Hello, I had my left hip resurfaced by Dr. Michael Mont in Baltimore back in July of 2011. It had been giving me problems for at least 8 years. And the operation has been absolutely wonderful. It gave me my life back and I have had zero issues with my left hip. But even though I was having no problems back then with my right hip, my local Doctor told me per the x-rays that it was not much physically better than the left one. Well time has marched on and my right hip now has become arthritic with bone on bone in places. So I have started the process of seeing about surgery on my right hip. I was very lucky with my original surgery in that I didn't have a hard recovery. I was putting weight on it the next day, I was off the prescription pain killers after a few days, and I was back at my sit-down desk job after a week. And one of the things I noticed immediately after waking up from surgery was that, even though I felt like I was hit by a truck, the arthritis pain that I had dealt with constantly was gone. So we'll see how things progress with my right hip's saga.
Here's my post from July 5th, 2011. 4 days after having the surgery on my left hip; I just wanted to share my story as to how my recovery from last Friday's surgery is going. I'm typing this, sitting in a regular chair at my computer, at home in Nebraska. I've got both legs bent normally and equally.
I want to emphasize that I think the biggest thing I can brag about right now is a lack of pain. I received 10 mg Oxycodone pills on Friday and Saturday, and nothing but a couple of Tylenol and ibuprofen a day since then. I think I can now actually just stop with the pain pills alltogether, 4 days out of surgery. I don't think this is typical. The guy across from me at the Hospital was right after me with surgery and wasn't ready to get on crutches yet on the day I was leaving. (which was Sunday, July 3rd.) But I'm moving around quite well on two crutches. I've even loaded and unloaded the dishwasher.
Now I definitely felt like I got hit by a truck on day one. I have a scar that's almost a foot long on the side of my left butt, and a couple of big primary and secondary bruising. Dr. Mont does the anterio-lateral(?) approach. I can't imagine having to sleep on that huge scar if I'd had the posterior approach. Pulling on the surgery site as I'm getting in and out of bed is the most painful thing that happens to me currently.
As I said, my mobility with my left leg is quite good. I still can't lift it up or sideways with any strength. But I am probably using 30%/70% between my left and right leg when I sit down. I'm getting ready to "run laps" around my kitchen island for 20 minutes, working on having my left leg make "normal" walking motions with the help of the crutches. Again, I think I've been lucky because I think my mobility right now is unusual this early after surgery.
Dr. Mont is a pretty unique, talented guy. I will say I didn't get to see him much when I was conscious however. I believe he did 7 different surgeries on Friday. I couldn't make 7 batches of cookies in a day, much less operate on 7 different people!! I would have liked more face-time/organization regarding post-operation steps and life. I got it, but it was somewhat piecemeal, with much of it coming from the nurses. (All of who were great!!) Sinai Hospital in Baltimore is pretty "vanilla" also. I definitely wouldn't wanted to have been stuck there a week. But actually, I wouldn't want to be in any hospital a week, even if it was at Disneyworld. The tubes and IV's and catheter, and these pneumatic compression stockings that I'm still wearing....I don't ever want to be in a Hospital again!!
Here are some closing observations....I didn't want to get the catheter pulled or have to take a stool softener until I knew I could move around. (The pain medicine gives you constipation. You then have it pressing on your bladder, I ended up having to go to pee every two hours..) But I will never take a stool softener again. I took it for two days, and it decided to kick in at the airport. And I guess the way it works is by giving you symptoms exactly similar to an intestinal virus. I had diarrhea and vomiting up to 30 minutes before getting on the plane. And finally, fly Southwest Airlines. They have open seating, and seat people in crutches and wheelchairs first. We got the front seats of the plane an all four flights coming and going. That would not have happened on any other airline, none.
Hope this is informative to anyone considering this procedure. I can already tell my "old pain" is gone. And I'm getting clues that I've already gotten a better range of motion. I have a lot of work to do yet, but this surgery with Dr. Mont so far appears to be a "home run." And that's exactly what I wanted. Get this surgery, be reasonable in your lifestyle afterwards. (i.e., no marathons, skiing, clog dancing, etc.) Maybe we'll have this last for the next 30 years!!
Mike Hromanik (46 year old Male)
Sounds like you're not waiting as long the second time around, I can't say I blame you. At least now you know what to expect. Are you going to use the same surgeon?
Hi,I've been sat on the fence and reading with interest (for the last 18 months) all the useful info on this site.I check in every day to see the latest blogs to try and gain as much knowledge as I can.
Some 20 years ago I was diagnosed with early osteoarthritis and told to calm down my sporting activities and expect a replacement at some point in the future.Needless to say I never calmed down and carried on with Martial arts,Moto-x,Enduro and Mountainbiking.With no regrets.
Slowly my hips got worse.First to go was the kickboxing then moto-x,then 2 years ago I rode my last enduro.I found xc mountain biking was a good compromise and have been regulary competing in marathon style events of between 50 to 90km.
The last 3 or so months the pain has gone up a level and I'm having more bad days than good.Only this sunday I was doing an event in wild wet Wales and at 27 km into it I had a major bike problem which forced me to walk a few km to the food stop where I could get a lift back to the start.Those few km of walking where agony and made me question is now the right time to throw the towel in and get surgery.
Rewind to November 2013 and I was within a few weeks of having a THR at a local hostpital,luckily before the axe fell I stumbled across this site and thanks to it's members and gr8 info I found out about BHR and Mr Treacy.A private appointment was made where I was told I was a good candidate and was then put onto the NHS system as his patient.
My xrays are showing bone on bone areas and Mr Treacy is happy to perform his magic when I feel the time is right.
When is the right time?
Apart from hip pain (which I can put up with most of the time)will the knee pain and shooting leg pains go when I get BHR?
Will I feel more stable on my legs,any sideways movement or fast changes in direction are a big no no at the moment.Tried doing some bag work(boxing) last year and stepping off the centre line while punching was very painfull.
Long term I would love to get back to Enduro,but to be able to run a little and play football with my kids would be gr8.
I think most of you will say the time is right and I think maybe it is,but then when I have a good day I think I could hold it off for longer in the hope of a miracle cure.
By the way my diagnosis for the hip problem is Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis.so I suppose I've been lucky to have got as much use out of dodgy shapped hips anyway.
I'm a young 43 and still have a lot of sporting ambition.
sorry about the bad gramma and spelling,I'm more of a pyshical than a mental person.
Perhaps I should train my brain for a while and give my legs a rest.
Hi and welcome mate. I as you can probably see from my signiture am a Treacy Bilat.
We have some things in common like the martial arts and the active life style. But also the fact this site has enlightend us! I also nearly went with a local surgeon and get a THR.
I would say from a symptom front now is the right time for you mate. You can leave it too long and casue too much damage and end up not being a candidate. Also if you get it done now then by the end of the year you'll be nearly fully fit again! And come the new year you'll be able to start back properly with all your sports. This time around i was very lucky in that my joint was actually so badly damaged Mr Treacy took over an hour and even he struggled to give me a BHR so im very lucky!
Life is too short get it done mate and get your life back!
Danny
As someone who also was diagnosed with hip issues 20+ yrs ago, I knew eventually I would need something done. About 18 months ago, It started getting worse, and by the beginning of January it was about 50/50 good and bad days. But once it turned, it went to where nearly every day was a bad day within just a few weeks. Don't wait. I am getting resurfaced Apr 8th, and the last month has been miserable.
Hi Everyone,
Today, I hit the 1 year post-op mark on my resurfacing. The year has gone by quicker than I expected. My resufaced hit feels great at this point. For several years leading up to the resurfacing, I really dreaded getting it done. But looking back now, it wasn't as bad as I expected. I took my PT very seriously and was very diligent with it. I think my recovery was probably a little quicker than average and I credit that to the PT. My surgery was last April and I was able to get back to working as a college football official by September. I was sore throughout the season, but my surgeon assured me that it was just a matter of the muscles getting used to the impact activities. I can now do anything I want and it's not an issue.
Unfortunately, 4 weeks ago I was shoveling heavy snow, and while lifting and turning to throw the snow, I felt a rip/pull through my right, non-resurfaced hip. It scared me enough to get it checked out by my doctor. He felt it was a straing but ordered an MRI arthrogram anyway, and it turns out I have a small tear in the labrum of my non-operated hip. He has since sent me to a hip-scope specialist. After examinging me, that doctor feels it's a muscle strain too, and feels the small tear was already there and they pain and soreness I have is not sypmtomatic of the tear. What I have since learned is that a lot of people are walking around with small labral tears and don't know it nor does it give them any problems. I feared a labral tear, as that is what started the whole process on my resurfaced hip, so that is why I got it checked out right away. A PT friend of my mine told me "if you don't want to find out you have a labral tear, don't get an MRI". He had told me the same thing about the statistics of people with labral tears that don't even know. So I am still figuring what to do with recent injury, and currently going to PT.
Anyway, my resurfaced hip is doing great. I've hit the 1 year mark and very happy with the results. It's allowed me to get back to doing so many things I either had to avoid or limit prior to the surgery as I would have to much pain.
Matt
Hi mate, nice to see Wales mentioned! Don't wait any longer if it's at that stage. Most of us felt exactly as you do but the total lack of pain at rest, when working out or when just doing normal activities post op should not be delayed. It's awesome. I'm 47, know exactly where you're coming from, but 11 weeks post op I'm sitting here wishing I done it earlier. Rode 93kms on the road yesterday with no ill effects at all. I couldn't say that 12 weeks ago.
I'll echo what everyone here has said. You can get back to martial arts and probably the rest, but the real benefit is to have the pain gone.
There are no guarantees, but before the surgeries (bilat here) I had bad back pain, knee issues and so on. Those are gone now. I got back to bag work about a year after the last surgery and have been pretty happy since.
There's no extra benefit from suffering more, and the quicker you get to it, the quicker you get back to life.
Good luck...
Congrats on the one year! Hope things work out on the other side, but at least you've got one going 100%.
Seems like shoveling snow is an activity to be careful about judging on this and another recent post. :) Congrats on the 1-year mark, sounds like you're doing great. Hope the other side heals up good.
It's a personal decision and a tough one.
What pushed me over the edge was seeing a video of myself walking. I thought I was hiding my limp but in fact my gait was quite obvious and awkward. I was already getting knee pain, and back pain was starting as well. It was obvious when I saw it that I'll just destroy my other joints if I wait. Plus my hip turned a corner for the worse and could see where this was headed.
For years I always looked at surgery as a risk and imagined what could go wrong in spite of the odds. Just felt that I'm not doing too bad now so why take the risk however small. And maybe there was a natural way I haven't discovered yet. But as I got toward the end the idea of getting surgery felt less risky. There was more upside than downside.
If I knew what I know now I would have done it earlier.
IMO since you're bone on bone, it's time. It's going to get worse at a faster rate now, and, you don't want to get to a point where you lose bone.
P.S. - I haven't noticed any knee pain since surgery. Maybe at the very, very beginning. No shooting leg pain either. Usually those pains are just referred pain from the hip. I was hoping that was true in my case and it seems to be. I'm a little over 15 weeks post-surgery.
Wow! Officiating college football within the first yr. That's impressive. Glad it's going well for you. Good luck on the other one.
Do it. Scary as it might seem now.
Mr Treacy will have you done in about 6-8 weeks from you contacting him, then you can get on with the rest of your life. Good luck :)
Quote from: gasyz on April 02, 2015, 04:52:59 PM
Will I feel more stable on my legs,any sideways movement or fast changes in direction are a big no no at the moment.Tried doing some bag work(boxing) last year and stepping off the centre line while punching was very painfull.
Long term I would love to get back to Enduro,but to be able to run a little and play football with my kids would be gr8.
Gaszy, when you have your hip resurfaced, it isn't a compromise, it is a fix. If you are a disciplined patient, you can rebuild the strength to whatever level you put your mind to. Picture the strength and stability your hip had 20 years ago before you complained of hip soreness. You can achieve that.
Chuckm
Your knee might well improve. As your hip wears, the leg rotates so that your foot turns outwards. That obviously means your knee is under pressure.
We have seen that, with a good surgeon (which you have) the BHR will just go on and on. My first is now over 15 years old. And the absence of pain is so good.
Having HR is not just a medical choice. It is also a lifestyle choice. Most of us seem to have fairly high pain tolerance, but when we can no longer do the things we love, it is time to swap out the original equipment for an HR. That is how I made my decision. As for the knee pain...mine disappeared within a few weeks of the surgery. My only other comment, remember rehab is a marathon, not a sprint. Good luck with your decision.
I 'm a 4th Dan taekwondo which emphasizes kicks. I had my right hip resurfaced and have had no pain while stretching or kicking. The only thing holding me back now is my left hip which I plan on having resurfaced later this year, I wore it out compensating for the right side. You can't do the things you want to do now so why wait, get it done while you are young enough to enjoy it. For most after the first six weeks it's a piece of cake and even sooner for some.
Gasyz,
Unfortunately, there is no book you can read or test you can take that will give you the answer. It's a personal struggle that can only be solved when a choice is made. The choices are to get the surgery or not. If you have already decided to get the surgery in my opinion it's not worth waiting. The condition doesn't get any better and we don't get any younger. Trust your gut and you won't be disappointed. I had mine done almost two weeks ago. In the weeks leading up to the surgery I had some good days and that made me second guess my decision, I was hoping for bad days just so it would confirm that I made the right choice. Here I sit 10 days after the surgery and I have a lot of hope. I look forward to getting up and going for a walk, I look forward to tomorrow when I wake up and feel that much better. I look forward to playing some golf this summer and getting back on the motorcycle pain free, skiing next winter etc. Before the surgery I didn't have that hope. All I had was concern and anxiety about all of those activities that I love. I know I made the right choice now and very much look forward to getting back to an active lifestyle for myself and my children/family.
Good luck,
Jake
Today is the day I head off to Columbia, SC for a resurfacing on my right hip with Dr. Thomas Gross. I will do my best to detail my experience as others before me have done. Reading their stories has definitely helped me be prepared and have peace of mind throughout this whole process.
Now, I will summarize what let me to this point. I am 35, and at the age of 9 was diagnosed with Legg-Calve-Perthes. At 10 I had a varus osteotomy to try to get part of the undamaged femur head into the socket, and at 12 I had the hardware removed. I was told then that I would have to have a total hip replacement as an adult and that I would have osteoarthritis by the time I was 18.
Other than occasional flareups and very limited range of motion, Things went pretty well for the next 20 yrs or so. I ran, lifted weights, played sports, rock climbed, etc. I probably took 2-4 aleve for pain per month.
Starting near the end of 2013, my hip started hurting a little more, especially if I was on my feet for very long. I began to scale back my activities and have to take NSAIDs more often. That continued as a slow decline until about Jan of this year, when things went south quickly. By early Feb, I knew I needed something done, running was out, lifting was out. Even coughing would cause sharp pains in the hip. I found this site and knew immediately I wanted a hip resurfacing.
I scheduled an appt with Dr. Rector, a respected resurfacing Dr who happened to be about 2 miles down the road from where I live. When I met him Mar 2nd, I had my first X-ray on my hip in more than 21 yrs. He immediately said it was too bad to be able to resurface. Due to the LCP, I had a severely deformed flattened femur head, a short neck, and a dysplasic acetabulum.
I knew I needed a second (and 3rd and 4th) opinion, so I sent my X-rays to Dr. Gross, Dr. Su, Dr Clarke, Dr. DeSmet, Mr. McMinn, Dr. Pritchett, Dr. Rogerson and Dr Bose. Of those, Pritchett and Rogerson would not attempt a resurfacing, but the others would. I chose Dr. Gross based on my communication with him, his experience with LCP (100+) and many of the stories on here.
I know the next few weeks are going to be rough, and even the next few months will be a challenge but I look forward to being on the other side of this soon. I have rock climbed (indoors or out) a minimum of 4 times per week since 2010, and knowing yesterday was my last time for a while was hard. But I also look forward to not having pain, and to possibly having a more normal functioning hip.
Clearly, you have more challenging issues than most who face this surgery. But you have your youth and Dr. Gross on your side. The alternatives were to continue suffering, do more damage to your bones, and then face a THR that would probably need to be repeated in 15 years or less. I think you've given yourself the best chance for a long, normal life by taking this step. Good luck and keep us informed. I'll be on the same table three weeks from Wednesday.
Here is an X-ray
Congrats and good luck. Keep us posted.
Wow, that x-ray looks awful! Best wishes for the op and a quick recovery - climbing again in a couple of months I reckon...
Thanx very much for all your replies and input,pretty much confirmed what I was thinking.Need to get it sorted.Ironically It's felt better the last few days and I've managed to do gardening and D.I.Y over the long weekend without to much pain,but I know it's only a matter of time before the limp and pain comes back.Got a busy time ahead with a trip to the I.O.M TT races at the start of june followed by a family holiday in july,so I think I'll be trying to plan the op for july onwards.Got a few mtb marathons pre-booked so will be aiming to stay as fit as poss,which should hopfully help with recovery.I think the biggest problem is the mental side of things,having to make the decision of when to go under the knife myself is a hard thing to deal with.I've had and lived with these problem hips for most of my life and almost accept the pain and limitations.Gonna be a tough time mentally preparing for it,but hopfully I'll come out the other side in a good place.
Good Luck. Dr. Gross is an excellent hip resurfacing surgeons.
Let us know how you are doing when you get time after surgery.
Pat
Best wishes from over the pond. From all is seen, read and heard of Dr Gross I know you are in the hands of an incredibly talented surgeon, whom I'm sure will re-align your femur/hip and give you an HR that you will be delighted with. Please post us your progress and your new xray.
Just go with the flow, enjoy the experience and your new hip.
Toby
Good luck! As a fellow 'perthes' hip that was resurfaced by Dr Gross, I can only tell you that the resurfacing process was not necessarily easy but the 'experience' was good and the results have been outstanding.
-Bernie
Good luck, ecchastang! You're in great hands with Dr. Gross. Keep us posted.
Sounds similar to my thought processes. In the past couple of months, possibly because I am playing/practising more golf I've really noticed deterioration. About two months ago I saw Mr McMinn and talked about waiting until October. Then talking with friends, and realising just how much my sleep was affected, especially after a round of golf, I decided to bring it forward, and now just three weeks away.
I had a day last Monday where it was all good, and had doubts again, but came back sure enough. This week on holiday, swam about 1km incl 300m breaststroke yesterday and paid for it, really sore last night. Also, traipsing around airport, rucksack on, led to a painful night.
Have now started to focus on all the positive stories, and thinking of myself as one of the 99% that have a fantastic success with the op.
Only you can judge for yourself, but if the surgeon thinks you're a candidate then that's a pretty good indicator, coupled with your ever decreasing sports activity ... Starting to look like the sensible choice.
Good luck and let us know how it goes!
Good luck (tomorrow, I imagine?)!
I know you will be even more favorably impressed by Dr. Gross in person (if you haven't already met him). Today will be your visit to Midlands, the hospital, Long's pharmacy, and then the wait tonight.
The waiting room at Midlands served me (both times) as a useful reminder that my problems weren't so bad, and, fortunately, were very fixable.
Mike
Hi Will,
I had very bad knee pain (on the worst hip side) and was convinced I would need a knee replacement (without having had an x-ray done) after the hip. Within a few months after HR the knee pain was gone.
Aside from some pick-up hockey, I have not really returned to sport (I just lift some light weights), so I can't really comment on what to expect athletically with a return to sport. If I was being honest I would say that post-surgery I have always found the operated hip-leg to take a little longer to turn when walking, it kind of swings out a little more and takes a fraction of a second longer to make the turn. But it is definitely possible that I would not have experienced that had I been more aggressive with rehab (though i did do the recommended exercises, somewhat reliably).
The pain will most definitely be gone post-surgery.
I am firmly in the camp of those who say, "you will know when it is time". But I have to add a caveat. I was still wavering, mainly because of worries about going to a less-recommended local surgeon, but then I spoke with Dr. Gross and came away so impressed and convinced that I scheduled surgery straight away and (almost) never looked back. Perhaps that would be helpful for you too (talking to one of the big-guys in the field).
Lastly, I am not aware of any miracle-cure that is anywhere near close to fruition, but I of course understand your thought-process here. I went through that too. Is that the "bargaining" phase of depression? Just a little joke [I had divorce class last night].
Best of luck!
Mike
Got into Columbia late last night, just before midnight. Went and explored downtown this morning before my noon presurgery appointment. Dexa bone scan came back great, 2.7 on the Femur neck, and above average on all areas. I was extremely impressed with Dr. Gross, Lee Webb, and all of the staff I encountered. Dr. Gross will spend as much time as you want, and will answer any question you throw at him. He said he has definitely done worse hips than mine with amazing outcomes, and that my overall health, bone density and strength will make recovery easier. Made a trip over to Long's drugs to pick up all of the prescriptions, and met two other gentlemen there who are also having resurfacing tomorrow. One from Florida and the other from Texas. I do hate that I am in the afternoon at 1:30, as I can't eat or drink after midnight tonight. Going to be a long day tomorrow.
You've got this! Youth and Dr. Gross are on your side. Have a late dinner, sleep late, and by this time tomorrow you'll be waking up a new man. Good luck!
@ComfortablyNumb - Just got back to the hotel after eating at Travinia's. Thanks for the recommendation.
Make sure you tell the others about this site. It was (and continues to be) a huge help to me, especially during the early stages of recovery.
Made it through surgery yeasterday afternoon. had some pretty rough pain during the night, but much better now. Will update more when I can type easier.
Great to hear that you're OK and the pain has diminished. Surprised that the spinal wore off that quickly, but your procedure was more involved and that probably had a lot to do with pain issues. Hopefully you're out ahead of it now, up and around, and maybe discharged later today. Take it easy!
I didn't enjoy the first night but after that things got better quickly (and you do get used to sleeping on your back).
Glad to see the op went OK and you got the resurfacing you wanted, soon be back on the crags!
I arrived at Providence Hospital at 10:30 am yesterday, and was scheduled for surgery. Got taken back to pre-op, where they set up IV, give you some meds, and get you ready for surgery. I got wheeled back at 1:30, where I received the spinal. That's the last thing I remember before waking up in recovery. around 6:30. Apparently surgery didn't start until 2:41.
Cup Angle is 31 deg, he did have to use the displasia cup with spikes to get a good fixation, and he had to do some bone grafting at the top of the cup. Head size 52, cup size 58. He lengthened my let 1.6 cm so I am even for the first time in 25 yrs.
When I looked at the bandage covering the incision, it seemed really long and was covering my old scars from 23 yrs ago, so I asked him about that. The old scar was about 1 cm wide, and he didn't like that so while he was in there, he cut out the old scar so that he could suture it back nice and tight. I was very impressed with that. Also, he said that he was able to normalize my hip more than he thought and that he did better on my surgery than any of his previous Legg-calve-perthes patients.
Great to hear you are doing well and got everything fixed up, renovated and working well.
Dr. Gross is the best.
Good Luck. Looking forward to your updates.
Pat
I was wondering if anyone has any experience/advice/recommendations for an overall diet post op and if there is any particular food or particular nutrition plan to follow that might help speed up or assist in recovery. Obviously I'm sure eating healthy in general is a start....although I find myself eating a lot of junk food sitting round the house all day and giving in to every little craving. Looking to try and build up a post op nutrition plan to help the recovery process. Thanks!!
Congrats! Great news about the outcome. He's a brilliant surgeon. Very happy for you. Get lots of rest and stay up on your meds. :)
Quote from: ecchastang on April 09, 2015, 10:35:06 AM
I arrived at Providence Hospital at 10:30 am yesterday, and was scheduled for surgery. Got taken back to pre-op, where they set up IV, give you some meds, and get you ready for surgery. I got wheeled back at 1:30, where I received the spinal. That's the last thing I remember before waking up in recovery. around 6:30. Apparently surgery didn't start until 2:41.
Cup Angle is 31 deg, he did have to use the displasia cup with spikes to get a good fixation, and he had to do some bone grafting at the top of the cup. Head size 52, cup size 58. He lengthened my let 1.6 cm so I am even for the first time in 25 yrs.
When I looked at the bandage covering the incision, it seemed really long and was covering my old scars from 23 yrs ago, so I asked him about that. The old scar was about 1 cm wide, and he didn't like that so while he was in there, he cut out the old scar so that he could suture it back nice and tight. I was very impressed with that. Also, he said that he was able to normalize my hip more than he thought and that he did better on my surgery than any of his previous Legg-calve-perthes patients.
Awesome! I have that same spiked cup. He may have learned a lesson on mine and applied it to you. ;) the perthes hip 'ball' tends to flatten out and not allow for much of a socket so there isnt as much surface area for the porous in-growth and thus the spiked version. Last time I looked, there had been zero failures of that cup and that's cool since its used in tough situations.
If you talk to Dr Gross, can you ask a question? At one point, if the resurfaced ball side fails (loosens, fractures, etc) he would have had the option of leaving the acetabular side and using a biomet magnum metal thr. Its my understanding that device is no longer made. I'm curious as to if there are any other thr ball/stems that fit the biomet acetabular cup.
@einreb - I have already left the hospital and won't get a chance to ask about that. I believe you are correct though about Biomet pulling the MOM THR off the market.
My hip flexors feel so tight after he lengthened the leg. I am in more total pain than I thought, and walking makes my leg feel like a log.
Quote from: ecchastang on April 09, 2015, 07:28:19 PM
My hip flexors feel so tight after he lengthened the let. I am in more total pain than I thought, and walking makes my leg feel like a log.
Mine was lengthened about 1cm to the point that the leg length ended up nearly identical. I suspect this made my recovery a little more difficult with tendons/muscles etc, but it was worth it. Its just something to be mindful of as you work on stretching and strength work over time.
The first 5-7 days were very hard for me, both times. You are smack in the worst part. It gets better. In particular Fri and Sat (today and tomorrow) were hard, take the meds, ice a lot.
Yes, I call it log-leg. Not like a log, a log. They really wrench your femur around and there is a lot of trauma (my opinion). I had log-leg for about a week both times.
Lastly, the best method for getting in and out of bed is from the bottom. Skooch up as far as possible, lay back, and wriggle your way up using arms and good leg. The side of bed method is for shit unless you have a bar, and then it is still hard.
Just get thru the first 5-7 days and it gets better steadily from then on.
Mike
I was advised to take extra calcium, though I don't remember the specific quantities. Most of the calcium supplements you get at health food stores are like eating chalk and not good for your arteries. Lee Webb from Dr. Gross' staff recommended algaecal (www.algaecal.com) as a better option.
stang, congratulations on being on the other side! Ditto everyone else; you're in the most difficult part of recovery now; the first week. I vividly recall getting up at night to pee. It took 3+ minutes to get back into bed and was very painful.
Expect a very unpleasant week. After the first week you'll probably notice that you get a little better every day. Most of us on this site are very active and have a hard time sitting still for any length of time. Even so, I did enjoy sitting with my leg up and the cooling pad running.
I know you've read enough outcomes on this site to know what to expect. Good luck!
I think the key is Just proper healthy eating mate. I know Mr McMinn recommends eating extra red meat. I've made the effort to eat more veg as they contain vital nutrients. Like I say I think it's best just to eat as healthy as possible
Get out of bed to pee?!? I used the plastic bottle they gave me for a good while post-surgery. I am sure I would be embarrassed by how long post-surgery I continued to use it, but I don't recall exactly. :-)
Presumably have Now discontinued use :D
I have two weeks to go, trying to focus on positives but there seem too many admissions of how serious the first week is here ... Any super heroes out there to lift my spirits pre-op?
(Well done though stang, you're on the plane to painless city, best wishes!)
Thursday night was awful, but once I got moving Friday, it wasn't as bad. Had the long drive from Columbia to Atlanta and the the flight to Denver, then another 45 minute ride home. All of that was not as bad as I expected. At home I slept last night in the zero gravity chair from Costco and actually slept really well. I even woke up during the night and not being in any pain at all. I still can't use my leg much except for just standing straight.
Glad you made it back home and that things are improving. When you feel up to it, can you tell us which oral pain meds you were given in the hospital and which you were sent home with? My surgery order calls for 20mg oxycontin pre-surgery, but I'm not sure if that drug is continued until the end or beyond hospitalization. I know that Mobic (anti-inflamatory) is on the list, and I've heard that Nucynta is started at some point. I want to avoid anything containing Tylenol. Thanks and hope for your continuing improvement.
Nucynta Extended release every 12 hours and Nucynta fast acting every 4-6 hours. I did have to get a morphine shot Early thurs morning in the hospital. Remember, my case was much more invasive than a normal Dr. Gross case. So the trauma to soft tissue was worse than normal, plus he cleaned up an 8 inch surgery scar from 23 yrs ago, and reattached the deep tissue there that was not done correctly back then.
I was able to take about 10 steps without crutches. Huge breakthrough. Then I walked about 100 ft with just one crutch. Felt better than I expected. Also, I managed to sit on the toilet (still haven't had a bowel movement) but just getting comfortable on the seat was progress.
All sounds good. Stay ahead of the pain, keep active and ice, ice, ice.
By yesterday evening, I was mostly just using one crutch to get around, as I liked having the free hand, but last night sleeping (in the zero gravity chair) I had a little more pain than I liked, so I might stick with two for a little while longer.
the equipment
Hi ecchastang,
Good call on the two crutches. I was a fan of using the two crutches for safety and comfort reasons, as much as for necessity. No need to rush coming off the two, certainly in the first week (or even two).
Mike
Yea I'd stick with two crutches for a good bit more.
I'm glad you posted the before and after x-rays. Fascinating. To my untrained eye it looks like the leg is closer to the center of your body now, making it more symmetrical with the other side. It's quite a change. I'm sure it's going to be an adjustment, but worth it in the long run.
Ice, rest, meds, and don't push it. :)
I am really surprised at how little pain I am feeling. More of an annoyance in the soft tissue, when I am sitting. Today I walked about 1/4 mile with two crutches to a coffee shop, then walked back about 45 minutes later. Before surgery, I would have been aching on the way back. My arms were tired, as I was probably only using about 50% weight on right leg with crutches, but still, it wasn't a bad walk.
looking at getting hip resurfaced and I need to find a qualified doctor in Minnesota, any recommendations?
gjs
I'm from Minnesota & have had both my hips resurfaced by Dr Scott Anseth from Twin Cities Orthopedics. Had my left hip done July of 2012 & right one July of 2014. Great out come both times. Curt
Yesterday, I was mostly on just one crutch, and went for quite a few small strolls. Still a ton of tightness in the front of the leg, and sometimes its hard to get comfortable sitting but I can still feel daily progress.
It's amazing to think you were probably just getting ready to leave for the hospital this time last week! Now you're home making amazing progress. I think there's a lot to be said about getting through that first week after surgery.
Every day gets easier, but the worst part is sleeping. Been in the Zero gravity chair every night since getting home last friday. I don't use it during the day unless I am wanting a nap, but its the best option I have found for sleep. But I just get restless and want to roll around and can't. Not much can be done about that, I suppose.
Quote from: ecchastang on April 15, 2015, 10:17:03 AM
Every day gets easier, but the worst part is sleeping. Been in the Zero gravity chair every night since getting home last friday. I don't use it during the day unless I am wanting a nap, but its the best option I have found for sleep. But I just get restless and want to roll around and can't. Not much can be done about that, I suppose.
I'm still trying to make a decision about the zero gravity chair. I already have a large, leather LazyBoy recliner. I think I'll be able to get in and out of it with the use of crutches, and it is very roomy and well padded. Now that you've been using your chair post-op, what advantages does it have over the recliner I've described. I'm not sure people are getting the Zero for a specific reason or mainly because they don't already have a regular recliner.
I didn't already have a recliner, so I can't comment. But for 59 bucks at costco and it is portable, for me it was worth it. Try what you have and if it doesn't work then get the zero gravity Also, I think the recliner you have might end up being too soft. For me, a really soft chair is worse than one lightly padded.
I have bought a zero g chair in prep. I used to have a Lazy Boy recliner, sadly despatched shortly after marriage along with several other joys of being a singleton!
If I still had that recliner I would definitely prefer it to the zero g chair. In essence, the zero g chair is a garden recliner chair. Nothing special about it, and definitely not zero g! But good enough to get legs up and cheap. I expect that is why so popular here.
I am now 12 days from op, so about 17 days from using the chair for real ... Gulp :o
I am now 12 days from op, so about 17 days from using the chair for real ... Gulp :o
Yes, I'm starting to tighten up a little myself as the day approaches. Decided I need a little diversion so I'm going to see Widespread Panic tonight with a couple of friends. Should be psychedelically cleansing :P
Since the last time I took nucynta was 8pm last night, the fast acting, I decided to do a small drive to the bank and a coffee shop today. Not bad, the worst part was the comfort of the seat, but other than that, no problems.
Been doing my daily rehab exercises and today is the first time I could actually feel my glute flex post surgery. Still having difficulty being comfortable for very long in any seat, but most of that is from the cleanup work Dr. Gross did in my old surgery scar area, not in the new area.
I am an emergency physician who retired at the end of 2013 at age 65. Nine months later I ran into one of life's speedbumps when my R hip became very uncomfortable with modest activity. An x-ray demonstrated bone-on-bone degenerative arthritis with a femoral neck cam. I underwent resurfacing with the BHR by Dr David Palmer at Lakeview Hospital in Stillwater, MN on Feb 18, 2015. This site played a large part in helping me decide which course to take and I appreciate the effort and many contributions made to create such a site.
I'm at the upper age end for BHR. I also consulted about a standard hip arthroplasty and it does look like a 15 year life expectancy for the high density cross-linked polyethylene cup liners was reasonable. I was swayed to the BHR by several other factors. I like to hike, backpack, and wilderness canoe--one of the reasons I live in Minnesota. The thought of a dislocation in wilderness was troubling. Additionally, the preservation of the femoral neck gives a second chance for a good outcome if something went wrong. And the whole setup looks just so much closer physiologically to my original hip.
I was pleased to learn of an orthopedic surgeon who had done a high volume of BHRs just 150 miles away. Dr Palmer's revision rate was consistent with the other high volume surgeons who have results posted at this site. Lakeview hospital is a small community hospital about 20 miles east of the Twin Cities. They have a regional reputation of excellence for orthopedic surgery, particularly hips and knees. Everything went smoothly; I was ambulating with a walker about two hours out of recovery once the spinal anesthesia wore off. The next day after demonstrating proficiency on stairs with a single crutch I was discharged. Total time within the hospital walls was about 26 hours. I had almost no echymosis and have a subcuticular skin closure for a nice cosmetic result in an area the world will never see. Dr Palmer and Lakeview are highly recommended.
There seems to be a lot of variation in what activity level is recommended during rehab. I was told not to adduct beyond the midline (i.e. no crossing legs at the knees) and to go easy on flexion. I had free reign on walking and within a week could walk a half mile with no crutch. I rapidly advanced to 4 to 5 miles by the 4th week. I got on my bike at about two weeks and was surprised to find cycling completely comfortable from the start. At my 6 week check-up I was advised against repetitive impact (running) but otherwise free to do what felt right. Currently I'm working with Nautilus machines at the Y on adduction, abduction, quad and gluteal strength. Range of motion just seemed to return easily with little effort. Not yet quite fluid on stairs--I keep one hand on the railing, but that is starting to feel better. Overall, the whole affair has been easier than I thought it would be. I have been through rehab stints with both knees from ACL reconstructions so I had some ideas of what I might expect.
Again, a shout out to this website. What I learned here without question was the major factor in guiding my decision. Keep up the good work!
That's all great news. Have an active and happy retirement!
Just the kind of positive story I want to read at T-11 days ...
Did you bother with the zero g chair? How has your sleeping been? On your un-operated side?
Hope it continues to progress so smoothly. Best wishes.
It took me about 3 weeks to be able to sleep well on the operated side. Sleep was fitful first two weeks as I normally do not sleep on my back. I don't know anything about zero gravity chairs--the pictures on Amazon look comfortable, though. First couple of weeks I would have some kind of intense muscle spasm, likely in external rotators, when I got up from sitting for any length of time. Only lasted 15-30 seconds but the pain was far worse than the post-op pain.
Great to hear you are doing well. Thank You for the kind words about the website. I worked almost 10 years on it now and with the help of hundreds of hip resurfacing patients, it is a great resource. A combined effort of patients helping patients.
I wish you the very best and look forward to your updates.
Pat
Took the bandage off yesterday, and got to see the incision for the first time. No drainage, and it looked much better than my old surgery scars from 23 yrs ago. Also, I went to the gym for some upper body work, making sure not to put any load on my hip.
I remember those days. Trying to fire the glute and just getting no response. Plus it had atrophied to nothing pre-surgery.
Making daily progress. Only pain meds the last couple days has been tylenol PM at night just to help with sleep, since I can't seem to get very comfortable.
Slept in the bed for the first time last night (with several pillows under my right leg. Also even got in a little sleep on my left side with the pillows between my legs.
Sounds good. I slept with pillows under both my legs - seemed more comfortable.
Hello
I've finally made a decision after months of pondering and filling these forums with countless questions that were all over the map. Thanks for those that responded and gave me feedback. I have decided to stay close to home, I'm from Vancouver Canada and was considering Belgium, UK and India but chose Seattle as it is only 2.5 hours away. I could also meet Dr. Pritchett and was comfortable in his confidence that all would be ok.
As it gets closer I'm sure I will have more but just wondering what questions to ask Dr. Pritchett before the surgery, like size of head he estimates from the X-rays, does he have more than 1 size on hand in case he is wrong. Is the recovery time longer with a BHR than a THR? Also, is Physio therapy the same for a hip resurfacing as it is for a THR? As this procedure is not done in BC I need to have a good PT who knows both procedures. Any others that you recommend? I am quite nervous and want to be fully prepared in advance.
Also, are there any recent Pritchett BHR patients to share their experience?
Thanks Kevin
I'm going with Mr McMinn next week. Will let you know how it goes, smoothly I hope!
Good luck with yours. With questions, I wouldn't ask any you can't do something about. So head size. It will be what it is.
But, do they have spares? Yes, plenty, in all sizes, plenty of THRs, plenty of revision THRs and all manner of utilities should anything untoward happen. But it won't unless you are extremely unlucky. These guys are top of the hip surgery food chain.
I just reminded myself of the old joke that goes round the local medical circuit ... What's the difference between God and an orthopaedic consultant? God doesn't think he's an orthopaedic consultant.
They're good, you're in excellent, safe hands, and I believe in about one month you'll be delighted at the absence of arthritis pain ...
Thanks Matt, good luck with Dr. McMinn. How long after the surgery do you think you will be able to drive?
Driving depends on which leg is effected. I think this time round as it was my right leg I was about 5-6 weeks
Quote from: KevinHalicki on April 20, 2015, 03:56:19 PM
Thanks Matt, good luck with Dr. McMinn. How long after the surgery do you think you will be able to drive?
The general rule of thumb is once you are off the narcotics. I drove 6 days post surgery on my right leg. With right leg, you have to use the left for braking, but that's no big deal. As for some of your other questions about recovery and PT, that depends on the individual and the Dr. I went with Dr. Gross, and he doesn't have you go to PT, instead he gives you things to do at home.
I had my left hip resurfaced by Dr. Pritchett on 11/25/2014.
My parents and I drove up from Portland the night before surgery and then drove home the day after surgery. The ride home was pretty rough but I made it home ok. The first month was pretty brutal for me, I embraced the pain killers the first 2 weeks so that I could sleep at night (very important for proper healing by the way).
I was cleared at 2 months post-surgery (although the Dr. said I'll be back for my right at some point) and have resumed many of my normal activities, including cycling, surfing and weights in the gym. I think I am still several months out from being able to run again. Hope to be skiing by next season.
My hip itself is pain free and the increased range of motion is incredible. Still dealing with a lot of angry/atrophied muscles, but PT has gone amazingly well. I do still get pain in my knee and glute when I push the muscles around the incision area pretty hard, like climbing big hills on my bike.
My PT said both procedures have the same type of recovery program, it's more about which surgical approach (anterior versus posterior) the Dr uses versus the replacement itself. Dr. Pritchett prefers the posterior approach, but will do either one. He also stated that hip resurfacing can take a little longer for recovery as it's more invasive than a THR.
And don't be nervous. My entire experience at Swedish and with Dr. Pritchett couldn't have gone any better. Once you get past the first couple weeks it's smooth sailing from there, at least for me it has been.
If you have any more specific questions about Swedish, Dr. Pritchett or the overall process, let me know and I can do my best to answer them.
Kevin, I found this success story today, some very positive stuff from a chap who appears to have had it done about two years ahead of you. His story is probably on the site hee somewhere but figured I'd post a link.
http://www.henrywarner.com/?cat=4&paged=6 (http://www.henrywarner.com/?cat=4&paged=6)
He is a Dr Pritchett patient.
Matt, that is fantastic, thanks for sending me that link. I am going to try to connect with him. All the best and keep me posted how it goes in the UK.
The issue of driving is also a legal one. I dont know what the state of play with insurance is in the US but i spoke to my insurer and they would not cover me for so long after a general anesthetic (i cant remember exactly how long it was but it was several weeks) just something to bear in mind as we all know insurers do not like paying out!!
Hi Kevin,
I was first refererred to a "hip preservationist" who only offered me a THR. I knew Dr Pritchett from a professional capacity and knew he was good, so self referred to him. I had been unaware of hip resurfacing and the fact he has done so many. Best decision! I had my HR 4/14/15 and am already walking with a cane, virtually pain free (hip feels tight, one leg feels alittle longer and it can be hard to find a comfortable position to sleep in all night) and off all pain meds except at night.
I should have asked about the head size, but didn't. Mostly asked about failure rate, length of implant, etc because at 49, I was very interested in preserving bone but needed to understand risk of failure.
Dr Pritchett is exceptionally qualified and Swedish, an exceptional facility.
Good luck!
Kari
Graduated to just the cane about 4-5 days ago, and yesterday spent most of my time without even using that. ROM and tightness is getting better slowly every day. Also, the incision is looking better and better.
I am a 55 year old male and had my right hip resurfaced by Dr. Pritchett in February of 2015. Since I am active/athletic Dr. Pritchett recommended the BHR system. I had done my research and was hoping to get the BHR components, so I was pleased to hear Dr. Pritchett recommend it. I traveled from Alaska to Seattle for the surgery. Met Dr. Pritchett the day before the surgery (I had sent him my x-rays and other pertinent information a month earlier). He had an x-ray taken and performed a final evaluation. Enjoyed a sunny afternoon in Seattle. Arrived at the Swedish Hospital Orthopedic Clinic (an impressive facility) the next morning for surgery. From my perspective, the surgery went well. Woke-up in recovery room and stayed there until the epidural wore off. The first afternoon I used a walker and traveled a short distance down the hall and back to my room. I felt like I could have walked for a few laps around the hospital but wasn't allowed to. The next day I was given PT twice, going up and down stairs, taught how to get in/out of a vehicle. I was released from the hospital about 32 hours after I arrived. I stayed at a nearby hotel for 4 days and then flew home to Anchorage.
1. Used pain medication for about 4-5 days and then switched to over the counter stuff. By the time I was a week post surgery, I had very little pain
2. Used crutches for 1 week post-surgery and then switched to a cane
3. Was off the cane at 2.5 weeks post-surgery
4. Returned to work (desk job) 6 days post-surgery and began driving several days later
5. At 4 weeks I was doing 15-20 minutes on a treadmill with incline.
6. At 10 weeks post surgery I had no pain unless I really pushed the range of motion (doing stretching exercises) and able to do 45 minutes on the treadmill or walks several miles.
7. No joint pain at all
8. No leg length issues
9. No clunking/noise. In fact, the joint seems smoother than a greased ball bearing
10. Flexibility and range of motion is getting better every week
I am thrilled with my new hip and looking forward to getting back to climbing mountains, hitting the weight room, and playing hockey. I tell everyone I meet that is suffering from hip pain (in need of replacement) to see if they are a candidate or hip resurfacing. The fear of surgery, and possibly a poor outcome, kept me suffering for years with hip pain. After going through the procedure I wished I had my hip resurfaced 5 years ago, when I first began to suffer chronic hip pain.
Alaskan Hippy
Alaskan Hippy
Congratulations on the new hip. Thanks for sharing your story. I look forward to your updates in the future.
Good Luck.
Pat