New Hip Progress

[fj1289]

Crap luck!  Good luck for getting a close date

[Millietant]

Yeah, I was all marked up in big black arrows and was sat in the paper underpants and a backless gown in the ante room for almost 2 hours before they finally decided to call my surgery off. The previous operation was still going on, three hours after the expected completion time, so I guess I was the lucky one.

I hope it all ended well for her !!

What I did learn in my 9 hrs in the hospital is that the facilities are first class, the staff are extremely friendly and efficient and the food is great 

[big r]

Sold my bike because my knees were so bad I had to plan my stops. If I rode for more than an hour they would seize up an I couldn't get my feet off the pegs quick enough, almost went over more than once. Both knees replaced and now kicking myself for selling. Walking 6 miles a day now where I could hardly do a block before. Gonna get another bike in the near future just not sure what. They tell me hips are a lot quicker healing than knees. Take care after the surgery and make sure you do all the exercises they give you. Good vibes be with you.

[Millietant]

Thanks big r - I've got a home gym set up with a cross trainer, spin bike, benches, mats, dumbbells & kettle-bells, so I think I'm set for anything they're gonna throw at me.

I'll be giving it everything to get back right and riding as soon as practical 

[Millietant]

So, surgery is now re-confirmed for 14th March......so I'm back in isolation from 10th March and then 3 months on crutches after the op and 6 months to riding a bike again (without high risk of hip dislocation)........

I see that as a challenge to beat 

[red]

So, surgery is now re-confirmed for 14th March......so I'm back in isolation from 10th March and then 3 months on crutches after the op and 6 months to riding a bike again (without high risk of hip dislocation)........I see that as a challenge to beat

Millietant,

Indeed it will be a challenge.  If you might think you may need to ride too soon, I would suggest briefly owning a Burgman (or similar) strong scooter until you are bike-ready again.  Also, I want to put in a plug for the Physical Therapy work they will give you, along the way.  Don't try to rush these things too soon, and don't cut it short too soon, either.  The work is a beast, but it pays off well, when you are healed.  D.A.M.H.I.K.  Check the reputations of your "help" before you get involved with them.
Best Wishes.

[Millietant]

Cheers Red,

Apparently I'm quite young for the type of surgery they're performing and a lot fitter than the people they usually deal with, so I'm hoping that will work in my favour.

I'm not planning on disobeying instructions, but I will be making sure I do as much as I'm allowed to do. As my surgery and physio treatment are being done in our National Health Service, so I can't pick and choose who helps me (but at least it's costing me nothing), but I did work it so that the private consultant surgeon I had being seeing before I had my surgery date, is the one who is doing my surgery with the NHS. He's acknowledged as a leader in the field in the UK for this type of surgery and he has already recommended (when I saw him privately) that I go with the NHS physio team. I'm also VERY fortunate that my local NHS hospital is a specialist Hip and Knee centre - so I've got my fingers crossed everything goes well.

If not, we are already using a highly recommended Physiotherapy Team to deal with my son's FND. They were researched and checked out by a friend who is a sports physio with a local ex Premier League soccer team and if things don't go well with the NHS team, I have them as a back-up.

That's good advice about a Burgman - i have a friend with 2 (a 650 and a 400) and I'm sure I could borrow one if need be - I hadn't really thought about that until you mentioned it.

[Millietant]

NEW HIP IS IN !!!!!!  

Still stuck in bed, but treatment is great and I should be out at home by the weekend, all being well, to start my recovery.

According to the surgeon, it was the most deformed hip they've seen since they started this procedure. They even kept what they'd cut out, to show me how bad it was.

It looked like what the butcher gives us for the dog and I asked if I could take it home for him - I got some strange looks from the nurses, but the surgeon said no, they were keeping it  

Let the rehab begin  

[fj1289]

Awesome news!  Heal well and heal fast!

[aviationfred]

Wishing you a swift and speedy recovery.


Fred

[Millietant]

Thanks guys 

[ribbert]

NEW HIP IS IN !!!!!!  

Excellent news Dean, you won't know yourself with a new swingarm and bearings.

Noel

[krusty]

NEW HIP IS IN !!!!!!  

Still stuck in bed, but treatment is great and I should be out at home by the weekend, all being well, to start my recovery.

According to the surgeon, it was the most deformed hip they've seen since they started this procedure. They even kept what they'd cut out, to show me how bad it was.

It looked like what the butcher gives us for the dog and I asked if I could take it home for him - I got some strange looks from the nurses, but the surgeon said no, they were keeping it  

Let the rehab begin  

Wow. Reduced to dog food. One step short of Soilent Green, eh?

[Millietant]

Ha ha, that's what Liz said  

As an update, still in hospital bed. I can get out of bed and make it the 3m-4m to the bathroom and can get back to the bed, but can't get my operated leg back onto the bed, or shuffle it across the covers to the jiggle.

Apparently, I look like bambi only stilts   when I actually use the crutches, but I'm happy I've progressed from the zimmer frame.

The extra leg length they've added is playing havoc with my lower back when I do try to walk, but that won't go away for quite a while - it just needs pain killers and physio.

Haven't tried steps/stairs yet with the crutches, but if I can manage them today, I should be going home. Luckily we've had time to prepare the house, so it should be OK, and I've using crutches on the stairs for a while now so as long as I haven't been using the wrong technique, all should be good.

I'll post up later today if I manage to get home  

[Millietant]

We'll, I've been home for a couple of days now, still in bed-rest, apart from trips to the bathroom which I'm making on my crutches.

I've had a couple of minor mishaps (got my meds wrong once and tried moving in my sleep - now ha cases me to wake up instantly !!!!!) but therwise everything is going well. I'm still having trouble getting used to the longer left leg, which just feels really weird when I try to have both legs straight whilst standing with my crutches.

I now share the house with "Nurse Elizabeth" rather than "my wife Liz", but I guess the extra discipline is required due to the extra medication. As well as my continuing max allowable dose of Gabapentin, I'm also having regular Morphine and extra Paacetamol, with a few other pills, an oral suspension and a daily injection.

Nurse Elizabeth seems to get a strange sadistic grin just as she plunges the needle into me each time !!

So in summary - all is going to plan....I'm on bed rest for another two weeks before my surgery dressing removal and wound check up. If all is well, I'll then start hospital out-patient physiotherapy. Still can't see me being allowed to get back into the garage for quite a while yet though.

I hope you guys keep feeding in the trip stories and photo's - I've likely got 4-6 months on my backside, so will be relying on you for my motivation and entertainment