9 months post op RTHR and leg lengthening

[Guest guest]

It has been nine months since I had my right hip replaced and leg

lengthened 5/8 " . I wish I had done it sooner. I'm 41 (40 at the time

of my surgery)and very active in the outdoors. I have a non cemented

hip.

After the surgery I I went through rehab until the first of March.

Then again I wasn't your normal hip replacement, I was fightiung 28

years of atrophy in my leg and hip muscles. I had a text book

perfect example of a trendelenburg gate. My personal terrorist

(physical thereapist) worked with me 2 days a week 4 hours each

session for 5 months and I am walking without a limp. The first

time in 28 years. I am blessed. No the road hasn't been all roses,

but I felt like if I didn't have a bad day at the gymn each day i

left PT, I wasn't doing my part.

When they lengthened my leg 5/8 " they stretched the paroneal nerve

and yes when the nerve woke up that by far was the worse part of the

process. I still have a lttle numbness in my fott in areas, but it

is getting better each day. Figure a nerve will grow at a max of 1mm

per month. 5/8 " is a long way to grow. I am not complaining, don't

get me wrong.

My goal was to be ready for Alabama turkey season March 15, and I

was. I walked 2-5 miles every morning. 3 weeks ago I went to MT and

ID on a hunting trip and walked 7-10 miles each day, ALL PAIN FREE.

I even climbed 700' change in elevation on a 70 degree slope. Yes I

watched my foot placement on every step.I had been asked by a friend

in MT to come out there for the past 3 years and my old hip kept me

from going. It was like the final exam for my new hip. I feel

stronger and more confident now after that trip to the back country.

I have also been hiking, backpacking, white water rafting, flat

water kyaking, and I just couldn't find anyone who would let me clip

into the line and go rappelling (that was at 12 weeks post op). I do

remeber one thing that Dr. told me. " Just remeber use

caution and think about how you would get out of a situation if your

new hip dislocated. " That thought is ALWAYS on my mind. Sure I made

some adjustments ans didn't go into everything hog wild crazy, but I

use to do the things I am doing now with extreme pain and lack of

mobility in my leg. Now I can enjoy the time outdoors.

All I can say is I am a blessed man and tell everyone it is worth

it. I had all the reservations and fear that everyone going through

the the surgery has. Think positive and trust in the Lord. Things

happened in my life that sent me on the trail to having my hip

replaced. Friendships I made, people I met,etc.. too much to say

that the Lord didn't point me in that direction.

If you have any questions please feel free to send me an e-mail.

Like I said I am blessed and if I could answer someones questions I

would love to.

The best advise I can give is to stay off of the internet looking

for things on total hips. There is a point where too munch info is

not good. You seem to keep remebering the bad posts and find it hard

to remember a positive post. I put myself through to much pressure

worring about it for 2 months before the surgery, all because I kept

looking at different things on the net. I guess eventually it took

my good friend to explain it to me like this. As a Christian you can

accept anything the Lord has planned in your life. Yes things can go

wrong, including death and if you can accept that you will be fine.

At that point, I didn't look at the internet anymore and couldn't

wait to start the rehab.This is the first time I have posted since

before my surgery. I just want everyone to know there are positives.