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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 |
