Re: Frustrated at 4 weeks..

[Guest guest]

Tom,

Slow down a minute,...I also consider myself in very good (41yrs old)

shape and didn't drop the crutches until the 6 week mark. I then used

a cane for a fews days later only to assure that my limp was gone.

Take your time on your recover, hopefully this will be your last time

for this.

Good Luck,

Michigandar Mike

Bilateral, Dr. DeSmet, April 2003

> Yesterday made 4 weeks from my surgery with Dr. Mont. I expected to

be much

> farther along than I am. I read posts by people who've had bi-

laterals and at 4

> weeks are using a cane. I still can only walk around the block

before my leg

> starts hurting. That's less than a 1/4 mile. I'm still on 2

crutches. My

> groin area is sore when I walk and continues afterwards. And then

the area under

> the scar starts. I'm an athlete who was in great shape pre-op.

Being

> self-employed I need to go back to work tomorrow. I thought by now

I'd be using one

> crutch or a cane. " The best laid plans of mice and men... "

> Well I got that off my chest. I was glad to see n's post

on Sunday

> reminding me what a debilitating experience we've been through and

how we're

> all not going to heal so quickly. I guess I need patience.

>

> Tom in San Fran.

> Mont C+ Oct 27th 03

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Good word ,

Tom this isn't a get well the fastest race.

I'm 3wks post op and also a very athletic individual that not to long

ago was a race fit cyclist. I can't imagine having both done at once.

I depend on my crutch and without my good leg i would be on two.

The great news about taking a bit longer as any ortho might tell you,

you are giving your prosthetic lots of needed time to attach to your

bone. Many orthos will only allow 50% wt up till 2 mo. on traditions.

Once again you don't want to leave any chance to breaking those

connections. Remember this could out live you. Will be saying a

prayer for you.

Tug

> Yesterday made 4 weeks from my surgery with Dr. Mont. I expected to

be much

> farther along than I am. I read posts by people who've had bi-

laterals and at 4

> weeks are using a cane. I still can only walk around the block

before my leg

> starts hurting. That's less than a 1/4 mile. I'm still on 2

crutches. My

> groin area is sore when I walk and continues afterwards. And then

the area under

> the scar starts. I'm an athlete who was in great shape pre-op.

Being

> self-employed I need to go back to work tomorrow. I thought by now

I'd be using one

> crutch or a cane. " The best laid plans of mice and men... "

> Well I got that off my chest. I was glad to see n's post

on Sunday

> reminding me what a debilitating experience we've been through and

how we're

> all not going to heal so quickly. I guess I need patience.

>

> Tom in San Fran.

> Mont C+ Oct 27th 03

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Tom

I sympathize with your frustration. I'm self-employed also, and

had to go back to work part-time at three weeks (taking the bus and

transferring, since I wasn't allowed to drive, so even the commute was

exhausting). Then I'd come home and collapse. Sitting at a desk for

very long was terrible. I basically decided to be totally lazy around

the house, so I could manage working. At home I took naps every couple

of days, and spent a lot of time lying on a deck lounge in my living

room. The only major effort I made was to do 10 reps of the prescribed

exercises every day (and I only managed them once instead of twice).

The weather here has not been conducive to walking, so I haven't been

able to do as much as the physio recommended, but I'm hoping to do a

bit of stationery biking and swimming starting next week when it's

allowed. I'm still using a cane at almost 6 weeks, and I didn't have a

bilateral like you had.

I heard that sometimes being very fit beforehand can be a bit of a

problem, because your muscles are very tight, so they are more

resistant to being disturbed, and spasm or complain more afterwards.

Have you tried muscle relaxants like Robaxacet instead of just

painkillers? Or are you trying to tough it out? When I was in the

hospital they recommended taking enough medication to keep yourself

comfortable, so that you could sleep better, exercise a bit more, and

hopefully heal faster. I find the best way to distract myself while

relaxing, and to help the healing time pass more quickly is to do

crossword puzzles. Not very athletic, but at least they challenge the

" brain muscles " . But not right before bedtime, as they make the mind

too alert.

Hang in there! Hopefully in a few more months you will feel like

you have your life back.

n

rBHR Oct.17/03 McMinn

[Guest guest]

Tom

Although I haven't done a resurfacing yet I've been trough a similar

process. Early last year my surgeon cleaned out the osteofyts,

drilled a hole and put in some cortison. Well, it barely lasted 2

years (feb).

Anyway, as a professional mountain guide (and of course self

employed) I'm very active and the problem I had was that I started

off too early. It's not a muscle thing, that heals pretty straight

forward, it's the ligament and other stuff that sort of holds the

whole thing in place that takes time to heal.

Do your excercises, But don't push it. I'm used to pushing beyond

pain and that was a big mistake. Thus I'm trying to get a resurfacing

instead of a cemented THR (which was proposed, I'm 46...).

Good luck

> Yesterday made 4 weeks from my surgery with Dr. Mont. I expected to

be much

> farther along than I am. I read posts by people who've had bi-

laterals and at 4

> weeks are using a cane. I still can only walk around the block

before my leg

> starts hurting. That's less than a 1/4 mile. I'm still on 2

crutches. My

> groin area is sore when I walk and continues afterwards. And then

the area under

> the scar starts. I'm an athlete who was in great shape pre-op.

Being

> self-employed I need to go back to work tomorrow. I thought by now

I'd be using one

> crutch or a cane. " The best laid plans of mice and men... "

> Well I got that off my chest. I was glad to see n's post

on Sunday

> reminding me what a debilitating experience we've been through and

how we're

> all not going to heal so quickly. I guess I need patience.

>

> Tom in San Fran.

> Mont C+ Oct 27th 03

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Tom, you may be going too hard. I had my resurf with Dr. Mont

3/13/03. I used 2 crutches for 6 weeks 20% weight bearing. Went to

a cane from 6-12 weeks at 50 weight bearing. I am an avid cyclist

and do time trial and duathlons. I must say my recovery has gone

very well. I did 4 races over the summer with great success. I

attribute this to following my doctors orders and then going to PT

for 12 weeks. As far as the pain you're having I would contact Dr.

Mont and explain your situation to see what his advise would be.

Don't wait or second guess yourself. Everyone heals differently.

Good luck and ride on.............................

> Yesterday made 4 weeks from my surgery with Dr. Mont. I expected

to be much

> farther along than I am. I read posts by people who've had bi-

laterals and at 4

> weeks are using a cane. I still can only walk around the block

before my leg

> starts hurting. That's less than a 1/4 mile. I'm still on 2

crutches. My

> groin area is sore when I walk and continues afterwards. And then

the area under

> the scar starts. I'm an athlete who was in great shape pre-op.

Being

> self-employed I need to go back to work tomorrow. I thought by now

I'd be using one

> crutch or a cane. " The best laid plans of mice and men... "

> Well I got that off my chest. I was glad to see n's post

on Sunday

> reminding me what a debilitating experience we've been through and

how we're

> all not going to heal so quickly. I guess I need patience.

>

> Tom in San Fran.

> Mont C+ Oct 27th 03

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Tom,

Take it easy and give yourself time. I had both hips done 13wks ago and

was on two crutches for 5 wks before going to one for another 2 wks. Any

pain you are having means you're doing too much for your particular

situation. At this early stage of the game, there's nothing to do but

listen to your body and let your doctor know that you are hurting. Good

luck!

Dianne

Bilateral C+ 8-25-03

>From: t3man@...

>Reply-To: surfacehippy

>To: surfacehippy

>Subject: Frustrated at 4 weeks..

>Date: Tue, 25 Nov 2003 16:51:16 EST

>

>Yesterday made 4 weeks from my surgery with Dr. Mont. I expected to be much

>farther along than I am. I read posts by people who've had bi-laterals and

>at 4

>weeks are using a cane. I still can only walk around the block before my

>leg

>starts hurting. That's less than a 1/4 mile. I'm still on 2 crutches. My

>groin area is sore when I walk and continues afterwards. And then the area

>under

>the scar starts. I'm an athlete who was in great shape pre-op. Being

>self-employed I need to go back to work tomorrow. I thought by now I'd be

>using one

>crutch or a cane. " The best laid plans of mice and men... "

> Well I got that off my chest. I was glad to see n's post on

>Sunday

>reminding me what a debilitating experience we've been through and how

>we're

>all not going to heal so quickly. I guess I need patience.

>

>Tom in San Fran.

>Mont C+ Oct 27th 03

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Tom,

Take it easy and give yourself time. I had both hips done 13wks ago and

was on two crutches for 5 wks before going to one for another 2 wks. Any

pain you are having means you're doing too much for your particular

situation. At this early stage of the game, there's nothing to do but

listen to your body and let your doctor know that you are hurting. Good

luck!

Dianne

Bilateral C+ 8-25-03

>From: t3man@...

>Reply-To: surfacehippy

>To: surfacehippy

>Subject: Frustrated at 4 weeks..

>Date: Tue, 25 Nov 2003 16:51:16 EST

>

>Yesterday made 4 weeks from my surgery with Dr. Mont. I expected to be much

>farther along than I am. I read posts by people who've had bi-laterals and

>at 4

>weeks are using a cane. I still can only walk around the block before my

>leg

>starts hurting. That's less than a 1/4 mile. I'm still on 2 crutches. My

>groin area is sore when I walk and continues afterwards. And then the area

>under

>the scar starts. I'm an athlete who was in great shape pre-op. Being

>self-employed I need to go back to work tomorrow. I thought by now I'd be

>using one

>crutch or a cane. " The best laid plans of mice and men... "

> Well I got that off my chest. I was glad to see n's post on

>Sunday

>reminding me what a debilitating experience we've been through and how

>we're

>all not going to heal so quickly. I guess I need patience.

>

>Tom in San Fran.

>Mont C+ Oct 27th 03

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Tom, fear not. I am at 3 months this wek, and it still hurts to walk a quarter

mile. Many on this site have warned about comparisons with others' progress.

If I compared myself to Des, for instance, I'd probably curl up and die. On the

other hand, there are some who have not done as well as I have....Being a former

athlete, I predict that you will bounce back pretty fast. I was too, but not

for quite awhile because of the severe pain of the ol' hip. At least now I know

I will only get better, not worse, as was my only outlook before surgery.

All the best, we're on your side.

Sharry

RBHR De Smet 27/08/2003

Frustrated at 4 weeks..

Yesterday made 4 weeks from my surgery with Dr. Mont. I expected to be much

farther along than I am. I read posts by people who've had bi-laterals and at

4

weeks are using a cane. I still can only walk around the block before my leg

starts hurting. That's less than a 1/4 mile. I'm still on 2 crutches. My

groin area is sore when I walk and continues afterwards. And then the area

under

the scar starts. I'm an athlete who was in great shape pre-op. Being

self-employed I need to go back to work tomorrow. I thought by now I'd be

using one

crutch or a cane. " The best laid plans of mice and men... "

Well I got that off my chest. I was glad to see n's post on Sunday

reminding me what a debilitating experience we've been through and how we're

all not going to heal so quickly. I guess I need patience.

Tom in San Fran.

Mont C+ Oct 27th 03

[Guest guest]

Tom, fear not. I am at 3 months this wek, and it still hurts to walk a quarter

mile. Many on this site have warned about comparisons with others' progress.

If I compared myself to Des, for instance, I'd probably curl up and die. On the

other hand, there are some who have not done as well as I have....Being a former

athlete, I predict that you will bounce back pretty fast. I was too, but not

for quite awhile because of the severe pain of the ol' hip. At least now I know

I will only get better, not worse, as was my only outlook before surgery.

All the best, we're on your side.

Sharry

RBHR De Smet 27/08/2003

Frustrated at 4 weeks..

Yesterday made 4 weeks from my surgery with Dr. Mont. I expected to be much

farther along than I am. I read posts by people who've had bi-laterals and at

4

weeks are using a cane. I still can only walk around the block before my leg

starts hurting. That's less than a 1/4 mile. I'm still on 2 crutches. My

groin area is sore when I walk and continues afterwards. And then the area

under

the scar starts. I'm an athlete who was in great shape pre-op. Being

self-employed I need to go back to work tomorrow. I thought by now I'd be

using one

crutch or a cane. " The best laid plans of mice and men... "

Well I got that off my chest. I was glad to see n's post on Sunday

reminding me what a debilitating experience we've been through and how we're

all not going to heal so quickly. I guess I need patience.

Tom in San Fran.

Mont C+ Oct 27th 03

[Guest guest]

Tom,

l truely sympatise with you. Have you followed a protocolar hip

surgery physical therapy treatment after you return home. l follow

one, the physiatrist insisted that l follow THR therapy post op. l

was in very bad shape and l expected what l read on this board that l

would be recuparating very quickly. My first two weeks of therapy

were very painfull after a very nasty surgery which l was transfused

three units of blood. l would have stop, but l could not because l

was doing it at work and my insurance would void.

l thought that l would recuparate very easily because l had

resurfacing. lt was the other way around. l was doing two and half

hour of physiotherapy from 8.30 to 11.00am, then two hours from 14;00

to 16.00pm, and then from 19.00pm to 20.30 pm. l have to strenght my

reurface hip and my old hip as well. Today l do not limp any more, l

walk an hour and walk up the stairs to the tenth floor without any

pain, but l'm still dedicating to this therapy, and l would have to

do so through somewhere in march being forced by my os, my mortage

insurance, my salary insurance at work to do so till six months post

op. l was told that my condition requires that, l was told do that if

l do not comply l run the risk my insurance and employer will close

my case. l was very frustrated.

l have never read on this board anyone being requested to

follow a post op strick strict like that adapted to a specific

personal physical condition to be apt to return to work. l was

bittered because l thought l did not deserved that and l carried my

bitterness until six weeks post op. l thought it was abusive. Now l

can do any activity ... , according that l follow my therapy. We read

``see what a surface can do``, and not should do or not to do

according to his personal condition.

My Os explained this clearly to me that l would have to

follow a very incitative physical therapy under a constant

supervision of an adapted physical therapy up to six months. l was

told that as l was stopped working an whole year to prevent

degeneration of my femoral head, the post op therapy is allinged in

this continuity when it is considered that my career and my massive

mortage payment will end in 20 years.

l think it is about time that we receice appropriate post

surgery physical evaluation if we need treatment to our specific

condition. l know one guy who was self employed who was resurfaced by

my OS never received any physiotherapy treatment and has a very tough

time to do his day. All this because he had no health insurance. l

wish that one day each individual having resurfacing could have the

possibility to take care of his rehabilitation as he did his

preparation for his surgery in order to take the most appropriate

required treatment.

Let us take an example about the condition of our mothers 30

years ago. Mopthers lost their job 30 years ago after they give

birth. This is no longer possible today. At work they have now up to

2 years at 75% of their salary and their seniority is cumulating as

they would work. l know some they have three kids in row. l thought

this was awful. Today people militate, and l'm one of them that a

family with three childs or more sould not pay income tax for woman

who choose not to return to work. Studies show that large families

spend their revenue in buying goods that create job.

Tom take a look with a trusted rehabilitation professional

what is best, available and affordable for your personal physical

condition.

Best regards,

c+ 8/9/2003.

> Yesterday made 4 weeks from my surgery with Dr. Mont. I expected to

be much

> farther along than I am. I read posts by people who've had bi-

laterals and at 4

> weeks are using a cane. I still can only walk around the block

before my leg

> starts hurting. That's less than a 1/4 mile. I'm still on 2

crutches. My

> groin area is sore when I walk and continues afterwards. And then

the area under

> the scar starts. I'm an athlete who was in great shape pre-op.

Being

> self-employed I need to go back to work tomorrow. I thought by now

I'd be using one

> crutch or a cane. " The best laid plans of mice and men... "

> Well I got that off my chest. I was glad to see n's post

on Sunday

> reminding me what a debilitating experience we've been through and

how we're

> all not going to heal so quickly. I guess I need patience.

>

> Tom in San Fran.

> Mont C+ Oct 27th 03

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Tom,

Up untill about 8 months pre-op I was still doing 200+ mi.per week of

hard road and mt. bike riding. Then the pain just got too bad. I

thought that being in good shape going in to the surgery would

translate into shorter recovery but, that was not the case.

*At 4 weeks I was still swollen and sore. No way was I even thinking

about going to the cane.

*At 6.5 weeks I was able to go to the cane but was fighting my knee

to chest flexibility and groin, psoas issues.

*At 10 weeks I finally was back on the bike but had to sit way

upright. (this is much slower than cyclist friend who had enough

ROM to get back on the bike at 5 weeks.)

To this day (1.5 years) I still fight soreness after hard training. A

small price to pay to get rid of the bone on bone torture. Knee to

chest flexibility is now at about 95% of norm.

Sugestion;

Believe in you body's ability to sort things out and let it do it's

thing. Stretch,stretch,stretch... I don't do a " routine " rather I do

little stretches all day long.Here there everywear. Be creative.

Find a quality massage therapist that can help you do resistance

stretching.

Get in the pool and do easy circular motions to help the muscles

loosen and learn new movement.

In my case, I started seeing rapid improvement at 12 weeks.

Hope this helps,

R-c+ 5/02 Schmalzried

> Yesterday made 4 weeks from my surgery with Dr. Mont. I expected to

be much

> farther along than I am. I read posts by people who've had bi-

laterals and at 4

> weeks are using a cane. I still can only walk around the block

before my leg

> starts hurting. That's less than a 1/4 mile. I'm still on 2

crutches. My

> groin area is sore when I walk and continues afterwards. And then

the area under

> the scar starts. I'm an athlete who was in great shape pre-op.

Being

> self-employed I need to go back to work tomorrow. I thought by now

I'd be using one

> crutch or a cane. " The best laid plans of mice and men... "

> Well I got that off my chest. I was glad to see n's post

on Sunday

> reminding me what a debilitating experience we've been through and

how we're

> all not going to heal so quickly. I guess I need patience.

>

> Tom in San Fran.

> Mont C+ Oct 27th 03

>

>

>