Re: how long was your hospital stay, and how long on crutches?

[Guest guest]

Hi Sonya:

I checked into the hospital early on Wednesday morning and had the

surgery later that morning. I went home on Saturday morning but they

would have let me go Friday evening - we had a long drive home and

didn't want to drive in the dark so we waited until Saturday morning.

I used 2 crutches for about a week and then used one crutch for about

a week. Then I swtiched to just using a cane. Now I only use the

cane when I take a very long walk and I have been able to walk over 2

miles without the cane. Of course, you need to follow your doctor's

directions about how much weight to put on your new hip - it varies a

lot from one doctor to another and it depends on what the doctor has

to do in the surgery and the condition of your bones. Some people end

up having to use crutches much longer, some are walking without

crutches when they leave the hospital.

I guess you would say I am still recovering because I still am working

on building up my muscles and stretching to improve my flexibility -

it takes a long time to get back to 100%. Even though I am still

recovering, I am able to do almost everything I want to do now (I have

no desire for bungee jumping - the doctor said I should avoid that).

Best of luck to you!

RC2K Dr. Gross 3/24/04

> Hi I'm Sonya. I'm 14 and just waiting for a date for surgery. I'm

> having a metal replacement I was just wondering how long of a

hospital

> stay I should be considering? How long was your recovery time on

> crutches? Thanx again,

> Sonya

[Guest guest]

Hi Sonya:

I checked into the hospital early on Wednesday morning and had the

surgery later that morning. I went home on Saturday morning but they

would have let me go Friday evening - we had a long drive home and

didn't want to drive in the dark so we waited until Saturday morning.

I used 2 crutches for about a week and then used one crutch for about

a week. Then I swtiched to just using a cane. Now I only use the

cane when I take a very long walk and I have been able to walk over 2

miles without the cane. Of course, you need to follow your doctor's

directions about how much weight to put on your new hip - it varies a

lot from one doctor to another and it depends on what the doctor has

to do in the surgery and the condition of your bones. Some people end

up having to use crutches much longer, some are walking without

crutches when they leave the hospital.

I guess you would say I am still recovering because I still am working

on building up my muscles and stretching to improve my flexibility -

it takes a long time to get back to 100%. Even though I am still

recovering, I am able to do almost everything I want to do now (I have

no desire for bungee jumping - the doctor said I should avoid that).

Best of luck to you!

RC2K Dr. Gross 3/24/04

> Hi I'm Sonya. I'm 14 and just waiting for a date for surgery. I'm

> having a metal replacement I was just wondering how long of a

hospital

> stay I should be considering? How long was your recovery time on

> crutches? Thanx again,

> Sonya

[Guest guest]

> Hi I'm Sonya. I'm 14 and just waiting for a date for surgery. I'm

> having a metal replacement I was just wondering how long of a hospital

> stay I should be considering? How long was your recovery time on

> crutches? Thanx again,

> Sonya

Hi, Sonya. I'm 48 and had metal replacements in *both* my hips a

little over 6 weeks ago. I was in the hospital for 5 days total (

really 4 1/2: operation on Tuesday morning, released the evening of

the following Saturday). I'm not sure which country you're posting

from. I'm in the United States, and the resurfacing surgeons here are

a lot more cautious than European surgeons, because metal resurfacing

is very new here and is still not a " standard " procedure. As a result,

they tend to keep patients on crutches a little longer than surgeons

in countries where this procedure has been done longer. Most surgeons

here tell their patients to use crutches until they've had X-rays

taken at 6 weeks after the operation to see how well the bone has

grown into the replacement.

I was impatient and had my X-rays taken at a little less than 5 weeks.

My doctor (Dr. Amstutz in Los Angeles) told me it was okay for me to

stop using crutches at that point (although I'd stopped using them

around the house a few days earlier). Anyway, I had a very nice 3 mile

hike yesterday. I took one crutch with me in case my hips got tired,

but I didn't use it at all.

Steve (bilateral C+ 4/20/04, Amstutz)