Terry – About me!

A little about me and my need for hip replacement surgery.  I have been running since 1978.  I actually started to augment my love of cross country skiing in the off season and running quickly became the passion.  Most people who know you are a runner too quickly connect a procedure like a hip replacement with the abuses of running.  Not the case with me.  My accident happened in April of 1989.  I also like to ride bikes and was on a first ride of the spring when I was struck by a car while riding.  I sustained a partial PCL tear and a posterior hip dislocation.  The orthopaedic doc that relocated the hip told me then that I would recover fine and would resume full activity, but that 20 years or so down the road I would likely develop osteo arthritis in that hip.  And so it came to pass.  About 6 years ago after nagging discomforrt in the hip I had X-rays which confirmed the onset of osteo arthritis.  I was advised to contact my doctor when things became worse.  I was still running, but not racing and my weekly mileage was a shadow of what I had formerly run.  About two years ago I had another x-ray and the orthopedic doc says “We now have a problem.”  I had a consult with my surgeon and (surprise, surprise) replacement was recommended.  After several months of niggling with my then boss about paid time off work, I scheduled the surgery for March 27, 2013.  I was very eager to get things taken care of ASAP at that point. The pre-surgery meeting with all the other prospective knee and hip replacement candidates helped me to appreciate how thankful I was that my fitness level going into the surgery was very high in comparison to many of the others in the room.  It is difficult to over emphasize how important a high overall fitness level is going into the surgery.  Recovery and recuperation is WAY better when you are fit before surgery!  I asked a consulting ortho doc about returning to running after surgery and he said if I had not already been running he would advise against starting running, but in light of decades of running to please wait until 6 months after surger to tresume running.  No problem, I choose to err on the conservative side about things like running on a new hip.

My surgery was uneventful.  Dr. Andrew Urquhart was my surgeon and actually did the surgery (as opposed to supervising residents).  The morning following surgery the resident start their rounds and look me over and announce that I might be out of the hospital that afternoon.  “Like hell” I thought to myself.  The Dr. Urquhart comes in and says the same thing.  My response was identical.  the the real secision makers arrived.  The Physical Therapists!  They take a look and say “You aren’t going anywhere until tomorrow.”  A wise mandate.  But seeing that it was the Thursday before Easter weekend, you better believe they wanted that Orthopaedic floor emptied!  I passed the “Can I get in and out of a car test?” and was taken home.  I had general anesthetic for the surgery and have no complaints.  Spinal?  Not so much, a needle in my soilal cord lining isn’t what I wanted.  No complications aside from the standard two-three day post op constipation.  That situation resolved itself soon after returning home.

I did not sleep well for the first two weeks after getting home.  We had secured a very helpful reclining chair from The University of Michigan Property Disposition building and it was used extensively in that first two weeks.  I slept in it every night as it was too uncomfortable in bed and I was very uncertain about rolling over in bed.  I kept thinking the hip would fall apart.  Not to worry.  Doesn’t happen.  Well, is unlikely to happen.   We have a firly small ranch style house, no inside steps, hardwood floors, no rugs.  Getting around was safe and easy. The PT that did home visits was very helpful with post op exercises and relieving any uncertainty about in/out of bed, walking, showering etc.  I started walking outside two weeks after surgery.  I shed the walker almost right away and used the cane for a week or two.  Make sure you have your doctor get you the paper work for a temporary handicapped parking spot.  You get used to those choice parking spots!  I started driving about three weeks after surgery.   The seated position for driving proved to be the most uncomfortable position of all, but improved quickly in the weeks after surgery.  I requested additional Physical therapy which I went to diligently through most of the summer.  I really liked the strengthening exercises and other work I was put through.  great staff and facilities at UM Medsport.  Plus, the PT  love motivated clients with clear fitness goals.  Makes their job easier. I was walking 45 minutes to 1 hour per day.  I returned to work 1 month after surgery and work has been great.  Ironically, I work at a running specialty store and am up and down stairs all day.  No problems at all.

When September 1 rolled around I emailed my surgeon to make sure I had his seal of approval and he says “You could have started running 6 weeks after surgery!”  He advised to resume light running and report any pain or discomfort.

I am currently running 3 days a week for 20-35 minutes per day.  I have no great desire to return to every day running, but I am getting a little antsy about racing.. Last weekend I participated in a 5K run and left after the race without checking results.  Turns out I placed second in my age group.  Who knew?

After consulting with several PT and browsing available online information about running after hip replacement the only thing anyone agrees on is that there is little hard data on exactly how much an activity like running accelerates (if at all) the wear on the new hip.  Seems like no one really knows.  I think resuming running at a low mileage level is wise.  I have run many marathons and every distance under that.  The itch to do over distance has long since been scratched, but I do like to run and am happy I can put in a few miles again.  In addition, I am advised that the healing continues for the better part of 18 months after surgery, so don’t be in too much of a hurry to test things out too much too soon.  Enjoy not taking Vitamin I(Ibuprofin) any more!  The fitness will come back.  Hopefully you have good medical and PT help and trust the people who know their stuff.  My PT brother advises finding a surgeon who has at least 1oo hip replacement surgeries performed.  Don’t be afraid of the surgery, get it done.  Be patient and smart about post surgery recovery.