2019 Update. I am back to Ballooning and everything I love. Great hip resurfacing that changed my life.

 

September 7, 2015

I’m new to the site and thanks for everyone’s stories, it really helps getting my head in the right place for what is ahead. I’m scheduled for a BHR with Dr Eastaugh Waring in Bristol, UK on 13th November 2015. Seems I’m in a similar situation to lots on with years of playing squash and football have left me in this situation at 46, hoping this will mean I can at least put my socks on without problems at least!

My sport of choice is probably a new one on here, I don’t run or do anything particularly extreme but what I do for fun is fly a hot air balloon. Try getting out of a balloon basket when you can hardly move your leg! Ok I also played 5 a side football but I’m not convinced I’ll go back to that afterwards as I’m in no rush to wear out my right hip!

November 13, 2015

I am in my hospital bed, pretty sore and stiff but not too bad all things considered. All appears to have gone well and I remember talking to the anesthetist and then waking up and it was all done.

Tried eating a while ago but that didn’t go well and I was pretty nauseous but I’m about to turn off the light and try and sleep just as soon as they do my tests.

November 15, 2015

Day 2, I’ve not been sick today and my surgeon thinks it could be one of the pain meds making me feel a bit icky felt better as the day went on Mr Eastaugh-Waring came in again today and re-iterated how happy he is with everything. Very happy I went with him.

So other milestones today bodily functions are pretty much back to normal ish (sorry Blinky) and I’ve walked around on crutches 5 times. Did all my exercises and tackled stairs this afternoon. Now done stairs 3 times so I get to go home tomorrow yay! Big steps forward today, thanks for all the support.

November 16, 2015

Ready to go home although had my worst night yet, couldn’t get comfortable and couldn’t sleep kept wanting to turn on my side which I obviously couldn’t do. Got up around 3am and went to the toilet which tired me out so that gave me an hours sleep afterwards.

I have my wife at home and my daughters when they get home from school. From what I’ve read on here last night was not unusual and seems progress speeds up once you get home. After all of yesterday’s efforts though I’m pretty stiff and I think I’ve hit the wall JD mentioned!

November 20, 2015

I’m now sleeping much better, sleeping in my own bed and maybe grab a small nap in the recliner during the day. I can get around on the crutches pretty well and have caught myself using just one from time to time without really realising it. I do find it uncomfortable in normal chairs however and when eating etc I can’t stay in those chairs any longer than necessary.

So pain wise I had a bad day yesterday, seemed to swell up a fair bid and developed a new pain about half way down my operated leg and also in my knee (which I had been expecting). I have also developed a bit of bruising again not unexpected. Left me feeling quite low but my wife was great and reminded me how far I’d come.

I am trying with my exercises to be as regular as I can and for the most part doing ok, back at the hospital next Tuesday for the first official physio session with their team but do feel my mobility is improving slowly.

If I had to say one thing that is still difficult and painful it would be getting in and out of bed especially in the middle of the night! But it’s only been a week, so many thanks for everyone who has messaged me or even posted on other threads where I can read up if there are other things bugging me.

November 20, 2015

So two and a bit week update, this morning I had my staples out! Everything looking really good according to the nurse. The wound looks great really neat and nothing out of the ordinary. My operated leg is still a little swollen but much less than it was.

Feeling pretty good overall and have cut right down on the meds now. I did try and cut out the nightime ones but that was a mistake and led to the worst night i’d had to date. That said the rest of the time I’m sleeping well. I did overdo it on Thursday last week and paid for it for the next couple of days (but reading your posts it seems that is pretty normal) I also drove on Saturday round to my in laws, its only about a mile and a half but in truth it was a mistake and I wont be doing it again for a while. Being in the UK we mainly have manuals and not automatics.

Still need to remind myself its not three weeks yet as I find I get frustrated not being able to get around as I feel that I should. On one crutch all the time unless I go outside for a walk (we are getting battered in the UK with heavy rain and strong winds at the moment).

Back to physio tomorrow morning so we will see what they have to say, I am doing everything Im told and not finding it too hard. Hopefully things will continue as they have been and i’ll be off the crutches by Christmas, back at work today all be it working from home but nice to get the brain working again!

December 15, 2015

It will have been four weeks tomorrow which means no more blood thinners and I can take off these sexy compression socks/stockings at last! Today was the latest physio visit. I drove myself there and I walked in there with no crutches or stick! (Not on purpose I just forgot to get it out of the car) The physio didn’t mind but did give me a little telling off and told me not to do too much too soon.

That said they took me in their gym and got me on their cross trainer (elliptical machine) and have given me the green light to go back to my gym and start using their machines again BUT no more than 10 minutes. I can also start swimming again YAY! I’m also now sleeping on my side again mainly on my non operated side but I have woken up on the other side a couple of times.

I really can’t believe how well I feel and how well it’s going, my range of movement has a long way to go and no chance of getting my sock on yet but my exercises are helping and I’m getting there. I really didn’t think I’d be on no crutches around the house and one when I go walking (in honesty I don’t even think I need that now)

But here’s the thing, the residual muscle pain still makes it difficult for me to figure out how much better my hip feels yet. It unquestionably is much less painful but I’m looking forward to actually get back to normal life pain free. I’m not there yet but the light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter every day!

December 23, 2015

Christmas Day will be my 6 week anniversary and I’m amazed how far I’ve come in that short time. I’m now walking without crutches or a cane, driving both our cars (including the manual) and doing all the exercises the lovely Jenny my physio has told me to do with no real problems. In fact I am doing a little more maybe, today I went to my gym and did 15 minutes on the cross trainer and 10 on the bike followed by a swim and lots of stretches and exercises in the pool.

Life is getting back to normal and I’m looking forward to going for a long walk with the family on Christmas Day which I haven’t been able to do in recent years because of the pain. I go back to work full time on 4th January and to be honest I’m looking forward to it! Unlike most on here I don’t have a follow up until 3 months post surgery so that’s not until early February.

For anyone reading this who isn’t sure about things I can honestly say as I sit here right now this was the best decision I have ever made regarding my health and I wish I’d done it sooner! Any UK based hippies that want any advice don’t hesitate to get in touch.

January 8, 2016

Today is my 8 week anniversary and what can I say? I went back to work full time on Monday and survived the week. I’m now walking a mile and a half a day and in the gym three or four times a week doing a light workout. Things are going well however still have a niggling pain in the hip, probably muscular and it could even be in my head I guess.

Things on the whole are going great and I truly can’t believe how fast the time has gone, I’m back to driving the manual and am not even thinking about how I get in and out of the car now. And the biggest news…. I sold the recliner today! I don’t need it anymore and I actually sold it for slightly more than I paid for it!

January 29, 2016

Small quick update, its 11 weeks today since the op and there are times where I forget that it’s been done. I went away with the wife last weekend and did a lot of walking and was completely pain free (my wife was actually in tears when I told her). We did a similar trip a few months before the operation and I couldn’t walk very far at all and was in loads of pain.

I can now just about get my sock on!!!!! OK its sore and I have to grab my leg to lift it the last little bit but its there. Took my first flight post op on Wednesday and duly set off the scanners both ways with the hand scanner giving a lovely high pitched squeel when in line with my hip. So I guess that answers that question!

12 week assessment has been put back a week due to my daughters parents evening at school so I’ll update in a couple of weeks.

February 10, 2016

Today was a good day, my three month check up at the hospital. Mr Eastaugh Waring was really happy with my progress and my x-rays were excellent! the fitting is perfect and you could see how the bone has already started filling in the gaps. All in all very positive indeed. I have also been given the ok to resume flying the balloon as long as I am careful getting in and out of the basket! The x-ray also showed that my other hip is absolutely fine and shows little to no signs of wear which is fantastic news.

So that’s me done until my one year anniversary in 9 months when I’ll go back for another x-ray and blood tests. All in all feeling great and thanks for all the support. I’ll continue to lurk and comment as and when!

April 21, 2016

Time for a quick update, it’s now six months since my operation and everything is fantastic. I’ve just come home from a long weekend in Paris where I walked more than I’ve walked in a very long time. I also climbed what seemed like endless stairs in the Arc de triumph all with zero pain!

September 21, 2016

Just a quick update, last week I attended a balloon festival in Bedfordshire (England) Last year I did the same event, and we went to a local reservoir on that occasion I struggled to walk a quarter of a mile around it. This year we went back and I cycled 11 miles all the way around it! What a difference 9 months makes!!

It is getting scarily close to being a year now and fingers crossed life is great, I’ve had a couple of panic moments when I’ve forgotten about my resurfaced hip and jumped out of my balloon basket and jarred it a bit but it calmed down in minutes and was perfect again.

If you are a lurker reading these posts and are still undecided about joining our club don’t hesitate do it! I’m kind of sad that I’m not going to have a couple of months off at the end of the year this year, maybe I should get the other one done!

November 11, 2016

One year ago today I went in to hospital and my life changed for the better! The first few months after were ‘interesting’ but looking back now it probably sounds a bit strange but I actually enjoyed the recovery process (maybe it was just having an extended break from work).

So a year later I can walk, run, swim, cycle, play sport and basically have my quality of life back! Best decision I ever made and those lurkers reading this undecided on whether to go for it, dont hesitate do it and you wont regret it. Feel free to message me if you want any advice or info, more than happy to help if I can.

August 3, 2017

I’m about 20 months post op now and feel stronger than ever, I’m not a rugby player but have returned to playing football with my surgeons blessing. He basically told me to listen to my body and don’t try anything to extreme. I guess the only fear is getting hit hard or awkwardly.

December 10, 2017

Two years and one month now and had my latest check up last week. Still waiting for the blood test results but the X-ray was perfect. It has completely changed my life and I genuinely forget it was ever done at times. As long as the bloods are ok the next check up won’t be for another three years!

August 23, 2018

Three years ago I had my hip resurfacing and my life today is completely back to normal, running, walking very active on the whole but most importantly totally pain free! Mine was a BHR but that was the only option for me at the time.

That said I wouldn’t change it for the world and my range of movement is back to where it was 20 years ago!

November 13, 2018

today marks three years since my resurfacing operation with Dr Eastaugh-Waring in Bristol,UK. It’s fair to say it was life changing, no niggles really at all. I do get the occasional ache in the muscles but nothing concerning at all.

I can honestly say I have my life back, to mark the anniversary later today I’m flying to Mexico to fly a hot air balloon at their biggest balloon fiesta.

June 30, 2019

I’m three and a half years in and pretty much perfect again after my hip resurfacing.