Re: Metal on Metal

[Guest guest]

More real life experiences with M-o-M resurfacing:

My surgery was 3/24/04 (Dr. Gross at Lexington Medical Center in West

Columbia, SC). I had Legg-Calve-Perthes at age 11. I am 47 and my

hip had been deteriorating and getting more painful since about age

42. I was down to being able to walk 1 block from the garage to my

office in the morning and one block in the evening. I would then come

home and go to bed - hoping I could get some sleep if the aching would

subside.

I had an epidural and something else that pretty much knocked me out.

Surgery was a little less than 2 hours. Arrived in my hospital room,

epidural was left in for a day after surgery so I had no pain. I had

the compression booties on both legs, periodically inflating to keep

the blood circulating. These were kept on (or put back on) until my

release. I also had a cold pack ( " Polar Care " ) circulating ice cold

water over the incision are. This was also kept on until my release.

I had an IV to rehydrate me and was periodically given an IV

antibiotic.

They got me out of bed with the assistance of a walker on day 2 - I

still had the epidural in so I was still pretty numb and could not

move very far - I got into a reclining chair for a few hours. Later

that day the epidural was taken out (actually by accident while I was

getting back into bed). I was given the option of a self-dosing pump

or just switching to the oral medication (Vicodin). As the oral

medication is what they would give me upon release, I opted for that

route. By that evening, all feeling had returned to both legs and I

felt I had pretty good muscle control of both legs.

Day 3: They took the cather out (yuck). That didn't really hurt but

it's a sensation I will not soon forget. Gave me the last antibiotic

and took the IV out. I was able to walk using 2 crutches in the hall.

Also took a shower after putting Tegaderm Plus (waterproof) bandage

on. Physical Therapy came by to show me leg exercises to do.

Day 4 PT came by early to make sure I was OK with using crutches on

stairs (which I was). I was released about 9:30 AM (I could have been

released the evening before but my wife had an 8 hour drive ahead and

we didn't want to start out in the evening). I took a Vicodin for the

road. Sitting in the van was a bit uncomfortable - we stopped twice

on the way back to Virginia. That night I took another Vicodin and

stayed up all night obsessing. That was the last Vicodin.

Week 1 at home: Used 2 crutches to get around. Took a couple of walks

up and down the street (a block or two) when it wasn't raining. Used

OTC Tylenol for pain (very little pain). Broke out in a rash/hives

which turned out to be an allergic reaction to Celebrex. Stopped

Celebrex after consultation with my family doctor and Lee Webb. Self

injecting Fragmin (blood thinner) for first 10 days after release.

Very uncomfortable sleeping - mostly napped in reclining chair.

Showered every day using Tegaderm Plus bandages over incision. After

showering, painted with Betadine and put a fresh bandage on.

Week 2 at home: Switched to just using 1 crutch. Was able to walk

around the block several times this week after the monsoon rains

ended. Finished up the Fragmin started using low dose (81 mg)

aspirin. Using OTC Tylenol or OTC Motrin for pain. Sleeping a little

better but still frustrated by only being able to sleep on back or

unoperated side. By end of week I switch to using cane instead of

crutch. By end of week was able to shower without Tegaderm Plus

bandage - still supposed to avoid soaking (baths).

Week 3 at home: Taking progressively longer walks using just the cane.

Tape strips have mostly fallen off the incision. Incision looks to

be almost healed - very little redness. No longer putting bandages on

it - the bandages are proving more uncomfortable than the incision.

Towards the end of this week I was finally able to roll over onto the

operated side. I couldn't sleep on that side but it gave me an option

for shifting my weight. Took one walk of 2 miles length. Hives have

pretty much gone away but skin still itches where the worst of it was.

Week 4: Trying to walk at least 2 miles every day. Now walking

around the house without the cane - still taking cane on longer walks

for when I get a little tired. Not leaning on it very much. I can

feel the calouses on my palm starting to go away. Took subway

downtown and went to office - about 3 miles walking round-trip. Tired

but no serious pain. Taking a Motrin before my long walks. Able to

roll onto the operated side and sleep on it for short periods (Yes!).

Finally starting to sleep through the whole night (my wife is

rejoicing). Rubbing the scar regularly - the ridge seems to be

receeding. Drove the car for the first time since surgery - OUCH!

Both sides of my right knee hurt driving - I guess my knee is not used

to the twisting action. Also found certain sitting positions in the

car I was sitting on a nerve (that's my diagnoses, haven't talked to

Lee or Dr. Gross about it yet) - that caused shooting pain down to my

ankle. Was able to move seat and my position to relieve that pain.

Also found out I didn't want to carry my wallet in the right rear

pocket as I had done before - it rides right over the incision and

hurts when I sit.

Week 5: I am trying to walk more without the cane but I find I tire

easily and start limping. I don't want to get back into the habit of

limping so I go back to the can as soon as I notice the limp. Not

using the cane at all around the house. Sleeping very well. Walked

to a nearby shopping center that required negotiating a steep, long

hill. Tiring but no pain. About 2.5 miles round-trip.

Going back to see Lee and Dr. Gross next week - that will be week 6.

My overall impressions - I have been amazed at how little pain there

has been (other than the pain in my knee when driving). In the

hospital they used the epidural, a pain pump that pumped a local right

into the incision area, and a cold pack ( " Polar Pack " ), and I could

get oral pain medication on request. This combination kept the pain

and swelling to a minimum.

I have been pleasantly surprised at how fast I could get back to basic

activities - walking around, doing things around the house. I have

not rushed to get back to work because I have the leave and I can do a

lot of work from home on my laptop (which I have been doing since

getting back from the hospital).

I still feel like I am a bit weak - in terms of leg muscle strength.

I can't wait for Dr. Gross to give me the OK to go back to the gym.

At just over 5 weeks since surgery, I am now more mobile and in less

pain than I was prior to surgery. So far I am very happy with the

procedure, my progress and the doctors. I liked the fact that Dr.

Gross allowed me to determine how much weight to bear on the new joint

- just telling me to listen to my body. I didn't have any staples -

the tape strips fall off on their own. I was able to shower every day

thanks to the supply of Tegaderm Plus bandages the hospital gave me.

And I didn't have to wear any TEDS up and down the street in front of

my neighbors (who already think I'm pretty strange).

The only real negative side of the experience was breaking out in

hives. Celebrex is Sulfa based and apparently I am allergic to Sulfa

compounds. I didn't know that so I can't fault anyone. After the

fact I found out my nephew had also had a similar reaction to a Sulfa

compound.