So, I am 2 1/2 weeks out from my hip resurfacing with Mr. Treacy
in Birmingham, UK. The plane flight back to Colorado was easy on my hip but just
very draining overall. This was my second hip surgery on my right hip, prior to
the BHR I had surgery for labral tears, micro fracture and the rebuilding of my
ligementum teres, which was a stabilizing ligament between the femoral head and
the acetablum. I am not that young at 43, but very active, plus tall 5'9' and
125 lbs with a very small frame. I must admit that this second surgery has been
so much easier than the first, I have no pain just the itching of my scar. I
walk about 1-2 miles a day and do my exercises 3 times a day and just try not to
get bored. Taking nothing for pain and only aspirin for the next two weeks. I
walk with 2 canes and am working on a nice even stride, stairs are easy and have
to be since I have 4 flights of stairs, my cats have shown amazing restraint and
don't try to trip me every time I move around the house, they do seem slightly
worried and all 3 of them sleep next to me each night. Overall, this has been a
very pleasant experience, I would highly recommend my doctor, Mr. Treacy he has
done over 4000 of these hips and is a very articulate and charming doctor, the
staff at the hospital was great. I stayed in the hospital for 6 nights and paid
for everything out of pocket but it was really reasonable, the only thing
excessive was the business class airfare but in the end that was very much worth
it.
It seems I should add more about the surgery itself, I was referred to Mr.
Treacy by my first surgeon Dr. Philippon at Steadman Hawkins in Colorado. I
arrived on Monday in Birmingham, had my appt with Mr. Treacy, he told me I had
done a good job on my hip, I had cysts and was bone-on-bone, plus hip dysphasia
all which would make my hip difficult but doable. From their I went to the
Priory hospital, where they took blood and asked questions. I woke up the next
morning, and was the 2nd surgery of the day. I went in for surgery around 9 and
was in my room by 1, I wasn't in pain just foggy, my friend who I had listed as
my next of kin came up and visited for a few hours. My scar was big about 10"
long with subcutaneous stitches and then glued together on the top layer
covered with a waterproof sterile dressing. I had an uneasy night but refused a
catheter so suffered on, that was the worst part. Got a small fever and I seem
to suffer from really low blood pressure usually about 80 over 50. Day 2 got up
in a walker but just around the bed. Day 3 had fever but learned to walk using 2
canes, made it easily a few hundred feet. Day 4, walked a lot more and managed
stairs, went through exercises and officially graduated from PT. On day 7 went
to hotel, started lengthening walks, managed to go see a movie or two, saw
doctor one last time, warned me about over doing it. Day 14 flew home and here I
am....
Leslie
Treacy
10/2/07 R BHR
October 22, 2007
I find it odd that I had virtually no bruising and my scar is
healing really nicely. I walk 2 miles and maybe an extra half which is my limit.
I actually bought a little pedometer to keep track because one day I easily hit
almost 4 miles and one really big hill. I live at the base of a canyon in
Boulder, CO so it is a smidge hilly. I am getting nice swing in my leg both
forward and to the side, my biggest accomplishment is being able to do the clam
shell it is still small about 30 degrees but the first week it didn't actually
move. I can also lift my entire leg up while sitting very easily but I don't
think I should be doing this yet so it's just something I noticed I could do. I
walk 2x a day and do the exercises 2-3 times a day, I am sleeping about 10 hours
a day and sometimes a little more..seems to be going well. Only needed ice 2
times so far.
November 07, 2007
I was cleared last week for swimming a cycling. I have done
both, went swimming today, more difficult doing flutter kick on stomach, and
much easier doing flutter on back. Of course when I swam in HS I had a great 2
beat kick on backstroke and a less effective 6 beat kick on freestyle. Have
managed stationary bike several times and really feels good, allows me to get a
good burn going even though only do it for 10-12 minutes but works with my mile
walk which is about 20 minute. Started doing pilates within restrictions and
only 6 days until I can start walking with out canes. Yeah! Still no pain,
sleeping well and scar looking good.
December 5, 2007
So I am currently 9 weeks out, I no longer use a cane single
or double. Back doing pilates and walking hilly terrain everyday. I go back to
my favorite sport in January. I am doing leg presses and have good flexion, even
though it will take a while to get it to match my other side. My new hip tracks
better than my left but everything seems to be working just fine. Yeah!
leslie
rbhr Treacy
10/2/07
December 11, 2007
I was actually at the rink where I skate and I was within my
guidelines so I decided to see how difficult it would be for me to skate at 10 -
11 weeks out. Mind you I was wearing tennis socks, very fitted jeans and a pair
of skates that I had not worn for a year, and they were freshly sharpened. Not
ideal circumstances but still helpful. I could skate pretty easily, deep edges
were all good both forward and backward, good extension, still can't hip 90
degrees on r leg solo, but can manage on left leg. Managed about 40 minutes and
was very happy with that, got in some 3 turns and basics, best thing...it didn't
hurt.
I told my PT's and they gave me more exercises to work on strengthening that
right leg, I have no joint pain just muscle and my hip flexor isn't a giant
steel cord anymore so I am very happy.
I do not know that I will ever be able to adequately express how happy I am at
being able to go back to the sport I love so much. It is an incredible gift.
Leslie
RBHR/Treacy
10/2/07
December 25, 2007
I have gone skating again this time with a friends 4 y/o
daughter. Spent most of the time carrying her around and spinning her, which I
was shocked that I could do since I had to balance most of my weight and all of
hers on my R side while spinning.
All went well, I did go cross country skiing since we had 6" of new snow. Fell
twice kinda hard....one time on each hip, got a little worried but my discomfort
is mostly muscular. Felt good enough to do about 1/2 an hour of pilates after
dinner. Hip flexor is tight but not terribly, think I'll just get some snow
shoes and then I can walk in the snowy weather.
Going back to skating and ballet at the new year, I'll work on simple tests
starting at the beginning and slowly moving towards my old level.
Leslie
RBHR Treacy (UK)
10/2/07
