Have no idea if I am doing this correct or not, but...

My BHR was done 7/10 at Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta by Dr. Stephen Smith.  Guess that makes me about 9 days post-op.  I am 62 years old and over the past twelve years have completed about 65 triathlons and various other running events including marathons.  Most have been sprints but but several olympic distance, 6 half-ironman and 2 ironman races.  Guess that is why my hip wore out!!  I have every intention of doing 65 more races.

I would be interested in talking with anyone in a similar situation to see how they progressed.  I have not had much pain and have been walking (at home only) without my crutches since leaving the hospital.  I have started some short 15-20 minute walks but with my crutches but plan to walk tomorrow without.

If anyone wants to swap stories, offer advice, etc., I would appreciate it.

Barry

Hi Barry,

Welcome to the club. I've been doing tri's and du's for the past 20 years. I had RBHR in Madison, WI june 26th.
I just passed the three week mark and am walking 2 miles/day most while carrying my cane. I just hopped on the spin bike yesterday for the first time and rode easy for 45 minutes and I'm doing PT 2 times/wk along with acupuncture once a week. Have a little swelling and continue to ice 3x/day.

I'm also a tri coach- check out coachtroy.com and click on Tri Academy coaches. We also run two tri camps here in Tucson in March.

Sounds like you're recovering just fine. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate.

take care,

Spencer Roberts
Tucson, AZ

Barry, do you have any idea how many resurfacings Dr. Smith has done?

Mike

Type away my friend....resurfaced done 7/9/08 and doing good. Did my first mile walk today and it went well. This forum is great ....you will meet alot of good people here. Sounds like you are doing just fine !I look forward to trading info with you.

        Big Bill, Cormet Anterior Surface Hippy   C.A.S.H.  8)

Hi Barry

Congratulations on the new hip resurfacing.  I was 61 when I had mine done, but never did any running.

I assume you have been on the athletes page  http://www.surfacehippy.info/athletes.php

Michael Montgomery finished an ironman at 6 months and Cory Foulk ran a marathon at 3 months.

These are not the normal hip resurfacing recoveries, but since you run you will be interested in them.

There is no way to force your recovery mentally to make such a thing happen.  Your body has it's own time frame for recovery and some people just recover faster.  Most hip resurfacing doctors really don't want people running for at least 6 months to a year. http://www.surfacehippy.info/faqwhencanirun.php  Most of the doctor interviews include that questions about running http://www.surfacehippy.info/doctorinterviews/doctorinterviews.php

I wish you the best of luck, be patient and you will be out running again.

Pat

Barry / Spencer,

I am also a triathloner, although not nearly as experienced as you both, I,ve been doing them for 3 years with thel ast one being Iron Man Lake Placid 2007.

I had my right hip resurfaced on June 23rd, so I am 4 weeks along.  I have been on a stationary bike for about 15 min last week and everything felt good.  I can definitely tell that everything is getting stronger to the point where I sometimes forget that I had surgery.  I want to try my trainer but haven't had the chance yet.  I think the only challenge would be mounting / dismounting.  I also want to get in the pool maybe this week to see how I do.

It sounds like you both are doing great and are already out-pacing me, but I will let you know of any significant rehab break-throughs.

-Brian 

Hi Guys

Glad you have a marathon going for recovery - but be careful.  Post op recovery can't be pushed in the early stages - it is up to your body, not your mind.  Give yourself time to heal and you will have plenty of time after that to push yourself.

I hope to see photos of all of you back in action in 6 months to a year.

Pat

Hi Brian,

Welcome to the hippy club! I am going on 4 weeks post op. Like you,I'm definitely not going to try to ride my bike on my trainer for at least another week or two because of  the low bars and mounting/dismounting issues.
I've been on a spin bike for 45 min 3 out of the past 4 days. I'm not using much resistance but can push a bigger gear today than last Friday. Definitely listen to your body and don't push too hard. I was training at a very high level of intensity before surgery to improve recovery rate.

I'm planning on going back to teaching a few spinning classes next week although I won't be going hard at all.
Come on out to our triathlon camp next March it's a blast!! I bet you're glad you didn't do Lake Placid yesterday. Several of our clients had a very difficult day due to the torrential downpour that lasted over the whole day.

take care,

spencer

Keep us posted on your recovery!

take care,

spencer

Spencer,

45 min on the bike sounds awesome.  I have yet to do more than 25, not that it hurt, but I was just a little cautious.

I saw on one of your other posts that you did teach a class, that's amazing, good job :)

About L.P., biking in the rain for 6 plus hours doesn't sound like fun.  That sucks, but, I wish I was there.  Triathlon is a crazy sport.

I am on the east coast so a Tri Camp in Tucson sounds a bit far, but who knows.

Keep up the good work

-Brian

Hey Brian,

You definitely want to be cautious and let your body dictate what you can do. You're definitely on the right track. I was really not pushing it too hard in class today.

Almost all of our tri camp attendees are from the east coast. Go to: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/01/sports/playmagazine/601masterclass.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=triway%20to%20hell&st=cse&oref=slogin

it's about our camp.


take care,

spencer

Pre-operation limp and ROM limited

Post operation 8 weeks rt hip resurfacing
Doctor said I can go to ROM 110 degrees.
Usual hip limitations employed
Limited ROM to 80 degrees.
Seem to be very frozen there.
All attempts by PT or me to get past 80 degrees engages the pelvis.

Any advise, experience, for best strategy to employ to get there.

Hi Cgraves,

Are you stretching your hamstrings, quads and glutes? Can you go beyond 80 degrees in the water?
Sometimes it just takes time before full ROM develops. You can also try massage. How about ball squats against a wall?

take care,

spencer

Thanks for the reply.

Treadmill/Stationary Bike 30 min per day.  Try to lower the seat.  Walking as much as another 20-30 minutes
additionlly.
Hip Ab In/out exercises
1/2 squats, body weight or 1/2  wall sits sometimes with ball
legs out floor/wall siting stretch
careful semi butterflying, obviously very limited.
all kinds of stuff. hip raises, superman etc.

Being in the pool feels good but does not increase ROM.

Because the pelvis engages/freezes at that 80 degrees and so powerful, I am wondering if there is a particular limitation to be identified.

What was your ROM prior to resurfacing and how long was it limited prior to surgery?

Pain in hips 20 years.
Went from running marathons, to biking, to walking, then just functioning though each day.
Pushed each to the end.
Favored the left side heavily in all things increasingly.
Could barley get rt knee to within 2 inches of chest past couple of years.
Was still rock climbing at a fairly good level up to 3-4 months before surgery.
Up hill hiking with pack was okay, down hill was not good.
Others had to carry my pack. Eventually body wt was too much.

As pain increased activity to the rt became more limited.
Just the opposite as what I should have done.   
Just wanted to keep climbing.  Oops.
Lesson there for others.

I'm not a doc but it seems to me that you have several options: 1) relax and be patient and try to slowly increase range of motion over the next several months; 2) Talk to your surgeon; 3) Email the best surgeons from the list on this site and get another medical opinion; 4) Get another PT; or 5) all of the above.

I hope you get some satisfaction and increase your ROM.

take care,

spencer

I will investigate all the options you have suggested.
My best to you also.

Thanks,

Hey cgraves,

Any answers to your issues yet? Did the shot hold?