Total Hip Replacement/Hip Resurfacing

I have had two total right hip replacements. My first lasted 10 years until the cup became loose. My operations were different then most. My hip, pelvis and sacrum were crushed under a 28-ton dump truck in 1977. The damage to my pelvis and hip area was horrific to say the least. Both operations required bone graph build-ups to adequately anchor the cup to my hip, which made my recovery time somewhat outside the norm. Having said that, I was back in the pool (both times) right at six weeks. I did not do flip turns for another month to ensure my hip was healed. After my operations it took three weeks to feel human again and four weeks to become pain free. On a side note, I strongly suggest you set aside your own blood for this operation to ensure healthy, disease free blood. Our blood supply is very safe in America with the onset of modern testing, but it is not bullet proof. I required 4 to 5 pints during both operations due to the increased damage brought about by my accident. My understanding is 2 pints is generally the norm. I caution you to be very careful during the healing process. Both Wake Forest University Medical Center in Winston-Salem NC and Jewish Hospital in Louisville, KY are excellent joint replacement hospitals. Both hospitals have done extensive research in patient follow up after joint replacements. Both found the number one cause for replacement damage was caused by early strenuous activities with infection being second. Keep your incision clean and maintain a very regimented germ free environment after your operation. Be extra careful of dental work and ALWAYS get your dentist to call in a prescription for antibiotics prior to dental cleaning. PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THAT! In short, let that joint replacement heal properly before you torque it to the max in the pool. I found breaststroke kicking to be very painful and dangerous during the healing process so be extra careful there. Good luck and enjoy your new hip replacement after it heals. Both times, I went from serious pain to zero pain after healing. Kindest regards, Tom Ellison

I have had two total right hip replacements. My first lasted 10 years until the cup became loose. My operations were different then most. My hip, pelvis and sacrum were crushed under a 28-ton dump truck in 1977. The damage to my pelvis and hip area was horrific to say the least. Both operations required bone graph build-ups to adequately anchor the cup to my hip, which made my recovery time somewhat outside the norm. Having said that, I was back in the pool (both times) right at six weeks. I did not do flip turns for another month to ensure my hip was healed. After my operations it took three weeks to feel human again and four weeks to become pain free. On a side note, I strongly suggest you set aside your own blood for this operation to ensure healthy, disease free blood. Our blood supply is very safe in America with the onset of modern testing, but it is not bullet proof. I required 4 to 5 pints during both operations due to the increased damage brought about by my accident. My understanding is 2 pints is generally the norm. I caution you to be very careful during the healing process. Both Wake Forest University Medical Center in Winston-Salem NC and Jewish Hospital in Louisville, KY are excellent joint replacement hospitals. Both hospitals have done extensive research in patient follow up after joint replacements. Both found the number one cause for replacement damage was caused by early strenuous activities with infection being second. Keep your incision clean and maintain a very regimented germ free environment after your operation. Be extra careful of dental work and ALWAYS get your dentist to call in a prescription for antibiotics prior to dental cleaning. PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THAT! In short, let that joint replacement heal properly before you torque it to the max in the pool. I found breaststroke kicking to be very painful and dangerous during the healing process so be extra careful there. Good luck and enjoy your new hip replacement after it heals. Both times, I went from serious pain to zero pain after healing. Kindest regards, Tom Ellison