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Hi my name is Rick Rubio. July 23rd, 2008
was my one year anniversary of having a hip resurfacing and I ran my second Marathon
since the surgery.
I am 55 and have always been active and involved in sports.
In the early 80's I started running marathons, and then in the late
80's I started doing triathlons. I also played tournament
racquetball for many years, played some tennis and for quite a few years
played softball. Needless to say participating in sports has been
an important part of my life. While training for my first
Ironman triathlon in 2003 I was getting a routine physical and
mentioned to my doc that I had some pain and range of motion issues in my
right hip. The doc sent me to physical therapy which seemed to
exacerbate my soreness and pain. After a month or so with no progress I
was sent to an orthopedic for some x-rays and evaluation. The results
were osteoarthritis in both hips, moderate in my left and
moderate to severe in my right. This was not good news. I was told that
the arthritis would continue to progress and my docs advice was
to do what I could physically tolerate, and eventually I would
probably need a hip replacement. I was determined to participate in
the Ironman event, so I began what was to be my routine for a
several years, get a cortisone shot and continue to do what was
possible. I did (4) ironman events and numerous smaller events before I
could not take it anymore. I also tried Synvisc injections and
this did not work. Cortisone shots provided some relief for a few months
at a time and allowed me to beat my hip up some more. My thinking was
"Oh well I might as well live, go for it and when it gets to the
point where I can't, I will stop."
During a trip to Kona Hawaii, I was introduced to Cory Faulk
who was about a year into his newly resurfaced hip and he was doing
some incredible stuff. I did a few training rides with Cory and
he shared his remarkable knowledge and experience. Here is a guy
running, doing ultra distance triathlons Wow ! I later found that Cory
traveled to India to get this procedure done. At this time
resurfacing was experimental in the USA. I was blown away and convinced my
sports life was not over. Cory introduced me to this hip
resurfacing and I began to search into this potential new lease on continuing
an active life. It was around this time I found Surface Hippys. This
has proven to be a very informative web site with lots of
knowledge, experiences and various opinions one needs to sift through.
A life altering web site for many.
After receiving very negative opinions from my docs, in
addition to a couple 2nd opinions and my doctor friends were also negative
about going to India and getting a resurfacing procedure done.
They were negative about going out of the country and also against
this procedure. Even though this was against popular opinion my consideration for going to India for a new hip was quickly
becoming a real option. I continued to pursue this and planned to
travel there for a resurfacing by Dr. Bose in India. Then in 2006 the FDA approved the resurfacing procedure, after months of red
tape, I was able to have my insurance pay for this. I was scheduled to
have resurfacing done in Spokane and was planning to take a new
job in Kona, HI. the following month. The day prior to surgery the
procedure was cancelled due to the hospital not having an agreement
with Smith and Nephew for the resurfacing prosthetic, and it would be a
month before the hospital board would have its next meeting with
no guarantee of an agreement being reached. Needless to say I
was devastated. I am not exaggerating when I say at that point
the pain had become very difficult to endure. Narcotics were just not
an option for me. After taking the job in Hawaii, I ended up
making contact with Dr. Mori in Honolulu , although he was newly
trained, and I would be number 10 for him, he was well respected and
confident surgeon. On July 23rd, 2007 I had my hip resurfaced in
Honolulu Hawaii. I left the hospital two days later under the
assistance of a cane and began a very aggressive rehab, under the assistance
of my Physical Therapist, Cory Faulk and Dr. Mori. At one month I
ran 5 miles. (Dr. Mori did not agree with my early running). I ran
the 2007 Honolulu Marathon at 4 1/2 months and did the Volcano
Marathon at my one year anniversary. I have become an advocate of the "I
don't think you can wreck your new resurfaced joint by running".
Some docs will not agree. This has not been painless, but is nothing
like the pain before the surgery thankfully that is GONE! I have
spent some time talking to Cory Faulk about pain while running and
after running. If I go slowly I have very little problem while and
after a run. When I push without warm up I inflame the tendons,
which leaves me sore. I, like Cory need a very slow warm up before I
push. When I have pushed early, I am gimpy for a day or two, but it's
getting better and I hope I am getting smarter. I also believe
selective stretching and motion control exercises help. My doc really
helped in my P.T. regimen and my P. T. pushed me early on as did
Cory. This was new for my P.T. to be so aggressive, and was not her
standard protocol. Dr. Mori like other docs are pretty cautious about
letting us run. They have to take this approach, what if something
goes wrong? In addition, my first year post op, I have
participated in Honu ½ Ironman, multiple smaller triathlons, a few ½
marathons, as well as endless Kona mini races. I am now training again for
the Honolulu marathon this December, which I hope to take
substantial time off from last year. I am hopeful that in the not too
distant future I will be able to qualify for the Boston Marathon. I
am also hoping to qualify for the Ironman World Championship next
year. Wish me luck!
Most importantly I have to thank all the folks that have
helped me, put up with me and encouraged me, especially my awesome,
beautiful, encouraging, wonderful wife, who has endured all this
craziness, as well as my two sons who are the highlight of my life. My
belief is that because hip resurfacing is able to provide relief and
allow us to do any and all the things we would normally be able to do
with our God given hip, we have an opportunity to be as active as we
desire. I am grateful for the Doctors, Scientists and an industry
that provides so many great medical advances. I am fortunate to
be the recipient of one of these.
Much is possible.
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