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Tuesday, July 27. 2010
The first time I noticed any hip pain was in 2004 when I was jogging and had
a very sharp pain in my left groin area which only occurred when my left knee
was raised to its highest point which didn’t occur on every run and typically
when running hard uphill. The pain subsided and would only reoccur periodically
during subsequent runs (I would run about 2-3 times per week) so I put off
seeing an orthopedic specialist. About 6 months later while on a long walk with
my family I experienced a new pain in my left groin area – very different from
my running pain. This was more like a dull ache and honestly didn’t necessarily
relate the two symptoms. About 6 months later I began to notice a clicking in my
hip when I would move my left leg laterally (typically while shifting my
position in bed).
At this point I set my first appointment with an orthopedic surgeon. After
looking at an x-ray, he referred me to a specialist in St. Louis, Dr. John
Clohisy (Wash U Physicians at BJC). Dr. Clohisy specializes in preserving hips
in younger active patients. I was diagnosed with torn cartilage and bone spurs
that had developed in my hip due to a natural occurring impingement due to the
shape of my femoral head. His goal was to trim the cartilage, remove bone spurs
and finally debride (shave down) a portion of the femoral head so as to diminish
or eliminate the impingement and provide more life to my hip until which time I
would need a hip replacement. I awoke post Op to a nurse who informed me that
the doctor was unable to complete the surgery due to certain conditions but that
I would be non-weight bearing for 8 weeks and would be going home that evening.
Needless to say I was very surprised and disappointed but during surgery Dr.
Clohisy noticed that I had very little cartilage and knew that I would require a
replacement shortly and rather than doing the debridement, elected to drill some
micro size holes in the surface of my femoral head which was intended to create
scar tissue which would act like cartilage and hopefully lengthen the life of my
joint until which time I would need the replacement. After the initial
non-weight bearing period I was happy with the results because I was able to
move my left leg laterally with little pain, though I still had limited motion.
At this point I had heard about resurfacing but at the time it was not approved
in the US. Doctor Clohisy told me that his associate, Dr. Barrack was training
to perform the surgery when it would be approved by the FDA later that year.
Eventually (mid 2006) I had my first appointment with Dr. Barrack who though I
would make an excellent candidate for resurfacing and scheduled the surgery for
later that year. About two months later, however, I had second thoughts and
cancelled the surgery having heard that one should wait until the pain becomes
almost unbearable. My hip pain was not typical in that it didn’t hurt all the
time but primarily related to the motion of my hip. I could not go up or down a
ladder, climb over a short fence, get down on my knees, etc, without exceptional
pain. However, I could walk miles without much pain – I was a golfer and could
walk and carry a bag 18 holes without much pain. Reaching down to get a ball out
of the cup was another issue – practically impossible.
During the summer of 2008, I had an opportunity to visit with Dr. Berry at Mayo
Clinic in Rochester, MN who had recently completed a total hip replacement for a
relative. I wanted a second opinion regarding my situation and whether a
replacement or resurfacing was the best solution for me. He asked me how often I
woke up in the morning and told myself I needed a new hip. At that point, it was
only 2-3 days a week since I could walk normally with little pain. He also told
me that both a replacement and resurfacing would a good solution and it was
really up to me to make that decision which I really appreciated. By Spring 2009
I had practically no motion in my left hip and constant pain and decided it was
time for the resurfacing. I scheduled the surgery with Barrack for September 15,
2009. Surgery went very well and I was on cane by the first days of week three
though I had quite a bit of thigh pain which subsided at about week four The Dr.
Barrack mentioned that the fit was “tight” but that all went well and the
placement and angles went as he had hoped. By week five I felt well enough to
walk (with cane) in a 5K charity walk with my wife. I was off the cane after 6
weeks and played my first round of golf week 8. I agreed to participate in a
study that tracks the metal ions in my blood.
During the final weeks just prior to my first resurfacing surgery I noticed much
more pain in my right hip which was most likely to me favoring it over the bad
hip while having a very active summer on the golf course. I had hoped that it
would get better once the left hip was healed but later in the year admitted
that it needed to be replaced as well and scheduled that surgery for Feb 9,
2010. I have read of others that put off the second hip but frankly for me there
was no benefit to doing the first if the condition of the remaining hip
prevented me from doing all the things that I wanted to do. That surgery was
equally successful, or more so in that I was able to transfer to a cane by end
of week one and Dr. Barrack mentioned that the surgery went even smoother than
the first – not sure what exactly that means but I presume more room to work and
get the placement perfect. For the first time in about 5 years I have virtually
no pain in my hips and can stand for hours with no pain. I think the biggest
challenge in front of me is not so much the strengthening but getting back my
flexibility that I haven’t had for 6+ years due to the impingement in my hips.
I hope this information is helpful and would highly recommend Dr. Barrack for
those considering a hip resurfacing.
Tuesday, July 27. 2010
On April 1st my left hip received the BHR from Dr. Andy Engh in Alexandria,
Virginia. Dr. Engh had mentioned your website as a source of information for me
during my Pre-Op visit. I have enjoyed reading about the experiences of others
and it has helped me to understand the challenges associated with Hip
Resurfacing options. Now two weeks into Post-Op I am feeling better each day.
The swelling in my left leg is reduced, the bruise on my left leg has almost
disappreared and I am now on one crutch. I stopped the vicodin after one week
and I am pleased with Tylenol. My discomfort is minimal and I am able to sleep
through the night. Formal PT ends soon and I am looking forward to the four week
mark when I can use a recumbent bike and return to work full time.
Before the surgery I was once a 7 handicap in golf, I enjoyed cycling, running,
playing squash, and traveling. When I began to feel the affects of the
osteoarthritis, I began taking ibuprofin frequently. Eventually the pain would
not subside and I had to give up most of my activities. I went to see a surgeon
about a THR and he said my days of running were over and I would need to take
meds until I turned 60 and then he would do the THR operation. That was more
than 10 years away! By my 50th birthday last fall my lower back and right knee
were in great pain from carrying my weight and compensating for the
osteoarthritis in my left hip. And as a Regional Marketing Representative for an
insurance company my work on the road with heavy travel became difficult.
In January 2010 my primary physician recommended an Endoscopy when I was having
a preventative colonoscopy done. The results of the Endoscopy showed that the
pain meds where eating away my esophagus. He recommended I stop the meds and
referred me to Dr. Engh for a consult on my osteoarthritis. What a great relief
this journey has been. His staff has taken great care of me along the way and
Dr. Engh took the time to answer my many questions. On the day of the surgery I
went in with great confidence and had little fear. I had even done the Virtual
Hip Resurfacing surgery on www.edheads.org to be prepared! Today just 14 days
afterwards after the BHR I have no chronic pain in my hip. The pain from surgery
is not too bad and the scar on my hip is healing quickly. But most important now
is that I continue to take it easy and heal. But I truly can't wait for my
renewed life ahead this summer when I can ride a bike, swing a golf club and
feel good again!
Sandy
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June 17, 2010
It has now been almost 3 months since my left hip was resurfaced by Dr. Andy
Engh. I have no pain from the surgery. In fact I do not take any pain medicines
at all, which is not bad for a 50 year old! For the past month I have been able
to use my recumbent bike, eliptical machine and moderate weight lifting a couple
of times each week. When I feel any pain in the muscles of my left leg I stop
and rest.
When I take a flight of stairs I think about how much stronger my left hip and
leg feels than the days when I would dread this activity. And it is amazing to
me that I can once again cross my leg to put on a sock! During work I am able to
walk normally without a limp and I no longer feel the sharp pain when I get out
of the car after a long drive of an hour or more. My air travel has been
slightly delayed by the "frisking" procedure I must endure briefly after passing
thru the metal detector at the airport. But I cooperate and tell the TSA agent
that I am used to this with my hip replacement (it makes them go faster!). Next
month I plan to return to cycling on the paved paths near my home in Northern
Virginia. I will start low and try to build up my mileage. I am also beginning
to swing a golf club (chipping and low irons) to stretch my muscles. I can't
wait until I can play again. But I want to make sure that it is safe to do these
activities so I will again take it easy.
One of the major reasons I considered hip resurfacing was to avoid the reactions
my body had to the strong NSAID medicines I took for the chronic pain. I took
them until I had an endoscopy in January 2010 and the doctor said my esophagus
was one of the worst he had seen because it was full of ulcers. he recommended
that I stop taking the medicines immediately. On June 10th I had the procedure
performed again and the results were excellent. As the doctor told me, "You are
completely healed. Keep doing what you are doing!". I encourage any one taking
strong pain medicines to ask their physician if an endoscopy should be done. It
could have been much worse for me if I did not evaluate my hip surgery options
until later.
Overall I am very pleased with my recovery thus far and Dr. Engh's staff
continues to check-in with me to see how I am doing. No worries here!
Sandy
Tuesday, July 27. 2010
Navy Chief Petty Officer Mike Carrol deployed to Iraq in 2007 and remains on
active duty today, at 53, to train fellow reservists.
Mike Carroll couldn't touch his knees together. Couldn't play basketball with
his children. Couldn't walk other than taking "a big limp," he said.
The former Navy SEAL wasn't going to let those limitations drown his dream of
returning to the special-warfare compound in Coronado to help in the war effort.
At age 49 in 2006, Carroll wasn't the oldest SEAL to re-enlist after an absence.
But he was certainly not the usual face in the recruiter's office.
Adding to the odds against him, he was packing two artificial hips.
Even with that weighing down his résumé, the Alpine resident deployed to Iraq in
2007 with his special-warfare team and remains on active duty today as a trainer
of fellow reservists.
It was a long shot, Carroll is the first to acknowledge.
"If the dream's big enough, there's nothing that you can't overcome, especially
with technology," said Carroll, now 53.
Being a SEAL, the Navy's elite sea-air-land combat force, is usually a young
man's game.
The age ceiling for entry is 28. Highly sought-after candidates can get an age
waiver up to 30. An enlisted SEAL looking to become an officer may receive a
pass up to 33.
Carroll remembers seeing a Navy doctor a few weeks after the Sept. 11, 2001,
attacks. Angered by the terrorist action, he wanted to get back on a SEAL team
and use his 16 years of military experience.
Carroll, who ran a computer-based business after leaving the Navy, kept in shape
over the years. He was roughly 6 feet and 183 pounds.
He told the physician that his joints felt fine. Then the doctor asked him to
perform a few side lunges and knee bends.
"I couldn't do it," Carroll remembered. "The doctor said, ‘We can't take you
Mike, you'd be a liability.' "
So Carroll basically gave up. Surgeons said he was too young for a hip
replacement, which is usually reserved for older people because of the chance
that the artificial parts will break down over time.
Carroll, a former senior chief petty officer, felt deflated. He had wanted to
serve as an example of patriotism to his young sons. They knew he had been a
SEAL but had never seen him go to work in combat boots.
Then one day a buddy called to point out an article about a new hip procedure.
Carroll bought the magazine immediately.
By March 2004, he was on an operating table in Los Angeles. The treatment
replaces only the outer part of the hip joint with metal. It can be a place
holder for a future total hip replacement or, if it works, a permanent fix.
Carroll's surgeon, Dr. Thomas Schmalzried, said the former SEAL was basically
the prototype for the procedure - someone still young and fit whose joints just
gave out too early.
"Mike is a special person. I was proud that he was able to continue as a SEAL
with two artificial hips," Schmalzried said.
After the surgery, Carroll managed to get age and medical waivers from the Navy,
though he had to drop a rank.
His return took some convincing of re-enlistment officials, so he called on his
former teammates. One of them was Cmdr. Roger Meek, who had become an officer at
the special-warfare base in Coronado.
The higher-ups largely foresaw that Carroll's role would be training younger
SEALs, which is what special-warfare veterans switch to as they finish their
careers. But Meek said he wouldn't have recommended Carroll if he didn't believe
it was safe to place another sailor's life in his hands, as SEALs do in the
tight corners of combat.
"He's a very thorough and squared-away guy with a good reputation for getting
things done," Meek said. "In our community, reputation is everything."
The surgery left Carroll with two hockey-stick-shaped scars on his hips, but no
complications so far. He now leads daily fitness workouts for his unit.
Sure, the younger SEALs call him "grandpa." In Iraq, the second-oldest SEAL in
Carroll's unit was only 36. Another sailor teases him that this story will
appear on the cover of AARP magazine.
Carroll said he is living the dream, with a year to go until retirement.
"I think there's a little bit of respect there from the younger guys," he said.
"When they ask me how old I am, they can't really believe I'm that old - at
least that's what they say. Maybe they are just being nice."
He adds, grinning, "I feel like a 25-year-old man."
Tuesday, July 27. 2010
My name is Wayne Bono. I had the Birmingham Hip Resurfacing done in April of
2007. I was referred to Dr. Cambize Shahrdar by a tennis friend. I was unable to
play competitive tennis after being the No. 1 ranked 55 year old in the Southern
Section.
My surgery was done in Willis Knighton Pierremont Health Center in Shreveport,
Baton Rouge, La
Since my surgery I have started playing competitive tennis again and just lost
in finals of the Bocage Senior National level II tennis tournament to the
National 65's champion who was also the 60's world champion in a close match. In
the semi finals match I beat the No. 1 player in the south. I am moving and
playing as well as I did 10 years ago when I was No. 1 in the Southern Section.
I have referred two other younger tennis players that play competitive tennis to
Dr. Shahrdar and they had double Birmingham's done and are now playing
competitive tennis again. I could not be more pleased with my outcome and care I
was given by Dr. Shahrdar.
Tuesday, July 27. 2010
I am currently in the hospital one day after having a BHR on my left hip.
Three months ago I had the same procedure on my right hip. Hopefully I am now on
my way to recovering some of the life I have lost.
Less than five years ago I was playing professional basketball and getting ready
to make the transition to my new career as a fire fighter. I was completely pain
free, had no indications of any pending health challenges and was excited to
start another job where my physical conditioning was an asset. However, not long
after starting this new career I began to notice tightness in my hip flexors and
began to have a hard time squatting down. A trip to the doctor confirmed pretty
narrow joint spaces and some large osteophytes forming. Surprisingly quickly I
went from being able to go full out on the court and in the weight room six days
a week, to struggling to pick a paper up off the floor or tie up my shoe.
Not only was I forced to dramatically change my sporting and health habits, I
found myself having a harder time to do my job properly. Attacking the problem
in the same way I did any deficiencies in my basketball game, I figured I just
need to find the right treatment or health practitioner to solve my problem. I
was told that hip resurfacing/replacement was a last resort and that I had to
live with things as long as I could. I spent thousands of dollars going to
different physiotherapists, massage therapists, chiropractors, acupuncture,
active release technique, traditional Chinese medicine, not to mention the yoga,
stretching and specific strength training I tried. Although many of these things
provided temporary relief, none really changed the long-term course of hip
degradation I was on. By the beginning of this year my X-rays indicated
moderately severe and severe arthritis on my two hips and any day I was off the
pain killers did much to confirmed this.
Having access to the community of people who have gone through similar issues on
Surface Hippy really helped me make the decision I had been trying to avoid.
Instead of constantly feeling "what is wrong with me" or "it can't be arthritis,
I am too young", I started to get connected with the idea that this just happens
to some people and the solution is pretty good. There is light on the other side
of the tunnel. Mostly, the site gave me information based on first hand accounts
that I could use to evaluate what different doctors were telling me.
I had more than one surgeon tell me that I should really go for a hip
replacement and it would irresponsible to have a hip resurfacing. They told me
the technology is still unproven, that there are too many unknowns about metal
on metal issues and that there isn't any proof that patients are able to be any
more active post resurfacing than they are post replacement.
Although this advice may turn out to be true if I am one of the small percentage
that has any reaction to the metal ions, I am grateful to be able to hear real
stories of people being very active after resurfacings. The chance I have to
carry on an active lifestyle at best, or just preserve more of my femur at
least, seemed to me to be worth any risks that these surgeons saw with
resurfacing.
I had my right hip resurfaced in January 2010 and am happy with the results so
far. Now 3 1/2 months later I am just out of my second operation and am
optimistic about being fully on the road to recovery.
Eric
Tuesday, July 27. 2010
I am located in Shreveport La. and my doctor is Cambize Shahrdar. I raced
motocross my whole life and my body got beaten up pretty bad. The hips always
seemed to be involved in crashes. Also, racing motocross requires a lot of
training like running and biking which also is rough on the hips. I noticed
trying to play golf about half way through the round my lower back area would
just be killing me.
After a good while of dealing with the pain I decided to get checked. That is
when I discovered my hips were in really bad shape. I was 40 at the time and the
doctor told me I had the hips of an 80 year old. I continued to deal with the
pain for a while even though it was getting worse all the time. After being in a
store one night with my family my hip completely locked up and I couldn't walk
out. This for me was the point of no return. I thought if my family would not
have been with me I would have really been in a bind trying to get out and home.
Shortly after that I received the Birmingham hip resurfacing.
Dr. Shahrdar suggested the Birmingham for me because of my age and activity
level. Dr. Shahrdar in this area is the guy to go to. I have a lot of friends
that are Doc's and 100% of them told me he was the guy for hip issues.
Everything to do with the surgery was pretty much as he said it would be. The
timing of issues like walking and driving were spot on.
The only thing I wish I would have done more of was research like looking at the
surfacehippy web site. All of the info. you need is on this site. There are some
small details that a person needs to check before having this surgery.
One of my issues after I got home was the tape they used on me in surgery. I was
allergic to it and it was like the worse sunburn you have every had times 100. I
also did not realize I was going to need to take blood thinner shots for a
couple of weeks after I got home. This was tough for me because I had to give
them to myself below my bellybutton. Other than those couple of things the
surgery is awesome.
It has now been a year and a half since my surgery and my new hip is 99%. No
pain and plenty of strength. I was 41 when I had my right hip resurfacing done
in December 2008. If your age and activity level works the Birmingham hip
resurfacing is the way to go. It's a great solution.
Tuesday, July 27. 2010
My hip journey starts like a lot of people , was very active and started to
get pain in the groin and front of my left hip this was November 2007.
I was running 50 miles a week preparing for a December marathon so I just ran
though the pain. In February 2008 as I was training for my April marathon by now
the pain was starting to slow me down , so in May I went to my Family Dr. and he
ordered a MRI. When the MRI showed very little joint space that’s when I started
looking at hip replacement/resurfacing. Training for a marathon in January 2009
the pain was really bad, so at mile 7 of my April 2009 marathon I decided to get
a BHR as soon as possible.
When I went in for surgery on June 2, I knew I had to be ready to run on April
25th 2010. Dr. Joel Tupper in Oklahoma City, peformed my hip resurfacing with a
BHR for my left Hip.
Post surgery when they stood me up I just knew my running days were over. I
starting walking 6 days post op about a half a mile a day, by day 18 I was
walking 10 miles every weekend.
3 months post op I was doing some light jogging with a lot of strength training.
In December I was running 35 miles per week and was ready to race, so in January
2010 I ran a half marathon I push it and the BHR pushed back but I knew things
would get better with more work.
February 27 I did a 25k and the hip preformed much better. March 28th I ran a
half marathon with good results so I knew April 25th I would be ready to go the
full 26.2. I ran my 13th marathon, first with the BHR 11 months post op no hip
issues.
Tuesday, July 27. 2010
Here is my story about my hip resurfacing. It starts in October of 2006 when
I went to a local doctor in southwest Michigan and had my right hip X-rayed. I
wanted to make sure it was arthritis and not something else. He said it was
indeed arthritis in my hip and I would have to have it replaced in three to five
years. I laughed and said fat chance. After my visit I started taking
glucosamine/chondroitin regularly and ibuprofen if I had pain. I am quite active
and started to ballroom dance which put more stress on my right hip. The
activity that hurt the most was driving. I could not drive for more that 30
minutes without pain going right down to my knee. The same pain was involved
when I rode horses. During the week, while I was at work the pain was not too
bad but on the weekend when I would walk extensively at the farm or do more
manual labor my hip would hurt. As my hip continued to deteriorate I could not
ride my horse and dance in the same day. When my leg started giving out while I
was dancing I knew something had to be done.
I went to the Cleveland Clinic in August of 2009 and asked the surgeon if there
was anything else I could do besides replacement. He was a replacement surgeon
and strongly recommended replacement. He mentioned resurfacing but told me there
were a lot of issues with it. I scheduled replacement surgery for April 29th. I
had a lot of time before the surgery, so I started doing some research. I was
disturbed about the restrictions that are involved with hip replacement. I read
more about resurfacing and decided I needed to see Dr. Brooks at the Cleveland
Clinic about this procedure. My appointment was February 24, 2010 and he said I
was a candidate for resurfacing and it was scheduled for May 5, 2010, Cinco de
Mayo.
Because I am from out of town Phil, Dr. Brooks' Physician's Assistant scheduled
my preop examination on Tuesday May 4 to save me an extra trip to Cleveland. I
traveled to Cleveland with my wife and we got a hotel room for the week. My
daughter is a nurse at the Cleveland Clinic so she was with me as well. I was
getting rather apprehensive and thought about going back to Michigan but decided
that was a foolish thought and continued. My surgery was scheduled for 8:30 AM
on Wednesday morning so I had to check in the hospital at 6:00 AM. I was taken
to the pre-surgery suite at about 7:15 AM and wheeled in the operating room at
8:23 AM. I was back in my room before Noon just in time for lunch. I felt great.
I of course had no pain with the spinal and was in a very positive and upbeat
mood. Dr. Brooks came to see me in the afternoon and saw how well I was able to
move my right leg with my "dog leash" and said as soon as the spinal wore off I
could get out of bed and walk.
After I ate dinner I got out of bed, got rid of the hospital gown, and started
walking with my walker. It felt great. My wife and daughter did not want me to
walk too far so I spent the rest of the evening in my chair before I went back
to bed. On Thursday morning I got up, got dressed and walked with my walker as
much as I could. On Friday they taught me how to use crutches, made sure I could
go up and down stairs and released me from the hospital at about 2:00 PM. That
night we all went out to dinner at a nice restaurant in Cleveland. My wife and I
spent the night in the hotel and drove back to Michigan on Saturday morning. It
was a four hour drive and I really had very little pain in my leg. Saturday May,
8th happened to be my birthday and I dearly wanted to be home on my birthday so
that worked out well. Oh, I should probably mention that on May 8, 2010 I turned
63.
I can't say enough about the care I received at the hospital. Cleveland Clinic
took over the Euclid Hospital several years ago. The whole staff was excellent
and took very good care of me. I owe a lot of my speedy recovery to Dr. Brooks
who is a magician when it comes to this surgery. He did an excellent job.
Unfortunately I will have to have my left hip resurfaced soon and you better
believe I will be right back at Euclid Hospital with Dr. Brooks doing the
resurfacing.
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July 2010
James Laveglia - Hip Resurfacing Part II
I forgot to mention that the picture is of me and my daughter 10 hours after
surgery. After my stroll down the hall with my walker after dinner on Wednesday,
May 5th I came back to the room and took this picture with my daughter.
I went back to work on Tuesday, May 11 for half a day. I have a desk job so that
was a fairly easy task. I did half days for the rest of the week. I have to
admit I was tired after being at work for just half days that week. I was not
prepared for the swelling that occurred in my thigh, lower leg and foot. By the
end of the day it was fairly painful and I would go home and raise my foot up. I
had to wear a sneaker on my right foot for several days. The swelling lasted
less than a week and although there may be a very slight amount of swelling in
my ankle and foot today (8 weeks post surgery) for all practical purposes it was
pretty much gone at three weeks post surgery.
I travel quite a bit and I had a trip scheduled for Japan on June 14th (5 weeks
and 5 days after surgery). My 6 week check up was scheduled for June 16th so I
contacted Phil and asked if I could come in for my check up on June 10th (5
weeks and 1 day after surgery). He said that was fine. They took X-rays and Phil
had me walk without my crutches and told me I could go to Japan but to continue
taking my aspirin until I got back. It is a 13 hour flight from Detroit to Tokyo
and this was a preventative measure. Phil noticed I had a slight limp when I
walked and he gave me an additional exercise to do. He told me to lay on my left
side and raise my right leg as high as I could and to do this exercise 90 times
a day. This was difficult in the beginning but it has really strengthened my
muscles and my limp is gone.
I have been inspired by the post surgery video’s on Surface Hippy especially the
video of the young lady dancing 4 weeks after surgery. I dearly wanted to make a
dancing video 4 weeks after my surgery but I just could not dance very well. I
continued to work on it and I did make a video of me waltzing 5 weeks after my
resurfacing surgery. I will send that video to Surface Hippy. At that time I
could actually dance better than I could walk. I went for my check up in
Cleveland the next day and with the exercise that Phil gave me it has really
improved my dancing and walking.
It has been 8 weeks since my resurfacing surgery and I can honestly say I am
very happy I did this procedure and I have been very pleased with my recovery.
Dancing has become a big part of my life and before my hip resurfacing I was
unable to perform the Viennese Waltz as my hip would not hold up to all the
movement and pressure that is required to perform this dance. I am learning that
dance now and with my new resurfaced hip I am able to do the dance with no pain
and my hip does not give out. We are putting together a Viennese Waltz routine
for our dance competition in September and once we have the routine down I will
take a video and submit it to Surface Hippy. I recommend this procedure to
anybody that is thinking about hip surgery. It is truly a phenomenal procedure.
Tuesday, July 27. 2010
I start this story of my hip resurfacing from the hospital room the day after
my surgery. The road to this point was longer and more difficult than I had
initially envisioned, and I felt that others might benefit from some of my
experiences, as I have benefited from reading the input from others on this
excellent site.
First, a little background: I an a 66 years old – long in the tooth for most
resurfacings! But, sports and an active lifestyle have been an important part of
my life for as long as I can remember and my goal was to maintain this activity
level. Tennis in particular is my passion, and I compete regularly in singles
tournaments and league play. When not playing tennis, I ride my road bike, play
racquetball and enjoy walking & hiking. Therefore, when I experienced what I
thought was a groin pull in March of 2009, I was distressed that I had to layoff
these activities, but I figured the injury would heal with rest. Unfortunately,
it didn't. I wrapped my groin and started taking more ibuprofen but the problem
just kept getting worse. Finally, I went to my local orthopod and he confirmed
the diagnosis: arthritis of the right hip with bone on bone contact. He
basically told me to continue going as long as I could, then come back and have
a hip replacement.
After the diagnosis, I felt that I would have a year or two until surgery, so I
just upped my dosage of anti-inflammatory and pressed on. Unfortunately, even
going to prescription strength Mobic proved inadequate, and by November of 2009
I couldn't compete at all. Something needed to be done.
CHOOSING A PROCEDURE & FINDING A DOCTOR
When I first realized that a hip replacement was inevitable, I rather naively
believed that technology had improved to a point where hip replacements were
more or less routine and recovery to full mobility would be quick and easy.
However, as I researched the various procedures, it soon became apparent to me
that this was major surgery and there were many options, procedures, devices and
other medical decisions that had to be made, and they couldn't be made in a
rush. So I backed off my initial timeline and started exploring the options,
particularly resurfacing vs. THR. A good tennis player and friend had one of the
first BHRs here in NC when it was still experimental, and he had great results.
So, that was my first area of interest and subsequent research led me to this
helpful site. After studying this site and comparing the procedures, it seemed
clear to me that if I wanted to return to my active lifestyle, resurfacing was
the way to go.
Unfortunately, finding a doctor to do the resurfacing proved difficult. There
were no doctors in the Charlotte, NC area who were on the website referral list,
so I made an appointment at OrthoCarolina, the largest orthopedic group in
Charlotte. The first doctor I saw said he did no resurfacings on anyone over 55,
and even then, they represented only a small number of his total hip operations,
so I moved on. He did suggest another doctor in the group who might do it, so I
made an appointment with him. Unfortunately, the soonest I could get in was in
about 2 months. In the meanwhile, I went to another orthopedic group only to
discover that they did no resurfacings whatsoever.
Given the difficulty finding a surgeon locally, I called Dr Gross in Columbia,
SC which is only about 90 miles south of Charlotte. Dr. Gross said he would do
the procedure but that he did not accept Medicare, so that put him out.
Eventually I met with the second doctor from OthoCarolina, Dr. John Masonis, who
agreed to do either the resurfacing or a THR. He had been involved in a
resurfacing trial and estimated he had done over 100 procedures. I would have
preferred a doctor who was really "into" resurfacing, but he was a doctor with a
good reputation who had been recommended to me by several other athletes who had
their hips/knees operated on. Surgery was set for May 17, 2010.
I started getting cold feet as the surgery date drew near. I had stopped those
activities that were really bothering my hip in November, so not surprisingly,
by May the pain had lessened and I started second guessing my decision to go
ahead with this major surgery. But, I tried a couple sets of tennis and a golf
round the week before the surgery, and all the pain returned, so my conviction
returned as well.
SURGERY AND HOSPITAL
I had the first scheduled surgery time which supposedly is good, but I was not
excited to be on the road to the hospital at 4:30 a.m. for the 5:00 a.m. show.
But once I got over this obstacle, I was admitted quickly and sent to prep right
away. Certainly better than sitting around and waiting. In surgery prep they
started the antibiotic IVs and completed the other preliminaries. The
anesthesiologist stopped by to brief me on the spinal I would get. He told me
that I would be given a mild anesthetic which would enable me to be awake enough
to sit up for the spinal, but groggy enough that I wouldn't remember it. It
worked liked a charm. I don't remember the spinal, the catheter or the operation
at all, and I awoke in the recovery room with the operation complete. Shortly
thereafter I was wheeled to my room…..total time from prep to room: about 3 ½
hours. The doctor chose an anterior incision, so I had a long scar running up
the top of thigh to just above my hip bone. I also had a blood drain attached
and it drained for about 3 days.
I stayed in bed the rest of the day. Dilaudid was hooked up to my IV and could
be administered on demand by pressing a button. Initially, I tried to limit use
to one shot every other hour but the nurses assured me that it could be
administered more frequently. The first night was not very restful with the
nurses making frequent visits. Also, I was trying to sleep on my back, the
pressure cuffs where inflating periodically on my legs (to prevent clots) and I
had a bad case of night sweats….all pretty normal stuff. The next day I started
PT, learning to walk with crutches. The second night was better as the nurses
cut down on visits, I could sleep on my side and I was more generous with the
Dilaudid applications. The night sweats were still bad, however.
After some morning PT on the third day, I was released from the hospital and
headed home around noon. Since I live alone, my daughter arrived to help out for
the rest of the week. You're pretty helpless your first days back so a helper is
absolutely essential.
RECOVERY
My recovery was complicated by two factors: first, the doctor's orders dictated
no weight bearing for the first two weeks and 50% weight bearing for the second
two weeks. The second factor was that I live alone, and my daughter had to
return to work after the first week. While many friends provided food and ran
errands, and my sweetheart came over after work every day to make dinner, I was
nevertheless on my own during the day. I soon realized how difficult it was to
do everyday tasks when you are on crutches and one leg. Like, how do you carry
your morning coffee from the pot to the dining room table? Also, my bedroom is
on the second floor of the house and I had no downstairs alternatives.
In order to cope with life on my own during the day, I developed a few
techniques which I found helpful. My daughter bought a metal basked which
affixed to the walker so I had a way to transport articles and food short
distances around the lower level of the house. For getting up and down stairs
with the crutches, I found a large canvas bag which I could hang around my neck
to carry things I needed upstairs while still having my hands free for the
crutches/banister. I also took home a urine collection bottle from the hospital,
so I didn't have to go all the way to the bathroom when I had to go in the
night. Unfortunately, I then had to use my around-the-neck-bag to transport the
urine the next day to the toilet - not a very pleasant experience - but I guess
you do what you have to do.
I was somewhat confused by the non-weight bearing orders, given that all I have
read on this site indicates that most of the BHR patients are weight bearing
immediately. I tried to get a clarification on this from the doctor but the only
explanation was that this was “his protocol.” Everybody says “listen to your
doctor” so I tried to be compliant. I had regular visits from a PT, but given
the restrictions, all we could do is practice going up and down stairs and going
for walks with the crutches.
When I first got home, I was taking Percocet for pain. While it was helpful, it
gave me constipation that was resistant to all over the counter medication. I
tried them all: Citrocell, Ex Lax, stool softeners, Milk of Magnesia. Finally,
after a week, the pain from the constipation was worse than the hip pain, so I
stopped the Percocet completely, and 12 hours later, all was well.
I replaced the Percocet with Tylenol, but as week 2 wore on, the pain lessened
to a point where I would take the pills only once or twice a day. By the end of
week two I could tell that healing was well underway. I didn't need to take any
Tylenol, the night sweats were significantly reduced and I was able to walk
increasing distances with my crutches. I started weaning myself onto one crutch
while indoors but maintained both crutches for outdoor walking to at least
attempt to comply with the doctor's directive. The biggest problem at this point
was terminal boredom and cabin fever, although I was able to get out
periodically. It gave me new empathy for those who are shut-in permanently!
My doctor used the anterior incision procedure and then used internal stitches
and glue to seal the incision. Thus there were no staples to remove and I was
able to shower early on in my recovery. Healing of the wound was fine and
without pain, as if often not the case with staples.
By week 4 I was walking comfortably with one crutch, was able to get to the pool
in the neighborhood for some water exercise, and was practicing getting in and
out of my car. Since the surgery was on my right leg, I had to be sure I have
enough strength in the leg to lift the foot from the accelerator to the brake.
Fortunately, in my car the pedals are close together, and by taking off my
sandals, my heel moved smoothly to the brake. I eventually got to a point where
I was comfortable driving around the neighborhood and to the local grocery
store. Just this small measure of freedom was exhilarating!
By the end of week 4 I was off the Coumadin( and back on beer!) and was walking
with only a cane. I was frustrated by an inability to get clarifying information
of what I could and could not do under the “50% weight bearing limit” so I took
it upon myself to proceed at a pace I felt comfortable with.. On my 4 weeks
anniversary I went to the cane on and off and felt comfortable although still
limping.
My 4 week checkup with the doctor went fine. The x-rays all showed normal, and I
was basically cleared to do anything I wanted to do. So, I am dedicating the
rest of this month and next to regaining the muscle strength I have lost, losing
my limp and regaining some conditioning. At this stage, I'd say my progress has
been good and I am cautiously optimistic. I don't have pain in the hip but I
still have a pronounced limp and major range of motion problems. I had to have a
friend help with put on my sock for my first trip to the sport center. My goal
is to return to the tennis court by late Aug./early Sept. and to be competitive
by Oct. I'll keep this site posted.
In closing, I just wanted to compliment this site for the information and
support it has give me over this entire process. It was most informative and
helpful. If I can give back to anyone something more than I have already
written, please don't hesitate to drop me an email at rshipman3@carolina.rr.com
Tuesday, July 27. 2010
I am a 49 year old state highway heavy equipment operator. I have arthritis
all through my body. Over the years my hip gave me some trouble but it would
come and go until 2 1/2 years ago when it came and stayed. The pain got worse
and worse until I was no longer able to hunt, fish, and on some days, I was
unable to even do my job. The deciding factor was when my wife and I could no
longer enjoy our 2008 Yamaha venture motorcycle. The pain was so bad I had to
stop every 30 minutes and fall off (there was no graceful way for me to get off
and on the cycle anymore and my rides were becoming few and far between.
Where we live no doctor will touch anyone for hip replacement younger than 60
years old, no matter how much pain you are in. I was lucky to know that my
neighbor, also a young 47 had her hip resurfaced by Dr. Mont the previous year
and she was doing great. We have great insurance that did not require referrals
so my wife called on April 26, 2010 and I was shocked that I got an appointment
on May 20, 2010.
I took my x-rays but they did new ones as soon as I got there. I figured I would
see a phy. assit. and would have to come back to speak to the surgeon. NOPE. Dr.
Mont came in and said I was perfect for surgery and that he had an opening on
June 16, 2010. NO MRI. NO HIMHAWING AROUND. JUST EASY TO UNDERSTAND STRAIGHT
TALK. So we took it.
I have never had any medical procedures of any kind done over the past 48 years,
so all this was new to me. Dr. Mont assured me that he and his staff would make
this as pleasant an experience as possible. The next few weeks before surgery
went quickly.
I had pre-surgery testing. A physical (full exam) an ekg, a chest x-ray and lots
of blood work. Except for some minor hbp all went well. Mt. Sinai does have a
hotel/guest house on campus but it fills up quickly so if you are coming from
out of town you need to call asap. We had to stay at a motel about a mile away.
We arrived early on the day of surgery (about 6:45am) and surgery was for10:15
am. The only thing we didn't like was that they take the patient in first. Put
in the iv and get them in bed before a family member could come in. Being it was
my first time I would have liked my wife there from the beginning. Then you get
the 1000 questions. Ted stockings. You speak to the anesthesiologist and decide
on general or spinal. I took spinal and I am glad I did. You won't remember
anything.
When I woke up, Jill said I was a rough one and that they almost went to a thr,
but Dr. Mont did get the resurfacing done. The normal incision size is 4-5 1/2
inches. Mine was 8 1/2 inches. No staples either. Dissolvable stitches. THE
FIRST 30 HOURS ARE HELL. SO BE PREPARED. The pain pump does control pain but
made me sick to my stomach, not nauseated. Just could not keep anything down and
believe me, you will love the catheter for that first night. I also loved the
compression machine on my legs. It was like getting a massage on your legs.
Day 2 catheter gone. Pain pump gone.. Pt got me up. SHOCKINGLY PAINFUL. Had to
find something to control my pain so I could sleep. They did and I slept great
all night.
What a difference day 3 made. Got me up and walked down the hall. I was ready to
go home. We arrived home after a 3 hour ride and it has been awesome ever since,
I am 1 week out and I am on a cane. I am driving (it was my left hip) . I take
no percocet except 1 before bed.
I WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW HOW GREAT DR. MONT'S TEAM IS. JILL WAS AN ANGEL TO MY
WIFE AND WE APPRECIATED HER SO MUCH. BUT EVERYONE WAS GREAT. THE NURSES IN
SURGERY (ONE EVEN HELD MY HAND BEFORE SURGERY STARTED) IN RECOVERY AND ON THE
FLOOR WERE AWESOME. A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO TERESA, KRISSI AND DAVID (THEY WERE
MY NURSES ON THE 3RD FLOOR) WITHOUT THEM I WOULD NOT HAVE HAD THE GREAT
EXPERIENCE I HAD. MY advice. DON'T WAIT AND STAY IN PAIN. GET YOUR LIFE BACK.
CALL THE MIRACLE WORKERS AT DR. MONT'S OFFICE. I WOULD DO IT AGAIN IN A HEART
BEAT. FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART. THANK YOU.
WAYNE AND CINDY
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