THR Pain popping out

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Your thread title has been changed per your request. Glad things are getting sorted out slowly but surely. The time is coming when you won't even think about your hip.

Take care and keep us posted. We care.

 

[Poppet]

I am so thrilled that Jo's suggested exercises are helping Giraffe44, slow and steady..

 

[sissy46]

Hi neighbor, that is great news!

 

[Josephine]

your diagnosis of ITB

it was a 'suggestion', not a diagnosis. I'm not a doctor!

 

[Giraffe44]

Whatever it was, it works. The "thank yous" still hold.

 

[Giraffe44]

Just when everything is getting better, something new crops up. I need to have a tooth extracted. I've called my OS's office to get antibiotics and have gotten a recommendation for a dentist from my vet (if I can trust him with my cats, I can trust his recommendations). I had a dentist in MA but not in FL. I read someone's story on here who had a terrible time with their hip after dentistry, although I believe they didn't take the antibiotics. I've asked for instructions but would like to know if anyone else has had to have something like this and gotten through it without hip trouble.

 

[Elizak]

Hi Giraffe,

Although I did not have anything as serious as an extraction after my surgery, I have continued my routine every 3 month periodontal deep cleanings. First was about 2 months post surgery. I took antibiotics beforehand each time and have not encountered any problems. Sounds as if you have good coordination between your OS and Dental Surgeon, which is crucial. Best of luck in recovery.

Sent from my iPhone using Forum Runner

 

[sissy46]

Hi neighbor and Elizak my dental hygienist said medicating before cleanings was most important. I get my teeth cleaned every 4 months, and I'll be pre-medicating for at least two years, and certainly would before any major procedure like extraction.

 

[dede62]

Giraffe, my OS prefers waiting 3 mo past surgery (which we are) and antibiotics for any procedure for life. Not sure if he'll ever revise the for life thing, but a question to ask: Is it worth the chance? Probably not... I don't want to go through this again, and certainly not if I could have prevented it.

Jo says there is new research saying any infections are probably not from dental work. However an extraction is not routine.

 

[Giraffe44]

Thanks, Dede. I'd far rather take a few pills than take a chance with something going wrong with my shiny new hip--even if it's for life.

 

[HappyHippy]

Definitely take the antibiotics. If we're supposed to with a cleaning, an extraction is more intense. Only thing I'd wonder is if you need to take antibiotics a little longer because of the open socket while it heals.

My 2 cents

HH

 

[Giraffe44]

Apparently not, Happy. I called the surgeon and explained it and he prescribed 4 500 mg amoxicillin to be taken an hour before the appointment. I wondered about that, too.

 

[Giraffe44]

Well, the tooth is out. I am on antibiotics for a week, HappyHippy. You were absolutely right. There was a chronic abcess under it that needed scraping out. It most likely would have gone into my hip so thank goodness it's gone. So please, everyone, don't neglect your teeth--it could do a lot of harm to your hip.

 

[Nannyannie]

Glad you are OK - and your advice is good! But you will excuse my giggle at getting the dentist recommendation from the vet, but it's true - if you trust him with your beloved pets, then why not with you!
Anne

 

[Giraffe44]

Yesterday was a huge day for me. I can walk! Really walk for hours and not have a problem. Yes, I used a cane, even at 4 months, but it was the first time I had walked for that long. It was all done at Disney's Animal Kingdom. As we were walking toward the park, a woman in a Disney wheelchair was leaving and she offered it to me. I thanked her but said I didn't need it. And I didn't. We walked all around, waited in line for the Safari ride, looked at the animals and walked back to the car. And it didn't hurt!!! Yes it pulled some because some of the muscles are still tight. But for the first time in probably 10 years, I just walked. Am I sore today? Yes, but just sore. I've tapered off of the percocet so just tylenol if I need it.

 

[bottomshollow]

Great report, Giraffe!!!! A wonderful day out, lots of walking, looking, standing around-----PAIN FREE-----and sore is all you are!!!! Oh, these man-made hips are the bomb!!! Just so pleased for you.

Take care and keep us posted. We love success stories and we care.

 

[Spid]

Brilliant to hear Giraffe.

 

[sissy46]

That is a great report! I'm very happy for you. Hope you took lots of pictures.

 

[Giraffe44]

Thanks, guys. It feels so good--I just had to share my happiness.

 

[Giraffe44]

Another happy report. My OS says I'm healing ahead of schedule and I don't have to see him again until next November unless there is a problem. I finally found out that my hip is made up of a cobalt chrome stem and a ceramic head with a polyethylene liner. It's not cemented and the approach was postero-lateral. Most of you knew this stuff but I didn't. He also gave me a detailed description of the operation, which I thought you might find interesting. So here goes. The surgeon is Doctor Matthew Hurbanis of Health Central Hospital, Ocoee, FL.

'Patient was identified in the holding area. The operative extremity was marked by the surgeon and then transferred to the op suite and op table in supine position. She was given preoperative antibiotics and underwent uncomplicated general anesthesia. All bony prominences were padded well. Timeout was performed. Right iliac crest was prepped sterilely. Tracker was placed. The anterior pelvic plane was registered in the navigation unit. It was then placed in a lateral position. All bony prominences padded well. An axillary roll was placed. Right hip was then prepped and draped in sterile orthopedic fashion.

"Standard posterior lateral approach was made to the hip. Sharp dissection was carried through skin, subcutaneous tissue and fascia. The sciatic nerve was protected. Short external rotators were tagged and taken down.The capsule was exposed. This was opened. The hip was dislocated. Osteotomy of the neck was performed. The femoral head revealed complete loss of cartilage. [Hmm, could this be why it hurt so much?]. The acetabulum was then exposed. The labrum was removed. The acetabulum was registered in the navigation unit. We then sequentially reamed. Trial and then final components were placed in 45 degrees of abduction and 20 degrees of anteversion. Two screws were placed in the posterior superior quadrant. Osteophytes were excised. The liner was placed.

"We then addressed the femur. Box cutter, canal finder and sequential broaching were performer. [Box cutter?? Box cutter? ] Trial reduction was performed. The knee reached full extension and flexion, was stable at 90 degrees of flexion, 70 degrees of internal rotation. There was no looseness of the joint. [We don't allow looseness in this joint!] Leg lengths were now symmetric. We lengthened the leg joint about 1 cm. Hip was dislocated. The final component was pressed into place. It was then reduced. The hip was irrigated copiously. The capsule and short external rotators were repaired. The remainder of tissue was closed in a standard fashion." [And we wonder why it takes so long to heal? It's a wonder it ever heals.]