My hip story and some questions

[gazelle7777]

You made a great decision! See my post Joan

I have tenativly choosen Dr. William Barrett and Valley medical as the surgeon and hospital.

I researched doctors in that area and Mr. Barrett specializes in hip replacements, so I think I'll be in good hands.

The outfit my company uses is so far great. I let my care coordinator know the who and the when, and she takes it from there, coordinating between my primary doctor in Alaska, local orthepedic surgon, imaging, travel, the whole thing.

I'll let you know what process, implant, etc... as we get closer. Looking at January as operation time.[/QUOTE]

 

[badhipinak]

Joan Thanks very much!!!

Your report gives me a great feeling of confidence!

I cannot wait to get back to the rest of my life! I am 5 years from retirement and my wife and I are planning on spending summers on the lake in Alaska and winters cruising from town to town in California and Mexico in our boat. That means allot of walking and good low impact exercise swimming, and kyaking, and exploring.

In the last two years my hip has gone from a little painful to barely being able to tie my shoes. After a day of walking up and down the dock it really hurts, so its new hip time, and time to get back to life!

 

[gazelle7777]

Feel confident with your choice of surgeon and hospital. You chose the best! No more worries now....just looks forward to being in very good hands once you get here to Renton, and on your way to a pain free retirement! Joan

 

[Poppet]

Absolutely @badhipinak - so much to look forward to when you retire pain free - best wishes!

 

[badhipinak]

Thanks very much!

I am flying down to renton this week for a consultation. I was not willing to undertake something of this magnitude without actually meeting my surgeon in advance.

I'm looking at a mid January surgery date. That way I'll be in prime shape for summer!

 

[Poppet]

Fantastic - good luck with the consult!

 

[badhipinak]

I have another question. This is about recovery time. I've read every article I could find. I've also read posts in the post op area.

I'm trying to get an idea of how long to plan on being off work. My job is one where I am up and down several flights of stairs, several times a day. What I do is to walk up probably 50' of stairs, then can sit and use a ipad or laptop for awhile, then I move to another place and do it again. Some days I sit mostly in the office, but I have three flights of stairs just to get to my office. This is an industrial setting, in an oil field.
Except for my hip I'm in good shape for a 52 year old. It hurts to do it and hurts bad at the end of the day but I for example walked 2 or 3 miles today, and went up and down quite a few flights of stairs. (now I'm in advil land)

So, a guess please regarding when, if all goes well I might plan on going back to work.
My shift works out where I can either return to work at 3 (no way), 5, 8 (I'm thinking this), or 12 weeks. I cant just show up since I work a rotational shift in Alaska's Prudhoe Bay. Oh, before I can come back I have to pass a fit for duty test where they evaluate whether I am physically able to do this kind of work.

Thanks!!!

 

[Poppet]

Hi @badhipinak - I returned to a desk job at 7 weeks, part time for 3 week, phasing to full time at 10 weeks.

Although I had a rocky start to the first two weeks of my recovery as my signature indicates I found energy drain knocked me out every day until around the 12 week milestone and I was dropped and picked up at my office and sat at a desk all day..

So, considering your type of work, if at all possible I would suggest going for the 12 weeks.

One never knows with THR recovery we are all different. Here is an article I would suggest you read

Also, slow and steady and remembering that recovery from a joint replacement can be a marathon and not a sprint gives one permission to recover in one's own timeframe

The following is a link to an article which provides the current science regarding the healing beneath and around the implant and approximate timeframes for the healing phases and processes and the relevant nutritional information for each phase.

Healing Phases & Nutrition

 

[bottomshollow]

with Poppet, @badhipinak. Better count on being out for 12 weeks. Also. please, follow the BoneSmart mantras and DO NOT overdo things! Taking it easy and slowly increasing activities and exercising will give you a great recovery. Pushing yourself and overdoing can lead to a bad case of tendonitis which takes a long time to get over.

Take care and keep us posted. We care.

 

[badhipinak]

OK, went to my consult and am on the schedule for mid January.

Anterior approach, Ceramic on plastic hip. Good probability of needing the plastic liner replaced in my lifetime.

Doc said my age, general condition, etc... I'll feel good to go at 6 weeks post op.

Have up to 12 weeks release from work due to the hazardous work conditions IE ice, and sometimes rough terrain, ICY stairs, etc...

I'm planning on 2 weeks in Washington post op, then 2-3 weeks at home, then I'll pick somewhere warm too finish out my recoup time, probably Maui.

I'll take it easy and go back to work when I'm safe to do so. No hurry. Work can wait. No use going back early, and getting hurt. I get paid either way.

 

[jillhq]

Wow! Things I did not know. Is the Ice Pack or Machine something new since my previous right hip replacement 7 years ago? How does that help?

 

[jillhq]

I am fit and have kept my supportive muscles and core strong as I run a Fitness and Wellness business and teach daily. I will have only Christmas and New Year to recover, although I did want to go camping a month after my op. Does anyone think this is possible?

 

[badhipinak]

I had the exact same concerns you're expressing about recovery time.

Then I went to the orthopedic surgeons office and realized I was the youngest person in that very busy office.

Every body is different. Many THR candidates unfortunately have significant underlying health issues. Things like age, weight, and what appears to be a host of other issues. Logic says these nice folks will probably have a longer recovery time.

It appears that a ever increasing Group of THR candidates have either an old injury, or frankly they appear to have just worn out their joint(s) through their active lifestyles. Logic says these folks will have a shorter recovery time.

I fall into the latter group, thank goodness. While I am not a workout fanatic like my wife I am in pretty good shape. I walk quite a bit, both on the job and as a lifestyle, literally miles a day, every day. My problem is that at 16 I was involved in a auto accident that resulted in my current hip issues. I've known it was going to haunt me my entire adult life so when the pain got worse, the xray revealed no supprises. Thats why I did not hesitate. If I didn't already have plans for the thanksgiving and christmas holidays (on nice warm beaches) I would have had the surgery done at the surgeons first available opening.

So, what will your recovery time be??? If I were you I would first ask your surgeon. Then I would scour the internet analyzing what recovery patients say. I would pay very careful attention to patients just like you. Your age, your fitness level, etc... and come up with an estimate based on that.

 

[jillhq]

Thank you badhipinak, I will look at other results ages etc. I had an amazing recovery with my previous although it was posterior and 6 weeks on my back and high chairs and toilet seat. I don't want that now but reading anterior or SmartPath I believe it will be even better recovery this time. I also take a lot of vitamin/mineral/support supplements and working out keeps me strong. I am still nervous as this is major surgery no matter what people say about up and about in 2 hours!! A question I have is there a need for massive doses of pain killers after the anterior approach? I hated the morphine drip I was given and I was physically sick because of it. Is it true that you can be up in 2 hours and home in 48 hours without pain? Do you need crutches or sticks? And how long before resuming normal activities like driving, working? Anyone out there had Sydney surgeons doing SmartPath or Anterior? If so which doctor?