Birmingham Hip Resurfacing - Patient Journal

After at least a year with an aching hip and along with the immobility that made me feel much older than I was, I finally decided to search out what was wrong with me. An MRI quickly revealed a severely deteriorated hip. The first doctor I saw told me I needed hip replacement surgery and I needed it very soon.

When he came into the room to discuss my medical condition, he didn’t even look to see what my name was or ask me any questions. I felt like I was a number in a faceless crowd. Somehow I just couldn’t turn my body over to someone I didn’t feel the least bit comfortable with. That doctor was covered by my insurance but my discomfort with him led me to search out the other doctors recommended by friends. Dr. Rogerson’s name came up from three different people that I talked to. Each different friend couldn’t recommend Dr. Rogerson highly enough. After working with him for the past two months, I can see why!

From the first time I dropped off my x-rays in his office, I felt like I was a valued patient. During my appointment he discussed my MRI in depth and explained what it showed. He asked me many questions, examined me, watched me walk and discussed in great detail what the operation would be like. He answered every question I had and his confident, reassuring manner made me trust him instantly. I knew with him as my doctor I was in good hands.

His staff is as dedicated and caring as he is. Over the next couple weeks they made appointments for me, always explaining everything in great detail before it happened. I appreciated visiting the HipHab facility beforehand, as well as meeting with Joanna to go over all supplies and meds I would need to get ahead of time.

The day of surgery went just as he explained it would. I was pleasantly surprised that as soon as I got in the operating room, I feel like I was “out” within a minute. No time for me to look around and think! The next thing I knew I was in recovery. For me that was the most uncomfortable part of the whole process. Since I generally vomit easily they gave me less medicine and therefore I had more pain. The nurse in recovery was an angel. She talked to me constantly always explaining what she was doing and what was happening to me. It took me several hours in recovery but she stayed by my side every minute. Because I was in recovery so long, she even allowed my son to come in and see me so he could finally leave in peace for the evening.

Once I got up in my room the pain was pretty much gone and all I wanted to do was sleep. Too bad that the nurses needed to wake me up on an hourly basis to check on me! Oh well, I had the most soothing “leg jobbies” on that were massaging my legs and that put me right back to sleep. I wish I could have taken those leg massagers home, they were great!

The next morning I was surprised at how painless my hip still was! I almost thought it felt too good to be true. I could easily move my toes back and forth on my operated leg but that was it! When they asked me to get out of bed to try to go to the bathroom, I felt helpless. I couldn’t move that leg up, down or sideways. For awhile I laid there thinking about Christopher Reeves after he was paralyzed and what he must have felt like. I willed my leg to move so badly even just the slightest bit but no matter how strong my will; my leg was not cooperating. The nurses gave me hints on how to help myself move and with their help I was up and out and no worse for the wear. Later that day the physical therapy team also came in to work with me. By the next day I was walking with crutches up and down the hall!

The two days in the hospital went quickly and I was glad when Joanna came in to take my big bandage off and the nurses finally took out my IV needle. It felt very strange being wheeled out of the hospital in a wheelchair. I have always been the one to care for everyone else in my family and I really didn’t like the feeling of needing someone else to care for and wait on me.

Getting into my compact car was not as easy as I would have liked it to be. However, after putting the seat all the way down and all the way back and using a couple of pillows, I managed to get in with lots of help from my son. Our apartment at Meriter HipHab was very nice. It felt good to be out of the hospital and be in a place more like home. I had land therapy that afternoon and walked outside around the block. Gee . . . I was beginning to feel more normal every minute. I even made spaghetti for dinner that night!

The following day I had water therapy . . . OH MY! That is the BEST! I felt like I was invincible in the water. I never wanted to get out! I do feel part of the reason I recovered so fast was because of water therapy.

Desiree was my land therapist and she, like the rest of Dr. Rogerson’s staff, was so personable. She always asked how I was feeling and then would explain why my body might feel that way, which always gave me great comfort that she had an answer for everything that I asked. She also gave the BEST massages after land therapy and would elevate and ice my leg on her way out so I could take a little snooze!

Dr. Rogerson always made a daily visit to the HipHab to visit and check out my hip. I wasn’t sure what the healing process was supposed to look like but his positive comments always made me feel like I was healing great!

I was glad to go home on Sunday morning after the staples were taken out. By this time I could get in and out of bed by myself, dress myself with the help of a few “handy dandy” gadgets, and walk around on crutches pretty easily. I still tired myself out by early afternoon but every day my leg was getting stronger and able to move more on its own.

My son needed to leave on Tuesday morning, one week and one day after my surgery. I drove him to the airport and truly felt strong enough to care for myself. I think the whole thing is pretty amazing when you stop to think about it. One week after major surgery, I was home driving and on my own!

I went back to school exactly two weeks after surgery. My second graders took very good care of me . . . always being sure I had my crutches when I needed them! Within a week I was down to one crutch at school. In fact my second week back, which would be three weeks after surgery, my class went on a field trip to the zoo and I walked around all day with my class and felt absolutely fine.

My fellow teachers at school cannot believe my recovery; and truthfully, I can’t either. I believe Dr. Rogerson is an amazing doctor. He has already perfected this new hip-resurfacing procedure and has organized the most amazing HibHab rehabilitation to enhance recovery. I feel so lucky to have him as my doctor.

Throughout the whole process there were very few uncomfortable moments. I would have to say giving myself shots in the belly was one of them. It wasn’t as bad as I had imagined, but I was overjoyed the last day I needed to do that. One thing that happened to me that I wasn’t expecting was swelling of my operated leg. I went home from the hospital weighing more than when I went in. Many of my slacks did not fit for the first week I was back in school, but by the following week, the swelling had gone down enough for me to squeeze back into most clothes. Now, just a month after surgery, I am actually about 5 pounds lighter!

Being a teacher by profession, I get very attached and involved in my student’s lives. I care deeply about them and how they do. I believe many of my students excel not just because of what I teach them but because of the way I support them, believe in them, and care for them. I believe the same thing is true for doctors as well. You can be an accomplished and gifted surgeon but the healing doesn’t just come from that. It comes from the care and concern you give each patient as well. Dr. Rogerson I can’t thank you enough! You not only are a perfectionist with your craft, but you honestly care about each and every one of your patients and each of us knows it and are grateful for it!

In appreciation,
Geri Stenstrup

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3/21/2007

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