THR Anterior THR Aug 19, 2014 Home same day.

[HerbM]

Well, you really need to listen to (the specifics of) what your surgeon gives you as 'precautions'.

While the general rule for an anterior replacement is no specific 'precautions', each surgeon may choose to place restrictions on each particular patient to achieve the most likely best outcome.

My surgeon gave me no actual precautions (and he knows the kinds of things I am doing) but he did instruct me not to lift weight with a straight leg.

The reason this came up is that I was using the Cybex multi-function machine (think: cable pull) to REDUCE the 'weight' of my leg because I was not strong enough to do a simple leg lift immediately following the surgery.

It seems my leg must weigh about 25 lbs since when I loaded the machine at 20 lbs for a straight leg pulll, I could just do 10 reps even though I couldn't (at the time) just lift my leg straight from the hip when lying in bed or on the floor. (Definitely don't do this one without asking your surgeon.)

He said for me not to put much leverage (the length of the full leg) on it until bone regrowth has 6 weeks to complete.

Talk to *your* surgeon (or his PA & nurse) to find out the specifics of any "crazy ideas" you intend to test.

Didn't much matter since my previous two sessions on the Cybex and/or normal use allowed me to start lifting my leg just fine by about 10 days post op. (I don't even notice it now but it was initially irritating that I couldn't pick up the leg -- just about the only thing that didn't work correct at the very beginning of recovery.)

IF your surgeon allows you yoga, remember there are MANY kinds of yoga, some quite aggressive (which I have little use for) and some quite gentle (including the types called "chair yoga" and "restorative yoga".)

Remember, follow the surgeon's instructions but if allowed yoga, then you might with to start with these or the water yoga, and also to ENGAGE the forum advice: Don't do anything that causes you pain or inflammation, and don't let anyone do anything to you that does this.

I hit my limits several times last night at yoga -- however most were NOT in *MY* hip, but either in my general flexibility OR my strength OR more commonly in my KNEES.

As strong as I am, yoga can find the weakness in a human body. Downward Dog, for instance, requires tremendous strength to do "wrong" and excellent flexibility to do correctly -- but if done correctly the strength required goes WAY DOWN.

My knees are ready for replacement -- 6 weeks 6 days, and definitely counting. (Patience is NOT my strong suit. )

 

[CanukTriMom]

@HerbM,@Jamie

As I was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer this Spring I am going to continue competing in Ironmen Competitions yet I will not run for a year after my replacement and then I will relearn to run using a method that doesn't heel strike. After my diagnosis and successful surgery in June (4 days after my last Ironman), I decided that I will live every day to its fullest in the moment.....should I outlive the replacement, so be it by hat time they will have something even better.

I am sad that I will be giving up kickboxing as the continual sidekicking is to jarring for my new hip. Swimming, biking and modified running using the Galloway Chi Running method will be my goto.

This hip is my sign to continue being the healthiest I can for myself and my family. I will tell by the scans I get each year how the hip is doing. If it is loose, no more of the running like activities.

I must go research this in the library.

 

[MajorHeidi]

@CanukTriMom @HerbM Funny, I was power walking today, and I soooo wanted to bust into a jog.
But, my OS said 'no running/no jumping' forever.....
Hmmmm.
Everyone has been advised differently, and mostly due to legal implications I am sure.

I have to say that HerbM is at the extreme end of the bell curve on recovery. Congrats to you on that!!!!!
I was on the descending part of the bell curve, so I am very happy, too.
I had a super quick recovery with walking 3-5 miles daily and / or biking .

I wish you both all the best!

 

[Chessie]

@MajorHeidi, that is so true. There is so little research on this, many (if not most) docs just advise no running.
But if you take some time and look around, there is really is plenty of evidence that many people do return to running, with no issues. I know a guy that had both hips done about 5 years ago, and he is running 5 miles a day, and loving it.

This is an interesting article about one of the few studies:
https://www.regenexx.com/2013/12/hip-replacement-jogging/

"The upshot is: If you were jogging before your hip replacement or resurfacing you’re likely to keep jogging after."

https://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Hip-replacement/Pages/Normansstory.aspx

I definitely plan on running again. That was one of the most enjoyable activities of my life, and I sure don't plan on giving it up unless there is a seriously good reason.

 

[HerbM]

By it's nature, my recover MUST be at the extreme end of the bell curve -- it's jammed up against the 0 point on the pain, discomfort, complications, etc scale.

Heck, I have said it before, I am on the other side of the zero since I actually had FUN.

It was quite a bit more fun than trouble.

There just isn't room for a (much) better outcome. Maybe one day they will all (or almost all) be like this but for now it's just going to be a 1% or less who are in this very lucky cohort.

One can do everything right and end up anywhere on the curve, but likely one has to line it all up correctly AND get a little lucky to end up here.

I'll take it though.

 

[Poppet]

Fantastic progress with your THR Herb - now over to the knee section to chat there

 

[Chessie]

Agreed Herb. I had no assurance of how my recovery would go, but everything pointed to a super-fast one. I ramped up my workouts and cycling right up until the day before surgery, in hopes that a stronger body would recover faster. And I was beyond ready, emotionally - heck I was EXCITED to be able to have this surgery - I was OVER the hip issues. I am super-happy with my excellent recovery, but I don't think we are of such a small percentage anymore. More and more now, I am hearing about others that are having the same experience, happily!

 

[HerbM]

@Chessie -- I don't believe it is necessarily required, but going in excited, staying excited, and deciding to have fun is one of the better ways within our control to improve the outcome.

All of this sets up our body with adrenaline and endorphins which reducing pain and improve energy.

This was a big part of my mental arsenal, although for me there was so little discomfort that it isn't clear how important it was OR if that is part of the reason for the comfort.

 

[HerbM]

FYI: Yoga practice last night was quite good: restorclative yoga so I hit far few limits than the previous "Yoga Basics" class on Tuesday.

Went in with my left hamstring at the knee (lateral) very irritated -- it gets that way when tired -- and manage to calm it down with nothing but the (largely supported) yoga stretches.

Generally the term "restorative yoga" means the use of a LOT of props (bolsters, rolled and folded blankets, blocks etc.) and mostly working with gravity as opposed to actively moving into poses with muscular effort -- not to say ordinary yoga doesn't do this too, but that is almost the entire emphasis in "restorative" WHERE I have participated.

Remember, check with YOUR doctor(s) and make sure the yoga group you are joining means what you expect when your read a class title or description.

As always, don't do what hurts or is likely to case swelling and inflammation. Most yoga instructors (especially in classes called "restorative") are very helpful at offering modifications or just alternatives like resting poses if the current class pose is too difficult or injurious.

Practically no yoga in my experience has included a 'macho', or other, attitude of 'you must do more' (unless perhaps it was one of the power & strength yoga types but that sort of makes sense.)

For all practically purposes, I must measure very carefully to find any difference between my non-procedure hip and my new one on the right.

I can fold my head to my left knee with careful patience after many minutes, but on the right (new) side I am still a couple of inches away. They are very close and in most other ROM movements as well.

They also FEEL the same -- both hips are "mine".

 

[CanukTriMom]

Sounds like you are n your way Herb. That is my triathlon signature in icons above!

Cheryl

 

[HerbM]

Love the icons @CanukTriMom --

 

[HerbM]

I may have mentioned some of this in passing, but with the pool therapy (both with therapist and alone) and the yoga (in class) my flexibility is pretty much as good as it was under normal conditions (that is it stinks but it beats what I had during the last months of the hip pain.)

Some measures:

• Easily cross each leg over the other one (bilaterally) -- knees are the limitation not the hip (KATLNTH)
• Touch my forehead to my other leg, close with my procedure leg (but it takes 10+ minutes of careful work)
• fold forward to touch my hands to the floor after a couple of warm ups (KATLNTH)

My leg extensions went to 80lbs tonight x 2 sets x 2 (forgot to look at the weight stack and that's what was on the machine but it didn't matter)

Seated leg curls are at about 65lbs but I just started doing them -- on both machines I am setting the range of motion pretty large (for me) and having no problem.

I am having a little problem with tendonitis in the knees (left hamstring laterally, and right quad medially both at the knee) when I get tired and have to walk (usually this is back to the car and it clears right up but it is annoying).

This forces me to remember the cane -- since I don't really need it when "going out" but typically really want to have it when "returning" to the car after shopping etc. or getting back into the house.

 

[grnplatebrd]

@HerbM
Just finally caught up on your thread. I think you do a good job to stress to others to speak with their surgeons about their own process. As you mentioned, we are all different and we will all have different limitations, resources, strengths and journeys. As you shift over to concentrate on your knees, I wish you equal success with that. I am sure the detail and success you have shared will inspire and give great info and hope to those who seek the same path.

 

[HerbM]

@HerbM
Just finally caught up on your thread. I think you do a good job to stress to others to speak with their surgeons about their own process. As you mentioned, we are all different and we will all have different limitations, resources, strengths and journeys. As you shift over to concentrate on your knees, I wish you equal success with that. I am sure the detail and success you have shared will inspire and give great info and hope to those who seek the same path.

Thanks. Absolutely right. Not only are we all different, *I* may be different with my knees vs. the replacement of my hip.

We even all all different on different days or at least in different portions of our recovery.

One trap to avoid is to thing that today will be just like yesterday or just like last week.

Something about "You cannot stand in the same river twice." (It's always flowing past us and is so always a new river.)

Glad you caught up and hope that means YOU are feeling better.

 

[HerbM]

I decided NOT to buy an "ice machine" for the BTKR, but instead bought a SMALL FREEZER on Amazon for $205 (shipped/tax/all-in):

midea WHS-185C1 Single Door Chest Freezer, 5.0 Cubic Feet, White

Not only is this likely cheaper and I can get the size ice I chose (you folks have recommended larger chunks frozen in Tupperware) but also it will be VERY USEFUL when the recovery is complete.

Our freezer is too full to tolerate much in the way of "making extra ice" so we can use the extra 5 cubic feet of space when we aren't rehabbing a joint replacement (I suspect my wife will need at least one, and my other hip is still going to come due in the not too distance future.)

Carol loves the idea of more freezer space (and she does run out of ice for here ice tea fairly often any way).

The only thing I would have preferred would have been a front door opening (instead of top opening chest) but all the ones with a front door were either REAL SMALL (maybe 1-2 cubic feet) or much more expensive.

120v so no wiring issues and it doesn't need to be plumbed.

There is the inconvenience of needing to manually fill the ice trays or containers but that is mostly offset by getting the ice size we desire (and no plumbing required.)

With my hip, the Polar Ice cold machine was VIRTUALLY WORTHLESS for *ME* since we had no where near enough ice and Carol really didn't feel up to twice daily (or even daily) trips to the store to buy me more ice.

The really nice ice packs from Amazon (I had/have four of them, see above this thread I think) did the job just fine with the minimal pain and swelling of my very comfortable hip replacement.) I probably used the cold packs on my lower quad as much as on the hip itself.

I am preparing to use the Polar Ice cold therapy machine, in case the knees are not nearly so comfortable nor nearly so quick to recover.

 

[CanukTriMom]

Well I bought a different machine by Ossur with a specialized bad for my left hip. I will use for all related aches and pains from endurance sports. It is covered by insurance and I got it 50 percent off!




Cheryl

 

[HerbM]

Well I bought a different machine by Ossur with a specialized bad for my left hip. I will use for all related aches and pains from endurance sports. It is covered by insurance and I got it 50 percent off!




Cheryl

I even had a hip pad for the Polar Ice, but the problem was not so much with the machine as with filling its insatiable need for MORE ICE!

My machine was actually free since by that time my yearly max was met. (Although I did get rigged into paying $50 for the stupid hip pad and didn't get a free knee pad to boot.)

If you have a cold therapy machine that needs ice then I strongly recommend either an ice maker or a freezer (my reasons for going with a freezer are above -- mostly that we'll use it year round for meet and stuff.)

Unless your kids are going to be around all the time AND they drive to go get the ice, it gets to be a nuisance to fill the machine.

No PT for me today -- I finally rested (this is the first days since the surgery I believe), and only went to get a Meridian Stretch Mashing Massage (highly recommended to those who can afford it.)

Jay is able to do things, even with my new hip, old knees, and also my jacked up shoulders, that are truly amazing. Instant gratification and relief from years (or decades) old issues.

It's too late to "fix" my knees (as Josephine's analysis and illustrations show in my knee pre-op thread) but he might keep me from needing new shoulders and is definitely helping me recover my legs from the years of difficulty with hip and knees.

 

[CanukTriMom]

My mom has a huge empty freezer and she lives 2 blocks from us. We have been making and stockpiling ice! Lots of volunteers in my neighbourhood and workout buddies have offered to keep it full! They say it makes them feel useful, so who am I to argue! Hey a lady in my Moms neighbourhood sold me her really expensive shower table seat thing that has a side rail and a back portion to it for $30! That was half of the rental price for 6 weeks. Big score!

I have been doing Physio 2 times a week since the start of Jan in order to work and straighten specific muscles for the hip replacement...Glut min, med and Max, quad, ileo whatever groin muscle is, IT bands and most importantly core! I also use my foam roller three times a day religiously. I will be so happy to be done with Physio after the hip replacement but I think all this pre-hab is really going to benefit me in the recovery phase....it certainly helped my Ironman race and recovery!



Cheryl

 

[HerbM]

Yes, you are certainly correct that having all the neighbors and family helping, even by making ice is a very good thing and you won't need 'store bought ice' either.

(Even if you did, sounds like you have a 'village' ready to run and get it for you. )

You are so much better prepared for this than even I was that with a bit of luck you will LITERALLY run rings around my recovery -- and you are so tough that if luck isn't your friend you will JUST DEAL with what race day brings.

Probably your greatest danger is the whole hip replacement thing will be a giant anti-climax FOR YOU -- except you will have lost your old pain.

If that happens just remember to ENJOY THE EXPERIENCE THOROUGHLY. Your mission should you decide to accept is to have more fun than even I did. (A little Mission Impossible music if you please....)

 

[Me2]

And one doesn't have to be an IronWoman like CanukTriMom to do this -- @Me2 is working to prepare this as well (and I don't think she has ever run an IronMan) but then if I recall correctly she quite something of an athlete.
Athletes don't even need to be 'elite' if they practiced with this type of mind set. I was never really a GREAT athlete.
Even that isn't necessary, there are plenty of people with the fortitude to make the best of ANYTHING life deals and even more with the ability to DEVELOP this capability.

Yes, I am working to strengthen and be ready for "this marathon" of recovery, Part 2. Reading your (HerbM) posts and reflecting on my own preparation for Part 1, I see that this hip thing has helped me to develp the ability to make the best of ANYTHING life deals!

I don't believe it is necessarily required, but going in excited, staying excited, and deciding to have fun is one of the better ways within our control to improve the outcome.
All of this sets up our body with adrenaline and endorphins which reducing pain and improve energy.
This was a big part of my mental arsenal, although for me there was so little discomfort that it isn't clear how important it was OR if that is part of the reason for the comfort.

I still have 6 weeks to go -- 2 weeks before meeting with surgeon to make decision, then 4 weeks until actual surgery on October 15 to build this excitement. I am definitely deciding that I need to "have fun" a little more this time around.

Probably your greatest danger is the whole hip replacement thing will be a giant anti-climax FOR YOU -- except you will have lost your old pain.
If that happens just remember to ENJOY THE EXPERIENCE THOROUGHLY. Your mission should you decide to accept is to have more fun than even I did. (A little Mission Impossible music if you please....)

I am worried that this one will be quite a bit anti-climactic for me -- this right hip is not nearly as painful nor limiting range of motion -- but I surely don't want to let it go and live through another couple of years (or even a year) as it declines. I am definitely getting more comfortable with the idea.