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Author Topic: 5 weeks post-op - Dr Kim, Ottawa Canada  (Read 2837 times)

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Gazza2

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5 weeks post-op - Dr Kim, Ottawa Canada
« on: March 28, 2013, 06:59:26 PM »
After getting so much great information from this site I thought I would share my story.  Probably there is not much that is different from others experiences, perhaps the Canadian (Ontario) health service experience maybe of interest to some.

About 3 years ago the pain after playing soccer was becoming intense -  after lack of progress with PT my GP sent me for an X-ray.  After being told I had OA he said at my age there is not much I can do but take Tyelenol to manage the pain??!  After giving up soccer and then hockey, and only playing golf with several Ibuprofen I asked to be referred to a surgeon.  I was referred to an Arthritis assessment clinic (At the Riverside hospital for those in Ottawa)  the doctor there was informative and helpful -  his assessment was that my pain level was diagnosed as below the level for recommending surgery, but my range of mobility was extremely poor and that he was going to refer me to Dr Kim and suggested I maybe a good candidate for re-surfacing.  At that time I had no idea what re-surfacing was.  I met Dr Kim two months later who recommended a HR and explained what it was vs THR,  he warned me that the wait list was about 12 months.   I subsequently (through this site) researched HR extensively,  I found there are two pretty experienced surgeons in Ottawa,  Dr Kim, and Dr Beaule.  Dr Kim is listed on this site as having done over 700 HR and uses the Wright Technology Conserve plus implant.

13 months later (Mid Feb 2013) I went into Ottawa General for the HR surgery.   For me the long wait time was acceptable, to be honest I spent the first 6-8 months questioning whether I really should go through with the op,  my pain level was never that bad etc. all feelings that I thing most have.  Now if I start to get OA symptoms in my right hip, waiting 13 months would not be so acceptable!

On the positive side the Ottawa hospital system prepares you well in terms of what to expect, how to prepare etc.  What it does not do very well is provide any technical details of what you will experience -  after the diagnosis meeting I only got to meet Dr Kim (For ~60 secs, 13 months later) as I lay on the hospital bed in pre-op room where he talked a little bit what would happen and let me ask questions  (Which is where I confirmed he was using the C+ implant).  Fortunately due to the great information available here I was very knowledgeable and it did not concern me.

For the surgery I was offered and suggested to have a spinal anesthetic and he also said I could have normal anesthetic to either subdue me as much as I want from full knock out to nothing.  Having watched several HR surgeries on youtube I was fully aware of what was going to happen and was comfortable with no anasthetic.  So I spent the operation chatting with the anesthetist it was surreal.  All I could see was the machine displaying my vitals, but the anesthetist get me informed (just dislocating the hip etc.)  it was during the operation that I discovered Dr Kim now uses an un-cemented femoral component – this was a surprise for me!   I really recommend the spinal option, the total lack of grogginess from waking up from the anesthetic makes you much ready to recover imo.

After stapling I was taken to post recovery, where I spent an hour whilst the continually monitored to ensure movement comes back in the legs.  I was put on oral pain meds every 4 hrs  (Tylenol and hydromorphone)  -  I never really experienced any pain post surgery beyond 1-2 level – amazing to me.   My surgery was Thursday afternoon and I was home 10am on Saturday,  after the usual walking, shown how to climb stairs, climb into shower etc.  I found walking and being on my feet stretching out actually better than lying in bed.

Others have reported that everyone recovers at different pass.  Mine seems to have been normal (Or on the faster side)  I was on two crutches for 4 days, 1 crutch for 4 days, then cane for ~2 weeks.  Off of cane and driving (Standard) and back to work at 3 weeks.  Dr Kim had typical restrictions (90 degree etc) that he lifted after 3 weeks.  He prescribed a blood thinner pill for 21 days,  the pain meds I stopped around day 9  (I stupidly stopped them at day 4 but realized that was a mistake.)  After one week I went to my gym daily and walked ~1km and rode a bike (no resistance) for 10-15 mins.  What I do find surprising is how I could feel progress daily – each day the pain soreness decreased, and then the strength in the muscles increase. I am now just under 5 weeks post op and feel my range of mobility is way better than before the op and ~90-95% of my right hip.  Right now I feel almost back normal but am being conscious that my bone has not healed and I need to careful not to do to much.  (I am itching to play golf but am waiting for my 6 week follow-up to ask Dr Kim when he will allow golfing) fortunately there is still snow on the ground here so can’t play anyway.

In summary – I think this is an amazing surgical procedure when performed by an experienced surgeon and you are lucky to avoid the rare side-effects from surgery.  I am happy that this is offered under OHIP and overall the system worked well despite the inherent delays from diagnosis to surgery.
Dr Kim Ottawa LHR Cementless C+ Feb 2013

evant

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Re: 5 weeks post-op - Dr Kim, Ottawa Canada
« Reply #1 on: March 29, 2013, 05:59:29 AM »
Great account of your operation.

I applaud you chatting with the anaesthetist throughout - beyond my capability though!

Your recovery is doing well - as you say just let that lovely bone grow into your device and you'll be playing golf before too long.
rbhr 3 january 2013
mr ronan treacy
royal orthopaedic hospital, birmingham, england

hernanu

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Re: 5 weeks post-op - Dr Kim, Ottawa Canada
« Reply #2 on: March 29, 2013, 10:12:12 AM »
Excellent report, glad to see that you are recovering so well.

Thanks also for posting good information for future Canadian hippys.
Hernan, LHR 8/24/2010, RHR 11/29/2010 - Cormet, Dr. Snyder

packman

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Re: 5 weeks post-op - Dr Kim, Ottawa Canada
« Reply #3 on: April 07, 2013, 12:11:29 PM »
Thank you for the report Gazza2. Sounds like you got on the wait list at an appropriate time and the pre-op pain was manageable. I am just over week 2, and feeling stronger by the day and encouraged by your progress. I feel that walking next week without cane assistance will be manageable but am careful not to overdo it.
In my case, I took a cortisone shot in August that made me feel great for about 5 weeks and got me to the gym,unfortunately I believe it worsened the osteo pain . In December, I could not walk 50 yards without some bone on bone jolts. The thought of waiting 13 months from my OHIP specialist on this site scared the hell out of me, plus I too am an avid golfer wanting some portion of this season back! (target is late August although some say earlier is possible)
Accordingly I went stateside despite the money.
We'll have to study our golf distances pre-op and post-op when recovery hits.
Bilateral 99.9% Canadian,.1% USA re; BHRP (right) -3/21/13 Biomet uncemented - Dr. Gross / Lee Webb Columbia South Carolina
BHRP (left) standard uncemented Dr Emil Schemitsch sept 25/17
London Ontario Canada
Damn Osteoarthritis!!

Manofword

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Re: 5 weeks post-op - Dr Kim, Ottawa Canada
« Reply #4 on: April 18, 2013, 08:21:00 AM »
Congrats on the great report! I'm pretty fearless but no way I would go through the BHR w/o being knocked out! Had to be kind of weird knowing what was going on. My rehab specialist told me that she was allowed to scrub in for the first time on my procedure and said that when they dislocated my hip, the noise was unbelievable, along with tools, bone grinding etc. I was VERY leary of the spinal and told them to do it but I didn't want to know about it. I would do it again in a heartbeat knowing that my osteo pain would be gone instantly. I woke up in the OR as they were finishing wrapping my wound. I was awake from then through the recovery room and didn't sleep til that night.

Enjoy life w/o pain!
Phil. 4:13  -  RBHR Dr. Brooks 11-28-12 Euclid Hospital/Cleve. Clinic (48/56) (no more pain!)

Gazza2

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Re: 5 weeks post-op - Dr Kim, Ottawa Canada
« Reply #5 on: April 21, 2013, 01:26:40 PM »
Packman, glad your recovery is going well and you will get some golf this summer (When we finally get some sun!)  I am at 8 weeks now and yesterday I hit some balls at the range yesterday for the first time.  There was snow flurries and it is still cold so I am not worried about distance yet.  I was a bit nervous and thought I would just swing wedges and 8/9 irons.  I duffed the first couple then relaxed and realized there was no more stress swinging the driver or the 9 iron :-)  What struck me was I was turning my hip easier (I am LHR/RH golfer) whereas for last two years I have not been properly turning, and the swing was less effort than before.

Manofword,  yes it was a bit weird but good weird, not scary weird being awake and aware during the operation. I did not hear any loud noise during dislocation, but lots of drilling noises of course, but I knew that going in with having seen videos of the operation.  I was surprised by the shockwave that I felt go up my spine from impaction of the cup in the acetabular (And the head on the femur) he clearly gave it a pretty big thump.  A couple of times during the operation my oxygen level dropped below 90 and the anaesthetist told me to take deep breathes until the O2 number rose above 90 (Which I could see just above my head).  I think if I could have seen the operation I would have been a little more squeaked out - but just lying there listening to the event was cool and something I will always remember.
Dr Kim Ottawa LHR Cementless C+ Feb 2013

Marco Polo

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Re: 5 weeks post-op - Dr Kim, Ottawa Canada
« Reply #6 on: April 21, 2013, 02:44:54 PM »
Gazza:

Very encouraging post on returning to golf.  I am a left handed golfer with a right BHR and I have suspected that my hip arthritis was restricting my turn and back swing, particularly with my driver.  I am looking forward to getting to the range in a few weeks to hit some balls and see if improved range of motion translates into a fuller and easier backswing.

All the best - and hit 'em long and straight!
Marco, RBHR, Della Valle, 3/29/13

 

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