Hippyliz's Hip Story with Dr. Gross

[Hippyliz]

My left hip resurfacing is scheduled for January 16 with Dr. Gross.  It's been over 5 years since I was diagnosed with arthritis at age 42 and so I CANNOT WAIT for some relief!  I am so exhausted from the limping, and can't even begin to imagine the physical problems I've developed from compensating all these years. It's nice to communicate with a "hippy friends" who understand the frustration of limited activity --  I can't even practice free throws on the basketball court with my kids because it torques my hip, and if they toss me a frisbee it better be on target cause it takes me 10 minutes to chase after it and pick it up!  Now I'm actually at a point where I often feel like I can't take one more step.  It's obviously time to do something.

I'm so fortunate to live in Charleston, SC -- only a 1 1/2 hour drive away from Dr. Gross' Columbia office.  I went for my pre-op appt last Thursday -- it went just as so many of you described -- everything flowed like clockwork and Lee and Dr. Gross gave me lots of time and attention.  I really enjoyed talking with someone who absolutely loves what he does and obviously is striving to be the very best.  I was EXTREMELY disappointed to learn that I have poor bone density -- I never even saw that coming!  I'm trying to figure out how I will be able to manage 6 weeks on crutches.

I do have a couple of questions that I'm hoping someone can help me with; just little things, but the answers will help me prepare:
When you wake up from surgery, are you still in the surgical gown?  I know Lee puts on the cooling pad, but I was just wondering if it is really difficult to get dressed that first day.  Or do you take your first walk while still in the gown?  And do most people wear shoes when walking in the hospital, or should I just expect to wear those non-skid socks?

Dr. Gross prescribed Nucynta for pain relief during my recovery at home.  I've never taken it (I guess it's only been on the shelves for about 3 years).  I don't usually do well with other narcotics (nausea and dizziness), so I am wondering how others reacted to this drug?

I've been telling my husband he can go home after I actually take my first steps -- I guess I just don't see any need for him to sit around with me.  He's thinking he might want to stay.  What has been your experience? (He is curious, is there wi-fi available at Providence Northeast? )
Finally, I'm wondering if there is anyone of Dr. Gross' patients out there who has Tricare Prime Insurance.

Thanks for all the great stories y'all have shared on this website -- it's really a gold mine of information!
Liz

[Aerial]

If you are from Charleston, will you be in the hospital just one night?  If so, you can leave by early afternoon.  It seems like it would be feasible for your husband to stay.  There is great wifi, cable TV, etc. Very quickly after surgery, they get you up with a walker.  This is to get weight onto the new hip.  It was an amazing feeling.  You are still in the hospital gown with the non skid socks.  I did not get dressed until the next morning and they helped with that. You will have the catheter until the next morning which stunk.  Going to the bathroom on your own is one of the discharge requirements.  My experience went very smoothly except for nausea from the meds.  I was nauseated the next day and threw up on the way home.  The nuycenta also made me nauseous at home.  I ended up calling the office a day after arriving home and got a prescription anti-nausea medicine.  This really helped.  If you know you have a tendency to get nauseous I would ask for this prescription right off (I did not know this would be a problem)!  Sorry about the bone density issue but it will all turn out well for you!  After years of pain, a new functioning hip is a blessing.  My worst problem now is wanting to do too much.....how cool to feel "too good" to take it easy 

PS- I am from Columbia.  My husband and I are heading to Charleston next weekend for my birthday!

[Pat Walter]

Hi Liz
Welcome to Hip Talk.  I split the topic so you can have your own story.  Now you can just continue to post under your story.

I want to wish you good luck with your upcoming surgery with Dr. Gross. It is best to be conservative and stay on your crutches if you bone density is less than desirable.  6 weeks is a very small piece of your life.  It is a small price to pay to be able to be active and out of pain for the rest of your life.  You will get along fine.  Everyone worries, but adjusts with a little planing and help.

Most people don't get dressed right away.  They are in hospital gowns.  You normally don't feel like doing much the first few days and what little energy you will have will be needed to walk a bit and move around.  If you have some large PJ bottoms, you could wear them with the gown, but make sure they are large and go on and off easily.  Normally just a rob over your gown will work.  You  hip will be swollen a bit and really sore, so clothes must be larger than normal.

Take it easy and things will go well.

Pat

[tennisgirl]

Hi Liz,

I was discharged the next day after surgery, and I don't know if you will be able to leave that quickly since you are not immediately weight bearing.  Did Lee or Dr. Gross tell you if that is a factor determining your discharge?

I only took the Nucynta for one day, and it was two days after surgery.  I didn't take any pain meds the day after surgery as I had a four hour ride home and was afraid I would get sick in the car.   I am very sensitive to pain meds and they usually make me nauseated.  I found I really didn't need them at all.

I just kept the hospital gown on the whole time and didn't bother with bottoms or a robe. 

I was very blessed to have minimal swelling and no bruising post-surgery, but I was very vigilant about using the ice machine the first week.  I was able to put on my regular long tennis pants upon discharge.  They are stretchy and were comfortable for the ride home.

You will do great!  The hospital takes excellent care of you from start to finish.

[Two4One]

Hi Liz,

Welcome to the Surface Hippy community.  You pose some really good questions, and I have a few of my own for you.

I related very much to your struggling over 5 years with what sounds like very painful and debilitating OA.  I feel for your long slog of pain, and your life becoming smaller each passing day.  My own OA, 2yrs of undiagnosed end stage bone on bone, was located on the films' blind spots, and I was therefore bedridden the entire two years without a known cause or solution.  How long have you been "at a point where I often feel like I can't take one more step"?

To avoid the narcotic side effects, Promethazine is the only anti nausea medication that works for me, and it works beautifully.  Promethazine allows me to get great pain relief without being deathly ill:).  None of the other anti nausea medications work at all for me in conjunction with pain medications.  Liz, I think you'll find pain relief quite a bit easier with the right anti nausea medication drugs.  I'm wondering what pain drugs are you taking now?

I found Nucynta to be completely ineffective as a pain killer before my bilateral resurfacing.  Interestingly, you pointed out how new this drug is; I make it a firm policy only to take 'old' drugs, of any kind, that have been on the market for at least 5 years, or preferably a decade or longer.  If I were you, I'd also ask my family doctor about the tried and true pain and/or narcotic medications that have a bit less nausea & side effects, and then discuss proactively with Dr. Gross the desired  prescribed pain medications that you feel would work best for you and your pain tolerance.

I looked forward every afternoon to visiting hours and seeing my husband the 3 nights and 4 days I was hospitalized.  I felt a bit lonely, and it was so nice to be able to chat and have him on my recovery team.  Turns out, I needed him quite a bit at the end of my stay, and so I'm really glad that I had him in my corner.  If you can afford it and you find your Hubs' company pleasant, I strongly advise he books a nearby hotel for sleep, and work from your room.  That's what my Hubs did.  While I was resting and 'talking' with my 'net buddies on my laptop, Hubs worked along side me for his company - all from the comforts of our private wireless accessible hospital suite.

Liz, if you baby your bone density with a passion, your hip will reward you by becoming stronger than before your surgery.  Dr. Gross is well known for working with bone density issues, so you are in great hands!

Best wishes on your upcoming resurfacing, and I look forward to seeing your recovery posts!

One

[Jbennett]

Was nucynta all he prescribed or was that for the less severe pain? I'd think he'd give percocet or oxycontin too for the first week at least. He better. I'm scheduled for 3/14 and am not thrilled about the prospect of a 10 hour drive home (wife driving)with a questionable pain reliever. Yikes! Thats a scary looking surgery.

[Hippyliz]

Wow! I'm so glad I decided to post on this site -- you are all so encouraging!  In response to some of your comments, here goes:

In the past, I have taken Promethegan suppositories (so I wouldn't throw them up) to treat narcotic-induced nausea, and it worked well.  Dr. Gross did prescribe another anti-nausea med for me to take home.  My plan is to stay with what he has prescribed (including the Nucynta, and if I have any trouble I will simply call him and ask for something different.  I have hardly been taking any pain medication for my hip these past few years -- I am always afraid of side effects (especially long-term), for some bizarre reason I have been reluctant to mask the problem with meds, and I like to think I have high pain tolerance (I've experienced natural child-birth and a kidney stone). Don't get me wrong, I DON'T WANT to feel any pain -- it's just that I fear nausea much-much more!  I am encouraged by the stories of patients getting off pain meds quickly.

I'll leave the decision to go/stay up to my husband.  If we can have our iPads, we will have all we need!  Even with the bone density issue, Dr. Gross says I can expect to be discharged around noon on Tuesday -- I LOVE this part of his post-op plan!  It makes so much sense to get out of the hospital as soon as possible.

So here's another thought:  Are any of you embarrassed about your arthritis?  I guess I am still dealing with the idea that my body is not perfect -- and now this osteopenia diagnosis has me face-to-face with my imperfections.  Like most of you, I was once an athlete and I am also a graduate of the Coast Guard Academy where I was conditioned to think I could push my body to do anything with the proper preparation.  Frankly, the reality is depressing.

Liz

[WTW15]

HippyLiz, you are singing my song - embarrassed by this arthritis so young (I'm 46) esp when others that do my sports are at such a higher level and have more serious crashes, etc, how in the world can I be so 'damaged' to need this major of a surgery?!?  My surgery is 1/19 - so I am right behind you.  At that 2 weeks out stage, so off all NSAIDS and trying to deal with the pain with just  some Tylenol 3 as all other meds make me jittery and nauseaus.  And just completed 5 days of driving - 2200 miles - which I did the majority of.  Laying flat on the couch today trying to recoup. 

Gaining so much strength and comfort from Aerial, "One" and the other recent hippies. 

[mslendzion]

I'm not sure if I'm embarrassed about my OA or just vane. I use a cane at home and twice shopping over the holiday but did not want to go to work with it (could have used it though and probably looked more foolish limping and grimacing with pain).  I know this is crazy as I will be using some type of aide when I return.

[Dan L]

Liz, 

I'm not embarrassed by it, but the reality of the exent and foreverness of the decline with OA is part of the down side of the whole experience before surgery.  Once the hip is fixed and you've had some months of  surgical recovery behind you, though, you realize you are definitely better than you had been for a very long time.  Now 3 months after and about 7 weeks prior to the other hip being fixed, my new hip is a source of smooth, pain free motion, and contrasts with the OA'd hip dramtically.

My ipad was great in the hospital, woke up could not sleep, jumped on wifi and bought some relaxing music from years ago, and listened to it while falling back to sleep.  Misic really helped with the pain,

Dan

[Woodstock Hippy]

First of all, welcome to the sight and good luck with your surgery.

I think you are right about your husband; once you are up to your room, you will be busy with doctors and nurses and he'll just be sitting around bored.  I was in NYU Joint Disease Hosp and Rusk Rehab Hosp for nine days with bilaterals and my wife just came in every other day to have lunch with me and give me clean workout shorts and T shirts.  We did just fine.

Another thing is; try not to go home the next day.  Stay another day or even two and let them take care of you when you need them most.  Too many people on this sight get home and then get in trouble with the pain and mobility and then have get on the phone and get to the drug store for help.  If you stay in the Hosp, all you have to do is push the button.

[Two4One]

I'm with Woody on staying at the hospital longer than one measly day!  Even spending 4 days in the hospital was not enough.  When I got home from the hospital, my husband had to wipe me off after I did my business, wait on me hand and foot, night and day, and he suffered sleep deprivation right along with me.

It was a very painful and emotionally difficult time because I also had anticoagulant complications.  Had I stayed in a rehab facility or the hospital, Hubs and I would not have been at each others' throat!  After the 1st week home from the hospital (2 weeks post op), everything calmed down, we hit the 'Reset Button', and the love-in resumed.

[Aerial]

Honestly, if all goes well (and Dr. Gross doesn't keep patients longer because of bone density issues) you are pretty much ready to go the next afternoon. He does a good job with pain control and the surgery is minimally invasive (4 inch incision).  He uses surgical adhesive, no staples and no drain plus a patch that you leave on for a week so you can shower right off.  I'm not sure what the protocol is in deciding if you stay longer.  He is pretty set on the one night thing for in state patients.  I waited until 4:00 to leave because my husband came for me after work.  The others who had surgery that day were gone by 2:00.  Really a quick process!

[Two4One]

So here's another thought:  Are any of you embarrassed about your arthritis?  I guess I am still dealing with the idea that my body is not perfect -- and now this osteopenia diagnosis has me face-to-face with my imperfections.

Liz,

I was 48 and fit when my end stage bilateral OA came on all at once in one afternoon of August 2009.  I was walking my dog & had shooting pains in both hips that had me bursting into tears on the spot and almost dropping to the ground. 

Turns out, my bone on bone OA had simultaneously torn out both hips' labrums.  I was on narcotics the next day, barely able to even limp, and then had failed arthroscopic surgery in both hips by February 2010.  The location of my bilateral OA was so deep in the socket and at the center top of my femurs that the scope surgeon missed it completely & pronounced me cured when he sewed up my labral tears and sawed down the sides of my hip socket and femoral heads.

In short order, I was then shuffled off by my family doctor to a pain management specialist, and I was embarrassed to find myself taking Class A narcotics that barely made a dent in my hip's disabling pain.  I was humiliated when my arthroscopy surgeon said my scopes were a success and shamed when he said there was nothing wrong with me except that I'd become dependent on pain drugs. 

Through the 2+ years before resurfacing, I felt like crud when over a dozen Midwest OAs pronounced my films normal and told me I was a drug addict.  By March 2010, I was embarrassed that during the day I stayed flat on my back in a rented hospital bed in my living room, and at night I stayed as still as I could, again flat on my back, in my bed upstairs.

I felt like I had something emotionally wrong with me, because I kept getting a 'normal' diagnosis in spite of taking very hard drugs and sobbing everyday from pain.  My pain management doctor was the only one who believed I had a "mechanical" problem, and he encouraged me to send my films to the world famous east coast, west coast, and Colorado orthopedic surgeons for their 2nd opinions.  Sure enough, three of these renowned surgeons emailed me with the diagnosis of end stage OA, explaining why it wasn't showing in all my films, and recommended immediate bilateral total hip replacements.  Even after I took their written opinions to more local Orthopods, I was mortified when they dismissed their findings and said there was nothing wrong with me, and I needed to wean off the 'uneccessary' pain medications immediately.

My embarrassment and shame was deeply disturbing - until finally after two flights to Vail Colorado, the great Philippon pronounced me a candidate for immediate bilateral THRs.  When I asked his opinion of hip resurfacing, he then said that was a fine alternative to THR.

I'm not embarrassed anymore that I was struck down without warning and confined to my bed at age 48.  I'm now proud I made it through this nightmare.  I'm elated that this once disabling life ending affliction is rapidly becoming a distant forgotten ailment in my rearview mirror.

Wow, I guess you hit a nerve with your question. 

[Kiwi]

As a squash player competing at a high National level for well over 10 years, playing multiple sports & leading an extremely active lifestyle, I was completely side swiped by the news I had OA in my hips at 39 yrs old (at the time). For years I'd been treated for hip flexor issues until I finally had an X-ray & was told the news. I really found it hard to swallow. OA progressed rapidly in the lead up to my op just over 6 weeks ago and for years (like many) I have been existing with debilitating pain. I was pi$$ed of that my body had let me down, but decided then & there that I would never let it beat me. I felt fortunate - and still do, that there's the option of resurfacing as opposed to THR.
Embarrassment has never come into it. My mates keep me in check, with the "come on old man" etc. It's nothing to be embarrassed about, it's needs to be dealt with appropriately - but life goes on.
You'll feel brand new with your new hip & proud of what you'll be achieving physically soon after installation of your shiney new part, I'm sure.
I'm back in the office tomorrow & are hanging up my post op X-rays to show off my new bionic hip!
Cherz & keep us posted,
Kiwi

[mountaingoat]

Hi Liz,
 I will be just a week  behind you - I'm scheduled for 1/23 and 1/25 with Dr. Gross. I too had the bone density issue come out of nowwhere. I was a runner for nearly 15 years and super-athletic even as my hips continued to deteriorate but I was blindsided by the bone density thing. My scores were unfortunately just on the border so Dr. Gross is putting me on the slow protocol b/c of doing bilateral. I have no idea how I will manage crutches for 6 weeks especially because I have an 8-month old baby (I'm going to have full-time help) but honestly we just figure these things out as we go along I've learned. As much as it helps to be prepared, it is also important not to stress too much about the bone density thing and know that 6 weeks isn't all that long in the scheme of things and you'll figure it out as you go along.

Good Luck!
Amy

[Hippyliz]

Thanks for the encouragement, Amy!  You are absolutely right -- we will figure it out.  if you don't mind, I think I am going to get through this by thinking of you and how you are going to manage it all with an 8 month old baby! 

I'll let you know how it goes.  Where will you be travelling from?

[mountaingoat]

Well I'm glad putting things in perspective was helpful...even if it makes me a little worried that maybe I am being too confident in my abilities.

I guess I see it this way: I had shoulder surgery in October to fix a torn biceps tendon and general rotator cuff fraying, etc. I had stressed about that surgery for literally 9 months since it first started bothering me in Januaury of 2011. I was completely terrified of how I would manage having a small baby (because I wouldn't be able to pick her up, etc). In the end, the surgery was less extensive than we had originally thought so that made a big difference but overall I realized I had stressed myself out about it way more than was necessary. Some people said things like "You're crazy, why can't you wait until she is older" or "What are you thinking?", etc etc which only fueled my anxiety. But the truth is, there is honestly NO GOOD TIME for surgery when you have a small child - especially a child under age 3 that still wants to be held so much of the time. I went back and forth over whether to try and wait until she was a year and could possibly walk, etc but in the end I really decided that there were a thousand ways to spin it and no matter what it would still be inconvenient and a pain in the ass. Anyway, the first two weeks were kinda tough as I was in quite a bit of pain but after that we just figured ways around things and I managed really well till all of my restrictions were up at 6 weeks. I know that this time around is going to be a lot harder because of the crutches but I guess my point is that worrying about it now doesn't change anything. Its 6 weeks and its going to be a pain the ass for sure and I'll probably wish many times that I had never done the surgery but then time will pass and it will be over with and *fingers crossed* will not have to worry about my hip failing me again when my daughter is 1, 2 and every year after that.

I am sure there will be a few slip-ups here and there in terms of strict adherence to the protocol but I plan to observe Dr. G's precautions to the letter as much as possible.  I defnitelly considered going to a different surgeon who had a less strict protocol for bone density issues but that would be stupid if I ended up having a femoral neck fracture for that reason.

You will be fine. I have been through two WAY WAY worse surgeries in terms of pain (hip scopes which are infinitely more painful than resurfacing by most peoples' accounts) even though the trauma of hip resurfacing is initially much greater.  Maybe that is where the confidence comes from and maybe I should be more humble...but for me the only way to get through this is just to remind myself what I've been through before and that it will all be mostly past me by spring.

[mountaingoat]

Oh, and I'm coming from Colorado - Dr. Gross has quite a following here actually. He has done over 60 people from the Centennial state.

My husband and daughter will staying behind and my father and mother will take turns spending time with me in the hospital (Dad lives in FL and mom in Boston so they will fly down and split up the days).

What am I looking forward to most about this surgery besides getting my life back and getting it behind me? The fact that I will have 5 full nights of baby-free sleep in the hospital 

[Hippyliz]

Big day ahead of me -- although I have tried my best to keep on top of things, it seems like there is still a ton of stuff for  me to do before we head up to Columbia later today.  Fortunately, my sister flew down from NY to stay with me until January 25. She has already been cooking and freezing meals and helping me with my surgery "prep list."

My husband and I will drive up to Columbia this afternoon...not sure how we can time it with the football playoff games -- thank goodness he has XM radio in his car.  I'm thinking maybe we will look for a nice Chinese restaurant for some wonton soup (something brothy -- I am still worried about being nauseated after the surgery).  I am scheduled to arrive at Providence NE at 6:30 Monday morning for my 9 am surgery.  My plan is to distract myself with several Words With Friends games while I am waiting. 
 
Surprisingly, I am really not all that nervous any more.  (The bazillion activities of my 2 kids have been a great distraction.) The time is FINALLY here and the posts on this site have given me so much confidence in the process and the outcome.  My prayer is that God will guide the hands and decisions of Dr. Gross and his team, and that I will have the fortitude to follow all post-op instructions.

I'll try to post something as soon as I can after surgery -- I so appreciated the stories shared by others!