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Birmingham Hip Resurfacing -
Patient Journal
Victoria Kassner - June 2006
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I had heard about Dr. Rogerson's expertise and the possibilities
of the "Belgian Hip Resurfacing Technique" coming to Madison
from my friend Stephanie B. Gifford at Stellar Rehab and
Matthew, my son.
Dr. Rogerson had
performed surgery on my son's shoulder perhaps a year ago. Also
Matt did his nursing rotation in Meriter's surgical ward this
past semester and just loved it. He was able to be in the
surgical theater when Dr. Rogerson did surgeries.
I have arthritis in my spine and lower back, and my right hip
always had limited motion. Approximately two years ago I went to
my physician, Dr. Cooper (Internal Medicine at Dean) and he set
me up with Naproxen (Aleve-bigger dose) and sent me to rehab.
Matt, via Dr. Rogerson, had been sent to Stellar Rehab for his
slow shoulder recovery. He is 30 with two small kids and a
part-time job at Target Pharmacy. He is also a full-time
Edgewood Nursing student. (Whew!)
He marveled at Stellar's techniques and kinesio taping, deep
myofascial release method. I came to Stellar fulfilling Dr.
Cooper's request. |
Stellar identified my hip
(too) and told me that Dr. Rogerson was hoping to get FDA Medical
Association approval on the Birmingham Hip Resurfacing procedure in the
near future. I quickly made an appointment and met with Dr. Rogerson's
Physician Assistant, Joanna, who took my vitals and put me on "the list."
We anticipated January 1, 2006 or thereafter. Weeks turned to months. My
hip digressed so rapidly! My right leg muscles atrophied so badly. I
couldn't do my exercises to relieve them. I continued to work but boy,
my coworkers could tell you, I walked so slowly. I couldn't get up from
sitting and begin walking for a minute or two. I never carried coffee! I
couldn't garden this beautiful spring. I couldn't lift Matt's baby,
London, 22 pounds of squirming little boy. I had to wait for theaters to
empty because I was frozen in my seat.
I called Dr. Rogerson's office about every two weeks. One day in mid-May
they called me! I rushed over to give them my current vitals. They said
they were reviewing patients as to who would go first in the pilot wave.
I hoped for 1 of 35 or 50. When I got a call back they said I might be
in the first 10! I said "Yippee; well 6 or 7 would be nice." They said
"How about #1?" I eagerly agreed, no reservations!
My general doctor, Dr. Cooper, gave me a pre-op appointment the next
day. Everyone was so eager and helpful.
Dr. Rogerson had me visit the Meriter Heights Rehab Program
pre-operation. They gave me sheets of exercises and post-op
instructions. I did do twice daily regimens when I could, but many were
too painful because my bad leg muscles had atrophied badly.
Then Surgery Day! On June 6th my surgery was scheduled for 1 p.m. We
checked in at 10 a.m. (Smoothly, I might add.) I was not anxious or
nervous. I was very well prepared for what would follow.
Surgery began a
little late. It took about 4 hours. I understand the news crew
was waiting but I went to recovery quite late and Dr. Rogerson
missed them. But....my husband John bought me "the big No. 1 red
finger" and I brought it along to surgery. Staff giggled.
Thursday in the hospital I had a PT session, with some sitting
and lying exercises. I walked a little but I still felt vertigo
in the head and stomach.
The day before (June 7) I had OT in my room. Wonderful aids. The
pickup, sock puller off stick was wonderful. (Now on day 5
post-op, I use it for everything. I can put on my swimsuit,
dress myself, but not put on my ted stockings.)
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Here I am
on June 7, not yet 24 hours post-op. |
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Still a drain; not quite steady. I felt dizzy and nauseous after
a few moments on my feet. My hip and leg didn't give me too much
pain. I needed to be off morphine. Even with anti-nausea drugs,
I felt spacey. I must say post surgery and on morphine, I didn't
have much pain. Maybe Pain Level 3-4 while on it. I switched to
double vicodin.
This was my first meal (and it was good) other than a partial
peanut butter toast. At noon one day post-op I had half a tuna
sandwich and cranberry juice. In this photo, I am still light
headed and dizzy around the edges.
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Here I am in my
room at Meriter Heights. I was disembarked from Meriter by a
cheerful group who had facilitated my Meriter surgery and
recovery. I felt very special!! They all accompanied me to
Meriter Heights on a bus!! Probably because there were so many
of us. I looked up those stairs and gulped! But I could use the
handrails and everyone with crummy hips knows you do "step,
step" one at a time up steps anyway and it was easy. (Just use
the hand rails, not crutches.)
Our apartment was delightful! We had a welcome goodie basket and
a big bouquet from Meriter Heights. As we got settled we found
housekeeping/kitchen supplies, coffee, juices, sodas, plastic
baggies, wipes, and dish soap – just everything. |
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I went to my first physical
therapy session with Desiree (on crutches) in Floor "A" (for aquatic)
and enjoyed it. She helped me, she enabled me. She waterproofed my
glutes and inspected me afterwards. Oh, I forgot one huge thing! Dr.
Rogerson had held open the option I might take a unit of blood if
needed. My tests said I was slightly anemic pre-op and more so after,
but not alarming.
The nurses offered that I might want to consider it. I had wanted not to
unless really necessary. But after my first real attempt up on Day 2, I
almost lost consciousness and felt like I was going into shock. It
really scared me.
I reconsidered, and Dr. Rogerson and the nurses concurred. I received a
unit of blood and then transferred to Meriter Heights. I couldn't have
done this without that blood, I am sure. It made a big difference in how
I was able to sail into rehab so comfortably. And actually, I would have
taken a pint had I to do it over. Actually if we hadn't been hurried, I
would have opted to have my blood collected in advance. Dr. Rogerson
certainly didn't rush me to bypass this. I wanted to jump in ASAP.
So once at Meriter Heights I occasionally had kind of flu-like vertigo
in my head/eyes. I knew I wouldn't faint. I just wasn't up to par. I
drank more fluid and I have been taking prescription iron.
This is
my physical therapist, Desiree, at my first aqua therapy
session. Well, I loved my water therapy. I loved my land
therapy. While she was waterproofing my incision two "hippies"
came by. One woman 5 weeks post-operation (she had the procedure
in Belgium) danced a jig, and bubbled over with how I would love
it. She was a gardener (as I am) and back in the groove. The
other lady was 2 years post hip and "normal." We exchanged "butt
wounds" (the 5 week hippie and me). It was so encouraging.
Desiree then came back to my apartment 45 minutes later so I
could take a shower with my waterproof butt before she
re-bandaged me. She instructed my husband as to "how to."
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On day 3 post-op (Friday) my
therapist took me outside first thing for a walk! I would have saved
myself for my therapy. It was great. She said Dr. Rogerson encouraged us
to get out and walk as much as was possible and sensible.
Bye to those wings and my crutches. Water warm, weightless, wonderful.
Exercise pain free. Of course little baby steps with the land exercises.
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My son, Matthew (age
30) a junior in nursing
at Edgewood, putting on my ted stockings.
He sent me to Dr. Rogerson. |
So Saturday morning my
husband and I went all around the Farmers Market near the capital! It
was 1 1/8 miles!!!! And then we had water therapy in the afternoon! (We
had Starbucks coffee.) It was a leisurely stroll. My husband tears up 10
times a day to see my progress. I am as pleased for him as for me. We
will have our lives back.
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Here I am on Saturday, Post-op Day 4. |
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My PT Paul giving me one last land physical therapy exercise "for home"
in my
Meriter Heights apartment. |
My last water therapy. My PT Paul let me
"fool around" a few minutes
with a noodle.
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So there you are!
I must say that I do have work to do rehabilitating my
wounded muscles, a big surgical incision and bruises. I do have to
budget my energy and deal with pain when I overdo it. But truly, I
sailed through the surgery, postop and rehab seemingly easily. It
was immensely easier than I thought it would be.
Here I am on my last day at Meriter Heights, with my husband John. I
look forward to returning to my garden and carrying my grandchildren.
I will also return to working full time the first week of July, as a
senior technician at Howard Hughes Medical Institute at the UW. My
husband and I love to travel, skin dive, hike and sail. |
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6/30/2006
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