Surgeon and specialist physio visit - 24 days post-op

Drove down to Melbourne with my son Tom for my post-op appointment with my surgeon, John O'Donnell. An hour each way in the car leaves me sore, especially in the left hip and groin. 

Fortunately, we were driving past the Collingwood footy club's training facility in Swan Street, Melbourne and got to stop in for 10 minutes to see them training.

Both the surgeon and physio were very happy with my hips. John believes I will make an excellent recovery while the physio, Amir Takla, is happy where I am at this stage. He checked my mobility and showed me some simple quadratus muscle isometric exercises.

Seems the surgery was well timed and got to me before arthritis took hold. I look like I'll be sore for 6-8 weeks post-op and John is optimistic of recovery in 3 months. However the physio is not so confident.

He said he didn't know how I played cricket with it for so long. The major concern is the micro fracture work done in the right hip where loose cartilage was removed and tiny fractures were made in the underlying bone. This causes new cartilage to develop from a so-called super-clot.

The physio urged me to not squat, pivot or lift from ground for 6 more weeks. He wants me to slow up as he thinks I am doing too much. He believes I am very sore in my left hip as I am unconsciously compensating for my right leg.

He asked me to continue my anti-inflammatories (Meloxicam) until the course is completed and to not miss any days. He also said to take Panadol Osteo (a larger dose paracetamol) every day and ice the hip. I had discontinued the pain relief and icing but will get back onto it now.

I’ll be doing 4 of the simple quadratus muscle exercises for a minute each day for the next 4 weeks, stationary bike riding 3 times a week for 15 minutes with a high seat and minimal resistance, and I’ll continue to get my back loosened up by my local physio.

I feel like I am in great hands. John O’Donnell is an internationally renowned guru and Amir Takla is very experienced with the management of arthroscopic hip surgery patients.

I am to see Amir in 4 weeks for a final check from him where he will give me a long-term program.

Here are the physio's notes.

Here are the surgery photos from my left hip.

And the surgery photos from my right hip.

On the way home I discovered that Tom likes Mudhoney and Metallica. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree!

Surgery reports

Here are my surgery reports I received today. I thought they'd be more detailed.

Here I go again!!

Well. Here I go again. The oldies have driven me down to St Vincent’s Hospital this morning and I’ve been wondering if I am wasting my time. The left hip was the one that gave me the most grief when I run and play sport, and as it turned out the damage wasn’t a great as the MRI suggested once the surgeon got in there last week.

While I still had labrum debridement and a femoral osteectomy of the CAM lesion on my femoral head/neck, the surgeon didn’t seem to think it was too bad. If that is the case, I am quite fearful that he’ll get into my right one and find there is nothing wrong with the bloody thing.

On the other hand, I recommend St Vincent's & Mercy Private Hospital where you’ll have your hip shaved and painted and you’ll get an injection in the guts from gorgeous young Irish and Scottish nurses and physios.

Plus you get these fetching underpants!

Now, back to my newspaper.

Immediately post-op

Howdy. I’m bloody tired. Didn't get done until 12.30pm after arriving at the hospital at 7am. I am extremely groggy but the pain in the hip is really good so that's good.

I had a bad reaction to Tramadol when I woke up. It’s a powerful pain reliever but I had rashes and felt hot. They gave me Phenergan (an antihistamine) and along with the Morphine I have been off my trolley!!

Wooooo!!!!

Here we go!!

I’m waiting and I’m tired and hungry and toey. Caroline and I have been here since 7am. We left home at 5.30am. I’m not nervous about the op but I am about the recovery. I want these hips fixed!

Last night I had pain in the upper hip/illiotibial band area of the pelvis. This happens especially when I'm lying down or trying to sleep. Hopefully the surgery will settle it down.

I got new boots!

And a shaved and painted leg.

Ready to go.