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Hip Replacement #2 (2018) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May
21, 2018 --The
hip joint described below is still doing well--it's been about 12
years. At the time, my other hip wasn't doing very well, either. But
I've been using it all
this time, and it's been bothering me. I've
just had it examined and scanned with x ray. And then another
doctor took an x ray image and examined it. It's bad. It
looks
like...well, the pictures are below. I'm going
to guess that the
only reason I can move it at all, is because I've been staying active
as much as possible. I'll see about
getting this fixed.
-
-
-
August
01, 2018 --(1 day)So,
they've replaced my hip. Now, I have to work through the
recovery. It is still surprising that I am walking on a leg that they
had just
cut off the day before. Well...they cut off the end of my
femur. So the image below it my first day home after the replacement (I
was in the hospital about a day
and a half). The image below left is from this video
clip. This time, I was only in the hospital for 1 day and a
half.
August
02, 2018 --(2 days)Second
day with the new hip. It is less uncomfortable when I'm
walking, So, I pace off inside the apartment. I have
about
30 feet (10 yards) to walk in. I'm walking this 10 times, repeated at
different times through the day. The walker works ok, but it a bit
bulky for the space, so I've started walking using 2 canes
sometimes.The image above right is from this video
clip.
August
05, 2018 --(5 days)Fifth
day with the new hip. It is less uncomfortable when I'm
walking at
least for a while. Then I can feel the muscles around the wound
tightening
up. Over the last few days, I've found that I can walk with one cane,
and still keep the second one if I get tired. Up to now, I've been able
to walk
outside for about half a mile. The image below left is from this video
clip. It's a bit misleading. Although I seem to be
walking easily, my foot isn't aligning correctly in
the
clip, and I know this happens as I fatigue (this was my third lap
around the loop). Also, there is a lot more healing to do
before
I full use of my leg. For instance,
I cannot sit upright in a chair
for very long before it becomes uncomfortable; also, it will be weeks
before I'll be released to drive a car any distance. But, every day
shows
progress! Only 5 days ago they put in a full replacement, and
here I am walking.
August
07, 2018 --(One Week)One
week
with the new hip. It is less uncomfortable when I'm walking,
so I
walk for as long as makes sense. Then I can feel the muscles
around the
wound tightening
up. Today, I started trying to walk without a cane for a short bit at a
time. And here I am doing it. I will still be using a cane, because I'm
not fully
stable yet, The image below left is from this video
clip.
August
14, 2018 --(2 Weeks)2
weeks
with the new hip. Everything looks good so far. Still walking
about 3 miles per day, with 2 miles the longest stretch. I find that
the joint
starts to tighten up after
about 2 miles. I'm working on walking without the cane for short
stretches. I can do about 100 steps, but after about 50 I begin
limping. I did get a new
x-ray of my hips today. So,the image above
right shows BOTH new hips! That's
the new equipment that I'm walking on! Progress and healing
continue! The two images
below left and below middle are screen grabs from two video clips (with
cane ; without
cane) that I captured while walking this morning.
August
21, 2018 --(3 Weeks)3
weeks
with the new hip. Walking
about 2 -4 miles per day, with 3 miles the longest session so far. I've
walked
without a cane for those
distances for the last 3 days. There's a
new video clip from this afternoon's walk of about 3 miles(near the end
of the walk), and the link
is here (with frame grab above right).
Here's
something else: If my addition is correct, then I have
already walked over 50 miles on my new hip!
Here are some general notes about the healing process:
1)
For the first couple days, a portable urinal is very useful. Although I
actually could get up and get to the bathroom from the first day-it was
a lot of effort, and trying to answer
the "call of nature" that soon is
painful and difficult. Use the bottle.
2)Walk as much as possible, then rest a lot between
walks.
3)Healing
happens during sleep, so sleep--then walk--then sleep. Repeat. If you
feel like you are getting bored sitting around, then you aren't walking
enough.
4)Do the
exercises that the surgeon's staff give to you.
If at first you can't do them, try until you can. Then repeat as many
as you can until you can do the recommended
repetitions.
5)Refuel
with nutrients to rebuild muscle and bone when practical and bear in
mind those difficult bathroom trips when you consider what to eat. From
experience, I know that
the
massive antibiotics that are given for the
surgery can kill off the benign microbes in your system (like
the
ones in your digestive tract)--so I think eating yogurt is a good idea.
6)Keep an eye on the incision. I had to keep the original
bandage on for two
weeks, and there was some skin irritation when the doctor
finally removed it. I found that
hydrocortisone ointment cleared that up. After
each walk I washed the area, then applied the ointment to the
irritation, and-after a few days-applied neosporin to the actual
incision scar. Both applications helped a lot.
7)
Monitor the new joint area. I found that after my earliest
long
walks, the joint (which was still swollen then) was also
warmer
than the surrounding area. I used an ice pack
on the area when I lay
down to rest. Over time, the swelling overall receded, and
the
warmth generated by the walk also lessened. Sometimes I still
put
an ice pack on--but
the area is not uncomfortable at this time.
8)
The new hip(and the surrounding surgical area) should feel at least
little better every day--at least in my experience, it is. If
it
is not
improving, then something may be
wrong.
August
28, 2018 --(4 Weeks)4
weeks
with the new hip. Walking
about 2 -4 miles per day, but I've dropped the distance to 2 miles per
walk. I've started trying to run a bit,
and can jog about 50
steps.
Here
are a couple clips from today's lunch-hour session, (pictures directly
above are frame grabs from the video clips.) Links are here:
Walking
at Memorial Park. Jogging
50 steps at Memorial Park.
I've
also been working on some basic tai chi and pa kua movements, to work
on the slow weight-bearing function of the new hip. That is progressing
also. Mileage with the
new hip is around 70 miles.
Hip Replacement #1 (2005) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For
about
2 years (since sometime in 2003), I'd been losing more and more
mobility
in my leg. By the beginning of 2005, there were times that I could
barely
walk
without the support of a cane.
I
was
able get a full replacement for my hip in June 2005. Here are
two
pictures that I took of x-ray images of my new "toy" 10 days
after it was
installed.
------------------------
---------
-
LEG TO THE
SIDE
LEG BENT FORWARD
Here's
a link to a video
animation
I found showing installation of full hip prosthesis. I can't say for
sure how the incision was made (in both cases)
since I was asleep; but
in both cases it's towards the rear.
Now,
considering the amount of changes wrought to my skeletal system, one
would
think that I was in tremendous pain afterwards. Not so.
Of
course,
I was under tremendous pain medication for the remainder of the day of
the surgery. Still, that evening, when
they sat me up to help
recover from anesthesia,
I was able to walk about 4 steps (with the aid
of a walker).
Since
I didn't enjoy the feeling of disorientation from the pain medication,
I weaned myself off of it quickly.
The
next morning, I was able to walk (with the walker, of course) about 220
feet. That afternoon, another 440 feet.
I
was
in less discomfort from that hip than I had been in over the last 2
years!
For the next couple days, I walked when I could and then rested.
Although
I wasn't in a lot of
pain, I was still recovering from the surgery,
and would tire quickly.
Finally,
I went home. The rest of this page will show a few stages of my
recovery.
June
10, 2005 (4 days)--JUST
A QUICK NOTE.
Regular visitors may notice that this page has/won't be updated in a
month
or so. For those who know me here and in
"realspace" I'd like to say that
I'm fine, but have had a bit of a change lately. I've gotten
a titanium/ceramic
mechanical device installed into my leg, and have to patiently
recuperate
for a while. Hopefully it won't take long. Below, if you are interested
are a few pictures and a link to a video clip, all taken
today. I
had one hip fully replaced last
Monday morning. I was released yesterday
at about 10. The pictures and video were taken today (My new hip is 4
days
old!). Not bad (I was in Mon.-Thurs.), but I have to
be careful for now.
This is for those who have expressed concern for my well-being, and
thank
you all very much. And, if you can't guess which hip it was, then GOOD!
One
more thing, thank you to all the staff who took care of me, you all
were
great--Laura, Barbara, Shirley, Mary, Virginia (physical therapist) and
everyone else--and of
course BIG thanks to the surgeon who did the work,
whom I don't feel I can name here. He knows who he is. And
super
big BIG thanks to Kelly--for everything else.
-
-
--
--
FRESH
AIR!
GREAT GAS
MILEAGE
FRAME 01 FROM
CLIP
FRAME O2 FROM CLIP
VIDEO
CLIP (772KB)
June
17, 2005 (1 week, 4days)--JUST
ANOTHER QUICK
NOTE. Progress is being made. Things are healing. I've spent
the
last week walking as much as possible and
resting in between (the healing
process is causing me to wear out easily). The average for the last
week
has been a little over a mile a day. I haven't had much time
to work
on anything else. Today, I tried to retire the walker, and started
moving
around with 2 canes. I didn't do too badly, so I'm encouraged. The
images
below and the video clip
show how I did.
-------
-
-
-
LOOK, NO
FRAME!
CANE WALKING
VIDEO
CLIP (394KB)
June
25, 2005 (2 weeks, 5days)--I've
been trying
to walk 3 miles a day. For today, I thought it might be nice to visit
Brazos
Bend State Park for a while, and get my walking
done. I've been using one
cane for a while, and the improvement is there (see VISIT BBSP below
left,
or the VIDEO
CLIP (418KB))
-----------------------
------------
NICE TO VISIT
BBSP!
LOOK, NO CANE!
VIDEO CLIP
(418 KB)
VIDEO CLIP (397
KB)
June
27, 2005 (3 weeks)--I've
been walking the
3 miles, mostly at Memorial Park, around the loop. I like it there for
a couple reasons. First, it's just a nice place to be-- I used
to exercise there for years. Second, since it's a loop, as I get near
the end, if I
start getting tired, well...I'm near the car, where I
started. I've
started walking for short periods
without the support of the cane. It's
been going well, as you can see in the picture above right (NO CANE, or
the VIDEO
CLIP (397 KB) )
July
22, 2005 (6 weeks, 4days)--Well,
my "vacation"
was over about 2 weeks ago. Since I've been back at work, I haven't had
the time to walk s miles a day.. I walk a mile for
lunchtime, though.
I've completely stopped using a cane about 6 days ago, though and here
I am on my lunchtime walk, and yes, it's in the 90's out here. Although
slight limp
is evident, that's just me being careful. There's NO PAIN AT
ALL! Is that cool, or WHAT? (See WALKING STRONGER below, or the VIDEO
CLIP (250 KB)).
-----------------------
---------------
WALKING
STRONGER
SLOWLY I TURNED
VIDEO CLIP
(250 KB)
VIDEO CLIP
(468 KB)
July
31, 2005 (7 weeks, 6 days)--Well,
things are
still improving. I've been back at work for 3 weeks, and back at Brazos
Bend State Park volunteering for two...or was it three? Anyway, I'm
almost
walking normally, although I still have to work at loosening the
various
leg muscles. I'm quite satisfied. Here, I'm getting ready to
leave
the park. (see SLOWLY I TURNED, above, or
the VIDEO
CLIP (468 KB)).
-
-
-
-
I CAN STILL DO
IT
CIRCLE
WALKING
RIGHT
KICK
LEFT
KICK
640
x 480 IMAGE
STROLLING UP
August
11, 2005 (2 months, 5 days)--I've
started
working towards recovering more movement. I've been strengthening my
leg,
and trying for more natural movement in my operated leg.
Today, I experimented
with doing some exercises after my 3mile walk. I've started stretching
my thigh muscles, and while I was, I decided to try a
headstand (see,
I CAN STILL DO IT, above).
I was also able to lift myself. If you want,
you can see this
video
clip(mp4), or a slightly
shorter clip(mp4) of my effort. Next I tried
some circle walking
(see CIRCLE WALKING, above).
I was very happy with this, considering that
I haven't been able to walk slowly (couldn't put put weight
on my
bad leg) for at least a year. I'll be working on getting back proper
form
now (work
on proper sliding steps). If you watch this
circle walking clip(mp4), you'll see that I'm not
limping.
After that, I tried doing some of the pa kua movements I've learned. I
went through a series
of 8 changes, and I was able to kick--which was another
thing I haven't been able to do for at least a year (see RIGHT KICK and
LEFT KICK, above). Although the form is not quite correct, it
shows progress.
Kicking with the right foot shows I'm able to support my full weight on
my "bad" leg--which I haven't been able to do in a long time. Kicking
with
the left foot shows I can lift my
"bad" leg and thrust it out--which
I also haven't been able to do in a long time. There is a right
kick clip(mp4) and a left
kick clip(mp4), if you're interested. One is a continuation
of the
other.
I'll hopefully be able to improve the kicks, also.
Finally,
I just walked away from the camera, and then strolled back to it (see
STROLLING
UP, above) just to show off my improved walk, as
shown in this
clip(mp4).
Over
the past 2 years or so, I'd become resigned to the fact that I was
losing
mobility, that it would be getting worse, and that I might not be able
to walk at all before
long. Being able to move at all (like...walk) is
a great improvement! I can't think of a much better way to celebrate my
birthday. Well, maybe I can...but this is right up there. Now, if I can
just lose
some of this weight....
Oh,
one other thing. I can now say that I'm NOT 49 years old. Not entirely.
I'm mostly 49 years old...except for my hip, which
is about 2 months
old. The way I see it; I'll NEVER be 50 years old!
Well, not entirely.
And...I guess I can have two birthdays starting next year. One in June
for my hip, and one in August for the rest of me! Is that cool, or WHAT?
April
30, 2006 (10 months, 21 days)--Just
a little
update. I haven't been yet been able to get into a regular exercise
routine
like in "the old days" but I've decided to work slowly on getting
at
least some of my stamina back. I've started running, just a
little. I run 200
steps, walk 100 steps, and do about one or two miles in this manner.
Afterwards
I'm doing some stretching and trying
to get some flexibility back. The
important thing is.... I CAN RUN! I couldn't run a year ago.
I could
barely walk at times a year ago. In fact, it had probably been about 3
years since I was last
able to run! In this little video clip (shot April
30), I demonstrate how I can move in a way that had not been possible
for
me in years.
-----------------------
I'M RUNNING!!
VIDEO
CLIP (mp4)
August
13, 2006 ( about 1 year, 2 months)--Now
I'm
trying to get back into some kind of normal condition. I can run most
of
a mile, but I still walk about 400 steps of it (I alternate to walking
at
intervals). I've got a lot more flexibility, but have to be
careful
because the new joint will NOT have the full range of motion that the
natural
one did. I don't want to chip the edges or pop it out.
This is a good reason not to run excessively, too.
Still,
I'm happy with my progress. Below are some frames from some video clips
showing me testing some movement.
-
-
-
-
-
LEG
STRETCH
LEG AND
BACK
BACK ROLL AND
HEADSTAND
HEAD
LIFT
LEG
STRETCH VIDEO CLIP (mp4)
HEADSTAND
VIDEO (mp4)
HEADLIFT
VIDEO (mp4)
PALM CHANGE 1-2
KICK
CHANGE
1-2 VIDEO (mp4)
-
-
-
PALM
CHANGE 2-7
TURN
PALM CHANGE 2-7 KICK
PALM CHANGE 2-8 HIT
TAI CHI MOVEMENTS
PALM
CHANGE 2-7 VIDEO (mp4)
CHANGE 2-8
VIDEO (mp4)
TAI CHI
VIDEO (mp4)
This
is not intended for any kind of competition. I'm just trying to
maintain
my health. I'm very happy with my hip.
Oh,
and now I've passed the 50-year old mark. That's right. I'm over half a
century old. I'm doing ok.
And here are some older problems: My Hand (sometime in the 80's) My Knee (1999)
This
page was born 7/30/2005. Rickubis designed it.
(such as it
is.)
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