Birmingham Hip Resurfacing?!

Birmingham Hip Resurfacing?

I'm a very active 30something and I'm scheduled to have a BHR in early August. Anyone out there had a BHR? How was your recovery?

Yes, I had it at age 48 less than 6 months ago, on December 29. It has been *wonderful*. I lost more blood than usual and was too woozy to get up the first 2 days, but on the 3rd I felt fine, got up and walked half an hour, including up and down stairs, on crutches but otherwise unassisted (the PT came along with me, but didn't need to do anything).

I left the hospital the 5th day. By the 8th I had discarded the crutches and was walking almost limp-free. My doctor was firm about resting for 6 weeks so I did little for that period, but on day 43 I started running. At first the leg stiffened up some, but for my 3-month checkup I ran 6 miles into the clinic to see the doctor.

Today I ran 12 miles. I have also resumed playing ultimate frisbee. My quickness is not what it used to be, but my straight-ahead speed is respectable, and I am still improving.

I would say get in as good shape as you can before the operation. I spent a month lifting weights and doing underwater sprints, and think it made a big difference. I also took iron and calcium supplements (after checking with my surgeon). For me, doing everything I could to prepare made me feel more confident.

This is an amazing operation. We are so lucky to have lasted to where it is available. You might want to consider joining a support group, like hipsrus in Britain, or surfacehippy in the US (yahoo groups). That is a good way to get information and stories. One warning though, the people who remain on the groups tend to be those who have more issues. Successful cases like mine (and yours!) usually drop out once the arthritis becomes a distant memory.

This operation is amazing