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Thursday, January 21. 2010
Dr. Barry Tannen (bilateral HR 12/18/08)
I am a 52 year old physician who had bilateral hip resurfacing with Dr. Su on
December 18th 2008 at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York. I had been
diagnosed with moderate to severe osteoarthritis 3 years earlier and
increasingly had to deal with the pain and limitations that this brought on. I
am an avid tennis player who competes locally and in USTA tournaments and
obviously my tennis game was greatly impacted, but so were ordinary activities
of daily living such as tying shoelaces, etc.
My experience with Dr. Su, his staff, and the entire team at the Hospital for
Special Surgery was nothing short of amazing. I left the hospital 6 days after
surgery and was discharged to my 2 story home. My wife was terrified that I
would be climbing stairs immediately, but it was no problem. I started
outpatient physical therapy one week after being home, returned to work 4 weeks
after surgery, and started playing doubles tennis in 8 weeks, singles in 12.
I feel better than I have in at least 8 years, maybe longer. I enthusiastically
recommend HR, and especially Dr. Su who is an amazing surgeon in my opinion.
Emanuel captures tennis tourney
Temple Emanuel captured the recent Jewish Athletic Group (JAG) Tennis
Tournament. Barry Tannen (left) and Mike Spivak hoisted their trophy. The duo
overcame the father-son team of Richard and David Fischer of Cong. M’kor Shalom
in the finals. Over 30 area players representing many area men’s clubs
participated in this year’s event.
Thursday, January 21. 2010
Hello, I am a 37 year old former (and hopefully again in the future) athlete
who recently had my right hip resurfaced with Dr. Gross in Columbia, SC,
having traveled from my home in Charleston, WV for the procedure. My story
and this information is for those who are scheduled for or may be
considering the procedure, I would like to pass along as much information
and personal experience as possible for your benefit, as so many others have
done on this wonderful website.
Would like to first summarize that so far I am completely satisfied and
recommend the procedure 100%. Also, I wholeheartedly recommend Dr. Gross and
his wonderful practice.
As of today, Aug 15th, 2009, I am almost to the 5 week mark post-op. From
the moment I woke up from the surgery, I have not had any pain in my hip
more than what feels like a muscle stretching or general tightness /
stiffness. There is no trace of arthritic or bone pain. I'm not sure I had
any expectiations either way, as I read lots of stories both ways - people
that had problems and those that sailed through. It is hard to believe that
there could be no pain, not with all the wrenching around that goes on in
there. Dr Gross has videos on his website showing the procedure (ha, I
couldn't bring myself to watch them until AFTER the surgery) - your hip is
sliced through, dislocated, and then subjected to medieval torture devices
and power tools! How can that not hurt later? But, for me, it doesn't.
I have to say, I was feeling very sketchy in the pre-op room where they
start to work on you. Needles and pills everywhere, people coming and going,
doing weird things to me. And then, wheeled into the operating room. Just
like on TV, with everybody in masks, and the overhead light the size of one
of those old satellite dishes. I don't remember much, but even in a sedated
mode, it was scary. Then that's it – I was out. I have heard they ask you to
count or whatever, but as far as I can remember, they snuck up on me.
The first 24 hours after surgery were the hardest, but even that was not too
bad. Even had it been worse, there's not a lot of remembering due to the
pain meds and the lingering sedation. I was told Dr. Gross does five
surgeries a day, twice a week. Mine was on a Monday, at 9 am. That made me
second in line that day. In my mind, that was great - that way he got to
wake up and practice on someone else before hacking on me (ha). Seriously,
though, I wonder about these things. Doctors are people too, I want them to
have their A game when it's me under there. That was really my only question
during my one and only office visit – "hey, Doc, you're not going to go out
and get wasted the night before my surgery, right?" He said he wouldn't,
just for me. Sweet.
Speaking of pain meds, they gave me vicodin that first day and I think I
took my prescription two or two and a half more days after that. As I said,
there never was any real pain from the surgery, but they kept saying "stay
on top of the pain, if you get behind, it's harder to catch up". Well, at
that time, I didn't know if some big pain wave was coming or not, so I took
the meds. I really don't think I needed it. Hard to tell. The only thing
that hurt was when they took the catheter out on the day after surgery. That
was bad. Sort of like a vacuum cleaner hose had been up there all along, and
got removed along with the catheter hose. There was this weird suction
feeling along with the discomfort.
A physical therapist (PT) came and helped me walk that 1st afternoon of my
surgery (a mere few hours after the surgery!). The walk was with crutches,
but the crutches were for balance, not to take weight off the hip. I have
read that they want you to put weight on the hip to help press-fit the
devices into their respective slots. The most difficult part was keeping
balance considering the lingering sedation. Mostly, though, I just laid
there in the bed. The PT also said to keep moving my feet and legs. She gave
some prescribed motions to do.
Providence Northeast Hospital is 1st class. Everyone that I came in contact
with there was super. Also the food was not too bad. The hospital is yet
part of Dr. Gross's well-established system that is wonderful.
I was told to plan for two nights in the hospital, but it ended up only
being one. That first night sucked. The main reason is that it was hard to
sleep with the O2 / heart monitor beeping all the time and the nurse coming
in every two hours. Also, my heart rate kept going down too low, which would
set off an alarm. I don't know what was worse, the alarm, or me wondering
how bad it is to have a heartbeat low enough to set off the alarm. The low
heartbeat was surmised to be me being in relatively good cardiovascular
shape, along with lingering sedation effects. I still hardly slept at all.
At the consultation appointment prior to surgery, they asked (made?) me to
buy this cold pack machine that is basically a little igloo cooler filled
with ice water, attached to a pump, some hoses, and a bandage. I mention
this because had I known it was going to cost so much out of pocket for the
thing, I could have purchased one on eBay, brought it with me, and saved
some $$. But I wasn't aware I would need this prior to the surgery and
therefore didn't know to ask if I could have brought my own. Anyway, cold
water circulates through the bandage. I was told to bring it to the
hospital. After the surgery, they kept it on my hip and leg, circulating
cold water constantly. When I left the hospital, it was sent with me, and I
used it every 2 hours or so, including in the car on the way home. I think
that was a big help to my quick recovery, by minimizing the swelling. I have
read about people with bad swelling problems; I had none.
The next day, Dr. Gross stopped by my hospital room. He asked a few
questions, and advised that I could leave later that day. I was all for
that. Also, a PT came by and explained some of the disabled person tools
like the sock put-on device, followed by another walk. I was able to stand
and take a shower. I got a little dizzy in there, which I believe was due to
the heat and lingering sedation and pain meds. Fearing possible fainting, I
had to get out and sit on the toilet. Later that afternoon, I was discharged
from the hospital. They make you ride a wheel chair out, but I could have
definitely crutched out on my own power.
The second night, which was in a hotel, also sucked. The main problem was
the whole sleeping on your back thing. The main mode of sleeping the first
few nights is on your back with a pillow between your legs. You are allowed
to turn over on either side, as long as the pillow stays between your legs.
Well obviously, I wasn't going to lie on the operated side, and while lying
on the good side, I was not confident in the ability of the operated
side/leg to stay under control. That leaves the back-lying position. There's
only so long you can stay in one position before muscles get tight, and
general discomfort sets in. It was not a good night. In general, the
confidence of sleeping on the good side grew, and by 7-10 days, I was in a
routine of moving from back sleeping to the good side every 1-3 hours, with
good sleep in between. It helped me to sleep in a recliner for a day or two
before moving to my regular bed. One other thing that surprised me was that
I had to pee every 1-3 hours through out the night. I surmise that it was a
side effect of the catheter. That very slowly went away up through the 3
week mark.
Wanted to mention that that 2nd night I had a fever that got up to 101. I
was somewhat nervous about that. It's hard to know in the moment if it's
just temporary (it was), or if it's going to get worse. Make sure you have a
thermometer with you.
On the 3rd day post-op, my wife drove me and our 2 year old daughter on the
6 hour drive back to WV. We have a CR-V, and I sat in the back seat with the
front passenger seat reclined all the way back to give my legs room to
stretch out. Could definitely have made it sitting in the front, it was just
even better back there. The ice pack has a hand pump bulb thing, which I
used to keep the cold circulating on my hip and leg. We stopped 2-3 times so
I could get out and walk.
My walking progressed roughly as follows:
1->4 days - walking with crutches
5->20 days – walking with a cane or one crutch. Towards the end of that
period, walked with a limp when not using the cane.
21 days -> now (34 days). Walking fine with zero assistance. Limp is almost
completely gone.
Again, it seems crazy to me to walk, unassisted, with no limp, so soon. Most
of the time, I have to keep reminding myself that I recently had hip
surgery, lest I do too much too soon and risk damage to it. And really, my
belief is that it would be hard to damage it, but I'm sure not going to
chance it. Like on the stairs. I could walk up the stairs normally with no
problems by 21 days. I catch myself taking two at a time on the way up
(including with the operated leg!), like I used to do before the surgery,
and have to slow down, since, who knows, that might not be good for it.
Definitely one of the best gifts of the procedure is the
"not-thinking-about-my-hip" mindset it allows, in contrast to before, where
the pain when I walked consumed my attention.
Some background on my situation and events leading up to my resurfacing:
I am a former college basketball player, and have enjoyed continually
playing basketball at a fairly high level up until this spring; when my hip
pain finally forced me to stop. It began around 5 years ago as an occasional
snap or click in there, and gradually progressed through tightness and
stiffness to a slight limp in the past 2-3 years (people would ask "why are
you limping?", and I didn't even realize I was). Couldn't pinpoint what it
was, but last spring I knew something was really wrong. An X-ray showed
"severe degenerative changes" (loss of spacing superiorly, osteophytosis),
basically arthritis. There's not much positive in those adjectives "severe"
and "degenerative". Was pretty crushed by that news.
Began my research on problems of the hip. Purchased a couple of books and
eventually found Surface Hippy. Visited a recommended orthopedic surgeon
here in Charleston, WV. He diagnosed arthritis caused by congenital (birth
defect) hip dysplasia in both hips and recommended a total hip replacement
in the really bad one, noting that the other one will require one in the
future. There's another 30-something-year-old guy in my office with one of
those and he's not allowed to run on it. I mentioned hip resurfacing to this
surgeon and he noted that he didn't recommend it due to risk of femoral
fracture and un-proven track record. OK, well, I have to think about this.
Was able to play basketball this past winter. Would basically take my daily
Celebrex and supplement it with two ibuprofen before going out to play. By
March, people were feeling sorry for me and saying I should stop. I would
limp-run up and down the court. The weird thing was though, is that when I
quit for good in April, it REALLY got bad. It went from a manageable limp in
April to a "I can barely walk 2 blocks" severe limp by May. It was like the
running and exercise had been keeping it loose. Got a cane; it was the only
way I could get from my cubicle to the bathroom. Weirdly, though, I could
still play golf. Would ride the cart up to my ball, cane my way the rest of
the way, and then hit the ball. Lost 2-3 clubs worth of distance (due to not
being able to push off with my right hip), but oddly, it didn't hurt my
scoring. I theorize that I was now playing old man golf, where it's hard to
lose any balls if you can't hit it far enough to get into trouble, ha!
Meanwhile, the more I researched re-surfacing, the more it was crystal-clear
obvious that it was the thing for me. Active, young, good-looking (oh, well,
2 out of 3 ain't bad). It seems utterly ridiculous to cut off the top of
your femur when there are other alternatives. There are so many other
benefits, but if you're reading this, you're probably already educated as to
those, so no wasting time re-preaching. How could I find out if there were
any few orthopedic surgeons in this area that would do resurfacing? Call
each and ask? I don't know, I guess I could have done that. Found one that
was on the Birmingham Hip website and visited him. He had only done 8
procedures. I believe it is important to have someone with lots of
experience at this. That's one thing that is so incredibly helpful about
Surfacehippy - the doctor experience data. I cross referenced my insurance
coverage with doctors that had significant experience (at least 100
procedures) within a 2 state radius and that gave me a manageable list to
choose from. Ended up going for the high end of experience, which was Dr.
Gross, and believe that was the very best choice I could have made. Will not
hesitate to return to him when my other hip gives out. Definitely hope it is
later rather than sooner, but I now have no fear what-so-ever about the
procedure.
Wanted to also share some information about the financial end of things.
Below is what I have experienced so far. I have Aetna Open Access (EPO)
insurance.
1. At the doctor's office prior to my surgery, they suggested I buy the
below items, but I am unsure whether I could have refused at the time:
a. Crutches (insurance doesn't pay for all of it) ~$15 copay with my
insurance (you can bring your own if you have them, eliminating the need to
purchase in the office)
b. Disabled person care package (grabber thing, long shoe horn, sock
putter-on thing, and long sponge on a stick) $60
c. Polar ice pack. Mine was a Polar Care 300 model manufacturered by the
Breg Company. It was $250 in the doctor's office. The reason I list it here
is that these are on sale on Ebay for $70-$100. I would have bought mine
there if I would have known.
2. Dr. Gross's office requires a pre-payment of $1,200 which is for having a
Nurse Practitioner present during the surgery; they said most insurance
companies wouldn't cover that. I paid that, and am still not sure if my
insurance will cover that or not. There is also a prepayment of $1,000 for
some people, if their insurance won't cover "minimally invasive technique".
I did not have to pay that one.
3. So far, my insurance website says they've been billed a little over $51K.
Thank goodness for insurance, right?! That is definitely a lot of money, but
to me, it would have been worth paying whatever.
In closing, I am less psyched about getting back on the basketball court
than I was before the surgery. It may have something to do with the thrill
of just walking painfree being plenty of satisfying exercise at the moment;
also it's summertime and golf season. Speaking of golf, I got the OK from Dr
Gross's office to return to the links at about the 5 week mark, so that will
keep me busy until winter. Knowing myself I'll be back on that court,
though. Sweet!
That's all I have as of now, best of luck to you with your decision, and
your surgery. You are on the right path!
Thursday, January 21. 2010
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
June 12, 2009
Today I am 128 days post-op. I have done so well that I have been quite
slack on updating this beloved group where it all started for me. I have no
pain whatsoever in the hips. The "clunking" is very few and far between
nowadays. I have a 5,000 s.f.+ garden that I have been actively working in
every evening without any pain at all. Yesterday I strolled easily up the
middle of a long flight of concrete steps to enter a building (without
touching the rails)! If that sounds like a miracle to you then you are a
surface hippy or a potential surface hippy! I have been back in the gym at a
low to moderate level of activity as I wait for the six months to pass. I
feel wonderful !!! I could go on and on about the things I can do with
ease...
When I read the Wall Street Journal article on last Thursday June 4th, 2009
"Doubts Raised Over New Type of Hip Surgery" by Anne Tergesen, I was a bit
disappointed with the negative tone of the article. Naturally, I fall into
the "perfect" candidate for the resurfacing being young with strong bones,
but I have heard prevailing positive messages from "less-than-perfect"
candidates on this site and other places.
I'm sure you know how these things work in word-of-mouth: the old rule of
thumb in business is "a bad experience gets talked about 11 times where a
good one gets talked about 3 times". I believe it is the same with online
reviews and ratings -- many times we only make the effort to put the bad
ratings and reviews up so as to help prevent anyone else from having a
similar negative experience. With this in mind I believe hip resurfacing's
strengths outweigh the weaknesses or we would have a considerably more
negative feedback on this site and others.
I felt like the article's title and subtitles set a dominant negative tone
and the positives of the article were mediocre in comparison. Oh well...
That article is why I said I better log back in and keep folks updated a
little better.
Please contact me if you have any questions about the surgery or Dr. Gross
or anything else I may be able to help with. In my case it became "no news
is great news!!!" over the last few months, but know that I remain happy to
help wherever possible! Do not hesitate to contact me!!
Tim
Thursday, January 21. 2010
Nov. 1, 2009
I sit in Chennai 4 days post op on my right hip, Birmingham
w/ Dr. Bose. Today when I seem to have gotten past the pain bits and am
actually looking at my gait.
Nov. 15, 2009
I am breaking my return trip from Chennai in Munich for 6 days (enjoying
German beer, bread and brats!). 18 days post op and did an easy 2-hour bike
around the city's parks today. Leg still a bit long but coming around.
Thanks for your work on the website and support!
cheerz,
stuart
Thursday, January 21. 2010
I just had a right hip resurfacing from Dr. Thomas
Gross in Columbia, South Carolina and wanted to provide some step by step
information that could help future recipients manage their trip, hospital
experience and recovery process in a more knowledgeable manner. I am a
nurse and that may give me a little different perspective that may be
useful. Anything I mention is only a suggestion and may not work for
everyone, but the more information you have the better decisions you can
make for yourself. Some of this information will be applicable to people
traveling to other Physicians and locations as well. Airline Travel: When booking your flight, talk
with a reservations person and tell them about your surgery and need for a
bulkhead seat for all legs of your return flight. That will give you the
easiest seats to get into and out of with crutches and the most leg room to
reduce the flexion of your hip. If you book these seats yourself you can
get bumped from them for “priority” passengers who need them, as an online
booking will not ID you as a priority person. Be sure to confirm these
seats when you arrive at the airport for a return flight. Also, when you
check in for your return flight, ask for a voucher for a wheelchair to meet
you at your layover and give this to the flight attendant in the plane.
Another possibility is to use the “golf cart” transporters, but they may be
difficult to get into and out of. Housing & Transportation: I had my procedure on
Wednesday (hospital check in 9:30 am), so with a Tuesday morning (10:30 am)
office appointment with Dr. Gross we arrived by plane Monday evening. We
stayed at and recommend the Comfort Inn on Bush River Road Phone
(#803-798-5101). This is for several reasons: 1) They have free shuttle
service from the airport, 2) will take you back to the airport or car rental
facility the next morning (if you do not rent a car upon arrival), 3) have
very nice comfortable beds, 4) will come pick you up at Providence Northeast
Hospital and bring you back to the hotel on your discharge day, 5) have ADA
handicap rooms close to the front desk with elevated toilets (so you won't
need a raised toilet in Columbia) and walkers in the shower (much safer than
crutches), and 6) shuttle you to the airport the following day for your
flight home. They also have an accommodative staff, as Vijay and Nick were
very helpful, the usual free breakfast and wireless internet service. My
wife traveled with me and she slept in a fold out bed in the hospital, so we
only needed a hotel before and after the surgery. Car Rental: We used Enterprise for car rental
as their prices were competitive and they had a drop-off location Northeast
and Southwest of the hospital where you can leave the car the day of surgery
and they will take you to the hospital for check-in. Be sure to clarify
this arrangement when you rent the car. That way you really only need to
rent a car for one 24 hour period, to get to the doctors office, drive
around for the day and get to the hospital the following day. Your doctor
office visit and surgery time may require a different schedule. Office visit with Dr. Gross: Give yourself 2 to
3 hours as it is a slow process. The office is about 15 minutes from the
hotel. Be sure to write down all of the questions that you want to ask or
you will inevitably forget some. I expected Dr. Gross to be all business
with the number of cases he does and rush through the office check.
Instead, he was very personable and went out of his way to explain things
clearly, showing models of the components and making sure that every
question was answered completely. He showed no inclination to leave the
room until I was completely satisfied and he demonstrated his concern for
his patients in other ways as well. This is a big plus on top of his
knowledge and skill. Pre-Op in the hospital: After checking you in,
they will start your IV and draw blood for pre-op testing. They will try
to draw blood from the IV so you only receive one stick. If the person
starting your IV causes a lot of pain, ask for someone else to make the
second attempt. The IV should not hurt that much and some people are just
better than others. Request that they do not start the IV in you hand,
wrist or bend of your arm as these areas will be painful and troublesome
during your stay. When they use hair clippers on your leg and butt
(guys), be sure you brush off all of the hair that is stuck to your body
and they change the sheets on the stretcher so you don't take loose hair
into the OR room for your surgery. They will also put a blood pressure cuff
on your arm, oxygen sensor on your finger and heart monitor patches on your
chest. In the OR: After hooking you up to heart and
oxygen monitors they will have you sit forward on the OR table and give you
an injection in your back consisting of several medications. This will be
the spinal anesthesia that will numb you below your belly button for the
surgery and reduce your surgical pain for 24 to 36 hours after the surgery.
I feel like this is safer than general anesthesia as is has the potential
for fewer serious complications, and is one of the reasons I chose Dr.
Gross. This shot will just be mildly uncomfortable. After you lay back
down you may feel an odd sensation as they insert the foley catheter into
your bladder, but you will be pretty well numb by this time. Shortly
afterwards they will give you drugs to put you to sleep, but will allow you
to breath on your own. You will not even know the surgery is going on. In the Recovery Room: When you wake up, they
will be watching your vital signs closely for an hour or so until you go to
your room. You are going to feel some degree of numbness below the navel
which is normal and you will have minimal pain in your hip area. You will
have a foley catheter in your bladder, this will be uncomfortable, but will
allow you to urinate freely so they can watch your fluid status. You will
also have leggings that will inflate and deflate. This is to help prevent
blood clots from forming as your muscles are not working normally due to the
spinal anesthesia. They are a bit annoying but will be on for the first day
and night, then off the next day. From this point forward you have three
leg rules- 1) do not move your leg to the midline (centerline) of your
body, 2) do not rotate your toes inward, and 3) do not flex your hip more
than 90 degrees. These are essential as they help to prevent a dislocation
of your new hip joint (very bad). In your room: All of the rooms are private,
have a fold out bed, and have wireless internet access so bring your
computer to help pass the time. The low level of pain is from the long
acting narcotic in the spinal anesthesia and the oral and injectable drugs
given by Dr. Gross. He really does an excellent job here. Saying this, one
of the more common side effects is nausea. Just drink water first and give
it some time in your stomach. Continue drinking plenty of fluids over the
next few days as it will be very important. Start eating slowly and don't
chow down your first meal. You may want to ask for an anti-nausea pill to
prevent this from developing, or at the first sensations you have of feeling
sick to your stomach, ask for one right away. The staff is good, as they take care of patients with
this surgery frequently and you will have a nurse and a nursing assistant
working with you. They work two 12 hour shifts going from 7 to 7. You will
wake up with the cool pad over your surgical area that you picked up at Dr.
Gross's office. This is your best friend and is part of the pain control.
Use it regularly for the next 1 – 2 weeks. The ice in the bucket needs to
be changed about every 4-5 hours or it melts and the pad warms up.
Sometimes the staff forgets to change it, so if the pad feels warm to you,
ring the call bell and they will be happy to fill it up. If your surgery is
done before 1 o'clock or so you may have Physical Therapy come and begin
your exercises and walking the same day as surgery. You will need to
follow their directions at home, so follow their instructions carefully as
their information is critical to your recovery. Guys, your legs will be coated with a surgical soap
that has glued all of your leg hair to your skin. This will become itchy
and uncomfortable, especially during the night. The staff has a white cream
that will melt the soap and free up your hair. If you have a significant
other staying with you have them use this with a wash cloth on your legs.
If you are alone, have the staff do this. Trust me, you will be glad to do
this. You will have the oxygen meter on your finger, this is
to monitor your breathing in case the drugs in your spinal injection effect
your breathing. If the machine is beeping with every heart beat, ask them
to turn the volume off as it is not necessary. This noise will combine
with other factors to keep you awake at night. If your oxygen level drops
the machine will sound an alarm and this is all that is necessary. Pain Medications: The staff will regularly
offer you Tylenol for you pain, take them. They have basically no side
effects and will be helpful. There will be stronger pain medications for
you as well that are related to morphine. You want to take these stronger
pain medications before the level of pain increases, or it will be difficult
to reduce the pain. Balance this out with not taking them when they are not
necessary, as there are side effects that you do not want. One of these is
a slowing down of the bowels which are already affected by the spinal
anesthesia. First Night: We were awoken almost hourly after
1 am the first night, and I hope these steps will help minimize your sleep
disruptions. The staff will say that their job is to keep an eye on you and
not necessarily let you get rest. However, with some coaching you may be
able to get them to minimize the wakeups and improve your care. I strongly
encourage you to ask your nurse to do the following: at 10:00 pm when you
have medications and vital signs due, have them refill your ice bucket at
that time. While taking your medications, firmly request that your nurse
comes in to check you at the same time as the assistant gets your vital
signs at 2:00 am and refills your ice. Ask them to come in for the 6:00 am
vital signs and ice refill when the phlebotomist comes in to take the early
morning blood samples. It was extremely annoying and unrestfull when their
visits were staggered. Their excuse is that they need to check on you, but
they can do this in a coordinated manner that provides better patient care.
1st Post-Op Day: First thing in the
morning they will take out your foley catheter. It will hurt but only for a
few moments. Afterwards, you are going to feel like you need to urinate but
it will just be a false sensation. When you do pee, it will hurt again and
feel difficult to get started. You may also have some air burp out with the
urine, which will resolve after a day or two. This pain will decrease after
a few more urinations and it will be normal in a few days. Measure your
urine (urinal for guys and hat for gals) for the staff who will be keeping
track of this today. I suggest you get up and go to the bathroom whenever
you need to urinate as this movement is good for the body. Get up only with
help, as there is an increased potential for falling and serious injury
this soon after surgery. Your hip and leg will still feel pretty good, I was
amazed at how little it hurt. Stay up in the chair as much as possible and
follow the OT and PT instructions for your activity. If you have work to do
this is the day to get it done because the next couple of days will be more
uncomfortable. Your digestive system and bowels are going to be messed
up with the drugs you have received and this will be a problem for you over
the next few days. I did not follow everything here and my abdominal pain
was much worse than my hip pain. Don't minimize this complication. Here
are a number of suggestions that will help
(http://www.spine-health.com/treatment/back-surgery/preventing-constipation-after-back-surgery):
·
Increase
activity as soon as possible after surgery. Walking is an excellent way to
help bodily functions return to normal, and also helps with healing from the
surgery.
·
Limit use of
narcotic medications (e.g. Vicodin, Tylenol #3, Darvocet, Percocet,
Oxycontin) to just what is necessary for adequate pain control. Narcotics
slow down bowel motility, leading to constipation. Consider switching to a
non-narcotic pain reliever (such as regular Tylenol or extra strength
Tylenol) for pain control shortly after surgery to reduce the risk of
constipation.
·
Begin using a
fiber laxative, stool softener, or combination product after surgery to
reduce the risk of constipation, particularly if one has experienced
constipation in the past.
·
Drink plenty
of water and other non-caffeinated fluids (at least 40 oz per day), provided
that the physician has not restricted fluid intake for another reason. Prune
juice and apple cider (not apple juice) are also excellent natural
laxatives.
·
Eat foods
that are naturally high in fiber to stimulate the intestines. High-fiber
foods include beans, whole grains and bran cereals, fresh fruits (such as
watermelon, grapes), and vegetables (such as lettuce, carrots). Limiting
foods that contribute to constipation is also a good idea, such as cheese,
meat, and processed foods.
·
Eat small,
frequent meals throughout the day, rather than large meals to aid in the
digestive process. (Save some fruit for between the meals snacks)
Even with
doing these things it may be until your 3rd Post-OP day before
you have a bowel movement.
2nd Post-OP day: Your hip is going
to be more sore today, so utilize the stronger pain pills but only as
needed. Be up as much as you can in the chair, take a walk as often as you
can, continue eating as before and drinking lots of water. This was my most
uncomfortable night, from abdominal cramping and pain, not the hip pain. I
did not follow all of the recommendations above and paid the price. If you
sleep on you back, put a couple of pillows under your legs to give you a
little hip flexion to make it more comfortable. If you sleep on your side,
be sure to place a couple of pillows under your operative leg to elevate it
and not allow this leg to approach the centerline of your body.
3rd Post-OP day: Your hip is going
to feel stiff today, but don't let that slow down your exercises and
walking. These activities will loosen it up and help. Other writers on
this website have inferred about the difficulty of their first bowel
movement and this is not to be underestimated. Here are a couple of
suggestions. Sliding your underwear down to your thighs will keep your legs
fairly close together and create more pain in the hip as you sit on the
toilet. For a more comfortable position, and to make it easier to lower
yourself safely onto the seat, drop your underwear off of one leg completely
so you can move your feet and knees further apart. Find a comfortable
position and try to relax, try not to strain, it will take some time and
won't be pleasant. If you feel light-headed lean back and let whoever is
with you know so they can come into the bathroom with you at this point.
People have passed out and hurt themselves.
Flight Home: When checking in to return home,
confirm your bulkhead seats. Allow plenty of time for wheelchair travel and
a full body search by the TSA people. It is going to happen, so just
accept it. Some of the airplanes leaving Columbia will arrive at their
destinations and park away from the terminals and lower the plains steps to
the tarmac. To prevent this, let the flight attendant know that you will
need a ramp upon arrival, and they can make that arrangement. They will not
automatically put together a slow moving person on crutches with the need
for a ramp.
Home: Pretty much continue what you have been
doing. If you start feeling like things are difficult, think of all of the
young men and women that are returning from fighting in the middle east
without legs. Again, this information is from my personal experience (and
hospital experience) and yours may be different. I hope it will be of some
help.
Thursday, January 21. 2010
I had a RBHR by Dr. Brooks on February 25, 2009 at Euclid
Hospital-Cleveland Clinic. It has been about 8 months since my surgery and I
divided my experience into categories of chronological order. Before sharing
my experience, I would like you to know that I am completely satisfied with
the procedure and would recommend Dr. Brooks for anyone considering a hip
resurfacing.
Background
I was diagnosed with arthritis in my right hip about 5 years before
having surgery. At that time I was 46 years old, and was told that I need a
hip replacement. I tried to maintain a high level of activity and control
the pain with over the counter pain medicines. However, as the joint
degenerated I modified my activities because of the hip pain and stiffness
that would result. The degeneration of the joint was slow. People would ask
why I was limping. I did not realize it because the slight limp became my
normal gait. The limp and stiffness got worse overtime. About a year before
my surgery, I could not walk more than a block or two before severely
limping. My recreational activities were reduced and centered around weight
lifting, golf, and the use of an elliptical trainer.
About a year before my surgery, a friend of mine was told he needed both
hips replaced. I told him about Pat’s hip resurfacing website and we worked
together to figure out the best approach. His hip pain was more severe than
mine, and he beat me by about three months to getting an appointment with
Dr. Brooks and having the surgery. I was able to observe his recovery before
my surgery and that reduced some of my questions and anxiety.
I decided on a hip resurfacing because of my age and the level of activity
that was possible after surgery. Once I felt comfortable in selecting hip
resurfacing over a total hip replacement, the most important factor for me
was to find a surgeon. I wanted a surgeon who has “seen it all” and did
resurfacings on a regular basis. This website helped educate me (and my
friend) and narrow down the search.
Initial Consult
I traveled about 180 miles from my home in Belle Vernon, PA to see Dr.
Brooks. My initial consult was quite memorable. I drove 6 hours through
lake-effect snow storm to get to the Cleveland Clinic Main Campus the night
before my appointment. It is normally a 3-hour drive to Cleveland from Belle
Vernon, PA.
Dr. Brooks took the time to answer all my questions and to explain the risks
that were involved. As an engineer, I really liked Dr. Brooks’ knowledge of
the biomechanics of the resurfaced joint. He was able to answer all of my
“why” questions about the implant and resurfaced joint. At the initial
consult, I met Phil Golnick, Dr. Brook’s Physicians Assistant. Phil was
great – he patiently answered all my questions between the initial consult
and my surgery, and the questions I had weeks after the surgery.
Surgery – 1st Day
The morning of my surgery, I was instructed to wash the right hip area
with a scrub – something like a Phisohex. I liked the fact I was told to
write NO on the left hip. I think that was for my own piece of mind – but
some of the simplest things can be the most effective.
I don’t remember much of the operating room. When I transferred from the
gurney to the operating table, I was asked to sit up and dangle my legs over
the edge of the table. Looking around, the operating room reminded me of the
PBS series Olde Yankee Workshop. Phil came up to me and held my shoulders
and told me they were ready to start with the anesthetic. I looked down at
the IV tube and saw a milky white fluid. I asked what it was, and was out
before I heard the answer.
I was given a general anesthetic and epidural. When I woke from surgery, I
was numb from the belly button on down. It took several hours to regain all
the feeling in my legs.
The first day was the hardest, but it was not too bad. I was immobile with
ankle cuffs that would inflate to move blood around my legs, my operative
leg was slightly elevated, and the incision was iced. I had an IV, heart and
O2 monitors attached to me. I drank a lot of water the first night thinking
it would help flush the anesthesia out of my system - not sure if that is
true but it seemed to make sense at the time. The ice helped to dull the
pain and help reduce swelling.
I was not in any significant pain, probably because of the lingering effect
of the epidural. Also, the nursing staff told me to take pain medications to
stay ahead of any pain. So I asked for the pain meds that were prescribed
and was given a pill every six hours. Unfortunately, I was not very groggy
and did not sleep much after surgery – it was hard to fall asleep with all
the equipment strapped to me.
Surgery – 2nd Day
The nursing staff wanted me to get out of bed and sit in a chair. I
could put 75 percent of my weight on the operative leg. It was good to have
someone around when getting out of bed for the first few times so you don’t
fall. I was able to use a walker to get to the bathroom. There was brief,
but sharp, pain in the operative leg muscles when I got up the first few
times. I think it was due to stretching the muscles that occurred during the
surgery. I started eating solid foods later the second day.
Surgery – 3rd and 4th Days
I begin moving around on crutches on the 3rd day after surgery. The
physical therapy staff gave me several exercises to do while laying in bed
to keep the blood moving.
The hospital staff also showed me how to administer the Lovonox injections.
I took self administered blood thinners the same time each day for the first
11 days after being discharged. Injecting myself with a needle was not too
bad because the needles are very fine. After I completed the series of
Lovonox injections, I had to take one 365 mg aspirin about every 12 hours
for the next month.
Dr. Brooks showed me that I did not have to be afraid of bending my
operative leg. I was able to lay in bed with my back elevated, and move my
operative leg almost to my chest.
The night before I was released, I got an ultra sound on my legs to check
for any blood clots. Before I left the hospital, I received a prescription
to get another ultra sound about 10 days after being released.
The day I was released from the hospital, the epidural had a delayed side
effect. I began getting headaches after I sat up for about 10 minutes. Lying
down or standing did not seem to bother me. Apparently, everyone does not
experience side effects from the epidural and there are several ways to curb
them should they occur. Since I was going home, I was instructed to drink
caffeinated beverages – not tea – but something like double shot espressos
for a few days. The headaches lasted about 4 or 5 days after going home. The
caffeine helped reduce the headache pressure.
Since I had to be driven 180 miles, I asked for pain medications for the
trip home. The PA turnpike can be a little bumpy in sections. Fortunately, I
was in a SUV and brought several pillows to provide cushion for the drive
home. I could also stretch out over the entire back seat which made the ride
home comfortable. Also, I brought easy slip-on shoes and basketball tear
away pants so I did not have any tight fitting clothing for the trip home.
The staff at the Euclid Hospital was great during my stay. They were always
there when I needed assistance.
Post Surgery Recovery Up To 6 weeks
Dr. Brooks requires you stay on two crutches for 6 weeks. For about the
first two weeks, I went for short walks. I increased the distance a modest
amount each day, at first starting with a few hundred yards and increasing
the total distance to about 1 mile at about 5 weeks post surgery. I was
fortunate that I could take off work for 6 weeks on medical leave.
I continued to take the prescribed pain medications as I did in the hospital
for about three days after leaving Euclid. I was not in any pain, but did
not want to experience any either. I just stopped taking them and I was
fine. After that, I took one prescribed pain med about a week after being
home when I went to sleep. This reduced the discomfort from the 32 staples
holding the incision.
I continued to take the Lovonox injections as prescribed. I also was
instructed to take my temperature each day – I assume it was to help alert
me if an infection started.
I could easily get dressed and put my sock on the operative leg without the
aid of any device - it was a little tough at first. I was able to do most
simple things (like cook and cleanup after myself) but it took about 3 times
longer than pre–surgery. I bought an extended gripper to help pick up items,
but never used it.
I did not opt for a surgical dressing to cover the incision so I could take
a shower. I did the “bird bath” cleaning every day. I did not want to take a
chance of getting the incision wet. It was a good feeling to take a shower a
few days after the staples came out. While the incision was healing, I used
an 8-inch abdominal bandage to cover it and change the dressing two times a
day. Those bandages were not available at the local drug store. My friend
ordered them in advance of his surgery and he had many left over. I used
medical paper tape that can be bought at the drug store to secure my bandage
to the skin. The medical paper tape did not irate my skin. I had the
bandages so I used them.
My leg was bruised, probably because of the very strange positions it was
placed during surgery and putting the implants into my bones. The bruising
peaked about 7 to 10 days after surgery. It was looked much worse than it
felt – although it was sore, it was easily tolerable. Taking the blood
thinners probably made the bruising worse. I was never in much pain, but my
friend prepared me for the bruising that would occur.
After being discharged from the hospital, I did not have any trouble
sleeping. When I woke up in the morning, I would do some stretching
exercises before trying to stand. I would take my time getting out of bed
and did not rush since I had no where to go. I could not drive until getting
off crutches.
6-Week Check-Up
My 6-week check-up with Dr. Brooks was in early April 2009. Dr. Brooks
watched me walk without crutches, and I had a slight limp. Dr. Brooks
suggested one more exercise for the leg. It was to lay on my non-operative
side and raise my operative leg, 3 sets at 30 reps per set, three times a
day. Initially I was too weak to lift my leg an inch, so I got the remedial
version. That was to stand, balancing myself, and move the operative leg
laterally. I did the standing version for about a week before attempting the
lying version.
Dr. Brooks showed me the X-rays of my operative leg – about 3 or 4 were
taken that day. Although I have no medical training, the hip joint looked
like a perfect fit from every angle. Since hip resurfacing is elective
surgery, it is so important to do your homework and find a surgeon that can
make the implant fit just right.
Dr. Brooks indicated that for one year I could not run, jump, or lift any
weight over 30 lbs. Basically, do not over exert myself. I had to wait
another 6 weeks before playing golf, and had to take a cart for the first
year. After one year, Dr. Brooks indicated he will re-evaluate my BHR and
determine if all restrictions could be lifted.
Post 6-Week Check-up To 8 Months Post Surgery
About 4 days after being off crutches, I was walking up a flight of
steps and pulled the quadricep muscles in the operative leg. It took about 6
weeks for that to completely heal. I continued to do the leg exercises and
strengthen the hip muscles.
I had access to a heated therapy arthritis pool and found some water
exercises on Pat’s web page. I did those exercises and walked around the
therapy pool for about 3 weeks after getting off crutches. I did not ride a
bike or do an elliptical trainer – I just walked everyday, rain or shine,
trying to increase the distance. I bought a pedometer to monitor my walking
distance and to make sure I did not over do it, take it too easy, or
plateau.
For the first few weeks after getting off crutches and doing the leg raises,
I did not feel there was any improvement since I continued to limp. At the
time, it was a little frustrating. I visited Pat’s web page many times and
called my friend often to compare my progress, and to find any morsel of
information about recovery. I continued to do the lateral leg raises and it
was very hard, straining to raise the leg and breaking into sweats for such
a simple exercise that I now take for granted.
After about 5 weeks of being off crutches, I began to notice the leg was
getting stronger and the limp starting to slowly resolve. I continued to
walk every day as a strengthening exercise. There was some muscle soreness –
in the buttocks and top part of the back of the thigh – but I continued to
work the muscles – keeping in mind not to over do it. Throughout this time,
the operative hip joint felt fine, just like my non-operative hip.
The slight limp began to diminish each day as the leg got stronger. It was
not a step change, but a very gradual process that completely faded after
about 4 months of my surgery. Throughout the recovery, I remembered that
slow and steady wins the race and I made sure not miss an exercise set. I
hoped that I would recover like one of those people that boast about
extraordinary activities only a few weeks post surgery – but I did not. My
friend and I recovered at about the same pace so I assume that my recovery
must have been average.
I steadily increased my walking distance. July 4th was about 4-1/2 months
post surgery and I went for a 5-mile walk. Over the next few weeks, I
increased the walking distance to over 6 miles. Today, I don’t think about
my hip surgery and I feel that I could do just about anything. But I’ll wait
until February to see Dr. Brooks in hopes there will be no restrictions
associated with my new hip.
Thursday, January 21. 2010
June 30, 2009 I am here in South Carolina with Dr. Gross at the hospital. It is Tuesday
today. I had the right hip resurfaced at 9am yesterday. Tomorrow, I will
have the left leg resurfaced at 3pm. Thanks to all the folks who have
published comments and given feedback on this site. It is incredibly useful
for setting expectations and getting a feel for what is going to happen
next. My thanks to all you great posters!
I am 44 years old, and am in good to great physical shape (except for the
hip area!). I learned about Hip Resurfacing and Dr. Gross by doing a Google
search when I was frustrated about "hip replacement and snowmobiling".
Somehow I came across an individual who was a year out and bragging about
being able to snowmobile again with no pain. What a funny way to hook into
this site!
I learned about Dr. Gross from this site as well a ton of independent
research. I called and talked to their staff and was impressed with how
caring they seemed. In reading the blogs, I felt that Dr. Gross and his
staff went the extra mile to make their patients recover well.
So I decided to sign up and go through the process. For me, my life felt
like I hit a brick wall sometime back in October. I was limping for the past
8 years or so, but there was no affect on my sports, ROM, or anything else.
I had pain, but medicine seemed to be the way to treat it. What was
interesting to me
What was interesting to me was how the pain medicine doses became part of my
life. Two alleves in the morning to get me started, maybe one before playing
hockey, or maybe throw down a couple of Anvils. I was popping these pain
killers every day. I do not think that was so good!
Then, in October, for the first time in my life, I felt that my ROM and
strength in my legs was to push off, or stand up from the back of the skies,
or do something I always had been able to do, was GONE! I finally decided to
do something about it.
I met Dr. Gross and his staff in their office on Friday. I was impressed
with how friendly, nice and caring his staff was. It might be something to
do with the South as well… you all are a caring and wonderful group! I hail
from Northern Michigan, and live now over in Northern Sweden!
Dr. Gross and I discussed in detail the results of my DEXA scan, which is a
bone density scan. Because of my arthritis, I was a little low. If not for
my physique, desire to do both, and commitment to take it easy, I think Dr.
Gross would not have gone forward. Being a male 44 years old helped as well,
but the bone density was a big deal. I was a -2.1 on the left and -2.3 on
the right. Osteo something arthritis is -2.5. So I am not so good! But I am
on a course to strengthen my bones (good tip for people to look at prior to
surgery, have the DEXA done early). I take calcium and vitamin D daily as well
as a bone strengthening prescription (forgot the name) once a week. So we
decided to move forward!
My right side feels pretty good. I have been up and down the hall 3 times
practicing a gated walk with the crutches. It is definitely stiff@! And it
is definitely hard to maneuver out of bed turning the right leg to get into
a standing position. Because of my Dexa, Dr. Gross has me on the slow
progression PT. I am not to weight bear much (and little as I can) for 6
weeks. But… I willing to do that because I really want to get my life back
and both sides were killing me pre Bilateral!
So…things are going well. The staff here is excellent at the hospital. I
have felt very welcome and very cared for. Everyone has been great. This is
truly a first class place. Tomorrow, I have to stop eating and drinking
tonight at midnight, I will get stage 2 – the left side done! I will keep
everyone posted. I am excited and nervous. After reading all the posts, I
know the first 10 days are going to be tough! But I am ready, here, and
willing to endure! We fly back up north on Saturday.
July 15, 2009
Well... I am now post op 2 weeks. I agree with previous
post that the first week is tough. I would refer to it as more than tough.
At least it was for me... wow! I will do a little memory recital here and get
caught up to where we are today.
I had the second hip done on Wed late - I was the last surgery of the day. I
had the good fortune to be very easy. The surgery according to Dr. Gross was
straight forward and easy. As you may recall, I was a little low on my bone
density - a negative 2.1 on the right and a negative 2.3 on the left. Dr.
Gross had originally suggested I not do a bilateral. Upon our meeting, and
discussion, we decided together to proceed with the bilateral surgery
knowing my recovery would be under his slow program. More on this later!
On Friday, we were discharged from the hospital. The pain meds, coupled with
what I assume was some device to dislocate my leg from the socket prior to
surgery, made the bathroom a big nightmare. We stayed at the Courtyard on
Friday night. My butt was so uncomfortable. Trying to go the bathroom was
terrible. It does get better, but that first ten days are tough for men. Of
course, I am a big baby, but that was no fun!
Courtyard was great. We had the handicap double room. My father had been
with me all week. Having him to help was indispensable. You need someone to
help you out for a couple of weeks.
On Saturday, we packed up and headed to go out of town from Columbia airport.
I had to take two small flights to get home. One jump from Columbia to
Detroit, and then from Detroit to Traverse City, Michigan. Having read the
forums, I knew to take my medicines – the pain meds. In addition to Vicodin,
I had something Dr. Gross gave me that was a 12 hour. I took that as well as
brought the vicodins with me to use ,as well as the next 12 hour pill for
when we were in Detroit. I also packed empty head ice packs. Those ice packs
you can buy at the store that have a big screw off top, are meant for your
head, and you can put ice in them with water. We carried these empty through
security and had a vendor fill them with ice in Columbia. They were a HOT
TICKET! And very recommended. Having one for each side during the flight,
really helped me a lot. We refilled with ice in Detroit for the next
segment. They were perfect because you can take empty through security.
Upon arrival home, I was a little swelled and took it easy. The hardest part
was the bathroom. The pain killers act like a plug, and your butt feels like
(and is) very bruised. Sitting on the toilet seat for 5-7 days was not
pleasant. Cover your one eyed snake with a towel, and grip those side bars
on one of those raised toilet seats your grandpa would use. You need both
hands to hold your butt off the seat, since it hurts, which is why your
one-eyed snake needs a blanket! Nuff said… And...Get ready to pass the
football....
Once home, my father was diligent about filling the polar ice machines and
wrapping my hips with those cool packs. They really helped with bruising and
the swelling. They are like having a loud fish tank (as a bilateral you get
TWO!) in your room, but they are worth it. By day 5 or 6 post op, after
sleeping with ear plugs (trying anyway!) I pulled the plug on those babies
and put them away! I needed some sleep.
Sleep has been tough. I am a roller. You cannot roll with a baseball in each
hip! It is difficult, and just now possible, to sleep on the stomach. But
still… it does not work like it should! Just takes time!
I have been really good about taking long walks. I am now post op almost 2
weeks, and enjoy going around the block on my crutches for a good 40-50
minutes. I also walk on my crutches everywhere when we go shopping and
stuff. Because of my bad bone density, I am forced to keep the crutches for
6 weeks (doctor’s orders). That will be the toughest thing for me moving
forward, as I am already able to walk around without them. Only good part is
that you get lots of sympathy from people – everyone has been so nice and
helpful. Bad part… for a guy that is single… not like having a cute puppy…!
My spirits are high. I feel good and the bones are getting stronger. I did
push one day and took some family (day 12 post op) out on my boat. It is a
big boat, so the wave impact was minimal, but still, because I was doing the
driving, and standing a bit of time, my legs told me the next day I over did
it! It completely wiped me out. I passed out and slept a day away the next
day. Moral of the story… you just had major surgery dummy… take it easy!!!
Today, I feel great again. I am going to go out now and go for a long walk.
I really like having done this in the summer. I don’t put on anything but
shorts and I never have to worry about ice. I can walk every day and I am
never too hot (that might be a living in northern Michigan summer thing!).
If I can help anyone else, please hit me with questions. This has been a
wonderful process for me. I have NO arthritis pain. My wounds on my leg
where the incision was made are healing great. I feel them but the feeling
is like a cut healing on your leg, not arthritis deep pain. I don’t feel the
new resurfaced components like I thought I would at all.
Looking back, and concluding this long rant(!), that first week is tough
TOUGH TOUGH! It just gets stronger, easier, and better. I am so GLAD and so
HAPPY I went and saw Dr. Gross. I owe it all to this website and the people
who have contributed before me. I am really excited to keep improving, and
in 6 months, be back to normal!
Thursday, January 21. 2010
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 remarkably "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
Thursday, January 21. 2010
I'm 10 days out of bi lateral hip resurfacing with Dr. Su. Can't say enough good
things about Dr. Su.
My hips feel strong enough to stand with no issues and no crutches 7 days out.
Post surgery, he told me my hips were a mess, and I had pretty big cuts, around
14 inches per leg. I went on a strong natural product regiment right out of
surgery, only taking pain killers for a few days, and trying to avoid everything
else. I used natural wound healing products and probiotics so my GI system would
be normal.
There's no sugar coating the first 7-10 days after surgery. It's hard work and a
lot of discomfort, but it's not from pain per se. It's that it's hard to sleep,
and you're confined to bed most of the time with both hips having been done.
However, with PT, stretching etc, you can recover fast and feel a lot better.
Once you get past the first week, things improve daily. I got my staples out on
the 10th day, which is a big improvement. Starting tomorrow I expect even bigger
improvements daily, as I'll really begin focusing on regaining flexibility.
HSS is excellent and you can't find a better doctor than Su.
December 27, 2009
I’m 3.5 weeks out of bi lateral surgery with Dr.
Su. I’ve been on a stationary bike for a week, no resistance, up to 20 minutes a
day, and another 20 minutes walking on a treadmill. I started driving just short
of 3 weeks out of surgery, although I get stiff when I’m in the car too long.
I’ve had no pain, just discomfort around trying to regain flexibility. I still
can’t put socks on (although I got lucky a couple of times), but I’m able to
walk without crutches, including stairs. My physical therapist recommended I
buy a cane that’s more for hiking, so I got one that collapses made by Leki
called the Wanderfreund, and tossed the crutches. I’ve got 2 14 inch scars
because my hips were so bad, and yet, I cannot believe how fast I’ve progressed
since surgery. The absolute worst time for me was just the discomfort post
surgery (not bad pain), and getting the pain meds out of my system (even after
stopping all opiods 3 days after surgery), so I could pass the stairs test to
leave HSS. Now, it just feels like I have to work hard on flexibility, so I can
push the endurance part of rehab. Each day seems to get a little better, and I
frankly, I’m surprised at how well things have gone. Still can’t say enough
good things about Dr. Su, and for those considering doing both hips at the same
time, I’d say the experience has been way better than I expected, and he’s got
to be a doctor you consider. In the beginning, the improvement comes every 3-5
days, but as time progresses, I’ve found improvement daily. You wake up and
suddenly you can do something you couldn’t do the day before. I fully expect to
be back on all non impact sports soon.
Thursday, January 21. 2010
I am a 55 year old male. I have been active all my life in various sports
which ultimately led to my hip cartilage damage. I had my right hip
resurfaced using the anterior approach November 2007 by Dr. Stefan Kreuzer,
a Birmingham hip. In Feb of this year, Dr Kruezer resurfaced my left hip
with a Cormet.
I am almost two months into the recovery and I am almost back to full
strength. There is still some numbness around the incision area, but I know
from experience that will improve over time.
Dr. Kruezer is clearly constantly learning and improving as my second
recovery is a few weeks ahead of my first.
My hospital stay was two days, I was walking the day of the surgery. I went
home and used the walker for three days and never needed a cane. A week
after my resurfacing, I was walking completely unassisted and even resumed
normal activities like shopping, etc. Road biking is my passion, after one
month I was training on a stationary bike; at five weeks I was back to
riding my road bike albeit carefully; last weekend at eight weeks, I rode 80
miles in just over 4 hours.
I would strongly advise anyone considering hip resurfacing to find out if
they are suitable for the anterior approach.
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