My doc says no running (ever) after BHR - has anyone received similar advice?

[Jen from Tucson]

I'm three weeks out until my BHR surgery.  I used to be a marathon runner until osteoarthritis sidelined me (I'm 39 years old).  My orthopedist says I'm an ideal candidate for BHR but insists I cannot run again post surgery.  I've questioned him and he says this is common advice.  However, I've read a lot that says you can eventually resume impact sports, including marathon running.  I will adhere to what he says, but wondered if anyone else has received similar advice from their docs.

[curt]

      No.  At six months should be able to resume any higher impact activity that you wish.  Unless there is something special about the condition of your hip or problem with the outcome of the surgery, I have never heard any of the leading surgeons say you couldn't run if you wanted to.
     That being said, I have been getting advice from everyone for about 35 years to quit running, especially long distances.  So here I am at 50, having chosen to do a HR so that I COULD run, and I fully expect to start working slowly up to it when I reach 6 months.  I think most people here had there surgeries for very similar reasons.  If I wanted to be truly smart I would have had a brain transplant instead. 
     Seriously, think he's just be overly cautious...most docs don't object to it.  Curt

[sroberts]

Hey Jen,

I'm in Tucson as well and I got the go ahead to run to my heart's content after 6 months. I now run 3-5x / wk with no ill effects. Getting back into racing as soon as my 5k gets below 19 min, Email me at coachspencer77@gmail.com if you'd like to talk some more about it.


best,

spencer

[ScubaDuck]

At my nine week followup Dr. Pritchett said that I could resume running 6 - 7 month from surgery.  So I have already been aqua jogging, running in shallow water, walking, and elliptical training in preparation.

Dan

[Luanna]

Sounds pretty extreme. No running forever kind of defeats the purpose of having your hip resurfaced. I thought that it was specifically designed for folks who wanted to resume their active sports-oriented lifestyles. And also for people like me who just don't want to lose a lot of bone in case they may need a revision someday.

Luanna

[Jen from Tucson]

Thanks everyone for your input.  I have a pre-op appointment on 11/21 and will press him for more details about why I won't be able to run.  At first I, too, thought "Why bother if I can't run again?"  But the daily pain and snapping is reason enough for me.  I am having a really hard time imagining life without running.  Just watching the NYC marathon on Sunday choked me up (it has always been a dream of mine to run NYC).

Thanks again and I'll keep you posted 

[Pat Walter]

Hi Jen

Most hip resurfacing surgeons would prefer their patients don't ever run - but many patients do.  The top experienced surgeons know their athletic patients are going to run so they try to make them wait 6 - 12 months before hard impact sports.  Since you are a woman, your surgeon may be even more conservative.  If you are a larger woman, your hip resurfacing has the same chance of lasting a long time since large men and women have the same retention rate.  It is the smaller women and men that have been having more problems.

A lot will depend on which surgeon you use.  The top surgeons will say you can run, but they prefer you don't - but when it is something you have done all your life as you have, it is something that you want to return to.  That is the reason for getting a hip resurfacing. 

I don't know who you are going to, but you might want to have a consultation with a surgeon that has done a thousand or two resurfacings.  That will probably mean you will need to travel, but if you want to run again, I would try to get a surgeon that will work with you on that goal. 

You can get free input if you email Dr. Gross of SC, Dr. Rogerson of WI , Dr. Bose of India.  Send them a copy of your x-rays in a digital format as a .jpg and ask about running again.  See what they say. They are several of the best in the world.  Dr. Bose has done a lot of the top athletes and runners.  http://www.surfacehippy.info/listofdoctors.php

Pat

[jjmclain]

Jen,

I am a 49 year old triathlete with a left BHR. I go back for my one year post-op tomorrow! I am a small female and my surgery was a success and I am back running. I race the IMs so I will definitely get back into longer distance running eventually. I have been very conservative getting back into running, but I was cleared to start slowly at around 5 months post-op. I will be back racing next season. As everyone has said, find a reputable surgeon with lots of experience. Good Luck to you!

June

[hernanu]

Jen,

I am a 49 year old triathlete with a left BHR. I go back for my one year post-op tomorrow! I am a small female and my surgery was a success and I am back running. I race the IMs so I will definitely get back into longer distance running eventually. I have been very conservative getting back into running, but I was cleared to start slowly at around 5 months post-op. I will be back racing next season. As everyone has said, find a reputable surgeon with lots of experience. Good Luck to you!

June

Tomorrow is the one year anniversary? Congrats ahead of time June...

[jjmclain]

November 11th to be exact Hernanu!! Life is so good since my surgery! A year ago I would never have thought I could feel this good again! Thank you!

[johnd_emd]

Better not tell Cory Faulk that.  He does all these ultra ironman and ultra distance runs.  He's been doing them for years with the BHR. 

[Steven]

Hi, Yes I got the same from my original specialist.

After reading this site beforehand I was taken by surprise also.

See this site " Running, Ironman, Marathoner " - Runners Query about Doctors Advice.

Regards

Steven.

[Pat Walter]

Here are several questions about running to Dr. Raterman in the Chat 8/7/2010


[abc123] 8:23 pm: Dr. Raterman, Do you believe that running after hip resurfacing decreases the lifespan of the device? What is your estimate of the lifespan of a BHR
[dr raterman] 8:27 pm: I am cautious about running in that in my series I have had several BHR cups fail to ingrow which necessitated an early revision. I have not seen higher rates of fracture or metalosis in runners. But I am cautious about early return to running and most of them tend to cheat on me.

[abc123] 8:31 pm: So, in terms of running after a BHR. Provided that the patient waited for 1 year post op (Upper end range of general surgeon recommendation), then you feel that running is OK? Or do you advise your patients against running at all after a BHR
[dr raterman] 8:33 pm: I talk with the patients about the level of running they wish to return to; I have patients who have actively competed in marathon distance events and try to win their age group. However I recommend against full return to running for 6 months to give the acetabular component plenty of time to ingrow.[dr raterman] 8:33 pm: More casual runners, tennis players and ice skaters, I've had no problems with.
[stever] 8:34 pm: how bout surfers
[dr raterman] 8:34 pm: Surfers are easy.

[Pat Walter] 8:34 pm: I had some asking about sky diving - what do you think?
[dr raterman] 8:35 pm: Never jump out of a perfectly good airplane is my motto. However the Tampa area is home to a very active sky diving community, several of which are dong it on hip resurfacings, compliments of me.

Read the whole transcript of all questions and answers here:

http://www.surfacehippy.info/raterman-chat-aug-2012.php

Pat

[Dannywayoflife]

Thanks for that Pat. Interesting that Dr Ratterman basically said heal fully before returning to impact. Just what a lot of members on here have been saying.
Danny

[bilateralbliss]

Thanks Pat, all very interesting even for those like myself who never were runners

[Tin Soldier]

Yes, Thanks for the info Pat.  I feel kinda like the moderate one, who's cautious about returning to any serious running.  Although the only time I was a serious runner was in High School.  I'm happy to play soccer here and there, ride my bike to work, and occassionaly train for a long bike ride, or maybe train for a half marathon or something like that.

[zeke]

My doctor said no running for me until 12 to 18 months...I'm not a big runner but I like to jog once in awhile. I did run some on the treadmill before my last doctor visit in May and I felt fine. I had my surgery Jan 23rd...

Some of my workouts that do make me so sore in my hip I don't even know if I should be jogging anyway.
I just say take is slow and I'm so happy not to be hurting the way I was before my surgery. T

just a thought....just a little at a time.
Zeke

[bilateralbliss]

That`s interesting Zeke, 12-18 months, making me think even more about caution. Thanks

[Jason0411]

I was hoping to go back to Masters Rugby when I get the all clear on the fracture. Which would involve running a bit. But in my case not too much.
Head down and drive forward is my thing. Love it when the ball is in hand.

[hernanu]

My doctor said no running for me until 12 to 18 months...I'm not a big runner but I like to jog once in awhile. I did run some on the treadmill before my last doctor visit in May and I felt fine. I had my surgery Jan 23rd...

Some of my workouts that do make me so sore in my hip I don't even know if I should be jogging anyway.
I just say take is slow and I'm so happy not to be hurting the way I was before my surgery. T

just a thought....just a little at a time.
Zeke

Good to see you doing so well, Zeke.