The Surgery...
Salut ! I am now 12 days after surgery, back home in Montreal.
I am now a happy owner of a left BHR. It took 50 minutes to implant the device.
The installation of the femoral component was tricky : it is standing in a weird
angle to compensate the anteversion of the pelvis. This way, my leg will be able
to move in every way without smashing the neck of the femur (and the FAI will
not come back). I see now why the other surgeons refused to do the resurfacing
on me. Dr. De Smet is a very special person. You can feel your anxiety
going down to zero when you are in touch with him. He's also very funny with
a straight face.
I had a very hard time in the hospital the day after surgery. I lost
conscience in the bathroom, I was on a lot of mixed drugs that did not
take the pain away, but made a mess in my brain. The day after, I went out of
the hospital, almost fresh... (???)
Day 5, I was on one crutch, fooling
around. In the pool, doing the exercices, my non-operated hip joint was doing
worst than the operated one... !
Day 9, I was able to go down the
stairs with my hands in the air... I was doing so well I forgot to concentrate
on my operated leg to remain straight in the pool... OUCH ! I guess it's a lesson.
I had almost forgot I had surgery... I came back home on day 10, holding my butt
in my hand, the crutch in the other one, because I had hurt a muscle very bad.
I can walk on the operated leg, but I have to press somewhere on the muscle to
release the cramp. But this means I have no free hand for carrying stuff, so
I dropped the other crutch. I walk like a duck. The pain in
the muscle is getting better (3 days after), and I hope that it will be OK by
the end of the week.
I was afraid that the trip back home would be terrible. I was
surprised to see what Tramadol, Bailey's and ice pack can do to make
things easier... But this is not recommended by physicians...
The week I was recovering was much more quiet than the previous
week when Melody, 'Tsunami' and David were there. But I've met a crazy woman
from California to fool around with me. We kept on claiming that 'It's a Miracle
!!!...
Thanks to Chris Saunders who passed by at the Villa to say hello, and have a
ride with us in Gent. We had a 2 hours walk 7 days after my surgery...
I am happy that I worked out a bit more before surgery. Those
muscles where VERY HANDY. I was able to pick things on the floor by day
3, and I was able to move easily in my bed, and get up all my body weight on
one leg.
I have to mention that that I already had a hip arthroscopy
on that same hip, and that this recovery is much easier than the previous one.
I know it's because of the short time on morphine, and a lot a physio and hydrotherapy
very quickly after surgery.
I am a wise girl now, so I will go back to the bed to have another
'Julie-on-the-rocks'...
Julie in Montreal LBHR, De Smet, 15 janvier 2008
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