Hi,
Thanks to all the people who've contributed to Surface Hippy. Here's my experience. I'm a 56 year old man, and I'm scheduled to have bilateral resurfacing with Dr Gross June 22 and June 24, next week. I flew to Columbia 2 days ago, and had my preoperative appointments yesterday. I'm staying at the Courtyard by Marriott, which is right next to Providence Hospital where the surgeries will take place. Everyone has been very nice and I feel well taken care of. Yesterday, I met Nancy, Dr Gross' office nurse, Lee, Dr Gross' nurse practioner, Dr Gross, and Amy, the coordinator for joint replacement at Providence Hospital. I also went to the Longs Pharmacy (walking distance from the hotel, although I drove) and picked up my prescriptions. I also received my Polar Care ice machine and hip kit, and I brought my own crutches. Dr Gross was engaging and candid in answering my questions about resurfacing. He also was in no hurry to go anywhere until all of my questions were answered. I was a little concerned about my bone density, because it's on the lowish side, but he felt it was adequate and reassured me, saying it was in the normal range. I also told him I wished there was even longer-term outcome data, but he said by the time that is available, there are usually newer, better treatments. I hadn't thought of it that way before. Somehow, that made me feel better, knowing the data was pretty good for a relatively new treatment.
I feel ready for these surgeries. I'm not too apprehensive. My hips first stated bothering me 16 years ago, although it was minor, superficial pain at first that I thought was a soft tissue problem in the lateral hips. It didn't stop me from doing what I wanted to do (running, biking, swimming). 6 years ago, I learned that I had about 1 mm of joint space left in the lateral hip, bilaterally, and was advised not to run, jump, or take my hips through extreme ranges of bending and lifting. 4 years ago my hips worsened. I had developed lateral knee pain, and the therapy for presumed IT band tendinitis seemed to make my hips worse. I lost the ability to cross one knee over the other and bring my knee to my nose, and walking became more painful. I had steroid injections bilaterally which helped for 3 weeks on one side and 6 weeks on the other. Since then there's been a gradual worsening of range of motion and pain. I've been able to ride a bike around town and use a stationary bike and a Stair Master. But the intensity has gradually decreased to the point were I'm using the very lowest levels, or even no level sometimes (just turning the pedals on a Life Cycle without turning it on). I still walk my dog slowly for about one mile, but I can't keep up with my family when we're walking outside. I walk slowly with discomfort, sleep poorly (usually 2-3 hours at a time), kind of fall into chairs and pull/push myself out of them, and often hold onto something when I bend over. It's taken me a while to convince myself that I really need this, because I can look and feel pretty good when I'm sedentary, just sitting around, but now I'm convinced and I feel ready. I'll let you know how things go. Thanks again to all the people who've contributed to this site.
Dean
Your story sounds like mine: from very active to barely active, but not looking too shabby when I choose my activities. You are further along than I am, though, I haven't decided what to do, so please continue to tell your story.
Best of luck.
Good luck Dean.
You are in good hands with Dr. Gross and company.
Pat
Quote from: Pat Walter on June 19, 2015, 09:58:36 AM
Good luck Dean.
You are in good hands with Dr. Gross and company.
Pat
Yep!
It may sound crazy, but I actually have fond memories of the surgery experience with Dr Gross. There will be ups and downs, but its good to know that the longer term trend will be towards pain free as you recover.
Yep, very familiar story. I had my left done with Dr. Gross 6 months ago. It's amazing what we get used to. It'll be tough in the beginning but that soon passes. You're going to be very happy. Dr. Gross and staff are amazing. Keep us posted.
Dear Dean, you will be a very, very happy man in 6 month time!
:) Good luck Dean. I hope all goes well for you. kind regards K
Hi All, Post op day 1
Dr Gross felt the resurfacing of my left hip went well yesterday. The spinal anesthesia worked great. They gave me some Versed in the preop area which helped me to relax and perhaps to forget as well. The last thing I remember was transferring from the gurney to the operating table. I don't remember them placing the spinal anesthesia. Then I woke up in the post op area as if I were waking up from a nap. I was alert and had no nausea. There was slight, superficial pain over the upper front corner of my left hip, but it was pretty mild. Soon they took me up to my room, and as the anesthesia continued to wear off, I began to have moderate aching at the front of my left hip and thigh. They gave me a short-acting narcotic by mouth for that and the pain resolved. But it took 30-40 minutes before I started to feel relief. Since then I've been comfortable taking the regularly scheduled Oxycontin, Celebrex, and Tylenol. I've been on a regular diet since surgery.
I worked with a physical therapist in the afternoon. (My surgery had been at 9 am, for which I arrived at 6 am.) The therapist gave me 4 exercises: 1. ankle pumps (pointing and dorsiflexing the foot), 2. isometric contractions of the whole leg and butt while the leg is straight, 3. short arc leg extensions (with leg resting on a flat surface and partially bent because of a rolled up towel under the knee, one contracts the quadriceps muscles and straightens the leg), and 4. heel slides (starting with the leg straight on a flat surface while one leans backwards or lays flat on one's back, one slides the heel in towards the body while the knee bends, then slides the heel away from the body until reaching the original starting position). The ankle slides were the hardest for me because it hurt the quadriceps muscles from my hip down to mid thigh to do them. I ended up using my hands under my thigh to help lift my thigh as I slid my heel towards me. Then the therapist and her helper helped me out of bed, and I walked to the end of the hall and back, using a front wheel walker, while she held my Foley bag and he pushed my iv pole.
I slept reasonably well on my back with my feet elevated, though I'm usually a stomach or side sleeper. They woke me up 4 times, twice to take vitals, once for a blood draw, and once to give medications. My room is set up for a single patient, and I believe the rest of the rooms on this floor are as well.
In the morning my Foley catheter and oxygen (delivered with nasal prongs) were discontinued. An occupational therapist came and worked with me to shower and get dressed, using a front wheel walker and a raised toilet seat (which was used as a chair for me to sit on while I showered). After that, I worked with the physical therapist, reviewing the exercises from the day before, and walking with crutches along the hallways. At 11 am, I attended a class with other resurfacing patients where we reviewed the 4 exercises we had learned, and learned how to go up and down stairs safely. Then I practiced walking with crutches back and forth along the hallways. That's it. Tomorrow I get the right hip resurfaced. It will be interesting to find out how to sit down and get up from a chair, and how to go up and down stairs with 2 newly resurfaced hips. I'll let you know how it goes.
Take care,
Dean
Sounds like all is going according to plan. Good luck with round 2 tomorrow!
So far sounds good. Wishing you the best tomorrow.
I am also curious how you are going to get around with both hips operated on.
JHippy's mental game might be useful reading at this stage Dean, as I imagine you'll have some nerves. But every reason to expect it to run like the first.
A few weeks where it is uncomfortable and the odd tweak where you'll think you've done something (but haven't) will pass and you'll be looking forward rather than back, and I would expect to read stories of your delight on here at six weeks, 16 weeks etc etc.
Good luck, hope it goes as smooth as número uno.
Post Op Lhip day 2, Rhip day 0
Hi,
Thanks for all of your supportive and kind replies. I did read JHippy's article/post and found it helpful.
Getting to surgery today was easier because I was already in the hospital. All I had to do was wash the surgical area with their special disinfecting soap last night and this morning and then wait for the preop nurses to come bring me down. I already had an iv. They only needed to draw some blood to spin down to make platelet-rich plasma to apply to the implant sites.
I remembered a little more this time. Today I remembered transferring to the operating table and then being helped to sit up so they could place the anesthesia line. I remember thinking to myself, "Don't break the 90 degree rule." Then I went to sleep. After the operation, I woke up earlier in the recovery room than I had after the left hip, and I felt groggy, but not nauseated. Everyone taking care of me in the hospital has been very nice.
Going back to square one with recovery and precautions after the right hip resurfacing has made me appreciate the progress I had made in just 1 day following the left hip resurfacing. On post op day 1 with the left hip they discontinued the Foley and the oxygen, and they saline locked the iv so that I was much more mobile. I felt a little stronger and more coordinated, so I was able to get out of bed by myself and go to the restroom and practice walking up and down the halls. Occupational therapy helped me learn how to shower and get dressed. Physical therapy promoted me to using crutches, and I could walk to the nursing station to ask for help instead of using the call switch. The physical therapist did work with me this afternoon, after the right hip resurfacing. We practiced the 4 rehab exercises that she had given to me, and then we walked up and down the hall, using a front wheel walker. It was harder getting out of bed with 2 weak legs, so she raised the bed to make it easier. Tomorrow we'll try lowering the bed and try again.
I decided to preempt the pain that I had experienced after the left hip resurfacing by asking for a narcotic medication soon after I woke up from anesthesia in the recovery room. They gave me some iv dilaudid, and I've been fine. No moderate pain like the first time. I've been comfortable while taking my regularly scheduled meds (OxyContin, Celebrex, and Tylenol). I'm not sure when we'll stop the OxyContin. (Oh, my mistake. I did get Celebrex at some point, but it's not part of my scheduled meds. I'm getting Mobic instead. )
I look forward to tomorrow, and to the possible discontinuation of some of my lines. Thanks for all your help.
Take care,
Dean
Amazing Dean, two major ops and you're already up on your feet. Well done. You guys who have two done deserve respect, it is no small undertaking dealing with one!
It's now just a matter of time, discipline with the exercises, and avoiding overdoing it. I hope that time passes quickly and easily for you. Best wishes.
L Biomet Post-op day 3, R Biomet Post-op day 1
Hi,
Today was notable for low grade fever, urinary retention, and overdoing the rehab exercises.
Last night there was a fair number of staff coming in to see me throughout the night, similar to the night after I had the first (L) hip done, which made sleeping more challenging. But they were all doing their jobs to keep me safe, so that's alright.
I had a fever throughout the day ranging from 100.1 to 100.7. Dr Gross didn't seem too concerned when he rounded in the morning. I did more of my incentive spirometer today. Not sure what the source of this fever is. There's no drainage from the incision sites. I know there can be a whole host of reasons for post-op fevers.
After the first operation, I had some delay in being able to pee normally again. After the second operation I had more delay. I only voided about 235 ml by myself today after my Foley catheter was discontinued early in the morning. So finally, my nurse in-and-out cathed me and got 400+ ml with a residual of 21 ml. I hope this resolves itself, because I was planning on being discharged to the hotel tomorrow. Maybe the catheterization will help bring my fever down.
Early in the morning, I was doing my rehab exercises in bed. And I think I did them too many times, because I was sore and stiff at the side and front of my hips the rest of the day, though this did improve with rest.
I was able to get up and down for sitting today better than yesterday, but it's still difficult. I think I might need to use a front wheel walker to get home with. It's much easier to get up from a low seated position with a walker than with crutches.
That's about it. Again, everyone here has been extremely nice.
Take care,
Dean
L Biomet Post Op Day 4, R Biomet Post Op Day 2
Hi,
I was discharged from the hospital today by about 11 am. My right leg strength was good enough today to be able to get out of a low chair using only crutches (thus avoiding mortifying my 13 year old daughter if her dad had had to use a walker going through the airport). My fever resolved. And my peeing, while not yet normal, is headed in the right direction. I had one last PT session, where I worked on rising from a chair and going up and down stairs, and I was gone. Dr Gross, his team, and the hospital staff were all very good. It was a good experience.
Tomorrow there'll be stairs to negotiate going in and out of the first aircraft. I'll probably need to go before or after everyone else, but I think I can do it. I called to get a wheelchair assist between planes when we get to Dulles, outside of Washington, DC. That's about it.
Take care,
Dean
Addendum to today's note. I had a moderate amount of nausea today after discharge after I ate a sandwich and lay down on my back to take a nap. The nausea developed during the nap. I haven't had a BM since the first surgery. They've done a good job of managing postop pain, but this afternoon, I considered my GI issues to be my number one concern. I was also a little concerned about my progress returning to normal voiding again. These problems sort of reinforce each other, because I tend to drink less when I know I'm retaining more urine, and that in turn probably makes my constipation worse. I think tonight I'm going to go without the long acting narcotic. I also need to get a stool softener. I took our rental car back a few days after I arrived here to save on that expense. (With 2 hips done I ended up being here about 10 days.) But returning the rental car has made it more difficult to get to things like the pharmacy or grocery store. I sat up for a couple of hours and that has relieved my nausea. I also voided twice this afternoon/evening which was nice and will give me more confidence to keep drinking fluids.
Dean
[size=78%]Dean, sounds like you're going through a tougher patch right now, but you will get through it. I was pretty ill for first two days post op, with nausea, and was worrying a lot. Thinking minute to minute, more negatively, instead of big picture and positively (since i was in personally uncharted territory). Not saying you're there, but I empathise with your situation, and if you do find yourself worrying hopefully you can take some comfort from what others have been through already. It does pass, it takes a little while, but only a little while (trouble is time seems to slow down!) and you will soon be on the right, bright side.[/size]
[/size]
[/size][size=78%]Hang in there, your body will sort itself and stabilise, be that overnight or in a couple of days, or a week.[/size]
[/size][size=78%]I'm eight weeks post discharge today, and it is all a distant memory, I can only think positive things about my position now, and it is continuing to improve. (I would say my hip is, overall, now better than pre-op, even while I continue to develop new ROM, strength etc. Walking normally is pain free now, no limp. I'm not back to golf yet, but I'm swimming more than pre-op, walking as much as pre-op, gardening, and all without reaction, and pain free overnight.)[/size]
[/size]
[/size][size=78%]In a week's time you'll be better, and another week, better again ... Rinse and repeat.[/size]
[/size]
[/size][size=78%]Best wishes.[/size]
L Biomet (56 mm) post op day 9, R Biomet (54 mm) post op day 7
Hi,
Thanks, Matt, for your encouragement. Glad things are going well for you.
Bowel and bladder issues began to resolve the day after discharge and are now fine. The travel day home was long. There were travel delays due to weather and 2 missed connecting flights. My poor wife was walking pretty far and sometimes fast on a slow to heal sprained ankle with a walking boot as we raced across Dulles to try to make a flight. She was also developing what we later found out was an infected corneal abrasion which was also quite painful. It took 16 hours for us to get home, finally arriving at 1:30 am. But we made it. I called ahead for wheelchair assistance at large airports like Dulles (Washington, DC) and San Francisco, and that was helpful.
My legs started swelling about post op day 3, first the thighs, then below the knees, and then the feet. It was pretty impressive. It's resolving now, but not yet completely. I've been up on my feet probably more than is advisable, but I need to do things like cook and clean the kitchen because I take care of our house. I haven't violated any of the hip precautions, I've just been up more and reclining less than the ideal amount. I use the Polar Care about 3-4 hours a day while reclining in a Lazy Boy chair, and I try to get my feet up even higher, above my head, for about 2 hours a day. But I might spend 5-6 hours now standing in the kitchen or doing something elsewhere in the house. I started out doing less, and this is where I am now. I do things slowly and carefully, but I do them. I still use 2 crutches most of the time, but I can use 1 crutch for a short distance if I need to carry something. I can even take a few small steps with no support, but I don't do that very often. I've learned how to reach the floor without using my reacher. It's similar to putting your un operated leg behind you when bending over. With my feet apart, I reach for progressively lower things to hold onto in front of me while walking my feet backwards, until I'm low enough to reach the floor. It's often easier than bringing a reacher around with me, and I don't break the 90 degree rule. I'm down to using a half dose (50 mg) of the extended release narcotic (Nucynta ER) along with Mobic and Tylenol. I've experimented with taking none of the extended release narcotic, and I found I'm more comfortable talking some for now. I can feel things shifting around in my hip sometimes when I move, but nothing is audible, and the feeling is no more than I had been experiencing in my natural hips for the last year and a half. Overall I'm feeling pretty well. Things get a little better and more normal feeling every day. The heel slides, which I had to do initially by putting my hands under my thighs and lifting up, I can now do without that extra assist. I walk around the house and around our cul de sac, but I haven't actually gone out for a "walk" yet. I might try that this afternoon. Thanks to everyone who contributes to this site.
Take care.
Dean
L Biomet (56 mm) post op day 13, R Biomet (54 mm) post op day 11
Hi,
My legs haven't looked swollen for about 3 days. My feet are still swollen, but not as much as when my legs were swollen. At that time, my feet sometimes didn't look like feet. Right now, after I take a shower and walk around, my left foot is moderately swollen and the right one is mildly swollen. But both are getting better every day.
I'm still using the long acting narcotic. Initially, I was taking 4 tabs a day, 2 at night and 2 in the morning. I tried tapering to 1 at night and 1 in the morning, but that was too fast. I went back to 2 at night and 1 in the morning, and I slept better. I may be able to reduce the dose again soon. Come to think of it, I haven't taken my morning dose today and I'm feeling fine.
I'm doing my 4 exercises twice a day and walking about 1/4-1/3 of a mile, at an easy pace, 3 times a day now. I'm still using 2 crutches for outside walking. Inside I can get away with 1 crutch or leaning on countertops or walls more often now. But I still use 2 crutches most of the time. I can take a few cautious steps with no support, with sort of a waddling gait. I might do this to reach my crutches after standing up. I'm thinking of trying a cane or maybe 2 canes. I can stand up and put my legs up on the sofa armrest much more easily now. Sitting can be somewhat painful in the areas under or around the incisions. It's not the incisions themselves that hurt, but the tissues underneath. But I shift positions when I'm sitting to help with that.
I'm using the Polar Care unit about 2 hours a day now, once in the morning after doing my exercises and walking, and once in the evening.
One thing I'm a little concerned about is my left foot alignment. It seems to be a bit toed in compared to what I remember. I've started a couple of gentle exercises that I hope will help with this. I've also sent an email to Lee, asking about it. Has anyone else had any issues with foot alignment after resurfacing? Hopefully, it will all work out. That's it for now.
Take care,
Dean
Dean, interesting that you mention the pigeon toe issue. I have noticed a toe in on both my feet after both hips being done. The left has been doing it for 6 months and now the right at 9 weeks. It bothers my wife more than me. I have to be concious of trying to walk with the foot straight or they flop inwards. Recovery has been great and it causes me no pain. My muscle tone is not what it was, obviously, so I figured that was affecting the alignment. I'd also be interested to hear if others have had this issue and if it resolved once muscle tone and activity levels increased.
I noticed the toe-in also, in the beginning. I don't think it's there now, if so its very minor (I'm 6mos+). I'm guessing it's weakness in the external rotators which were cut and reattached in surgery.
Please let us know what Lee says.
Quote from: JHippy on July 05, 2015, 08:20:20 PM
I noticed the toe-in also, in the beginning. I don't think it's there now, if so its very minor (I'm 6mos+). I'm guessing it's weakness in the external rotators which were cut and reattached in surgery.
Please let us know what Lee says.
I had the opposite problem. When I went to rehab after surgery the therapist said that I was standing with my foot angled out, which she said was compensation for my bad hips. I'd probably been doing it for years but once I was aware of what I was doing and with the new hips it wasn't difficult to correct.
I'm about 5 months post bilateral, and since the surgery I've noticed that I'm somewhat knock kneed. I assume it's from years of extremely tight adductors. It may also be from correcting my walking/standing with my toes pointing out to having my toes straight ahead. I'm hitting the gym every day and riding frequently so I'm hoping I can correct this over time.
L post op day 14, R post op day 12
Hi,
Just wanted to let you know what Lee replied. Here it is:
"As you gain strength in your leg, this will correct itself. Don’t try to rotate it, just let the hip go where it feels most comfortable. Work on your exercises and walking, the muscles will respond but it takes time."
Thanks for your input. I'm going to just let it be for now.
Take care,
Dean
Awesome. Thanks for posting her response.
Thanks for response. Good to know that it should self correct.
Hi,
I also asked for clarification on just how much we should be walking, total, per day in the first 6 weeks. Here is Lee's response:
"You should max out at 1.5 miles at 6 week total per day. Best advise, listen to your body and do not overdo!"
Take care,
Dean
L Biomet (56 mm) post op day 17, R Biomet (54 mm) post op day 15
Hi,
I had a set back this week which has slowed me down. But it looks like it was not serious and I hope I've learned to be more patient and ask more questions.
Last Thursday as I started my outside walking program, at post op days 10 and 8, I noticed that my left foot was a bit toed in. I had been told in the hospital not to let my foot curl in, but to straighten it out. My right foot alignment seemed perfect and I was concerned that maybe something was wrong with my left side. I straightened my foot out as I walked, so that my toes pointed straight ahead, but this but a strain on my lateral knee cap and lateral left hip. It wasn't a severe strain, but my left leg definitely felt different compared to my right leg which felt supple and strong. The next day I decided to try a gentle stretch aimed at the internal rotators of my left leg. But I also started an isometric strengthening exercise for the external rotators of my left hip, not knowing at the time that the external rotators are cut and then repaired during the resurfacing operation. (I still don't know the details of what is done with them.) I also continued to externally rotate my left leg as I walked, so that my left foot would point straight ahead. The strain on my left knee resolved and I was feeling pretty good except for a mild strain at my left lateral hip. I sent an email to Lee, but not soon enough for it to be answered until Monday. Over the weekend I advanced my walking program so that I was walking about 1/4-1/3 mile up to 3 times a day. On Monday morning I was feeling good enough that I walked perhaps 1/2 mile with 2 canes instead of crutches. My walking felt easy except for a mild strain in my lateral and sometimes medial left hip. My leg swelling had largely resolved by post op day 10, but I still had some persistent ankle and foot swelling which was moderate on my left and mild on my right. Then I read an email from a hip surgeon, saying that there was little to gain and potentially much to lose in being active too soon after surgery. He said that too much activity could turn the perfect resurfacing into a THR. This got my attention. Soon after, I got Lee's response that I should not rotate my leg, but just let it go where it feels most comfortable, and that the alignment would improve as the muscles got stronger. I had stopped using pain meds on Monday (of this week) and my left lateral hip definitely felt irritated. I was also concerned that the persistent left ankle and foot swelling was a sign that I had injured something in my left hip. I wondered if I could have caused a stress fracture in the femoral neck or torn the external rotator repair. This was a bad feeling. So I changed what I was doing. I stopped my walking program and spent the next 3 days mostly on my couch with my feet up above my head and the polar care going every other hour. The pain in my left lateral hip resolved but my hip feels a little sensitive like it was stretched or messed with. The swelling in my left ankle and foot was stubborn, but today it's been reduced to some slight to mild swelling behind the malleoli. Lee sent me an email that it would take a major injury to disrupt the external rotator repair, and I've heard that femoral neck fractures are not common these days. This is encouraging, and I feel fortunate that it looks like things will be ok. But I'll tell you, I'm in no hurry to advance any of my activities anymore. What I mainly want is healthy, functioning hips. I hope there are no complications. The lessons for me from this are be patient, ask questions first before acting, listen to your body, and don't overdo.
By the way, I asked Lee for clarification on how much walking we should do, and she said to aim for a total of up to 1.5 miles/day by week six. I was headed far beyond this at the pace I had set.
Thanks very much for reading and for all your help.
Dean
I think we must all of had similar panic situations, doubts, and worries ... Elsewhere in the site there is talk of the emotional roller coaster. I didn't feel anything that I would consider "emotional" other than my worrying about (a) have I made the right choice (too late now, but it is all good so far) and (b) oh my gosh, it just twinged, or whoops/ouch, I shouldn't have twisted like that.
I tried external rotator exercise (clamshell) after my six week check, and it was sore! So heaven knows what yours was like at ten!
All the twinges I had, all my micro worrying, here I am at ten weeks and it is in perfect shape. Unnecessary worrying. I expect you'll feel much better after your six week X-ray and check up. Best wishes.
Yea I remember those types of feelings. Don't worry, you'll get there. It's a healing process. I think of it as recovering from a broken bone + torn ligaments + pulled muscles all at the same time.
You're smart to check with the Doc when you're unsure or worried about anything. That's what they're there for.
L Biomet (56 mm) post op day 20, R Biomet (54 mm) post op day 18
Hi,
I spent most of the last 6 days on the couch with my feet over my head and the Polar Care unit going every other hour. The swelling in my right foot and ankle looks gone, and my right hip, leg, and foot feel great. My left foot and ankle still have mild swelling, but it's improving each day. It's surprising how long the swelling can improve a little each day, but still leave a mild amount left. I asked Lee about it, and she said that "swelling is normal following hip surgery for about 3 months." I feel some stiffness in the left ankle (when I do ankle pumps), left anterolateral thigh (when I bring my heel towards me during heel slides), and in the lateral left hip, over the trochanter (when I'm standing and walking). But I don't feel pain in the hip. Perhaps the stiffness is because of the residual swelling. An ice pack over the trochanteric area is particularly good at relieving the feeling of stiffness there. I still had some lingering concerns about possibly having hurt my hip with my effort to correct my left foot toe-in. But Lee didn't think my activity would cause a stress fracture of the femoral neck, although she stressed she couldn't say for sure without looking at an X-ray. She thought that as long as I could bear weight with no pain in the hip, that most likely, there was no problem. She thought I should progress my activity during the day, ice and elevate at night, and see how I do. So I'll advance my activities again, but gently.
Take care,
Dean
Hi Dean,
I am following your story very closely as I am due for bilat next week with Dr. Bose.
This is my first time in hospital and I am nervous as hell but this forum is helping me ease these thoughts. What did you do to prepare for the operation? Did you do any exercises? How did you mentally prepare?
Regards,
Paul
Hi Paul,
I'm sorry you're nervous. Going into surgery can be a little anxiety provoking. I tried to follow my exercise routine as much as I was able. For me, this was riding an exercise bike or using a Stair Master at a comfortable setting. I found stretching after I exercised helpful, and I actually spent 60-90 minutes stretching (The time gradually crept up in recent years as my hips worsened, from a baseline of 45 minutes.) I know stretching isn't for everyone, and it felt as if it were taking over my life, but it did help me maintain my hip function. I also did some general strength training. It is helpful to have arms strong enough help lift you out of sofas, and strength in your core muscles helps too. My triceps are probably getting the most work. I don't have any specific exercises to recommend. You might consult with a trainer.
As for mental preparation, I was just ready. After years of struggling to maintain basic function, I was ready for someone to relieve what I was feeling and do something about it. I knew there was nothing better that I could do. I couldn't really wait any longer for some miracle hip regeneration cure, and resurfacing seemed like the best option. I'm a former physician and I've had previous surgeries, so I was familiar with the hospital setting and procedures (like starting iv's, drawing blood, anesthesia, and post op recovery). Everyone who does these things in a surgical setting is pretty good at what they do, so I wouldn't worry about these things. You'll be well taken care of. You've chosen a successful surgeon to take care of you. Try to trust him. Pain postoperatively hasn't been an issue, and every day gets a little bit better.
The things that you do and experience prior to surgery are pretty simple. You may need to register at the hospital. After that you'll wait to be called back. You'll be taken to a preop area where you'll change into a hospital gown (with the opening in the back). You'll lie down on the bed and a nurse will ask you some questions and take your vital signs. He or she may connect you to monitors which measure your heart rate and oxygen saturation. Either the nurse or perhaps the anesthesiologist will start an iv, and labs may be drawn from the iv line when the iv is started. (This saves you from having to get stuck again to take the labs.) Someone may come later to draw a separate blood sample to make platelet rich plasma for use in the operation. The anesthesiologist will come to see you and the surgeon (or someone who assists the surgeon) will also come to see you. Around the time they bring you to the operating room you may be given a sedative through your iv line which will relax you. You'll arrive at the operating room, meet some of the operating room staff, and transfer from your bed to the operating table. Soon after that the anesthesiologist will begin administering the anesthesia, and you'll go to sleep and wake up in the recovery room. Your job, thankfully, is pretty simple. You've chosen a highly trained, highly successful surgeon. Trust him.
I hope that helps some. Good luck with your operations!
Take care,
Dean
L Biomet (56 mm) post op day 24, R Biomet (54 mm) post op day 22
Hi,
My hips seem to be recovering at different rates. My right lower extremity swelling has resolved and doesn't return, even when I leave my feet down. My right hip has very little pain within the incision. The hip doesn't get sore from prolonged standing or extended walking. I don't really even notice my right hip. It just works, and it feels like it's ready to go, although I know it needs time to recover.
In contrast, my left hip has more pain (but still not a lot) within the the incisional area. The swelling was greater in my left leg and still persists in my left ankle and foot, and it increases if I leave my foot down. There is more stiffness in my left ankle, thigh, and hip than on the right side. When I walk, my left hip feels swollen, and I can feel a mild strain across the trochanteric area. Prolonged standing (an hour or more) can cause my left hip to ache across the trochanteric area. Reducing weight bearing, rest, elevation, icing, and the hip exercises help it feel better. It feels like my left hip is recovering from more trauma than my right hip is. I'm beginning to think that my efforts to correct the toe in of my left foot may have added some to the irritation of my left hip, but that the large majority of it was already there. It just seems to have more to recover from, and it's taking longer to do so. I've communicated with Lee, and she says that this is normal stuff. She says it can take 3-4 months for swelling to resolve and up to a year to fully heal.
I've begun to limit the amount of time that I'm on my feet to no more than an hour at a time. (I don't usually spend an hour or more on my feet, but I can if I'm cooking and cleaning up.) I've also begun to ice with ice packs (bags of ice) which I put on my left hip where it is sore for 20-30 minutes. Then I wait an hour and ice again. I've been doing this throughout the day for the past 2 days and it's made a significant improvement in how my hip feels. The right hip doesn't really feel like it needs icing right now, although I could go back to using the Polar Care if I need to do both. But I like ice packs better.
I take one walk a day which is 0.6 miles right now (using 2 crutches), but I'm in no hurry to push it. I mainly want the swelling and achiness in my left hip to resolve. It seems to be improving. That's all for now.
Take care,
Dean
For me it was similar. Left and right side have had a different healing speed. My right hip was always 14 day ahead from my left. After, roughly, 3/4 of the year post surgery they became equal.
Dont worry too much....
Thanks China Lady. That's reassuring. I hope your hips are feeling good and you're doing well.
Hi Dean, how is it walking without crutches now after 24 days? How long do you think you will need walking aids?
Similar for me, although the swelling didn't last that long. For the incision my right side healed faster. The pain subsided sooner and numbness went away quicker. I still have a fair bit of numbness on the left side, but the right is now isolated in the area of the incision.
Internally it was the opposite. My left hip has been good right from the surgery, but I've had pain in the adductor and hamstring on the right side (which was my "bad" side). I'm not surprised it was the adductor, they were very tight prior to surgery. The surgeon said the pain was normal. At first it radiated down the inner leg to the knee but gradually improved over the weeks. It then moved more to the hamstring.
I did a few sessions of massage on my hips at about 4 months. It help relieve the tension.
I'm now at 5 1/2 months and the pain is almost gone. I still sometimes feel minor discomfort at the top of the hamstring, but very minor. I'm going to the gym every day, doing yoga, riding my bike and it feels great. These are the best hips I've ever had.
Thanks for letting me know about your recovery, Snowbound. It's nice to know that my situation isn't unusual. Paul, I can take a few steps without crutches with sort of a waddling gait. I'm in no hurry to give them up. I tried 2 canes about 10 days ago, and that worked ok, but I went back to crutches. I want my left hip to be able to rest and recover. And I want to protect my femoral necks. Something I read by a hip surgeon on the Surface Hippy Yahoo group gave me a scare. I think he wrote, "A stress fracture of the femoral neck can turn the perfect resurfacing into a THR." I don't want that to happen.
Thanks for your support.
Dean
Well I am about to find out, surgery scheduled in t -12 hours and I finally feel ready.
Hi Dean. I had some thoughts on your feeling of the foot being toed in. Sorry I am so late in coming across your topic. I definitely had this after my surgery. My understanding is that the external rotators that turn the foot out are the ones that were cut in surgery, so they are now weak which leaves the leg with a natural tendency to turn inwards. It should go away with time as those external rotators get strong and firing again. Do your rehab with awareness of which exercises work the external rotators, and be aware of how your feet are tracking whenever you walk. My experience was that it was not a problem at all long term, but it did require some attention at first.
L Biomet (56 mm) post op day 31, R Biomet (54 mm) post op day 29
Thanks, John, for your post. That's reassuring.
My right hip is feeling great. It doesn't get tired or sore. Even after spending several hours on my feet, my right foot will only get slightly to mildly swollen. I can walk as far as I like on it. Most of the time I don't notice my right hip. It just feels like a normal hip.
My left hip is different. I feel tightness and irritation over the lateral, trochanteric area, like tissues are rubbing together, or like a tendon is rubbing over a boney prominence when I walk. It will warm up after about a 1/2 mile, and feel better, but I'm using 2 crutches for my outside walks to protect this hip. It doesn't feel ready to go with less support. I'm walking about 1 mile now at a relaxed pace. My left hip will also get sore at the end of the day if I've been on my feet too long, and my left foot will end up moderately swollen with 2-3 plus pitting edema. Although, most of the swelling resolves overnight when I'm sleeping.
I spent the last week icing my lateral left hip with ice packs. I iced for 30 minutes, waited an hour, then iced again, about 6 times a day. I'm icing less often this week, about 3-4 times a day.
Lee has said I'm within the normal range for recovery. I hope so. I look forward to my 6 week follow up, Aug 4, so I can see what Dr Gross thinks.
Take care,
Dean
Hi Dean. You made a pretty accurate description of trochanteric bursitis. There is a bursa that cushions soft tissue that rubs across the greater trochanter, and that bursa can become inflamed. Mine was a little sore for the first month or so, and I had temporary flare ups over the first 18 months when I had a big increase in activity level or type. Many of us found relief for this by using a foam roller on the IT band that runs up the outside of the leg. Dr Gross offered a steroid injection if it did not get better, but I think the need for that is really rare if a person is willing to use the roller. You will find lots of references to using the foam roller on this site.
Thanks again John. I've got a foam roller. I look forward to using it when Dr Gross says it's ok. Thanks again! Dean
It's been 5 weeks since my surgeries. My left hip continues to recovery slowly compared to my right one, but I think there has been some progress since last week. I think there is less stiffness and soreness across the trochanteric area, I can stand longer without my lateral hip starting to ache, and there is less swelling in my left foot and ankle. Sometimes I can stand as long as I want (a couple hours) and sometimes it's more sensitive. Sometimes I don't feel much stiffness/soreness at all, and sometimes it's a bit more. I've also noticed that there is stiffness posterior to the trochanteric area whenever I take a step up with my left leg. And I've begun to have some soreness in the lateral hamstrings where they insert into the knee. It's hard to be sure exactly how things are going because I need to compare how I feel now to how I felt several days ago. There's not a dramatic change from day to day.
I'm walking 1.5 miles/day with 2 crutches. My left hip feels like it needs this support. Inside the house I'm comfortable using 1 crutch, and I use 1 crutch outside for short distances like walking around our cul de sac. My hip will warm up after about a 1/2 mile and feel better. I can walk a few steps without crutches with sort of a waddling gait. I tried walking (about 1/2 mile) 3 weeks ago using 2 canes, and that felt ok, but that was before I became more concerned about the stiffness and soreness in my lateral hip. Since then I've stuck to crutches.
My right hip feels great. I have a follow up appointment next week. I hope to find out what's up with my left hip. If they tell me it's ok, then I'll feel better about challenging it more. That's it.
Take care,
Dean
Dean, don't hesitate to contact Nancy at the office if you have questions/concerns. I did a few times myself.
Hi,
I had my 6 week follow up with Lee and Dr Gross today. They thought I was doing well. There were no problems seen on the x-rays. That was nice to hear. They said it's normal to have differences in the recovery of the right versus the left hip. Lee agreed my left hip was a little slow from a single hip perspective, but she thought overall I was doing well for a bilateral patient. Dr Gross thought my right hip was doing well and making my left hip look bad.
I found out when Lee was showing me the next set of exercises, that my left hip was considerably weaker than my right hip, particularly on the straight leg raise. It was also the poorer functioning hip before the surgeries. Perhaps that's why it's taking longer to recover. I look forward to working on the next exercises and strengthening the left side. I also look forward to walking more and beginning to stretch. It's so nice not to have to worry about something being wrong with my hip. I apologized to Lee for besieging her with worried emails for the last 5 weeks. I think I can finally leave her alone.
During this trip, I was able to use 1 crutch, on the right, while walking around the airport terminals. I also drove for the first time since the surgeries. I've begun to take baby steps in the kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom with no crutches, with a more normal, less waddling gait. And tonight I tried using one cane, walking slowly around the house which felt ok. I still used 2 crutches for long walks through the airports today though.
Take care,
Dean
Hi Dean,
I think I am having a very similiar recovery to you. For me its now 13 days right and 8 days left post op.
My right leg feels perfect but my left hip feels like there is a "bubble" around the hip region. Is this the same feeling you have/had?
Regards,
Paul
Hi Paul,
Yes, I think that's a good description. If it helps, I had that sort of feeling, and it turned out that nothing was wrong.
Take care,
Dean
Just wanted to say, having my follow up appointment this week seems to have freed me up to move on with my rehab. I've been using a single cane for all my walking since the day after my appointment, and I'm starting to pick it up for a few steps now and then. It's great to look down and see myself walking with no support.
Dean
awesome, Dean. I breathed a big sigh of relief at my 6-week as well.
Hi,
I'm now 8 weeks post op. I'm still using a cane, but I've begun transitioning away from it. I do without it for at least half of my indoor walking. During my outside walks, I frequently pick up my cane and walk 10-40 yards without it. It doesn't feel like I'm hurting my left hip to walk on it for short periods, but I have a slight limp. The left lateral stiffness and pain have improved. The left lateral hamstring aching has resolved. My left hip flexors are very weak and painful when I try to do the supine straight leg raise. I still can't lift my left leg into the air without significant pain, so I do this exercise in the standing position to make it easier and avoid aggrevating what's hurting. Dr Gross gave us 2 strengthening exercises to do: straight leg raises in the supine and sidelying positions. The sidelying leg raises have helped my left lateral hip feel better. My right hip continues to feel great.
The stretches Dr Gross gave us (reaching for our feet while seated in a chair with knees apart and feet together, hip flexor stretch-which I've modified, adductor stretch-which I've modified, and quadriceps stretch) are helpful in reducing stiffness and pain. I've also been doing hamstring stretches. My left (lateral and anterior) hip is still achy when I get up from having sat for a while, and my left adductors ache too. But this improves after I've walked a little. I still use my arms to stand up from a seated position. I try to ice my left hip (lateral, anterior, and adductor origin-not for the squeamish) 30-60 minutes a day, which helps reduce pain and stiffness.
We're allowed to flex our hips past 90 degrees now. The main restrictions we have are no extreme hip flexion (such as squatting), no crossing the legs at the knees, no running or jumping, and no lifting more than 50 lbs routinely.
My left hip is improving, but more slowly than I would like. Still, I can imagine weaning off the cane in the next 2 weeks, and moving on to things like walking up stairs foot over foot and riding an exercise bicycle.
Take care,
Dean
Hi,
I'm now 9 weeks post op, and today I went out to do some errands and left my cane at home. That felt good. Walking around the store and parking lot, I may have looked like someone with a sore back. My gait is steadiest when I'm out for an extended walk. Most of the time I don't think I have an obvious limp, but I still do some hobbling after getting up from sitting or laying down for a while.
I can walk upstairs foot over foot for 3-4 steps without a rail, but I haven't tried it for more than that. My left leg is still stiffer and weaker than my right one, but it is improving. I continue to do the stretching and strengthening exercises. I've also tried standing just on my left leg, and that seems to have helped. It's getting easier to get dressed. I look forward to trying out a stationary bike.
Hi,
I'm 10 and a half weeks post op now. I've been able to walk without a cane for about a week and a half. But if I walk, use the exercise bike, or do my leg raises too much, the lateral (and anterior) left hip pain and limp come back, and I end up using my cane some more until the pain resolves, usually within a day.
I'm still limited to doing my left supine leg raises in the standing position. In the supine position, I can just barely get my leg off the floor and it hurts (as if I'm aggrevating it) about 3 finger widths below the anterior superior iliac spine. I also have weakness in flexing my left hip with my left knee bent (I need to help lift my left knee up to put on the parking brake in my car.). If I walk for 45 minutes (about 2 miles), my lateral left hip will hurt afterwards for a day, so I'm doing less than that at any one time. I've been using the exercise bike, but mostly with no resistance.
Last weekend my left hip felt good and I increased my walking, exercise biking, and leg raise work all at once. Then my left hip got sore, and I've been spending the last 3-4 days trying to sort out what caused the flare up. It seems overdoing any of these can cause problems, so I've cut back on all three. My right hip continues to feel fine.
I've been doing a stretch for the internal rotators of the left hip (standing with my left foot pointing straight ahead, my right foot behind, and rotating my shoulders about 90 degrees to the right), which seems to help my left foot point straight ahead instead of toeing in.
I still can't put my socks on, but my flexibility is improving.
Take care.
Dean
Hi,
I sent a note to Lee Webb, describing what I wrote in my last post, and asking the following questions:
Does this sound normal?
Can you tell me why my left hip flexors are so weak?
If I use a foam roller for my thigh, how far should I stay away from the hip?
Is it ok to roll on my anterior hip, under the ASIS, where it hurts when I do the supine straight leg raise?
Here is what she said:
"It takes a full year to heal from the surgery. At 10 weeks, you are going to have pain and weakness as you are describing. Listen to your body and back off when you have pain and limp. Use the cane as long as you need it. Try increasing your walking distance first, then add bike and leg raises. All of this sounds normal. A foam roller is fine. I would not roll over the incision. If something hurts, avoid that. You should see gradual improvement with time."
Take care,
Dean
Dean -- I agree and would say at 10 weeks you are doing great. I'm 2 years post op and am still making strides with the small external rotators of the glute. I hate to put it like this, but don't expect too much right now.... You are pain free and walking... It's a win!! It takes time to regain that range of motion, and even now, every day feels different. I can now do some pretty extreme yoga poses that I be ever thought I'd ever do again, but still some of the basic stuff involving my psoas and adductors are still a challenge. I seriously see improvement week to week right now. I hardly ever think about my hips until I'm trying to squat (still can't do a full catchers squat with my heels of the floor, but I'm close) or try to do full splits (not there yet, but maybe in another year)! I think alot of it has to do with how long you were compensating before surgery and how jacked up some of the muscles were before surgery.
You're doing great!! Keep it up.
Juno
No experience of bilateral, but can only imagine how much more challenging.
It must be a little frustrating, as if I think about my pre op situation, after all the research I conducted, despite trying to think long term and the need to be patient, I still quietly hoped for more and to be one of the super hero type recoveries.
Now with hindsight, at just over four months, I think those recoveries are a rare breed. Or, they are a matter of "good perception" and better expectation management on the part of the patient concerned (and maybe a little bluster too).
By this I don't mean I feel misled but that perhaps the wrinkles that, surely, even the super heroes have, get smoothed over very easily when writing about them in the past tense having achieved some "level" of progress.
So myself, if I could have understood and felt what it feels like now, at four months, pre op, and have known all the wrinkles and ups and downs, and discomfort I experienced, still I wouldn't have changed my mind as it has been so worth it.
Continue to work sensibly as you are doing, I admire your patience, and once you reach that "level", and you will know it, the challenges you are over-coming now will take on a very nice rose tint, I am sure!
Best wishes!
Ps. The rose tint in my spectacles was further enhanced yesterday when I shot my best golf score for 18 months, six over par that included four double bogies. I love my new hip.
Hi,
Thanks Juno and Matt for your kind and thoughtful replies. I appreciate them.
I'm now 12 and a half weeks post op. It's taken 2-3 weeks for my left hip to feel strong enough to support me without pain and without sagging to the outside when I step onto my left leg. The last time it felt this good was at 9 and a half weeks post op, just before I added stationary biking, increased walking, and increased straight leg raise work. Today it feels pretty good. But I'm taking it easy. I don't want it to feel sore and weak again.
Since my last post (at 10 and a half weeks post op), I stopped riding the stationary bike, and, after holding off for a while on leg raises, started experimenting to find the optimal amount of leg raise work for me. I also stopped the extended 2 mile walks I had started, and substituted instead shorter stop-and-go walks (like walking my dog). I tolerated the shorter walks well, so I restarted nonstop walks, but at a shorter distance. I started walking for 20 minutes at an easy pace (about 22 minute miles), and I'm increasing the time by one minute every 2 days. I've also continued with my shorter stop-and-go walks, and that's been fine. With the leg raises, I've found that it's very easy to overdo it, and the pain and weakness that results from overdoing it, which I don't feel until hours after doing the leg raises, can last for days. Right now I'm limiting my leg raises to 3 sets of 10, raising only about 8 inches, with my supine raises being done in a standing position to make them easier, and my side lying raises being done on my side, like normal. With walking, anytime my hip left hip starts to feel tired, I ease up and stop soon after. Using a cane sometimes also helps if my hip is tired or if I think my hip may get overworked.
I continue to stretch about 90-100 minutes a day, which is down from what it was, and my flexibility is improving. By sitting in a very low seat, I was able to put my socks on this week without an assistive device for the first time since the surgeries. I can get dressed without assistive devices, although I need to lean on something or sit. I'm still icing my left hip. I experimented with ice massage for anywhere from 15-45 minutes and that worked well. I'm currently using ice packs again for about 60 minutes so my hands can be free.
I look forward to increasing the length of my extended walks, but I'm going to do my best not to overdo things. My main goal is for my left hip to continue to feel strong.
Thanks for reading and take care,
Dean
Hi,
I'm 13 weeks, or 3 months, post op this week. After writing my last post, I thought I still might be doing too much, so I decided to hold off on the leg raises. I've just been walking, stretching, and icing since then. I walk my dog about 0.8-1.0 miles in the morning, which is a stop and go sort of thing. I tolerate this well. Then I go for a walk by myself. I've been increasing the duration by one minute every two days, but I might slow that down a bit. Right now I'm walking 27 minutes at about a 20 minute mile pace, which is faster than my pace last week (22 minutes a mile). That makes about one and a third miles. In the afternoon, I usually walk around our cul de sac slowly for 15-20 minutes while I'm out with my dog.
The soreness that I was feeling in the front of my left hip has resolved since I stopped doing leg raises, and last night I finally could sleep on my stomach without pain in my front left hip. I still get some temporary soreness in that area, as well as temporary stiffness and pain in the lateral left hip, but it's less than it used to be, and not enough to cause me to limp. My left hip has stayed strong this week, although sometimes just barely. I can feel that it is weaker than the right hip, and on my longer walks it can get fatigued in the front hip flexor region. Carrying too many groceries can cause it to ache a little, laterally. I can still hobble/waddle a bit after getting up in the morning or after getting up from sitting. But that usually goes away in about 30 seconds. My stretching has decreased to about 80 minutes, and my icing time (for the left hip only) is 30-45 minutes. I've been stretching the internal rotators of my left hip/leg with a stretch that looks something like 3rd position in ballet, and it seems to be improving the mild left foot toe in I have. I'm able to walk without a toe in, but it's something I need to consciously think about.
My walking is definitely better now than it was before the surgeries. Walking is fun again. My legs swing freely and easily straight back and forth from my hips instead of whatever was going on before. I can walk further and faster (although I'm not trying to push for speed) than I could before, when walking had become something I just tried to bear. My right hip continues to feel great, with an occasional twinge in the lateral or front areas.
I think that's it.
Take care,
Dean
Hi,
I'm 14 weeks post op. and my left hip is starting to feel like a real hip, like it really supports me. I still may hobble a bit after getting up, and I still have times where there is stiffness and soreness, but I also have times where I don't feel any pain or stiffness, and where I actually feel somewhat agile and strong. I was turning and changing direction in the kitchen one day this week, to the right and left, and felt no pain, weakness, or limitation at all. It reminded me of how I used to feel prior to the onset of hip pain. I put on my parking brake (once) without lifting my leg up with my hands, and I went grocery shopping and could move normally and independently of the cart. (I still used the cart to help me get down to the lowest shelves and then get up again.) For the first time since my hips started hurting, my left hip has started to feel soft, cushiony, and comfortable again around the joint. I'm also starting to use my legs more when getting out of a chair or sofa, and I was able to put my socks on (with some difficulty) while sitting on the sofa or bed (instead of on a low seat). Another thing that's getting easier is turning from face up to face down when I'm on the floor. I don't have to be in an extended, lying down position. I can turn while my hips are flexed by putting my weight on my hands.
I'm still just walking, stretching, and icing. My continuous walks are now 30 minutes (at a 20-22 minute/mile pace). My stretching has ranged from 70-100 minutes, but is usually 90 minutes or less, and I'm icing my left hip for about 30-40 minutes.
Take care,
Dean
Hi,
I'm now 4 months post op, and I continue to make gradual improvement. I routinely set my parking brake without using my hands to help lift my leg up. I can carry 2 heavy bags of groceries without hurting my left hip. My left hip no longer gives way and sags to the side, ever. I no longer hobble. I went through a phase where I sort of rocked from side to side for 10-30 seconds after getting up, but that has decreased. Now I'm stiff when I get up, but I loosen up within 30 seconds.
My sustained walks are up to 45 minutes now. My estimate of pace is rough because I measure the distance using Google Maps, but I've calculated it from 17 minutes/mile (for 0.8 mile) up to 22.5 minutes/mile. I can walk at a sustained medium speed, and even at a slightly quick speed for a short distance, although my gait gets stiff at this quicker pace.
My left anterior hip doesn't usually get fatigued on my walks anymore, although I still get aches in my left anterior and lateral hip, off and on, as I walk. I've begun to feel some aches in my right lateral hip, off and on, so maybe my hips are starting to even out.
Getting out of chairs/sofas is easier and requires less arm assistance. For a deep sofa, I might use 50% arms and 50% legs. I honestly can't remember what the ratio was before I had hip trouble.
It's still hard to put my socks on. Bending over to pick up dog poop off the ground is still challenging. I need to spread my feet out to the sides and reach down between my legs. When I'm not warmed up, I can just barely reach the ground with my finger tips. But if I hold onto something for support, it's easy to reach the ground.
I'm still just walking, stretching (75-90 minutes), and icing (both hips now) for 35 minutes. As some stretches require less time, I've been adding others. So my stretching time has remained about the same. Last week, I tried and was able to do one set of 5 repetitions of supine left straight leg raises, lifting my heel about 6 inches off the floor, without hurting myself. So my left hip flexors are getting stronger. But I still have soreness at times in the left hip flexor area, though it has lessened.
I'm ready to add something like riding a stationary bike. That's what Lee suggested. Then after that, strengthening exercises, the supine and side-lying leg raises.
I hope you all are doing well. Take care.
Dean
Hi,
This is an addendum to my 4 months post op note.
For the first time in 5 years, I was able to keep up with my wife and daughter today as we walked around city streets. That was nice.
I've been having trouble sitting in our Honda Odyssey and driving. I've been able to sit and drive comfortably for only about 20 minutes. Then my hips and lateral knees will begin to ache increasingly, until, within 30 minutes, it's unbearable. The aching is relieved by reclining the seat and laying back. This problem has improved, and now it's just my right hip and knee that ache when I drive, and less so. My left hip, although it is weaker and usually more likely to hurt, is also more flexible than my right hip. Maybe this extra flexibility is responsible for it being the first hip not to hurt while driving?
Take care,
Dean
Hi Dean,
It's great to hear that you could keep up with your wife and daughter! That seems like a major milestone to me. How far can you walk before it starts to get painful?
JD
Hi JD,
Thanks! It's great to be able to keep up with people again. I also notice that I stand more upright and feel more engaged and smile more when I'm talking with people. I didn't think that standing was particularly painful before my resurfacings, but I feel more buoyant and energetic now when I'm standing and conversing. My conversations are longer too.
I'm currently walking 2 miles at a time. I may have minor aches that come and go while I'm walking, but I wouldn't describe the overall experience as painful. I don't walk to the point of pain. If I have some discomfort that I'm concerned about, I slow down and stop as soon as I can. This has happened maybe 2-3 times during my recovery, the last time being several weeks ago.
Thanks again for your encouragement.
Dean
Hi,
I'm now almost four and a half months post op. I don't mean to give too much information, but just to give you an idea of how long it can take to regain certain abilities, it's only been since this week when getting dressed that I can balance on one leg and step into my pants with the other, bilaterally. Also, in the last week I've finally been able to lift and pull one ankle up and rest it above the opposite knee so that I can reach my feet while I'm standing to wash and dry them without needing assistive devices. OK, enough of that.
My continuous walks are now about 50 minutes, although I usually walk my dog, letting her sniff and pee, for about 20 minutes, before switching to a non-stop mode. So my total walking time is about 70 minutes. I've found at this point that it doesn't really matter whether I walk 50 or 60 minutes continuously. My hips seem to be able to take the extra time. My daily walking total has varied between about 3-5 miles. I'm not as concerned now with knowing my walking speed or exact distances. I can keep up with people walking at normal speeds, and I can walk for as long as I have time for right now without my hips getting sore. So I'm pretty content. I expect to keep improving as I keep rehabbing, and eventually I'd like to be able to jog a couple of miles, hit tennis balls, or shoot basketballs. But if the most I could do was to regain normal walking ability and walk for as long as I like, then I would say that these operations were worth it. And I feel like I'm close to achieving that.
I've added using an exercise bike and Stairmaster to my routine during the last 2 weeks. I've needed to limit my time on the bike to no more than 25 minutes to avoid having left lateral hip pain after riding. The Stairmaster was initially a bit challenging, but feels more normal now. I usually do one or the other or a combination of both for about 20 minutes at the lowest level of resistance.
I've missed several days of icing and although my hips might be a bit sore in the morning afterwards, they warm up and feel good after an hour. I may experiment with icing vs no icing to see what difference there is. I'm still stretching for about 90 minutes, and my flexibility continues to improve.
My hips are starting to even out now in terms of pain and performance. My weaker left hip is more flexible and so is able to handle faster walking speeds more smoothly than my right hip. My left hip has fewer minor, off-and-on aches now than my right hip when I'm walking, and the left anterior hip no longer gets fatigued. My left hip doesn't ache while driving, and the right hip, as it loosens up, aches less and less. My left hamstrings and quadriceps are tighter than in the right leg and take up to twice as much time to stretch out to a comparable end point. Stretching out feels good again, like it used to prior to my having hip problems.
Overall, I'm feeling pretty content. I hope you're doing well. Take care.
Dean
Hi,
Tomorrow I'll be 5 months post op for my left hip. Although I continue to walk my dog for about 30 minutes/day and walk instead of drive for short trips close to home (for up to a mile and a half one way), I'm spending less time walking now and more time using the exercise bike and Stair Master. I guess I'm transitioning back toward my old exercise habits. Walking is so much fun again though, that I choose it whenever I can over driving. The last two days, I've used the exercise bike and Stair Master for 30 minutes each, mostly at the lowest resistance level, at a cadence in the 60's to 70 on the bike, and my hips feel fine. I've also stopped icing my hips because I've been tired or busy in the evenings, and also because the weather and house are colder at night now. My hips feel a little sore in the morning when I get up, but after that, I don't really notice it. This coming week, I may try to add back some strength training, mainly upper body. I might wait a little longer, to see that my exercise bike and Stair Master routine is going well, before trying the straight leg raises again. I can drive for a longer time, about 25 minutes, before my right hip starts to ache, and the aching is less that it used to be. I can wash and dry my feet and put on my socks more easily that I could before, although the easiest way to put on socks is still by sitting on a step stool, with my knees to the side, so that my feet are automatically within reach. I may have minor aches, off and on, in my lateral and anterior hips while walking, but nothing that makes me stop. I also have less stiffness, just a little, when I get up after sitting for a while, and getting up from the couch is easier. I think that's it. I hope you all are well!
Take care,
Dean