Superpath Hip Replacement 3 weeks post op
Posted , 21 users are following.
hello everyone
im nervous about posting on here as I never in my life thought I'd be on a forum for patients so in some ways it is good I've learnt some humility as always thought I was indestructible as I've always been very sporty playing a lot of tennis, football, rugby and cycling as well as regular gym sessions.
Im 42 and last year after persistent groin pain that wasn't overly painful but nonetheless noticeable and wasn't going away after about a year I had an MRI scan, the results of which showed a FAI and laberal tear. My consultant told me the space between the ball and socket at one point was about 0.5mm and therefore I was too far gone to even attempt keyhole surgery and that I needed a THR of right hip. Being the cautious sole I am I had a couple of other opinions by consultants all of whom said same thing.
I kind of didnt take it too seriously as i wasnt in great pain and was still very active, playing a lot of tennis running and cycling. The most noticeable thing was during sexual intercourse in missionary when I could feel a grinding sensation in the groin and clicking. Obviously that became somewhat of a passion killer.
As time went on the pain was pain was getting more noticeable during tennis and my consultant suggested cortisone injections and sinvisc plus. The cortisone injections did great but only lasted around 3 weeks per injection. I didn't notice any great difference with the sinvisc plus.
Still up to around april/may this year I was still playing a lot of sport and walking fine. But then in June during a very brutal game of tennis while hitting a running forehand I experienced an almighty crunch in the hip and a bit of pain, not too much as I'd only just had last cortisone shot. This was a Saturday when the crunch happened.
No problems on saturday evening or sunday Sunday but the Monday when at work after being seated when I went to get up I was in agony and couldn't move. Hip/groin locked.
Since then this sensation continually happened if I bent my leg then tried to straighten it. I had an injection into a tendon that my consultant said was getting trapped and that did work but only for two weeks. I was at the stage where getting off toilet was a massive challenge. Once unlocked it wasn't too bad. I could walk ok and pretty quick. I noticed if I did no sport (or sexual relations) the locking subsided but as soon as I was more active the issue came back. My consultant told me it was a very personal choice when to have a THR but my quality of life was being affected and the aim of a THR was to improve that quality. He then told me about the Superpath technique which I loved sound of and he was one of very few surgeons who did this. I elected to have the super path and it was done on September 15.
Im 19 days post op and can walk with one crutch pretty quick but when I try without a crutch I'm struggling as hip is stiff. I can bend leg upwards well and outwards and can squat. Obviously no locking now.
my concern is I've seen you tube videos of people able to cross their legs and walking with no aids at all and in no pain. I have no pain when lying down or sitting down save for a bit of soreness where the wound is but my main worry is I do get a lot of groin pain when exercising or trying to lift my leg keeping it straight. Also when I walk the groin hurts and while other pain seems to be getting better the groin doesn't at all.
I go for my first physio appointment in two days time and I'm worried that this groin pain means something isn't right. I've gone into so much detail as wanted to explain how I was before the operation. Has anyone had the superpath and if so what were your experiences at this stage. I've read somewhere that the illopsis tendon can be damaged and of course when I was locking up before the THR I wonder if that tendon took some damage.
sorry if this is really long winded but it's all very stressful as I've never so much had a filling in my teeth let alone major surgery so I'm not sure where I should be and what I should be doing.
Thanks in advance for any replies.
7 likes, 395 replies
m05 gary45745
Posted
Thanks for your replies and understanding. I am in 2 minds about having both at same time Mr Cronin was not enthusiastic at the first meeting about doing this however we are going to be 6 weeks further on now and things really are getting worse quickly now I will put the question to him next week and run with what he suggests certainly it is now much more appealing to get both done at once. I think you are correct Richard about the exercise although I can tolerate the spin bike ok it probably is increasing my discomfort will focus on upper body work. here's to a Happy and healthy new year for all.
Cheers Martin
gary45745 m05
Posted
How are you getting on? Having trouble accessing this site as it does t seem to workon samsing. Phone
gerriberri66 gary45745
Posted
Hi All,
?Happy New Year! I was wondering what happened to everybody... I'm doing great. I stopped PT last week (4 sessions). Worked with my trainer Tuesday and today. I find it amazing how fast you see results of working out..I'm being very conscientious of walking properly. Today we warmed up by walking outside and she said I was totally straight without a limp. (YOHOO!). I know that's not all the time, but I'm working on it. Walking with a kettlebell in opposite hand really helps. So does just light dumbbell in both hands. I also noticed that I am ( although slowly) able to get in my car pretty normally now (right foot first), as opposed to sitting butt first and bringing both legs in the car together. She actually had me balancing on surgical leg.. at first was very comprehensive, but once I got passed the fear factor I was fine with it. (ok.. balance isn't great.. need to be near something to hold on when I feel like I need to.) She also said that I couldn't do any squats before and now I am.. (not all the way down yet..but that's ok). It's so funny because I don't remember not being able to do some of the stuff I can do now. In the middle of the night I got up; and as I'm sure you did as well. you kind of take a tentative step to make sure you are steady.. but I remember thinking wow.. I'm walking normally! So leaps and bounds of improvement in just over 4 weeks..
How are you doing? Are you up to speed except for your other hip?? How's work coming along?
MARTIN: THIS WILL BE YOU TOO SOON!!!!!! How are you doing? When is your appt with Mr Cronin?
?Richard was one of the lucky ones.. he had an amazing surgeon all those years ago.. Any update on the ankle revision??
Judith: Hope you had a wonderful holiday.
?Good to "talk" to everyone!!! xoxo
RichardKen gerriberri66
Posted
Dear Gerry
It is so good to hear of your steady progress.
When I had my replacement hip twenty years ago it felt like having my life back. I had had to give up work which as I was self employed was pretty grim as you will appreciate. It is such a life changing surgery and we should always be so thankful that we are living in an age where such things are almost routine.
Yes you are right I did have an amazing surgeon. I was on the surgery list of a different surgeon and when I found out that he only did one or two hips a month at most I jumped ship even though it meant starting from square one and quite a wait.
My surgeon had come to the hospital which was just seven miles away with a bit of a reputation. He had the reputation of insisting that he used the prosthesis he wanted and not what the hospital buying people said he should use. I'm so grateful to him and each year at Christmas I always sent him a thank you card with an update as to how I was doing. The only reason he did not do my revision was he was retiring shortly and I had moved from Wales to different part of the UK.
I was also very fortunate that the surgeon I picked just on hospital success records turned out to have been trained by him some years earlier. Funny old world! Apologies for rambling on.
Best wishes Gerri and everyone here.
Richard
gerriberri66 RichardKen
Posted
I always believe that in life things happen for a reason.. and that's exactly what happened for you. I think its awesome that you send him a card every year. I'm sure it means soooo much to him! I'm glad you didn't go with the surgeon who only did 1 or 2 a month. I also think its incredible that your new surgeon was trained by him. The universe is telling you something!
oxox
judith12644 gerriberri66
Posted
RichardKen gerriberri66
Posted
Dear Gerri
Thanks. BTW I neglected to respond to your inquiry about progress regarding my ankle revision. I'm still waiting for a date which is very frustrating as I've been trying to sort out the ankle for well over a year now and it is hard to plan anything significant in my life until this is done.
All the best, Richard
m05 gary45745
Posted
Hi 'gang' good to hear everyone getting on well let's make this a great new year for all of us . Have been having a few ups and downs pleased that I now have a date,31st Jan, would have liked sooner but don't think it is possible with Mr Cronin. Getting a bit paranoid about the flu that is around now really don't want any more delays as it is I won't be getting second one done until March all being well so best case scenario I won't be 'normal ' again until autumn still at least it's happening. Took a course of antibiotics to mop up remains of last cold think I had a mild sinus infection and they make you feel low have finished now though must say though hip pain is getting steadily worse now just trying to keep my mind on the future. All the best to all
Martin
gerriberri66 m05
Posted
Hi Martin,
So good to hear from you. I’m glad you have a firm date for hip #1. Will it be your right or your left. It seems if you are still somewhat sick, cold, sinus infection, whatever,,it was a wise decision to postpone your surgery although the pain is increasing. The flu is crazy...and everywhere. You need to take extra precaution until surgery. 😷. You will be waaaay better before Autumn. I’m thinking by May you will be a new man..pain free. 🙏🏼
Everything great here. Went to gym yesterday: 15 mins on recumbent bike, 15 mins on recumbent elliptical. It’s funny because both hips are a bit tight today...probably from elliptical. But I did walk over 10k steps yesterday..1st time since pre surgery. You are going to see improvements every day. Anyway...hang in there. We are all going to countdown the days for you. Lol. ?????????? Happy New Hip New Year!! 😘
judith12644 m05
Posted
All the best, Judith
m05 judith12644
Posted
Hi Judith thanks for your thoughts I am beginning to get a bit paranoid about getting anything else going to keep myself isolated as much as possible however I am having to go back to work if my original resurfacing plan had worked I should have been ok to return by now if it had gone to plan but we are where we are now. The locum who was covering for me is 8 months pregnant so can't work any more. I have given instructions that I won't see anyone who has a cold etc especially kids and I plan to wear a surgical mask during my examinations that will scare a few of them ! Plenty of vit c and zinc and keeping everything that I can cross crossed. Hope all well with you count down to skiing now lucky you ?
RichardKen judith12644
Posted
Dear Judith
I do understand having had to endure about twelve different trains and a couple of trains over the Christmas break. Net result being that I developed a bad sore throat with horrible coughing that I'm having a problem to shift.
For many years when passing someone who is coughing or sneezing I hold my breath whilst passing through their space!
Cheers Richard
RichardKen
Posted
judith12644 RichardKen
Posted
RichardKen judith12644
Posted
What strange habits we develop!
Cheers Richard
m05 gerriberri66
Posted
Hi Gerri apologies I don't think I replied to your last post this site can be a bit clumsy at times. It is going to be right first although both seem as bad as each other Must say you do seem to be doing rather well with your recovery brilliant to hear . Trying to keep as healthy as possible now vit c and zinc etc and keeping away from people as much as possible.
Wishing you a great and healthy new year. x
Gary sorry to hear about eye problem if you need any advice may be able to help know a bit more about them than hips ! All the best to all.
Cheers Martin