THR-dude
junior member
United StatesIn late August, 2015, I underwent hip refresh surgery at a major VA hospital. The lead surgeon is a senior figure at a world-renowned university medical center. What follows is my experience and I would like feedback on what happened.
This hip was originally installed in June, 1994 at a civilian hospital. It finally wore out. Although the records were destroyed after 10 years, one of the surgeons said they knew which make and model it was, I assume through careful examination of X-rays.
Once they had me opened up, they opted for a refresh rather than a total replacement. Later, they told me that they replaced the polyethelene cup and the metal ball that sits atop the part that goes into the femur bone. Then they closed me up, slapped an occlusive dressing over the wound and dispatched me to a hospital bed
I spent the next two days in recovery, enjoying curiously decent hospital food, then demonstrated to everyone concerned that I could use a walker and crutches satisfactorily. They sent me home. There's the story, and here's where it gets odd.
The picture shows the hard-shell brace they put me in.
1. Why am I in a brace? No brace was required in 1994 when the original hip was installed. They sent me home on crutches and told me to be careful on the stairs. This brace is a royal pain in the butt to use.
2. They told me to use this brace for three months. That's 12 weeks, far longer than typical recovery times mentioned in these forums. Maybe my age is a factor -- 69 -- but I hit the gym five days a week and am in excellent condition. My recovery time is quicker than most in my age bracket.
3. They told me no driving for three months. Seriously? OK my car has a manual transmission, I need to depress the clutch. Even now, just a couple days out of the hospital, I can balance on my left leg, which means supporting some 194 pounds. The pressure required to depress the clutch is far less than that. I see in these forums that six weeks is the common point at which driving is allowed.
4. They told me to not lie down on my tummy, only on my back or my right side, with feet separated by a pillow or foam block. Being able to lay on my front would make this entire experience more tolerable
Those of you who have gone through a THR or refresh, and those of you in the medical profession, I would like to have your feedback. If my surgeons are being unjustifiably over cautious, I want to know about it. Ideally I would like to not have to use this brace and be cleared to drive after a reasonable amount of time.
This hip was originally installed in June, 1994 at a civilian hospital. It finally wore out. Although the records were destroyed after 10 years, one of the surgeons said they knew which make and model it was, I assume through careful examination of X-rays.
Once they had me opened up, they opted for a refresh rather than a total replacement. Later, they told me that they replaced the polyethelene cup and the metal ball that sits atop the part that goes into the femur bone. Then they closed me up, slapped an occlusive dressing over the wound and dispatched me to a hospital bed
I spent the next two days in recovery, enjoying curiously decent hospital food, then demonstrated to everyone concerned that I could use a walker and crutches satisfactorily. They sent me home. There's the story, and here's where it gets odd.
The picture shows the hard-shell brace they put me in.
1. Why am I in a brace? No brace was required in 1994 when the original hip was installed. They sent me home on crutches and told me to be careful on the stairs. This brace is a royal pain in the butt to use.
2. They told me to use this brace for three months. That's 12 weeks, far longer than typical recovery times mentioned in these forums. Maybe my age is a factor -- 69 -- but I hit the gym five days a week and am in excellent condition. My recovery time is quicker than most in my age bracket.
3. They told me no driving for three months. Seriously? OK my car has a manual transmission, I need to depress the clutch. Even now, just a couple days out of the hospital, I can balance on my left leg, which means supporting some 194 pounds. The pressure required to depress the clutch is far less than that. I see in these forums that six weeks is the common point at which driving is allowed.
4. They told me to not lie down on my tummy, only on my back or my right side, with feet separated by a pillow or foam block. Being able to lay on my front would make this entire experience more tolerable
Those of you who have gone through a THR or refresh, and those of you in the medical profession, I would like to have your feedback. If my surgeons are being unjustifiably over cautious, I want to know about it. Ideally I would like to not have to use this brace and be cleared to drive after a reasonable amount of time.
