The owner of the right hip
Mark Voorhees, 52, is the reluctant owner of the right hip under dissection here. His hip has been bothering him for several years. In early 2009 he tried physical therapy, which worked until it didn’t. In the summer, he received a cortisone injection, which worked until it didn’t. Voorhees had his right hip resurfaced by Dr. Su on Nov. 2, 2009 at the Hospital for Special Surgery in NYC.
This blog tracks his recovery from the operation and provides random links to other material related to resurfacing. It is meant to be a personal reflection, not a comprehensive resource on hip resurfacing.
If that is what you are in search of please visit Surface Hippy or Hip Resurfacing. Both sites are awesome in different ways.
This photo was taken on a five-day rafting trip on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in Idaho in August 2009. The cortisone shot was working at the time.
Hey, Mark – I am following your progress with interest as I am 1 week, 1 day behind you (surgery 11/10). No headaches here and sleep is ok except it seems my kidneys try to drain the swelling of my right leg during the night; first night home you could almost set your watch by my bladder! Am motoring about fine on one crutch and am taking tenuous steps without aid or pain, but not without anguish…my body says do what you want, but my mind says “OK fool, if you stub your toe or something, you’re on your own!”
One note on my case (66 yr old active male), I did not wait long to get this fixed; was playing racquetball, with the aid of Mobic, up til a week and a half before surgery (decreasingly well, of course), so I’m thinking I have a leg up on recovery (yes, pun intended).
Will try to keep you updated if you would like.
Alan
Alan–
Glad you are doing well. I am on two crutches most of the time, although I resort to one when I am carrying something, and occasionally go down to none for just a step or two.
Hi Mark,
I am 35 and have a pretty arthritic left hip. I have trained in Aikido and Zen for the past 15 years, though the pain and lack of range of motion do not allow me to train in Aikido like I used to. I wanted to ask you about your experience in Aikido after the resurfacing. Were you still able to train hard and take breakfalls safely? Is there danger of the resurfaced joint to dislocate/break? I’m considering this surgery and you are the first person I have found who has had it done and trains in Aikido. Thanks much for any responses!
– Jim
Hey Jim–
I started Aikido in my late 20s and had stopped doing break falls long before my hip went south. I am now 53. I have been training once or twice a week since four months after the operation. I still am not training “hard” but that is more out of choice than limitations. Aikido is a sometimes thing for me now more than the thing. Since surgery, I have focused on Yoga much more than Aikido.
As I understand it, after 4 to 6 months and certainly by a year, the risk of the new joint becoming dislodged is fairly remote. However, break falls are jarring, and I doubt you want to be doing them all them time.
The most important thing is to find a great surgeon and trust his advice. Dr. Su did not understand Aikido entirely but did not discourage me from doing it. He simply recommended caution. Let me know if you have other questions.
Thanks Mark, that does help. At this point, just basic turning and techniques in which I need to step deep are painful, so I’d be happy with less pain and more functionality. Thanks again Mark, I’m sure I’ll be checking in with you from time to time for advice. I really appreciate this site, I think it is very helpful for alot of people.
– Jim
Where you live and practice? If you have not already, you should check out http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/surfacehippy/.
Lots of good information there.
Can anyone recommend an experienced hip-resurfacing doctor in the San Francisco South Bay Area or in the SF Bay Area?
Most doctors are negative about resurfacing. One said there is a frequent problem adjusting to the correct leg-length. That does not make sense to me as it seems that it is easier to avoid such mistake with resurfacing than with total hip replacement.
Your comments will be appreciated.
I would visit the surfacehippy group on Yahoo for doctor recommendations and advice.
Thanks, Mark
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