Pat M’s Hip Resurfacing with Dr. Brooks 2013
Pat M’s Hip Resurfacing with Dr. Brooks 2013
July 15, 2013
Right hip problems for 3 years, dx with a torn labrum ,some arthritis, but the labrum causes the worst problems. Also have a bad left shoulder and a bad left knee – both arthritis and recent right plantar fasciitis which is quite painful. I am now 58 and seemed to fall apart in the last few years.i don’t do competitive sports, but used to be quite active outside hiking, gardening and showing my dogs. Now can’t even walk the length of the local mall. Saw Dr. Brooks last Feb and he said that I was appropriate for an HR, but at the time my knee was so bad that I looked into possibly having that replaced first, instead had a series of the " chicken fat " shots and got an unloaded brace. I kept remembering Dr.Brooks last words to me-" don’t put it off too long" So tomorrow at noon, I will hopefully be on my way to being a member of the HR group. I have learned so much from this website and am very thankful that I found it.
July 16, 2013
4 hours out from surgery, waiting for dinner and my first pain med- just a pretty good burning pain at the incision area- all parts working and feeling again. DR. said all went well Yeah! Feeling surprisingly chipper and awake. Worse thing so far was getting the IV in. Everyone very friendly and helpful
July 20, 2013
Had my right hip resurfaced on Tuesday, with Dr. Brooks. Surgery went well. Had a lot of pain the first few days, but am much better now- came home on Friday. Worst thing for me now is getting in and out of my bed . Steps (2) to enter house was very "challenging". One thing is that my right leg was my good leg 2nd a bad left knee and now the left leg is my good leg. My left knee has been good since my surgery, but I am not used to depending on it. Last night I had an awful time getting on and off the toilet, but this morning went much better. Every one at Cleveland clinic was very nice to work with and I did have a " lake view" from my window. Well – off to do my exercises and get a little walk in. P.S. – must say something about my husband – he has been great giving me both mental and physical support.
July 21, 2013
The first several days I didn’t really have any feeling of awareness of something different in my hip joint itself- just normal, to be expected pain. Then I started to be aware of non- painful " clunking " for lack of a better term. No pain, no real sound, just a sensation with certain movements. I don’t feel that it is something to be alarmed about, and could always call the ortho resident on call – but wanted to ask on here if it is a fairly normal occur acne at this point? I am trying to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
August 20, 2013
I am 5 weeks post-op now and have minimal "clunking" I’m sure I’ll have more off and on the more I do, but now know to not worry about is.
My only real restrictions are 75% weight bearing for 6 weeks ( ON 2 CRUTCHES!) and no supine straight leg raises. They encouraged us to sit and bend over as far as we could the day after surgery. I can put on socks by just bending over , but just recently was able to cross my surgical leg over my other leg and put lotion on my foot- I can cross my leg fairly easily, but couldn’t bend forward to touch my foot- now, by bending forward as best I can and twisting my foot as much as I can, I can get that lotion on!
August 30, 2013
I have been 75% weight bearing for 6 weeks per Dr. Brook’s protocol. Did very well with 6 week follow-up – x-rays beautiful (if x-rays can be beautiful) I realize that I must have been a little more nervous than I thought because I felt so relieved once the x-rays were done and everything looked good. Phil (P.A.) had me walk without my crutches ("walk with purpose – swing those arms!") So, I am now full-weight bearing with some limitations of what kind of exercises to do. No leg presses or squats or anything that causes that type of pressure with weight – also no SLR’s with weights – anything that happens "naturally" is OK, but not as an exercise for one year – then anything goes. I kept asking about this or that exercise for my legs and many I wasn’t supposed to do. I am disappointed, but realize that I don’t exercises that much anyways! I am to walk as much as possible, bike, treadmill, elliptical, – hate the treadmill, but like walking, would be able to bike at work (work in physical therapy of all things), but can’t make a full revolution because of a bad left knee.
Anyways, I know things are going well, but funny thing – the first 6 weeks I was fine – "recovering patient doing well" and all, but now I feel like I should be all better and I’m not. I have a significant limp yet, due to weak abductors – am working on my side lying right hip abductions – difficult, but doable. So I am walking with a cane, or even one of my crutches because limping makes everything hurt on me, and with just a little pressure on my cane I can walk OK. I really don’t have that much pain, none at rest or at night (yeah!). My sleep cycle is all screwed up, but I am working on that. Not really taking a nap during the day anymore, just a "45 minute sit down rest" I have 3 more weeks to get ready to go back to work – I know I will be ready, but right now am feeling just a little down, but overall doing very well.