had an effect, as they upset the stomach a bit. But I had to take them (mandatory) for 3 weeks, they help avoiding heterotopic ossification around the prosthesis.
It's good you've less pain now.
I have to say I'm surprised at how difficult these first few days have been. My fever is back tonight. It's low grade but comes back every night. I can deal with the pain but having a fever just makes me feel horrible. I am a little more mobile, I'm actually able to get in and out of bed on my own even though I have to go very slowly. I guess I'm surprised at how much this surgery has sent my whole body into shock. I feel as though the way I feel has gone downhill the last couple days. I haven't taken any of the strong pain meds today on the off chance I was having a reaction to them. Another problem I'd like to solve is the lack of bowel movements this causes. Anyway, that may be too much info but it's a real part of the recovery that can really effect how one feels.
Scott,
I am really sorry to hear that about the fever and the other problems. I did not have either and it was tough enough. I did have the night sweats. Never took my temp but I don't think I had one, certainly not like you are having.
This is the tough part. It is all up hill from here, it really is. I still haven't had the fortitude to watch an HR on video, and as I have one more in my future, I don't think I will. But even in the hands of the best surgeon your femur gets dislocated, the largest muscle in your body gets sliced apart. You just went thru major surgery and best case scenario there is a lot of trauma that will take months to heal, and perhaps a year to be 100%.
I hope the fever and other issues resolve themselves ASAP. Just pass the time anyway you can for the next few days. For me it was mindless television, but not flipping channels. Just hour after hour of some series you like on DVD, Netflix. Maybe A&E or Biography, they're always running a marathon. That's all I got to offer.
I remember after my surgery I became a night owl. I would be up in the middle of the night, watching TV, checking this forum. Once I got to respond to someone who was posting from Australia because I was clearly the only person in the US up at that time.
Anyway, good luck tonight!
Mike
Last night was another long night but I do seem to be feeling better this morning. I've been trying to move around more and get the blood flowing. I was still not feeling great early this morning but as the day goes on I seem to be feeling better. I think it's easy to underestimate how much of a shock this or any other surgery is to your system. Between all the physical trauma and the laundry list of medications it's no wonder I wasn't feeling well. Anyway, today seems like it might be a good day so I'm hopeful I can get outside and stretch my legs a little. Even if it is only for a few hundred feet it will be good to get some fresh air. I was really feeling bad the last couple days but hopefully this is the beginning of an upward trend.
For sure, you need to get moving as soon as your body allows, you will progress very quickly once you get out and get walking and you will probably not need any PT.
Chuck
Hi Scott,
As mentioned, I had some intermittent fever for 3-4 days (from day 4 or so), sleep was bad for a while, and had to take some laxative after 5 days. This won't change your circumstances, but at least you know we understand your situation. It will get better!
Thanks for the support everyone. This is obviously a difficult and scary time early in the recovery. My pain levels have been pretty good today. I've been able to "crutch" around the house pretty easily. If it wasn't raining cats and dogs outside most of the day, I would have gone outside. I'm finding that the worst symptom I'm dealing with right now is some light headedness and vertigo. This also means whenever I try to eat something I feel like I'm going to vomit. I haven't taken any pain killers since early this morning in hopes that it would put the vertigo and queasiness at ease. So far no relief. I'm planning on calling the doctors office in the morning but thought I'd ask if any of you have had experience with this. I can deal with a little pain but that vertigo/queasy feeling really makes me feel bad. With all the medications I'm taking I'm sure something is having a bad side effect on me. Anyway, the leg/hip is feeling good for only being 4 days out of surgery. I just wish I could shake this dizziness.
Scott, I had dizziness and vertigo for about one week. You can likely attribute it to several things: In a nut shell it has to do with changing of positions. You're in a recliner or in bed quite a bit and changing to a standing position causes orthostatic hypotension....this means your blood pressure doesn't equilibrate quickly enough with a position change. This is generally due to dehydration, blood loss from surgery, and medications. Lower blood pressure causes dizziness, vertigo and nausea. Your blood pressure will equilibrate, just not as fast as normal.
I also recall that my appetite was minimal for a few weeks. I just tried to eat healthy foods and stay hydrated. Gatorade helps! For about 2 weeks I drank 1/2 Gatorade and 1/2 water mixed.
What may help:
Stay well hydrated (I drank water like crazy 2-3 weeks post op). When getting ready to change positions (laying to sitting or sitting to standing), do it gradually and slowly. Sit in the edge of the bed for 2-3 minutes before standing. I think you will find that once you are totally off narcotics it will help a lot. Typically patients do lose blood during joint surgery --- check your post op report for "estimated blood loss" -- even 100cc loss can cause you to feel dizzy. Your hemoglobin will re-equilibrate naturally but it takes a few weeks. My hemoglobin was 13.5 pre-surgery and 11.0 post op. Lee had me taking iron supplements for a month post op.
I hope that helps. It does sound like you are doing well! You will feel so much better by day 10.
Juno
Juno,
Thanks for the great response. That makes sense based on what I'm feeling. In fact, before I read your response I suspected my BP was low and got out our BP monitor. Normally my BP is around 130/80. Right now my BP is 110/60. I thought something was going on with my BP. I'm normally not a cold natured person but all night I've been freezing. I've been bundled up on my lazy boy chair and can't stop feeling like I'm freezing. Usually it's my wife complaining that it's too cold. :) it does make me feel better that this is a normal thing for post surgery.
I never did get a post-op report from Lee or Dr. Gross. Maybe that's something I need to call about. It might be something they have overlooked with the outpatient option. I know when I asked Dr. Gross the next day about what size & angle implant he ended up using he realized he forgot to include that in my paperwork. I did get the Biomet Uncemeted. I know that at least. ;D
Hey Scott, there's a lot to keep track of. One thing that helped me early on was to be on the horn with the doctor's office whenever something bothered me.
I was a pest and proud of it. Part of the recovery is to have a clear mind. Everyone here helped me, but I also needed the feedback from the surgeon's office. So I called whenever I needed to, and I decided to be vocal about it, since I didn't know what was important and what wasn't at the start.
That helped greatly to check on things that I felt but was uncertain of. I only was a pest for a few weeks, but I figured that was part of the peace of mind that I needed. Along with all the great support and advice that I got from some great hippies here.
Hello all,
I'm sorry I haven't posted recently. It's been crazy around here with me focusing on my recovery and Thanksgiving. I'm just shy of three weeks post op and feeling pretty good. I will say that the first week was very tough. I had to deal with a lot of symptoms I was not expecting. I will say that the help of the good folks out here was amazing! I feel like a got more support from this forum than I did from my doctors office at times. It always takes time to get phone calls returned from the doctors office but all of you out here are quick to respond and have a wealth of experience and knowledge with all of this. I say all of that to say a big THANK YOU!
After about the one week mark I seem to have turned a corner. I started healing quickly and very quickly went from crutches to a cane. I am almost three weeks out now and still use a cane but can go short distances without a cane. I have been doing my walking as Dr. Gross wanted. I actually walked 1.5 miles this past Saturday and felt pretty good. Most of my pain is now around the incision area and a little groin pain at times. The hip is obviously still weak and at times feels loose. I actually feel so good now that I have to be careful about the restrictions. Whereas pain and stiffness used to keep me from bending the hip past 90 degrees, now I can bend it past 90 if I'm not paying attention to what I'm doing. I'm trying to be very deliberate with my movements and not exceed any limitations.
I have noticed the infamous "clunking" sensation some of you have referred to. It's only at certain times or when I move a certain way (usually in a standing position). Anyway, based on what I've read out here it doesn't seem to be something to worry about too much but I thought I'd mention it just to see what some of you have to say about that.
I'm gonna go now and get my walking in to help this hip get back to full strength. Thanks again for all the help out here. It's really kept me sane during this difficult time.
Sounds like things are going well and as expected, Scott.
I'm glad you're walking, make sure you work on the gait, since you don't want to pick up bad habits. Otherwise, sounds good.
As no doubt you've seen in other topics, clunking is normal and a diminishing fact of life for some of us.
Hi Scott,
Yeah, that first week (and second week) are very tough, there's no getting around it. The arthritis pain being gone is the only consolation in the early going (in my experience).
Clunking: I had read about it and was wondering if these little sensations I was getting were clunking. Then I clunked and knew immediately that that was clunking. Mine just faded over time. I don't recall exactly when it was completely gone, but certainly by a year. I am at almost twenty months, and (besides the scar) the only way I can tell the difference between my implant and the original equipment (besides the lack of joint pain) is that the implanted leg tends to drift when I am cornering (while walking, I do not run) I guess when it is the outside leg. Clunking seems so profoundly mechanical when it hapens that it is hard to imagine it just going away. It did in my case and from what I have read, the vast majority of people.
I am sorry you had trouble getting through to the doctors office. The one time I felt the urgent need to (when I was concerned about some lower back/hip pain) he called me himself within a few hours and, though I missed him, left a very detailed message giving me his opinion. The pain went away shortly thereafter, forget what it was now.
I am glad to hear things are slowly improving. The hard part is behind you, no doubt. Congratulations. There may well be a setback or two in your next few weeks. At one point, maybe weeks 2 to 4, or 3 to 5, I forget, I felt like I was actually behind where I had been two weeks or so earlier, but I imagine it is not uncommon to have a recovery that is not perfectly linear.
Keep up the good work!
Mike
Well today was a tough day in that I've been fighting discouragement about feeling like a crippled old man at 41. I absolutely hate this cane and cannot wait to throw it in the rubbish. I've grown to hate going out anywhere because it feels as though people look at you differently when your walking with a cane. Anyway, in an effort to fight the blues I went to a nearby park, put my headphones on and just walked and walked trying to rehab this hip. I felt pretty good, just a few twinges here and there. I actually tried walking without the cane a little bit too. For the first time I feel like I'm strong enough to do that. I am still scared I'm going to hurt something and don't totally trust my new hip. I suppose that will come with time.
I've notice something that I think I've read about out here before but thought I'd mention to see if anyone out here had some feedback. I've noticed that as I'm walking I have the strange sensation that my operative leg is a little longer than my other leg. I'm just wondering if anyone has an explanation for this. I wonder if it's because I may have been walking out of balance for a few years favoring the arthritic hip and now I'm having to rebalance how I walk. Anyway, I'm sure it will start to feel normal as I walk more. It's just a strange thing I thought I'd mention.
Scott,
I recall feeling the same way. It does get discouraging, but it will get better. I recall that I was still using my cane at my 6 week check with Lee. She told me to walk out of the office without my cane and that I didn't need it anymore. I think I just needed the reassurance :). Sometime in the next few weeks you will feel stronger and will be walking sans cane. I'll bet by Christmas.
My theory of the leg feeling longer is this: swelling within the hip capsule makes the leg feel longer. That swelling can last for weeks (even once the outer, surface swelling is gone). That feeling does go away. Try to concentrate on walking straight, one foot in front of the other and no sway in your gait. It helps.
I hope I can remember all this positive stuff in 5 more days after I have my left hip surgery and am feeling sorry for myself :)
Scott,
Monday marks 4 weeks for me since surgery. Was having a rough trot about a week ago. Feeling very flat. Had physio on Monday and since then turned the corner. Walking 3 lots of 400 metres but when I feel tired have a nap. Every day getting better and better. You will lots of support, information here and don't be afraid to vent. I've a week and a half til my crutches are ditched and have some trecking poles purchased on EBay as my next walking aid. Be kind and take it easy. Just had a couple of wet dismal days here so didn't walk much at all.
Keep on posting and all the best in your ongoing recovery
Kin
Scott,
I think the leg length thing is real. I think you ARE actually a bit taller on that side after surgery. I could be wrong, but the operated hip has gone from being slightly shorter than the other one (because of the loss of cartilage and perhaps even labrum and bone) to slightly longer than the other one because it has been restored to more or less its original position before being worn down. And now not only is it significantly (feeling wise, not actual length) longer than it was before, it is even a little longer than the other hip/leg because that one likely has arthritis too, just not as bad as the hip you just had replaced.
I felt taller post surgery. That faded over time because I think you just get used to it. Swelling could be involved as someone else mentioned, don't really know. I could also be dead wrong with my "theory".
I liked the sensation. What guy doesn't want to be taller?
Mike
Scott, one of the surgeons on this site remarks that on average hip resurfacing adds about 1/4" to one's height. I can't remember which surgeon but it's here somewhere. The sensation of the longer leg, however, is because the entire area is stiff from the surgery and the complex motion of the entire pelvic region takes some time to restore itself. My hip feels normal most days now but occasionally the next day after having played a soccer match it can feel a bit longer again.
Three weeks was about the time that I had sudden improvement. That was also when I had my first follow up visit with my surgeon and that gave me lots of confidence to stand up straight on the new hip. Just push back at the earth and concentrate on using the new hip and not just the knee below.
Chuckm
I suspected that the new resurfacing would add a small length to my leg for the reasons you gave. I also am not sure how much bone is removed when preparing the femoral head. I would imagine the amount of bone removed would be close to the thickness of the femoral component. I suppose that is a question best answered by an actual surgeon. I will try to remember to ask Dr. Gross about that. I'm not exactly sure but I seem to remember that in the past couple years my x-rays have shown that my pelvis is a bit off balance and that very well may be because of my compensating for the arthritic hip. Now that the arthritis is gone I will have to adjust back to a more normal stance. That is what I'm telling myself at least.
One of the tough things about this recovery is that I'm forced to be much more physically inactive and it gives too much time to worry about all that can go wrong and question if this was the right thing. I had a friend ask me the other day if I would do it over again if I had the chance. I think he was trying to be encouraging by making the point that the pain is gone and it was a good thing. I had to be honest with him and say that I'm not sure yet. While I was bone on bone in my hip, my pain levels were not unbearable yet. I am still early in my recovery and still not back to where I was before the surgery. So, it's hard to say this feels like it was a good thing to do. I am still hobbling around like some old man and cannot do the physical work around the house that I often enjoy doing. (The lifting limitations are particularly hard to stick to)
In any case it is encouraging to see that folks like Chuck can play soccer after this procedure. I played soccer for years growing up and in college. I know how demanding that sport is on your body and I can't even imagine trusting my new hip enough to even try playing soccer again. It helps me keep the faith to know that I will in fact reach a point when I will trust my hip again enough to try something like that. Right now I'd just be happy to throw away this stupid cane. :D
Scott,
Dr. Gross told me it will add about 4cm and that your body will compensate. I agree that inactivity will give you too much time to notice every little thing. I can't remember when that feeling of a longer leg went away, but it does!
Try to watch the SEC Championship football game today in my hometown and see if Auburn can pull off another miracle play in the waning moments.
Mindi
QuoteOne of the tough things about this recovery is that I'm forced to be much more physically inactive and it gives too much time to worry about all that can go wrong and question if this was the right thing.
I remember feeling the same way, but it's becoming more and more of a distant memory. I think I was at about the 10 week mark when I was able to say that even if I don't improve any further I'm better off now than I was pre-op. Up till then I was wondering if I hadn't just traded one set of pains & limitations for another. If my experience is anything to go by it does get better over time. I'm about 2 months away from going back to soccer and chomping at the bit. I feel strong enough having been exercising more and more aggressively but sticking to the 6 month restriction. Be patient and don't go too hard on yourself.
Scott,
I have read, and it was true in my case, that the point at which you are in less pain than pre-surgery is about six weeks. But that is really the approximate time where the surgical pain is less than the (now gone) arthritis pain. You are at three and a half weeks. The six week mark was spot on for me, but my hip was just destroyed before surgery, and yours doesn't sound like it was as far gone, so you probably shouldn't expect to be better than pre-surgery until a later date.
You just had major-surgery, actual, defined major-surgery. The recovery takes a long time. At six months you are still going to be unathletic. For me, that started returning at about a year.
I also am firmly of the opinion that young, active (particularly muscular) males have the toughest time for the month or so post-surgery. I think wrenching the femur through a thick thigh for a 40 year old male is completely different than doing so for an older person with less musculature.
You commented that you are not where you were before surgery. You shouldn't be. Try to pay more attention to the experiences of younger males post-surgery than the populace at large.
Be patient. You'll get their in the end.
Mike
Scott,
Just read a couple of your earlier posts. Of course people are going to look at a 40 year old dude with a cane. People's brains don't notice normal things that their brains are used to, but see a 40 year old dude with a cane out the corner of their eye and they're gonna look. Occasionally I find myself drawn to look at someone and I notice that it is because they are missing an arm or a hand.
I also noticed you mentioned that you feel you can't trust your hip. You shouldn't at this stage. That is why you should be using two crutches, one crutch, or at a bare minimum, one cane for any walks right now. Frankly I would be using the two for safety. Walk as normally as you can, but have the crutches in place, just in case.
Mike
Mike,
Thanks for the encouraging words. The whole crutches/cane schedule is and interesting topic. When I first talked with Dr. Gross and Lee Webb about when I could return to work (I am a pilot), they both said six weeks easily. I've actually talked with a couple other pilots that have had this done and they said they made it back easily. So, keeping that in mind, originally I was told to expect crutches for two weeks, a cane for two weeks, and nothing for two weeks. That would complete the initial part of my recovery. When I went in for the surgery Lee and Dr. Gross both said I should be off crutches in a week. They didn't specify how long I should be on a cane but I got the impression it was based on my comfort and I should be walking two miles a day by six weeks.
Interestingly there was another patient that had surgery the same day as me and he was told he needed to be on crutches for the full six weeks. I can only assume his hip was in much worse shape or maybe he had some issues with his bone density. He was a younger man but I remember he was limping pretty bad when he came in for his surgery. Anyway, my point is that it seems to be a bit of an individual thing. I do admit I have to force myself to take it slow. I've always trained myself to push through pain and go the extra mile. This is a case when I'm having to take a much more cautious approach and it feels strange to me. Sometimes it often feels like I'm being lazy or using it as an excuse to just sit around. Guess I'm getting cabin fever at this point.
Scott,
You raise an interesting point with your last post. I love Dr. Gross, but if there is one criticism I can make of surgeons promising aggressive recoveries, it is that they themselves have not had the surgery done. I think some of them (and not necessarily Dr. Gross, he didn't promise me anything) don't understand how hard the recovery can be. Those first few weeks are hard. They suck. If others have had a great recovery then I am honestly happy for them, but I think the fantastically easy recovery is out of the norm, and more likely to happen for older people who maybe have less muscle to cut through and a lesser expectation of functionality post-surgery. That is just my opinion. Anyone can feel free to disagree.
Mike
Mike, I just want to echo everything you wrote and tell you those were great words of advise. I so agree that each of us is individual and there are no canned recoveries. I think more of us err on the side of slower recoveries than not. This is true major surgery with side effects, real risks and months of recovery.
6 weeks was a good turning point for me too, but even then I was no where close to "my normal". I still get weird aches and twinges. I still stretch and work ROM / strength almost everyday --- it is getting better and stronger but I am confident it will take a full year.
Scott -- you are doing great! It's a struggle to remain positive -- especially when we are used to going all the time. I understand completely. We will help you get thru this part! (You all can all help me in three weeks when I'm going thru it!)
Thanks so much for listening and providing some great feedback and encouragement! I started this journey with hip OA about 2.5 years ago and I've been amazed at how helpful everyone out here and on the yahoo group have been. It's really amazing how vibrant this community has been over the years and how willing people are to help a stranger. I hope I can be a help to others now that I've "crossed over to the other side". It would mean a lot if I have a chance to pay it forward.
I would agree about your comments about how difficult this recovery can be. In particular I was VERY surprised at how difficult the first week was. I know everyone's experience is different but my first week was quite scary at times. I especially worried that I pulled the trigger too early on having the surgery. Like I've said before, while my OA was bone on bone I was still functioning pretty well. Don't get me wrong I still think I needed the surgery sooner or later it's just tough when I'm feeling like I've taken some really big steps backwards right now. I'm hopeful that I can get back to the gym and be more active than I've been in a few years.
I would also agree that sometimes the medical staff can be a bit too cavalier about the surgery. They do hundreds of these a year and it's all pretty much routine for them. This was my first hip surgery and it can be quite scary especially at my age. One of the reasons I've been trying to keep my posts updated on here is that hopefully someone in the future can read this and hopefully have a better idea as to what they may be facing. At this point many of the really bad physical pain is gone. I've found that now much of the battle is mental and emotional. It absolutely sucks being in the house this much and not being able to do something physically demanding.
By the way, how many of you were sick of hearing this from people? "Wow, your way too young to have hip surgery!" And then they usually follow up with a line of questioning that implies they don't think I really needed the surgery. LOL I can almost predict verbatim what people will say now. Anyway, it's always surprising how incensitive people can be with their reactions.
As far as my recovery pace is concerned I am really trying to keep my expectations in check. I agree that I have one shot at making this resurfacing work and I don't want to harm it by doing something stupid. Having said that, it's really hard to believe that I will be ready to fly again in three weeks. I do a lot of walking with my job and climbing in and out of the cockpit will be challenging. I'm trusting Dr. Gross because he was very confident I would be ready by six weeks. I've made some good progress by the three weeks mark but based on how I feel it's hard to believe I will be ready to fly again in just another three weeks. I do have to option of waiting a couple more weeks and I may do that just to be safe.
Anyway, I've gone on way too long (can you tell I'm getting bored trapped in the house? :o ) thanks again for all the support.
Scott,
You had a tougher early go of it than I did, and I don't really know what a pilot's job entails, but I think the odds are good that you will be ready to work at six weeks. And if you're not, you're not. If you can wait until right around the six week mark to decide, that would be best. Absent any unusual setback, I think you would almost certainly be ready by eight weeks. But again, you are the one who decides that, based on how you feel.
In an ideal world everyone would get as much time as they need to get close to 100% before they return to work, so that they could focus more of their energies on their recovery. But I think you have a young kid or two. That, coupled with work, makes things more challenging.
All that being said, I suspect (and hope) that you are on the tail end of the tough times. You will still most probably have a setback or two, but my hope is that you will be pleasantly surprised in a week or two at how you feel. Just don't forget that this recovery is not strictly linear.
And watch a lot of TV. Distract yourself while your body heals.
Mike
Scott,
Just re-read your post where you mentioned climbing in and our of the cockpit. I imagine that there isn't a ton of room in the cockpit even in a widebody jet, but doesn't sound like that's what you are talking about? I imagine some cockpits are tough to get into (a fighter jet, for example!). At six weeks it would definitely have been significantly more difficult for me to climb in and out of anything than it would have been pre-surgery. I am not commenting on whether I think you can do it, I'm just saying would have been more difficult for me. In any case you can probably do it, just gonna be a hassle and an irritant.
I also have to admit that at 20 months it's tough for me to remember just what my hip was like at six weeks. Hopefully others right around there now can comment.
Also wanted to comment about your thinking that maybe you jumped the gun a little with surgery, so that you have that nagging doubt rattling around your cabeza. For that reason I don't (at least anymore) encourage people to jump into surgery. I tell people that they will know when they're ready. My first hip was ready. I really had no choice. In a two week span I had four separate days where I could not walk, and could only sleep contorted into a crazy sleeping position with my leg suspended in the air, and eight beers and half a dozen acetaminophen in me. But having gone thru that with my first hip, I am going to have the second hip done where it is around the stage where yours was probably at, because I know how bad the pain was with the first hip and I do not want to go through that with the second hip.
Reading this site over the last couple of years, I sense that most bilats do what I am going to do, ie pull the trigger a smidgen early on the second hip. I think this should be some comfort to you, that with the benefit of hindsight, most people waited too long with the first hip and would go back and have done it earlier. I clearly needed HR about 2-3 years earlier than I had it done.
Lastly, I encourage anyone who is under 45 (or 40, realistically) to explore surgery to have FAI/Labrum fixed prior to HR/THR. There are other options (than HR/THR) for people who are younger and have more than a little cartilage left. I don't see other options mentioned here often enough. Just know that post 40 your options narrow.
Mike
Hello all. I'm sorry I haven't posted in a while. It's been busy around here with the holidays. I just wanted to let everyone know I had my six week check up last week. Everything checked out well and I've been cleared to return to full flying duties. I am glad I will be able to start flying again but I'm still not anywhere near 100%. I told Dr. Gross that I wasn't yet back to where I was before surgery. I am still in more pain and weaker than before. He said that since my pain levels were so low before the surgery he expects it will be the three month point by the time I'm back to a level I was prior to surgery. I'm optimistic and pretty confident I did it at the right time. However, I'm still impatient about how long it takes to heal up. It sometimes feels like I'll never be pain free again and the day to day swings get old. Just when I feel I'm getting stronger I will have a weak or painful day and I doubt my progress. I know it is to be expected but it's still discouraging at times. I'm doing the phase II exercises now and do feel myself getting stronger. I can sometimes feel when I push too hard. I was walking two miles a day on week six and getting a little sore. Dr. Gross said to maybe back off a bit for a while. So that is what I will do.
FYI I also found out that I got a 50mm implant size and it's at a 31degree angle. Lee Webb said that it looks perfect and I should expect it to last the rest of my life. Dr. Gross is very much more conservative with his predictions. LOL, he will NOT predict anything beyond what his research data actually shows.
Anyway, I'm hoping the aches and pains will go away as time goes on. I find that I'm quite stiff and sore after sitting still for long periods of time. It makes me wonder how I'll be after a couple hours in the cockpit.
Hi Scott,
Thanks for the update. Sorry you are still in significant pain. And everything you said about Dr. Gross computes with my understanding, FYI.
Try not to get discouraged. Recovery probably took longer than I thought in my case too; and being a Dr. Gross patient I was very conservative in my recovery. I know that at six months all I could do was hobble jog (if I had to run across a street). But at one year it was like someone threw a switch and athleticism started to return. I am now at twenty months and went skating yesterday for the first time since last winter and I was really surprised at how much better I was than I had been in years (even with the second hip deteriorating - nowhere as bad as first though).
Apropos of nothing, I also had a 31 degree angle.
I hope things improve more quickly.
Mike