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9/14/2015
Totally Hip
anterior approach
As I finally came to understand after the investigations of chapter 240B and much consternation, I needed a total hip replacement. This is my surgical team with Dr. Fred Fletcher with arms crossed. With my post op bruises and sore stretched muscles I now realize the strength needed to do all the cranking and manipulation of my legs. He is chairman of the Orthopaedic Department at Albany Medical Center but we operated at St. Peters because they have the specialized $150,000 table made for this more minimally invasive procedure.
The country's most elite Hospital for Special Surgeries in NYC has an excellent video showing this anterior approach where my incision was only about 5 inches and parallel with the leg thigh flexor muscle (rectus femoris) thus sparing them being cut resulting in a quicker recovery. The video shows exactly what takes place and was educational to know what takes place. For some it might be too squeamish. But for me knowing the muscles were not cut, I was reassured to walk and go up and down stairs the same day of surgery. Knowing the pain was not resulting in damage to tearing muscles gave me confidence to go ahead and walk 4 hours after surgery. At 6 hours post op I did stairs forward backward sideways and full step at a time.
Got released around noon the next day to home with no need of seeing ANY professional "physical therapist" thereafter. Will do exercise on my own.
Two days after surgery the cane is most convenient for getting around home and I had a photo club luncheon at my house. Drove my truck on a half mile test. "They" don't want you to drive for 4 or more weeks. Mostly it's to protect them. Since I minimized my narcotics and pretty much stopped them, I feel fine. Freedom and independence are invaluable. Vacuumed, did laundry, fed birds, watered outside plants. With chairs and things throughout the house I can get around pretty securely even without the cane.
Day 3 I drove to Colonie to have lunch with an old friend who had the hip replacement a year and a half ago but has not progressed beyond a minimal walker stage. To inspire him, probably not. If you think you are handicapped then you are. I like to think of myself as a independent semi-functional semi-adult. Drive up to photo club meeting at night.
I elected to do as much self physical therapy prior to surgery feeling that it would greatly aide my recovery if those hip muscles were worked and not atrophied as is the case when you favor the bad leg. It took eight months from the time I got my MRI images to the actual surgery so siting around while more comfortable was just going to make the outcome worse.
It has been almost 2 years since my last Turkey Trot when I noticed the bump and discomfort that wouldn't go away. But I believe it was 18 years ago, 1997, when I did the most trauma to the pelvis. Was wedged underneath my Maxima, twisted and bent my body to get leverage to torque the heavy duty adjuster nuts to set the 4 wheel alignment. There was an immediate muscle spasm and limping that led to herniated disk surgery in 2000 but I knew there was more damage. Of course, it's not that simple: your body is a result of a lifetime of various traumas.
Sure, they said this was foolish and I agreed. Had to climb the ladder a couple weeks before surgery with just the right leg dragging the left up behind. Was mentally prepared to go slow and be willing to quit at any time. Strangely, I was able to walk better afterwards. Could not mow the lawn with walk behind mower - that resulted in hardly being able to get to the mail box.
Started swimming with the good right leg, dragging the bad left behind. Eventually was able to go to full power with both and do 3/4 mile free style mode 30 times. Moderate pain, but had nothing to lose. Breast stroke with frog kick impossible. Couldn't ride Harley sold it, just the motion of picking up the left leg to shift caused too much pain. Thirty kayak events at 3 miles each was simply a way to get cardio while able to sit for an hour or two. Did some specific exercises recommended in the doctor's 48 page pamphlet. Think the swimming was an important factor in quick recovery along with the positive attitude.
Wanted to get shots in the operating room but my cam is probably not sterile. This was in the pre-operation room with a bunch of monitoring wires. Just before Mohammad injected some knock out drops in my IV.
Security had to be called on account of my behalf. Actually, not in a bad way. He locked up some of my valuables including the camera. This was a problem getting them back as I requested them about 10am and not delivered till 4pm. I needed it to occupy my time.
This sort of gives both the inside and outside view. I did see an eagle (or vulture) circling around before they gave me back my camera. Thought the speck was a drone, but with tele it turned out to be a kite over Delmar.
It was a beautiful day and a beautiful night on the outside. Inside they brought a kidney stone guy into my room moaning all night and the nurses kept waking me for meds, then vital signs. Not so restful, but they meant well, I think. Rinny the young Indian Tech was probably the most pleasant. I noticed the scourge of bureaucracy pervading the atmosphere.
From my sixth floor ambulatory room I had the window view. It was a beautiful sunset looking south to the Blackhead Mountains of the Catskills with the separate Windham Mountain peak on the right. Hildeburgs were on the right.
The reverse angle showing my room. A nice hospital.
Bottom line: Understanding the problem is crucial. Faith in Dr. Fletcher was well founded. Pre-operation physical conditioning yields big benefits. You cannot overlook the importance of a positive outlook. If you can dream it, you can do it. All seems to be going well.
St. Peters is in the high performing class.
St. Peters keeps track of those pesky surgical sponges.
Greater Trochanter Bursitis pain following THA National Institute of Health ,corticosteroid injection
corticosteroid injection effective treatment trochanter bursitis following THA NIH
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