I agree with what you both are saying, I just want to be sure I go the right route with my second hip, either THR or BHR.  I actually did some new exercises from the other Surfacehippy site, had Pre/Post Op exercises, and I feel quite good.  But, as soon as I start to feel really strong, I get the pains in my rightside knee and the undone left hip.  So, maybe it is just my other bad parts pulling me down.  It took 4-years to figure that out.  I went to PT at two different stretches in the first and second years and I got very strong and then I just got way too sore with no chance of recovery until I stopped.  Maybe I am just getting too old, 52.  If I can clear the pain in my RBHR hip in that one spot, I will get another one.

I sure hope you're not too old.   :-\


Mike (55 and counting)

Definitely not too old - I'm 54.

Big Day! I was discharged from outpatient PT. I got a list of exercises which I've been doing in PT and will continue those. They say to do these 3 - 4 times a week, which I planned on, then add other activities as well. Really psyched about this, ROM and strength are at normal or better. I had a physical yesterday, BP is 105 over 65 even now, will probably get better as my fitness increases.

Now to drop the weight I've put on over the last 5 years.

Quote from: hernanu on February 25, 2011, 11:48:20 AM
Now to drop the weight I've put on over the last 5 years.

Hey Hernan, I hope you're doing well getting your fitness and svelte figure back.  ;)  I'm thinking we maybe need a post-op, post rehab weight loss group on here!  I'm down 5, maybe 10 to go.  It might go a little quicker if I could just give up those beers I reward myself with after a good workout.  ;D

Quote from: hernanu on February 20, 2011, 10:02:56 AM
Definitely not too old - I'm 54.

LOL, I'm now 56 as of yesterday.   I could definitely afford to shed a pound or 30 at this point. 

Hippy Birthday Mike!  ::) ::)

Hey, half - don't know how much I've dropped, figure about 10 now,  but definitely reforming myself. My 18 year old daughter is keeping the pressure on, tells me I have to get back to what she remembers. Cruel kid.

Happy belated birthday, Mike - I have some new math: if 50 is the new forty and the resurfacing makes us 20 years younger, we are in our mid 20's effectively.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

I been trying to lose 20 since the surgery. Got addicted to Potato Chips. Keep on

LOL hernanu,  I've decided to just start counting backwards.  I'm now at 49 and should be the same age as my oldest kid by the time I reach about 35.

BTW, I lost about 10 lbs in the 8 weeks or so after surgery without knowingly changing my diet at all and not really getting much exercise.  I think the body may burn a lot of calories and need protein in the healing process.

YESSSS !!!!!!   I went to the gym, had a good one hour workout (yoga, bike and elliptical, weights) and then hit the punching bag!!!! 

One of my goals; I had to give it up before the surgeries . Too much pain, especially on roundhouse punches, where you launch the strike from the rotation of the hip.

I started slow, being just a bit reticent of the pressure on the hip. I was able to swing the hips, hit a hard punching bag correctly and get that nice pop with a full roundhouse punch (not full strength, but pretty strong). I hit the bag for a good 15 minutes, stopping when I ran out of breath. Awesome.

Still feeling good now, I had no problems with it.

A tip:
Try 'punching' with a bungee for resistance and coordinate turning the ball of the foot with the hip motion to minimise pain in the hip; I found I could use the last vestige of pain to correct my form.

Thanks Gary - will try that.

My trainer had me doing an exercise with the cable crossover machine, where the two pulleys had 50 lb (22.5 kg?) weights attached, and I got into a front stance, one cable to the hip and the other out in a punch, then do my punch motion, with one pulling back and the other going into the punch. 20 reps.

The bungee sounds good for the home, since I want to make sure I get the most done even on days absent from the gym.

Bungees are great! I even take them on holiday, with simple home made handles; just make sure the other end is secured - they can do a lot of damage if they come loose.

The main advantage is that resistance increases and momentum decreases towards the end of the range of motion, unlike kettlebells which work the other way round.

 ;D :D 8)

Ok - I'm calling a two year anniversary (wooo hooooooo !!! )

I had my two year checkup; almost two for my left, three months short on my right. There is no description for how psyched I was walking into the office and realizing that even compared to my one year visit, I was feeling awesome on my hips. I walked without a hitch, smiling and feeling like the greatest thing since sliced bread.

I had my XRays, scanned them mercilessly as they came up on the viewer, and grilled Dr. Snyder about the bone connection, my angles (40 degrees and 15, respectively). We then talked heavily about exercise and whether he thought my going into the really heavy impact Tae Kwon Do kicks was advisable (he had no problem with it), weight lifting and of course that most demanding of physical endeavors - the panoply of latin dances!

The good Dr. was very pleased with my progress. I still need work on balance - he had me on one leg, bending down and holding it in that position, which apparently needs more work.

Dr. Snyder now does routine blood work for metal ions at two years, so I went for that. Not concerned, as I haven't had symptoms and look for them to be in good shape.

To mark the day, I'm posting my pre HR hips, and my two year hips. And now to get a bit maudlin, I want to thank the surgeon, staff and therapists galore whose efforts got me to this point. I also want to thank Pat, whose site has been both a research library, a refuge and a place to find friendship and solace while walking in hard places. And a great thanks to all of the hippies who are both here now and who have left (I think it's great you're loving life); in the words of Anna (who I think is great), you are all awesome!

Hern that's wonderful!!

I bet you're over the moon and completely content and happy with life  :D

My hips definitely are, ruby -thank you.

Hern-
that is one good looking skeleton!
Great picture.
I hope my path to recovery is as good as yours.

I try to keep in good skeletal shape, Mike. I think you'll be fine as long as you're patient and treat yourself well.

Well said Hern!!!! 

What a great achievement. 2 years and everything is going good. Best get working on that balance though Hern .... lets go for perfection!  ;D

Anna