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I am a 65 year old working attorney in Manchester, NH. I am
an active athlete. Dozen marathons in the distant past. Active crew racer,
bicyclist, down hill and cross country skier. In the past year I have
religiously followed a weight training program. I was scheduled for right THR in
July of 2006. I had disc surgery in May of 2006 which seemed to reduce the hip
symptoms. So I cancelled the THR. The hip symptoms returned. Google brought me
to your site. I became strongly interested in Dr. Su’s services at HSS. The
difficulties in getting in and out of Manhattan on multiple occasions put me
off. I continued researching and learned that Dr. Daniel Snyder at Newton
Wellesley Hospital in Newton, MA did more resurfacing procedures that any one
else in New England. The hospital has an extremely low infection rate.
I met with Dr. Snyder in late November and I was very happy
with what he had to offer. He told me my bone on bone hip symptoms were the
result of an old athletic injury. Course this is huge because it means I should
not need surgery on the left hip.
On Tuesday 1/13/09, I underwent right hip resurfacing. He
uses BHR and Cormet materials depending on what you need when he gets in there.
He uses a posterior muscle sparing approach and estimates you are “open” for an
hour or so. After general anesthesia, I woke in the recovery room and brought to
my room. My therapist, Amanda, arrived within 1/2 hour to an hour and told me
she would like me on my feet weight bearing as soon as possible. So we did so.
Then. Right then. We disconnected the intravenous and off we went with a walker.
No pain whatsoever. Stiffness? Yes. But no pain whatsoever. No pain medication.
Up and down the halls a few times. She left and every few hours or so I would
get disconnected and do the same thing. My wild guess is I walked a mile within
24 hours of the surgery at first with a walker but mostly with crutches. No
pain. No pain medication.
The next morning Amanda taught me how to go up and down
stairs and gave me a home therapy protocol. Dr. Snyder came in and assured me he
in fact really did do a surgical procedure and released me to go home about 28
hours after the surgery. My wife and son came to get me at about noon and I was
home about 1-30 PM.
The surgery was Tuesday. Today is Saturday. Still no pain
whatsoever. I was given an Rx for oxycodone but didn’t bother getting it filled.
One of the instructions is weight bearing as tolerated. I spent part of the day
walking with just one crutch. My guess is I will be walking next week with just
a cane. Had a bunch of friends over yesterday. They talked me out of going to my
local YMCA today for a stationary bike ride. Weather is cold and icy.
I couldn’t be happier with Dr. Snyder and the facilities and personnel at Newton
Wellesley Hospital. I am only a few days out but so far things could not have
gone better.
Fear is nearly eliminated if you educate yourself with what to expect. For this
knowledge, I sincerely thank you and your web site.
Tom Craig
<kup5849@yahoo.com>
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