Todd’s Hip Resurfacing with Dr. Su 2007

LBHR December 13, 2007 Dr. Su

I’m 52 years old and had surgery last year, on December 13, 2007. My surgeon was Dr. Su at Hospital for Special Surgery in New York. It was my left hip, a BHR.

Admittedly, I was quite freaked for the three months leading up to the surgery. I’ve always been very athletic and active and felt pretty much indestructible. Just a year earlier, I didn’t even know I had a problem with my hip joint. There was virtually no pain. I thought it was just tight adductor and hip flexor muscles from years of running, karate, squats, plyometrics, etc.

I went to a chiropractor to get some deep tissue massage and gain flexibilty. After a couple of sessions, he got suspicious and ordered x-rays. I still remember his comment after seeing my films for the first time: "How are you still walking?" That led to my eventual visit to HSS for an evaluation.

Unfortunately, it was OA with some bone on bone and significant osteophytes. Initially, I tried a Synvisc injection into the hip. That worked for a while. But eventually, I acquired a limp, followed by pain after getting up from a chair. It’s amazing how quickly the deterioration progressed.

Anyway, I finally took a deep gulp and decided to go through with surgery. Despite my fears, the procedure went smoothly, and was not nearly as painful or scary as I imagined. The HSS team is first rate, I must say.

Rehab at home wasn’t painless or enjoyable, but it was manageable. I think I took a total of only five Tylenol in the first two weeks. Sure, it was annoying and limiting and inconvenient, but the crutches get you a lot of sympathy on the street. Next to a puppy, they’re pretty impressive chick magnets. 🙂

I had rehab at home for three weeks, twice a week. Whenever my physical therapist ask me for ten reps, I’d insist on twenty. He called me his most motivated patient ever. (Frankly, I just think I’m a masochist.) Actually, i just wanted to get back to normal asap. And as I always say, physical pain is nothing compared to mental anguish.

At five weeks post-surgery, I was back at the hospital for x-rays and a checkup. Happily I got permission to increase my exercise schedule and start outpatient rehab. It’s now six weeks and I’m riding the stationary bike for about 45-50 minutes at a relatively high resistance. Also, I’ve started lifting weights while seated. Plus situps, body-weight squats about half way down, and the elliptical trainer. And of course, stretching, stretching, stretching. I have a lot of flexibility to gain. It feels great to sweat again.

One recommendation I would make for everyone: Get in great shape BEFORE surgery. I did a hard hour every other day on the recumbent bike, alternating days with weight lifting. By admitting day, I was down to the same weight and body fat I was when I ran competitively in high school.

Every day is a little better. Tying shoelaces is still a bit of a problem, but hopefully not for that much longer. And while I see that a lot of people with resurfs go back to running, Dr. Su doesn’t recommend it. So I’m officially declaring my running (and other high impact) days over. I’d love for this hunk of metal to last a lifetime.

Todd