Re: Re: Just got home today from C+ Sx. Unbelievable!!!!!!!!

March 12, 2004

Hi Todd:

I have to echo this advice. Just keep in mind you've had MAJOR surgery and it

will take you at least 6-8 weeks before you should reasonably do anything

" normal " in the way of physical activity again. That doesn't mean you shouldn't

walk your heart out, but be very, very careful doing all those other things

that seem relatively painless and effortless. Follow doctors' orders literally

and strictly.

I speak as one who walked about 3 to 5 miles a day beginning one week

post-surgery, went to the theater, the Cadbury's chocolate factory, the

Birmingham

Botanical Gardens, rode buses and trains and managed on my own alone in a hotel

until I was ready to fly back to California 10 days after discharge, and

resumed karate training 7 weeks post-op. Fortunately this all went without

incident, but I knew how to stop at the limit when I reached it.

Take it easy, dude.

Des Tuck

Bilateral BHR 10/01 and 5/03

In a message dated 3/12/2004 8:12:15 AM Pacific Standard Time,

sjwolf@... writes:

Glad everything went well and you're feeling great.

That said - SLOW DOWN. You've come a long way ... don't jump

back ... pain is our bodys warning of damage ... the meds simply mask

the pain / discomfort that your body is feeling ... allow your body

some time to heal ... the last thing you want is to end up back on

the table. The bone still has to grow into the implant and the

tendons / muscles heal. I know it's hard to hold back :-) Keep

thinking long term ... :-)

Best wishes

> Hello everyone!

> I just got home 2 hours ago after spending 3 days in the hospital

in

> Vancouver, Washington. I had a Conserve Plus by Dr Ed Sparling. He

> was right when he said he would have a hard time keeping me on

> crutches for six weeks. I can alreay walk without them with only

> minimal wound pain. Not that I am going to go without them but I

was

> amazed at how fast I recovered from the surgery which, by the way,

> looking back was far easier than I had thought. Post op pain was

> well controlled with only a morphine PCA. I changed over to 5 mg of

> Oxycodone on post op day #1 and was to have had only Vicodin but I

> itched so much. I just got back from the store after driving myself

> and shopping. I can go for 6-8 hours without any pain medicine so

> driving is not an issue. I feel no foreign body sensation from the

> device and my range of motion is already far greater than before. I

> cannot tell that this is not my own hip joint. I'm so excited I

> can't stand it!

> Thanks for all the eamils and phone calls and for Peggy's book

which

> made it easier to proceed. AS SOON as my other hip starts to hurt

> I'm going for it rather than waste another 5 years.

> Todd Eggen

March 12, 2004

Each person knows what they can do physically. It's a body awareness issue,

more than pain or fatigue. If you're feeling pain when doing something, you

need to back off immediately and get help if necessary.

The fatigue issue only affects you if you decide to go on a two mile walk and

find that you can only walk one mile, and only realize that when you are too

far to make it back. Alternatively if you can manage to finish what you set

out to do, and then collapse in a heap, you've probably overdone it.

I have been doing karate for almost 35 years, and have had many injuries to

most parts of my body during that time. Most of the time, I kept training while

taking into account what I shouldn't do in order to worsen the injury or

heighten the pain. In my younger days, I wasn't terribly sensible about that but

I

learned by experience.

For example, when my hip was really bothering me during the ten years prior

to surgery, I made sure that I didn't get into a situation where I might have

to take a quick step (because it hurt too much). This, of course, circumscribed

what I was doing quite severely, and caused me to compensate in many ways,

which I now have to " unlearn " .

As a practical matter, during the immediate post-op period, I made damn sure

that there was nothing around that I would fall over, checked out the ground

very carefully to avoid stepping into holes or tripping on anything, and when

getting on and off public transport, made sure I had eye contact with the

driver so he didn't pull off before I was holding onto something. I avoided

areas

where people were moving quickly. I avoided being around little kids running

around. They're cute but they tend to be oblivious sometimes.

Before making any kind of move, I inspected the general area very carefully

for these kinds of hazards, even when sitting down at a table in a restaurant,

or on a bus or train for example. When I sat, I made sure my operated side was

out of the way of anyone walking by. I got pretty waitresses to carry my tray

for me whenever I could.

One time I really screwed up was when I was at the Cadbury's Chocolate

factory and one part of the tour required me to get into this little train that

takes you around part of the plant. I only figured out after getting in that I

couldn't bend my leg enough to sit down in the " cabin " , so I almost bashed my

head on the ceiling each time we went through a tunnel. Funny now but not then.

I never used crutches. The Brits only recommend using canes but I'd follow

the surgeon's advice. If they say crutches, then crutches it is. Don't

second-guess them just because you're feeling good. The bone needs at least six

weeks

to bond onto the outside of the acetabular cup. So you need to move quite

gingerly for that period of time.

I was told I could begin karate at 7 weeks but only with no limitations at 10

weeks. Even with that, I took it quite easy for the first 15 weeks or so. I

did my best to stretch in my static stances but didn't jump around much until

about the four month stage. Even now, at approaching ten months post-op on my

second one, I'm still wary about kicking with full power on that side. I'm very

aware of the difference between kicking with the left (Oct. 2001) side, and

the right.

That being said, I'm considering entering the USA National Karate Federation

championships in July 2004. I'd really like to be the first US champion with

resurfaced hips, but I still haven't decided if I'm ready to fight and beat a

dozen or so mean mothers to get there. The big pull is I'll be the youngest

entrant in the 50-55 age group because I turn 50 the day before the tournament.

Just listen to your body and keep your exuberance in check and you'll be just

fine. I hope I take my own advice.

Des

In a message dated 3/12/2004 2:15:00 PM Pacific Standard Time,

toddeggen@... writes:

Des,

Thanks for the email. How did you know what the limit was? Was it a pain or

fatigue issue? I am on crutches but it seems to me that if you aren't doing

anything to loosen the future closure of the posterior capsule then you should

be

OK. I could easily walk with a cane for instance but he wants me on crutches

so that I don't stumble(?), etc.

I feel great. Each day mores strength. When you say karate at seven weeks do

you mean no limitations?

March 12, 2004

Des,

Thanks for the email. How did you know what the limit was? Was it a pain or

fatigue issue? I am on crutches but it seems to me that if you aren't doing

anything to loosen the future closure of the posterior capsule then you should

be OK. I could easily walk with a cane for instance but he wants me on crutches

so that I don't stumble(?), etc.

I feel great. Each day mores strength. When you say karate at seven weeks do you

mean no limitations?

Thanks,

Todd

March 12, 2004

Thanks for the advice. I do have a tendancy to get back at it too soon but

feeling this good it's hard not to.

Todd

March 12, 2004

I appreciate the advice. I really do. I'll take care.

Todd

March 12, 2004

Thanks again for the advice. I'll TRY to take it easy. Good to see that you are

doing so well. An inspiration to my future goals.

Todd

March 12, 2004

Thanks again for the advice. I'll TRY to take it easy. Good to see that you are

doing so well. An inspiration to my future goals.

Todd

March 12, 2004

Thanks again for the advice. I'll TRY to take it easy. Good to see that you are

doing so well. An inspiration to my future goals.

Todd

March 12, 2004

Todd-

I know EXACTLY how you feel, 'cause I was there myself. It is very hard for me

to know my limitations--I have always been a pusher- some might say an

overachiever, but I think that is an impossibility. I didn't take any pain

meds at all- just the indomethacin that Dr De Smet prescribed to prevent

heterotrophic bone growth. I was back cycling in 2 weeks (a number suggested by

my doc). I was lifting weights and doing impact aerobics at about the same

time. I was stupid. When I read Dr Amstutz' paper that was published in

December I realized that I was at risk--being a small woman. I'm just thankful

that things have continued to go great for me. There are those that have not

been so fortunate. After 5 years of pain a few weeks of taking it easy is

certainly well worth it for the rest of your life. But again- I know how you

feel- I was euphoric!!! I will never forget rock climbing again for the first

time after the op- Dr De Smet had me wait an agonizing 6 WEEKS! It was as if I

had been pulled from the edge of an abyss! So happy for you!!

Take care,

Rock climbin' Jude

LBHR De Smet 09/11/02

Re: Just got home today from C+ Sx. Unbelievable!!!!!!!!

Hi Todd,