Yup, that’s the Dawg (me) sitting in my hospital room. This past Monday, I had total replacement of my left hip. The surgeon used the anterior technique, which is a relatively new technique here in the US. Basically, with this technique, instead of cutting through the gluteus maximus muscle (your butt), with the anterior technique the surgeon works his way in between the quadraceps, merely cutting through the fascia that holds the muscles together. The net effect is a much shorter recuperation time, which is important to me because I just wanna ROCK!
Amazingly enough, they had me up and walking twice yesterday. The first session in the morning was absolutely excruciating, but in the afternoon, I was able to walk over 100 feet up and down the hall. Today, they’re going to do the same, but in addition the PT will teach me how to get in and out of a car, and in order to get discharged, I’m going to have to walk up four stairs! I’m not looking forward to that, but I realize it has to be done.
Now that I’ve had the procedure done, I can’t begin tell you what an ordeal it has been for the past year and a half. I developed severe arthritis in my left hip over the course of several years due to an old injury. It finally manifested itself at the end of 2011, though the pain wasn’t so bad at the time. But as these things go, it got steadily worse. I finally got around to seeing a doctor, and he told me that I’d probably have to get a hip replacement.
Due to other health issues I was having, I couldn’t schedule my surgery until August of last year. But then a couple of weeks before the surgery when I was to get clearance to undergo the procedure, my blood pressure had gone up; and dangerously high. So I had to cancel the surgery lest I bleed out on the table, and for the past several months I’ve been working hard on changing my diet and religiously taking my blood pressure meds, and amazingly enough, my blood pressure went back to normal levels and lo and behold, I was able to get my hip replaced.
But in the interim, life pretty much sucked. I still kept on gigging, but it was under a lot of pain. It got so bad that I couldn’t even stand for my gigs and had to use a drummer’s stool for my solo performances. I stood a bit at my church gigs, but I just remained seated for the most part in the weeks leading up to my surgery.
Now that I’ve had my hip surgery, life is going to change for the better this time. While I was writing this article, my quite attractive physical therapist fetched me to do some walking about the corridors and to practice going up stairs and steps and getting in and out of a car. Amazingly, my joint doesn’t hurt – at all! What hurts is the incision, and that pain will go away eventually. In fact, it’s nowhere near as painful as it was on Monday, so I’m pretty encouraged.
What this means is that I will have mobility again, and will soon be back and rockin’. Life is going to get better – much, much better!
Guitar Gear 
Best wishes for a speedy recovery! I have SI joint arthritis myself, so I know what you’ve been going through. Sounds like the worst is over…rock on!
All the best for your recovery. The good news is that your guitars are waiting for you, and that’s the best motivation.
Just wanted to throw in my best wishes too!
Get well soon. I had a relative go through a hip replacement about a year ago. Recovery time wasn’t too bad and even though she was sore for awhile she said she’d take the soreness any day over the pain she was going through before the surgery.
Hey Dawg!
So glad to see your smiling face and hear that you’re coming along well! You have many a face to “rawk out” yet, so, I’ll be praying for a speedy recovery! Thanks for all you do!
-Kurt Wuerfele
You Da Man, Cuz..!!!
Prayers and best wishes for your recovery Dawg! Hang in there and rock out soon, but not too soon! I appreciate your blog a lot.
Cheers, bro!
Thanks guys! I kinda overdid it today, as I was feeling really great, but I’m slowing down tomorrow for sure.
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Wishing you a speedy recovery! Now you and Eddie Van Halen have something in common. 🙂
Thanks Mike!
I had no idea EVH had that done! 🙂 Amazing. Looked it up and sure enough, he had it. But while mine was due to arthritis, his was a type of necrosis which is really bad. He must’ve been in more pain than me. Ouch!
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Does this mean you and EVH aren’t really hipsters any more?
HAHAHAHAHAHA!!! We’re artificial hipsters…
Artificial hipsters! Love that!!!
Feel better Dawg! Believe it or not I’d trade with you! I’ve had 4 operations so far to repair a damaged right shoulder. Significantly impacted my guitar playing so much that I switched to bass (and Bass VI) as my primary thing. Bass playing requires less dexterity of my right arm – at least for me. I recently had spinal surgery as well to repair a congenital condition. No matter how it feels get out of bed and keep walking. And I hate to say this but also try to minimize the pain meds. The opioids really play havoc with your gut (I’m taking MAJOR constipation here my friend.) For me that impact was way worse than the pain after the first 24 hrs. And, they didn’t work all that well anyway aside from getting a minor buzz.
Man! You’ve definitely got challenges! Just keep rockin’ brutha. Yeah, I hear you about the constipation. I’ve actually started weaning myself off the Vicodin. Doctor said I could take it every two hours, I wait four to five hours.
Just wanted to say that you’re blog has been part in helping myself in times of turmoil. I’m happy to hear that such a lightbringer, as you’re self, is having better tomorow. I hold fingers crossed here in finland. Get better…
Thanks so much for the warm regards! The surgery was successful, and I’m on my way to healing!