Hip Resurfacing News

I was not able to find anyone in Atlanta with a good track record doing resurfacings -- so a very big "Thank You" to SurfaceHippy.info and the fellow surface hippies on this site. 

I started having unbearable pain around November of 2008. I called Dr. Gross's office in December after speaking with Mike from this site who had a bilateral with Dr. Gross back in June. When I hung up with Mike I called Dr. Gross's office and on the first call had tentatively scheduled the surgery dates pending me getting the package together.

I got the package put together according to the protocol on Dr. Gross's website and Dr. Gross called me to confirm I was a candidate. I drove to Columbia from Atlanta on a Friday for my pre-op consultation and met with Lee Webb and Dr. Gross (about 3-3.5hr drive). I drove back to Columbia the following Sunday (Super Bowl Sunday '09) and got to the Courtyard Marriott in time to watch the game and get a good nights rest before Monday's surgery.

Monday was very smooth at Providence NE. I went in a bit early and was in pre-op in no time. The whole pre-op team was a lot of fun, the anesthesia team, the nurses... it was a positive environment. The surgery was the blink-of-an-eye kind of thing where I felt like I closed my eyes for a moment and then I am coming to in post-op with the post-op nurses.... to whom I am sure I probably owe an apology for some reason... and then after a while I am being wheeled up to the room for recovery. I was late in the day so the following morning the Physical Therapy team had me doing the exercises, and walking the hall for the first time on crutches. Then the Occupational Therapist showed me how to use the ADL (aid to daily living) kit. Those OT/PT folks were a lot of fun and very helpful to get me started on the way to recovery. The floor nurses were very helpful and good people, one of whom is a fellow Dr. Gross resurfacer!

Wednesday was basically a repeat of Monday. They wheeled me down to pre-op and started with the prep and again it was a very positive experience with the anesthesia team and the nurses and "vampirella" the vampire lady who loved my veins. Then in what seemed like a few moments I was coming to in post-op -- and probably saying things I shouldn't have been -- and then I was wheeled back up to the room. The PT/OT team had me exercising and up and walking on Thursday and then we did a little group PT session and practiced stairs on crutches and walked the hall a couple of times. I was able to shower on Thursday evening, standing up.

Friday after breakfast I did a little PT and then was discharged by 11am. I rode home to Atlanta and got out a couple of times to walk around a rest stop and stretch a bit.

The one thing I would do differently is wear the provided ice packs on the way home. It was cold the week I was in the hospital and some nights that ice felt pretty cold so I was not to fond of the ice. So I didn't use the ice on the way home.

Well I got very swollen. This is probably the one thing I was not prepared for from doing my research. Dr. Gross told me I would probably swell up and I didn't really know I would swell up so bad. I believe it may be normal, maybe not, but the entire length of my legs were enormously swollen starting on that Friday and increased through Sunday. So Saturday, Sunday and part of Monday I spent with legs elevated by a couple of sofa cushions with the ice packs running, laying on my back (for the most of the time) working to get the swelling down. I called Lee Webb on Sunday and she told me to elevate and ice and that the swelling was probably at its worst on that particular day -- she was right. On Monday (5 days post-op) the swelling had already started to decrease rapidly and I was feeling so much better.

Crutches: I was doing my exercises as prescribed and walking on two crutches until 9 days post-op when I felt like the crutches were holding me back at that point. I had shifted to one crutch at 8 days post op and it was a bit awkward so I decided to get a cane.

Cane: I shifted to a cane 9 days post-op and it felt more natural than the crutches. I was glad to be rid of them.

Ten days post-op: Armed with a cane, I went to the Kiwanis Club's pancake breakfast fundraiser and was amazed how well I could stand up in a very long pancake breakfast line inching around an elementary school cafeteria. I am sure most folks with hip pain can relate -- this would not have been possible pre-surgery. I would have had to sit down every two or three minutes to ease the pain. This is when it clicked with me how well the surgery/recovery was going.

Then I walked around Wal-Mart behind a shopping cart and picked up a couple of items. Then we stopped by Lowe's for a few things and I was able to walk fine with the cane. I just had to take it easy and slow getting in and out of the car so as not to break the rules prescribed by the PT team.

Eleven days post-op: Went to church. Walked in with a cane and everyone was wowed that I had bilateral hip surgery and was walking so well. I have to admit I have been pretty wowed by how well everything has gone -- and I thank God for all of it. And I thank Pat and all the helpful people on the surface hippy website and everyone on Dr. Gross's staff that were so welcoming and hospitable, and all of the folks at Providence NE hospital that were part of the process.

Thirteen days post-op: Getting in an out of the car is getting easier. I still have this pain that last about 20 seconds when I stand up after having been seated for a prolonged period of time. I believe this will pass with time and it is so minor compared to the pre-op pain I was having.

I am 34 yrs. old and am in pretty good physical shape. It turns out I had worn a large hole on my right femoral head approximately 3 cubic centimeters. Dr. Gross told me that if I had waited much longer I would have had to go with the THR -- thank God I called in time! He was able to graft the hole and "achieve an excellent press fit."

I hope writing this will help someone else benefit from my experience – since I received so much valuable help from folks on this site. Let me know if I can help with anything.

Thank you,

Tim

Bilateral - Dr. Gross
2-2-09 (R) 2-4-09 (L)
Biomet ReCap/Magnum

After years of thinking I had a bad back, in the Sept. of 08, I found out I had a bad hip instead. With moderate degeneration I knew I had to have surgery. So I researched Hip Replacements on the internet. The Birmingham Hip Resurfacing popped up and I knew this was just what I needed.

I am a professional photographer and very active. I am also only 51 years old. I don't run marathons or play tennis, but I work really hard and I need to move unrestricted to do my job right. So I met with Dr Clarke. We had to have a few extra things checked first, (I only have 1 kidney) there was concern about the ions and my kidney's ability to excrete them.

My nephrologist did his research on the BHR and the ions and gave me the green light to have the surgery. I had my right hip resurfaced by Dr Clarke On Feb 4th 2009.

I am now almost 6 wks postop and I can walk around the house without my cane. I am progressing very rapidly. I work really hard at PT and do exactly what they say. Today I walked 3/4 of a mile. It felt great!

I know that eventually I will have to have the left done, but now I know what to expect, it will be less intimidating. But it sure beats having a THR especially at my age. Dr. Clarke is the greatest, and Community General is the best hospital I have ever been in. Never have I been treated as nice as they treated me. I am extremely satisfied.

Darlene N Chissom

I am a semi-pro athlete(ski racing) who received a right hip resurfacing with Dr Mont on April 9, 2009. I am a pilot and opted for the anterior lat approach with Dr. Mont due to the incision and trauma not being on the "sitting areas."

All of my pre op was done from Park City UT, so I didn't meet anyone until the day before surgery. His assistant Jill was incredible. All of my pre op concerns were answered quickly and easily via email and phone. I showed up the day before surgery and stayed at the guesthouse at the hospital. Don't remember the exact name, but Dr. Mont's office will give you the name. I met with Dr. Mont and Jill and had the last of my questions answered. Dr. Mont was very assuring that I would not end up with a THR. They also let me know they use the Wright C+ and Cormet devices. I then went for my last blood test at the hospital. Everything was smooth and easy like a well oiled machine.

I showed up the next morning at 6am and was taken in immediately. The hospital staff is very nice and accommodating. I met with the Anesthesiologist, and he reassured me that the spinal would be adequate and I would remember nothing, he was correct, don't worry about the spinal. After recovery, I was sent to my room, and it was a very nice room, with an extra bedroom on the side for my guest.

The next day I met with Dr. Mont, he stated that it went very well and that my bone stock was extremely dense and a pleasure to work with (maybe due to years of pounding them ski racing). He then informed me that I received the Wright C+ device. The gist I got, and I could be wrong, was that the Wright C+ it works well with dense bones. I really wasn't worried about the device, I just felt comfortable with the fact that Dr. Mont is comfortable with it. I feel that is the most important part of the device choice, the surgeons experience and comfort with the device and installation. He knows I'm an athlete, and will return to ski racing in Sept in Chile. He assured me that in a few months, I will not even know I have the device.

I rode to NYC to my parents home after being discharged. The 3.5 hr ride was no big deal at all. Just needed a pillow, garbage bag (to reduce friction getting in and out) and an ice bag. Stopped once on the way home. Flying would have been a little difficult but doable due to the seat angle. Swelling was at a minimum too.

Overall, it was a very pleasant experience. There are no staples or stitches to be removed! The steri strips will fall off in about two weeks. My pain was minimal, I have only used an occasional Hydrocodone just to sleep. I was able to walk with crutches the day after surgery. I was able to climb stairs too. Pain is minimal and has not really been worse than pre op pain. About 5 days post op, I moved to one crutch. It is now 12 days, and I can walk with a limp and no crutches, but Jill insisted that I use one crutch for a bit longer. I am flying home on Thursday (2 weeks post op) and feel totally ok to do so.

Dr. Mont is a rock star and his staff too!

Lou
R Wright C +Dr. Mont 4/9/09

In March 2009 hip pain had significantly negatively impacted my life. Performing basic daily functions became extremely difficult. On March 10, 2009, I had hip resurfacing surgery performed by Dr. Kreuzer at Memorial Herman, Memorial City Hospital in Houston Texas. The surgery was remarkable "un-remarkable." My recovery has been quick and is near complete 6 weeks after the surgery. I live in a four story townhome and was able to negotiate the three flights of stairs to and from my bedroom beginning upon release from the hospital on March 13. As an exercise regimen, I climb 30 flights of stairs in my office building 4-5 times a week.

I am well pleased with the hip resurfacing surgery and the resultant enhancement in my life. I am looking forward to having resurfacing performed on the other hip in mid-May 2009.

Raeburn Marshall

I am 58 years old. I’ve had hip pain for the last 3+ years. I've used a cane for the past 6 months. I used to be very physically active. I had given it all up and was sadly postponing a THR until I could stand the pain no more. I used to snow ski the black diamond slopes of Colorado. I wondered if shuffleboard could ever take the place of screaming down a mountainside with your hair on fire. Thankfully for me, a coworker of my wife heard of my plight and shared her hip resurfacing story with me. I couldn't be more excited! I went straight to this website. What a find!

Dr. Ryan Nunley was my hip resurfacing surgeon. Our first meeting was an information exchange. I had lots of questions. He patiently and thoroughly took a lot of time answering them. I was looking for someone who knew what he was doing. I think he was looking for someone who would likely have a good outcome. I felt immediately comfortable with him. We were a good fit. I would highly recommend him. I would describe his surgical and post op recovery approach as “conservative.”

T minus 4 days – Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis provides a "Hip Joint Class" for all patients who will soon be receiving THR's or Hip Resurfacings. The class was very informative. It lasted about an hour. Bring your significant other to the class with you. There’s a lot to remember. They told us what to expect during our stay in the hospital, and taught all of the do's and don'ts for the recovery process. Of particular interest was the pain management lesson. The key take-away – Stay on top of the pain! (Catching up with the meds after it hits is much more difficult.)

D-day – Most significant thing to say here is that I remember nothing between pre-op and post op. (Thankfully.) They used a spinal block for pain control during surgery. Everything I’ve heard about nausea in association with traditional anesthesiology process tells me that the spinal block is the way to go. No nausea. Thoroughly "out of it" through the whole thing. No tube down the throat.

Later in the day of surgery – Dr. Nunley believes it is important to get out of bed before the day ends (in order to get the mind moving forward, I guess). I sat in a chair beside the bed for a half hour that evening. If felt good to be up. It also felt good to be back in bed afterward. Although surgery was completed by 10:30 a.m., most of the rest of the day was a fog.

Day 1 post op - You need not worry about pain management for the first 24 hours after surgery. You’re on a pre-set schedule. After 24 hours though, you call the dose. Stay on top of it! PT and OT was in the morning and afternoon, first with the walker, then later in the day on 2 crutches. Make sure you take your pain meds before the therapy. You’ll be a lot more productive.

Day 2 post op - PT and OT in the morning. Dr. Nunley visited again. Says all still looks really good. Gives his release to go home in the afternoon of day 2.

Day 3 – Walking with 2 crutches.
Day 7 – Walking with 1 crutch one mile per day. Back to work full time. (Desk job, minimal need to walk around unless my desire.)
Day 10 – Started driving myself to work.
Day 14 – Walking with only a cane one mile per day.
Day 21 – Walking unassisted for several miles at a time (and enjoying it!), no limp, no pain most of the time. No narcotic pain medications. The only difficulty I have now is sleeping well at night. I don’t sleep well on my back, and there is a hip "abductor pillow/wedge/large firm sponge" that you have to sleep with for 6 to 12 weeks (depending upon your surgeon). This is part of the hip precautions, and it makes it virtually impossible to sleep comfortably on your side.

4 weeks post op – There is only one daily task that reminds me that I’m not yet fully healed, and that’s driving the car. Surgery was on my right hip. I feel it every time I round a corner and lean from side to side in the car seat. It can briefly hit a "6" on the 1-to-10 scale. Fortunately for me, the drive to work is only about 10 minutes. I still have an occasional set-back day, where the number of not-yet-healed reminders I accidentally trigger are more frequent. It’s harder to get moving after I’ve been sitting for a while. For the most part though, I'm pain free. I am eager to get the green light for weight training and aerobic exercise.

See you on the slopes!

Was standing on my good leg, operated leg was at about a 90 degree angle while I put some cream on my knee. Probably bent forward and flexed my hip a bit, the operated side knee rotated in and I started to fall. Tried to push with the operated leg to right myself, NO STRENGTH. I collapsed and fell back, noticing a strange friction in the hip joint after landing on my butt.

Called my surgeon's office and they got me in right away. They took x-rays. Dr. Rogerson said I apparently partially dislocated the hip and it re-located when I fell. Said he had seen this once before. Another tall woman who can hyperextend her elbows like me (flexible joints) dislocated while squatting. He told me to go back to post surgery safeguards (no crossing midline of body, sleeping with pillowbetween legs, etc) and to follow up with him in a week.

Apparently my long bones (leverage) and flexible joints put me at greater risk for dislocation. Still not sure how limiting this will be - know that my instincts about not taking a yoga class have been well placed. My risk for dislocation would have been even greater with traditional hip replacement, so am still better off with the BHR.

Bring this up as a caution to other small boned tall women (men?) with flexible joints. Pay attention to your body, especially if you notice extra clunking or slippage-like feelings when doing PT or exercises.

I am temporarily very sore (hip capsule) and a little discouraged. VERY relieved not to have had a more serious dislocation experience. Feel very fortunate to have been seen within hours of the event with the good news nothing was broken, the BHR and bone look good.

Peg
3/20/08 RBHR Dr. Rogerson