Hi everyone,
I have lurked on this site for almost a couple of years now and today had my right hip resurfaced today by Dr Bill Walter in Sydney Australia.
I thought Id give you a bit of background and let everyone know how i'm progressing.
I was first diagnosed with OA in my hips in 2005, mild in left and moderate in right, i gave up playing soccer and running. 18 months ago i first saw Dr Walter as i was fed up with my right hip hurting, being so stiff and my right knee and the left side of my middle back was hurting, he suggested a resurfacing would help all these pains and recommended Hip Resurfacing,.Unfortunately i had to wait 12 months to be covered by insurance.
In that time i got a couple of other opinions, one recommended a THR due to MoM issues , another said a resurfacing wouldn't meet my expectations as my hip wasn't giving me that much pain and to go back to whatever activities i could until i was in more pain. I did then start running on a tread mill ( up to 5km) after about 8 years of no running. This i would say remarkably improved my right hip and my knee pain disappeared! My ROM was still only 60 degrees and my back was getting worse though and day to day things were still greatly annoying me (e.g. tying up shoe laces) so i went back to Dr Walter and he stuck by his recommendation, i also sent my Xrays to Debbie to get some opinions. I was still so unsure and i did end up canceling surgery the day before in Nov 2013, but eventually i have come to back to wanting to improve my life and today had the operation!
I had the operation at 8am and was so so nervous ,still was wondering if i was doing the right thing. I woke up at 10.30am, no pain as my whole leg was numb. They had given me a sedative and then an injection in my groin into the femoral nerve i believe. I was in my room at 11.30, no pain at all really. My leg has been pretty numb and the physio wouldn't let me get out of bed due to this but i have done a few bed exercises. Disappointed not to have got up and the physio was worried that Dr Walter would be angry with her. Gradually my feeling is coming back and i am so relived as one of my greatest worries was nerve damage. A bit dizzy and very tired but cant seem to sleep deeply (Hence why i writing this at 11pm!), but other than that ok.
I intend to email out my progress, hopefully my story will help someone the way all the emails and stories have helped me. If any one has any questions please let me know.
Thanks for listening and thanks to everyone on this site
Nigel
Age 41 Sydney Australia
Dr Bill Walter Right Adept HR 30/4/14