Packman’s Hip Resurfacing with Dr. Gross 2013

January 14, 2013

My facts – 55 year old male 6ft 200lbs and large boned. First evaluated 2 years ago, when I had preliminary pain and an assistant to the ortho said “come back when the pain becomes a little more unbearable”. Now it’s serious discomfort, but the waiting list for my right BHR in the Toronto Ontario area is 1 year plus. I am quite disappointed – had I known then what I know now I would have said get me into the queue list.

Quality of surgeon is not the issue – there are some quite capable people here. I have been told by two specialists that I am a resurfacing candidate and that THR would be too aggressive. The medicare system I have paid into for over 35 years, is now not really there for me when I want it. I can handle waiting 6 months but 1 year plus without knowing when vs. living with not being able to really exercise with quality of life is disheartening. This is the first year I have not played ice hockey in 25 years (although I can give that up vs. risk of femoral head fractures on a fall). It’s my golf and general exercise of light runs/walking. Yes putting the sock on the right foot, cutting toe nails on the right foot and sleeping and even driving pains occur radiating to the knee and forget walking a lot of stairs for load bearing. In August I had a cortisone shot and was on top of the world pain free for 5 weeks before my system voided it.
Summary before surgery

1) Originally diagnosed with Osteo A., summer of 2010 – waited 3 months for an appointment with Dr. Schemitsch who did a hip resurfacing on a friend of mine who referred him to me – excellent surgeon
2) Told to come back when the pain was more unbearable – no appointment booked
3) Pain intensifying summer of 2012 – on advice of a Total Hip Replacement. ortho, got a cortisone shot that lasted about 6 weeks before my body voided it- nice feeling but would never ever ever get a shot like that again, as only masks the pain – you still do more unfelt damage by vigorous exercise
4) September, 2012 could not even get an appointment with Schemitsch until Jan 5/13
5) Tried for a family doctor referral appointment with Dr. Christine Young – my sister in law worked at the hospital where Dr. Young operates from – Dr. Young is highly regarded. Told the wait time for appointments alone was 3-4 months
6) Meanwhile I have the bone on bone jolts – it is affecting my work, my confidence, self-esteem, mentally I am frustrated
7) I cannot deal with it – I want my life back. Fortunate to have a reasonable income. Use this invaluable site and research a # of surgeons. Chose Dr. Gross and surgery date March 21st
Have NEVER regretted the decision – top notch quality and back golfing at 3 months 1 week

April 4, 2013

I am now two weeks post-op outpatient Right HR from Dr. Gross and share some experiences as follows:’

1) Dr. Gross and his entire team are extremely diligent, organized, and precise. Make no mistake about it people this is one well oiled team that cares about your entire well-being. The experience of over 3,000 surgeries permeates thru everyone! I felt I received the absolute best care!
2) I am a 55 year old 6 ft male – how did this happen to me etc.. but hereditary/bad ice hockey/box lacrosse fall (none of that sissy field lacrosse for this guy) – who knows?
3) Surgery around 7:30 a.m. at the Harding Street surgical centre on a Thursday- out of there around 4 p.m. – Most painful part is getting into a car. Find one with a reclining seat that goes down all the way so you can inch your butt back and get leg clearance to drag it in. That was agony because it is hard to bend your leg or swing them with the nurse/caregiver’s assistance – the leg just feels like a log. Very agonizing here.
4) My wife and I stayed at the handicapped suite at the Mariott. It was clean and perhaps their couches / chair are a little worn but it’s a stretch to say it was dated. There is not much to eat around there – Wendy’s and the Cracker Barrel are adequate takeout for salads/chicken/reuben/roast beef. The Mariott breakfast is adequate. Due to our mix up we mistakenly thought we had the handicapped suite for 2 extra days and had to move to room 118 which also has had a handicapped shower – Avoid room 118 at all costs! It is adjacent to the elevator motor and gawd people still take it up to 1 a.m.- interrupts your precious sleep
5) Post-op nurse care was solid – never did I feel “exposed” to any health risks as my wife was right there with me, and read thru the meds provided including Oxycontin for short term pain relief. I appreciated the ability to get up move around and watch some TV on thrones of pillows. Dr. Gross visited us on Friday and Saturday (after the nurse visits), and we departed for Charlotte airport on Sunday morning as I had mastered the crutches
6) No question day 2 post-op and day 3 post op (Sat and Sun in my case) are peak pain days from swelling, but there is something mentally fulfilling at getting home which in this case is suburban/rural Toronto (did you know this is now the 4th largest city in North Amercia behind Mexico City / New York . Los Angeles?). Those airport wheel chairs are just awful – hard to avoid being at 90 degrees in these for a short term ride – my mind was saying my femoral neck and another f word. The polar ice machine is a great friend.
7) So now I am mastering the cane and walking with it in my left hand about 600-1000 yards. The incision pain is nothing like the bone on bone osteo pain I experienced pre-op and I look forward to my 6 week xray, and building leg strength on an easy does it basis
Count me as an advocate of the outpatient option – It’s been a great experience so far and I am so impressed with the entire team – no second guesses on my part at all!

April 20, 2013

I am at 4 weeks post-op and I too am feeling quite strong, and reining my desire to do more in. I am following the advice of my Doctor – Dr. Gross. Quite simply from grossortho.com the prescribed exercises for the first 6 weeks are walking, walking, walking, and some very simple leg slides, knee supported lifts. The exercises you are talking about, are after 6 weeks x-ray clearance and not 13 days post-op. Very few PT’s that I have heard of, that are familiar with HR and are more familiar with THR.
I am in pretty good shape with a very high threshold to pain and perhaps you are one phenomenal athlete but I am choosing to go “turtle power” – slow and easy does it.

May 10, 2013

Recently just started more advanced leg/hip strengthening and now 7 weeks post-op.

Curious what other HR people found their most difficult exercise.For me it is lying on my back and lifting my leg 2 feeet off ground and holding for a 10 count – working my way up to 30 reps then later 1 LB ankle weight and 2 lb ankle weight – supposedly when I can do 30 reps with 2lbs leg strength will be normal – recommended 3 times a day and this exercise I dreadIt seems like it will be a long way off (FYI – so easy with my non-op leg, my gait is normal with no limp, other exercises side lifts, quad stretches, pulling knee to chest etc. not as difficult)

June 2, 2013

Been Putting and Chipping for last 2 week-ends combined with my 3 times per week to the gym for elliptical (1-2 miles), and stationary bike (5 miles) program.
Dr. Gross told me golf is more twisting than pounding on the joint although IMO there is a lower body “Plant & drive” forward. Dr. Gross cleared me for golf, just easy on not overdoing the walking (walking 18 is about 5-6 miles), vs. using a cart.

Yesterday I decided to take a few full swings in the sand, and felt good. So I took my gap wedge and pitching wedge to the range for a few practice swings and hit about 25 balls. Took me a few to get comfortable on alignment and OMG have not seen my wedges fly that high and carry in a couple of years. Did have a tendency to pull a bit, but I suspect that is because I am getting behind the ball with this new hip and hitting from the inside.

Now I am fairly conservative and careful by nature, and pleased to report no aftermath pain today, but I am going to gradually work up a little more each weekend on full swings (using the Driver is an all out swing vs. wedges are a little easier), and even walk with the boys for 9 holes without golfing. I was targeting my return to my golf club and the camaraderie for August 1 – I suspect it will now be July 1-15 so quite optimistic!

June 6, 2013

Just thought I would share, that in 3 weeks of gym exercise and diet, I was able to trim 5+ pounds. The next 10 will not be as easy as I transform my body from sedentary fat to active muscle (ok a little exaggeration but you get the point). Eating – staying with loads of salad and lean meats (no breads, no juices but water / some G2 sport drinks) plus my vitamins.

I continue to follow the Doctor’s advice – no running, no lifting of more than 50 lbs. In fact I do not do any squats, lunges, dead lifts or any lifting from a standing position. Only doing bench / shoulder / inclines from a seated position with machines.

I focus on cardio – the elliptical striders are great for loosening up the hip joint, then after 20 minutes there I do my “lifting”, then it is back to the stationary bike for 20 minutes. I started with no resistance and am keeping a low resistance – I do not care if others watch or wonder why the resistance is low. I have found this has really helped my leg strength and comfort in walking.

June 23, 2013

3 months after my op, I have returned with full intensity to the golf course!
Played 12 holes on Friday nite and rode in a cart to be safe – but I still have this nagging side lateral muscle strain on lifting/swinging my right leg into a car and or cart and then getting out. Hit the ball reasonably well.

This morning Sunday the 23rd, I walked a full 18 holes (6500 yard course), pushing my cart – found it was much better – walking is the best exercise (although I have not gone for a full swim yet – fear of rusting)

For results – I have pretty much the same game back as I was very close to shooting my handicap for the full 18 – a few things to work on but loving every minute of it – will be back to my routine of playing 3 times per week over the next month. Nice to achieve that goal and be pain free in an activity that I love

October 4, 2017

I’m back after 4 1/2 years but now bilateral status
As of Monday sept 25 I am now a BHR on my left side with Dr Schemitsch London Ontario Canada
My previous right hip was a biomet resurface with Dr Gross USA -march/13
I will do an update compare and contrast later.

October 5, 2017

Backing up to march 21/13 I had my right hip resurfaced with Dr Gross – I was in the Ontario queue for hip resurfacing but due to bone on bone debilitating my life the line for dr Schemitsch was well over 2 yrs in the Toronto area. I was fortunate enough to be able to afford dr gross but it was a quality of life / want to continue working decision – I remember asking Dr Gross how’s the osteo arth in the left hip and he said you will prob be back in 4 years. Dr Schemitsch office called July/13 and said we now have a date for you Oct 21/13 – 2 1/2 years in the queue!
March/16 I retired from work – went to gym to get more active but after 1 week of workouts my left hip was bothering me. Never have had ANY 0 zilch nada issues with my right hip. Took a week off and resumed workouts- I knew my body right away. Let’s get back in the Ontario Medicare queue depressing but left hip let’s get X-rays – my diagnosis confirmed

Canada – Dr Schemitsch moved hospitals to London 2 hours east wait time for this elective surgery reduced now about 16 months. There are no doctors that I know of that perform resurface in the Toronto area. Tons do THR but ev1 told me too young and active for THR and I knew the advantages

USA – wait times 3 months
Canada – cost covered by OHIP Medicare system no patient charge
USA – I’m not covered by any medical insurance – significant out of pocket cost
Canada – BHR uncemented USA Dr Gross – diff device biomet cementless both posterior approaches
Experience – Dr Schemitsch over 500 excellent surgeon Dr Gross probably 8 to 10 times more leads in field but both are proven solutions
USA – incision sewed by stitches Canada – sewed by staples being removed by family dr next week
USA – progressive activity crutch cane walking did my own physio Canada – no wait bearing for 6 weeks crutches toe taps and limited exercise only
I will have more to come but bear in mind my right hip was way worse at pre-op vs left