Not a Hippy-but I'm happy

[Mike D]

Hi everyone!    I'm back from Birmingham and feeling much better. It was tougher than I thought but I've got the meds right now and being back home makes a huge difference.
First up-thanks so much for all the support, I've just caught up with the news on here and a lot of people have wished me well, along with Sal and Ruby as we were close together.
I didn't get my BHR-  Mr Treacy gave me a 70/30 chance, so I have a ceramic THR.
Not too long ago I would have had a lot of trouble accepting that but  I'm totally happy with my outcome.
Coming on here is the best thing I could have done.
Tons of hippies eager to help and support others made me realise that a THR is not the 2nd prize I had it down for.
This site helped me discover Mr Treacy, and as Danny told me- If Mr Treacy can't give you a Bhr, nobody can.
I could have got a THR a lot closer to home but by travelling to see him, I'll never be left wondering about what might have been.
I'm just so grateful that I will have a stable pain free hip for a long time ahead.
Thanks hippies, I don't know what i would have done without you!

[Pat Walter]

Hi Mike

I am so happy to hear things went well for you and you have a new ceramic THR.  No problem with that.  You will be out of pain and when you heal, you will be active again without any restrictions, I assume.

Mr. Treacy is the best.  No problem with you having a THR and hanging around here.  We want to hear how you progress and all your updates when you have time.

I put your story under the THRs so others can learn in case they can't have a hip resurfacing.

Good Luck and tak it easy for awhile.  Stay in touch when you can.

Pat

[Spanielsal]

Hi Mike, well done! I have ceramic on poly lined titanium. I guess I feel the same, I don't have a resurfacing this time round but I do have a good prosthesis and no pain, hey, what's there to feel sad about! welcome to the other side, hope your recovery goes well, stay in touch as we are only one day apart. Xx Sal

[hernanu]

Mike, it's great things went well! Like Pat said, no restrictions, no pain and the peace of mind that one of the best in the business set you up with the best possible for you. Now just heal and keep us updated.

[Dannywayoflife]

Mike I'm glad that you are home and well. I'm sorry that you didn't get a BHR but as I said to you before if he can't do it it cantle done. You gave yourself the best shot at getting one and now atleast you know that you have a thr that's installed perfectly! That's not something everyone gets!
I wish you a speedy recovery and please keep us updated as how your getting on!
Danny

[morph]

That's great news Mike. I wish you a speedy recovery.

[Tin Soldier]

Good job, Mike.  Recovery is pretty much the same for any type of THA (arthroplasty) - rest, ice, rest, ice, some doc-specific exercises, more rest, and more ice,...  Take it easy and enjoy being pain free.

[Anna]

Hey Mike,

So glad to hear you are happy with your THR and on the road to recovey! When you are feeling a little bit better I will be quizzing you like mad as im looking at a THR too so have lots of questions for you!!!!

Anna 

[Mike D]

Thanks folks,  I got a great nights sleep in and feel fantastic-no hip pain!!
Everything feels supple and loose, swelling receding etc, it's so good to feel like this.
That horrible nagging OA pain has GONE!
I'm taking all this good advice on board and will start on the ice today.

Anna- fire as many questions as you want, anything to help a fellow Yorkie!
What stage are you at now? any firm dates,etc?

Got the district nurse coming today to change my dressing so I'll get to see a nice neat scar I hope.
Thanks everyone.

[rubyred]

Hi Mike,

I cannot wait for my first decent nights sleep. I didn't get too much rest in the hospital what with the buzzers going off and the need to take obs every couple of hours.

I'm still in a tremendous about of pain and it's hard to say whether it's just muscle and incision or OA... I'm hoping its the former!!

I'll be reading your story regularly to keep up to speed with your progress. So sorry we didn't get to say hello! Would have been nice to have had a quick natter in xray!

[Anna]

No OA pain?! Wow, that must be a good feeling. I so happy for you! 

I have no dates or anything. Ive been waiting 2 months now for an appointment at the ROH. Gonna give them a ring this week to see whether they even know I exist.

So do you have the 90 degree restriction? What did Mr T say about restrictions in the future? Anything you wont be able to do? Did he mention running? Biking? Bungy jumping .... doing the splits?!!!!!

Anna

[Mike D]

Ruby
 I just posted on your recovery threat about pain, etc.
From the people I've spoke to since I came home, it seems nobody get anywhere near the proper amount of sleep in hospital and it's taken me a full day at least to start feeling better.
Get as comfy as you can, find a routine about how long to sit in one place, best time to do exercises etc and you will be healing.
I hope it goes as well for you,take care.

[Mike D]

Anna,
It's hard to describe how good the feeling is with no OA. The OA crept up  on me slowly  over about 3 years and like many here, I hadn't noticed how many allowances I made for it.
To not have that feeling now as I walk straight and upright is incredible.
I keep waiting for the twinge as I walk but it's just not there!
My restrictions for 6 weeks are 3 things-
No 90 degree,
No crossing the leg over centre line of body,
No excessive turning in or out at the ankle.
Long term, just one- no fast running advised.   A short run for a bus or something is ok , just no continual pounding.
I can live with that, no problem.  I'll be looking after it but not get over cautious.
Mr Treacy asked me what I did for a living, I'm a Joiner, and he said -you need a hip that can let you get into lots of awkward corners, so that's what I shall give you-amazing!
I struggled like you seem to be to get York NHS to get on the same wavelength as Birmingham, who I found super efficient
You'll get there Anna- stay positive, look at Ruby's cancellation and how quick things happened for her.
That could easily happen to you Anna
Mike

[hernanu]

No OA pain?! Wow, that must be a good feeling. I so happy for you! 

I have no dates or anything. Ive been waiting 2 months now for an appointment at the ROH. Gonna give them a ring this week to see whether they even know I exist.

So do you have the 90 degree restriction? What did Mr T say about restrictions in the future? Anything you wont be able to do? Did he mention running? Biking? Bungy jumping .... doing the splits?!!!!!

Anna

Anna, what options are they suggesting for you? is HR still possibility?

[Anna]

Hey thanks Mike. Ive suffered for over 6 years now. I just couldnt imagine a life without the pain to be honest. I gave up running 6 years ago when it was diagnosed so I suppose its just not part of my life anymore. I could live with that if it meant I would be pain free. Im really chuffed for you. Everytime I see a guy on crutches hobbling round York over the next few weeks I will be shouting Mike to see if I get a reaction! 

Hern, I went to see Mr T in June and he said that I wasnt suitable for HR. My femour is too straight and all the angles are wrong. He said it just wasnt an option .... and you cant argue with that coming from Mr T. I have two options left, a PAO or a THR. Im waiting for an appointment to see a specialist for the PAO but I doubt I will be suitable as they only work if OA isnt too bad. It may be an option for my left hip but im sure its not an option for my right. Im 99% sure its too far gone and I will need a THR. I can see the OA on the x rays and my surgeon in York told me 'dont build your hopes up as I can see the OA, but we still have to explore all options'.

Ive been waiting 2 months now for an appointment! I went to see my GP today for some stronger pain killers and they agreed it seemed a long wait so they are chasing it up today. Fingers crossed I get somewhere soon ... before I die with jealously of you all getting fixed!!! 

Anna

[Mike D]

Anna
Its so tough when you're waiting for things to happen as you are.
I remember a point when the clifton park clinic just couldn't give me reasons why there was no progress, i'm not impatient and we all know there is a system but something had obviously gone wrong.
At one point, I was calling in regularly because the phone calls they promised never happened.
Didn't seem to matter who I spoke to,the calls never came.,
I paid to see Mr Treacy privately, he then referred me directly to Birmingham NHS and I never looked back.

That's a very, very, brief account of how it worked for me and when you say about the GP 'chasing it up', I just hope you're not still in the middle of the saga where no-one can give you any kind of firm answer.
That phrase seems to get used a lot in our NHS along with-
He/She is not in today, I'll make sure the message gets passed on.
Leave that one with me, I'll get back to you.
It's not me that usually deals with this, I'll ............

Sorry if that sounds like a bit of a rant Anna, but I know where you're at!

But, once things started moving for me, I saw Mr T in Birmingham end of May, and I'm sat in the garden typing this in August, so just don't get too down.
Keep at them and you WILL have pain free hips.
I'm in Huntington, Anna-if you ever wanted to talk, don't hesitate to get in touch.
Mike

[rubyred]

Anna, do not wait on the GP's to do this for you. My advise would be to ring Mr O'Hara's secretary yourself and find out what's going on from the horses mouth. Mike is correct you may get fobbed off with different excuses. I literally bugged different secretaries until they gave me a firm answer.

I don't mean to sound like i'm telling you what to do, but I just know how important this is for you.

Huntington Mike? I drove through there yesterday lol.

[Spanielsal]

Hi Mike and Anna, it is such a treadmill, our young age works against us but you have to keep going Anna, we are all with you every step of the way. Can you investigate the THR option concurrently? Is it worth going back to Mr T's office and telling them that the PAO is unlikely, and ask what might options you have from a THR? He's the best there is, perhaps Mr O'H has already referred you back? Hang on sweetie, it must come soon. Xxxxx

[Pat Walter]

Anna and anyone else with a lot of pain post op.  Your body does not heal well when in pain and you definitely don't sleep well.  I would be aggressive in contacting your surgeon or family doctor to get the proper pain relief.  You might have to try different meds.  Please get in touch with either and get some pain meds so you can be relaxed, be healing and get some sleep.  It is really important.

Good Luck.

Pat

[Dannywayoflife]

Unfortunatly Pat with our NHS system its not always that easy!