I'm 45 years old and been a competitive track athlete and road runner since my school days. I developed Osteoarthritis of the right hip about ten years ago, but saying that doctors believed that it was my back at first. A scan about 4 years ago proved it was my hip. The cartilage was gone that much I had bone rubbing on bone. Despite pain I carried on running until two years ago I had to pull up in two separate races the Nottingham and Bridlington halfs. And the most annoying thing was not being able to put my sock on!!! Anyway, I went and had my hip resurfaced this year 2nd January 2007 at Chapel Allerton hospital, Leeds, UK, by Mr. Emerton. I went for epidural and a date rape drug to knock me out! Yes a date rape drug! I woke up and couldn’t remember a thing. I didn’t have a hang over or feel sick it was great.
As for pain I have no osteo pain that was gone after the operation. I do ache from day to day, but that’s muscle just repairing all the time.
I do get twinges of pain within the scar area and down in my leg. This is not severe and will go away as things heal.
Before you read the rest of this, please listen to your doctor and physio's. Read what text they give you on, what you can do and what you can’t do after your operation especially for the first six weeks. You will see below I break their rules! And this is only because I’m an athlete. And I only weigh 65kg at 5 foot 8 inches high. Your post op progress depends on how fit you are when you go in for the op.
Oh and positive thinking too!
Here is my progress report from 2nd Jan till now 16th March 2007 (10 WEEKS)
Tue 2nd Jan: Operation / Wed 3rd out of bed and on two crutches walking on the ward. / Friday 5th Out of hospital, go home Monday 8th Jan drove my car (automatic) / Friday 12th Jan walked on two crutches 1.5 miles. / Sunday 14th walking with one crutch.
Monday 15th walking indoors without crutches. / Tue 16th Jan went to my local Gym, health club and did exercises and swimming!
Wednesday 17th had my first bath at home. / Monday 22nd Jan off crutches for good, not using a stick. / Saturday 3rd Feb went into the countryside and walked 2.5 miles. / Monday 12th Feb started running on the treadmill at gym! / Friday 16th Feb put my sock on myself for the first time in a year or two. / Tue 20th Feb ran 3 miles on the treadmill. /
Thursday 15th March: Ran 2 miles on the indoor track with split times per mile at, 7min: 58secs & 7min: 26secs
Next week I'm running outside on grass and hopefully we should be running between 4 and 6 miles. Once I get up to 6 miles I can think about doing a 10k race. I don’t expect to race as fast as I did (6 min miling) but just been able to run again is fantastic!
Two years back I thought my running days where over.
Hip resurfacing has given me my life back, I recommend Hip resurfacing to anyone with Osteoarthritis of the hip.
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therer are at least two people who will need to read this
Nigel Coe
Ironwolf
Thanks for telling us your story. Your experience should be tremendously helpful and encouraging to the many runners who are starting to get a bit of wear and tear in their joints.
I think you've hit the nail in the head with your comment on post op recovery depending on pre op fitness - it makes a massive difference to recovery (and also to how much pain you have afterwards, IMO!)
Two main 'exercises' that have played a big part in my recovery are 'Running in water'in the pool and the 'Cross trainer' (ski machine)in the gym. Doing these has built up muscle and stamina. I started doing these excersises 10 days after my operation. With help from my health club they have give me an excersise routine to do in the gym.Im working on my core muscles and legs. It's important to wake up several muscles after the operation. These are the gluteus minimus and Gluteus medius, wish can go to sleep. Mine are slowly waking up!
The main thing with recovery and excersise is to 'LISTEN TO YOUR BODY'.
I'm going out for my first outdoors run tomorrow (sun 18th March). It's going to be on grass. It's to early to run on hard ground just yet. Once I'm sure I have a nice bit of strong muscle in my legs then I will do a little bit on road. I think the main thing will be to train 80 to 90% off road on grass and dirt tracks. Let you know how my first outdoor run goes.
My surgeon has told me this joint will last me a life time despite me carry on running. Natural body fluids lubricate between the joint. The metals they use now have come on a long way since the 70's.This is a good site for anyone wanting info on Resurfacing:http://www.mcminncentre.co.uk/
The Full hip replacement tends to wear down.
The resurfacing procedure is may for 'high mileage'!!! lol
I'm an ameteur runner (don't like the term 'fun runner') who had a history of serious hip degeneration problems bought on by a fracture that never healed properly when I was 14. I'm 39 now and 4 years ago the hip joint had degenerated so much I had a hip resurfacing op. That was in February 2003.
Physio progressed well so I entered a Race for Life in the July of 2003. Walked most of the course that year but was hooked from then on. Have done loads of different 5 and 10k races for charity. Never did much sport before the op so my improved fitness has been very noticeable!
Good luck with the 10k when you get to that stage, Runagain, my next one is in May. I agree with you and would recommend the hip resurfacing to anyone with Osteoarthritis of the hip.
Ness
I was suppose to run outside today for the first time but the weather is terrible (Snow blizzards!) So I decided to just run 2 mile on the indoor track did it in a comfortable 14 mins 38 secs. So pleased with that. One thing I have done is to change my running method from long strides to shorter and faster strides. This means less impact, I'm sort of shuffling! lol. I know another chap that does this and he runs Sub 1:25 halfs and 36 for 10K's. He runs like that because his knees are very bad. It's like watching that cartoon ,Road Runner' Mi Mi! LOL. But it works.
I had mine done on the NHS. I Saw the specialist / surgeon (Mr Emerton)in October 2006 and had the operation 2nd jan 2007!!! How is that for speed! However, I did wait months and months for the first few referals to the specailst. first time I went I was told to stop running call it a day! 2nd visit I was told ok do running but go steady. After 3rd visit and putting my case to him how suitable I was for this op and that I would benefit from it, he decided I could have the op.
As for details about the procedure you can watch a graphic video of an operation. Mr Emerton does the op slightly differantly, I think he uses less cement on the joint.
If you go to this site and click on VIDEO's then Click on 'MIRAH 2004' then chose your internet speed and watch! It is graphic, but don't be put off! The only draw back is you are left with a biggish scar. Mine is 8 inches but shorts do just cover it up. Do you run near the Chevin? I'm up in Yeadon.
If you go private it cost about £12,000! Mr Emerton does do private surgery I believe.
Anymore questions please ask.
http://www.mcminncentre.co.uk/flash/
I started running in the July 2003, so about 5 months after my op. I started with a run-walk program that was advised on the Cancer Research “Race for Life” website. Like you I started running on grass: Went to a local park that had nice grassy areas to run on.
Because my right leg was 3cm shorter than my left one for many years prior to the op I had developed some pelvis deformity. My muscles are (even now!) quite weak and so my stride length is quite short. Am thinking about going back to my physio to get advice about stretching/exercises cos would really like to be able to run a 10k in under 50 minutes. 54 is my best so far so have a very long way to go!
Martin,
When I went to my consultant in the midlands in January 03 he told me there was a 12 month waiting list. Was suffering so much decided to pay for my op and got it done in the first week in Feb that year at the Nuffield at Leamington Spa. It cost about £9 ½ K. Worth it though!
I work as a Teacher in a Special School so needed to be mobile to carry on doing my job. When it got to the stage when I couldn't walk without a stick & I got knocked over a couple of times in the corridor (not deliberately, accidentally when kids had temper tantrums/ran down corridors without thinking) I decided I needed my hip fixing before I lost my job!
Getting out of bed was bad too, very stiff and not able to put my sock on. Only in my 40's I felt like a 80 year old. social things to like you say Martin too. Not being able to go on long walks with friends and family, not being able to kick a football with my lad. And work, well it affected badly. I became very moody, depressed and just couldnt cope with any problems and the running up and down stairs was just unbearable. So I left work. And then I started drinking beer and even more depressed. The most depressing thing was watching other runners runing past my front window! And reading online my friends race results!
I understand what your going through martin.
It's going to be such a great day for me when I do my 1st 10k this year.
Ness3: 5 months that great! Lets see if i can do a 10k within 5 months.
Do four laps of the local beer garden up there.lol
Just dont drink too much beer! Have a good weekend. I'm not doing anything for a week now as in morning I back in hospital!! Don't worry nothing to do with my hip. I'm having a pollip removed from inside my nose and all my sinus tubes cleaned and enlarged.
I'm in total metltdown mode. Happens when you get in to your 40's I think. lol
Now this operation is more painfull that the hip op I know as I had it done some years back.
Hey tell ya what I might consider doing the three peaks next year. (running) Something to aim for. Anyway Im off now. Catch you maybe later in the week, if my op goes ok!
take care.
I've found out about another guy who's had resurfacing: Cory Foulk. See http://www.birminghamhipresurfacing.com/patientstories/cory_foulk.cfm. He did a marathon three and a half weeks after surgury and an ironman 7 months after!
I have just come out of hospital from a nose and sinus op today and told not to run or swim for 10 days or i'll have lots of nose bleeds! So thats put my shedule back now.
great news that is! Good luck with your appointment. Mr Emerton is a great guy and surgeon ofcourse. Let him know my progress for me please, if you get chance!
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My progress to date three months after my hip-op:
I have just recovered from my sinus and nose operations, been out of action since my last posting.
BUT... Yesturday 'Monday 2nd April' I ran two mile outside on grass for the first time since my hip-op on Jan 2nd. Then after being happy with that two miler I decided to run tonight 'Tue 4th April' to run for the first time on the pavement and road! I ran steady and completed 'Four mile' in 36 mins. Average speed 9 minute mileing. I ran the first mile in 8mins 14secs, but realised that was just too fast for me. I felt sore and aching when I got home. I have taken some pain killers to help. It's just a case of waiting till tomorrow to see if It's still sore. If it is then I will cut the speed down or even distance. Infact go back to just off road. It was just really a tester tonight. Im not going to do anything above that this week, maybe some training in the gym.
Good going I think for 3 months in and a 4 miler in 36 mins. Im very pleased with my own progress, FEEL GOOD!LOL
Stay tuned!