Out with the old and in with the new has been the theme around our household this year. I am not referring to downsizing—that happened long ago. I am referring to the two worn out knees that Helen (adorable wife) replaced earlier this year and the well-used hip that I swapped out last week.
Easin’ Along featured the details of Helen’s knee surgery, as well as her amazing recovery, shortly after the events occurred. I’m happy to report that her recovery continues; she never misses a physical therapy session, and, while she has not returned to the pickleball court, she leads a normal life free of the pain that plagued her for much of last year.
Once Helen had her new joints in place, it was time for me to do something about my hip. This problem began last November when we were in California visiting our son and his family. The airline canceled our flight to Los Angeles and booked us on the next flight out. As a result, a middle seat was all that was available. Middle seats are a problem for someone my size (6’ 4” – 225 lbs), but I rode on. The next morning, as we walked our grandchildren to school, I noticed a sharp pain in my left hip. I passed it off as the result of sitting in a confined space for six hours.
The months passed on, but the pain never went away although I kept telling myself that it would. Our road trip to Florida convinced me, however, that living on Advil and walking with a cane had an adverse effect on the joy of RV travel. I scheduled an appointment with a hip specialist at the University of Tennessee Medical Center, and, once he showed me the x-rays of my hip, I could remain in denial no longer. We scheduled surgery for July 5th so that we could take our trip to Edisto Beach and give Helen time to recover from her second knee replacement.
I arrived at the hospital at 5:30 on the morning of the fifth. As illustrated in the picture above, I am not always my charming self at 4:30, but I was ready to get on with the show. The hospital check-in procedure went smoothly. I changed into the surgery socks and a purple gown then whisked away to pre-op.
In pre-op, I received a couple of IV’s and a lot of happy chatter from the very efficient staff. This room was a beehive of activity and provided a much-needed and useful distraction. As a person with no patience for waiting for anything, I was happy to be distracted. I spoke with an anesthesiologist, and together we decided to use general anesthesia for a variety of reasons. I felt good about our decision.
I rolled from pre-op to an operating room filled with nurses, nurse anesthetists, surgery assistants, and various others. I didn’t get any names, but it was obvious that they are all morning people. They went right to work on me and the next thing I knew, I was in a hospital room attached to several monitors, wearing a new gown, and in possession of a new hip. I never knew what hit me. Unfortunately, I missed a visit from Mark, our associate pastor. I regret that I was unable to see him, but knowing he came by was a great comfort.
After a short period of recovery, therapist Whitney entered the room and told me it was time to get up and walk. Therapist Whitney helped Helen walk after her surgeries, and she is a true professional. She placed a belt around me to grab should I slip (or faint), then helped me stand. As soon as I had both feet on the ground, I realized one very important change—the hip pain that I lived with for seven months had disappeared. There was some tenderness around the incision, but absolutely no pain in the joint.
We walked the hall of my hospital floor with no difficulty, but I was a bit loopy from the pain medication, so I returned to the bed and went right back to sleep—with a smile on my face. Miracles do happen!
I spent the night in the hospital and met the next day with a plethora of therapists, nurses, and hospital staff. I walked the halls two more times during the day and felt good. My surgeon came to meet with me and told me what to expect during the next several weeks of recovery. Dr. Eilerman came highly recommended, and I like him very much. His preference for anterior (frontal) surgery usually results in a swifter recovery and no therapy other than walking. Our next visit will be in two weeks. Once our visit concluded, I dressed to go home leaving only the well-used, arthritic hip behind. Helen prepared a flower arrangement from our garden to welcome me home.
We are both extremely thankful for the skill, professionalism, and care we received from everyone at UT Medical Center. We expect to be sidelined for a few weeks, then travel the Blue Ridge Parkway in Gracey. Please join us as we go Easin’ Along…without a cane.
Yay! Another happy ending! So glad all went well, Joe – I’m sure that was the news all of your fans were hoping for. The fact that walking is the only physical therapy required is both wonderful and amazing, and I’m sure you’re looking forward to countless pain-free strolls ahead. Best wishes!
Hi, Mary,
So far, all is going well and hopefully will continue. The thing I am looking forward to the most is getting back on the road again. Gracey misses us!
God bless you, Joe. I had no idea but am so glad this is behind you and you are on the road to being as good as new with your new hip. Prayers for a successful rehab. I am sure Gracey is ready and waiting.
Gail
Thanks, Gail,
I’m glad it’s behind me too, but I’ll take those prayers. Gracey tells us she is ready for a road trip. Thanks for visiting Easin’ Along.
What a blessing that old joints can be traded for new. May your recovery be smooth and speedy. You are going to enjoy the BRP and you will put those new joints to good use, We were in and out of Buster at every turn. We did the entire length two years ago during the third week of October. It was glorious! Having driven bits and pieces of the Parkway from time to time, we found that traveling the entire route greatly magnified our appreciation for the diversity to be found within it.
Hi, Gail,
We are counting the days until that trip. Planning on going up as far as Gettysburg, PA, then come down along the Maryland and Virginia coast. I have never ridden along the BRP but I have been told by many that it is beautiful, and the early fall should be a good time to do it.
and the Shanendoah Valley area is absolutely gorgeous that time of year. I am so glad you have each other and can truly enjoy this time in your life. Prayers for healing.
So happy for the great results. Take care and God bless. Ginny
Hi, Ginny,
Things are going well. We have some great surgeons here. Thanks for checking in.
You two are the true bionic couple! You may need to get Gracey some new wheels to make it a threesome. Wishing for you a speedy recovery, and I hope the 3 of you are back on the road soon!
Hi, Joyce,
Gracey is just a pup compared to us, but with a few new parts we’re ready to give her a run. Thanks for the well wishes. Hope you’re having a great summer.
Your shared experiences are great for the rest of us who may be in need of such repairs down the road.
Hi, Tandy,
Well, I hope you don’t need it, but if you do, these surgeons can work miracles now. The only real negative so far has been the sitting during the healing process. I have caught up on some reading though. Thanks for checking in.
Joe,
You don’t know me but as a relatively new follower and retired Navy veteran, I want to thank you for sharing your periodic EA emails/newsletters (and pics) which describe your travels as well as other, personal matters such as yours and Helen’s medical “challenges”.
Glad to hear you and your wife had successful surgeries and are doing well in your recoveries!
In our prayers, we hope this continues.
Hi, Ron,
Helen and I are so glad to have you Easin’ Along with us and thank you for checking in. The recoveries are going well and we hope to be back on the road again soon. Our next trip will take us along the Blue Ridge Parkway and the return includes a stop at one of our favorite Navy installations, Patuxent River NAS. Hope you’ll join us.
So, Joe, I suspect I’m going to travel this road in a short time, maybe before summer. I’ve had some back problems for some time now… the spine doctor informed me I had some significant spine anomalies after an MRI last Nov…I told him I was managing through my typical discomfort, and he said “…keep on trucking…. I suspect I’ll hear from you next year.”…. and hear it is next year, and and after some particularly grueling pickleball on Mar 4th, I almost couldn’t stand up. And I didn’t get better, so I made that call… he just referred me to a surgeon, who I saw Friday; he did his exam, and said my current pain was likely hip related, not back.He sent me up for an X-ray, and I saw the results this morning on my online medical file…so I have a large lucency on the femoral head, and multiple pelvic enthesiocytes. Sound like what you had??? (LOL)
I’ve got a followup appt this Tuesday with the spine doctor again, and then I’ll see a hip specialist a couple days later, I hope… I hope the spine doctor can give me some idea what to anticipate, prior to my hip evaluation. From my reading, my conditions typically result in hip replacement… so we’ll see.
I know a lady who also had your surgery last summer…. her recovery has not been as rapid and trouble-free as yours…. she had to forgo her Fall hike on the Appalachian Trail in VA, and she continues to have a slightly altered gait…. if hip replacement is my fate, I have high hopes for an outcome similar to yours; my knee surgeries went so well; you know I had both done simultaneously, and I thought that wasn’t very bad; then when I had to have the revision of the right knee, that seemed like a walk in the park to me…
Yours was only an overnight stay in the hospital??? I’m liking the sound of that… I’ll let you know more about my plans, when I know more about my plans.
Guy
Guy,
Your diagnosis is in a language with which I am not familiar (LOL)! I did have some knee pain that my doctor said was a referral from my hip. Maybe that is what you are experiencing with your back.
To boost your spirit, I can tell you that after Helen had both knees replaced in March and June, and my hip replacement in July, we went on a month long trip up the Blue Ridge Parkway in September and hiked our hearts out. I wish the same for you.
Well, I’ll skip a lot of the background (and jargon) that I introduced earlier, Joe. Suffice it to say I have new knees, some back problems that I have managed to outrun, and now some hip joint “incongruities”, which hurt like the dickens! (I read about our Blue Ridge trip… we preceded you there by 6 weeks. You had your hip surgery while we were in Knoxville last year for several weeks.)
My knees are serving me well enough to do all the things I like to do, chiefly pickleball; now to get this hip issue behind me!! My appointment with the hip surgeon is day after tomorrow, and I’m anxious to hear her diagnosis and recommendation(s). I suspect replacement awaits me, and I’m ready. Your experience is affirmed by several others I have spoken with; they report it’s an “easy surgery” with a short rehab… I hope to be back on the pickleball court before summer’s end.
Guy
Guy,
I wouldn’t wish hip joint “incongruities” on anyone, but I’m certain that you’ll get through them with flying colors. Best of luck and keep us posted.