Tom’s Hip Resurfacing Story with Dr. Rubinstein July 2007
Hi All,
I couldn’t resist putting my 2 cents in. Tom was great out on the ice. He
definitely outskated me. I can’t begin to tell you how much fun it was for me to
be able to skate with Tom and see how well he was doing and how much fun we had.
Although as Tom said he felt he was ready sooner you need to remember the
physiology of the bone. The femoral neck needs time to adapt to the new weight
bearing patterns. The structure of the bone actually remodels to build more bone
where needed to carry the new loads and thins in areas where the load has
reduced as a result of the implant. The problem is this takes time. That is why
most surgeons restrict some types of athletic activity for a period of time.
Good luck to Mike. When you are recovered maybe you will come up and
skate with Tom and I.
To extend that thought how many other hockey players are out there who might
want to join us? Maybe someday we can get a whole team of hippies to play
together. I would travel for that.
Scott Rubinstein M.D.
Chicago Hip Resurfacer
www.hiportho.com
Group. Post #92175 I was basically telling everybody who I was and that I was new to the board. I had already been suffering with Hip pain but didn’t do much about it because my time was needed to care for my Dad who was very sick in 2005. After he passed away my pain seemed to get worse. I started looking for Doctors. Two of them, from my area, were very nice but not experienced enough. One had done 1 and the other wouldn’t give me a number, he just said that he was in single digits. I came back to the board in Feb 2007 asking if I should take a chance on an inexperienced Doctor # 100599 and did I hear the responses. All great telling me to think hard before making a decision on a
local in experienced doctor.
saw no reason that I would not be able to go back to hockey at some point.
he thought nothing serious. He was ready to take care of it that month, but I had other more important things going on in my life and I had
to live with the pain a little longer.
with me once the hip was healed. My Mom passed in June of 2007. It was a tough time and even tougher with all the pain I was in. I was
walking with a cane at that point.
happened and pretty much when he told me it would. I followed his protocol to
the T. No cheating at all. My most frequent form of rehab was walking. I did all the exercises, both at home then at a
rehab facility, but every chance I could I would walk. They were never power walks; just slow relaxing and sometimes long walks. Of course
I started slowly less than a mile, but I would walk every day, gradually increasing distance. I used a cane for the first few
days until I felt comfortable with out it. Sometimes I would walk halfway with a cane then halfway without it. Just carried it in case I
needed it.
exercises including walking, biking, and some weight training.
it was sure great skating with him. Paul Hamilton from the board heard we were skating that night and came all the way out to take video.
It’s just another example of the great people on this message board. I am back playing on my hockey team again.
which is more than I had a year ago by about 40%. The Yahoo Surface Hippy board and the
people on it are one of the reasons I feel so good. You helped me to take
control of my surgery. You offered me feedback and gave me opinions and told me to form my own. You told me that the one thing that
is certain is that IT’S MY CALL, NO ONE ELSE’S. I made some great friends on this board.
is an end to this pain and a life of normalcy in your near future. If you’re in the Chicago area please consider getting an opinion from
Dr .Rubinstein. His honesty and drive for perfection is impressive. He Is a man who loves what he does. He is a believer in this procedure.
sick it is. I have been looking forward to each big snow here in Chicago so I could snow blow the driveway and sidewalk. I hadn’t done that
for two years. Heck I was doing the neighbors driveway. I have my life back again. Thanks to all of you and to the good Doc Rubinstein.
My best wishes go out to all of you.
Subject: Six Week Report
Hi to all my friends on the board,
already here. I swear it seems like yesterday that I sent my first post asking
for advise and help. So much has happened in that short time. I still come
back to this board to watch people reach out for help, get their surgery, then
report how well they are doing.
I can’t give an update without saying how thankful I am to the good folks on
this board. Without your help the story would be so different.
My update will not talk about how far I walk a day, how long I can ride the
stationary bike, or how many hours I am working out a week. That really means
nothing in the big picture, everyone heals differently.
Here is what matters. I am at 6 weeks post op, and I can walk without a limp or
pain. I can sit or stand for hours without pain. I can sleep through the night
without any pain. I am taking no more meds, nothing. My mind is not focused on
constant pain, it is focused on living pain free. I smile, laugh, and do more
than I have for the last two years. I am starting to live the way it should be.
When I joined this board you all promised hope and you were right.
My best to you all,
Tom
Right BHR
Dr. Scott Rubinstein 07/12/07
11 Days Post OP – On the other side in Chicago
July 24, 2007
Hippy Buddies,
Sorry for taking so long for a detailed update but didn’t have the
urge to go on the computer while on the pain meds.
Checked into St. Joseph Hospital in beautiful downtown Chicago on
Thursday 7/12 at 6:00 AM. All went smooth and was prepped for my
date with Dr. Rubinstein at 9:00 AM. Some of you know him as Dr.
Pugs. He is always gracious enough to give tips and medical opinions
on this board. In fact it was this board that recommended him along
with other Doctors in the Chicago area. Dr. Rubinstein came in the
prep room and was full of positive energy and made me feel real good
about what I was about to do. In fact I have emailed and called Dr.
Rubinstein on many occasions leading up to surgery and he always
exudes a very positive attitude about this procedure. He reassured my
wife about what was about to take place and we were off to the OR. I
asked the anesthesiologist to go with an epidural based on the
feedback from this board and both he and Dr. Rubinstein agreed that
would work fine. I was awake until just before the first cut and then
it was of to sweet dreams until recovery. The anesthesiologist And
Dr. Rubinstein were there to greet my awakening. Both were very happy
with the result of surgery and the post op x-ray looked fantastic.
The surgery took less than 90 minutes.
When the epidural wore off I was greeted with the joint and muscle
pain but no arthritis pain. I could wriggle my toes on the operated
leg but could not raise it or slide it back and forth because of the
pain. I opted for the morphine pump but it made me pretty loopy so I
didn’t push it very often. However because of that I had some
significant pain. No sleep, I mean 0 minutes of sleep night one. I
cannot sleep on my back and although loopy the morphine didn’t knock
me out.
Day two in the hospital started with Dr. Rubinstein visiting and
telling me that I will be skating sooner that it feels, and he and I
will need to find some ice time together. Dr Pugs plays hockey too.
After he left the PT nurses came in and helped me out and onto my new
hip. I read so many threads on this board but until you actually
experience it there is no explanation of how it feels getting out of
that bed for the first time. No arthritis pain but there was severe
muscle pain. I had the feeling that something might be wrong but all
the folks that I talked to said you just got hit by a MAC truck. It
will take time.
I won’t bore you with a day by day but I was out of the hospital
Sunday just two days after surgery. I am doing PT at home lost the
walker day two and lost the crutches at day 7 post op. I am walking
with a cane and still have some significant groin pain but it’s
manageable. My PT nurse says that I am ahead of schedule. I have
walked a mile each day outside starting day 7 post op. I Too am in
the exercise, ice, nap, exercise, ice etc. mode. I do see progress
every day. I am not used to my hip yet, but I do see progress. PT is
helping a great deal and I am not pushing it. I stopped the Vicidon
on day 8 post op because I just didn’t feel right. I am taking extra
strength Tylenol every 4 hours and that keeps the discomfort manageable.
I am now at day 11 post op and I am starting to get back my energy. I
am so happy I did this and I can tell it is going to get me back to
the life I once enjoyed a few years ago.
There are many great surgeons performing this surgery and Dr.
Rubinstein needs to be on that list with the others. I will highly
recommend him to all who live in the Chicago area.
Sorry for the long-winded update. I will update again at 6 weeks post
op. Thank you to all you surfacehippy friends out there that helped
me through this decision and preparation for this procedure. This
board and you all are helping many. YOU HELPED ME!!!!
Best to you all, Tom