Today's blog is dedicated to my husband Jimmy. I wanted to post this experience because it changed both of our lives. Read on...
Began Writing March 2007 after Jim's surgery...edited after mine in June 2007--->
2007 started out with my husband Jim needing hip replacement surgery. Jim is a very strong, active, sports minded 44 year old man in no way ready to slow down, even though the previously diagnosed osteoarthritis in his right hip was worsening. We know he got this joint disease due to his participation in heavy contact sports all of his life along with a predisposition to weak joints from the family gene pool. This ‘wear-and-tear’ degenerative type of arthritis causes the cartilage to wear away over time so the bone ends rub together. Jim did not need a Dr. to tell him he had serious hip problems. Every day his hip increased in pain and weakness.
What I really want to be doing right now instead of sitting at my computer is deep stretching on the floor like my cat Mohito does every time she gets up from a resting position. I’ve not deeply stretched or exercised for the past five weeks while I recover from emergency partial hysterectomy surgery. The past five weeks have been rough but let’s go back a few months.
2007 started out with my husband Jim needing hip replacement surgery. Jim is a very strong, active, sports minded 44 year old man in no way ready to slow down, even though the previously diagnosed osteoarthritis in his right hip was worsening. We know he got this joint disease due to his participation in heavy contact sports all of his life along with a predisposition to weak joints from the family gene pool. This ‘wear-and-tear’ degenerative type of arthritis causes the cartilage to wear away over time so the bone ends rub together. Jim did not need a Dr. to tell him he had serious hip problems. Every day his hip increased in pain and weakness.
Jim began his sports career as a young man competing on the wrestling mat, the football field, the ice rink and even the race track. He was captain of the Cedar Grove High School football team and brought his team to multiple victories simultaneously coaching while competing. After he graduated high school, Jim settled in coaching football. His ice hockey days were reduced to once a week, sometimes only twice a month depending on the intensity of pain and level of weakness in his hip.
That went on gratis for the past twenty seven years, just for love of sports and teaching. Sports are at the center of Jim’s life so when his hip started to act up, his instincts were to push through, push hard, don‘t complain, don’t give in to the pain. By the time the third Dr.’s opinion confirmed what we already knew, Jim was ready for a complete right hip replacement and he was only 44 years old which is considered to be pretty young for this type of surgery. Most hip replacement candidates are in the 70‘s or older and their recovery expectations are definitely not what Jim‘s were. He had a pretty bad limp by then and the weakness in his leg was obvious to everyone around him. He was losing the ability to do normal day-to-day things like getting in and out of his truck. Walk. Run. This was devastating to this sports minded athlete, Teacher, Coach. He wanted his life back.
The surgery was performed on March 5, 2007 by Dr. Mark Hartzband of the Hartzband Joint Replacement Institute, a Dr. god that leads his industry using various types of implants made of metal and plastics. Dr.‘s choice for Jim was an intimidating titanium steel on titanium steel prosthesis implanted through a four inch incision on the back of Jim‘s right hip. The procedure took a mere forty five minutes at Hackensack University Hospital in Hackensack, NJ. Note to reader, Jim was awake during the entire operation. Did you know that an epidural and a percocet are all one needs to endure such a procedure? Jim could actually hear the metal on metal pounding that was happening behind the strategically placed sheet in front of his eyes.
Thankfully, he could not see or feel anything. Yet.
Thankfully, he could not see or feel anything. Yet.
My mother-in-law Carmella and I were anxiously waiting for the Dr.’s report and as promised forty five minutes after taking him into the operating room, Dr. Hartzband with perspiration still on his lip from manipulating my husband, gave his account: “He’s fine. He’s in recovery. You’ll be able to see him shortly.” A smile and a wink and off he whisked to perform another miracle. Then we were brought into recovery and we got our first glimpse of Jim. He was lying flat on the gurney with several feeds to and from his body. Two to drain fluid away and two to put fluid in. He was a little swollen, wrapped up in swaddling blankets with a damp towel on his head. His color was the perfect shade of pink. Pink lips, as usual, thank God.. Two nurses were monitoring him and tending to his every need. He was coherent and smiled when he saw us. I asked him if he was alright? He said, “Yeah, you“? “I’m fine” I said with tears in my eyes as I kissed his cheek. I was a nervous wreck. I remember thinking, what would I ever do without this man? This man who has been my best friend for the past twelve years, my husband for the last five, my everything. Thankfully, today I didn’t have to worry about that.
We were not fully prepared for the recovery process after the surgery though, and when you are thrust into a new situation you basically learn on the fly or else. This was my husbands life on the line here and if he needed my help, he was going to get it. Immediately after the surgery, Jim was questioning his sanity. His epidural hadn’t quite worn off yet so he wasn’t completely regretful, but when it had worn off, it was a different story. It was overwhelming. He had a liquid drain or puncture wound directly above his incision which now had 15 staples holding it tightly closed. The wounds needed their dressings changed daily, his blood needed lovamox injections to keep it thin and from clotting, compression stockings needed to be taken off in the evening and put on every morning to assist in the prevention of blood clots. There was a lot of discussion about 45 degree angles and how not to displace the hip…what? Displace the hip? That was possible? Yes. We had to learn what not to do and I had to learn how to administer injections, clean wounds, find strength from beyond to put on and off those stockings. They’re not your mama’s pantyhose by the way, they are industrial strength ‘compression’ stockings that are almost impossible to put on.
Of course we didn’t know any of that. I did know that he was going to be fine and I could and would convince him, and myself, that we had made the right choice. We. We were going to get through this together. Realizing the magnitude of what total hip replacement surgery looks like post-op, we took a deep breath, held onto each other and the newly introduced walker and cane, pulled on the hand assists and compression stockings and forged ahead because for now, they wanted him to get up and he needed to get up. For his sanity. To know that he was not bedridden and that this was not the biggest mistake of his life. Within only a few hours after surgery two rehabilitators showed up bedside and asked “Are you ready to get up”? I looked at my mother-in-law and gasped “What”? What did they say? Get up? So soon? How can he? But sure enough, they along with Jim’s brute strength and will got him to stand up and with a walker, walk across the room.
I stood in the doorway as a clapping, grinning strip of finish line tape and encouraged him to walk to me - like he was taking his first steps ever. And he was. The first steps ever, with his new hip. And walk he did, first to me and then back to bed to rest for one night and then I took him home.
Once home, the visiting nurse service came to our home several times to check his stats and to begin physical therapy. Exercises daily to increase his strength, mobility and flexibility. Eventually, he would go to a physical therapist but for now, they’re coming to him. He’s more than ready and willing. Jim’s competitive nature is inspiring at times and to see him like that was admirable. He wanted to get up and walk before they asked him to, before he should have, before he could have. He was quite impatient. Competitive, if only with himself and his new hip. Champion in nature, like a thoroughbred born to run but locked in the stable. How can you hold someone like that down? You can’t. Like most truly strong men faced with physical confinement he reacted with brute force willing himself, pulling, kicking and moving around to find his limitations. Once he realized his limitations he pursued his capabilities. He was religious about his rehab pushing himself daily and exercising constantly. He barely rested in between as he gauged the regaining of his strength, mobility and flexibility. He could see the light at the end of the tunnel and he was pursuing it with everything he had. I’m so proud of him and his accomplishments. He, in the true essence of who he is, is once again a champion. Whole. Able to compete. Strong. Unbeatable. An over comer.
Dr. Hartzband promised Jim that he’d be driving in 10 days and while driving any long period of time was out of the question, Jim did drive around the block 10 days after his surgery, in defiance and in liberation. He’s yet to play ice hockey or even put on his skates, but his determination will see him through. Besides, Dr. Hartzband promised that he’d be able to skate after about a year and I’d dare anyone to try and stop my husband Jim from believing that. Since the surgery he’s gone back to work full time. He’s had extensive physical therapy to regain his range of motion and strength. He’s able to do strength training, bike riding, and we’ve yet to see what else he can do. It has only been four months since the surgery.
Once home, the visiting nurse service came to our home several times to check his stats and to begin physical therapy. Exercises daily to increase his strength, mobility and flexibility. Eventually, he would go to a physical therapist but for now, they’re coming to him. He’s more than ready and willing. Jim’s competitive nature is inspiring at times and to see him like that was admirable. He wanted to get up and walk before they asked him to, before he should have, before he could have. He was quite impatient. Competitive, if only with himself and his new hip. Champion in nature, like a thoroughbred born to run but locked in the stable. How can you hold someone like that down? You can’t. Like most truly strong men faced with physical confinement he reacted with brute force willing himself, pulling, kicking and moving around to find his limitations. Once he realized his limitations he pursued his capabilities. He was religious about his rehab pushing himself daily and exercising constantly. He barely rested in between as he gauged the regaining of his strength, mobility and flexibility. He could see the light at the end of the tunnel and he was pursuing it with everything he had. I’m so proud of him and his accomplishments. He, in the true essence of who he is, is once again a champion. Whole. Able to compete. Strong. Unbeatable. An over comer.
Dr. Hartzband promised Jim that he’d be driving in 10 days and while driving any long period of time was out of the question, Jim did drive around the block 10 days after his surgery, in defiance and in liberation. He’s yet to play ice hockey or even put on his skates, but his determination will see him through. Besides, Dr. Hartzband promised that he’d be able to skate after about a year and I’d dare anyone to try and stop my husband Jim from believing that. Since the surgery he’s gone back to work full time. He’s had extensive physical therapy to regain his range of motion and strength. He’s able to do strength training, bike riding, and we’ve yet to see what else he can do. It has only been four months since the surgery.
That was then. This is now. Check him out.
Jim's First Skate
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