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
rose0000 gary45745
Posted
I am in the throes of planning my next hip replacement ( I had one 18 months ago) I am also 42 and love the gym and sports so feel it must be done.
Can I ask what the main differences are between super path and traditional methods? I understand the surgeon separates the muscles rather than cuts through them, but beyond that it is a little lost on me.
I would appreciate a speedy recovery because I have such an active life, and children and very little in the way of support so I am exploring every option.
You are doing great!!
gary45745 rose0000
Posted
Hi rose
may I ask what country you are based in? What method did you have for your last one?
Well a traditional posterior approach is what most most surgeons are familiar with and it is tried and tested. They do an incision through the back of hip and then dislocate the joint and cut through muscles and tendons to put new implant in. The incision is quite large which is good a sense it means lots of room for surgeon to work with so no risk of not putting the implant in correctly positioned and any leg length issues. It is the tried and trusted way.
The recovery time im led to believe is 3-6 months and most are on crutches for 6-8 weeks post op. Hospital stay is around 5 days.
There is something called the direct anterior approach which which goes through front of hip and doesn't cut through muscles but there still is dislocation if the joint and the leg put into awkward positions in theatre. I'm not sure how much quicker recovery is with this approach but the scar is a lot smaller.
Superpath is very different in that the incision is much much smaller in back of buttock and no muscles are cut and neither are tendons. The surgeon just moves them apart and then rather than dislocate the bad joint cuts off the head of hip so the leg is never twisted into unnatural positions. I believe this is the reason why recovery is a lot quicker with superpath. You will b rout of hospital within three days and likely not needing crutches 2-3 weeks post op and driving after 2-3 weeks as well.
The downside is bery few surgeons do this this method and it requires a lot of skill due to small incision And less room to work with. So if you elect the super path method ensure the surgeon is reputed in the method. If you are UK based I strongly recommend Mr Cronin. He is young and exceptionally skilled in the super path method and confident. I wish I had taken his advice and had it sooner as the only problem I have no is pain in the groin which is due to damage I caused the tendon before the Op.
this is is my first experience. I was off pain meds after a week, and even those were just paracetamol and Ibruphen. The first three weeks were hard in the sense I was very stiff and sore and couldn't see how I would get back to normal as it was my first major op. But now I am really pleased. If I need left one doing I will go in asap as soon as cartilage is down to 2mm, no tleave it till my bones are grinding and locking like I did this time.
I am off to gym now to do some cycling (just light 5 mins and cross trainer for 5 mins then pool exercises). I am walking without crutches and walked yesterday 2 miles relatively easily, just a bit of soreness. I should also mention, as this seems neglected, that I am able to have healthy energetic sex now, and I first tried after 4 weeks. Being male that may be different though in terms of risk factor than for a lady but I was in no discomfort. Ask your surgeon about sex as this seems to be avoided and it is arguably the most important thing to check as we need to know what we can and can't do safely and I believe superpath patients have a lot less restrictions position wise than posterior patients.
in terms of sleeping I can now lie on both sides in bed. I am today 6 weeks post op.
look forward to hearing from you. Xx
gerriberri66 gary45745
Posted
Morning Gary,
?Sorry to hear about your cold, but great news on the walking front. 2 Miles! I cant wait. Let us know how it goes with cycling today.I know when I asked Dr Chow about getting back to spinning, he said it would be ok, as long as I sat to cycle, guess at the beginning he doesn't want any excess pressure put on the hip ( 2nd & 3rd) position, which I do feel now when I spin.
?As far as your answer to Rose: TEAM SUPERPATH ALL THE WAY!!!!!! Are most of the people on here living in Europe?? Its just interesting to see the differences in Superpath procedures
?Have a great day!!!
gary45745 gerriberri66
Posted
Im so uplifted. Today went better than i could have imagined. I did as much almost as i used to do 2 years ago. Pace was insanely fast on bike machine and cross trainer i managed with as much resisitance as usual.only thing was i got so short of breath...my fitmess has declined buf also this cold didnt help breathing.
No pain at all and im going again to.orrow unless i wake up sore and stiff.
Suoerpath is the aay to go and we need to bang the drum. All UK based people on here shoukd look up Mr Cronin and i think ober in USa dr Chow is the best for superpath there. Everything mr cronib told me before the Op is turning out true. I didnt believe him before the Op but i never dreamt id be cycling and doing cross trainer after 6 weeks. If the weather was hot id probably give tennks a go but that will wait until March now. Let the implant fully settle into bone.
To those not having superpath i think the key is leeping steong befkfe the Op. Dont struggle on sticks and try and be tough and stoic struggling. The day you are told you may need a THR book for it doinf even if u walking well with avsrage pain. It will reap rewards post op. Do not let muscles waste . Dont think abouf preserving joints for later in life...live for today nof tomorrow. If we need revision 10 years later so be it deal with thatvthem. We live once. No second chances. Live for right now. I urve everyone get operated on sooner rather than later.
Hope this helps and is uplifting.xx
jason42777 gary45745
Posted
Hi Gary, I'm nearly three years post superpath lthr, done by Mike Cronin ,at rugby st cross via uhcw. Hip is all good, I now work at uhcw and walk 6to 12 miles a day, ( mostly pushing inpatients around in their beds) tho I can't really run lol. Feel free to look back at my old posts to gauge my recovery, then give yourself more patience 😄.
All the best for a good recovery however long it takes. Jay. Ps. Mike said to me post op " ... it can take as long for full recovery of muscles and gait etc as you were having problem before op..." !
gary45745 jason42777
Posted
I find this site quite hard to navigate at times due to all the ads that push the screen up, but i shall habe a look at your posts. Just quickly where were u at the 6 week mark? What activities were u doing?
I might have a rest day today. Im not in pain but whole body a bit stiff from yesferday so if non operated parts are stiff my new hip area is bound to be stiff as well.
gerriberri66 gary45745
Posted
Gary... im SO THRILLED FOR YOU,🎉🎉🎉. When you think about it,how amazing that you accomplished what you did today. Be careful not to overdue...plenty of time to get to that point.
I’m looking forward to being done with my surgery and getting back to my best self!
Im sure you’ll keep us posted. 👍🏻
gary45745 gerriberri66
Posted
Rest day today. Im in no pain at all no reaction to yesterday but whole body is lactic acid and stiff a bit so that may be a sign to rest. Ill go to gym tomorrow. Today ill sit on sofa and listen to football.
How are you feeling today? Xx
gerriberri66 gary45745
Posted
Checking in with everybody to see how your weekend progressed. I’m off to spin class this morning. Gotta keep everything moving and in good working order pre surgery,
Hope u all have a great day!
gary45745 gerriberri66
Posted
Had a massibe three mile walk on saturday and totally rested yesterday. Today went to gym and did 10 mins cycling and 5 mins step then hydrotherapy. Everything is fine mild pain on outer hip and in groin but feel very good. Really think ive got lucky.
How was your spin class xx
gerriberri66 gary45745
Posted
Hey Gar
3 miles is fantastic! Smart of you to rest for a day before exercising again. Wish your pain would go away totally already but hopefully it will in time. Spin was good. I only started this past April,but from 2.2 miles ( hey stop laughing 😆
and feeling like I was going to throw up,I’m now consistently doing a minimum of 5.5 miles and have even gotten to 7 miles once. I’m the oldest in the class lol. But that’s ok. It will be interesting to see the improvement after the THR. Don’t know how much spinning I will do after surgery as I will then have the option to get back on the tennis court,and walking🤸???In my neighborhood which is beautiful and hilly. I live in Las Vegas and the weather is just perfect this time of year. Seems mostly of the people on this post are English. 😁
Have a great night.
gary45745 gerriberri66
Posted
Happy halloween for yesterday firstly.
I LOVE Las Vegas. Was there spetember 2016 and had time of my life albeit misbehaved a bit!! I could go Las Vegas multiple times a year.
You will be spinnijg within 6 weeks. Maybe play safe and wait 8 weeks but youwill feel ready probably after 5 weeks.
Went to gym today and did cycling and hydrotherapyand no side effect. Just wiah this niggling groin pain would go. Xx
gerriberri66 gary45745
Posted
EVERYONE LOVES VEGAS ?? How can you not? I’ve been here for 11 years,originally from NYC. I love living here not course when you live here you avoid going to The Strip if possible.
Glad you you had a good workout day. It really sounds like you are well on the road to recovery. I guess it will jus take a while for the groin pain to subside.
And btw: BOO! 👻
It will be interesting to see the progress after surgery. Starting the month countdown. Lol.
gary45745 gerriberri66
Posted
Ibwas in NYC last year as well and loved it there as well. Whwre do u prefer. Just back from gym and everything going well but fornthis groin pain that seems to now be persistent. Very mild and not restricting me but it is there.
Keep up your exercises will reap rewards after op xx
gerriberri66 gary45745
Posted
Hi Gary
Maybe you need to check in with your Dr about the groin pain? Maybe you need to totally rest and are aggravating anything that’s going on. It’s a shame that this is happening to you because otherwise your recuperation has been amazing!
NYC is amazing. I lived there for many years. But now its so nice to be back n a house,have outdoor space,a washer & dryer in my house and a garage that I don’t have to pay extra for. I go back to visit and now I feel the city is either for the young or the very rich. You pretty much work to either pay your rent/mortgage. Sex and the city was pretty much a fantasy. Lol. I love the lifestyle out here. It’s much less expensive to live. Everything is relatively new with beautiful blue skies against every changing views of mountains. I think you just appreciate different things at different times of your life.
Check in with your Dr and let us know what they say. Goodnight. 😴
gary45745 gerriberri66
Posted
Rest day for me today save for going to gdt some firewirks as it is guy fawkes night tomorrow here in UK which for us is biggdr than halloween.
I see specialist on thursday hope he takes time with me as sometijes they have us in and out in minutes !! Xx