How James got his steps back

James Johnson’s hip damage wasn’t the result of an accident, an illness, or the repetitive motion wear-and-tear of certain sports or jobs.  It was simply a matter of time and the development of osteoarthritis in his hip.

As the cushioning tissues in his hip degenerated, he began to experience the pain of bone-on-bone contact while walking.  “Certain movements would cause a flash of pain and my leg would collapse.  I’m in the process of moving to a home in Colorado that has lots of stairs, and I couldn’t manage stairs at all.  I had to do something.”

The first orthopedic doctor James went to suggested Tylenol or a cortisone injection.  Unfortunately, the cortisone didn’t last a month, so James got a referral to Dr Bradley Crow at Golden State Orthopedics & Spine.  “Dr Crow took one look at the x-rays and said there was no doubt I needed surgery.  My hip was totally shot.”  Unfortunately, the cortisone shot forced a postponement of surgery, due to potential post-operative reactions, so James had to wait and struggle for another 3 months.

Those additional months didn’t go to waste.  James used the time to read up on the patient education materials Dr Crow had given him.  He attended “prehab” sessions with the physical therapy team and lost some weight to help ease both the surgery and his post-surgical recovery.

“My surgery was at 11.  I was awake by 1, on my feet walking by 2, and at home by 5 that same evening.  Rehab grueling but PT before surgery helped a lot.  Getting my range of motion and endurance back were the hard bits, but I put in the work.  It’s important.”

Pain management was nothing, James says.  “I never took the oxycodone that was prescribed, and I was off the Tylenol within two months.  I was given gel ice packs and a Velcro wrap to help keep my hip iced, which was great for pain relief.”

Physical therapy was key to his recovery.  “I was very regimented and dedicated to the process which I think helped.  I was on a walker for the first 5 days, walking a mile.  I could do ¾ of the mile before having to stop and rest, but then I could finish off the last ¼ no problem.  A cane for the next five days, and I’ve been walking unassisted since.  I had to do something.  I could barely walk, so I would never have been able to manage all the stairs at my new home.  I’ve really been talking it up to all my family and friends.  I don’t know what I would have done if I hadn’t had surgery.”