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One versus the other

Posted , 18 users are following.

Ducksoup
Ducksoup

What exactly is posterior surgery?  Mine was on my side flank.  Although highly educated, I am still ignorant in regards to this.

2 likes, 29 replies

29 Replies

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  • maryboo
    maryboo Ducksoup

    Posted

    I am having my surgery tomorrow morning and my surgeon will use a posterior approach. A little posterior to the midline of my hip and a longer scar than the anterior.  He explained that he only uses this in his practice.  In the anterior approach, the surgeon has considerable less visibility to do what’s needed, and as I read only certain implants can be used with this approach. True, the muscles need to be cut,  but  it in my case they are torn anyway so he can trim them if needed.  There are a few more restrictions with the posterior, but Im OK with that if he gets the job done right the first time. The important thing to remember I think, is to be sure you have confidence in the surgeons ability and judgement, and he uses an the implant you want. There are many good surgeons who are confident with the anterior approach and I’m not dissing that.  For me, the surgeon’s experience and implant choice was my overriding decision criteria. 
    • diannesk
      diannesk maryboo

      Posted

      I agree about having confidence in the surgeon's ability. That's why I decided to have the surgery soon after it was presented to me as an option. Didn't want to continue with pain.

      Special thoughts going to you for your surgery.

    • ptolemy
      ptolemy maryboo

      Posted

      Hi Maryboo, hope the op went well. I went for the posterior approach too as I felt that I would like the surgeon to have as much room as possible to do the op. Also I was not particularly worried about a larger scar. In fact I had no restrictions for some unknown reason although I was careful just in case. I did not use a stick or crutches in the house when I got home either, although I did furniture surf. The surgeon I had has a very good reputation which is probably the most important thing.
    • maryboo
      maryboo ptolemy

      Posted

      Dear Ptolemy,

      glad you had a good result.  I used the walker in the house for the first 2 weeks, mostly for balance with all those pain pills. Although furniture surfing was my desired method also.  Surgeons are all different in what their post op instructions are.  Depends on what they do when they are in there.  I was told by my surgeon that all approaches have some muscle cutting, and they all take 8 ish weeks to heal.  And I agree the surgeon and their reputation for good results is the most important thing. I’m 7 weeks out now, went driving for the first time yesterday. I use the cane only very briefly, mostly at the grocery store so people won’t crash into my hip.  It’s still sensitive to touch.  Good luck.

    • melody39324
      melody39324 maryboo

      Posted

      My thoughts are that, if you have a surgeon you trust and who has a good record with few complications, let them decide how they want to do the operation. I felt it was more important to have a successful outcome than a quick one. More important to have a painfree future than a small scar.
  • annone70291
    annone70291 Ducksoup

    Posted

    I had a posterior THR in 2015. Very small scar (about 3 inches) and the muscles were NOT cut - they were merely stretched. Up and walking the same day. And no crutch/stick after 3 weeks. Perhaps it’s up to the individual surgeon which approach they prefer. And their skill of course. 
    • ptolemy
      ptolemy annone70291

      Posted

      That is interesting, I had a lateral posterior and did not seem to have the problems most people seem to have with cut muscles. My scar was quite large though. I had no restrictions so perhaps the posterior approach is coming on by leaps and bounds. I never used a stick or crutches in the house but just furniture surfed.  It is up to the individual surgeon which approach they use as there are different techniques and they need to be trained in them.
  • maryboo
    maryboo Ducksoup

    Posted

    Well the dirty deed is done and I can say the hip feels better than it has in a long time.  Sharp poking pain if the pill wears off, but all in all a way way better day than I imagined.  I did stay on top of pain meds and was up walking a short way 4 1/2 hours post op. They used a spinal with sedation and i was worried I would not be asleep enough. No problem.  They told me with a spinalanesthetic the throat tube doesn’t need to go as far down into the lung like general.  Also less nausea and wake up more alert.  All true for me. Best of all there would be pain relief longer.  I was previously afraid the hip would be thawed out and they would have to wait till my toes came alive for any pain relief, but it worked out fine.

    He used a smaller size implant because he said when he got in, the bones were smaller than he was estimating. Ha.  There goes my diet excuse! I have ice on hip and the pressure socks.  Aspirin for anticoagulant. I am glad I took  the pain pill 45 mins before PT.  That might have caused some weeping.

    Regarding the incision position, when I stand ang my arm hangs down at my side, it lies thumb level just behind the hand. 

    The thing that bothers me the most is that wedge between my legs. Feels like I’m stuck to the mattress with Velcro.

    Hope this gives some measure of comfort to those waiting and anxious hippies. Thank you all for the kind advice and I’ll post more in the coming days.

    • diannesk
      diannesk maryboo

      Posted

      Great to hear the surgery is completed and you are very positive about it. As you begin the recovery process, there will be many changes/improvements with how you feel and what you are able to do. Keep in mind that it takes time. Someone told me that after surgery and it helped me a lot. Most important is that you have a brand new hip that will work better than the original.

      Keep posting your progress. Might want to create a new "discussion" so it can be followed easily.

    • hope4cure
      hope4cure diannesk

      Posted

      Congratulations! Amazing how you have the presence of mind to write a in depth description after surgery. 

      Thank you for all you shared valuable information for many hippies .

      Many healing blessings sent your way! 🌷

       

    • ptolemy
      ptolemy maryboo

      Posted

      Hi Maryboo, you must be relieved. I had spinal with no sedation as I wanted to know what was going on! I was desperately sick though for days after, it may have been the morphine as I was sick the moment I came out of surgery. I was not offered ice and was excused the socks. I had rivoroxaban one of the new NOACs (novel oral anticoagulant) as the anticoagulant. I never had any wedges between my legs either. 
    • Ducksoup
      Ducksoup ptolemy

      Posted

      I woke up from the twilight stage on the spinal and something else, throwing up.  I don’t know where the vomit came from because I was running on empty
    • diannesk
      diannesk Ducksoup

      Posted

      I am so happy I didn't have the nausea. Anesthesiologist told me before surgery that he would do all he could so that wouldn't happen.

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