Surgery

Just a few pictures of before, and after my surgery.

Pre-surgery. Very excited to get this done! (not really)

Drugged up morning after surgery. Foam block between legs keeps me from crossing legs and dislocating hip again. I also feel very green at this point.

Dressed and ready to go home. Still drugged up and feel like I want to puke. Notice shaved spot on leg.

Home!

Just wanted to pass on to you that I am home and doing OK. I have about a 8 inch incision on my left leg that looks cool but hurts like a ____! My Mom has come down from Montana to help out with me and entertain Aly and Adrienne's mom is due in Thursday to do the same. Adrienne's boss was very helpful too by letting her take time off to care for me with no penalty, Thanks Carolyn!

My road to recovery starts today with very light PT. It is amazing what little I can do right now. I can barly lift my leg up so getting in and out of bed is next to impossible. Going to the bathroom as been a challenge and that's only going pee. I have a 16 inch riser on the toilet to help me sit when the other calls. I can't bend my leg more than 70 degrees, cross my legs, turn in my toe or sit normally. I also have to sleep on my back, something I have never been able to do. It will get easier I hope, it's just about 6 weeks out before it's allowed.

A thank you to all who offered prayers and well wishes on my operation and recovery. I am blesses to have all of you and your thoughts.

The Day Has Come...

Tomorrow at 11:30am I enter the operating room with a bad hip, 3+ hours later I hope to come out fixed.(and in a lot of pain I'm sure!)

If you don't know I have whats called a Impingement in my left hip. (have it in the right too, a possible fix later on). They are going to repair it via a pretty intense surgery. The procedure consists of a cut near my hip to enter to get to my hip socket. They will then cut the ball off my femur to allow them to dislocate my hip. After this is done the doctors will file down the bumps on both my ball and socket (saddle part of socket is best way to describe it). Then they will repair and reattach the torn cartilage to properly cushion my joint again. Then they will relocate my hip joint and screw the femur back onto the ball with three screws. That will be the easy part for me. When I wake up I will have to spend 3 or so nights in the hospital before they release me. Then spend about 4-6 weeks on crutches putting no weight on my hip. Then another 3-6 weeks of coming off the crutches with a total recovery of up to 6 months before I am back at it.

Thanks to all that have wished me well, Adrienne or I will update you as we go.

More Surgery

After meeting with my Orthopedic Doctor on Tuesday we have decided to go ahead and repair the hip impingement (see last paragraph) and torn cartilage in my left hip. We are unsure when this will take place for sure but it should be sometime in late February or early March.

The procedure consists of a cut near my hip to enter to get to my hip socket. They will then cut the ball off my femur to allow them to dislocate my hip. After this is done the doctors will file down the bumps on both my ball and socket (saddle part of socket is best way to describe it). Then they will pull up and reattach the torn cartilage to properly cushion my joint again. Then they will relocate my hip joint and screw the femur back onto the ball. That will be the easy part for me. When I wake up I will have to spend 3 or so nights in the hospital before they release me. Then spend about 4-6 weeks on crutches putting no weight on my hip. Then another 3-6 weeks of coming off the crutches and a total recovery of up to 6 months before I am back at it, and playing golf again...UGH!

What this surgery will do for me is fix the bone on bone contact I have so as I age my hip won't have to be replaced. Doctors believe that what I have ultimately leads to bad arthritis and eventually total hip replacement. This is a fairly new study, about 12 years old but so far others having it done have had great results.

Hip Impingement description:

The syndrome is produced when excess bone forms around the neck of the femur, and which, on flexing the leg, impinges on the acetabulum edge (ladrum), thus putting pressure on the cartilage. There are also cases where there is no excess bone protuberance at this point but the acetebulum is longer than normal and so, on flexing the joint, the femur neck impacts against the excess bone on the wall of the pelvis and pushes the femoral head outwards, causing pain and obstructing flexion. In most case, both phenomena occur together. According to the specialist, the symptoms of those suffering from this syndrome are pain in the groin, in the gluteal region, in the thigh or around one side of the hip, on making flexing or rotational movements.

Well????

Well, Friday I went in for surgery at 8:30, at 9:30 the doctor stitched me back up finding no sign of either hernia, he even brought in a second doctor to confirm. What they did find was a lump of hard fat in the area that a ultrasound and two examination's showed hernias in. After a few days in bed, I am doing much better and am now feeling a little claustrophobic in the house. Adrienne has been awesome in taking care of me and being my nurse (although I wish she wore a candy stripe nurses outfit or something). A Thank You to Her, she is loved and I appreciate it tremendously.

So now it is back to the orthopedic department next Tuesday to figure out what to do with my hips since it seems THEY are the problem to my pains I am having.

Oh-Ya, if ever around me when I am waking from anesthesia, back off, I guess I'm kinda grouchy when I come too.

Kevin Is Having Surgery

Tomorrow morning at 8:30 I am having surgery to repair a double hernia. I am having the two hernia's, one on each side, fixed then they are going to put a mesh netting across my abdomen to hopefully prevent future hernias from happening. It is a 2 hour procedure with a 2-3 hour recovery then it's home mid afternoon. Adrienne has taken the day off and Aly is spending the night at her Grandpa and Grandmas house with a sleep over at Abi's house sandwiched in between. (why does she always get to have all the fun?)

The Big Day

Aly's tonsil surgery was a success! She was very brave and did outstanding before and after the surgery. The nurses said that they have never seen a kid act like she did after it was done. She was sitting up drinking and talking like it had never happened. All we heard was how bad it was going to be and to get the ice cream and popsicles ready, YA RIGHT! She ate a whole ham sandwich and even a piece of candy hours after it was over. Here we thought we would have a day or two of quite, nope she is still talking a storm up.

In bed dressed up and waiting for nurses

Playing in the Playroom pre-op

Kevin and Adrienne got to suite up and go into the operation room to help her fall asleep.

This was more painfull to Aly than the surgery was

Doctor Pink and Wolfie were there to comfort (picture taken by Aly)

The morning after, smiling!

Surgery

If you don't know, Aly is getting her tonsils and adenoids out on Tuesday, September 30th at 12:30. She is kinda excited if you can believe it although that's to change were sure. She is having it done at the new Children's Hospital which we got to tour last week. They showed Aly what her day would be like, what the rooms look like and even the procedure room and all the cool tools they would use. She got to see the heart machines, and got to "test" the mask that will put her under, she was shy but very interested. Wish her luck and we will update when done.

Aly in Mask on Tour

We are now off to Sweet Tomatoes for her last meal...Yes she picked it..a 4 year old picked Sweet Tomatoes...