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THR Lseven Oct 26, '15

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Sounds like you are doing well, @Lseven. I've been back at the gym, too. It feels good, especially the hydrotherapy. My surgeon used glue for my incisions, so I didn't have to have the stitches removed. My dog had a suture like you're describing, after she was spayed. I took her to the vet and he removed it. He said that sometimes that happens.
 
@Hip Hip Hooray! hhhhhmmmm now it sounds like I'm going to the dogs. I see the doc monday and will mention it. I'm sure it's nothing it's just myself and my GF who does lots of wound care both thought it didn't look like a dissolving suture. It's out though, that's the main thing.
 
@gardengal. For resistance on the bike I have it pretty low, just enough so the wheel doesn't carry on with momentum too much and the pedal push back at me if I stop. Not spinning free but not much resistance either.

The surgeon handled the request fine. Told me it has to go into biohazard or whatever. I said if it's biohazard why isn't the rest of me too? I don't think he minded the request but he seemed obligated to dispose of it. He held it up and showed me from about 4 or 5' away (end of the gurney). I would have taken a picture had I had a camera. I didn't get a real close look at it for damage or anything but he commented it was pretty trashed.
 
Lseven said:
DGrant, I'm curious what procedure you had. It seems the anterior goes a bit quicker so curious if that's what you had?
Click to expand...

Sorry it took me a bit to catch this.. and I'm so glad you're doing well... Getting on that bike is a big step.. very good for you!.. Bikes are going to scare me a bit, really just the saddle/seating position... as I'm going to start on a recumbent, with more of a "bucket seat" style seat. I don't know what style saddle you're on though.. I'm afraid of a conventional seat though.. haha.. I'm working on it, as I have a big saddle I want to get on... the one in my avatar/profile pic... thats my bike!. :)

To answer your question though, I had a posterior procedure. Seemingly very decent recovery with it.. although as I said.. the bike/saddle just scares me a bit. I'm now walking up to a mile a day.. I alternate routes, about 1/2mile one day, then a mile the next, then repeat.. so that's something that's new to me... as I couldn't walk 100ft. before surgery. So I'm very pleased... and I'm feeling pretty empowered here...haha...

You're progress is incredible too, and it sounds like you're very active by nature, which is a good thing... I was quite a few years ago, but over the last 5yrs or so, and many changes in life it just left me pretty wore out. I joke that I'm now getting my 50,000 mile tune-up(at 53yrs old)... partly because I am.. I'm getting new glasses that are a bit overdue, I've already lost 7lbs since surgery... so things are looking up.

Like you, I'm working on getting rid of the cane. I'm now walking around the house without it, easy easy... but when I'm in public, or out somewhere wheres there's nothing to lean/assist if I need, I take the cane... for security.. you probably know well what I'm saying... My doc left it up to me how long I need it... as he's seen me walk without it.. so he's confident I can do without when I'm ready.. ha.

I think its in my mind too, as I, like you mentioned with your new hip/leg, am feeling the strength, and the new hip is strong.. it will be stronger then my other one no doubt... just as yours might be. I was just so feeble/unstable for so long, I'm still wrapping my mind around it.. ha.

Its all good.. and keep up the great work.. and yes.. keep posting... You're posts inspire me. Thanks.
 
@DGrant Ya that's a different saddle than I use. I hadn't thought of that but sitting with the posterior incision would ....take getting used to. I can just roll onto the incision side in bed and stay there lately. It seems to me the posterior takes a bit longer so that seems like great progress for you. I was sure you must of had anterior from how you're going.

I was/am active right up to the day before surgery, 7 kms a day with the dog. The last month I used a cane. Bone on bone but I can only assume most of what would hurt was sort of gone already. I don't know. I did an 850km bike ride in france with over 20 major passes of the pryrenees last fall. Walking had it's moments on that trip but the bike was good.

Loosing the cane is close but can't shake it. I can give the slightest touch to something and take a decent step but nothing there and it's marginal at best. Today after the gym and some weights stuff I walked out and tried a few steps with no cane. I got a good few pretty decent steps. There's something there I just need to activate a bit further. More range of motion than pure strength at this point I think but just have to get it going a bit more.

I look it as my hip has now lower my aggregate age. Sure I was 55 a couple of months back but now say 5% me has been replaced with something 0 years old. I haven't worked the math yet but overall I'm younger even though I passed a birthday in there.
 
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@Lseven, thought I'd check in and see how you're doing and it sounds like you are getting better by the day!

I am going to ask for my femur and see what happens. I'm definitely getting a picture!

I have two weekends left to fit in some outdoor adventures before surgery on the 14th. I've been trying to get things done for Christmas, the house in order, and caught up at work and I realized I'm getting anxious about the whole thing. But I'm keeping your progress in mind as I move forward!

Thanks for your posts and your great sense of humor!
 
@Mtnmama No harm in trying. I think I pointed out the bone was mine bought and paid for too. Maybe I'll take a dig at him on Monday again. I wanted to keep it and make the head of a cane out of it. oh well. You know getting caught up on xmas and all would be tough. Flip side is it keeps you busy and focused so you don't dwell on what's coming. That is a good thing I think.
 
Yes, I'm way too busy to spend much time thinking about what's coming. Saturday I'm going mountain bike riding with a group of fun people and Saturday a long hike so I hope to finish all the Christmas stuff tomorrow.

If I get my I'll post pictures.
 
I tried to reply about the removed bone segments last night but the site went down for a while!

I was actually going to ask for the bone back but...Before I went into hospital I had an info session with the coordinating nurse there. She asked me would I like to sign 2 forms: one donating the bone to science for research (yes) and one allowing it to be donated if necessary. I had no idea this was possible but she explained that they can wash all the DNA away & graft it into people who have accidents where a chunk of bone is gone or surgery to remove bits of bone. So I said yes to that one too!


RTHR 25 November 2015

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@shiv01 You know I'd be good with that too but it never came up. Seems a more noble end for something that served me well and loyally as long as it could. Biowaste doesn't really seem to cut it. Maybe it doesn't really go there, maybe they do something with it. It just seems it should still be useful.
 
So like I said I got some pretty decent caneless steps the other day. I had a brain wave on what might be missing, well I've been thinking on it for a while I guess. I decided on the weight machine working the hip flexors by a strap attached to the ankle and moving the leg forward at the hip, light weight. I decided what I needed was to start the movement/resistance from behind the plane of the hip and the body. That felt pretty good and activated well. Sadly didn't seem to have much impact on the gait. Now I'm thinking the abduction movements. I'm getting a lot more range in those movements just lately and maybe that activation in the end of that range is making the bigger difference. So close....at this point I see the doctor....later then I thought. Apparently 6 week appointment means 6 weeks after the 2 week appointment. eeeerrrrrrrhhhhh!
 
Called the doc and good for starting physio, booked an appointment tomorrow. Got a hike in on the weekend 8km with about 800' climbing. Dogs loved it. I was a bit slow and pretty tired by the end. Not so much my hip just rest of me. Lats and wrists from the walking poles and lower back from all of it. A lot of ice coming down (spikes on), most of it was good solid even snow. About 2km was uneven snow with a crust that I broke through some.

Now decided what I need is some resistance on the lateral leg move at small angles (start of movement). Lifting the leg from standing does not do that at all. I can start using a resistance band so will dig that out. Losing cane ...so ....close.
 
Its great to see another Albertan on here, and I'm very impressed with your accomplishments. I only met a couple of hip replacements while at the Glenrose and we were all pretty slow. It gives me hope I will have a good summer. I have been short of info of what can be done with a new hip. Did your surgeon tell you no bending past 90 degree for life. I'm mostly ok with other restrictions, but the no bending is silly after one is recovered. Especially when it comes to shoes and cupboards. My pre op clinic never mentioned its lifetime. I first heard it at the Glenrose from both PT OT. I was devastated, and my surgeon wont say much on the topic, and its 7 months for me. I don't think us canucks are one to sue. How is your random suture, mine caused a staph infection. My surgeon found it and wasn't impressed. You would think with nurses changing the dressing they would of spotted it. Keep up the wonderful progress, I can see an active summer ahead. The mountains are beautiful, I hope to hike Jasper this summer.
 
My surgeon said 3 months on the 90. Not sure how that varies with a posterior approach if that's what you had and of course there is the dislocations. I saw physio tonight and he wants me to push a bit more toward 90 as I'm only getting to 85 at best he figures. Also got some strong tactics to get the gait sorted better. My girlfriend does a lot of wound care and watched the staples come out. No suture was apparent at that time. Apparently it's not unusual for internal ones to work their way out if they weren't very deep. I still find it disturbing. I was reading on your plight earlier tonight. Hinton is a bit of a haul to advanced help I'm sure. Out health care system can be quite something to navigate but I'm sure you know that better than I. Hopefully your surgeon gets on this and finds a solution. They intentionally put as big a ball as they could in my socket. Not sure what that was like but I guess it took some hammering or grunting or some such.
 
Nice job on the recovery progress Lseven! It is inspiring me to want to get out this spring and do some hiking and such. I've got the Sierra Mountain range basically in my backyard(about 20 min drive from me, and I can literally see them from my backyard).. and the south gate of Yosemite is only about an hour away too... very cool!
I went to my first real PT appt. today... learning/relearning stuff I'm aware of, but now applying it consistently.

I've got the walking thing down pretty good... now I'm probably doing alot of what you've been doing for a while now.... only probably not as much as you. It does hurt a bit more... but we're working it out... and I'm on the recumbent bike now too... I love that thing.. you and it makes me want to brake out my bicycle again.. although my current bike(pedal powered)..is probably way too aggressive in riding/seating position..its a mountain bike... its not layed back like a recumbent... or even a cruiser.. I'd probably do good on a cruiser in a little while.. the mountain bike will probably wait quite a while... and yes... I saw your post in my thread.. I'm working on getting on the "big" saddle... ha.. I just want to sit on it.. I know I won't even take that bike off its center stand for at least a few months or more.. haha... but once I can saddle it, and hold it up, its just a big recliner.. very comfy. :)

@3D..My doc also said about 3 months on the 90 degree deflection thing.... but we'll also evaluate again at that point. I can say my daughter that had her hip replaced 6yrs ago, at this point has no limitation... and full range of motion on that hip... but everyones different.. so yeah..listen to your doc.. in any case.
 
Yep PT for relearning. I walk wrong.....not really a hip thing I think. More of a general observation. Much focus on Glute activation now. Maybe I'll get a tight pair of leather pants to keep it more in the forefront of my mind, ya that should do it. I'll do a youtube video and call it 'leather pant physio' guaranteed to help with mental acuity, libido, Erectile dysfuncion, regularity, bladder control and your dog will love it because all you'll want to do is walk all day showing off your leather pants and glutes. I digress....any way squeezing butt cheeks a lot.
 
@ Lseven & Dgrant thanks for your responses, I think I've gotten the cya approach and I cant understand their fear. I was angry for a long time @ 1st physio who's idea to do toe raises, I never could do them even as a teen. I just wasn't thinking. Then the no x ray fiasco, and Drs thinking I ok before sending me to the Glenrose. Then finding out there by accident, while I was doing a presentation to peds physios. I had been a Glenrose client since 1966. One peds physio asked how long the precautions were, my OT piped up lifetime. It was quite a shock and devastating. I couldn't picture life under the no bend 90 degree rule. So I started questioning every Ot & Pt only to get the same answer. My surgeon is evasive, with clever & witty answers that serve to deflect. He would only say that 4th dislocation, would require another surgery that is only 50% successful. So you can see they really scared the pants off me. I was not told which approach either.

The great thing is the past month I've been able to do a lot of research and have learned a tremendous amount. As I don't know anyone with any replacements. Reading several recovery threads and seeing the wonderful things people are accomplishing has given me great hope again! I was starting to wonder if I had made the wrong choice. As cortisone would make a world of difference for a couple months. My frustration has been not getting good answers. All my team had to say is the restrictions are there for a yr and then we will review. I would have had something to look forward to!! So I'm glad I found this site and all the wonderful and encouraging stories. I love hiking and its why I moved close to the mountains and the relaxed quiet pace. So reading how a fellow Albertan is doing helps, as you know what our medical system is like. Also that great care is centred in only 2 major cities. Reading your posts I cannot wait for the snow to be gone, so I can get out and use this hip. I went out yesterday, first time since it snowed. uneven snow ridges isn't for me yet. Keep up the grand progress. I enjoy reading your updates!
 
I read in your thread about your CP and I would think that would have a lot of impact on muscle/weakness and control. My guess would be that will call for a lot of patience unfortunately. I don't envy your journey but patience and always looking forward would be all I could offer. I've been a bit frustrated with lack of contact with my surgeon and that's just business as usual as opposed to avoiding dealing with me. Unfortunately in our health system protocols are set to accommodate something near an average and variation seems difficult for everyone.
 
@Lseven, my mistake was not educating myself pre op, so I didn't know the right questions to ask. The CP is fairly mild and is only on my L side. I used to train horses and ride plenty, no real issues, until my son was 2 in 2002. Then I started with back pain. I grew up on a farm, so love tromping through the bush and berry picking. It was only in about 2012 I became housebound and weaker.

During the consult there was no issues raised that I would have a tough recovery, or I was at more risks. I never gave it any thought, The Glenrose was to get me started and so my 15 yr old wouldn't have all the responsibility for me. As I have no close family and no close friends in Hinton. Friends are all in Edmonton. Transportation has been a nightmare, since I don't drive and cant do the steps on the bus. So I hope if I keep working at it, by March I can take a bus to Edmonton and see what my rehab specialist says. I see a couple rehab specialist and everyone was happy with my progress in early July.

Its disconcerting not understanding the last 2 dislocations there was barely any movement. The thing with orthos here, is they really don't like seeing another orthos patient. I was original supposed to see my surgeons younger partner, that's supposed to like my kind of hips. Someone in the office found my file from 1991 and gave me back to the first surgeon. So I don't know if I can get a second opinion. Plus I went through the Alberta hip institute.

A lot of it has been bad communication. I am sure I will get there, I just don't like depending on my son so much. Plus trying to get into Edmonton is a hassle, with not being able to grab a bus. Bright side my pain meds are down 75% and no further dislocations. I'm better educated now I have found this site too. So theres still a lot of good stuff happening!
Are you still tromping through the snow. This time of year can be a challenge. How is the gait retraining going. Don't let a chinook blow you away ha ha. I bit you cant wait for spring. Its get watching a fellow Albertan succeed our winters can be an obstacle. However mountain vistas cant be beat.
 
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So a bit more adventuring this weekend. Sat a 9km hike with 800' climb, almost the same hike as last week just a wee variation. Much stronger and faster this weekend. Less reliance on the walking sticks and more natural movements. Friday walking I got a sharp pain mid back but towards the side on my cane hand. Felt like a knot where part of the lats connect. Went away hiking the next day but is comes and goes last couple of days. Sat after the hike had a Xmas party so a bunch of standing and sitting on limited furniture. Exhausted at the end of that. Sunday took it easy but then went to a huge mall and did a full circuit, plus the regular dog walking. Pretty tired again. Moving around the house more and more without the cane and sometimes just forget to take it. That's life and how it ebbs and flows really. All part of getting back to normal.
 
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