Re: Left BHR 12/15/03 - seek advice

[Guest guest]

Hi Larry:

I've been surfaced bilaterally (in Birmingham, UK), 18 months apart. For

rehab, I walked a lot from the 4th day post-op (about 2-4 miles a day) and then

got into a Chi Gong class for about a year once. After the first one, I resumed

light karate training after 7 weeks post-op and harder training 10 weeks post

op. I continued the walking but only about 2 miles a day for about a year.

I didn't really extend myself in karate until about 6 months post-op, by

which time the other one started to hurt and limited my workouts.

After the second one (May 2003), I again started my walking regimen from the

4th day and followed a pretty much identical program, except no Chi Gong. I

went to a Hellerwork practitioner who taught me how to move my body again and to

balance myself properly.

I again started karate at 7 weeks and started fairly hard training at about 5

months. I'm still building up now and am training harder and harder. My

flexibility seems to improve weekly, although I am plagued by a stiff psoas

muscle.

I find if I keep my head and neck straight, it hurts much less. Clearly

there's a connection.

Listen to your surgeon and your body and you'll know what to do.

Des Tuck

In a message dated 1/21/2004 10:52:50 PM Pacific Standard Time,

larrywein2@... writes:

I'd really enjoy hearing what some of you have done from a rehab

perspective. I am a very athletic 41 YO, who would like to start an

aggressive, but smart and educated, rehab program ( I do NOT want to

overdue it). In the end, my body talks and I listen, it will tell me

what to do and what not to do. But I'd love to hear from you

all...What did you do from 6 weeks post op thru year 1? thru year

2? What milestones can I expect to achieve. What was your journey

like? What exercises, training, stretching do you think worked the

best, and the least. Wondering if/when I can enjoy skiing, mountain

bike riding, horseback riding, motorcycle riding and jogging again?

Anyone in serious yoga or pilates classes? DO any of you play

somewhat competitive basketball? Handball? racquetball? Are any of

you completely pain free? Is this a realistic expectation?

[Guest guest]

>

> When I walk without the crutches, I do still have a noticeable

limp.

> I imagine it is because I was limping for a year or so before the

> operation, and my muscles need to be retrained. Anyway, wondering

if

> anyone else had this same problem and how you overcame it. Do you

> recommend Physical Therapy for this purpose, or for any other

> purpose? Any special exercises?

I had limped terribly for quite awhile before my surgery. After

three weeks, I ditched the walking aids with my doctor's blessing -

they were encumbering me far too much. In asking permission, I was

told that as long as I didn't " lurch " from side to side, I was ready

to walk without. If I wasn't paying attention, I would lurch. It

takes awhile for the body to relearn a behavior. It took

concentration to keep my walking straight - I pretended I had

something on my head that I had to balance. And I pretended I had to

walk on a line (a thick one, about a foot wide, not a sobriety test

type line.) When I was tired, tho, even this wouldn't help and I

would go back to the cane. In time, my body remembered how to walk

normally. For me, it just took concentration and practice.

>

> I'd really enjoy hearing what some of you have done from a rehab

> perspective. I am a very athletic 41 YO, who would like to start

an

> aggressive, but smart and educated, rehab program ( I do NOT want

to

> overdue it). In the end, my body talks and I listen, it will tell

me

> what to do and what not to do. But I'd love to hear from you

> all...What did you do from 6 weeks post op thru year 1?

From 0 - 8 weeks, the only therapy needed was walking. The more the

better. My doc does not believe in PT, and it the over-riding

belief of many of us on this board that one is better off doing too

little in that time period than too much. It's just too easy to hurt

yourself. At 8 weeks, the hip capsule is pretty well healed, and

there's less chance of doing damage to yourself.

At 8 weeks, my doc cleared me to go back to the gym and do whatever I

was comfortable with. (I am not a raging athlete). I started

slowly, and got back to my earlier strength and flexibilty quite

easily. I'm at almost 6 months now. Normal is the word.

Completely and utterly normal.

>What milestones can I expect to achieve. What was your journey

> like? What exercises, training, stretching do you think worked the

> best, and the least. Wondering if/when I can enjoy skiing,

mountain

> bike riding, horseback riding, motorcycle riding and jogging

again?

> Anyone in serious yoga or pilates classes? DO any of you play

> somewhat competitive basketball? Handball? racquetball?

Check the archives of this site (do a search on the keywords you

mentioned) You will find lots of folks who went back to doing all of

the above. At 100% of what they were pre-op - or better.

> Are any of you completely pain free? Is this a realistic

>expectation?

Yes, it is a realistic expectation. It's not a given, as nothing in

life is a given. But there's a real good possibility. I'm pain

free, and have been for months now. Don't even think about it 99% of

the time. This op has changed my life - it gave it back to me.

Good luck Larry. Keep plugging away - you'll see tremendous

differences each week now, and you'll be amazed at your own

progress. It seems like after week 4, things get better SO much

faster!

Lois

Dr Gross RHR

8/6/03

[Guest guest]

>I am almost 5 weeks post op, left BHR at the JRI (Dr Schmalzried). I

>feel great. Never had much pain after surgery. Can easily get

>around but try to use both, or at least 1, crutch (dr's orders) until

>my 6 week check-up. No problems sleeping on operated side, no

>swelling and no real discomfort to speak of. I was back at work

>(desk job) 1st week post op and driving 2nd week. I have been

>exercising (very moderately) in the pool and on the bike. Starting

>to do some stretching as well. I have not started a formal Physical

>Therapy program as of yet. All in all - I am very pleased with the

>overall experience, my state of recovery and most of all at how I

>feel. I had a great deal of pain pre-op, and now feel like I have my

>body back again. Truly a miracle!

>

If your physio isn't familiar with rehabbing a resurfacing patient, tell

him/her to treat it like a hip dislocation rather than a THR or they'll

really restrict you. THR protocols assume you're about 70 and will break if

you move much.

>When I walk without the crutches, I do still have a noticeable limp.

>I imagine it is because I was limping for a year or so before the

>operation, and my muscles need to be retrained. Anyway, wondering if

>anyone else had this same problem and how you overcame it. Do you

>recommend Physical Therapy for this purpose, or for any other

>purpose? Any special exercises?

>

Here is the best one I found for me at this stage: Get thee to a treadmill.

Now, start walking slowly and concentrate on form (yes you can put a

chalkboard eraser on your head to check your gate). The idea is that on a

treadmill each step is the same as the preceeding, so you can just work on

your gait. Also, if this is too taxing, work up to it by alternating a

minute or two holding the handrails or not. Keep the pace slow since you're

trying to rewire your ginky muscles rather than trying to get a training

effect. I'd start at 1 mi/hr and not exceed 3 mi/hr for this. Do it daily

if possible for 10 - 15 minutes and increase your time.

Also, a really good 1 month program from my podiatrist: Stand on one foot

for up to a minute then switch. Do this several times a day. Goal is to not

hold on to anything around you. I found (your mileage may vary) that my

foot had learned how to grip the floor wrong, as such my gait was off (if

you find yourself reaching toes first for the ground, then definitely do

this!) and I had a heck of a time getting it right until he told me to do

this. The foot is smart enough to retrain itself *if* you can send the load

through it right (now that you have a nice new shiny hip, that part will

happen).

Leg lifts are good. Do all 4 directions prone then standing (varies the

load). Do both sides since having your operated leg support you does all

sorts of wonderful things to your butt. Maintain good posture and use the

muscles, don't just heave the leg up. Move like there is a weight at the

knee you have to move.

Swimming is good and here is my trick for a speedier recovery. Do something

aerobic within your limitations. The reason is that just generally ramping

your metabolism through the roof will speed recovery in the hip, even if

the hip itself isn't doing a lot of work (e.g. swimming with hand paddles

and going for speed).

Go to a basketball court. Near the hoop is a circle. Walk around it for a

minute or two then switch directions. This will train you to be stable when

turning. I found this helpful since lack of motion made turning (in my case

to the right) very unstable. One foot stays inside the line, the other

outside. Don't try to walk exactly on the line.

>I'd really enjoy hearing what some of you have done from a rehab

>perspective. I am a very athletic 41 YO, who would like to start an

>aggressive, but smart and educated, rehab program ( I do NOT want to

>overdue it). In the end, my body talks and I listen, it will tell me

>what to do and what not to do. But I'd love to hear from you

>all...What did you do from 6 weeks post op thru year 1? thru year

>2? What milestones can I expect to achieve. What was your journey

>like? What exercises, training, stretching do you think worked the

>best, and the least. Wondering if/when I can enjoy skiing, mountain

>bike riding, horseback riding, motorcycle riding and jogging again?

>Anyone in serious yoga or pilates classes? DO any of you play

>somewhat competitive basketball? Handball? racquetball? Are any of

>you completely pain free? Is this a realistic expectation?

>

I do what I want, when I want (except bungee jumping) and am extremely

active. When I have soreness it is in *both* hips because I overdid

something. That is to say, I have normally no post-op pain in the hip of

any sort unless I do something (usually with weights and too many

repititions). I recently posted my 2 year totals just a couple fo days ago.

Look them up. Oh, I have gone horseback riding too -- not a problem.

>I'd appreciate any ideas, advice or suggestions you have. Please

>share your rehab stories with me as I am genuinely interested and

>appreciative. Many of you have been an inspiration to me throughout

>this entire ordeal. Without you....I never would have done it.

>

Advice? Strength and health are skills. Treat them as such. If you have

specific questions feel free to ask. I have too much sports experience to

be just giving out advice, since I could easily overload you with stuff you

don't need. Tell me what your sports are and I'd be happy to think about

what might help you. Welcome aboard!

Cheers,

-- jeff

rBHR Aug. 1, 2001

Mr. McMinn

>Always grateful,

>

>Larry

>