John D’s Hip Resurfacing with Dr. Rector 2012
John D’s Hip Resurfacing with Dr. Rector 2012
February 3, 2012
I’m sitting here in the hospital at Boulder Community Hospital, 2 days post op from my BHR resurfacing with Dr. Rector. Couldn’t believe how well it went. Dr. Rector told me he got the device inserted perfectly. Just what I wanted to hear. It’s been pretty amazing. Had a couple walks in the hospital today, went up stairs, watched the snow fall outside, etc. Now it’s on to healing. Pretty excited about it all.
Special thanks to Boomer on here. He and his wife put me and my wife up in his house and he and his wife have made this whole experience even more special, starting with picking us up at the airport, getting us to Dr. Rectors office for our pre-op visit, etc. As soon as I’m discharged they’ve got their house set up for us to hang out in till I get my final check-up from Rector before we fly home (we live out of State).
Anyway, those of you out there thinking of doing this, go for it. First thing my wife asked me after surgery was, “Are you glad you still did this?” And, my answer was an immediate “YES”. So, I guess that makes me a new “Surface Hippy” now.
February 9, 2012
One week and a day out today. Home alone and had to put on my compression tights; dang these things are sexy!!! LOL Anyway, I did it. It took me a while to get the surgical leg stocking on, but was able to pull my right leg up to the seat edge. Left leg doesn’t take very long. I walked yesterday twice. Total was a little more than a mile. Not bad for one week out. Seems some of the swelling has gone down, but discoloration has increased. Literally looks like a mule kicked me. Already have reduced some of the pain medication. But, don’t want to do it too much. Less pain I feel the more I’ll be able to get up and around and rehad/recover. Anyway, going to go sit outside in the sun and read a book.
February 13, 2012
Tomorrow it will be two weeks post op. I’ve been walking daily and the last 5 days have been putting in at least a mile straight each day. Yesterday only used my cane for about 1/3 of it, and today didn’t use my cane at all, and actually had a pretty brisk pace. I did all my PT exercises afterwards, then iced. Did some things around the house, drove into town and did some “Valentine” shopping for the kids and wife. After getting home, fed all the animals, picked up the eggs, etc. Tonight, iced the hip well, took a jacuzzi, then iced it again. Swelling has finally gone down about 50%, so I’m sure that’s helped. Still drinking lots of water as instructed. So, feeling pretty happy about things so far.
February 23, 2012
I’m three weeks and a day post op. The hip seems to be getting better each day. Sunday rode 1 1/2 hours on the bike, did a two mile walk. Tuesday, Wed, and today rode between an hour and an hour and a half. I try to walk at least two miles each day after my rides and then do my PT exercises. My range of motion continues to increase and the joint feels stronger and stronger each day. Swelling is about 90% gone; although there’s still some pretty good discoloration. What an experience this has been. It’s been amazing to watch the body heal. I can’t believe how well my incision looks. Dr. Rector is an absolute perfectionist.
March 10, 2012
I’m 5 weeks and two days and I can lift my right hip up and put my socks and shoes on with no problems now. I was putting my Ted hose on by myself after the first week. I didn’t have any 90 deg. rule. Only restriction was to not flex and internally rotate. The first week I would pull my heel up to the edge of the chair so my heal would be on the edge, then I could reach far enough to get the socks over the edge of my toes and pull the socks on. Used the same technique to get the TED hose on. I can almost pull my right leg up to my chest now, and before surgery there was no way I could do that.
March 17, 2012
6 weeks post op and counting. Doing better and better each week. Slowly getting strength back. Dr. Rector detaches the gluteus muscle on his posterior approach, so working on my glute strength and extension. I’ve already got better extension now then I’ve had in years. Almost no pain in the hip, but does ache a little now and then still. Immediately gets better when I ice. About 95% of the swelling is gone, just a little puffy on the right butt cheek. 😛 Incision looks like a red line is all.
Put in alomst 180 miles on the bike last week, plus three days in the weight room doing all my strengthening exercises they had me doing in PT. I stopped the PT since I can do it all pretty much at my work in the weight room. I’m on my feet almost all day coaching swim and doing all my PE classes, so it’s unbelievable how quickly this recovery process has been. People see me and don’t believe how fast I’ve recovered being only 6 weeks out. Seems being active only accelerates the healing process; I know all the weight bearing accelerates the bone growth and ingrowth.
March 24, 2012
7 Weeks post op and continuing to improve. Can’t believe how fast it all happens. Got in 180 miles on the bike this week, did hill repeats twice this week, 10 times each day (short hill 1:30 effort). Stood up the whole time to get my glutes to fire. Today, rode with my daughter on the Time Trial bikes. She was doing 3 mile intervals. So, I followed along. On the first one I was able to hold 30-31 mph. So, feel like my strength is coming back slowly. Dr. Rector said I should be ready to race by June, so far it’s looking good. Got a massage today too, that really helped. Dr. Rector is amazing.
March 31, 2012
8 weeks post op. Some big break throughs this week. One, did two 60 mile rides with hill repeats for the hard part. Tues. the hill repeats were very slow. Reality slap in the face. But, Thur. did the same hill repeats and dropped almost a minute off each one from Tuesdays efforts; only 30 seconds off best time ever. Also, last Sunday, hiked in to an area to scout for turkeys and it was pretty uncomfortable on the uneven terrain and hip felt very weak. Today hiked in the same area to hunt for turkeys and the hip felt almost normal. Not once did I notice it. So, it continues to get better.
April 21, 2012
11 weeks out from surgery and things are going AWESOME!!! 1) Training is going great. Got in my first 300 mile week since surgey. Did hill repeats twice this past week. And last Sat. got in 85. One day did 32 with a 15 mile time trial in 32:04. I was very happy with that. 28 mph ave. Used the TT bike with fast helmet and skin suit, but no fast wheels. I got a new bike yesterday, a Cannondale EVO. So, motivation just went up a notch. Going to go watch my 14 yr. old daughter do a Sprint Tri tomorrow. So, it will be fun for people to see me out riding on the course and say, “Hey, didn’t you just have hip surgery?” LOL
Just got off the phone with a good friend of mine, mulitple national champion cyclist. He’s in his 60’s now. Crashed Wed and broke his hip. They did surgery today and decided to give him a new total hip. Talked with him on the phone tonight, but docs were in the room, so gotta call back tomorrow and compare notes with him and see how he’s doing. They said he had arthritis so bad they just decided to replace the hip as well. Too bad he couldn’t have gotten a resurfaced hip.
May 26, 2012
May 15 did my first race a little over 3 mo. post op. Was planning on doing the 35+ 1,2’s and the Pro 1,2’s race, but only did the 35+ race. It was a brisk pace, 27 mph average, with fast laps at 33-34mph. I finished with the lead group and got 14th. Was so tired afterwards I bailed on the Pro 1,2 race. (Found out two days later I have mono. Oh well, I was still so excited that I didn’t even notice my right hip. Although I can’t say I didn’t think about it. All the turns were right hand. LOL Well, I know it will only keep getting better. Amazing the technology now days for the hip resurfacing.
July 23, 2012
I’m almost 6 months out now. I’ve been pounding out the miles on the bike. Averaging over 300 miles a week 7 of the last 8 weeks. Hips holding up good. State Road Race Championships coming up, so I’ll do that and see how it fairs. Had a funny experience a couple weeks ago. We were playing “Long Base” (Wiffle ball with one base to run to and back) and it was on the beach in the sand. I had no control over my hip/leg when I was running. My leg felt like it had a mind of it’s own. My brain had no idea what direction it was going, turning, pushing, etc. It was the weirdest sensation. My wife, who’s an Occupational Therapist, told me that it’s because all the nerve endings (propriorecptors) in the acetabular cup and on the femoral head are no longer there, so my proprioreception (awareness of what my limb/body are doing in space) isn’t the same now. She say’s it will come back, but will take time. But, it was almost comical trying to run after a ball in the sand and play. I felt like such a spazz.
September 9, 2012
As I bridged across, the guy from the Squadra Team had been forced off the wheel of the 2nd ridder and he was pretty much in the gravel on the left side. He wanted to get back into the pace line, but the Davis ridder wasn’t having anything to do with it, I’m guessing, figuring the Squadra guy could just slow down and move in behind him and get on his wheel. Unfortunately, push came to shove and the Squadra guy shoved the Davis ridder so hard that he lost control and came slamming into me as I was moving up along the right side. I have absolutely no recollection of even being hit, bumped, etc. Next thing I knew I was looking up at a number of people standing around me, while they had me strapped onto a back board and were trying to tighten my neck support collar down. Of course, I pretty much freaked at this point and began pulling on everything to free myself. Fortunately, one of my team mates was there to calm me down and somewhat explain to me what had happened.
Anyway, long story short, ended up in ER in Salinas (not the most desireable place to go). But, with the persitence from my wife and a couple friends they were able to have me flown to Fresno Comminity Trauma Center. I spent several days there in ICU, before being moved on the 4th day to a rehab floor. Bottom line for damages: Fractured my right Femur right through the Greater Trochanter (just past the end of the shaft from my Birmingham Resurfacing implant). I broke 9 ribs, displaced 2 more. Required 2 liters of blood, as I lost so much. Fractured my collar bone in 3 places. Had mulitiple punctures in my right lung that had collapsed and filled with blood and fluid. And of course, all the nice road rash and stitches that come along with that.
Surgery on the femur went well. They placed a plate along the lateral edge of the femur and were able to drive screws into the femur, and up into and around the area around the shaft from the Birmingham device. I’m on strict NON WEIGHT bearing orders for 2 months to allow this to heal. Any sheer forces could pull apart the fracture again if I don’t allow it to heal adequately. Not feeling too much pain in the hip/leg at this point. But boy, for those of you who have ever broken ribs, you’ll know what I’m talking about that this is the most painful part of this whole ordeal; not to mention 9 of these broken items.
Anyway, Boomer has been great at helping me keep my Spirits up, and a call to Spencer has also reassured me that all will be fine, it will just take time. Downside though is, surgeon has stated that I should never do any Mass Start cycling races anymore; as a crash on the right hip again could be disasterous. So, that’s pretty frustrating. Guess I’ll have to change my mindset on this and maybe focus on just staying fit and maybe just sticking to time trials. More on that later.
Thanks to all who said a prayer for me. God truly does listen to his children and His Spirit has been present with me during this time. In all things I will trust in Him.