A couple of questions regarding Cam Impingement & Labral Tear Surgery.

[claire barge]

Hi A,

I got impingement surgery and labral repair done with John in March. Mine is slightly different but also similar in some ways. We both have labral tears (mine now repaired!!) but your impingement is CAM type and mine is PINCER type. John likes to get his patients moving quite quickly after surgery (to help with healing and prevent scarring). He generally says 1 week or so on crutches but it can vary. If you are walking with a limp still after 1 week he says keep using the crutches for a bit. He is lot different to other surgeons (some say 6 weeks on crutches) but the way they do the surgery is different. Personally, I was on crutches for two weeks. I would hire your crutches in Sydney and bring them down with you on the plane cos if you hire some down here you won't be able to take them with you to airport and use on plane etc. You'll probably want them with you to use to get back home on plane. As far as your return to work, at least you are sitting and not walking all day however sitting can be aggravating to hip post-surgery. To be honest with you I would give yourself a month off work. John may say sooner but I have found from myself and other people that their time frames are a little unrealistic. Having said that everyone is different and you may feel like going back sooner. If you can I would take 1 month off. The only other bit of advice that I can give you is to go in a strong as you can with respect to quadratus femoris muscle (deep hip rotator) and gluts. Your switched on osteopath should be able to help - ask him that you want exercises to strengthen quadratus femoris using theraband and some bridging exs etc. Quadratus femoris stabilizes the ball of your femur in the socket and is often wasted with chronic hip pain. Because your waiting til September this will give you time to strengthen.

All the best and I hope it goes well.

C. Barge

[TChen]

Hey all. Op went fantasticly. I was in overnight, walked out on crutches but can move about the hotel without them. I woke up this morning and the only pain is from the op, my hip pain is not there and usually getting out of bed is a painfull. I only had codiene for the pain after the op and only needed some last night to sleep. John is brillant, at the appointment he explained everything that he would do and possiblities when he got in there. I see Amir for physio today and John again on Mon before heading back to Darwin. All I can say is thank goodness for a great surgeon. Hope anyone who has surgery coming up has as much as a success as I have had. Take care all, Tonya

[Vixen]

Well done Tonya, yes we are indeed lucky to within reach of such skill. A word of warning, be prepared for the ups and downs ahead............

[TChen]

Hey Vixen, Yeah know what you mean. Sitting for 4 or so hours on a plane home was a nightmare. my ankle is so swollen and I am rather stiff today but it is still 100% better than it has been in a year.
Thanks for your website tips to. I got into see Amir and he is fantastic. Gave me heaps of info and physio to do.
On the plane home last night a hostie was asking about my hip and was looking for a surgeon and wanting to talk to someone who had been there and had surgery etc so I passed on Jo's info. She was really grateful to be able to talk to someone and I also gave her this site to check.

Have fun... take care.

[pusinka]

I was wondering how you were going Tonya - knew you were having surgery late June, and were counting down the days.... I hope you recover as speedily as possible. Just a few questions if I may - How many days after surgery did you fly home? Did you need to make any special arrangements with the airline? Did you just have an ordinary seat, or did you fly first class? I'm counting the days as well - 56 to go. Although now I've had corstisone in the hip, it's eased off somewhat and I'm managing better (not enough to avoid surgery though!). Anyway, all the best, and do keep us posted on your recovery.

[TChen]

Hey all, doing great today.
Pusinka,
I was lucky and had best case scenario with my op. JO was wrapped when I walked into his office 5 days post op with no hip pain and only a little limp. Only pain was from cuts and where the machine that holds the hip out has bruised me etc.
I flew home day 5. It was a 4 1/2 hour flight and by the time I got home I was back on the crutches because my ankle was swollen and i had a thigh strain from clenching. It took 2 days to calm day and today is fine. I should have rung the airline and made arrangements as when we got to the airport the flight was full and no spare seats so I was squashed in with everyone else.
I removed the tape on my cuts today but had to retape as they popped a bit. grr I am not a good healer when it comes to stitches.
The hip itself is fantastic. Keeping up with the exercises that Amir gave me. I am heading back to work on the 15th July and think that will be fine.
Keek smiling not long now. I guess the last few weeks b4 surgery is the hardest I think, but it will all get better soon.
Tonya

[Vixen]

Tonya, what exactly did John find and what did he do ?

[TChen]

Vixen,
I was lucky I had a lot of loose cartlidge and a tear, John saved and cleaned it all up. I have some great photo's. He commented that there was a good reason for my pain and that is was pretty horrible in there when it came to inflamation and swelling.
I have one of those pain nights last night and sleeping is hard to get comfy still. Not complaining cos it is 100% better than it was.
Hope everyone is going ok... hugz all.

[Apricotstone]

I'm resurrecting this old thread as it's a good one for those in Victoria, Australia. Just had my surgery with John O'Donnell. Very happy so far. Low level pain post-op. Clean up of debris, ligament and joint capsule repair.

About 2 weeks post-op. If you have the surgery at Mercy Private which is one of the 2 hospitals he operates from, good aluminium crutches can be hired at the hospital. The rental is $20 for 2 weeks (minimum hire period). $10 per week. You can also contact Statewide Home Health directly to organise a pair for $7 per week or $40 to buy.

I was on crutches for about 5 days. Taking very short brief steps around the house without limping. It's uncomfortable to sit properly in a chair or walk for more than 15 mins at a time but resting slouched on the couch is fine.

[Apricotstone]

Week 2, back on the crutches again. Spent a couple of hours without them one day and my legs seized up. Walking in very small steps at the moment. I'm going to stay on them for at least another week outside of the house. The joints don't feel strong yet.