4 Weeks Post Resurfacing

[Guest guest]

WEEK 4 POST OPERATIVE

Date: April 7th, 2001):

Details: Right Surface Replacement on March 10th, 2001 / Prosthesis

Midland Medical Birmingham Hip / Size 58mm / Nuffield Hospital /

Birmingham, England / Surgeon - Mr. Treacy / Cost of All Inclusive

Surgery Package = $12830:

Today is the 4-week anniversary for my UK surface replacement. My

recovery continues to progress rapidly. The most significant change

I have noticed this week is being able to move from sitting to

standing and vice versa without having to think about it. In

addition, I am forgetting my cane more and more as I move from one

activity to another ... walking is becoming that easy and that second

nature.

WALKING – I am walking as long and and as far as I want with no

side effects (i.e. pain). It is simply wonderful to take the dog and

GO. The joint feels very NORMAL, it is very fluid in motion with no

hint of being a prostheis.

PRE-SURGERY WALKING COMPARISON - Prior to my surgery things had

disintegrated to the point where I could only walk about one block

before the grinding and limping were uncomfortable enough that I

would just turn around and come home. Certainly by the end of the

workday I had all I could do to just get out of the car and limp into

the house. I would pay my 8 year old a quarter to take my shoes off

and then slip on some PJ's (with my wife's assistance) and crawl

into the Lazy Boy recliner where I would stay for the rest of the

night.

DRESSING – I put my own shoes and socks on today, but it took

some effort to get my operated leg up far enough to were I could get

the sock on it.

SLEEPING – Since my local OS gave me a prescription sleep aid I

have been getting some pretty good quality sleep (i.e. no more

interference from restless leg syndrome).

PAIN – There is still some discomfort in the groin area but it is

a low-grade ache that I think is part of the healing process.

STRENGTH – The strength is slowly returning to my operated leg.

I can now lift my leg up onto the bed on it's own without having

to

hook the good leg under it and assist. In addition, I have gently

kicked the soccer ball a few times with my operated leg and

everything feels strong, in place and ready to go.

OVERALL HEALTH AND WELLBEING – I no longer feel like a crippled

useless lump of clay, as I did prior to my surface replacement

surgery. Each day I wake up with a smile on my face, knowing that I

can role out of bed and walk as far as I want and I am not going to

feel any pain or bone on bone grinding. I would do this all over

again if the other side needed surgery.

THANKS - I am particularly thankful for all of the support that I

have received from folks on the Surface Hippy Message Board. Not

only did folks encourage me to make the trek to England to seek out

the most experienced surgeon, but also once I arrived in England I

was received several phone calls offering additional encouragement

from my fellow UK Surface Hippy friends. My trip to the UK for

surgery was truly a wonderful and very positive experience.

Regards,

Mark

[Guest guest]

Mark,

It's great to read your continuing euphoria but the sentence below hit

my panic button!!

Bone growth: I was told it started to establish (into the acetabular

Porocast) about 3 weeks after operation, though my memory is not

perfect.

I think a leg is a long lever to transfer stresses from kicking to the

top! Don't get carried away too soon!

Does your bone structure need a little longer to get a firm grip on your

acetabular prosthesis??

Comments welcome from anyone with more knowledge of bone

growth/prosthesis stability.

Best wishes all from slightly concerned.

Roy

In message <9anest+ucpeGroups>, sivartkram@... writes

>I have gently

>kicked the soccer ball a few times with my operated leg and

>everything feels strong, in place and ready to go.

--

Swains