| | Discussion: Total Hip Replacement RR-long |
Subject: Total Hip Replacement RR-long By: Mary C.
Written on: Tuesday April 17, 2012 Message: Ha - I decided to add a bit of humor to my plight
by making this an RR (RECOVERY REPORT)just in case
any of you ever have to deal with this. About a
year ago in the fall of 2010 I began to experience
groin pain after I ran, sometimes during. I
decided to see ortho in December because I was
getting ready to run the 2011 Houston
Marathon...it was to be my 10th which put me at
Veteran's status. However, I had also committed
to IM Texas which was going to be in May 2011. I
remember my coach making the suggestion not to run
the marathon because the groin pain could possibly
be coming from my hip and maybe the running was
the least of the training I needed - to
concentrate more on the bike and swim....but
stubborn I am, and with my love to run, I decided
to tackle the marathon anyway but do it slowly
with a 4/1 like I planned to run/walk in the IM.
My ortho (doesn't do hips) felt it was more of an
adductor/groin pull and treated me as
such...stretching and PT. I managed all the
training for the IM - possibly more miles than I
really needed. I got through that race and
crossed the finish line very tired and a little
sore - groin pain always there but nothing I could
not work through. I did a few races over the
summer but then late Sept, I did an oly distance.
The water was choppy and being the slow swimmer I
am I had to breast stroke a lot to keep myself
from drifting and I could feel the pain in my
groin and also my hip. The bike was windy so
difficult and the run was up and down some high
school football stadium ramps, lots of turns etc.
I placed in my age group, had a great time after
race. The next day I was limping and my right side
felt like it was being attacked. This was the
beginning of many doctor visits, many tests,
xrays, mri and a major decision. I had 3
injections of different potions, lots of
supplements, anti inflammatories, etc... one of
the injections (sporatz) worked like a miracle and
I was able to muscle through by walking my 11th
Houston Marathon (16 mar in total)...not my
smartest decision. After end of Jan, I began to
experience more pain, they would not give me
another injection, tried running but finally had
to give it up - not worth the 17 min miles and the
compromising way I was allowing my body to
"get through it". I went for a couple
of long bike rides but kicking my leg over the
bike got harder and harder. I did set my trainer
up in my bedroom w/ my old bike which is easier to
get on and off. I swam a lot - which of course
made my shoulder begin to hurt...I even bought a
water proof shuffle I pod to help me get through
the laps. Eventually I was kicking with my left
leg only. I withdrew from Galveston 70.3, and of
course have not done any races since I had to
switch to the Aqua Bike of the Oil Man 70.3 in
November where I did not even make the bike cut
off due to mechanical challenges. After 4 doctors
and much research, I decided on Dr. Stefan
Kruezer, Memorial Bone and Joint, who specializes
in the Minimally Invasive Anterior Approach to
total hip replacement. This approach is quite
different than the traditional approach of side or
posterior as there are not muscles or tendons cut,
the incision is 4 inches in the front of the hip,
the device made of ceramic and titanium is placed
through guided xray so there is minimal invasion.
The recovery time is cut in half. My surgery was
April 9th. I did have a reaction to meds in the
hospital and as a result contracted a bit of
walking pneumonia which made my hospital stay and
extra day. I got home last Thursday, April 12 and
am getting stronger with each day. I am using a
walker (pretty fast with it, if I don't way so
myself) and am being very cautious and patient. I
have taken 3 weeks off work so plan on returning
to my high school counselor job my May 1. My
short term goal is go walk and get stronger, PT.
My long term goal is to eventually take race
walking lessons and walk the Houston Marathon next
Jan. I also plan on more strength training - s
something I ignored during the last couple of
years...more stretching and true cross training.
I can begin swimming when the incision site is
healed and biking in 6 to 8 weeks for short
distances. With the anterior approach there are
really no restrictions which is another of many
reasons to go with this approach. The one thing
they discourage if I want my hip to last the full
20 years is not to run or do any impact - some
people jog 3 miles a couple of times a week. I
will most likely go back to sprints and walk the
runs. As much as I miss running, I miss walking
like a normal person and not being in constant
pain, limping - quality of life was going. Just
as an aside, I had my surgery originally scheduled
for June 11 after school let out, but after my
trip to New York City over Spring break to visit
my daughter, I knew I could not wait that long. I
had to take cabs every where and was in constant
pain...could not sit, sleep, walk - it was
becoming very annoying. I moved it up to April
with the encouragement of my work buddies.
Between my work friends, my church friends and my
training friends, I have not wanted for anything.
I have had such a wonderful outpouring of cards,
flowers, meals, texts, calls and even a maid
service - I am sure I made the right decision.
Yes, my lifestyle will change but isn't that what
this is all about? Aren't we supposed to learn
from our mistakes, take pride in our
accomplishments and if things need to be tweaked
along the way we learn something valuable about
ourselves and we grow. I had to grieve my loss of
running and I have had to decide that my image is
not tied to my races. I began my work out journey
back in the 80's when aerobic dance became the
rage, worked for a health club as a
trainer/instructor for 17 years and in that time
fell in love with competing...ran my first
marathon in 1990 and my first tri in 1993. I have
many years of enjoyment from this sport. I am 62
years old and I am so grateful for my history. I
still visit this site to check in on all of you
and read different posts. I guess I will live
vicariously through you for a while. If anyone
has to face total hip replacement in their future
please don't hesitate to contact me. It is still
surreal to think I have had this done but I am
stoked to challenge this head on. Have fun but
race smart and don't ignore injury!
My
surgeon was interviewed last week on one of our
local channels about his unique approach...see
link below.
http://www.click2houston.com/news/
Hip-replacements-heal-faster-with-new-approach/-/1
735978/10711070/-/mwpn1sz/-/index.html | Subject: RE: Total Hip Replacement RR-long By: John R.
Written on: Tuesday April 17, 2012 Message: Thanks for sharing Mary. I wish you a speedy
recovery !
Unfortunately, i am in a similar
boat... putting off my next visit to the Ortho
until after IMLP.
I'm only 42 and i feel
that's a little early in life for a full
replacement so after LP i'll be starting my
research to see what other options i have. If a
replacement is warranted, i will definitely look
for someone who uses this technique. | Subject: RE: Total Hip Replacement RR-long By: John D .
Written on: Tuesday April 17, 2012 Message: Mary, Thanks for sharing that with us. I have a
friend who was a marathon runner, a dam good one,
he had hip surgery and does not run now. He still
swim,s and bike,s with us. He is just as capable
on the bike as he always was... He enjoys himself,
races the odd swim/bike portion of a race. In
fact in my neck of the woods there is an ironman
race this July 1st, You can race, the
ironman(full distance) (full swim, full bike, half
marathon) or the aqua, (swim/bike). The challenge
will still be there for you.. Heal and search for
this type of race. Encourage your local races to
do an Aqua so people in your situation have a race
to look forward to. Really it is only giving you
a time and credit for an accomplishment.... | Subject: RE: Total Hip Replacement RR-long By: Brad H.
Written on: Tuesday April 17, 2012 Message: Thanks, Mary. I'm sorry to hear that you have to
give up running, but I hope you are able to resume
swimming and biking and that you will continue to
enjoy a healthy lifestyle. My dad had to give up
running in his 60's, but he kept doing walking and
swimming, and is still going strong at 82. If I
have to stop running at some point, it will
probably be my knees that force the issue, though
I hope I can keep going quite a few more
years.
Good luck with learning to
race-walk! I have seen people doing it at speeds
that I wish I could average for IM run splits.
I'm sure it is great exercise, and something that
you can do almost anywhere.
| Subject: RE: Total Hip Replacement RR-long By: Teri d.
Written on: Tuesday April 17, 2012 Message: You're starting a new chapter of your life and
there is much waiting for you. You will get
stronger and learn new things about yourself in
the process. My husband had hip resurfacing done
at the end of February and is now walking 4+ miles
and returning to cycling. Have patience; you'll
be back out there, just in a different way. Heal
quickly! Hugs to you.:-) | Subject: RE: Total Hip Replacement RR-long By: barbara g.
Written on: Wednesday April 18, 2012 Message: Mary, I have total faith that you will be one of
those speed walkers that leaves me in the dust in
our local 5k and 5 milers. Better yet, you get to
live a full life -pain free. Enjoy the return to
strength.. | Subject: RE: Total Hip Replacement RR-long By: Suzanne C.
Written on: Wednesday April 18, 2012 Message: BG - yea, power walkers can totally kick
ass.
Mary - God speed in the healing
process. Will continue to pray for you. | Subject: RE: Total Hip Replacement RR-long By: Willard H.
Written on: Thursday April 19, 2012 Message: I hope you have a quick recovery and find more
ways to challenge yourself. I think it's great
inspiration that you have accomplished so much,
and I agree that life is about tweaking and
adjusting. | | Please log-in or join free to reply | |
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